Disclaimer: I do not own, nor do i profit from these stories. They are purely for fun. All rights belong to Chris Carter, FOX and others who i cannot remember at this moment.

December 23, 1998

Hoover Building

Washington, D.C.

Snapping her laptop shut with excessive force, Scully groaned indignantly.

"What?" Mulder glanced up from the floor, where he had been reorganizing files all day. There were still folders upon folders that were scattering the floor.

"I'm done with all of the paperwork for this quarter. I'm gonna head home..." Skinner had demanded that they finish up and turn in everything that was needed legally for the cases that they'd investigated in the past few months. Scully had been in charge of all of the paperwork and Mulder volunteered to find all of the files that they needed.

"Oh, okay. Sure, Scully..." Mulder set a stack of files on the desk and avoided making eye contact.

She jerked her coat on aggressively. Things had been really tense and awkward between them for quite some time now. Ever since Diana. Diana. She shivered at the thought of the vile woman. Neither of them had made any attempt since then to talk it out or try and resolve anything. To be honest, she was suffocating. His presence constantly took up all of the space in the office. She needed to get of there.

She was just about to let herself breathe again when Mulder called for her.

"Hey, Scully?" His words stopped her dead in her tracks. Her hand grabbing onto the door frame, she turned around slowly. His voice sounded timid, almost afraid. That worried her. She wasn't sure what he was about to say. "Uhm, I know things have been…" He was trying to find the right word. "... weird between us lately. And I know that it's almost all my fault… I was hoping that maybe we could talk… later…" He was stuttering now and he knew it. It couldn't be helped; she just made him so damn nervous all the time.

Scully exhaled through her nose, all of her apprehension going with it. "Oh," she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Uh, I'm supposed to go to my mom's tonight. I'm staying with her for Christmas…" This was the first time he'd mentioned anything about what happened and God, did she wish that she wasn't busy tonight. All she wanted was for things to go back to normal between them. Well, maybe not normal. As much as she didnt want to admit it, watching him with Diana that day when she saw them holding hands, something in her broke. She loves him. She knows that. But she couldn't tell him. She would die before she ruined her friendship with him. Without him, there was no her.

She watched as the nervous smile dissipated at her words. "Oh, yeah. Okay. So, I guess I'll just see you when you get back then…"

His reaction caused her to click her tongue, on the verge of saying something. She knows how his Christmas is going to go. He'll spend it by himself. His own mother probably won't even bother calling him. That thought propelled her into making her decision. Maybe this would fix their current stalemate. "Mulder, do you want to come with me?" She leaned her hip against the doorframe and crossed one leg in front of the other.

Mulder sputtered, clearly in shock of what she had just asked him. "Wh- what?"

She quirked her eyebrow. "Do you want to come with me?" Now was not the time to cool her cool and let him See how nervous she was.

"To your mother's?" He shrilled. Mulder had his panic face on and God help him if he didn't look absolutely adorable.

With a one-sided smirk, Scully answered him in humor. "No, Mulder. To outer space." After a beat of silence, during which he had the guts to blush at her comment, she added, "Yes, to my mother's."

Another beat of silence.

Taking his silence as a forced answer, Scully thought she'd just make the decision for him. She wanted him there, so he was going to be there. She couldn't help but hope this situation she was about to get them into might be the turning point in their relationship. She wanted him. God, did she ever. But did he want her? She resolved to use the cheerful holiday as an opportunity to finally find out. Okay, Mulder. I'll pick you up at eight? That should give you enough time to pack."

Before he could respond, she grabbed her bag and headed out of the office. He accepted his own resignation with a heavy sigh. It wasn't that he didn't want to spend time with her… because he did. There was only one thing holding him back: Bill. Scully's brother absolutely hated his guts and Milder didn't want to ruin anyone's Christmas by provoking him with his presence. Although, Scully didn't really leave him much choice, he supposed. Then, a thought popped into his mind. What if he could use this time outside of work with her to show her how much he loved Her? Maybe, if he was lucky, she loved him, too. His excitement was renewed. This was their chance to smooth over the damage that Diana had caused between them.

December 23, 1998

Mulder's Apartment

Alexandria, Washington D.C.

Knock. Knock. Knock. "Mulder?" Scully called from the other side of the door. She came over earlier than he expected her to because she knew he was going to try and get out of going. He didn't want to see Bill.

From somewhere inside the apartment she heard him call back to her, telling her to use her key.

As soon as she got into the apartment, she was shocked by the sight that greeted her. Fox Mulder was actually packing his bag. Unprovoked. It was a damn near miracle.

"Hey, Scully." Mulder said absentmindedly as he zipped up his suitcase. "I'm almost ready to go. Make yourself at home. I just need to grab some shoes."

She decided not to say something about her surprise and just keep it to herself. He seemed like he wanted to go. That was good enough for her. She wasn't going to question it. "Uh, yeah. Sure," she stumbled. "Take your time. I came early. Mom isn't expecting us for another two hours so don't rush…"

"Okay." Mulder grinned at her. "Just give me ten minutes and then we can go."

§§§

Crack. "So, Scully." Crack. Mulder spoke in between sunflower seeds. "Who's all going," Crack. "...to be staying over at your mom's for Christmas?" Crack. He briefly glanced over at the passenger seat at a red light after she didn't answer him. When he turned towards her, he realized she was staring at him with glossy eyes. "Yo, Scully?"

That seemed to pull her out of wherever she was. "Sorry, what? Did you say something?" Scully flushed. She'd been caught in the middle of a fantasy. Well, not really. His obsession with sunflower seeds had her curious. Not as to why he chews them, but more like what else does he like to do with that oral fixation of his. It's not the first time she's thought about this, but she's usually just a hell of a lot better at hiding it.

Mulder grinned at her, silently taking note of the subtle flush of color that spotted her cheeks and collarbone. "I asked who was staying over for Christmas… besides us."

"Oh, uhm … it's gonna be a full house. Charlie and his family. Bill and his family. And Melissa."

"Are you sure it's okay with your mom that I'm coming? That's a lot of people for one roof, Scully." Mulder turned onto Maggie's street and parked in front of her house.

She opened the door, swinging both feet out onto the ground. Turning back to look at him, she said, "Mulder, my mom has been begging me to bring you to a holiday for years. She'll be ecstatic when she sees that you're going to stay." She smiled tenderly at him. "C'mon. It'll be fun. I promise. And I'll protect you from Bill, too. Don't worry about him."

A/N: Hey, guys! I'm back. I'm doing a small multichapter Christmas holiday story in honor of it just being Christmas last week. Also, just a note but in this fic, Melissa is still alive.

Don't worry, there will also be an update for 'Second Chances' coming soon as well. Keep an eye out. Hope you guys enjoy (: