TITLE: Tripartite

NAME: frogdoggie

E-MAIL: frogdoggie@hotmail.com

CATEGORY: SRA

RATING: NC-17. M/SK. This story contains SLASH. VERY GRAPHIC CONSENSUAL SEX BETWEEN MEN. So, if you don't like that type of thing - STOP NOW! Forewarned is forearmed. Proceed with caution.

SUMMARY: Mulder, Skinner and Scully try to heal their relationship issues. A dance between three very complex characters. The action in "Tripartite" takes place shortly after the events in "Embarrass du Choix" This story is the fourth installment in a series. Obviously you may want to read my previous stories, "Baton Rouge", "Discordia Concors" and "Embarrass du Choix" to understand this narrative. Those stories can be found on my web site at: https://www.squidge.org/3wstop.

FEEDBACK - YES PLEASE, AND THANK YOU SIR, CAN I HAVE ANOTHER? Comments, suggestions and healthy debate are always welcome. Flames? I use them to roast weenies, hamburgers and Italian sausages on the grill. Since Crash is sending me some of her flames - oh boy, it'll be a bonfire!

TIMESPAN/SPOILER WARNING.: I think however since the new season is upon us, this story takes place early on in it. Well, it's almost in an AU - frogdoggie's slash AU I guess. Once again, I do deal with events from the film, last season and some of early this season, but bear in mind the nature of the relationships in this story I had to mess with the mytharc - we're in the zone here folks.

KEYWORDS: story angst slash Skinner Mulder Scully NC-17

DISCLAIMER: Fox Mulder, Walter Skinner, Dana Scully, Margaret Scully, Jana Cassidy, Jeffrey Spender, the LGM and all other X-Files characters belong to Chris Carter, Ten-Thirteen Productions and 20th Century FOX Broadcasting. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit is being made from their use.

Author's note: I have departed somewhat from the Mulder first person narrative in this story. I thought it was time I gave Mr. Skinner and Ms. Scully their own voices. Hope this works for you. It works better for them.

Tripartite by frogdoggie

tripartite 1: divided into or composed of three parts 2: having three corresponding parts or copies 3: made between or involving three parties (a tripartite treaty)
- Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary

"I love thee with a Beauty-broken heart
And worship thee, be whatever thou art."
- from Marion Warner Wildman's "A Hill Prayer"

xXx

/Shit....It hurts, it hurts..../

"Hmmm...ohhhh. Nu...nu...NO!"

"It's all right, buddy. Hang on, I won't touch you again. You're gonna be ok. Crap..."

"Easy f'you ta say..."

"Just lie still. Hey! I have another agent down over here! Hey...."

xXx

A vacant Townhouse somewhere in Georgetown
Washington DC
November 5. 10 PM

"Burton! What in the Holy Hell happened here?"

"Damn it, sir! I'm still trying to find out all the details."

"Well, can you at least tell me what the devil you thought you were doing using Agent Mulder after I expressly refused to...

"I didn't *use* him...he volunteered to help out Agent Gallago with the profile."

"Volunteered?"

"Exactly. Evidently Mulder thought there was some kind of damn Spooky angle and..."

"Cut the Spooky shit, Jack. You mean he thought the perp had something to do with an X-File?"

"Bingo. So he threw in his two cents on the bloody profile and then went on the stake-out."

"Shit..."

"Yeah, deep shit. This asshole perp, besides being a serial rapist who was escalating to mutilating his victims, was also running drugs for a Colombian cartel. He was mixed up in the DEA drug bust."

"Wonderful. How bad a shoot out?"

"Bad. DC PD, DEA, FBI. We've got a lot of dead perps. Agents down. It's a mess, Walter."

"Where are Agents Mulder and Gallago?"

"That's what I'm trying to find out."

"Sir! Sir, where's Agent Mulder?"

"Agent Scully. Uh, we're trying to find out."

"Sir, what went down here?"

"Did Mulder call you, Scully?"

"Yes, he said something about an X-File, about the...about a connection with Fresno and..."

"A DEA drug bust went bad. Mulder was in on it with Gallago from VCS."

"What? VCS? But I thought..."

"I know. Where the hell did Burton go? Damn it!"

"Sir, uh, easy. He's over there...."

"Jack!"

"Walter, over here, I found Gallago. Agent Gallago what happened here?"

"The perp was involved with this drug deal sir. Things went bad...I...I don't know what happened to the perp and..."

"It's ok, take a deep breath, Miguel. Hey, you...EMT!"

"Where's Agent Mulder, Miguel?"

"He's being taken to George Washington UMC, Dana."

"Was he wounded?"

"Yes, sir, uh, AD Skinner, gunshot wound."

"Oh my God, Miguel, where?"

"Stomach, Dana."

"Jesus..."

"I hope it isn't serious, Dana. He was still talking and lucid. He...he saved my life I guess. Took a bullet for me, really. Shit...."

"You don't look well yourself, Agent. Let these EMTs treat you."

"Yes, sir. It's just a graze, sir."

"Sir, I'm going to the hospital."

"All right, Agent Scully, uh, that's a good idea. I'll...I'll be along directly to assess Agent Mulder's condition."

"Yes, sir. Don't worry. I'll see that..."

"Scully, just go."

"Walter?"

"Yes, Jack?"

"You ok?"

"What? Oh, yes. Fine. Let's go see if we can find out what happened to the perp."

xXx

A Chapel
George Washington University Medical Center
Washington, DC

"...I'm not asking for this for myself, Lord. I'm asking this for him, all right? But, no bargains. If it doesn't work out I know it's your plan. I don't imagine it will be easy. I know he doesn't believe. But I know also that you're forgiving...and will forgive his non-belief. You don't ignore non-believers. You didn't ignore me, after all. I have faith now. I have hopes he will gain faith in you too. I have faith that you will hear me and grant my prayer. So, please help him. Heal him this time...I'll...I'll do what I can to keep him out of trouble from now on. I'll keep him safe if I can, so I don't have to ask you for help with him again. It's just that he's so..so bullheaded. Yeah, but I know you know that too. Listen, I know it's a lot to ask. After all, you already answered my first prayer - that...that I'd know it when he really loved me. I am so grateful to have his love. I never thought...well you know that too. So, thank you. Thank you for it all, and I will try to serve you as best I can. Amen."

"Sir, I'm sorry. What are you doing here?"

"What do you usually do in a chapel, Agent Scully? I was praying."

"Oh, I'm so sorry to..."

"What are you doing here? Did you see the doctors again?"

"Yes, I did. Uh, I had much the same thing in mind, sir."

"Oh. So you don't think his chances are..."

"I think he's going to make it, sir. He is showing signs of improvement. The doctors are optimistic. So, I'm here to...offer thanks."

"Yes, thank God. He woke up for me for a minute but I thought he looked bad. He started fighting the tube..."

"He did look pretty bad. And, yes, he hates to be intubated. The nurses said you managed to get him calmed down though."

"Finally. He's one stubborn son of a....well, you know."

"Indeed I do."

"You're Catholic, right, Scully?"

"Yes, sir. Mulder said you were Unitarian."

"Yes."

"I see."

"Right. Uh, look - I'd be honored if you'd join me Scully. Quite frankly I think Mulder can use all the help he can get right now."

"Yes sir."

"Good."

"Can I ask you a question, sir?"

"Yes."

"Well, forgive me for saying so, but I never pictured you as religious..."

"Or gay, either right? Listen, don't do that thing where you won't look at me, all right? We're not on the job here. We're in front of God here, Scully. And yes, I am religious. I'm down on my knees religious right now praying for Fox's soul. So, do me a favor and look me in the eyes. At least have that much respect for me."

"Walter I..."

"I'm...I'm sorry, Scully. That was harsh, and unfair."

"It's all right. We're both under a lot of tension I..."

"Forget it Scully..."

"Well...You must realize I'm just not very comfortable with you or Mulder right now. The other night was...well it was a shock for me. I don't know what to think right now. I have to give myself some time to decide what to do, to know if I can ever handle the relationships at all, I guess."

"It's something we all have to work through, Scully. I'm not going to deny that idea."

"Exactly. But...I can't argue with your faith. I would never criticize you're wanting to pray for Fox."

"I appreciate that Scully. But after this, after we go to ICU and see him again, I think we need to talk. Will you discuss this with me, Scully? Can I buy you a cup of coffee and..."

"Walter, I'm...I'm not quite ready to talk about this with either of you yet. I...still need time. But soon. I promise."

"I'll hold you to that promise. I only have Mulder's well being at heart, Scully. I'm serious about....about how much I care for him."

"You really do love him, don't you?"

"Yes. I do."

"All right. I can...I see. All right...let's plan on a conversation sometime soon then. Uh, I really can't turn you down if you're buying the coffee anyway.

"Now you're talking."

"I will call you, Walter."

"Fine, Scully. I know you will. Now where were we?"

"Will you join me, Walter?"

"What? Oh...of course."

"Our father..."

"Our father..."

"who art in heaven..."

"who art in heaven..."

xXx

A beach front house in Crossroads, Maine.
December 23. 6 AM

I've been watching the sun come up. You know it's quite beautiful up here, even in December. I enjoy watching the sun rise, reflected in the ocean, on a cold, clear dawn.

On a day like today I could almost say - Mulder you are one lucky bucky. A lucky dog, indeed. I am lucky, lucky to be alive I guess. I guess.

I can pull up my sweatshirt and see the angry scar. Gee, pretty soon my guts going to look a heck of a lot like Walter's washboard. One war is as good as another for accumulating scar tissue it seems.

This bullet had a strange, and as it turned out, providential trajectory. It kind of skimmed, like a flat rock on a lake, across my lowest rib and entered my abdomen in a ricochet. So, it missed most of my vital organs, only cracking the rib a little. The bullet lodged in my back.

I suppose it would have exited my body except - ok, you're not going to believe this - it got stopped by my cell phone somehow. The bullet was just under my skin kind of above my waist and resting against my phone. Scratch one cell phone. Hello more damn paperwork on top of the burgeoning health insurance forms. Poor Walter. But someone was looking out for me. Maybe it was Walter's Unitarian version of God. Or maybe Scully's Catholic Mother Mary. Whatever.

But in the end, I have to admit if it was God, he does indeed work in mysterious ways. Like, a heaven to earth cell phone connection with Russia. Or maybe Czechoslovakia. Yeah. While I was lying in the hallway in that Georgetown townhouse, bullet wound making me want to lose consciousness, someone shot the perp in the head. The perp had the drop on me too. He was standing right in front of me when his brains were blown out. I can still hear that voice from the shadows.

xXx

"Sweet dreams, asshole."

"Alex?"

"Yeah, it's me, Mulder."

"What....how did you...."

"Nevermind. I don't have time. You'll be ok I think. Here, take this. Press it tight against the wound. Back here."

"Shit, that hurts like hell."

"I know..."

"You hurt me in more ways than one, you fucking..."

"I just saved your life, Fox. Shut up and lie still. I have to go. Give my regards to the FBI."

"Fuck you."

"Don't you wish. But I'm sure Walter will more than oblige."

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh come on - don't play coy. I still have my sources. Don't worry about it, though. Your little secret 's safe with me. But tell me, is he good? I mean, does he make you scream?"

"Like an air raid siren, you shithead. And he can keep it up all night too - which is more than you...."

"Now, now. You'll make me sorry I saved your life."

"Well, you asked jerkwad."

"So I did."

"Why don't you ask me if he loves me, Alex? Why don't you ask me if he holds me in his arms at night when I have the nightmares? Why don't you ask me if I told him I love him?"

"Shut up, Fox. Save your strength. I don't really care."

"Pull the other one, Alex."

"Don't tempt me, little one."

"Then just...just leave me alone."

"All right, Fox. And, take care, comrade. Really. I do have some...good memories of our time together after all. I wish you and Walter...whatever you deserve. Some happiness I suppose. While it lasts. Oh, and say hello to that red headed bitch too. For what it's worth, I still think she has great tits."

"Go to hhhell."

"Been there for years, baby. Now go to sleep. You're almost out anyway. See you in your dreams, lover."

xXx

I passed out before he was gone. I still don't know what the devil he was doing there. I had thought there was a connection between the perp and the Consortium. Alex's presence may have indicated I was right. He may have been sent there by the resistance to take him out. If there is a real resistance, and if Alex is in it. I'm not sure. The dead Englishman, Kurtzweil, Alex...the implications of their words and actions still form new questions even as they seem to answer others. So, I keep looking. I'll get to the bottom of those questions. Or die trying.

I suppose I should have thanked Alex. I might have if I hadn't passed out before he walked away. Too late now. If I ever see him again I might consider it. Before I shoot *him* in the head.

At any rate - I've been on a medical leave of absence since I got out of the hospital on December 15th. I'll be off until January 2nd. Happy New Year, Mulder. But I want to get back. Working is going to keep me together. At least I hope to hell it will. But seeing Scully again, having to work with her...or face not working with her maybe. Well, it's not going to be easy. Who am I kidding? I'm not sure what's going to happen, it hurts and it's driving me the rest of the way to crazy! Damn! I have to get these thoughts out of my head. Good luck, Mulder. Good fucking luck.

Let's continue please! I would have been out sooner if I hadn't developed a raging sinus infection. Trust me to catch some damn germ floating around in that hospital. Thanksgiving was pretty miserable. Walter stopped in, of course, and we ate our hospital rubber turkey together, bless his beautiful butt. He was going down to Ambler, Pennsylvania to be with his family on Friday. But he made it for the actual holiday with me. It was a risk, I know. I guess he passed it off as employee morale duty or something. He visited the other two wounded agents who still hadn't been sprung yet too. So it didn't look too bad for him to eat dinner with me under those circumstances.

Hey, did you think my mother came down from Connecticut? Guess again. Teena called to wish me a happy Thanksgiving - on Friday. But, she never joined me over the holiday. She was down here when I was first in the hospital however, to her credit. My aunt Marion, her sister, drove her down. I guess my mother spent the holiday with them in Connecticut. Fine by me. Rubber chicken and Walter were a hell of a lot better than making convoluted small talk with my benighted mother. God, no kidding.

Scully was a no show too. Well, she did call from Maggie's house. I talked to Maggie too. She was sweet. She has such high hopes for Dana and me. I can imagine the atmosphere might have been a little...thick at her mother's house. I hope our relationship issues didn't intrude too much on the festivities. But knowing Scully, she tried to keep it low key. If she said anything to her mother she probably admitted to a minor lover's spat. She told her my mother was coming down for the holiday and we wanted to be alone to remember my father. Right. Whatever.

I could hear the crowd at Maggie's house over the phone. Big family get together. Charles was there. Bill and his family came from San Diego. Ugh. It almost made me glad I was in the hospital bed. I talked with Scully for a half hour. She sounded good - but not...well it wasn't the same. I can still hear the tension. We haven't talked about anything yet. She's been to see me in the hospital more than once and it's all small talk. She's kept up with the case load. Gallago had been assigned to her after he was released from his medical leave. Burton over in VCS must have had a guilty conscience. But she's been very busy. Who am I kidding? She's avoiding the issue. Walter said he tried to approach her to discuss us and she's still putting him off. God, I hope he can get her into some kind of dialogue. I just don't know what else to do. The balls in her court now. I...I can hardly bare to...hardly bare it.

God, Scully! I miss you so much. I don't know what I'll do if you're gone for good. I feel so adrift. I'm trying desperately not to sink further into depression but it is so damn hard. The pain in my heart and soul burns like the heat of this dawning sun. But the pit of my stomach is cold like the winter beach - and my blood runs dry like the sand stretching to the sea. There's no sense in my pressuring her, though. I told Walter not to pressure her either. Walter hovering over her might do more harm than good in the long run. So I'm waiting. We're all waiting. And wondering and... this is practically killing me.

If it wasn't for Walter...I don't know what I'd do. He's been...wonderful. A pain in the butt but his heart's in the right place. He insisted, non too lightly, that I take this medical leave. I fought him over it at first but then, when the prospect of returning to work and facing Scully reared it's head I decided maybe a couple of weeks off wouldn't be a bad idea. I know this goes against the grain, against my usual obsessive, compulsive, focused behavior. Against business as usual. But you know what? This isn't business as usual. It feels like part of my life - the Scully part - is going out of business - rapidly. Suddenly I wanted to crawl into a hole and lick my wounds. You might even say crawl away, wounded, to die. Maybe that idea was in the back of my mind even earlier. Ask yourself what I was doing volunteering to help Gallago with that profile and then going on that stake-out.

At any rate, Walter got this house for me. I mean asked one of his buddies to loan it to him for a while. One of his old Club 219 war buddies. Walter used to come up to Crossroads years ago with Sharon. He knows the area. His buddy had this small house on the beach. I think Walter told him he'd help him roof it next summer in trade for borrowing it. Maybe I'll come up and help too.

Everyone thinks I'm spending the holiday with my mother - well everyone but Scully and Teena. Scully knows where I am. Teena thinks I'm with Scully. Marion and her family are going to Teena's house for Christmas. Don't you love this time of year? Deck the halls with broken families. What a load of crap. I guess I'd be less bitter if Teena wasn't getting a rep for being the devoted mother without even trying here. Oh screw it. I have to stop going there. It's only making it worse.

At any rate, I'm in Maine. I asked my doctor to refer me to a discreet colleague in the area before I'd agree to come up here. When that was accomplished, Walter followed me up to Crossroads and tucked me in here. It was damn fantastic for him to try to help me. Well what do I expect? We love each other. We really do. And I've missed him almost beyond words.

I just wish...I wish Scully was here. Here so we could talk. Damn it. I mean for crying out loud, it's Christmas eve tomorrow. I wanted to spend Christmas with both of them. Decorate a tree. Roast a turkey. Open gifts. I had some idea we'd maybe get together at Walter's place or...ah shit. A stupid, idiotic fantasy I guess. Well, at least half of my little dream will come true. I should be thankful for my big bed buddy. He is the center of my world right now. My point of stability. My shield and my anchor. I need to focus on that.

Walter's coming up this afternoon. I...I haven't seen him in two weeks. He had to go to a conference in New York right after he left me up here. He didn't want to leave me alone. But he had no choice. I mean what could he say? Sorry, my lover is half out of his head. I don't want to leave him alone because he's losing it over the fact that his other lover refuses to discuss problems with our three way relationship and...well you get the picture.

I had to swear on a stack of Bibles and my Captain Midnight Decoder Ring that I'd sleep, think happy thoughts, eat right, exercise in moderation, take my meds...I agreed just to get him to shut up and relax. The big mother hen. Or maybe I should say father rooster. I'm going to start calling him Foghorn Leghorn if he isn't careful. I still can't believe he's going to spend Christmas up here with me. I don't know what the hell he told his family. He just said, "Don't worry about it. It's not a problem," in that gruff rumble that makes me melt.

He's bringing Christmas dinner - the big softy. He's got it into his head to roast that turkey - with all the trimmings. We're probably going to end up gorging ourselves. We'll be sick as dogs afterwards - but who the heck cares. I'm just looking forward to helping him with the meal so much.

I told him I'd get the tree. I did. It's sitting on the back porch right now. I hope he appreciates the fact I practically herniated myself getting it up there. Oh, I'm not serious. It's a great tree. I can hardly wait to decorate it with him.

I just wish Scully...Oh damn! I have to shake off some of this self pity before Walter gets here. This is going to be Walter's first Christmas with me for God's sake. I want to make it as special as possible. Besides, if I don't cut the melancholia, he'll nag me about it until I'm whining and he's growling. No way Jose do I want that to happen. So, I'm heading out for some of that exercise in moderation. A walk down to the village as soon as the stores open. Yeah. The walk will clear my head, I hope. Besides, I need to pick up the gift I'm giving Walter. The special gift for my extra special Main Man. That's the ticket.

xXx

It snowed a little on the way back so I made some hot chocolate when I got in the house. It was a nice walk. I ran into that Australian woman again - the one who walks that wall eyed French bull dog. God, that dog looks like Walter. I told her that the first time I saw it, and I thought she'd split she laughed so hard. She remembers Walter and Sharon from when they used to visit Crossroads. After the damn mutt pissed on my leg I told her it must be psychically linked with Skinner, since he's my hard nosed boss. She laughed at that image as well. Mrs. Abernathy. Nice older woman. Reminds me of Julia Child. Makes a mean cup of chamomile tea.

Well, it's almost noon. Walter'll be here any minute. He called from a rest stop on the freeway. I put on a pot of coffee.

I've been listening to some CDs on the small entertainment system the Club 219 guy has in his living room. The Nixons are on right now. I've been listening to that song *Baton Rouge*. Brings back some happy memories despite the fact the song's bent. Hey, I think I hear a car pulling in the driveway. CD player off, sneakers on.

Oh yeah, it's him. He's pulling in next to my Olds Intrigue. No Crown Vic Interceptor today - he must have rented the Ford Explorer. God, it's bright candy apple red. Talk about sticking out like a sore thumb! He's nuts! But, it suits the season. Walter has his own sense of humor you see. It's subtle and corny too sometimes - but it's there. This is his way of saying Merry Christmas, I bet. I love it. I notice immediately that he has his arms full of Giant shopping bags again. I head for the door and throw it open in order to give him a hand. Oh brother is he ever a sight for sore eyes - all three of mine. He looks so good. Since it's turned off cold he's dressed for it. He's got on that big down Eddie Bauer winter coat he wears, the black one...and faded jeans. I almost laugh because he's wearing a hat - one of those black pullover things. I've never seen him in a hat. He looks...military - but strikingly handsome. I suppose he has matching gloves. Yup - I see them just peeking out of his pocket.

"Hey," he smiles somewhat shyly, hefting the bags up higher.

"Hey, yourself. Let me help you with those," I smile wide and walk forward to help him with the bags.

"Great. Watch the one that clinks. It has the wine in it."

"Ok," I take both bags carefully, "Why don't you go back to Rudolph there and get the rest of the supplies."

"Rudolph?"

"The red-nosed Ford, dear," I answer with a smirk.

Walter barks a laugh, "I thought you might like it. Got me in the Christmas spirit for sure when I saw it on the lot."

"Yeah, it's great. Merry Christmas, Walter."

"Merry Christmas, Fox," he replies quietly. We stand and stare at each other for a moment. I swallow hard.

"Well, get the rest of the stuff and come on in, I have coffee ready," I finally find my voice.

"There you go," he smiles warmly and turns back towards the Explorer.

I'm standing in the kitchen when I hear the front door shut. I can hear Walter put the bags down for a minute. Then the door opens again. He must be going back for his luggage. The front door opens and then shuts again. A closet door opens and closes a moment later. He must have removed his coat. His sauntering step is soon heading my way. He comes in with two more bags. I've put the first two on the small kitchen table so I can pour a couple of mugs of coffee. I turn as he puts the other two Giant bags down to join their compatriots. He crosses to me and without hesitation, takes me in his arms, and draws me close.

"I missed you, babe," he rumbles into my hair.

"Missed me, missed me, now you gotta kiss me," I chuckle warmly. He pushes me back slightly and captures my mouth, kissing me until my legs are rubber and I feel like I don't have any air left in my lungs.

When he pulls back a bit and nuzzles my ear I whisper, "I am so glad you're here."

"I guess so, you shaved for me," he grins wolfishly, running his thumb along my jaw line, "I like the haircut too," he chuckles back, ruffling his hand through my close cropped hair.

I run a hand over his bald scalp and down his face. I touch his lips with my finger tips.

"You look good too, sweetheart," I growl in my best Bogie imitation. He laughs again. His breath buzzes against my fingers. I take him in from head to toe then, devouring him with my eyes. I revel in the heavy off white Fisherman's weave sweater where it fits over his muscular chest and powerful biceps. I stare at the faded denim hugging his trim waist, well developed thighs and tight ass. His masculine work boots complete the picture. The perfect picture of the man I love. I move forward and we go for another liplock. Oh Lord, he tastes so good.

This time when we break the kiss we're breathless. He turns away and adjusts his glasses a little.

"You warm enough now or do you still want some coffee?" I ask taking in his red ears. He still gets embarrassed about the strength of his emotions. I still find that refreshing - and a really big turn on. He gives me a raised eyebrow.

"Truth?"

"You'd like the coffee."

"Yeah...for now. I have some news you'll wanna hear anyway."

His wicked grin makes my skin feel like electricity is arcing all over it. Well, I can wait. The promise of that grin will be fulfilled later. I'm sure. Oh yeah. I can be very patient. No problem.

"News?" I'm intrigued of course despite my raging libido.

"Yeah. Let me get my luggage upstairs and then I'll fill you in."

I grab the coffee and head for the living room. He goes for his suitcase where it sits in front of the coat closet and heads upstairs. He's back directly and we both enter the living room together. The living room is decorated in early Maine I guess you'd call it. Sort of - Martha Stewart meets Red/Green maybe. Anyway it's not bad. Hard wood floors. White washed walls with lots of photographs and prints. The Maine coast, covered bridges, area landmarks. The club 219 guy is a decent photographer. One wall has a window which partly overlooks the sea. There's a window seat under it. I have the curtains closed right now against the chill. There's a hooked rug on the floor to cushion the wood. A butcher block coffee table and end tables. Big lamps on both end tables which I've turned on. Overstuffed chairs. A small liquor cabinet. Knick nacks. Mostly pottery of all kinds. The Club 219 guy's lover is a potter. It's all hand thrown. It's a nice sized room. The couch is big, sort of early American but a little more plush. There's a patchwork quilt folded over the back. One wall features a fireplace with an elegant mantle. The grill and irons picture a hunt scene...hounds, horses. The room focuses on that fireplace.

Walter glances at the hearth and back at me with mute understanding.

"You want me to start a fire?" he offers as amiably as he can.

He knows I still get nervous around flames. I can sit in front of a fire place without too much trouble now. But starting the fire is still beyond me. So, the logs and newspaper tinder stacked neatly next to the friendly fire place have gone untouched, and the hearth is cold.

"Sure. I'd like that," I smile back. He puts his coffee cup down on the coffee table and moves to open the fire place grill. He picks up a couple of logs from the stack. As he's placing the logs inside the fireplace, I sit down on the couch.

"So, what gives, Walter. Give me the lowdown," I ask, taking a sip of my coffee.

"Well first of all, the rumor is going around that Jana Cassidy is looking to leave the bureau."

"No shit."

"Yeah. It floored me too. I mean I thought she was career. But evidently the scuttlebutt is that she's leaving to go into the private sector."

"Maybe you're spurning her broke her wizened heart after all, Walter."

He laughs as he puts some newspapers under and around the logs, "Somehow I don't think that has anything to do with her possible decision."

"Well, has she denied she's leaving?"

"She hasn't said anything one way or the other. The rumor came from Richard Johnson, Michaud's replacement in Dallas. He was at the New York conference and mentioned he'd heard she was looking into some big security firm in Las Angeles. How he knew that in Dallas..."

Walter shrugs and falls silent as he looks around for some matches.

"Good. I wouldn't mind if she moved an entire coast away."

"Ditto," he growls striking a big kitchen match from the box he finds on the mantle. He touches the newspaper and it ignites. He adjusts the flew, lights a few more matches and distributes them around the stack of logs. Finally he steps back as the logs begin to really burn. He rubs his arms and turns back to get his coffee.

"Feels good," he grunts.

"Come on over here," I smile and pat the couch. He walks back towards me, picking up his coffee.

He joins me and leans into the cushions in the corner of the couch. I move close and he puts his arm around me. I snuggle into his shoulder.

"How's the stomach?" he asks nodding towards where he knows the scar lies beneath my LL Bean sweater.

"Itches like hell."

"So, it's healing."

"Yeah, I haven't had any trouble."

"Taking your antibiotics?"

"Of course, Dr. Skinner."

"Hey, I don't want to have to nurse you through a relapse of the damn sinus infection, Fox. My idea of a pleasant Christmas doesn't involve watching your nose run."

"No chance. I've been a good boy," I laugh.

"I should hope so."

"So, was Jana's exodus the only gossip?" Instantly, the idea that I want to ask him about Scully flashes into my mind. I grimace inwardly and kick it back - shoving it deep. I can't do that to us right now. It's just to...to raw. I succeed in making the errant musing disappear as Walter replies.

"Pretty much. But you'll be happy to know I talked to Spender. And by the way - he had one hell of a bruise on his forehead," he shakes his head ruefully.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, lucky you have a hard head," he teases, giving my head a tap.

"One of my many charms. So you had this conversation with him..."

"Yes," he answers with a sigh, stroking my arm.

"And..."

"I ended up apologizing to him."

"Well, I guess that wasn't a bad move."

"Right. I mean he really wasn't responsible for that whole Virginia fiasco. So, I was out of line when I chewed him out there."

"But that guy still smells to me Walter. And I don't mean smells like teen spirit."

"Like what?"

"Never mind - it's a song by Nirvana. But you know what I mean."

"You mean he smells like fucking Morley smoke?"

"Exactly."

Walter sighs, "You could be right, I'm afraid. I guess maybe I should see what I can dig up in that area."

"I had the same idea. I've put out some feelers. The Lone Gunmen will help. I can call in some other favors."

"I guess I can call in some favors too. Maybe even up on the hill if I play my cards right," Walter shifts slightly.

"I should talk to Senator Matheson..."

"Mulder?"

"Yes."

"Would you mind if we discuss this later...I'd like to...I guess I'd just like to sit here and hold you for a while."

Oh God. You know he never ceases to amaze me. And where the heck is my brain? This is Christmas. He's on vacation. Just keep talking about work and my problems why don't I? Geez.

"Sure, I'm sorry big man. I didn't mean to talk shop."

"Don't sweat it. I'm just in vacation mode. I don't go there often but when I do..."

"You par-tay..."

"Well I wouldn't go that far...but I would like to sit here and relax with my lover, if that's acceptable to him."

"I think he would find it more than acceptable."

"Good. Now, ditch that coffee cup and shift your ass in here," he growls and I laugh and move my arm towards the coffee table.

I put my coffee cup down and so does he. He leans back into the corner of the couch and I lie down in front of him so that he can hold me against his chest and I can press near his entire side. I drape one leg over his and lay my head under his chin.

"How's this?" I ask, nuzzling his chest.

"Perfect, babe," he answers with a little grunt of contentment.

We lie still for several moments. He strokes my hair. I stroke his stomach.

"I was so worried about you," he whispers at last.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's my way. I worry. You'll get used to it."

"I kind of like it, actually."

His gruff chuckle trembles right through me.

"Could have fooled me."

It's my turn to chuckle. I kiss his neck.

"I don't think I fool you at all most of the time."

"You'd do well not to forget it too, agent."

We lie like that for a long time, Walter's warm, hard body driving my depression away with each breath he takes. It isn't completely gone but it's buried deep enough that it's easier not to notice it. I notice it even less as his hard arms circle me gently and we shift to lie face to face. We began to touch and caress each other in a leisurely, unhurried manner. It's wonderfully enjoyable to just feel each other's bodies. It's marvelous being back together again after being so long apart. Walter begins to work my sweater off and I help him to pull it over my head. I toss it on the floor as he rubs my nipples through my t-shirt.

Walter kisses me again. I surrender myself to him as his mouth and hands roam over my face and neck. He presses closer.

"Uhhhh..." I moan into his ear as he sucks on my neck.

"Fox..." he groans, "Hey, I should...I should have been more careful...I'm sorry," he looks down where he's pressing lightly against my stomach.

I giggle before I can stop myself. The contrite look on his face tickles me, "Walter, come on - I'm not moaning in pain. I want you, you big stud. You're making me crazy here."

He shakes his head ruefully and replies, "In that case, I'll accept the flattery."

"You'd better, Mr. Skinner. You're really turning me on."

"Are you sure?"

"If you're turning me on?" I raise an eyebrow and press the bulge in my pants against his thigh."

"Nuts!"

"Oh, yeah, let's discuss my nu.."

"Cancel that. Forget it right now. I know I left myself wide open again. Jesus, you make me sex stupid, Mulder."

"And you love it too."

"Yeah, I do," he rumbles his laughter.

Both of us are starting to lose it. He's shaking with suppressed mirth. I'm giggling. Shit, I hate that giggle. But I've been doing it all my life. The first time Scully heard it she almost dropped her drawers. Come to think of it she did. The sudden unbidden thought of Dana quells my humor. I swallow to squash it. Walter interprets my struggling as an attempt to speak again, thank God. I haven't let any of my anguish show on my face.

He calms again as well, and his face grows serious. He touches my stomach with tenderness. I smile gently into his concerned face.

"What I meant was...you're not...too sore, your stomach to tender yet to..."

"I'm fine, really Walter. I want to make love. It's been too long. Let's go upstairs."

"You'd better be fine or the phrase, "Not tonight Honey, I have a headache is gonna take on a whole new meaning."

I touch his cheek and smile wider, "I wouldn't bullshit you, Walter. Never. Really. I know what it would do to you if you thought you hurt me. I'm fine. Come on."

"All right, lover," he purrs like a great big cat as we get up.

I step over my sweater where it lies on the floor.

"Don't forget your sweater," he purrs again.

"All right, Felix."

He swats my butt as I retrieve the turtleneck, "That's Mr. Unger to you, Oscar."

I stand up, grin, and take his hand.

The upstairs in the house consists of a small study, master bathroom and a huge master suite. There's a smaller guest bedroom downstairs but this bedroom was clearly made for fun. I've been sleeping up here because there's a big screen TV in one corner. My ideal bedroom - yes sir. And of course - the King sized bed is something to see. It's all light wood with huge posts and a canopy for crying out loud. The thing is piled high with a huge winter comforter and tons of pillows. Walter told me the Club 219 guy and his lover come up here mostly in summer and fall. They don't use the house as much in winter. But they were here just before I came to town. They made the bed up for us before they left. Yeah, Dennis and Phil really are nice guys. I bet they have some interesting times up here. You bettcha. It's a bed made for partying I'd say. Partying hearty.

I lead Walter into the bedroom and toss my sweater into a nearby overstuffed chair. I turn around to face him. He takes me in his arms again, kissing and laving my neck.

He whispers in my ear, "Let me undress you."

I nod, weak in the knees, and he starts to slowly pull every piece of my clothing off until I'm standing nude before him.

"You are so beautiful," he tells me.

"Your turn." I reply quietly. He gathers my clothes up first and places them over the back of the same chair my sweater is lying in. My shoes and socks go underneath the chair.

I'm smirking like an idiot. But, he's such a queen sometimes, such a neat freak. Then he pins my eyes and starts to disrobe. One item at a time, even more slowly. He only breaks eye contact long enough to put his glasses on the night stand and take each item of clothing over to the chair where my clothes lie. By the time he's down to his boxer briefs, I'm panting. He comes back to stand in front of me, that really wicked grin on his face again.

"You are such a cock teaser..." I hiss, as my cock twitches in response.

"Yeah, and you love that too, don't you?" he growls, looking directly into my face.

"Oh yeah."

He breaks eye contact with me for a moment and looks down as he strokes the bulge in his briefs for me. Damn he's practically torturing me here. But I love it. He looks back up and I lick my lips as he takes off his briefs. His heavy erection springs free. He tosses the briefs onto the chair.

I can't resist any longer. I walk forward and stand close to him, running my hands up and down his arms.

"You're beautiful," I breathe seductively, echoing his sentiments.

"Come on..." he chuckles in self-depreciation.

"And a show off," I purr reaching down to caress his balls.

"Show off?" Yeah, and I'm not done..." he replies in a low voice and then he sinks to his knees. My hands fly off him for a second and then clutch convulsively on his shoulders. Christ. His mouth is on me before I have a chance to blink.

"Oh God," I gasp. He takes me in, slowly. My hips buck forward, forcing him to deep throat me. Oh Lord, it's just been too long. But Walter has gotten a lot better at giving head. My quick thrust doesn't phase him and I can feel his throat relaxing to take my length. He brings his large hands around and grips my ass and his mouth is doing things to me I can hardly believe possible. I thrust into him, hard. I know I'm going to come fast. I'm too excited to last long.

"Walter!" I cry out his name as my climax hits me. I feel like someone shocked my ass the surge is so powerful, so stunning. All my muscles are jumping and I come in a rush. My semen pours down Walter's throat but he's managing to swallow it down as I lose myself in the sensations. My body jerks against his head and he grips my hips to steady me.

When I come back to myself he's licking me clean.

"I have to sit down," I gasp.

"I bet," he smiles up at me. I grin and he helps me back to the bed. He pulls the quilt back. We lie down next to each other on the sheets. I kiss him deeply and taste myself on his tongue.

"That was so good," I breathe into his ear.

"It was good for me too. I like to get you off. It's a turn on."

"What about you now?" I ask, smiling and stroking his straining erection.

"You can blow me. I'd like it."

"Oh. Ok, sure. But I thought..."

"You want me inside?"

"Well, yeah."

"Hey, Uh...I'm still not so sure that's a good idea."

"Walter, really, I'm fine. I was wounded in the stomach, not the ass, for crying out loud."

"Yeah, but you still have trouble bringing your knees up - I saw you flinch when you got on the couch."

"Look, don't worry about it. If it hurts we can slow down or stop."

"Well..."

"Please, lover. I...I need to feel you in me. And I know you want it."

"Yeah, I want it. But my pleasure isn't worth the expense of your pain."

"I promise if I even feel a twinge, I'll holler."

He smiles tersely, "You're gonna holler anyway."

"Oh, now listen to you Mr. *S for Stud* Skinner."

"Ok, monster boy. I get your point."

"You always do...in the end..."

"Always? guess again, agent," he's shaking his head and starting to laugh once more. I pull him close and kiss him again, deeply. He groans when I break the contact. He runs one large hand down the side of my face.

"Ok, I'll agree about the *in the end* bit," he chuckles.

"All right, that's my man. Besides, you don't want to miss a chance to ream me, do you? I mean you haven't been able to do it in your office for..."

He snorts a laugh and pats my cheek, "One of these days, Mulder...you'll be surprised what I'll do to you in my office."

"Oh shit - I've had that fantasy big guy. Let me tell you."

"Oh yeah, I don't doubt it, you friggin' pervert," he grunts in amusement as he moves over to the night stand, "Dennis said...oh yeah, hear we go."

He pulls out a tube of Astroglide, "Dennis said they left us well supplied."

"I really will have to send those two guys a thank you note."

"Yeah, me too," Walter nods as he uncaps the tube and starts to slick up his fingers.

"Walter?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you. Can we do this kind of spooned together? I mean can you hold me? I'd like that."

"Behind you?"

"Yeah."

"Sure. That might be more easy on your gut anyway," he smiles warmly. I lie down with my back to him. I feel his slick, warm fingers at my anus. He pushes one and then two fingers inside very carefully.

"Is this ok?"

"Oh yeah."

He gently works the two fingers in and out and then in deep.

"Have you been doing this yourself?" he whispers against my neck as he stretches me.

"I did it when...when I beat off a couple of times in the last week or so. I didn't want to be totally virgin for you."

He chuckles, "Yeah, well it worked, you're not."

The third finger goes in, and I moan with the contact as he brushes my prostate.

"Feel good, lover?" he murmurs as he starts to finger fuck me.

"Oh God, yes," I gasp, pressing into his hand.

He moves forward and I bring my knees up a little so he can press against me from the back. I'm not having any pain with my legs only pulled up slightly. He reaches round and begins to play with my nipples, stroking and tweaking each in turn until I'm groaning. Then he shifts his hand down and toys with the tip of my cock, teasing it, stroking the glans and the crown to arouse me further.

"Walter."

"What?" he asks, breathing hard.

"Don't worry about me, lover. I can take care of myself. Just...put it in."

He kisses my back tenderly and I hear him slick his cock up. He drapes one muscular leg over my hip and positions himself for entry. I breath in as he presses into me.

"Christ that's good," I moan as I feel his thick, hardness inching into my body.

"Oh yes. Oh yeah," he groans back. When he's in up to his nuts he pulls me closer and circles my waist with his arms.

"Can you hold me for a minute?" I whisper breathlessly.

"Just..." he pants.

I whimper. This is the best. I feel so full. So protected. More grounded for one wonderful minute as Walter lies still behind me - his heavy, aroused breath playing warmly against my neck.

"I'm sorry," he groans hard, his control gone as he moves against me.

"It's all right, it's feels so good. I love you. Do it. Just do it," Tears spring into my eyes and the words come tumbling out. I'm thankful he can't see my face as he thrusts against me in long, smooth pumps.

"Oh baby, I love you too," he croons. Then he's reduced to groaning and grunting again as he drives faster. It's been a while for him too. He's thrusting hard towards his own orgasmic oblivion.

I reach down and fist myself as he works into me again and again. He's hitting my prostate with almost every stroke and I'm gone just as fast again, shooting semen all over my hand and the sheets. I can feel my muscles clamping down on him. I'm making some kind of guttural animal noise of pleasure.

"Oh God," he gasps and I feel him stiffen behind me. His orgasm comes fast and makes him convulse violently against me. I feel the rush of semen, warm and deep inside. He must have been celibate for most of the time since I was wounded - he shot really hard. Some of it backflows out of me as his now spastic thrusts start to weaken.

"Oh babe, Oh babe," he moans, trying to catch his breath. I pull off him, still shaking myself, because I really want to see his face and hold him as we both tremble. I shift over and take him into my embrace, pulling his head to my neck. He's very damp. I smooth away the sweat.

"S'good. S'ok," I murmur as he comes back to himself. He kisses me on the throat.

I can feel sleep almost overtaking me. I know I'm still a bit weak and tired from the gunshot wound and surgery to remove the bullet. Not to mention the fever from the sinus infection. I snuggle down, close to Walter and mumble into his chest.

"I'm gonna crash, lover. Little nap. Sorry. An hour, ok? Wake me in an hour."

"No problem, bud. You earned the rest. Sweet dreams," he kisses my hair. Just before I fall asleep I feel him cleaning me off with a warm washcloth. Then he pulls the comforter up around my neck and I drift off.

xXx

I wake up and stare, bleary eyed at the clock. As soon as I do, my eyes fly wide. 5 o'clock!? I told Walter an hour for God's sake. I'm miffed for only a couple of frowning seconds. Ok. I must have needed the rest. Walter would have been the first to realize it of course. My father rooster. I usually don't sleep soundly at all without a TV on though, or a gender unspecified bed buddy.

But maybe besides being tired the other reason I slept soundly is the muffled sound of rock music I can hear coming from the floor below. The bedroom door is closed but I can just make out Jimi Hendricks' scalding guitar licks. Uh huh. Walter is satisfying his secret 60s rock fix down there. Ooh, I want to see this. I get up. Pull a clean pair of boxers out of the dresser drawer I'm using and move quietly towards the door. I open it and creep down the short hallway to the top of the stairs. I'm smirking now. Walter is singing down there. I can hear his gruff rendition of *Voodoo Chile* quite well.

You know, the AD has a pretty good singing voice. I've heard him in the shower a couple of times. My rock star warbling stinks to be frank. Although I wouldn't admit it. But Walter can belt it out passably - as long as the song is some 60s or 70s band's anthem. Vietnam bands. He doesn't have much of a clue when it comes to bands from the 80s and 90s - oh, except maybe for ZZTop. He can growl through "La Grange" pretty damn well.

He's doing a good job with Jimi right now. I know he has a soft spot for Hendrix. I wish I could get him to listen to "Rob Zombie" more. But somehow even though he has a great rumbling, gravely bass voice I don't see him working his way through "Dragula" or "Spookshow Baby" - even on Halloween. I place a careful foot on the stairs and head down to sneak a pick at Mr. Microphone.

Walter is sitting on the couch, singing and kind of bobbing a little. I think he's tapping his foot. The last step creaks. Shit. He hits the volume button and it lowers to a softer version of Hendrix's sizzling sound.

"So, welcome back to the land of the living," he nods.

"I think I like your version of Christmas Carols, Walter. Hell of a lot better than "Deck the Halls."

He shuts off the CD player with a chuckle.

"Don't stop the music, big man. I was enjoying the serenade."

He laughs. "Oh yeah, right."

"No really. You have a knack for Hendrix, Walter. Seriously."

I can see his ears redden a little. He's embarrassed but I can also tell from his body language that he's flattered by the compliment.

"Well, whatever. I had a lot of practice I guess - in Nam..." he lets his voice trail off and a brief shadow passes across his face. He shakes it off quickly however.

"So, you hungry?"

"I guess so, it's 5 o'clock."

"You needed the sleep," he stands up and smoothes his jeans down.

I smile and hold my hands up in surrender to let him know I'm not going to press the issue by any means.

"No argument. I am starving though. What did you have in mind?"

"Your call. If you want to go out, I'm up for it. If not - we can stay in. We'll flip to see who cooks. You did buy groceries?" he cocks an eyebrow up.

I raise mine back, "Where do you think the coffee came from, Juan Valdez?"

"Ok," he smirks raising his hands up in turn. "So, in or out?" he asks again.

"Go out together? Do you think that's advisable?" I ask.

Walter stops to consider.

"Does anyone know who you are and where you're staying?" he asks.

"Only Mrs. Abernathy from town. She said she remembers you and Sharon. I told her I was renting out the house. I mentioned you were my boss...she walks this little dog that looks..."

"Susanna Abernathy has a dog now?"

"French bulldog."

"I'll flip you to see who cooks."

"What?"

"Mrs. Abernathy is the town gossip, Mulder. She makes the rounds, every day and digs up all the dirt. She's nice but a real busy body. I think we should keep a low profile under the circumstances. You can go into town if we need supplies. But I'd probably better stay up here."

"Oh shit. I'm sorry Walter. I had no idea. She invited me for tea one afternoon. I didn't tell her very much. And I talked about...about Scully a little. I didn't mention she was my partner though. I told her she was my girlfriend."

"Well, it's probably ok. But let's not take any chances all right?"

"All right. Uh, I need a shower. You want to flip now or wait until I get dressed and come back down?"

Walter sighs a bit. I can tell he's disgusted with having to take precautions. But we really can't risk any suspicions about our relationship. Crap. I hate this too. I smile gamely however to try to lift both our spirits as he works his hand into his jeans pocket and pulls out a quarter.

"Heads or Tails?" he replies.

xXx

"Hang on," I yell as the door bell rings. I won the toss. We're having Chinese delivered from The Golden Dragon restaurant in Crossroads. Well, I wasn't too enthused about cooking. Besides that, Walter rejected my suggestion of beans and franks. Walter's in the downstairs half bathroom as the delivery arrives.

I open the door and greet the delivery person. I'm kind of surprised to see a young Asian woman with a pierced nose.

"Hi," I smile.

"Hi," she smiles back exhaling a cloud of breath into the cold night air, "Mr. Mulder?"

"That's right."

"Ok. Moo shu pork. Orange Beef. Quart of Pork fried rice and quart of white rice. 26.95." she recites, proffering the bag.

"You got it," I nod. I take the bag and place it inside on the floor next to the door.

I reach into my back pocket and retrieve my wallet taking out some bills.

"Keep the change, uh..." I fumble, replacing my wallet.

"Wendy."

"Thanks Wendy."

"Thank you, Mr. Mulder. Have a nice night," she smiles and turns to go. Just before she gets off the porch however, she turns back. "Oh sorry, forgot these," she reaches into her coat pocket and hands me several fortune cookies, "I didn't want them to get crushed in the bag."

"Great," I smile.

"Night," she finishes leaving the porch. She walks quickly towards her car where it waits out front.

"Night," I reply and shut the door behind her. I take the bag and carry it into the kitchen. Since there's no dining room in this house I guess the wooden kitchen table will be where we'll have Christmas dinner as well. I notice it takes a leaf. I suppose if we had company... I squash the idle thought as Walter comes into the room.

"Smells great," Walter comments.

"Yeah. Grab a plate and dig in."

Later...

Walter and I are sitting at the kitchen table, plates in front of us. I'm toying with the remainder of my orange beef and rice - both kinds. During the meal my mind started to wander to thoughts of Scully and all the Chinese take-out we've shared over the years. The deep sadness that overtakes me with the thoughts destroy my appetite before I can take another bite.

Walter is staring at me. He quietly puts his chopsticks down on the edge of his empty plate. He'd scarfed down all his portion of Moo Shu Pork and white rice.

"What's wrong, Mulder?"

I look up from my plate and before I can hide it I know he sees the depression in my eyes staring mutely back at him.

He sighs, "Look, Mulder, she'll...she's going to deal with this in her own time. She told me she would and Scully isn't the type of woman to go back on her word. You have to be patient."

"Walter, I just don't know. I'm afraid she may be gone for good."

"Fox, if she is, you'll just have to deal with it. I really meant it when I said I'd be here for you. Let me help, ok? Just...let me in."

"I know, Walter. I'm sorry. But it's hard, you know. You're going to have to be patient with me too, I guess. I'm going to be more of a basket case then usual until I hear from her one way or the other," I try to smile put it comes off as a wane little twitch.

"Fox, believe me, I have a lot of patience concerning you."

I chuckle a little at the gruff, but loving tone in his voice.

"Yeah, I know. We've had a lot of water go under the bridge haven't we Walter?"

"A torrent. And we'll probably see more. But I think we can keep each other afloat. If we let ourselves."

"Right," I breathe out, nodding. I look back down at my plate.

Walter finally breaks the silence that hangs heavy between us, "Hey, you didn't open your fortune cookie."

"Oh, yeah. Which one?"

"Pick one."

"Ok." There are three of them. I reach out and pick the one closest to me, opening it's cellophane package. Walter takes one and pulls off the cellophane as well. He opens his and pulls out the fortune, reading it. He barks a quick laugh.

"Well so much for this one," he laughs tossing it to me.

The cookie's little slip of paper says, *Your brilliant smile and pleasing personality win you many friends.*

"Oh shit," I chortle.

"No kidding," he grins in self depreciation, "What about yours?" he asks raising his eyebrows and popping half the now vacant cookie into his mouth.

I crack open my cookie and pry out the little message. When I read it I shake my head and purse my lips.

"What?" Walter frowns.

"Here," I reply in a quiet voice.

Walter takes the message and reads it aloud, "One person's loss may be another's gain? What the fuck does that mean?"

"Well, what have you gained Walter?"

The color drains out of Walter's face in one second and then red climbs up it from somewhere down inside the forest green cashmere sweater he's now wearing. He struggles for control. It takes a mighty effort but when he speaks, the rage coupled with despair are contained just below the surface.

"Bullshit," he hisses, between clenched teeth. "Are you trying to say I'm...I'm glad Scully..."

I feel tears moistening my eyes. My God. How could I ever...what a total clueless turd I am. I feel like going upstairs, getting my Smith and Wesson and blowing my brains out.

"Oh Christ, look Walter, I'm sorry," my voice quavers in reply. "I...that was way out of line. Forgive me, please. I'm just in a really shitty mood here. Forget I even said it. I'm such a jackass."

For a few moments Walter stares at me. His face goes back to normal and his shoulders relax. He takes a deep breath. Finally, he waves his hand in the air in dismissal. Then he tears the tiny piece of paper up into even more minute pieces, "I've forgotten it already," he replies with conviction.

"Thanks," I sigh and look down again, profound relief flooding my body. "Look, I'm...I'm pretty full. Why don't you go out and stoke up the fire? I'll clean up in here."

"All right," he nods gently, getting up from the table. I rise as well and we stand in front of each other for a minute.

You want a drink?" he asks. "I brought some brandy up with the wine."

"Sure, just a little though. I don't want to pass out on you."

"This is top shelf brandy, Mulder. You only swirl a little around in the snifter." he chuckles in order to lighten the mood further.

"Ah, snifters. Now I can get into one of those," I grin back.

He touches the end of my nose smiling wryly, "I wonder why?"

A shiver runs up my spine as he moves back, turns and exits for the living room.

We end up sitting side by side in front of the fire, brandy snifters in hand, and stocking clad feet propped up on the coffee table. We sniff and sip in companionable silence. The brandy and the fire warm my bones, blood, muscles, and flesh - but I'm still a bit restless. Walter's eyelids look heavy. The big meal and booze are making him sleepy. I jab his side a little.

"Hmph?" he grunts, his eyes opening wide.

"Let's take a walk, Walter. I need to stretch."

"Mulder, it's freezing outside."

"Yeah, but there's no wind. If we keep moving it should be ok."

"Where are we going to walk?"

"I thought the beach..."

He looks at me skeptically.

"Oh come on, big man. The stars are fantastic out here. Where's your sense of adventure...your romance?"

"All right. All right. Get your shoes and coat," he gives in, smiling, as he takes the brandy snifter from my hand. He puts both almost empty glasses down on the coffee table and follows me to the coat closet in the hall.

xXx

"Mulder, that hat is too much," Walter drawls as we walk up the beach keeping pace with each other, "It's almost so bright it's making it hard to see the stars."

I'm wearing the flaming red thinsulate stocking cap that Teena gave me in a fit of generosity a couple of Christmas' ago. It's great for jogging. Keeps my head insulated mighty fine. I laugh.

"Almost as bright at that tomato on wheels you drove up here."

He laughs in return. I take his hand a little shyly. Sure it's dark and there isn't anyone else out on the beach. But we are in public. I'm almost afraid he'll pull away. To my relief and pleasure he doesn't pull back, but instead winds his gloved hand more firmly around mine.

"You should have worn gloves, Fox," he whispers as we walk on.

"My hands are fine," I smile over at him. My other hand is in the pocket of my LL Bean foul weather coat. I'm as warm as toast. Warmer as I feel Walter's hand squeeze mine. We walk behind a particularly large outcrop of tumbled and weathered rocks. Our view of the house side of the land is totally blocked. I pull on Walter's hand.

"Hold up, lover," I whisper in return.

He stops and I draw him back against me into the shelter of the rocks.

"Look up," I point and he turns slightly and gazes into the sky, into the myriad of bright stars that shine down on us through the clear, cold night air.

"You're right, they are fantastic," he rumbles against me. I draw his chin back down and around and kiss him, devouring his mouth. He moans a bit when we break contact. We smile into each others eyes. I have a sudden wicked idea.

"Did Scully ever tell you what I like to do at the beach? I mean what I'm almost compelled to do when I see the tide coming in?"

"No," he answers suddenly suspicious.

"Body surf," I answer in a rush, and pushing him back slightly, I run like hell for the pounding winter surf.

"Are you motherfucking crazy?" Walter yelps, turning instantly to give chase, "come back here you asshole. Damn it! Mulder! Fox!"

I'm fast, but Walter is no slouch in the running department. I can hear him barreling close after me like a freight train.

"Just wait till I get my hands on you!" he hisses behind me. I turn on a dime well short of the surf and Walter, his head long rush propelling him, slams into me knocking us onto the sand in a tangle of arms and legs.

"You'll do what with your hands?" I laugh breathlessly as he pins me down.

"I should smack you silly, you crazy idiot," he mock growls. The surf pounds in my ears and picks up the back beat of his gruff voice.

"Oh, just smack me Mr. Lancaster. From Here to Eternity."

"You and your movie references," he groans, his voice rough with passion as he lunges forward to capture my mouth. We're sucking on each other's lips until our mouths finally spring open and our tongues meet frantically to taste each other. We grind our hips together, lost in lust for several heated minutes. This is nuts. Someone could see us. But apparently both of us are sex stupid right now. Who the hell cares. God! Half the fun is the danger. It's a rush. Walter breaks the kiss and hisses into my ear."

"Let's get the hell out of here."

"Back to the house?"

"Back to the house so you can fuck me senseless."

"Yeah. Give me a hand up," I nod and he does.

xXx

"Christ!" Walter cries out as I drive into him again and again. I'm looking down into his face, his legs over my shoulders and my hand on his swollen cock. There's hardly another sight in the world more exquisite then this magnificent man in the throes of passion. He has his head thrown back and his mouth open as he gasps for breath. His arms grip two of the headboard slats and his ass thrusts up to meet my hips. His eye lids flutter open for a moment, and I can see his eyes are practically rolling back in his head. When he shuts his lids again he moans in ecstasy. Jesus it's all too fucking phenomenal.

When we got back to the house both of us stripped naked downstairs in the hallway so we wouldn't track sand all over the hardwood floors. The walk back in the cold had served to make us lose our growing erections. But I didn't think it would be long before we were sporting wood again. Walter went for the stairs double time.

"Walter, uh, use the can," I advised.

"Way ahead of you," he nodded heading for the upstairs bathroom.

Practicality sometimes rears it's head even in the heat of passion. It's better to be running on empty in all departments. Taking my own advise I headed for the downstairs half bath.

Upstairs, in the bedroom I waited for Walter. When he came in, I practically threw him on the bed. He was growling and urging me to fuck him in no uncertain terms and language that was raw even for an ex-Marine. God, it made me so hot I thought I was going to explode. But I took my time prepping him. Passion should not equal pain even when both parties want to fuck each other through the floor.

I got a pillow under his hips and my fingers in his ass as fast as I could. I stretched him slowly though, putting in four fingers finally because I knew I was going to go at him hard and fast once I got in. But the slow, gentle pressure of my fingers was obviously making him insane.

"Do me, come on. Get it up my ass," he growled, thrusting his hips up against my hand as my fingers disappeared even farther into him.

"I'm gonna fuck you good, lover," I hissed in reply, pulling my hand back.

"I wanna feel your cock all the way up to my tonsils," he groaned.

Now I was obliging him, rolling my hips forward in smooth, hard pumps, hitting his prostate with every other stroke or so. It's driving him wild. Right through the ceiling. Walter bears down on me, pushing me out as I drive in. The sensation is incredible. Both of us are bathed in sweat.

"Give it to me. Harder, you prick!" he cries out. I've got all I can do to stay with him. Lucky for him I wasn't lying about my gut being in good shape Otherwise I'd be lying here ruptured all to hell. But this is some fine fabulous ride. I bite my lip, whining as I pummel his ass.

"Fuck, fffuck," he groans, moving his hips sensuously. His balls are rubbing against me and I'm gasping as I can feel the tensing and swollen cum heaviness we're both experiencing.

"Oh yeah, baby. Move for me. Come on, move that nice tight ass."

He swallows hard and bears down on my cock until I cry out, almost losing my grip on his pulsing hard on. He's nearly there. He's going to lose himself totally for me with one or two more yanks of my fist and thrusts of my hips. I've never seen him this far into it. His entire body has started to shake and a red flush spreads over his face and neck.

"Come on baby, come for me. Let it go, lover. Oh God, you look so hot," I urge him on. His body grows suddenly taunt under me and I know that we've hit another home run. Oh mother have we.

"Fffox," he cries out as he comes, semen spurting over his belly in pearly white threads. He arches up, his hands convulsing on the bed posts. No silent scream this time - he roars in pure animal power. His inner muscles clench my cock tight and my entire body seems caught between trying to implode and explode.

"Uhhhhh!" I scream out, throwing myself forward into him all the way up to my balls as they start to empty their load. I'm completely and utterly fuck blind. I can hear Walter's grunted, breathless "God!" and his strong hands on my hands where they hold his legs against my shoulders. After that I'm unaware of most of the world around me. All I can see is white light and all I can feel are spasms rocking my whole frame as my hips continue to thrust forward under their own volition. But I can hear Walter. He's still crying out in a guttural moan.

"Do it, do it, do it," he rants, and our erotic duet seems to last forever until finally I collapse sideways and he follows me over, laughing and gasping, his legs falling around my waist.

"Man, talk about a reaming..." Walter rumbles, smiling and nuzzling my ear.

"No kidding, big guy. Hell, that was fucking fantastic."

He chuckles at my teasing imitation of him. His face goes suddenly soft however and he runs his hands down to caress where we're still connected to each other.

"I love you," he murmurs against my hair.

"I kiss his cheek tenderly, "I love you too, Walter."

Our breathing is becoming more regular.

"Are you ok, though?" I ask, my brow furrowing. We were going at it really hard, after all. God were we ever. I'm going to be sore tomorrow and I wasn't even on the receiving end.

"Seem to be," he grunts.

I gently pull out and help Walter to disengage his legs from around my waist. He rolls onto his side away from me so I can take a look at him. He's ok. No tearing and no blood. I guess Walter's stomach and back bone aren't the only parts of his body that are made of cast iron.

"Everything ok?" he asks glancing back.

"Yup, but we'd better shower before bed. And change the sheets, I look down ruefully."

"Good idea. Last man in the shower has to make up the bed again."

Later on, the fresh sheets I had to put on the bed lying against our satiated bodies, Walter and I snuggle and talk some more. It's late and I know sleep is going to overtake us soon. But I love these post coital moments with him a lot. He has his head on my chest, and I'm stroking his scalp and neck. The fringe of his hair is still a little damp from the shower.

"So, tomorrow is Christmas Eve," I murmur.

"We need to put up the tree," he replies sleepily.

"I'm really looking forward to that."

"Me too."

"Walter, what the heck are we going to decorate it with?" I ask in sudden chagrin. I didn't buy or bring any ornaments. What a ridiculous oversight!

"No problem. Your ever well organized AD has three boxes full of ornaments in the back of Rudolph out there. I was leaving them as a surprise but I don't want you to spend a restless night worrying about a naked tree."

"I guess that's why they pay ADs the big bucks," I kiss his scalp.

"You got it."

"Walter?"

"Yeah."

"I really am sorry for what I said earlier."

He shifts up my body and looks into my face.

"About what? I'm afraid I've forgotten," he replies archly.

I chuckle, "Ok, lover. Point taken."

"Fox."

"Yes."

"Go to sleep."

"Ok, Walter. Sweet dreams."

xXx

"NO! NO! Alex you fucker, let her go! Let her...Sculleeee!"

"Mulder, wake up! Fox, come on."

"Sculleee!"

"Fox, I'm here. It's Walter."

"Wwwhat? Walter?"

"Yeah, you were having a nightmare. You ok, babe?" Walter asks as I open my eyes and stare blearily into his.

"Uh, Jesus."

"Hang on man. Let me hold you." Walter whispers, gathering me close. I'm still shaking. The nightmare is receding but I can just remember some of it. Krycek, Scully, lights, Starlight Mountain. God. Another abduction scenario to join the many I already dream about. Wonderful.

"I'm sorry," I mumble against his chest.

"Hey, it's ok. I've been there. You've been lucky enough not to have seen one of my Nam nightmares yet," he murmurs against my hair.

"What was I yelling?" I ask quietly.

"You were screaming for Scully. And something about Alex. I assumed you meant Alex Krycek."

"I was dreaming about Scully's abduction."

"I pretty much assumed that too. You want a glass of water or something?"

"Water would be great, yeah, thanks," I reply, swallowing hard. Walter pulls back and reaches for his glasses where they lie on the night stand. He puts them on and then clicks on the night stand lamp.

"Be right back," he whispers, caressing my shoulder. He gets up and heads into the master bathroom.

I lie back and put an arm over my eyes. God. I'm embarrassed and depressed over having a nightmare in front of Walter. I haven't had one when I've been with him since Baton Rouge. Yelling for Scully while I'm in bed with Walter is one thing. But Alex! Damn it. His parting words to me after I was shot certainly proved to be prophetic didn't they? It figures. I just can't escape that fuck rag. But you know for a very short time we were simpatico. And yeah, my condemnation notwithstanding - he was a fantastic lover. But shit, I have to stop thinking about him. Otherwise the rat bastard will be slinking into my dreams every night.

Walter comes back in with a glass of water and a couple of Tylenol

"Here take these too - just in case your stomach's gonna bother you later."

"Ok, thanks," I take the pills and water.

"You want to talk about the dream some more?" he asks quietly.

I down the pills and water, putting the glass on the night stand.

"Not really. I'd like to try to get back to sleep."

He looks down slightly and frowns.

"What?" I ask looking up into his downturned face.

"Nothing. It's ok. Go back to sleep," he takes off his glasses and sets them on the night stand again. The light goes off.

"All right, I'll talk about it. What do you want me to say?" I can't keep the annoyance out of my voice. His next words make me want to crawl in a hole and die.

"I want you to say you love and trust me enough to tell me about Alex Krycek."

Crap.

"Oh, Walter..." I move to touch his cheek.

He moves his head away slightly and looks seriously into my face.

"I mean, it Fox. You've talked in your sleep a couple of times. I've never...I haven't mentioned it because I've respected your request about not discussing your former...lovers, but..."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Your nocturnal ramblings haven't left much to the imagination."

I sit up and prop myself back against the headboard. So does Walter. We stare off into space for a few moments. I sigh and break the silence once I have my thoughts in order.

"Ok. You're right. We were lovers. Very briefly. His betrayal was so painful to me I can barely talk about him today - except obviously when my subconscious has free rein," I smile weakly. "I hope you realize I feel nothing for him any longer, Walter. I mean nothing but burning hatred. I'd like to see him dead most of the time. I know that sounds...well it doesn't sound very sane, or big of me but...

"Mulder, I don't blame you. After what he did to you and Scully too for that matter I can understand why you'd hate him. But look. I can't say I'm enthused to hear you were fucking Alex Krycek."

"Walter, it's over. Come on, that psychotic prick is out of the picture..."

"Except when he wants to make an appearance during drug busts in Georgetown."

I shrug, "That was his choice. I didn't ask for his help. You can't be jealous of him? I'm not lying to you."

"I realize that Fox. I'm not trying to say I'm jealous. Nothing like that at all. I was just concerned that...well...that he was trying to make contact with you - to come back into your life in order to hurt you again in some way. I needed to know for sure if you'd had a relationship with him so I could gauge just how much of a threat he might be to you."

I rub his arm with affection, "I appreciate that, Walter. But, for some reason I don't think Alex has revenge on his mind. He has his own agenda but...I don't know really. I need to find out. In time I will. Maybe we can find out together."

He nods quietly and takes my hand. He pins my eyes.

"If he ever tries to come after you...I'll kill him myself," he whispers.

"Well, you'll probably have to get in line. I think Scully has a bullet with his name on it too."

"Shit, I bet," he replies grimly.

"Listen, Walter. I...want to tell you that...I...God, I love you so much."

"Come here," he replies, taking me into his arms.

We sink down together and he winds himself around me, holding me close. I start to choke up. Tears run down my cheeks.

"I'm sorry. Shit. I hate blubbering like this in front of you. Christ. You have to think I'm some kind of weenie assed..."

"Shhhh," he soothes, his hands running over my back, "it's all right. Let it out. There's no shame in crying. I should learn to do it more often. Shit. Maybe I can't though. I did so much of it in the MASH unit in Nam, and in the VA hospital that...well, never mind. Just rest, babe. Go to sleep. I'll hold you here until you drop off if you want."

I nod into his chest and as he rocks me gently, I fall asleep.

xXx

December 24, Christmas Eve
Crossroads, Maine

Morning light filters in through my closed eyelids. I struggle through the stickiness to open them. When I finally succeed I see Walter, propped up on one elbow, staring at me.

"Morning," he says a little embarrassed.

"What time is it?" I ask glancing at the clock. I can't quite see it because Walter is blocking my view.

"7."

I smile and shift over to lie flat, "Do you usually make a habit of watching me sleep."

He reaches forward and brushes my close cropped hair.

"Sometimes. Does it bother you?"

"No way. If you can stomach the view, why should I complain," I chuckle, rolling my tongue inside my mouth. Ugh. I need some Scope big time.

"Speaking of stomachs - how is yours doing this morning?"

"A little stiff. But no regrets, believe me," I grin at him. He smiles back and touches my face.

"Last night was the best," he replies quietly.

"For me too, lover," I take his hand and kiss his fingers.

"Listen, I need to work out this morning. Do you want to go for a run - or is your stomach too sore?"

"I think a run might help. I'm really not sore - just tight. If we take it easy I should be fine."

"Ok, I can join you if you'd like. I guess we can use the beach front. It's early enough."

"I'd like, big guy. Let's go."

After our run we come back and Walter does some calisthenics. I spot for him. I can't believe how many sit-ups this guy does. The cross over push-ups are hard to watch too. God! Well he's in great shape for his age. At this rate, he'll stay that way. No pain no gain I guess. It's a kick to watch him work those glorious muscles. To see him sweat.

We shower, and in a fit of Christmas eve neatness shave as well. Both of us throw on our older jeans and sweatshirts though. We need to move the tree inside and I know it's going to be a bit of a messy job. Needles and sap of course. But breakfast calls first.

"How hungry are you?" Walter asks, his head in the fridge.

"I've got some bagels and cream cheese in there. Melon too because I know you like it. That should be fine."

"You want the bagels toasted?"

"Yeah, that would be good."

"Ok," he replies as he starts to pull the food out of the fridge.

I'm making the coffee as he continues to prepare the bagels and cream cheese. As he slices up the melon I glance out the small kitchen window over the sink.

"Hey, it's snowing!"

"Oh yeah?" he turns to look, his brow furrowing.

The flakes are just starting to come down. They're light and fluffy. Really picturesque.

"Looks like we may have a white Christmas," I smile into his face. He looks concerned for a moment but then smiles back and turns to continue cutting the fruit.

"Yeah, a little snow would be nice," he replies.

I shrug off his momentary look of concern. Maybe he was worried about a blizzard making it hard to drive back after the holiday. But this type of snow won't amount to much. So, I guess he realized that too.

"You want some milk?" he asks, as he pours himself a glass.

"Sure."

We eat our meal in companionable silence for a while. Walter toys with the remaining fortune cookie I didn't toss out last night.

"You gonna open this?" he asks speculatively.

"Uh, no," I grimace.

"Shit, sorry," he nods, putting the cellophane wrapped cookie next to the salt and pepper shakers.

"S'ok," I don't want to think about those blasted fortunes again. Walter realizes it and changes the subject.

"Mulder?"

"Yeah."

"Did your family eat the meal on Christmas eve or Christmas day?"

"Day. Why?"

He smiles, "Just curious. I thought we'd stick with your tradition. But my family ate it on the day too. So, that works out fine."

"Yeah, we can do the tree today and rest up so we can gorge tomorrow."

He laughs, "No kidding. You should see how much stuff to eat I brought up here. I hope we don't fall asleep afterwards."

"Well, I thought of that one - I bought some video tapes just in case."

"What kind?" Walter arches an eyebrow.

"No, not that kind. I left *Daryl does Dallas* at home. I've got some taste, Walter."

"Ok. So, what did you bring?"

"Frohike loaned me a bunch of his Avengers tapes - you know Mrs. Peel, we're needed?"

"Oh, well those aren't too bad."

"And...Byers loaned me Dr. No and Goldfinger."

"All right. Now you're talking."

"Thought you might like a little Sean Connery."

"The only decent 007."

"Well, I might argue for George Lazenby."

"Not with me," he mock growls."

"Hey, at least I didn't say Roger Moore."

He laughs and so do I.

Well, are you ready to tackle the tree?" He asks after the laughter subsides.

"Let's do it big man."

Tackle ends up to be a good description. The damn spruce seems to have a life of it's own. We make an attempt to drag it in from the back porch and end up cursing. Walter decides to bring in the boxes of decorations first so we could set up the stand.

All the decorations are neatly wrapped, but not in new store packages. They're wrapped like they've been stored in someone's attic. I raise an eyebrow as Walter starts to dig around in one of the boxes.

"Where did you get these ornaments? When you said you had decorations I assumed you bought new..."

"These are my mother's ornaments," he replies avoiding my eyes.

"You swiped your mother's ornaments?"

"I didn't *swipe* them. I asked her if I could borrow them. I told her I was going to throw caution to the wind and put up a tree this year."

"Well isn't she going to miss them?"

"No. She's spending the holiday at my sister's house with her husband and the grandkids. She's not having her own tree."

"Oh."

Something in his demeanor makes me think he isn't telling me something. He's fussing with several ornaments, paying inordinate attention to their wrapping. His jaw muscle jumps a little and he hasn't been looking at me.

"Walter, what else did you say to your mother when you got the ornaments?"

He sighs and looks at me at last.

"I told her I was seeing someone for Christmas."

"Walter..."

He sets the ornament he's unwrapping carefully on the coffee table and sits down next to it .

"Yeah, I came out to her. It didn't go over too well."

"Oh shit."

"Don't worry, I didn't tell her I was with you. I...I just said I was seeing a man and I would bring him home to meet her...eventually. Look, she...we ended the conversation on a fairly good note. After all...she did give me the ornaments."

"Right," I nod, "and when were you going to tell me this?"

"I know. I should have said something earlier. I was working up to it, I guess," he answers with a terse grimace. He's upset. Of course this is a difficult situation for him. It's still very hard for him to discuss his sexuality. Years of hiding have made it that way. I hope he feels like he can talk to me now though. I want to help him. If he needs my support I can do the best I can to lend an ear. Maybe...maybe even something further if I can get up the guts to help him with his family.

"Look, Walter...if I can help..."

He's silent, looking down for a second. I resume my silent contemplation of him. He looks back up with a nod.

"Ok. But look - uh...I really don't want to talk about this today if you don't mind. It's going to crush the mood big time. Can you understand that, Fox?" he asks quietly.

His deep brown eyes are sad but determined. I can respect his wishes for now. But eventually we'll have to talk about this issue. I know his mother will probably be discrete. But I had no idea he was going to reveal anything to her. I suppose he was tired of hiding. I guess he just got sick of not saying anything to anyone. And you hate to lie to your family. Ask me about that idea. I'm an expert there. Crap.

"It's no problem. But we have to talk about it later, seriously. Whenever you're ready, though Walter. And uh, I guess I can go home with you to meet mama whenever you're comfortable doing that too," I grin a little.

"Thanks, babe. I know we need to talk further. We'll do it." he sighs with relief and we continue to dig through the boxes of ornaments.

Walter finally finds what he's really been looking for in the boxes. The tree skirt. I laugh at that one. My family just used a sheet. Walter has this elaborate crocheted blanket made to look like snowflakes to drape around the tree stand.

"No cracks, asshole, my mother made this thing," he barks as he sets it aside.

"It's lovely, really," I smirk as he glares at me.

Once we have the stand set up and the tree skirt waiting we traipse out and look at the tree again. We can tell by looking at the end that it's going to be difficult getting it into the stand. It always seems like the end of the tree is uneven or there are too many branches. Luckily, Walter finds a saw in the shed out in back of the house and we're able to trim off the excess wood and branches. After the pruning we wrestle the tree into the living room. It fits ok in front of the window seat but what a job getting it into the damn stand. We still have to turn it and finesse the recalcitrant pine into place.

Finally the tree is bolted in and ready for its snowflake skirt. Walter fills the stand with water and some kind of tree preservative he bought. At last he places the blanket carefully around the bottom and then we stand back to admire the effect.

"It does look decorative," I offer amiably, "your mother's pretty talented with the uh..."

"Crocheting. Yeah, she went through her afghan stage about 5 years ago. She's gravitated to needlepoint now."

"Does it seem like it's turned to the full side?"

"Maybe a half turn."

"Thought so."

Once the trees best side is pointed into the room we dive into the boxes full of decorations.

"Are these those blinking lights?" I ask unraveling the first string of multi-colored bulbs.

"Some of each, I think. There should be some fresh replacement bulbs in there too. In case some are burned out."

"Got 'em" I smile, pulling the packages out of the box.

In short order the lights are stretched out on the floor and tested, burned out bulbs replaced and then we string them on the tree. Walter connects all the strands up and plugs the final string into the wall. They come on with a flourish and after a few seconds the flashing ones start to do their thing.

"Very festive!" I nod with pleasure.

"Not bad," Walter rumbles and we head back to the boxes for more ornaments.

The tree is absolutely beautiful once the decorations are festooning it. Walter even brought some of those icicle things which we toss over the branches in artful imitation of real frozen water. The only thing that remains is something to grace the top.

"What about the finishing touch?" I ask quizzically.

Walter is standing, contemplating our handiwork critically, with his best AD face and his hands on his hips.

"Oh, right. Hang on," he nods going back to the boxes of ornaments. He brings out a separate, rectangular box and carries it carefully over, putting it down on the coffee table. He opens it and peels back the cotton and paper inside.

"This is very old," is all he says. I walk over to look down into the box. Inside is probably one of the most exquisitely detailed angel ornaments I've ever seen. Most of Walter's mother's other decorations have been in a Victorian motif. The angel is no exception. The face is breathtaking. Like Rossetti's painting of *Beata Beatrix.*"

"God, Walter. That's gorgeous. It looks like a Rossetti painting." It looks like Scully I think instantly. Same porcelain skin, red hair, lovely red lips and clear blue eyes. My eyes mist up. I fight back the tears."

"It might be. I know it's in the Pre-Raphaelite style. It's been in the family for years, Mulder."

"Your mother must have taken the news better than you thought," I reply in a whisper.

He ducks his head a little and then gruffly asks, "Can you get that straight backed chair so I can put her on top of the tree?"

"Sure," I reply with relief. I use the activity to banish the idea that the dream angel resembles the woman of my dreams.

I steady the chair as he puts the angel on the top most tip of the tree. It fits perfectly and securely in place on the branch. I can tell Walter is bursting with pride over sharing this marvelous decoration with me. I'm really flabbergasted and honored that his mother even deigned to let him bring it with him at all. When we do go down to Pennsylvania to meet Esther I'll have to be on my best behavior for sure.

The entire job finally done, Walter climbs down, and I put the chair back in the corner.

"I think this calls for a brandy," he offers with a brief grin.

"There you go," I nod still admiring the tree.

He goes into the kitchen to retrieve the two snifters from the drainer where he left them to dry after washing them earlier. He fills them at the liquor cabinet and brings them over to me, handing me one.

"A toast," I say, clinking the glass carefully against his.

"To?"

"To many more Christmas eves together, Walter. Many more just like this one."

"To more Christmas eves," Walter agrees.

xXx

"How's this, Fox?"

"Good. Yeah. Great."

"It is tight back here," Walter nods in affirmation as he runs his hands down lightly over the exit wound scar in my back.

I'm lying on my stomach, in my briefs, upstairs in the King sized bed and Walter is massaging my back muscles very carefully. After we started to sip our brandy downstairs I flinched a little sitting down on the couch. He touched my shoulders and I guess I did seem very tense. The angel must still have been on my mind. Walter growled at me then.

"Upstairs agent," he ordered and I wasn't about to disagree.

Now, his large warm hands knead muscles I realize are still stiff from stress and lack of use. I really do need to get out and run more now and God knows I have to stop angsting over Scully. But I think it is going to be a gradual picking up of the pace and as for Scully - ok, ok, I won't go there. Not right now. This feels too great. The stay in the hospital and enforced inactivity took a lot out of me. And let's face it - I'm not getting any younger either.

"Oh man, that really feels good," I tell him as he moves on up to my lats.

Just as he's working up to my shoulders a cell phone rings.

"That's yours," I grunt as he pushes a little harder.

"Yeah, getting a phone with a higher pitched tone was the smartest thing you've done in a while," he chuckles.

I smack his knee as he gets up, walks across the room and takes his cell off the dresser.

"Skinner," he barks into it.

His face softens just slightly.

"Oh, yes, hello. Uh, can you hang on?" he asks into the phone. He mutes it and turns back to me.

"Uh, this is my ex-wife."

"Sharon?" I ask dumbly. Walter smiles a little at my confused look. I shrug.

"Yeah. She usually calls on the holidays."

I move to get up, "You'll want some privacy then..."

"Hey, it's ok, I can take it downstairs. Cover up and stay warm. I'll be back in a few minutes."

"All right," I smile, rolling over and pulling the sheets and comforter up around my neck. I lie on my back staring up at the ceiling, musing idly.

I find it rather nice that Walter's wife has remained on friendly terms with him. He was right when he said she was a good friend. The divorce was acrimonious at first. Feelings were hurt. There was the incident with the prostitute. Walter's sorry last ditch effort to assert his masculinity as he puts it. Sharon was injured in the car accident. But afterwards they mended things. Now, she makes the attempt to stay in touch, and so does he. I saw him call her once as well, on her birthday.

It must have been hard on both Walter and Sharon during their marriage. Walter realizing he was gay but trying at first not to admit it, to make his wife happy. Then, Walter finally admitting the obvious to himself, Sharon's confusion as the sexual side of their marriage took a nose dive. The thought jars me suddenly as a picture of Scully and my fight in the hotel suite jumps instantly into my mind. Oh shit. Here I go again! But...

Damn it! I know I need to apologize to her. What Walter and I did that night in the hotel was monumentally insensitive. I mean her walking in on us must have been some sight and I know it upset her terribly. I was insensitive too. I mean I tried to turn the whole mistake back on her and that wasn't right either. It's too bad it's taken me this long to admit it. Shit. The damage is done and now I don't know if we can repair it. God, I hope we can.

That night though I know what set me off. Made my blood boil and feel like it was going to explode out my ears. It was the look of disgust on her face. I just lost it. I didn't stop to understand that yeah, she could have been disgusted by what she saw. I mean just because Walter and I were expressing our love for each other I can't expect her to...just because I love Walter and...

God! Why is this bothering me so much? I mean what...Oh hell! What if? What if all these years I've been afraid to admit I'd really just...just rather be with a man. I've always considered myself bisexual. I never thought about who I would eventually settle down with permanently. I mean what if it's Walter? What if what I feel for him is more profound, more deep, truer than what I feel for Scully. I...I can hardly fathom it. Scully and I have been through so much together.

I love her, don't I? I mean I know I feel a deep, spiritual bond with Scully, a deep friendship. And the sex is fantastic. Fulfilling for both of us. At least I think it's great. Shit - if she hasn't been honest with me there then we're in big trouble. I know I've enjoyed it. She's so sensual in bed. She's told me I've given her pleasure. Maybe that's true too. But maybe the sex with Walter is more...intense and fulfilling? God. I know it's mind blowing. I just don't know what to think here.

What if I'm making a big mistake with Scully? What if our relationship really is changing because after all these years we're both starting to realize we've been mistaking a bond of friendship for something else? Maybe just staying close friends and not hopping in the sack would have been a better idea. But the physical attraction was...Oh brother this is one deep problem. A whole can of worms. Oh yeah.

Lord! Maybe the reason Scully's so upset is become deep down she knows I'd rather be with Walter and...damn it! I really do have to talk to her. After the holidays I'm going to force the issue. I have too. This is too much to let hang for much longer. I'll give her a little more time but if she doesn't confront the problem head on by the time I get back to work I'll take the bull by the horns. And I'm going to apologize to her. Big time. I need to take responsibility for offending her that night. All three of us have got to sit down and hash this all out. Just as that thought crosses my mind, I hear Walter's tread on the stairs. Shit. I have to get this stuff out of my head. It's no good agonizing over the relationship when all three parties involved aren't even in the same state. I take my arm away from where I've rested it over my face, and roll over to watch Walter enter the room. I compose myself.

"So, how is Sharon?"

"Oh, she's fine. She's going to Aspen."

"Skiing?"

"Right. Her and the new husband," he replies distractedly. Then he focuses on me again with a little smile, "Where were we?"

"Shoulders," I answer, smiling back.

He walks closer, stops to put the cell phone back down on the dresser, and then moves towards me again. I roll back onto my stomach, and kick the covers aside. He climbs up onto the bed. He straddles my thighs and starts to use some leverage to lean into the massage.

"Is this too hard?"

"No. Feels good."

He continues to knead my muscles in silence. I shut my eyes and let his strong hands work their magic.

"Roll over," he whispers at last. I'm pretty much putty in his hands by this point. He sits next to me and chuckles as I have trouble getting onto my back.

"Don't laugh. You've turned me into mush," I grunt.

"Good," he nods, laying his hands on my right calf. He starts over again with the slow kneading. As he works his way from my calf up to my thigh he looks into my eyes. I lick my lips.

"I'm gonna have some trouble here, big man," I advise as I feel warmth suffuse my groin. My cock starts to stiffen.

"Yeah, well...think of something else. I'd like to finish the massage."

"How about Jana Cassidy?"

"There you go. Just imagine it's her grabbing your thigh. If it has the same effect on you as it did on me, you're gonna wilt like a dead rose."

I laugh as he works his way over to my other calf and then up to my left thigh. Thinking of Jana *Black Widow* Cassidy seems to work too because my cock goes flaccid by the time Walter is straddling my thighs again and reaching my pecs.

Finally he finishes with the front of my body. He gets off my thighs and sits next to me.

"Pull the covers up, Mulder. You don't want to let your muscles get chilled now."

I do as instructed and he lies fully clothed next to me. He tucks the comforter up under my chin.

"Stop fussing, dear."

"Put a cork in it," he growls.

"I won't even go there," I giggle and he chuckles in return. I wiggle a little under the sheets enjoying the attention as he fusses with the covers a bit more. My whole body does feel loose, relaxed, really warm and comfortable.

"How's that feel," Walter asks.

I shut my eyes and stretch a little.

"Sublime. You have a real talent there, Mr. Skinner. A very deft touch."

"Thank you, Mr. Mulder," he replies.

"Are you hungry?" I ask opening my eyes again.

"Yeah. You want to warm up the leftover Chinese?"

"I suppose we could."

"But?"

"Walter, let's go into town. I think it will be ok."

"No."

"Oh come on, cut me some slack. I have to...ok...I have to get Scully a Christmas gift, all right. I didn't buy her anything because I wasn't sure...well you know. But I'm going to err on the side of optimism here."

"So you want to shop?"

"Right. I have a couple of things in mind for her."

He runs his hand over his scalp and shakes his head in bemusement.

"Ok, Look. If you're so hot to get out of the house and shop I can drive us over to Derry. It's not too far. There are plenty of restaurants and an outlet mall."

"Ooh, bargains. Do they have a book store?"

"Not in the outlet mall but I think there's a Barnes and Noble nearby."

"All right. Then we're in business."

He smiles a little again and then moves to get off the bed. I watch his muscles ripple under the sweatshirt he's wearing. I swallow hard again and beat back the unbridled lust that floods my body like a hot rip tide. I better cool down fast or we'll never make it downstairs to the Ford.

"I'd better change out of these," he stands up and sweeps his body with one hand.

"Yeah, you've got pine sap on your crotch," I laugh.

"Trust you to notice anything that's in proximity to my dick."

"Your dick is hard to miss."

"Let's not use the words hard and dick in the same sentence here monster boy, or town is the last place I'll be driving you."

I smirk back at him, "I love it when you make dirty innuendoes, honey bunny."

"What was that mister?" he barks as he heads to the closet.

"Nothing sir. I didn't say a thing. Can you toss me my clean jeans, please?"

xXx

It's dark by the time we head back from Derry. Nice town. Very quaint. My shopping trip was totally successful. I wanted to get Scully a new pair of ear rings to make up for a pair she lost on one of our recent cases. I found the perfect pair of replacement ear rings. Gold. Something for the office...well maybe...uh let's just say they're detailed but...different. But I also found a delicate crystal and gold pair shaped like flowers. Orchids. I thought they looked very exotic and lush. Not the thing she can wear to the office but they'll look nice after hours. Dressy. I also got her a copy of Anne Rice's latest *The Vampire Armand*. I know she hasn't read it. I hope to hell she hasn't bought it yet. But we have an unspoken agreement - if there's an Anne Rice at Christmas I buy it for her. Stephen King, I buy it for Margaret Scully. So, there you go.

Walter and I flipped to see who would drive the Explorer back. He's looking out the window, fairly content to be riding shotgun as I drive. I grin. He really loves his cars, even when they're rentals. The SUV handles very well, hugs the road and we travel in quiet contemplation as it eats up the miles.

We arrive back at the house at around 8 PM. Since we ended up eating a fresh seafood lunch in Derry neither one of us is really too hungry. I park the Ford and carry my packages up to the front porch, Walter trailing behind me.

"What are you going to wrap Scully's gifts in Mulder?" he asks as I unlock the front door.

"Aluminum foil."

"You cheap bastard," he barks a laugh.

"Hey, It's a Mulder tradition. I wrap all my gifts in aluminum foil."

He's still chuckling as I swing the door open and we go in.

"Ok, whatever you say, guy," he shakes his head as he takes his coat off and puts it in the closet. I follow suit, setting the bag with Scully's gifts down on the closet floor.

"I gotta take a bathroom break," Walter nods towards the downstairs can.

"All right. I'll go in and plug in the tree."

"Great," he smiles, "I'll start the fire when I get in there," he adds, heading back into the house. After I plug the tree in I go upstairs to the master bathroom. As I'm emptying my own bladder I remember my gift for Walter. I hurry to get done, zip up and go to my suitcase to grab the box. I rush back downstairs and place it carefully under the tree. Then I flop down on the couch and try to look as nonchalant as possible as I hear Walter coming back into the living room.

"You want coffee?" he asks.

"Nah, too close to bed. How about some more of that brandy?"

"Sure."

"Sit down, I'll get it," I volunteer making sure I steer him so he can see under the tree. He raises an eyebrow as I take his arms and shift him onto the couch. The aluminum foil wrapped package comes directly into his eyesight as I turn to go for the brandy and snifters.

I can hear him clear his throat slightly and then I can hear him shift forward to look at the gift. I almost laugh aloud. I mean who the heck does he think it's for? I hear him get up, retrieve it and sit back down. When I turn with the two snifters filled with brandy he's just staring down at the box.

"Mulder tradition?" he asks quietly fingering the aluminum foil.

"Exactly. Open it," I reply putting the glasses down on the coffee table.

"Fox..."

"Open it, lover," I whisper. He doesn't look up but instead opens the box carefully, placing the Reynolds product down on the coffee table like it's gold and not tawdry aluminum. He lifts the lid and peers inside. He takes out the gift and places the box down on the coffee table. He sits unmoving.

"It's uh, a necklace," I stammer, I can see the color coming up on his ears.

"I see that. Fox...you...you shouldn't have..." he stops and holds the necklace up in one large hand.

"I figured you could wear something like that under your t-shirt and it wouldn't show," I add as he shakes his head.

"This is...too much," he starts to object but then grows silent again as he admires the jewelry.

I stare at the necklace as the tree lights glint off it. I found it when I first got up here in a little jewelry shop on the main street of Crossroads. It's a gold medallion on a gold chain. Not too large but masculine looking. There's a cross engraved on one side of the medallion. I wanted to give something to Walter to let him know I respect his faith and that he means so much to me I'd never criticize his beliefs again. I know how much Scully values her cross. I thought it fitting that Walter have one to value as well.

He turns it over in his fingers. His face softens.

"It's engraved on the back," I answer his raised eyebrow. For the first time ever I see Walter Skinner's lower lip tremble. He's barely holding back his emotion. I feel the tears forming in the back of my throat.

"I can tell it's Gaelic. What does it say?" he asks, his voice gruff with his own unshed tears.

"It's ancient Gaelic as a matter-of-fact. It says *Gaol, Dilseachd, Cairdeas*. Translated that means, *Love, Loyalty, Friendship*. Would you like me to put the necklace on for you?" I add hopefully.

"Yes," he husks, swallowing hard.

He stands up.

"Turn around."

I can see the tears leaking a bit now. He's crying but trying to cover it. I won't let on that I see it. I know he hates breaking down in front of me as much as I do in front of him. I place the necklace over his head and fasten the clasp in back. He turns so I can see how it looks lying against the forest green of his cashmere sweater. I touch the gold medallion and his hand comes up to cover mine. He looks down and a single tear hits my knuckles.

"Thank you," he says simply. I bend forward and kiss his forehead. Both of us clear our throats.

"We'd better have that brandy."

"I should start the fire," he gestures towards the hearth with his head.

"Oh yeah. Uh...I need to use the can." I lie. I'm going to lose it completely and I've decided to go upstairs and get sloppy.

Walter just nods as I make a quick exit.

xXx

Later on after both of us have gotten ourselves under control again, we sit together in front of the couch and sip our brandy in silence just enjoying each other's company. It had stopped snowing during the day but now it's snowing again and we can still view the flakes through the window if we look past the tree. The snow is illuminated in one of the outside night time house lights.

I notice Walter fingering the necklace several times. I smile. I can tell he's pleased with it. I was worried he'd think it was too risky to wear it. But it will be under his shirt and next to his heart. And it doesn't have any initials or names on it. I'm sneaking another peak at him and he notices me looking and grins a little.

"I bet you think I didn't get you anything." he rumbles.

It's my turn to raise my eyebrows. Truthfully the thought never occurred to me. I figured his trip up here and offer to cook the meal was going to be his gift to me. It was more then enough, God knows. This has been wonderful.

"I thought you were the gift, Walter," I smile gently at him and I'm secretly delighted to see him blush. He hardly ever does it outside the bedroom and it's a treat to see.

"You know what I mean," he growls.

I smirk and he gets up and puts his brandy snifter down.

"Well, it just so happens I did get you a gift," he replies self consciously, "be right back."

I sit there in amazement as he goes upstairs. He returns shortly with two boxes, obviously expertly gift wrapped by the stores. He joins me again on the couch and places the two boxes in front of me.

"Two?"

"Well one's kind of a gag gift. Open the long one first."

"Walter this is a tie box. I can tell."

He's grinning.

I open it carefully. I wouldn't put it past him if something popped up in my face. He has that kind of cornball sense of humor. But the box cover comes off without incident and then I am really laughing.

"Oh shit." I chortle lifting out the tie. It's silk and embroidered very artfully with a whole bunch of those Rolling Stones logos. You know the one with the huge lips and the titanic tongue.

Walter is trying to hold in his laughter, and finally he can't any longer.

"You asshole," I bray helplessly.

"You know it," he shakes with humor, "Read the back. Manufacturers label."

I turn it over and then bellow some more. He does as well. The label says *Aural Ties, Inc. A Division of Fox Apparel*.

"Aural?"

"Close enough, Fox," he chokes, trying to regain his breath.

I shake my head, "I'm afraid to look in the other one."

"Oh, that ones safe. Much more respectable," he hastens to assure me, grinning. I put the tie and it's box and wrapping paper down on the coffee table.

"I take it I shouldn't where this one to the office?" I grin.

"Not unless you want your AD to boot you in the butt."

"It's a classic tie, Walter, just classic. Thanks."

"I thought it was you," he agrees, "you're welcome. Now open the other gift."

I look into his face. He looks younger suddenly. Eager, and boyish. I smile into his glasses and pick up the other box. I start to shake it.

"Just open it."

I take off the wrapping and sit it next to the other box on the coffee table. I manage to get the box open and then I look up into his somber brown eyes.

"You're not serious."

"Deadly. You can wear that in the office. I like it when you're on time for my meetings, agent."

"Walter...this is a Rolex..." I reply taking the watch out of the box.

"So..."

"I...this is expensive."

"And you're not worth it?"

"I didn't say that."

"But you're implying it," he replies quietly shifting closer to me.

"Turn it over," he breathes into my ear. Shivers run through me as I turn the watch over in my hands. There's a date engraved on the back and that's all.

"Oh man," I run a finger over the numerals.

"You recognize the date?"

"This was our first time together...in Baton Rouge," I whisper.

He kisses my cheek gently and I feel the buzz of his words against my flesh.

"Don't ever think that night wasn't worth everything in the world to me. Never think you're not worth everything, anything in the world to me," he whispers.

I put the watch down carefully on the table and fall into his arms.

xXx

We almost break our necks on the stairs because we're trying to rip the clothes off each other. By the time we get up to the bed, the only stitch of clothing still on is Walter's new medallion. I'm hard, but Walter isn't quite there yet. Almost pitching backwards down the steps was a bit of a sex suppressant I guess. But we're laughing about it anyway, hands everywhere, lips following.

Walter's holding my head and our mouths are crushed together, I can hardly breath as I push him down onto the comforter. He sits down hard and releases my mouth. I sink to my knees instantly and start to lick at his thighs.

"Oh Jesus," he moans as I bring my tongue up under his cock and lap along the vein that pulses there.

"I knew I bought the right fuckin' tie," he laughs as his hips thrust up.

I smile wickedly and start to work over his balls and then the head of his cock. He rocks back onto his arms and braces himself, sighing and then grunting in pleasure.

"Babe, you do that so well," he moans as I let my tongue move around the glans and then tickle the crown again and again.

I look up at him. His head's back and his eyes are shut tight. He cries out as I take him in from tip to base. I'm deep throating him right back to my tonsils.

"Dear God!" he moans and then he starts to buck into my face. He works himself for only a short time though until he's really hard and then he touches my head and pushes me gently back.

"Hold it. I need this. I wanna fuck you," he breathes raggedly.

"I was hoping that might be the case," I smile up at him. "And you know how I want it?" I purr, climbing up to lie next to him as he lies flat.

"How?" he looks at me under hooded eyes.

"On top."

"Oh yeah, baby. You're gonna love it," he grins wide. Both of us shift up onto the bed and start to caress and touch each other. We murmur our love and then rougher words. Things that we know will excite and arouse us.

I know I'm going to need some more foreplay before I try this one. I also know I want to bring myself off for Walter before I ride his cock. I need to be really relaxed and loose and if I come first it will help. Besides Walter did himself for me the last time when he was on top. It was an incredible show and I think he'll appreciate me returning the favor.

After we suck, lick and rub ourselves together for a blissfully nice amount of time, Walter reaches over to the night stand and grabs the Astroglide. I take it from him before he can remove the cap and lay it down on the bed next to his leg. Then I run my hand down the length of my cock. I look at him with a really wicked grin. He gets my drift and lies back with his hands behind his head eyeing me in anticipation. I bend down and kiss his straining erection. God I can't believe how swollen he is tonight. Talk about Monster Boy. Holy smoke.

"I want to jerk myself off for you lover," I croon. "I want you to see just what you make me do when you're not here. When I'm so hot and horny I can't keep my hands off my cock."

He licks his lips slightly, "Show me, baby," he growls. I move so that I'm kneeling next to his chest. After all, he doesn't have his specs on.

"Got the picture, main man?" I drawl as I start to tease my glans and crown. I work round and round with my fingertips, squeezing and stroking, rubbing one finger pad into the slit in the end to moisten my fingers with the pre-cum that's starting to drip out. I roll the pre-cum up over the glans and repeat the whole series of motions. My breath really starts to pick up.

"Up close and personal," Walter replies as his breath quickens too.

I shut my eyes and start to fist myself in earnest.

"Oh good, good, good," I repeat like a mantra as the pressure in my groin builds and builds. I can usually bring myself off quickly if I need to. And I want to come fast tonight.

"Oh babe, you're good all right," Walter moans. Before I can reply he grabs for me.

"Whoa," I yelp as he pulls me forward. I end up straddling his chest and he takes my cock in his mouth.

"Oh shit!" I cry out as he takes the head of my cock between his lips. His firm suction finishes the job. I come, shooting my wad down his throat with a hoarse shout. He swallows and then licks me clean, laving my balls for good measure. I feel him reach back to slap me on the ass.

"I couldn't resist," he laughs.

"Well, I have to admit it was a very pleasant surprise."

"No kidding," he replies, "You want me to prep you now?" he adds picking up the lube.

"Oh yeah," I grin. We go about the preparations. I kneel on my hands and knees, my ass towards him at first so he can work his fingers in to stretch me. I was right about jerking off. It really helped to relax my muscles. He has no trouble getting me ready. As soon as I feel open enough I turn around and help him slick up his cock. Finally I shift to straddling him just in back of his erection.

"If you wanna change your mind, I'll understand," he whispers as I lick my lips.

"No way," I reply.

"Take a deep breath, babe," he advises as I shift up and lower myself onto his cock.

Oh God. I'm taking a deep breath all right. Walter takes my hands and helps to steady me. I can feel him lying as still as he can even though his breath is shuddering.

"Easy, baby," he groans and I gasp a little. The pain almost eclipses the pleasure for a moment but then I feel the inner ring of muscle give way and with a moan of joy I lower myself down to rest against his lap. I've had my eyes shut in concentration. Now I open them and look down into Walter's face. The look of love and lust that I see there makes my cock start to stiffen again and my heart overflows with passion for my lover.

"You look wonderful," he whispers, moving his hands to my hips, resting them lightly there.

"Damn, this feels good," I whisper in return.

"I knew you'd like it," he grins though bared teeth. If you want to enjoy it for a little while I can hold back," he hisses.

"Jesus, man, you never cease to amaze me," I nod, giving myself a moment to feel his hard, thick flesh filling me. I tilt my head back and breathe in and out several times focusing on the erotic little spasms issuing up from the center of my body. I can feel my neck muscles tensing.

"God, you should see your face," Walter whispers, amazement and tenderness filling his voice.

I look down on him and smile dreamily, "I love you," I whisper running my hands over his stomach. Having him in me is an unbelievably exquisite sensation. An errant thought plays across my mind and it thrills me even though I know it should disturb me profoundly. As much as I enjoy sex with Scully this is something she can never do for me. Fill me this way, fuck me, possess me and make me feel like I'm possessing her in return all at the same time.

"I wanna make love to you, Walter," I whisper, stroking his stomach again, "Make love to me back." I bring one hand up to brush the medallion around his neck.

He caresses my hip, "Go slow," he breathes out and I raise up just enough to gain some space and then sit back down slowly. Oh fuck, fuck, it's infuckingcredible. Again and again I lift up and sink down. Walter is crooning to me with each rise of my hips. Moving up just slightly to meet me. Teasing me. Stroking up to hit my prostate. I'm writhing in ecstasy, almost beyond coherent thought and certainly beyond coherent speech. I've been reduced to whining and grunting in monosyllables. For once Walter is the more articulate.

"Oh lover, that's so good. You look so fine. Easy though. Just slide down easy. I can keep this up all night. You wanna come. Come on. I'll do you. Just enjoy the ride, baby."

I'm vaguely aware that he's taking my cock in one hand and still guiding my hips with the other. As he starts to pump me I do find my voice for a second, whining in entreaty.

"Walter! Please make me cum! I'm dyin'" I gurgle as another wave of pressure and heat builds up in my body and pools in my groin.

"You're gonna cum, Fox. I can feel it in your balls. Feel that. Tight and big. So good. So hard. Come on. Do it. Come on."

His voice hypnotizes me. I climb up and up and finally the whole world goes bright. The air roars. I'm stone deaf, but I know I'm screaming. I can feel Walter thrashing under me and somehow I know his orgasm is coming on the heels of mine. When sound comes back I can hear us both crying out. Walters guttural, "Fuck!" practically breaks the sound barrier. I'm making some kind of yowl that I don't even associate with my own larynx. Our bodies are convulsing almost in unison. Both of us are bathed in sweat. Finally we fall sideways again and I slide off Walter and lie there totally spent. He rolls onto his back again, breathing hard and still speechless. Finally when he does speak it's a laugh.

"Buckle your seat belt next time baby, I could barely hold on there at the end."

I guffaw and then choke, coughing to regain air.

"Fuck you!" I gasp, giggling.

He laughs harder and then grasps me close, kissing me and nuzzling my neck. When I can breath almost normally he rolls me over to take a look at my target area.

"Oh hell," he rumbles, sudden concern in his voice.

"Damage?" I ask. Yeah, something stings a little.

"You're a little red here."

"Bad?"

"I don't think so," he runs a finger gently over my anus.

"Does it hurt right here?"

"It doesn't feel too bad."

He pulls his finger back, and I roll over to see him frowning. He shows me his finger. There's a smear of blood on it.

"You're torn a little," he says dismally.

"Hey, it's ok. It doesn't hurt much at all. Really. This is going to happen sometimes. We...I should have been more careful." I don't want him to feel guilty. It was marvelous making love with him tonight. I don't want his memory of it to be colored by the idea that he tore me.

"Ok, but...uh, we'd better lay off this form of lovin' for a few days."

"That's fine. I want to remember how great this was for a while anyway," I reply, moving close to kiss him. I can tell he's upset at the thought he hurt me. I stroke his face and then he responds to the kiss, tasting me gently.

"It was phenomenal," I assure him when we break apart. He smiles and I can tell he's going to be all right with it. I whisper in his ear to bring it on home, "You fucked my brains out my ears, Walter. I can't even tell you how good it felt to ride your rock hard cock."

"Christ!" he barks a quick laugh. "Ok, shut up. You've proved your point." His ears are red again but I can tell he's going to puff up. Hey, every guy likes to hear their lover tell them they gave them the ride of their life. Even great big tough as nails ADs like Walter S. Skinner.

"Oh, I think I'm the one who got the point," I purr seductively, licking at his chin. I end up at his mouth and we kiss again. He pulls me close and deepens the kiss until we're both sucking and slavering all over each other. Finally we break apart and he's grinning.

"You are one quirky bastard, but I love you."

"Yup. Same here. Let's go clean up," I reply smiling into his crinkling eyes.

"Right. I think there's some Bacitracin in the medicine cabinet. You can use that on the tear."

"Good idea. Come on, I'll wash your back," I smile and we get up and go into the master bathroom.

xXx

December 25, Christmas Day
Crossroads, Maine

I hear the sound of a parade. Very low, and distant as I struggle up out of a warm, cushioned sleep. What the heck? Where's the parade? I carefully lift one eyelid to see Walter propped up on a bunch of pillows against the headboard, the TV remote in his hand. He senses my movement and glances at me.

"Merry Christmas," he smiles, bending down to kiss the top of my head. I shift my eye over to see that the big screen TV on.

"What are you watching?" I ask covering my head up again.

"Just channel checking. I thought I might find some Christmas music."

"Well, what the heck is that?" I poke my nose out and stare at the TV again.

"The Muppet Christmas Parade."

"Oh Lord," I groan, covering my head back up. Walter laughs and I hear the TV shut off.

I feel him lift the covers and dive under them. He kisses my ass and I laugh.

"How's the butt?" he asks, bringing his head back out and flinging the covers back with a flourish.

"Cold!" I yelp.

We both laugh as he falls on me, warming me with his radiant man furnace.

"This better?"

"Oh yeah. And my ass is fine, big man. But I gotta take a piss."

He chuckles, "Yeah, me too. We have to get up anyway. I need to get that bird in the oven if we're going to eat before midnight."

"I'm starving now."

"Mulder you're a bottomless pit. Don't eat too much now. You'll never have room for the turkey and all the trimmings."

"All right, all right, Mr. Galloping Gourmet. Are we going for a run to burn off some calories before we chow down?"

"We have time for a quick one I think. Get you ass in gear and lets go."

"Yes, sir, Mr. AD, sir."

After the run and a shower, we ate some melon for breakfast. Over coffee, Walter's starts cleaning the turkey. It's a Butterball Junior. Walter thinks it's a good size for two men. He's got so much other food I'd say it's more than enough. But what the heck. Holidays are for feasting. While he's up to his wrist in the turkey I'm emptying something called *Brownberry Stuffing - Original Flavor* in a bowl. It looks like a bunch of stale croutons but it smells of onion and sage. Pretty tasty smell at least.

"Now what?" I ask.

"I have to boil the giblets and then we'll use the water from those to moisten the stuffing. Later if you want, you can cut up the giblets and add them to the stuffing."

I wrinkle my nose as he pulls the giblet bag out of the bird.

"Looks like one of Scully's autopsies."

"Oh thanks, I really needed to know that factoid," he grouches.

"Sorry," I smirk.

"So, fill a pot up with water and put it on the burner," he gestures with his head, "Oh, and get a couple of eggs out of the fridge."

I do as instructed. I can boil water with the best of them. I set the eggs in a smaller bowl and stand back to watch the pot.

Walter brings the giblets over once they're out of the bag and dumps them in the water.

"Keep an eye on it. When they're done take the giblets out and set them aside to cool. Then let the water cool a little and pour it over the stuffing."

"Oh, I get it, I mix it around until it's gushy."

"Well, not sopping. Add the water gradually. If it isn't enough water, add a little warm water from the tap. And put in one egg and then let me see what the consistency of the mixture looks like."

"Righto, Chef Tell."

I did that stuffing up proud, I'll tell you. I've never in my life made a turkey and Walter's preparations were endlessly fascinating to me. He was fairly patient with showing me how everything worked. Scully couldn't have done better stitching up the turkey's butt end just before it was ready to go in the oven.

Once the bird was in, we took a break.

"Want a glass of egg nog?" he asks.

"Sure. But what about the rest of this food?"

"Mulder, didn't you ever hang around when your mother was cooking Christmas dinner?"

"No, I was always watching TV or goofing around with..." I almost said Sam. It was right on the tip of my tongue. Shit. My heart gives a lurch in my chest. I change thought midstream though, squashing the pain down deep,"...my Christmas gifts."

"Well lucky for us I used to hang around in the kitchen with my mother. Sharon gave me endless tips too. She was a good cook."

"So what about the rest of the food then?"

"You start fixing stuff when the turkey is closer to being done."

"Ah ha."

"Right. So how about that egg nog?"

"Sounds good to me. And can I help make the turnips? I'm good at cutting stuff up. It's my assigned task when Scully and I..." I let my voice trail off.

Walter puts his hand on my shoulder, "Look, I know you miss her. She's going to come around."

I nod.

"And if you promise not to make me call 911, I'll let you cut up the turnips."

"You've got a deal," I smile and he moves to the fridge to get the egg nog.

Later...

"Hand me the baster."

"The what?"

"That thing with the bulb on the end."

"Oh."

I hand the implement to Walter and he pulls a bunch of turkey juice up in it and then squirts it all over the bird. He places the cover back on the roaster and shoves the whole works back in the oven.

"OK. That's the first basting. It's got a while to go. Let's go back in the living room," Walter suggests.

"Do you want to watch a tape?"

"Sure, how about Dr. No?"

"Great."

When we get back into the living room Walter asks, "What time is it, Mulder?"

I glance at my new Rolex and smile back up at him.

"Noon. And Walter, I still don't know how I can alibi buying this thing on my salary."

"If anyone asks, tell them your mother bought it for you," he chuckles.

I look at it again and raise a speculative eyebrow. You know, that's not a bad idea. Just as I look up and through the window in back of the Christmas tree I spot a car coming up the snow covered road.

"Walter, someone's coming up the entrance road," I turn and look at him, my brow furrowing.

"Really?" he asks. He doesn't seem surprised at all. I frown.

"Yeah, they're on the driveway and stopping in front of the house."

I cross out of the living room and Walter starts to follow.

"No, stay there. I'll take a look through the peep hole and see who it is before I open the door."

"Ok, fine," he shrugs and stays back slightly as I move to the front door. Before I can get to the peep hole the door bell rings.

I quietly peer through the peep hole. /OH MY GOD!/

"Merry Christmas, Fox," Walter says quietly.

I turn to him, and reply, incredulity mixed with raw panic in my voice.

"I thought the Magi were the only ones who brought three gifts, Walter."

xXx

"Merry Christmas, Mulder," Dana Scully smiles up at me from the open doorway. Her warm, breathe, smelling faintly of peppermint, wafts up out of the hood of her parka.

For one brief insane moment I hallucinate that the angel has come down from the top of the Christmas tree and landed on the front porch. Scully looks so beautiful her, pale skin glowing and tinged red from the cold, her red lips even more red and her eyes, those blue eyes...

I just stand there. I don't know what comes over me unless you can call it complete paralysis. Emotional lock-up. I feel like a rabbit trapped in car headlights. I stare at Scully, and stare, and stare and...

Several critical thoughts fly through my mind. First, Walter has lied to me all weekend. Well, lied through omission, although if Sharon's phone call was Scully confirming her itinerary then he lied to me outright. That idea hurts me more than I ever thought it could. Second, what was this weekend between us if Walter arranged to have Scully come up here? Was this his farewell fuck weekend? I mean all the little kindness', the consideration and attending to my every need, the tie, the Rolex. Does he expect me to make nice with Scully and dump him? Or does he plan to get out of the way in some kind of altruistic bullshit gesture...Oh hell.

My brain is freezing. I can barely entertain the third thought - that Walter has persuaded Scully to make nice and that then all three of us will...no way - I don't see that in her face at all. She's staring back at me, concern written in her eyes. Why can't I say something!

Because now that's she's here, I'm on overload. I'm trying to say, I'm sorry, come in, we need to talk desperately about our lives together, my sexuality, about whether I've made the biggest mistake in my life and hurt you - AGAIN, or I've hurt Walter or...or...I can't get any of it out. I feel like I'm going to choke and I know instantly that I have to get out of here. If only for a few minutes. I need fresh air. I need to clear my head. I need to run.

"Mulder?" Walter asks, concern in his deep voice.

"Um," I whisper, "Forgive me. I...I need to get out of here," I step to the side and Scully comes into the hallway. I move to the closet door and start grabbing my winter clothing, spastically, dropping my hat on the floor.

"Mulder, what the hell..." Walter starts to growl.

I vaguely sense Scully holding up her hand to silence and warn him off as I pull on my winter coat and walk past them both.

"I...I just need some air," I let out a shuddering breathe.

Both Walter and Scully stand there mutely as I walk past them and out the door.

xXx

"Damn it!"

"Sir, it's all right..."

"Oh come on, it's not all right - he's being a bastard...a..."

"Really, it will be ok."

"Ok? OK? Why are you always making excuses for him Scully? This is reprehensible behav..."

"And why won't you ever cut him some slack, sir? You never stop to think..."

"Cut him some slack? If I did he'd get himself into all sorts of trouble going off half cocked..."

"Oh please - AD Skinner to the rescue, that's just fine. I get so sick of hearing..."

"Fine!? I get so sick of hearing you say fine I could just pu..."

"Sir?"

"...puke and furthermore..."

"Sir..."

"if you think..."

"SIR!"

"What?"

"To risk coining a phrase - Can we just all get along here please! I...I don't want to fight with you. I'm really not in the mood. I don't think you are either."

"Fine, Scully."

"Oh please..."

"Sorry."

"Ok, so am I. Now, can we start over?"

"All right, good idea. Uh..."

"Mulder has done this before, truly. It's a coping mechanism. Just let him go. He'll be back fairly soon."

"Yeah, well he's not the only one who cuts out when..."

"So I heard..."

"All right. I'm sorry Scully. God, I'm sorry for a lot of things now. But this takes the cake. I never expected him to just walk out. Shit."

"Well, Mulder's middle name is impulsive, sir."

"No kidding. And uh, look, I'm sorry I barked at you."

"Well, Mulder has a way of pressing all our buttons. So, I'll take that into consideration."

"Thank you. Oh hell, where are my manners? Can I take your coat? That is if you want to stay. I wouldn't blame you if you got back in your car and left."

"No, it's all right. I'll stay. Thanks."

"I'll just put your coat in the closet if you'd like to go in the kitchen. There's coffee in there. Uh, I'm still buying."

"I can use it. It's getting cold out."

"Yeah, I hope to hell Mulder doesn't stay out there long."

"Oh, I don't think he will. Like I said - this is pretty typical behavior. He just needs to compose himself."

A short time later...

"Coffee ok? I have egg nog."

"No, I'm fine."

"Oh really?"

"I'm fine with the coffee...sir."

"Look, Scully, can you manage to call me Walter. I don't think the sir thing holds water after...well after that night in the hotel. And I really have to apologize for my actions that evening I..."

"Walter, can we...listen...that whole hotel business embarrasses the hell out of me, ok? I could hardly talk about it with Mulder. I don't think I can talk about it with you at all."

"Oh. Well, uh, can you at least accept my sincere apologies. I was terribly insensitive to your feelings."

"Yes, it was insensitive. It did hurt me...very much. I can accept your apology with the understanding that you at least will have a little more restraint and...and some damn respect for me next time."

"Point taken. I don't have a problem with that."

"Good because if you did I *would* be walking out of here. And don't think I won't take this issue up with Mulder later."

"All right. I think that's a good idea. Oh, can you excuse me a second? I need to baste the turkey?"

"What?"

"I'm making Christmas dinner."

"You're making a turkey?"

"You find that amusing Agent Scully?"

"Well..."

"Yeah, all right, I'll admit it doesn't fit in with my surly persona - but hey, I'm a passable cook."

"I'd say so, that looks delicious. Smells delicious too."

"The whole meal's going to be good - providing I can juggle preparing all this other food since Mulder saw fit to bug out on me."

"Oh, well...uh...I can help."

"You cook Agent Scully?"

"Does a bear...."

"Ok, sorry. I just wanted to see that eyebrow."

"Sir! Are you flirting with me?"

"That'd be the day."

"Walter?"

"Yes."

"What's this doing..."

"We had Chinese last night. That was the extra fortune cookie. Open it if you'd like."

"Oh for God's sake."

"What does it say?"

"You will attend a party where strange customs prevail."

"You're shitting me?"

"No, see for yourself."

"Crap, that's as bad as the one I got."

"Which said?"

"Your brilliant smile and pleasing personality win you many friends."

"Uh huh."

"Right."

"Listen, Walter?"

"Yes?"

"Do you mind if I test that fortune by asking you a personal question?"

"I'm willing to give it a shot, Scully."

"Well....when did you know that... when did you decide you were gay?"

"I don't mind Scully. I guess the Marines really made me admit I was attracted to men. I fell in love with a buddy in my unit. I mean head over heels. But I never said a word to him. You just didn't let on anything like that in those days. Being a homosexual was not the way to win friends and influence people in the Marines."

"What happened to your friend?"

"He was killed with the rest of the unit."

"I'm so sorry."

"Well the fact that I never told him I was attracted to him ate at me afterwards. It ate at me so much I shoved all those feelings deep down as far as I could. Later, when I met Sharon I married her because by that time I'd told myself I could go straight if I found the right woman. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case."

"I see."

"Well, you probably see part of it. But I need to tell you I was never unfaithful to Sharon. I wouldn't have done that to her. We were...we were very good friends before things went wrong. I respected her too much to cheat on her with anyone. Well, until that business with the prostitute, but at that point we were separated."

"So, you never saw other men?"

"I know. Corny. But yeah, I guess I'm monogamous. And I'm not going to lie to you - I...I rather prefer that the...that the person...well...I'd prefer it if Mulder were monogamous too."

"Meaning monogamous with you?"

"Yes. Scully this is difficult for me, can you understand that?"

"Oh, more than you can know, believe me."

"Yeah, I guess so."

"But, go ahead Walter. I'm listening."

"All right. Scully I love him. I'd prefer to not have to share him. I mean I'm not above jealousy for God's sake. I'm only human. I don't think it's a very laudable trait and I'm fighting it like hell. But I can't deny I've felt it."

"You don't have the corner on the green eye-monster market, I'm afraid."

"I got that impression, yes."

"What I have trouble understanding is how Mulder can even keep the two relationships separate. I mean we can't. How the heck can he compartmentalize all this and still..."

"Well Fox Mulder isn't like most people. I mean when have either of us seen him be totally conventional about most things?"

"Not very often."

"Right. So, I...I suppose neither of us can expect him to be conventional about...well about his sexuality or what he needs in the way of....of love, or support or relationships. Besides - I think he walks a narrow line between...well between being nuts and being sane anyway. And he's so fucking conflicted, guilt ridden and unhappy so much of the..."

"Your point being?"

"My point being - that if being with you, Scully, is going to make him happy, keep him on an even keel, centered and doing what he needs to do on this damn quest of his then I guess I'm willing to compromise in any way shape or form to accommodate him."

"Because you love him?"

"Damn straight."

"You know Mulder's seen other men?"

"I know it."

"What makes you think he won't see others while he's with you?"

"Because he told me he wouldn't and he *is* an honorable man. I believe him."

"Well, for what it's worth I think you're right there. I know he hasn't seen any other women since we've been together."

"I know he hasn't either. He...he worships the ground you walk on, Scully. He's been dying inside the whole time I've been up here. I've done everything I could to keep his mind off it. But, he's going crazy thinking you're never going to come back to him."

"Walter, I...I guess Mulder and I need to have that discussion."

"I guess you do. Can I ask you something straightforward Scully?"

"Shoot."

"I know I make you nervous - always have I guess because of the job. That's a given. I mean this has to be an extra added issue for you, doesn't it?"

"Very much so, Walter. I mean quite frankly I have the biggest problem relating to you as anything other than my superior. The fact that you are...well that you're Mulder's lover makes this a whole new ball game. I mean the fact that we're both involved with him...God, I don't even know how to relate to you at all anymore."

"Can I make a suggestion?"

"Please do because I'm fresh out of ideas."

"If you try to keep our association on the job strictly professional - so will I. Business as usual - I'll try to do the same."

"That's not that easy."

"Well can you try?"

"Can you?"

"What makes you ask? Don't you think I'm able to..."

"Well, you're voice says one thing right now, and your face...well your jaw muscles have a way of jumping when..."

"Scully?"

"Yes?"

"I'm just a little tense here. Give me a break. You can trust me. I thought we were past that matter."

"Sir?"

"Oh come on, you know what I mean Scully."

"All right. Maybe trust is in the back of my mind. I...you've given me more reasons to trust you than distrust you now. I guess that's obvious - after, well hell, after seeing you and Mulder together I guess it's not much of an issue."

"Exactly. So can't you believe I can be fair to you both at work? Can you just give it a shot and I'll..."

"I can try."

"All right. And outside the office if...well if we should be in a situation where we're together for some reason - like this - and your comfortable treating me as a friend or well, as a support network - I'd be willing to give that a try too."

"You're trying to say you'd allow...allow this to go on. Allow Mulder to continue to be involved with both of us and that you'd accept me as some kind of third wheel in this arrangement?"

"Not a third wheel Scully - an equal partner. A member of a *tripartite treaty* if you will."

"Because it makes Fox Mulder happy?"

"Is that such a bad thing?"

"Walter, I have to give this some serious thought."

"Well you do love him don't you?"

"I...yes. I love him."

"Then don't you think you can talk it over with him and maybe iron it out?"

"I need to talk to him. Whether we iron it out is going to be partly his problem. He's going to have to be willing to discuss this rationally. And he's going to have to listen to my concerns. And also - just because I love him doesn't mean I think staying with him is the best solution."

"I understand that aspect of the situation Scully. I feel the same way. As much as it would...it would hurt - if he decided to leave me for you...I'd let him go."

"You would?"

"In a heart beat."

"Well then I hope he's willing to discuss the situation with me for sure now."

"I think he's ready to do that. He's pretty desperate."

"I can still hardly believe any of this is happening Walter."

"Yeah, well if somebody told me a year ago that I'd come out of the closet because the man I loved finally..."

"Are you trying to say you've loved Mulder...

"I guess I'd been attracted to him for a long time Scully. Since practically the first day he walked into my office. I mean I lusted for him that long ago. In time I knew I loved him too. But at first - man I had it bad for...shit. Well, you know how he looks and..."

"Oh yeah, he's got that..."

"mouth..."

"God, yes..."

"At any rate, I never dreamed that the man of my dreams would want me too - love me back for that matter. When we went to Baton Rouge on that case..."

"Walter, are you trying to tell me Mulder was...Mulder was the first man for you?"

"Exactly."

"Get out. You're kidding? You're not kidding."

"Do I look like I'm kidding?"

"Uh...no."

"Yeah, well, he was the first, ok and...What's with the eyebrow again?"

"I'm sorry it's just that...well you're not a bad looking man...shit who am I kidding now - you're built like a statue Walter. Are you trying to tell me no one snapped you up until Mulder..."

"Agent Scully. Did anyone ever tell you you're as full of bullshit as your partner?"

"My partner. On a regular basis."

"Why am I not surprised?"

"But seriously, you're in great shape and..."

"Come, on, Scully even I get embarrassed..."

"Ok, look. I respect you, Walter. The fact that you're gay isn't a factor in anything here. I don't have a problem with that idea. I can try to...try to relate to you off the job as best I can. Maybe we can be, well let's say maybe we can be closer if you're patient. I'll give it a shot. As for the rest - this arrangement - with you, me and Mulder I...well I'll talk to Mulder as soon as he gets his butt back here. I can't guarantee it's going to fly but I can at least discuss things with him."

"That's all I ask. All I can expect and it's more than fair. You have to do what's best for yourself too after all. What you're the most comfortable doing. What seems the most honest for your situation."

"I'd like you to do the same thing Walter. I think if we stay honest with each other here that will help in the long run too."

"Agreed. And I'll start that trend by saying - you're a hell of a woman, Scully. I mean it."

"And I'll continue it by saying - thank you - and...yeah, you're a hell of a man, Walter.

"Shit, this mutual admiration society thing could get old, couldn't it?"

"Yes, you'll have to remember to growl at us once in a while."

"There you go."

"And how's this for a little more egotism...just to balance things out...I'm a hell of a cook too. You want to see how good?"

"Ha! Can I take notes?"

xXx

I walked for a long time. Longer than I should have probably but I lost track of time despite having Walter's gift on my wrist.

Finally my feet pointed back towards the house. At least I think they did. It had gotten quite cold on the beach and the snow had picked up. I was having a little trouble feeling my feet and hands too for that matter.

As I'm nearing the house I can hear yelling. What the hell? It's Scully and Walter, flashlights swinging.

"Mulder!" Scully is calling in alarm, "Thank God, we've been looking all over for you."

"You monumental idiot, it's freezing out here!" Walter's long legs bring him up to my side before Scully can reach me. Walter takes hold of my shoulders and I realize I have been stumbling. I guess I am cold.

"Jesus, Mulder!" Scully exclaims as she draws up on my other side.

"I'm not cold."

"Bull shit, Mulder. You could have frostbite. Come on, we have to get you in the house." Scully scolds, alarm tingeing her voice even though she's trying to bluster instead. Walter won't even speak and I can tell from the look on his face that if he did he'd rip my head off.

When they do get me up to the house and inside the pain starts to hit my extremities. I groan a little. They sit me down at the kitchen table. The pain starts to abate just enough to let me sniff the air. God, the smells are marvelous. My stomach growls, but I let out a terrific sneeze.

"Oh wonderful. Mulder if you get a relapse of that friggin' sinus infection I'm gonna break your neck."

"Thank you Walter. I'm sure that will keep my mind off my nose."

Scully is frantically examining my hands, chaffing them between hers.

"Ow!"

"Shut up. I'm glad it hurts. It means you probably don't have frostbite. Take your shoes off."

Crap. Doctor Scully rides again, "My feet are fine."

"Take your fucking shoes off, agent, or I'll take them off for you," Walter growls.

I raise an eyebrow at him and when he moves towards me I bend in haste to remove the shoes. Shit. I am dizzy. My sinuses...

"Damn it..."

"Walter, catch him..."

"That's it buddy, you're going up to bed right now."

"Mulder, for crying out loud..."

"I'm all right, Scully. I think my sinuses are just..."

"Scully, help me get him up."

My sinuses really are pounding now that the warm air has hit them. My head feels raw and my equilibrium is off a little. Walter lifts me up on one side and Scully inserts herself under the opposite arm. I lurch up and then almost fall again.

"Oh, sorry..."

"S'ok. One foot at a time," Walter encourages me. Somehow we make it upstairs. Walter deposits me on the bed and then turns to Scully.

"Look, can you handle this from here - I mean you are the doctor after all. Someone has to check on the food. I might as well play cook. It's lucky we didn't burn the house down already."

"Sure, that's a good idea, Walter," Scully answers. I look from one of them to the other, open mouthed as they discuss me like I'm not there.

"Hey, remember me, the patient, Mr. and Ms. Well-Organized 1998?" I gripe.

"Shut up, Mulder," they both bark in unison.

"Pardon me," I hiss and then I turn my back on them both and curl up on the comforter.

I hear Walter leaving the room and his voice joined with Scully's in the hallway for a moment.

"I think he's just still weak from the wound and the sinus infection. Has he been getting mild exercise..."

"Sort of..."

"Oh hell. I'm glad I said something about restraint. Look, has he been running again too?"

"Yeah."

"Well he's going to need to rest for a couple of days. He's exhausted - and walking all that way in the cold was really stupid."

"I think he's gotten that message."

"Right. Ok, well...I guess you'd better get downstairs."

"Maybe I should plan on bringing some food up here."

"Not a bad idea. I'm going to try to get him into a warm bath. When he's done and tucked in we can eat."

"Ok, I'll check back."

I hear Walter's tread on the stairwell and Scully comes back in the room. She shuts the door.

"Mulder, get your feet off that comforter, you're getting it wet."

I roll over obediently and try to sit up.

"Here let me help you," she says quietly, coming over to grab my arm.

"Thanks. I...I appreciate it," I manage to sniffle, "Oh shit..." my nose chooses that moment to drip a huge string of snot. Scully starts to chuckle.

"Here, can you sit up for a second, I'll get you some Kleenex."

"God, I'm so sorry," I answer meekly. How disgusting. This is embarrassing. On top of everything else my body betrays me - again.

She laughs harder, "Mulder - a little mucus is not going to put me off my feed - I mean remember what I do for a living? I'm just happy you're not wiping it on your sleeve."

I chuckle a little then too as she goes into the master bathroom. She returns quickly with the Kleenex. When she hands it to me I take it but clasp her hand tight around the tissue and pin her eyes.

"Scully, I'm so sorry - about...about everything. Please...we...we need to talk."

"Yes, Mulder, we do. But, first I want to get you in the tub."

"Can you sit in there and talk to me then?" I ask, wiping my nose.

"Yeah, I guess I can."

"Ok. Can you wash my back?" I ask with a slight smirk. I toss the used Kleenex towards the trash can. Perfect three pointer. Well I'm a hell of a lot less dizzy that's for sure.

"Don't press your luck, bubba."

I smile a little wider.

"Did you bring a robe?"

"Yeah. It's in the closet."

She goes over and gets it from the hanger.

"OK, Now take off your clothes and put this on. I'll go draw the bath for you."

"Yes ma'am," I nod as she goes back in the master bathroom. As I start to work my sweater up over my head I hear the bath water running.

A bit later...

"I could sing *Rubber Ducky* but I'll spare you."

"Thank you, Mulder."

"Scully?"

"Yes?"

"Your...Maggie isn't alone is she?"

"No, my mother and I were going to fly to San Diego to be with Bill and his family. She did. I didn't."

"But..."

"She'll handle Bill, Mulder. She...she understands what's going on - I mean between you and me - well as much as I could tell her. She thinks we had a fight.."

"So, can we talk about it then? I'll flip you to see who goes first..."

"Mulder this is serious," Scully interrupts from her seat on the closed toilet.

I slap the water with one hand, showering a plume of liquid all over the wall.

"God damn it I know that, Dana. I'm aware of how serious this is for crying out loud."

Her face starts to close off.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." I babble, "Look I...I don't know what the hell is wrong with me. I know I've hurt you terribly, especially that night in the hotel. I want to apologize for that night. Walter and I should have kept our hands off each other. God, that was so insensitive."

"I'd have to agree with you there. And you turned the whole incident back at me, Mulder - like it was my fault the two of you were fucking like dogs in heat."

"Yeah I know that now. I didn't realize it at the time though. I guess that's a typical guy thing - not to admit a mistake. I don't know. But I was so angry with the expression on your face. The disgust..."

"Well, it wasn't exactly disgust - it was more like - well I was mortally embarrassed to see the two of you together. I mean come on - it was a shock. I've never seen two men having sex."

"Making love..."

"Whatever. Mulder I'm warning you - cut me some slack."

"Sorry. I know what you mean. Go on."

"I have never seen two men...making love. Not even in one of your videos. So it shocked the hell out me. Fine. I'm a bit of a prude, I guess. But I'm not comfortable watching other people have sex anyway, much less two men. It's a private thing, regardless of the partner's genders."

"I can respect that idea. I won't disagree with your viewpoint."

"Well good. But Mulder, I was also instantly angry that you didn't consider I might check on you if I heard noises coming from your bedroom. You put me in the position of walking in on a private act like that. When it comes right down to it, that wasn't fair to any of us. I mean reverse the situation. Walter would have probably been mortified too if he'd walked in on us."

"You have a point there," I nod. Yeah Walter would have shit for sure - he's modest when it comes to Scully. I get that idea big time. I look up into her eyes and she has a calm, non-hostile look on her face. I'm grateful for that fact, at least.

"Scully, I couldn't agree with you more on everything you've said. That's why I want to say I'm sorry and ask you, if you can, to forgive me for that night."

She shifts forward and says, "Mulder, you missed a spot on your back." I quietly hand her the washcloth and soap and she lathers it up. The soap goes in the soap dish hanging on the side of the tub. Her hands carefully begin to swab at the middle of my back with the washcloth.

"Does this mean you're going to forgive me?"

"It means I'm considering it."

I close my eyes. She's touching me, but her touch is cautious. More like a nurse than a lover. I sigh.

"Scully?"

"Yeah?"

"You're not going to sleep with me again are you?"

"Did I say that?" she takes her hand away and I open my eyes and look into hers.

"But you're thinking about it aren't you?"

"Aren't you?"

I keep looking at her, deep down into her blue eyes. She puts the washcloth back in the water.

"You're considering staying with Walter aren't you?" she asks quietly.

You know, there's a reason I love Scully. She's perceptive and knows me so well despite all the arguments, decisiveness and hurt feelings. She never loses sight of my inner heart no matter how difficult it may be to stomach, or how much I make an ass out of myself.

"Scully, I don't know. So much has been running through my mind since I've been up here. I just..."

"Fox, he really loves you."

I wince, "I know that Scully. I love him too. I love you. I...I guess I just don't love myself." The words are out before I even mean to say them. I wince again. Scully reaches forward and moves a tiny strand of close cropped hair off my forehead.

"I liked it better longer," she whispers.

I shift up and take her face in my hand, kissing her gently. She breaks away carefully.

"Mulder, I love you too. But, there's nothing I can do to help you there. You're going to have to learn to love yourself. No one can help you do it."

"Scully I shouldn't have said that - it sounded so self-centered."

She raises an eyebrow.

"Ok, ok, yeah, well, I guess it slipped out and I know you're right about the learning to love myself bit. But I do love you both. Granted, I have been questioning my sexuality since Walter's been here. I mean whether maybe I'd just rather be with a man. There are things I'm experiencing with him...and I just don't mean the sex...I mean the feeling that..."

"Mulder, you've never really had a stable male influence in your life you know. I mean, come on, you're the psychologist. You should understand part of Walter's allure for you."

"Well he's one hell of a daddy Scully."

"You know what I mean."

"Yeah I do. So you think I'm calling you mommy? Lady, that's a disturbing thought too."

"Mulder. How the hell should I know? You tell me. You're the psychologist."

I know she's going to bring up the bit about getting help again. I don't want to hear it even though a voice in the back of my mind is screaming for me to listen to her. I just can't go there. I don't care how much I'm unable to love myself or think she's mommy and Walter's daddy. I can't deal with another doctor right now. I need to try to figure this out on my own.

"All right. I can agree the two of you are surrogate parents sometimes. But, it goes a hell of lot deeper than that, Dana. I can't deny I love both of you and right now I can't deny I'm attracted to both of you sexually. I mean take a look down if you don't think so." I started to get hard the minute she started to wash my back.

"So..."

"So, what can we do about it?"

She does grin a little.

"I don't mean my dick. I do have some restraint, Scully," I bluster in half-hearted annoyance. Then I grin in spite of it, because she's trying to hide a wider second grin.

"All right I'm perpendicularly challenged here. I trying to get my mind off it. And come on. I mean I really do want to hear your viewpoint. I'd appreciate the advice."

"Mulder, I'd really like to be able to give you sound advice. But, I don't know if I can handle this three way relationship deal. I can see the parental unit factor, Mulder. The sexuality isn't totally freaking me out. I don't have any innate prejudice against gays or bisexuals. I guess I can understand you being attracted to us both. I know Walter loves you and I know I love you. But I do have reservations about any of us being able to share and share alike in the long term. I mean I just don't know. I have no experience with this type of thing - no clue..."

"Well it's new ground for me too - and Walter..."

"I don't want any of us to get hurt - least of all Walter Skinner. Mulder, no matter how much of a friend he becomes to me or if he stays your lover, he's still our boss and all the implications of that position can't be denied either. You know there are more hindrances in this thing to make it fail then there are to make it succeed - if you just consider the bureau and nothing else."

"And since when has that made a difference to me Scully? Or to you for that matter?"

"Well, it might make a difference to Skinner."

"Are you trying to say you think Walter will be the weak link?"

"Mulder, I have no idea. I'm just saying I think he has the most to lose if the shit hits the fan. And I guess I don't want to see that happen."

"I guess I should feel good about you're saying that."

"Why?"

"Because it's a step in the right direction. It means you like him a little more," I smile.

"I think he's a pretty patient man," she replies archly.

"Ok, I deserved that. So, do you still want to take some time away from me?" I ask tentatively. It's going to kill me if she does but I can understand it now if she still needs to do it. She did say she loves me. If she wants to just stay friends instead of lovers I...well I'll just have to try to deal with it. But Lord this is going to hurt. I just hope...

"Mulder if I did - you're not going to throw that sanity thing at me again are you?"

"That really pisses you off, doesn't it?"

"What do you think?"

"Look, Scully. Would it help if I said - if I said I'd consider getting help if I thought I was really going to lose it?" Ok, so I'm willing to bend a little. I guess I am really willing to do anything to keep her. Even face the idea that seeing another psychologist makes me sick to my stomach.

"Yes, it would."

"Ok, then I'll agree."

She studies me carefully for a second.

"Ok," she nods. I can tell she believes me. I sigh in relief.

"So, will you or won't you..."

"Stay?"

"Yeah."

"Mulder, I think we need to get a couple more things straight."

"What?"

"Well first I can't sleep with you right away. I...I can't just get back to it that fast. But yeah, I can't deny I love you and hell - you're a fantastic lover. I can't deny my wants and needs there either. So, I don't want to stop being your lover. You're just going to have to be patient with me there."

"As long as you need, Dana. I...I won't put any pressure on you. I love being with you, in bed or not. And you're wonderful both ways. Really."

She smiles slightly and looks down at her hands where they rub her jeans a little. Then she looks up, stills her fingers, and continues more seriously.

"And secondly. There is no way in hell I'm going to see you and Walter Skinner doing the wild thing again - I mean it. When I am in the vicinity the two of you will either have some manners - or buy me a fucking pair of ear plugs. And don't do it when you've been wounded or hit on the head for God's sake. I don't want a peep show when I come running in to check on you. If that's going to happen then Nurse Skinner can take care of you the next time - alone."

"I just nod and smile, nod and smile. I agree with it all and she's so cute anyway I can't disagree now.

"And last but not least - that goes for us too - I won't subject Walter to walking in on us while we're playing ride 'em cowboy either."

"I guess that precludes my menage a trois fantasies."

"Don't think I don't know you've had them, Fox Mulder. You don't even want to go there. But if you can just give me some time and just not act like a total insensitive a-hole about this...this arrangement - I'll give it a shot. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Dr. Scully. I hear and obey."

"God, I wish I had a tape recorder."

I laugh.

"I wouldn't laugh, Mulder. Because I'm deadly serious. If any one of us fucks with the other - and I don't mean in bed - I bail. Got it."

"Yes, ma'am." I assure her equally as seriously. Oh yeah, I know when she means business.

"Good, ok," she nods.

I grin a little and she can't help grinning back.

"Are we going to bring Walter into the loop on this, Lois Lane? It's only fair."

"Yes, of course Dick. Bruce Wayne has to be in on the action. You're pruning up anyway. I'll go down and tell Batman that we're almost ready to eat."

"Wrong comic."

"You look better in green tights."

"Quick - to the Bat Cave, Batgirl."

"That's Bat Woman to you...Mr. Grayson."

xXx

"More wine, Scully?"

"Uh, sure....thank you...as soon as I...well...I need to visit the ladies room."

"Oh, all right. No problem."

Walter, Scully and moi are all ensconced on and around the king-sized bed, plates of food lying empty on the dresser. I've got the covers pulled up to my neck, per Scully's insistence so I kept warm before, during, and now after stuffing myself full of holiday fare.

We definitely let Walter into the loop. The look on his face was priceless. It made my heart feel good to see him happy, relieved and content. *Peace on Earth and Good Will* indeed. He smiled a real smile and then insisted we both take a seat so he could act as host. The food and wine started to flow and by the time the meal was done all three of us were feeling mighty fine. Oh yes sirree.

Now Walter was going back over to the improvised ice bucket courtesy of Rubbermaid to get some of the excellent white wine he had chosen to go with the turkey. We'd already polished off two bottles and he was cracking our third. As Scully enters the master bathroom, wobbling a bit under the influence of the wine, I watch Walter deftly open the second bottle. Then a thought rips through my head. Oh my God I forgot Scully's gifts!

"Walter," I hiss in chagrin.

"What?" he cocks an eyebrow as he looks at me.

"I forgot Scully's gifts."

"Oh shit."

"They're downstairs."

"Where?"

"Still in the front coat closet."

"Ok. I'll go. You run interference if she comes out before I'm back."

"What do I tell her?"

"Hell, I'm an old fuck. Tell her my prostate won't let me hold my booze. I had to use the downstairs can."

I start to gurgle my laughter as he sets the wine bottle down and quickly exits. Lucky he can hold his liquor. He can take the stairs and not fall on his face.

Damn it, I didn't have a chance to wrap Scully's presents. Oh well, she'll have to make do without even the Mulder traditional wrapping. I chew on my lip as I hear Walter downstairs at the coat closet door.

He just manages to get back upstairs with the bag and bring it to the bed when we hear the toilet flush and the sink start to run. I try to hide the bag under the covers, on the side away from Scully. Walter was sitting in an overstuffed chair he'd pulled up next to the bed during the meal and Scully was sitting next to me, against the head board. Walter rushes back to the wine bottle and proceeds to fill Scully's glass just as she comes out of the bathroom.

"Here you go Scully," he stops her progress to the bed, just long enough for me to get the gift bag completely hidden.

"Great," she smiles at him, taking the glass. She walks over and climbs back up onto the covers, next to me.

Walter comes back over also and refills both my glass and his from the bottle. Then he hands me my glass and sits down on the edge of the bed with his glass in hand.

All of us take a sip.

"This is excellent wine," Scully nods at Walter.

"Thanks. I've always enjoyed it," Walter replies amiably.

"Yeah it's really classic. I can even taste it through my stopped up nose," I grin, teasing him.

"You wouldn't know a classic wine from Ripple, you bum," Walter laughs, teasing back.

"Oh and you're such an expert, you damn Queen."

"That's Sir Queen to you, monster boy."

I start to laugh.

Scully is barely suppressing her laughter as Walter and I spar, mugging in imitation of each other.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you if you did that your face would get stuck?" Walter jibes.

"God forbid I end up with a surly man puss like yours."

"See Scully, no class. No taste whatsoever."

"Oh, I don't know. I have some class. And I have lots of taste. I mean look at what I have here if you want the proof."

My words successfully draw Scully's attention away from Walter and to my hand as I pull the bag of gifts out from under the covers.

She's staring and then none of us quite know what to say next. So, I settle on the simple expression. The one that comes readily and obviously to mind.

"Merry Christmas, Scully."

"Oh..." she whispers momentarily stunned. She does recover quickly however and places her wine glass down on the night stand.

"Mulder...you shouldn't have, you know."

I just shrug and grin.

She takes the bag gingerly, "Thank you Mulder," she adds gently touching my shoulder. Her hand shakes a little but she gets herself admirably under control again, and pulls the bag into her lap. She opens the bag and pulls out the book first.

"Oh good," she exclaims with a pleased smile.

"So, you haven't read it then?"

"Nope. I knew you'd remember."

"*Bag of Bones* is in the mail to your mother."

"I knew you'd remember that too," she replies quietly.

"There's more," I add.

"Oh?" she raises an eyebrow.

"Yup."

Walter sits back quietly, letting us enjoy the moment, sipping his wine and grinning a little. He looks sort of like Father Christmas. I've always kind of wondered what he'd look with a beard. Nah - I like that chiseled chin too much.

"Oh Mulder, for heaven's sake. Are these supposed to replace the one's I lost in Wisconsin?"

I come back from my momentary reverie to see Scully holding up the gold ear rings. I chuckle.

"Mes oui."

"Yeah, what the heck are those anyway? He wouldn't let me see them in the store."

Scully proffers said ear baubles towards Walter. He gives me an exasperated look.

"You said she'd be able to wear these in the office."

"Well, what's wrong with little cows? I thought they were cute. I mean look at the detail - you can tell they're Holsteins."

Walter peers at the gold ear rings very closely.

"You're blind. These are Guernseys."

"What? Son of a bitch, I've been defrauded! I knew I should have flashed my ID. That sales clerk assured me they were Holsteins."

"You should have let me flash my ID, Mulder. After all, who's the boss around here?" Walter rumbles, giving Scully back the ear rings with a flourish, "the clerk wouldn't have dared cross an AD - unlike some smart ass agents under him dare to do," he teases, getting in on the act.

"Well...we'll show him tomorrow. We have to go down there and tell that miscreant he's committed a federal crime - cheated a federal officer - two - no three federal officers. We'll put the fear of God in him and..."

By this time Scully is helpless with laughter. Walter is laughing too, and spills wine on his sweater.

"Oh damn!" he yelps, "I gotta get this off. I'll be back in a minute," he adds, getting up to go in the master bathroom. We hear the water running and he's mumbling, cursing himself out a little. Scully and I look at each other and smile wide.

"He's ok, Mulder, you know," she nods, rather tipsy.

"Yeah, he grows on you. Are you going to dig for the last gift?"

"There's a third?"

"Good things come in threes."

"Except three on a match."

"Oh please - let's not go there."

She chuckles and sticks her hand back in the bag.

"I'm not going to come up with something hanging off my finger am I?" she winces.

"Scully!" I huff.

"All right, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt."

I snuggle closer to her and she pulls out the last small jewelry box and opens it. Her face goes instantly soft. I smile.

"Do you like them?"

"They're beautiful," she whispers taking one of the orchid ear rings out and holding it up into the light. The tiny crystal flashes and glints, reflected in her brilliant blue eyes.

"You're beautiful," I reply quietly.

She smiles a little and I bend forward and place a chaste kiss on her forehead.

"Thank you Mulder," she strokes my shoulder.

Walter clears his throat, "Uh, I thought I'd just clear away the plates..."

Scully and I move apart a little, and I smile up at Walter.

"Hey, we didn't watch any of those videos. You guys want to watch some tapes?"

Scully looks at me with suspicion.

"Not you too!? I own other types of tapes you know."

"Well with your track record can you blame me?" Scully crosses her arms and glares.

"Well for your information Ms. Doubting Tomasina - I brought The Avengers..."

"Confess you borrowed them..." Walter chuckles. I give him a withering look and he barks a quick laugh.

"Ah, ha!" Scully exclaims, wagging a finger at me, "I knew it."

"Well, if that's the way you're going to be...I just won't tell you I have Dr. No and Goldfinger too."

"Sean Connery? Ooh, now your talking!" Scully enthuses.

"You like Sean Connery?" Walter chimes in from the area of the dresser where he's picking up the dinner plates.

"He's the only 007 in my opinion. "

"Bond, James Bond," Walter replies, doing a dead on imitation of the man himself.

"Oh for God sakes - you're both Connery fans?"

"What's not to like?" Walter asks.

"Right. He's a suave secret agent and..." Scully begins.

"and he has a great car..." Walter adds.

"and a luscious accent..."

"he keeps himself in shape..."

"oh, he certainly does..."

I'm just staring at this impromptu tribute to Mr. Connery in amazement.

"Well he's...I don't know - he's just not my type," I reply archly.

Scully and Walter stare at me in amused disbelief, and then Scully turns to Walter.

"You were right, Walter - he doesn't have any taste at all."

"Hey!" I laugh and goose her. She flinches and tries to tickle me back. Walter bows out, picking the other two plates up as Scully and I wrestle a little on the bed. Finally I give up, because Scully's tickling is fast and accurate and I don't want Walter to find out just how ticklish I really am. Finally we break it off.

"So, I take it we're watching..." I manage to breathe out.

Scully looks at Walter deferring to him to make the choice.

"Dr. No, then Goldfinger."

Scully smiles.

"Ok, we'll rack up Dr. No as soon as you get back, Walter."

"Let me give you a hand with those dishes," Scully volunteers. To her credit she manages to get across the room without tottering too much from the wine.

Later...

"You know, Walter - this film has the best of both worlds..."

"Yeah, you've got that right," Walter grins taking another sip of his wine.

We already watched Dr. No with amusing running commentary a la MST3K from me, and nagging at me to shut up from Scully and Walter. Now, we're watching Goldfinger and Connery and the Golden Girl to be, Shirley Eaton, are on the large screen TV.

"Mulder?"

"What?"

"I didn't know she snored," Walter whispers glancing over me at Scully.

We're all lined up now against the headboard so we had the best view of the TV. All of us changed into our jammies in an unspoken agreement to get as comfortable and relaxed as possible. I get the impression that we're all trying our hardest, with a little help from the wine, to make a connection. The beginning of a deeper friendship. A good-natured camaraderie that will last past this holiday and into the hard days ahead. I've never seen Walter unwind and unbend quite as much as he has over the last few hours. He's trying really hard to relate to Scully as a woman - a human being - and not just one of his agents who still happens to be slightly afraid of him.

Scully is making a valiant effort to accept Walter on those terms too. You know I have an idea that part of the reason he was making her nervous, besides the boss and the *J.O.B.* thing was the fact that well...he is a man. I think maybe she thought he was going to support some kind of share and share a like - with Dana Scully as the unlucky monkey in the middle. But after talking to him I think she's got things straight - she realizes that Walter is anything but straight. He has absolutely no interest in monkey business. Unless it's spanking the monkey - mine. And now it's droll, but a tad annoying I have to admit, to watch her talk to him like...well probably like she'd talk to another woman about me. They're ganging up on me a little. I can sense it. But what the hell. If a little behind my back - *isn't he a mensche sometimes* Mulder bashing will keep this thing going, I can live with it.

I'm just glad she's talking to him at all. When we brought Walter into the fold here, they explained their earlier tete a tete as well. I'm glad they had that dialogue. Big time. I have to say it doesn't surprise me. Great minds think alike and those two together are going to be one hell of a team if we can make this work. I have hope now that we will.

For my part I'm trying to just go with the flow. No pressure. No assumptions. No expectations. No bullshit on my part. God that will be hard. But like I said - what the hell. Whatever it's going to take to get this to fly - I'm the guy.

So, here we are, seated in front of the big screen TV, in a semi-darkened room since right now the cathode ray tube is the only light illuminating us. Three little Feds all in a row and I think we all feel more at peace on this earth then we have in a very long time.

Walter and I sip wine since there's still quite a bit left. Scully held up fairly well but the wine and large meal finally got to her and she's sleeping, curled up and snoring gently against my side. I answer his whispered question and we continue to talk in an undertone.

"Only when she's had a little too much to drink," I reply fondly and stroke her hair carefully.

"She's...she's a little different then I expected..." Walter whispers.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, I don't know - more earthy...less..."

"The Ice Queen."

"Yeah, I guess. I knew that wasn't a fair view of her - that rep - but..."

"Well she has it at the bureau for a reason, Walter. It's protection. I mean you have to relate to that, Mr. Surly AD-Man."

"Oh yeah."

"She's got a lot to offer Walter."

"I'm beginning to see that, Mulder," he replies quietly, finishing his wine.

"Look, I'd better go downstairs and crash. I'm losing it myself here."

"Downstairs? There's plenty of room in the bed."

"Uh uh."

"Oh come on. Just curl up next to me. We're adults. And hell, we're drunk enough you know we'll be sawing wood as soon as our heads hit the pillow."

"Well it's your funeral, babe. You're the one lying next to the foot that may kick your ass."

"I'll take my chances. Now go to sleep, schweetheart," I quietly Bogie snarl at him.

"All right, all right," he grumbles, taking off his glasses and putting them on the night stand next to him along with his wine glass. He takes the remote that's lying there too and turns off all the electronics. The room is plunged into darkness. Walter pulls the covers back and slides under next to me. I feel him brush his lips gently against my forehead.

"Night, Fox."

"Sweet Dreams, Walter."

Sometime during the night I hear Scully stir. She struggles to sit up next to me. I open one eye carefully and stare up at her through my eyelashes. She looks bewildered and disorientated for a moment, brushing her hair back behind her ears. As her eyes adjust, so do mine and I can see her peer over past me at Walter's form. Walter's snoring sounds like a 747 flight out of Dulles International.

"Shit," she hisses.

I'm instantly alert but stay still. Oh God, she's angry because we're three in a bed. Christ I've screwed the pooch again here. When will I ever learn? Stupid Mulder. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

But then I hear her chuckle a little and my thoughts and breath stop at once. She reaches over my body and pushes Walter's shoulder. When he doesn't respond she pushes a little harder.

"Hmm. Wwwhat?" Walter asks sleepily.

"Roll over Walter, you're snoring like a buzz saw."

"Umph. Sorry," he mumbles but he does as requested, rolling so that his butt rests against mine. I let my breath out in a relieved sigh. Scully gets carefully out of bed and goes into the master bathroom, shutting the door. Later I hear the toilet flush and she comes out and crawls under the covers and snuggles up next to me. I fall asleep with the sensation of her gentle breath playing against my chest.

I know during the night I dreamt of them, of us, all of us together. Well it has been my waking fantasy after all. So, the erotic images came to me even more easily as I slept. Give me a break. At least it wasn't a fucking nightmare starring a certain Czech stud muffin and murderer.

As I rise into wakefulness I can still almost feel the dream. Sense not so much Walter's hard, hot, slick sex thrusting into me or Scully's soft, hot, slick folds as I thrust into her, but rather the protective, comforting glow of love that envelops me as we enter each other and are entered by each other. It's as if they melt into me - completely - and I into them. We are truly one, and the joy in that feeling is something my mind can't even bend around. There are no words. I wake up feeling mellow and serene. I stretch with an almost post coital warmth suffusing my body. I'm just thanking the powers that banish hangovers when I notice the bed's...empty.

What the...shit...

My momentary panic that both Scully and Walter have decided to ditch *me* for a change is distracted by a muffled thud. The first thud is soon followed by another. I whip my head around to look at the windows on the other side of the room. I can just make out something hitting the pane behind the still drawn gauze curtains. My brow furrows and I swing my legs out over the edge of the bed and traipse over to draw the curtains aside. Just as I do so, a snowball splats the pane, right between my eyes.

As the snow slides down the glass I glare down at the kids I expect to see in the yard and instead spy Dana *Calamity Jane* Scully, all kitted up in her parka, boots and gloves, cocking her arm to lob another missile my way. I should have known. She has a dead on aim. To my benefit and endless thanks.

Walter is standing next to her in his military issue pullover hat and the black down coat and matching gloves, looking up and laughing like hell. Then he says something to her and she drops the snowball because obviously he's alerted her that the target is aware there will be incoming.

I pull the curtains wide and put my hands on my hips in mock indignation. Scully waves her hands and then points off to the side. I start to laugh. They've built a snowman under the window. It snowed a lot during the night so they had plenty of snow to use. The thing is big so I know Walter must have put the head on. It's as tall as he is, if not taller. Frosty's dressed up in someone's old jeans jacket and a stocking cap they must have gotten from the coat closet downstairs. It looks like Scully made the face - old Frosty has lipstick lines for a mouth. I clap in appreciation and they both take a bow on either side of their joint creation.

Then Scully is looking at Walter very pointedly and saying something to him. He's suddenly scowling and shaking his head *NO* but I can tell he's finding it hard not to agree. Finally she walks over and pushes Walter on the arm.

He shrugs and I can just make out his next words by reading his lips, "All right, you asked for it."

My mouth drops open because he's getting down on the ground and...oh for God's sake I thought I was the only man around that Scully could ever talk into doing...snow angels. I start to bellow laughter as Walter S. Skinner, tight assed Assistant Director for the FBI waves his arms and legs around in the snow making a perfectly, and expertly executed snow angel like he's been doing it all his life. Scully is clapping and laughing as well.

Walter gets up finally, his back covered in snow, and Scully helps him to brush it off. He looks up at the window and gives me the finger. I laugh harder. Then he points at me and at the snow angel. OK, I get the message. He wants revenge. I'm going to have to grovel in the snow at his feet or I'll never hear the end of it.

I nod my head *Yes* and hold up 5 fingers to they'll know I want to at least take a piss before I hit the cold. But before I can turn from the window and go to the can, Scully waves for my attention. Walter steps back slightly closer to the house, so he's out of my sight. All I can see in that moment is Scully, alone against the snow. She looks so lovely, so...I stare transfixed as she lies down in the fresh snow and begins to make her snow angel for me. I stare because in that moment my mind is drawn again to that beautiful Rossetti angel on the tree downstairs and how much it's exquisite and delicate design mirrors the angelic and precious woman moving in the snow below me. Tears come into my eyes and my breath catches in my throat at the image. I smile and put my right palm flat against the window.

I mouth the words, "I love you," to her. Walter comes back into my field of vision, looks at her in wonder and then looks back up at me. I know he realizes immediately what I'm thinking because in that instant he's seen the resemblance too.

I look deeply into his somber brown eyes, and mouth the identical words, "I love you," and then, "I love you both." He nods and smiles gently in understanding, and so does Scully as she sits up in the snow.

I turn from the window. "Merry Christmas, Mulder," I whisper aloud. "For once...Merry Christmas," I add in thanks. I smile wide as I prepare to join them.
THE END OF THE WHOLE STORY