Pine-scented by bcfan

Pine-scented

AUTHOR: bcfan
CONTACT: bcfan@shaw.ca
NOTES at the end.
SUMMARY: This story takes place in AU candy cane Christmasland. Mulder and Scully get out of the car mid-Requiem, Mulder never returns to Bellefleur, the Gunmen are alive, and all's right with the world. Happy Holidays!

***

"Remember those quiet evenings?" Mulder watched as a diapered butt wiggled between his legs before disappearing under the sofa. His son - the dustbuster.

"What? Can't hear you, water's running." Scully stepped into the room, wiping her hands on a towel. "What?"

"Just sitting and thinking. Back before junior G- man, when we could kick back with pizza and a couple of long-necks."

Scully gave him a slow smile, then picked up a box. "Here, Mulder. Why don't we reminisce after decorating. I want to get it done before our visitors arrive."

Mulder stood and wiped his palms on his jeans. He glanced at the bedraggled artificial tree crammed in a corner and waved a vague hand in its direction. "How should we set all this stuff up anyway?"

A shriek, and Scully dropped the box and bent down to carefully shimmy her son out from under the sofa. Will patted her face with a dusty hand, wiggled to be set down, and started crawling towards the kitchen.

"Lucky we don't have a dog, huh."

"Why's that, Mulder?"

"I remember Samantha eating dog food when she was Will's age."

Scully looked shocked. "And you let her?"

"Give a guy a break. I was only four - I thought it was funny."

When she raised her eyebrows and shook her head, Mulder decided to busy himself with the lights. "These go on first, right?"

"Yes. Start at the top. But maybe we should leave a bare spot at the bottom - I don't want Will trying to put them in his mouth."

Mulder dropped the bundle of lights on the coffee table and scratched his chin.

Stared at the tree.

Stared at the ceiling.

The tree.

"What?"

"You know, Scully," he tried to flash her his best winning smile, "it would make a lot more sense to hang the tree from the ceiling, out of Will's way."

"What?!"

"No, no, listen. I don't mean tying it up from the top. We could flip this sucker upside down and attach it from the base. Only take a couple of nails. And then Will would be perfectly safe."

Scully shook her head no, but a grin was fighting to appear. "What about next year? Hang the tree out the window?"

Mulder grinned back. "One developmental stage at a time."

Scully measured the tree with a scientist's eyes, grabbed the centre, and lifted it slightly off the ground. She bit her lip. "Don't think so. For one thing, would the ceiling even hold a tree of this weight and mass, particularly when it's decorated? For another, holes in the ceiling?"

"We'll be festive pioneers."

She rubbed his arm. "I like the simple things for Christmas, Mulder. You, Will, friends and family. A tree with the star at the top-" he snorted "-some holiday cheer and a present or two. S'okay?"

A tone of mock dismay. "A present, woman? What do you want from me?"

"Lucky we invited the Gunmen, then. I'm sure to get a present from somebody. Come on, I'll help you string the lights."

xXxXxXx

The funny little Charlie Brown Christmas tree looked almost lovely if he squinted and turned his head sideways. Lights sparkled in the windows and soft music caressed the room. It was beginning to look a lot like happiness realized.

Will climbed on Mulder's lap as he sat cross-legged on the floor, taping wires to the branches so the baby couldn't pull on them. Will drooled on his shirt and grabbed his nose. "Gah."

"Careful." Mulder removed Will's hand, blew a raspberry on a chubby palm. Will laughed and crawled to a set of wooden blocks scattered on the floor.

Mulder reached up and guided Scully down. He circled her shoulders with a hug. "Our first family Christmas, Scully. Nice."

"It is." She snuggled against him.

"Mmm." He nuzzled Scully's hair. "No time for play with junior here. Anything to eat?"

"We've got Christmas cookies."

"We do? Since when?"

"Since mom gave me a containerful and I put them in the back of the freezer. Behind the peas."

"No fair," Mulder complained. They relaxed in a quiet embrace while idly watching Will chew first on his blocks, next on the edge of the coffee table. Poor kid. Teething was hitting him hard.

Mulder gave her a final squeeze, then jumped up. "I'll grab the teething ring."

Scully nodded. "And I'll make some punch."

"If your punch has punch I'll be a happy man." Scully's laugh followed her out of the room.

He bent over Will and lifted him. The baby started to fuss.

"Shhh." Mulder dangled the teething ring in front of him and Will grabbed it, tried to stuff the entire thing in his mouth. Mulder sat down with Will cradled in his arms, softly hummed Jingle Bells while smiling to himself, thinking of the real words. //Batman smells, Robin laid an egg//

He gradually felt the hot bundle in his arms begin to droop, and stood while gently jiggling Will. When Mulder was sure the baby was asleep he walked into the darkened bedroom and tucked him into his crib. He touched Will's cloud of orange-red hair, so soft and fine it reminded him of feathers.

He scrubbed his face with his hands and sniffed his shirt. Better get cleaned up - senior G-men shouldn't smell of baby burp and diaper rash medicine. Changed his t-shirt and wandered into the bathroom to wash up. He was taking a leak when he heard Scully say something.

"What? Can't hear you, water's running."

Scully stepped into the open doorway and smirked. "Very funny, Mulder. The Gunmen are here."

"Will's asleep. For now."

They opened the door to three smiling faces, each holding a package. "Mulder and Christmas. Wonders never cease," Frohike enthused, slapping Mulder on the back.

"Look, Scully, it's the three weisenheimermen. Come on in, guys."

Langly was dwarfed by a lumpy bundle. "Where should I put this?"

"Under the tree," Scully said. "It's good to see everyone."

Langly nodded. "Fro wanted to make a grand entrance, but he was afraid he'd get stuck in your chimney."

"Too much good living," Frohike agreed, patting his middle.

Byers handed Mulder a bottle of wine in a slim bag. "Here's some spirit of the season that I hope you'll enjoy later."

Scully grinned. "Thanks."

They gathered in the front room, sipping punch and nibbling on hors d'oeuvres and star-shaped cookies. Mulder reflected on traditions, how and why they started. Ten years of Christmas cheese steaks with the guys and now this. His family and extended family. Life at the moment was very good.

A sharp cry. Mulder started to rise but Scully murmured, "he's hungry," and closed the bedroom door behind her.

"Guess there's some things even you can't do, Mulder," Frohike said.

"Scully leaves me a bottle once in a while when she's out, but if she's home Will refuses it."

"Smart baby," Langley intoned from where he lounged on the floor. "Pass me some more punch?"

"I'll get it," Byers stood and collected glasses. "You're a lucky man, Mulder."

"I know it."

The door opened. Scully was humming as she carried Will into the room and he was happily jabbering sounds until he spied the Gunmen. Will's eyes widened before turning away and tucking his head into Scully's shoulder.

"Hey, little man," Frohike spoke softly. Will peeked at him, a string of drool running down his red bib overalls.

"Still teething?" Byers inquired.

"Big time," Mulder answered. Scully sat and Will turned to face the group. When Langley waved his fingers Will smiled at him with a five tooth grin. "Gah."

Langly smiled back. "You know, dude, that kid looks more like Archie Andrews every day."

Frohike scowled indignantly. "At least he's not a Jughead - Jughead."

"Boys, boys," Mulder intoned. "No fighting in front of the baby." He turned to Will. "You want to chew on some paper? Which one is Will's?" Mulder gestured to the small pile of presents.

"I got it." Langly picked up the lump. "I drew Will's name." He carried the package and held it in front of the baby.

Will straightened in Scully's arms and touched the foil-wrapped package with the tip of one finger. Langly ripped a corner and Will reached out and pulled hard, revealing a fuzzy brown face and half an antler. Will leaned over and chewed on the moose's nose and poked at its cartoon eyes while Langly uncovered the rest of the present.

Scully looked puzzled. "A moose head?"

"Not just any moose head," Langly bragged. "A singing moose head. Listen."

He reached behind the plaque and flipped on the motion sensor. Red, yellow, and green lights wreathed the moose head in a twinkling display as a pair of comical fuzzy lips sang "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." Will's tiny eyebrows rose in amazement, and he waved dimpled hands.

"Nice one, Langly," Mulder clapped him on the back. "It's a hit."

"Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas!" the moose intoned, and Scully snickered. The entire moose routine started again, and Frohike grouched, "We've heard this how many times?"

"Okay, okay," Langly nodded and flicked off the switch. Will looked surprised and poked a furry cheek before struggling to be let down. He made a beeline for the tree.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Mulder announced, "Baby lottery. First present Will sticks in his mouth is the next to be opened."

Scully laughed. "Daddy's crazy, Will. But we love him anyway." Mulder winked at her.

Will pulled on a ribbon, then chewed on the parcel's edge. "We have a winner! And this one's for you, Byers. From me." Mulder handed him the gift.

Byers carefully unfolded the wrapping paper. He smiled and read the book's title. "'Civil War Curiosities: Strange Stories, Oddities, Events, and Coincidences'. Thanks, Mulder. This looks like interesting reading." Byers sat back and began to page through the volume.

Scully traded a corner of a cookie star for the small box Will had stuck in his mouth. She handed it to Frohike with two fingers. "Sorry, Frohike. This soggy package is Will's present to you."

"Will has good taste. Or at least, he thinks his gift tastes good," Frohike joked. He looked up with a pleased smile as he unwrapped a red silk bow tie. "Natty."

Mulder jumped in, "Bumpo?"

"No, as in dapper, you schmuck." Frohike pulled a large box forward. "For you, Langly."

Langly started laughing the minute he unwrapped the case of Moosehead beer. "Yeah, I guess I got carried away with Will's moose. But I did find the best present."

Will crawled among the discarded paper, started kneading it with his hands, as Mulder handed Scully a gift bag. "Who's this from?" she asked.

Byers smile was warm. "From me."

"Thank you, John," Scully exclaimed, as she held the delicate porcelain bell in her hand, with "Baby's First Christmas" inscribed on the base. She smiled. "It's baby's first Christmas, and a Christmas of firsts. This is a wonderful memento." She stood and carefully displayed the bell on a bookshelf.

Mulder picked up the lone present under the tree. He was saving the big one for Christmas Day, and knew Scully had done the same. He shook it. It sounded like shuffling cards. He smelled it. Nothing. No, there was a slight odour. He wrinkled his nose, couldn't quite place it.

"Open the present, Mulder," Scully demanded.

"Impatient, aren't you?" Even Will was staring at him now, so he set to, pulling paper from the small package and pulling off tape with gusto. Mulder's eyes watered for a moment as he looked inside at a bundle of pine tree air fresheners and remembered a once-upon-a-time stakeout conversation.

He and Scully shared a smile and he held one up. He smelled it, then put it in front of Scully's nose for whiff. "Memories, Scully?"

"Hey, Mulder," Langly asked. "Scully thinks your car smells bad?"

"Nope," Mulder grinned, "but I know something that does smell bad - on occasion." He lifted up his son and undid an overall strap, then stuck the cardboard tree into the back of Will's diaper. "His poop will smell like Christmas, Scully. Isn't it romantic?"

Frohike stood. "Poop and romance. Let's go, guys, Mulder's finally lost it."

Goodbyes were said and goodwill was spread before Mulder shut the door after the departing trio. He held Scully close, murmured into her hair, "I haven't lost it, Scully. I've found it."

Scully pushed back against Mulder's chest and looked him in the eye. Serious. "Me too."

Their simple declaration was the best Christmas gift of all.

***

NOTES:

This was written for the 2004 emuse Secret Santa fic exchange.

Thanks to MaybeAmanda. Her beta reading is a gift for which I'm always grateful. Thanks as well to Lucy Marchmont and her shopping suggestions; the singing moose head is too cool, and Frohike's bow tie is both dapper and natty.

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