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“Fifteen more minutes, give or take, and we’ll be pulling into their driveway,” he says with a smile, and almost immediately she watches him sit up a little straighter, square his shoulders, and puff his chest out a little bit. The muscle in his jaw twitches when he clenches, readying himself for war. The war to end all wars: Mulder vs Bill.
She turns in her seat, tucking her foot beneath her thigh and slides her hand in his, intertwining their fingers. He relaxes instantly. She feels a smile forming as she watches him melt into her touch, however simple. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise to her that physical touch would become their love language, seeing how often they touched when their relationship was platonic; the leading hand pressed to her lower back, the emotional connection of a kiss to the forehead, the reassurance offered by simply holding hands. The gripping of a bicep and the ferocity of a hug. No touch was empty of meaning, they all came down to one thing: love.
Christmas snow flurries outside of the car, dancing in the beams of their headlights as they drive to her brother Charlie and his girlfriend's house in the Hudson Valley. A childlike giddiness swarms in her belly like butterflies when she thinks of the holidays this year. This year is… different.
Past years she spent Christmas with her family at their various homes, arriving a little too late and leaving a little too early. Last Christmas, once they narrowly escaped Maurice and Lyda, their remaining evening was spent in his apartment, exchanging gifts and watching White Christmas. When The Grinch came on next, Mulder mysteriously produced eggnog. She had sipped the drink, unsure if the warmth in her belly was from the brandy or from the face that they were sitting merely an inch apart and Mulder’s thumb kept mindlessly brushing the side of her thigh. They danced the will-they-won’t-they line all well into the night, and she was sure that it was just a matter of time before she’d know what that bottom lip felt like between her teeth…
But they were both blissfully unaware that it was the calm before the storm. Hurricane Diana, category 5.
Diana Fowley had rushed in like a lion, intent on wreaking havoc and leaving nothing but destruction in her path. She turned their lives upside down, their trust had been nearly decimated. The toll Diana had taken on their relationship left Scully unsure if she and Mulder would ever be the same, let alone spend another Christmas together. And here they are, together, driving to Charlie and Serena’s.
The plan is to enjoy dinner with her family, and then head back into town and stay at the local motel. Next to perfectly wrapped presents, their bags full of weekend belongings sit in the backseat. She even packed a bathing suit for the weekend after Mulder told her he’d booked them a room with a jacuzzi. She would be lying if she said she wasn’t a little bit excited.
“Hey, Scully, did you know that an alpaca's average height at the shoulder is only three feet?” He glances at her with a smile and a nod. “Yep, only three feet. They appear to be the height of an adult male human because their neck is so long. Also, they cannot live alone.”
She huffs. “Perhaps you were an alpaca in another life, Mulder.”
“I was going to say the same thing about you.”
She raises an eyebrow.
“Did you hear the part about only three feet?”
She laughs and swats his arm. “I’m taller than that, Mulder.”
“Barely.” He leans forward, checks his mirrors, and guides the car through town. “An alpaca farm, though. Who actually owns and runs an alpaca farm?”
“Charlie and Serena, apparently,” she says.
“What do you know about her? Serena.”
“Not much,” she admits. “I know they met while in the Peace Corps.”
“What area did they work in?”
“Agricultural, I believe.”
Mulder hums. “Interesting. What country were they serving?”
“I can’t remember- a caribbean region maybe? What I do know is that my mother adores her. She says she reminds her of Missy.”
“Well, I look forward to meeting her,” Mulder says, then adds, “And your brother. I can’t believe I haven’t met Charlie until now.”
“He’ll love you.”
Mulder makes a raspberry with his lips.
“He already does! Mom speaks highly of you.”
He laughs. “Come on, Scully. If he’s anything like Bill-”
“He isn’t! Not at all- in fact, Charlie is the complete opposite of Bill. You’ll see.”
Mulder sighs, then brings Scully’s hand to his lips. She leans back in her seat and closes her eyes, smiling in response.
“Hey, Scully?”
“Hmm?”
He releases her hand, and she feels his settle on her thigh, just above her knee. “Do we have time for a pit stop?”
“We’d miss dinner.”
His fingers grip her thigh, just firmly enough to not tickle, then inch upwards. “We’ll still be there in time for dessert.”
Her smile widens and her eyes remain closed. “Behave, Mulder.”
Xxxxx
At the end of a long driveway sits an old farmhouse at the top of a hill. The wrap-around porch is adorned in garland and string lights, making an already picturesque view look like a scene from a Christmas movie. It looks like hot chocolate next to a crackling fire, a cozy blanket and snow falling outside.
“Dana! Mulder! You made it!” Serena turns suddenly and yells, “Charlie! They’re here!”
Serena’s a flurry of cotton and blonde and a spice that’s sweet that Scully can’t quite name as she pulls them through the door and wraps them in a group hug. If she hadn’t gripped them so tight, the unexpected group hug might be awkward, but instead it feels warm, welcoming. Coats and gifts are swept from their arms and carried away, and Mulder catches a glimpse of a wire-wrapped tigers eye hanging from her neck as she leans over to kiss Scully’s cheek.
“You look vibrant, Dana,” she says as she cups her face, then kisses the other cheek. “Undeniably beautiful, don’t you agree, Mulder?”
“Absolutely,” he answers, not missing a beat. “Always.”
Serena winks at him. “Good man. Just throw your coats over the banister there, and there’s appetizers and drinks in the kitchen where Charlie is finishing up dinner with Maggie. Hot toddy?”
Scully’s eyebrows rise as Mulder’s arm loops around her waist. “Excuse me?”
“Can I interest either of you in a hot toddy? They’re delicious- we have the cinnamon sticks and everything. The drink looks straight out of a Christmas picture.”
Mulder and Scully glance at each other, and Mulder shrugs. “Why not?”
“Perfect, follow me,” she says, already floating her way down the hall towards the kitchen. “Mulder, I heard all about your trash monster from a few months ago from Charlie,” she says. “Truly fascinating. But Dana, I’m dying to hear your thoughts on your recent case in Chicago. Was it luck? Pure coincidence?”
“I, uh,” Scully begins, unsure of how to even begin to answer, when she sees Maggie at the stove with Charlie next to her. “Charlie!”
“Dane!”
Mulder steps aside as her brother swoops in and lifts her from her feet, twirling her around once.
“So much scruff,” Scully says as she lightly scratches his jaw.
“Well you look terrific,” Charlie says.
Scully laughs. “Oh, stop, you look great.”
“And you must be Mulder,” Charlie says, turning his attention. The two men shake hands.
“Good to finally meet you, Charlie.”
“And you, man. And you. I’ve heard a ton about you.”
Mulder runs his hand through his hair. “You’ve been talking to Bill?”
Everyone laughs, and by the sound of it, everyone has heard a word or two from Bill.
“Speaking of,” Scully starts, “Where are Bill, Tara, and Matthew? I thought they’d be here by now.”
“They can’t make it. Last minute things, you know the military,” Maggie says as she wipes her hand on a dish towel. “Hello, dear.”
“Hi, mom,” Scully replies, wrapping her mother in a tight hug.
“Fox.” Maggie wraps him in an embrace. “Where are your bags? Charlie and Serena have a spare room upstairs all ready for the two of you.”
“We have a room in town,” Mulder replies.
Maggie frowns. “It’s supposed to snow tonight, and it’s at least a few miles into town. You don’t want to be driving in that.”
“It’s only supposed to be a few inches,” he says nonchalantly.
Charlie opens the oven and lets out a yelp. “Sonofabitch-”
Maggie turns. “Oh, sweetheart, use the oven mits!”
“Saved by the burn,” Mulder utters to Scully.
Everyone settles around the kitchen performing various tasks as they catch up. Some cook, some clean, some sit off to the side sipping beverages that have entirely too much liquor. Scully leans against the countertop, holding her drink to her bottom lip, sliding the glass back and forth as she watches Mulder chat with her brother and mother. They chuckle here and there, and Charlie appears genuinely interested in whatever case Mulder is telling them about as they chop vegetables for the salad. She hopes it isn’t her trip to Vegas. Or the tentacle monster from Florida.
“And then this cow comes crashing through the roof of my room,” she hears Mulder say.
“Oh, Fox, that’s awful! Was the poor cow okay?” Maggie asks.
“Did you nail it with attempted assault of a federal agent?” Charlie asks.
Scully ducks her head, laughing into her drink.
“Six months.” Serena nudges Scully and nods towards Mulder.
“I’m sorry?”
“You’re almost always touching, and if you aren’t touching then you are very clearly thinking about touching. You watch him with a look on your face.” She’s standing so close that Scully can feel her body heat and smell her perfume. Her nose sticks on that sweet spicy scent, and she inhales deeply trying to place it. It isn’t vanilla or clove.
“A look?”
“Yes. You still have that newlywed type of air about you,” Serena continues. Scully inhales again. Tobacco, maybe? Brown sugar?
Serena leans in close and says quietly, “And I bet you’re fucking like rabbits.”
Scully's cheeks burn, embarrassment and liquor pinking the skin, and she chokes on her hot toddy.
“Scully, you ok?” Mulder asks from across the room.
“You alright, sweetheart?” her mom asks.
All eyes are on her, including Serena who’s now rubbing circles in the middle of her back. Scully holds her hand up as she coughs, then nods. “All good.”
She takes a deep breath when the coughing subsides. Mulder catches her eye and holds her gaze for a moment, wordlessly checking in on her. She offers him a smile.
“Four months,” Scully says into her glass, then takes a tentative sip. “But over six years in the making.”
Serena hums behind a smile, then allows her jaw to fall slack as she tips her head back and closes her eyes. Her voice is deep and smooth as molasses when she says, “Delicious,” as if she’s tasting the slow burn that was finally resolved.
“You have no idea,” Scully murmurs. “Serena, I’ve been meaning to ask you. What perfume are you wearing?”
“You like it?”
Scully nods.
“Envie. It’s an oil, actually, that comes in this rollerball.” She pulls the vial from her pocket. “It’s a blend of certain essential oils that mix with your own scent and your pheromones. You place it here…” She runs it along the side of Scully’s neck. Scully opens her mouth to object, but Serena continues, “and here,” rubbing it onto her inner wrist.
“Pulse points,” Scully breathes.
“Yes. Some say it increases desire, amplifying your natural hormones to make you irresistible. Others say it simply smells nice.” Serena leans in, sniffing Scully’s neck. “Definitely the former on you,” she says with a smirk, then wiggles her eyebrows.
Scully turns her face, locking eyes with Serena, and then leans back a few inches. Other than Muder, she’s never met anyone who was so comfortable with getting into other people’s personal spaces, even more so without an invitation. But just as with Mulder, she doesn’t seem to mind it, she realizes. Serena gives off this vibe that makes her feel as if they’ve been close friends since they were children. She would’ve been the adventurous one that dragged Scully out to parties on school nights, teaching her the proper way to sneak out and not get caught by her military father. She would have held her hand when they got matching heart tattoos, and shared cigarettes behind the liquor store off Main Street. She would’ve been the best friend that got all of the boys, but always put Scully first, never leaving her behind.
Serena’s what Maggie would call a free spirit with her long, wavy hair, flowy linen clothing, and crystal jewelry. Scully can tell that Serena is the type of woman who gives love easily and generously, and she can’t help but want to tell her everything.
“Dinner’s ready!” Maggie’s voice interupts her thoughts..
“Finally!” Serena says laughing. “I’m starving.” With a squeeze to Scully’s hand, she grabs ahold of Charlie's shirt tail and dances her way into the dining room, leaving Mulder and Scully alone in the kitchen.
“You two seemed to hit it off,” he says as he leans down to press a quick kiss on her cheek, but pauses, sniffing. “New perfume?”
It’s a bad idea to let his fingers play along her sides like the keys of a piano, a terrible idea to allow him to press up against her, and it’s an even more terrible idea to tip her head to the side to encourage his lips to discover the sweetness of the skin behind her jaw. Can’t and shouldn’t play on repeat in her mind like the melody of a Christmas tune. They should stop- they aren’t teenagers who can’t control their hormones; they’re grown adults. But, God, the way his teeth scrape the skin just below her ear is nothing short of divine.
He inhales again. “You smell incredible.” His voice is as warm and deep as the desire that’s beginning to curl low in her belly, stirring parts of her awake that should absolutely be at rest right now during a family party. She grips his hips and grinds her pelvis against him.
She gasps when his hand cups her breast, thumbing her nipple through her clothing, and it’s taking every ounce of control she has not to push his hand down her pants.
What’s gotten into her?
“Really wishing for that pit stop now, aren’t we?” he asks, and she sighs. God, yes.
“Hey, you guys- woah, uh, my bad.” Charlie raps his knuckles against the door jam a few times.
Mulder steps to the side, keeping his back to him as Scully stands up straight, pulling down the hem of her sweater. She clears her throat.
“Man, Serena wasn’t lying,” Charlie says as he turns to walk away. “Like bunnies.”
“Charlie!” Scully says, eyes wide as Mulder stifles a laugh.
“It’s cool, it’s cool. I’ll let mom know you’re just, uh,” he waves his hand in the air nonchalantly, then gestures at them.”Ya know, prepping dessert.”
Scully groans as she drops her head in her hands. “Bill’s gonna have a fucking stroke when he tells him.”
Xxxx
The conversations over dinner are light and pleasant, spanning from vacations to Serena and Charlie’s time in Africa, grandma Scully’s old recipes to Mulder’s time at Oxford. The stories are long and detailed, and the laughs come easy and frequently. The table is cluttered with empty plates and half-eaten slices of pie, their glasses of wine replaced with cups of coffee.
Scully watches Mulder as he listens to Charlie talk about sleeping on beaches in Oahu, explaining his method for keeping sand out of his clothing and nether regions.
“It feels like a fine grain sandpaper, which no man ever wants to feel down there,” Charlie says with a cringe.
Mulder leans back in his seat, tipping his head back a little as he laughs. He looks so relaxed, which is unusual and rare, and Scully is loving every second of witnessing it. She knew Charlie would love him. Knew it, without a doubt. She feels awful for admitting to herself that the holiday has been less stressful without Bill and his snippy remarks and judgmental eye. Mulder turns to look at her, and the smile on his face is genuine. He grabs her hand, kisses her knuckles, then turns back to Charlie.
“Is that even legal? It’s public property, right?” he asks Charlie.
She wonders if he even realizes that his thumb is drawing little figure eights on the back of her hand, or that his shoulders relax differently when he’s comfortable. The conversation has shifted, and now Charlie and Serena are giving a very animated account of their buying the alpaca farm from an old man named Big Al and his wife Josephine, but all Scully can think of was the kitchen encounter. The way his hands gripped her, his teeth on her skin.
She leans over and whispers, “Meet me upstairs. Five minutes.”
Xxxx
The floorboards creak giving away Mulder’s attempt to sneak down the hallway. He nearly yelps when she comes up from behind and covers his mouth, then pulls him backwards into a bathroom.
“Jesus, Scully…”
“I’ve always wanted to do that,” she whispers right before her mouth crashes onto his. They kiss with desperation, nipping here and licking there. The groan he releases when she bites his bottom lip nearly makes her combust into orgasmic confetti right then and there.
She pulls at his hair as his fingers work quickly to unbutton her jeans, and in one quick motion they and her panties are left to dangle from one ankle when he grabs her by her buttocks and hoists her onto the lip of the sink.
They freeze when the vanity wobbles a bit and creaks under her weight.
Mulder’s fingers rest between her thighs, twitching against the soft skin as he waits for the okay to continue. “We good?”
Scully huffs a piece of hair from her face and whips her sweater off, dropping it to the floor. “Yeah, I’m sure it’s fine.”
He teases her entrance, slowly maneuvering his fingertips.
“Mulder.”
He stares down at his hand touching her, caressing her with a featherlight touch. “You’re so wet.”
They are so compatible sexually that she finds herself forgetting sometimes that this is still new for both of them. Each time they’re together, there’s still something new to experience. He still looks at her awestruck, and she wants to savor that, knowing it won’t last forever.
But right now there’s no time. She grabs him by his wrist and thrusts his fingers inside of her.
“Scully, Jesus.” Like she said, awestruck.
Her head falls back, resting against the mirror behind her. “Mulder, if you’re not going to fuck me, the least you can do is finger-fuck me properly.”
That snaps him out of his trance, and he instantly curls his fingers inside of her, finding her g-spot. Her grip on his wrist tightens when he palms her, the heel of his hand grinding against her clitoris. A familiar feeling stirs in her belly, traveling to her chest. She closes her eyes, embracing her impending orgasm.
“Don’t stop,” she whispers. “Oh, God, don’t stop.”
“Are you gonna cum?”
She doesn’t get to answer. He removes his fingers, and she whimpers at the sudden loss, but then gasps when she feels him enter her. There’s no niceties, no inching his way in- he’s balls deep with the first thrust, and judging by the rhythm he’s already set, intent on fucking her with purpose.
“Hold on,” he urges, and she white knuckles the edge of the vanity.
With each of his thrusts, the vanity thumps against the wall, releasing a small squeaks. His hand snakes between them, and she's momentarily overwhelmed when his thumb immediately finds her clit.For sex being so new for them, he’s made it a priority to learn her body and what she likes. It’s dizzying the way his thumb swipes just after each thrust, not giving her body time to recover from the intense pleasure that courses through it. It’s merely seconds later when climax hits her like a freight train, obliterating her and all she can do is hold onto the sink and ride it out. She feels Mulder’s mouth on hers, drinking up her cries. She’s so overcome with orgasm that she doesn’t notice that he follows soon after.
Mulder rests his forehead on her shoulder, and Scully rakes her fingers through his hair.
“Do you think they’re looking for us?” Mulder asks.
She could really go for a cigarette and it’s been years since she smoked. Even longer since she felt compelled to smoke after sex. “Who cares?”
He’s gentle with her when he helps her to her feet, and they both get dressed. Scully turns to use the sink to wash her hands, and gasps. “Mulder.”
“Oh, shit.”
The vanity sits off kilter, pulled a few inches from the wall. Scully twists the handles but no water comes out. Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.
“Was it like that when we got in here?” Mulder asks.
“I don’t think so.” Her heart starts racing. She tries to push it back into place but it won’t sit flush. “I think we would have noticed that it was so far from the wall.”
“Well, we were a little preoccupied…”
“Help me here.” She bends down, peeking behind it. “Is the water turned off? Is there a leak?”
Mulder thumps the faucet a few times. “I think it’s turned off.”
“I don’t see any water back here…” She stands suddenly. “We gotta go.”
She turns to walk out of the bathroom, but Mulder stops her. “What do you mean? We can’t just leave.”
“Yes we can.” She turns to the mirror to fix her hair. “We’ll say you have a headache.”
“They’ll never believe that.”
“I don’t care if they *believe* it-”
“What about the gifts?” he asks.
“Leave ‘em.”
“Scully, your mother would be devastated.”
“My mother will be devastated to find out that her unmarried daughter was just fucked so thoroughly by her partner boyfriend at the Christmas Eve family party that they broke her son’s bathroom vanity, possibly causing a plumbing issue. I, on the other hand, will be mortified. We’re leaving. Now.”
She takes Mulder’s hand and leads him out of the bathroom. They don’t tip-toe this time; she walks them through the house with purpose, practically dragging him behind her.
“Dana, Mulder, there you are…” Maggie says once they enter the living room. Maggie sits in the chair next to the fireplace, while Serena and Charlie snuggle in the corner of the couch. All eyes are on them. “I was starting to wonder if we were going to need to send out a search party,” she adds with a smile.
Fuck. She knows. Scully forces a laugh. “Of course not. We, uh-”
“You disappeared after dinner,” Maggie says.
“We did,” Scully replies, cautiously.
“Scully was helping me,” Mulder starts.
“Right,” Scully says. “I was helping Mulder look for-”
“My headache,” Mulder says quickly.
Maggie’s brows furrow. “You were looking for your headache?”
“No,” Scully says. Fuck, her palms are sweating.
“You see, the sink-” Mulder starts, and Scully turns to him so quickly she wonders later how she didn’t give herself whiplash, and pleads for him to shut up with her eyes.
“What about the sink?” Charlie asks.
“Nothing-” Scully starts.
“Sweetheart, why do you look so frazzled?” Maggie asks, but her tone suggests she knows the answer. Scully knows she knows, and is pretty sure she knows Scully knows she knows, but Lord help her, she will cut off and eat her own toes before she ever admits that.
“I’m not,” She replies with a smile that is entirely too toothy. “I’m fine.”
“She’s fine,” Mulder repeats, then pats her shoulder as if that proved something.
“Dana had mentioned Mulder was beginning to get a migraine before dinner,” Serena interjects. “I told her I had some peppermint oil somewhere in the upstairs bathroom. Were you able to find it?”
Scully watches as her mother’s eyes narrow at Serena, then shift back to her. Serena is trying to cover for them. Scully makes a mental note to send her a very extravagant birthday gift. “No, unfortunately.”
“Ah, that’s too bad,” Serena says.
“That’s alright. It’s nothing a good night’s sleep shouldn’t help,” Mulder says, and Scully nods in agreement. “We’re actually gonna get going-”
“You two aren’t going anywhere tonight.” Charlie points to the window. “That storm they were warning about has been here for the last few hours. It’s just dumping snow out there.”
Mulder and Scully peer out the window. Complete whiteout. Charlie is right- they aren’t going anywhere.
Charlie and Serena come up to stand with them. Serena slips her arm around Scully’s waist and pulls her close. “We have the other guest bedroom made up for the two of you.”
Scully sighs. “Thank you.”
Charlie loops his thumbs through his belt loops and rocks back on his heels. He clears his throat. “And I’ll be sure to fix that sink tomorrow morning.”
Scully opens her mouth to say something, anything, but nothing comes out. Mulder chews his bottom lip and nods.
Serena laughs. “That squeaky ol’ thing.”
Scully grips Mulder’s hand. It’s going to be a long weekend.