TITLE: The Genesis Project: Christmas Special! AUTHOR: aRcaDIaNFall$ FEEDBACK: arcadianfalls@yahoo.com.au. RATING: PG SPOILERS: mild one for How The Ghosts Stole Christmas CLASSIFICATION: SR, M&S married, kidfic, alternate universe SUMMARY: Six days of Christmas. AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is pretty much a stand-alone installment in the series and will probably fit somewhere after TGP14. No real spoilers for TGP14. *** A Christmas pressie for all TGP readers out there. Enjoy! ---> http://www.geocities.com/arcadianfalls/ The Genesis Project: Christmas Special! by aRcaDIaNFall$ - - - - } - - - - } - - @ t h e x - f i l e s - SCULLY - 20th December. Astrid and Josh were decorating the tree. I was settled on the couch with Hannah on my lap, supervising. Josh and Astrid worked brilliantly together in most things, listening to each other, appreciating each others' talent and skill with an impressive maturity. This task was the rare exception, and it got crazy. Astrid was at her most spontaneous and extravagant, loving colour and sparkle and flashing lights, while Josh, ever precise, understated, and organised to the smallest detail, stood his ground with quiet determination. Astrid pounced on me. "Mommy, Josh won't let me put the pink stars on!" "You agreed to keep to red, gold and white, Astrid." "But I made them *especially* for the tree!" "Maybe you can put them up somewhere else." "But I *want* them on the tree." She turned back to her brother. "Joshie!!" Crouched by the tree, he was adjusting the polished red balls that hung from the lowest boughs, and studiously ignoring her. "Joshie!!" Astrid cried again, in dramatic agony. "You *have* to let me put them on the tree! I spent *hours* on them!" Josh spoke quietly, still without looking at her. "Red, white and gold only." Hannah, on my lap, let out a shriek as if in agreement with Josh, stretching out her arms to him. He got up and came over to us, lifting her effortlessly up into his arms. She smiled at him, that look of adoration that only Josh and Mulder ever got, never Astrid or I or anybody else, and then gave a delighted gurgle as he smiled back. She had the same elfin face as Erin, but darker skin and hair and those beautiful hazel eyes, looking out at the world with shy, innocent curiosity. She adored her older brother, with a sort of awed respect for his quiet wisdom. He took Hannah over to the tree, close enough that she could reach out and touch the fir boughs, a sort of wary delight on her face. With the tips of her tiny fingers she touched a glossy red ball, mouth forming a surprised 'o'. Josh slipped the ball - so carefully positioned on the tree - from its place and gave it to Hannah. She held it between two hands like one holding a treasured, priceless object, her dark eyes wide. My attention was diverted by a familiar sound from the hall. A rattle of keys and then the lock turned and the door swung open. Bundled-up Erin on his hip, Mulder let himself in, closing the door and tossing down his keys. Erin's face was red and tear-stained, her nose running, her curls damp against her face. Her much-loved reindeer antlers were bobbing on her head. "Mommmeeeeeee!" she wailed, reaching out to me. "Dere's no more Big Bird! Daddy say he not dere! No Big Bird!" I swung her into my arms. After Hannah, she felt heavy, more vibrant and alive. Mulder met my gaze over the top of her head. "Five different places, all sold out." I was hardly surprised. We should have gotten it weeks ago. Every year we vowed we wouldn't end up shopping in the last week and every year work got in the way. "What did you get instead?" "Talk To Me Ernie. Last one on the shelf." I smiled, shaking my head. "She likes Ernie better than Big Bird anyway." - - - - } - - - - } - - @ t h e x - f i l e s - MULDER - 21st December. It snowed at the Carols. The six of us huddled together, all rugged up, protecting flickering candles from the falling snowflakes. Erin climbed onto my lap and I read her favourite story book to her in the glowing light. Hannah had slept all afternoon and was awake all night, quietly watchful, dark eyes shining. Erin started screaming with the first sizzling firecracker, hiding in my arms, but Hannah watched the skyshow with wide-eyed fearless fascination. "Fireworks are boring," Astrid announced, arms folded, only a few minutes after the display had begun. "Monkey wanna go home!!" Erin sobbed, clinging to me with her arms around my neck. Josh was watching a little wistfully. "Wow," he whispered, watching the flaming lights soar through the sky. - - - - } - - - - } - - @ t h e x - f i l e s - SCULLY - 22nd December. I found Erin asleep under the tree just before midnight. Hannah was restless and, pacing with her, I almost tripped over Erin, sleeping curled around her stuffed Talk To Me Ernie toy, shredded wrapping paper around her, her face sticky and a half-eaten candy cane in her fist. Back in our bedroom, Mulder was still awake, tapping away on the laptop. I gestured. "Come see." We stood side by side, gazing down at the soundly-sleeping figure in her Sesame Street pajamas. "Looks like she's over Big Bird already," Mulder observed. I smiled, leaning in against him. "Could have saved yourself all those long hours at the mall." "Ah, but then I wouldn't have gotten you that little something extra." "What sort of something extra?" "It's a surprise. You're going to have to wait." I grinned, watching as he scooped Erin up, Ernie toy and all. "Is it under the tree?" - - - - } - - - - } - - @ t h e x - f i l e s - JACQUELINE - 23rd December. It was another overcast, chilly winter day, a terrible day to be outside, a wonderful one to be indoors with a roaring fire and big woollen socks. The kids were chasing each other around the house, up and down the stairs, playing hide and seek - Astrid, Josh, Erin, and Noah and Hannah, too, on Astrid and Josh's shoulders respectively. Only Ebony was left out, sitting quietly by herself as she glued together macaroni angels. Dana was helping me in the kitchen pack the dishwasher after lunch, and Fox was standing at the fireplace, glancing through all the Christmas cards. I paused to watch as he picked up the card from Aaron, reading through the message before putting it down again and moving on. I hadn't told Fox or Dana that I was spending Christmas day with Aaron's family. I knew they wouldn't really approve, despite the circumstances. I glanced at the kitchen clock. Just past two. "Dessert or presents first?" Dana leaned back against the edge of the counter, considering it. Fox came up beside her and reached to rub her shoulders. She smiled. "What's for dessert?" I swung open the fridge and flipped up the box lid to reveal a luscious looking strawberry and hazelnut gateau. "I know it's not the traditional Christmas pudding, but..." Dana was reaching for the dessert plates. "The gifts can wait." - - - - } - - - - } - - @ t h e x - f i l e s - ASTRID - 24th December. I was in bed but I couldn't get to bed. I wasn't sleepy at all. A little excited. After all, it *was* Christmas Eve, and even if I didn't believe in Santa, Erin still did and she got so excited, plus it was just exciting to think about the presents I was getting, and about giving Erin the Talk To Me Big Bird I'd gotten her ages ago, cos I knew how badly she'd wanted one. I could hear Mom and Daddy still talking out in the living room. They'd been moving around a little while ago, putting the Santa presents out under the tree and turning the plate of cookies into a plate of cookie crumbs. I couldn't hear what they were saying now, just that they were laughing a little with each other. They both sounded happy, content. I wriggled up in my bed, reached and pulled the curtain aside a little. It was snowing outside again. I loved to watch it snow, all the tiny white flakes just drifting down, barely there in the dark. It had been windy outside before and we'd thought that maybe it would be a snowstorm, but it was quiet, gentle sort of snow. I kicked back the covers and climbed down the ladder to the floor. The carpet felt kind of cold under my bare feet. It had been nice and cozy in bed, even if I hadn't been able to sleep. I tiptoed out, wanting to see what they were up to. They sounded so happy. I didn't want to interrupt that, I just wanted to see. They were sitting side by side on the couch, Mommy curled up against Daddy. They'd kept the fire going and lit the golden angel candles on the coffee table as well. There were wine glasses on the coffee table, too. Mommy reached for hers and took a sip. It was still half-full. Neither of them ever had much to drink. I hung back in the hall, just peering through the doorway, watching and listening. You could smell the fir tree - the *smell* of Christmas - and hear the fire crackling, and they had some old Christmas album playing in the CD player. Mommy resettled herself against Daddy and he slipped his arms around her, holding her cozily. "I can't believe it's Christmas Eve already," Mommy murmured. She sighed, sounding like she was getting sleepy. "At least we're at home. Remember that Christmas Eve a few years ago? The big, old house... God, that was crazy. I still don't know what happened that night." Daddy smiled, pressing his chin against her shoulder. "That was fun," he mumbled, teasing. She pulled back from him a little to give him a *look*, then smiled despite herself. "I'm happy enough celebrating the season with the living, thank you very much." Daddy kissed her neck, tickling her a little. He was grinning, still teasing her. "I guess this comes in a close second." - - - - } - - - - } - - @ t h e x - f i l e s - SCULLY - 25th December. Erin came bounding in just after 5am, jumping on me with delighted shrieks, the Ernie toy still firmly in one arm. We'd tried for a day or so to take it from her and rewrap it, but it had been impossible to prise it from her grip. Already, it was looking worn, the fur strawlike and sticky from Erin's never-clean hands. "We open?" Erin demanded, wide-eyed. "We open now??" I turned my head to glance at Mulder, fast asleep beside me. He was so beautiful with his dark lashes and full lips and chin rough with stubble. I smiled, reaching up a hand to touch his cheek lightly, but not waking him. Erin tugged at me. "Mommy!!" "A little while longer, Monkey," I promised. "When the clock says 6." She was getting amazingly good at numbers. She looked doubtful, lower lip stuck out. "Soon?" I smiled, touching her mussed curls. "Soon. But a little more sleep first." I lifted the covers for her and she wriggled in, disappearing under. I tugged her back up toward me and held her closely beside me, trying to calm her. It was never easy to get her to sleep, especially when she was excited. "You going to be a good girl and go to sleep for Mommy?" She nodded emphatically, eyes growing rounded. "Monkey gotta be good. Santa say bad Monkey no get pwesents." I smiled. "Right. Well, you'd better be good, then." She was quiet but a little giggly, and I think I fell asleep again before she did. When my alarm woke me up at five to six she was fast asleep beside me, thumb in her mouth. The rest of the bed was empty. I shook Erin awake and she bounced up, dashing from the room. The bathroom door was closed and I knocked, telling Mulder to hurry up, it was gift time. I heard a shriek from the living room and went out to see. It wasn't Erin, but Astrid, who had shrieked. She was hugging Josh tightly and he looked sheepishly pleased. Astrid saw me. "Mommy, look what Joshie did!!" Releasing Josh, she ran to the tree. The pink stars, all crazily beaded, had been attached along a string of blinking Christmas lights, so that each looked almost as if they were glowing. The string had been carefully wound around the tree. The result, if not quite as understated and stylish as Josh had wanted, was pretty. I smiled, drawing Josh against my side. You did a good thing, Joshie, I thought proudly. Dodging Hannah who sat wobbily among the gifts and tinsel, Erin was already under the tree, picking up one gift and then another, trying to find which were hers. She was able to recognise her own name on the tags, but wasn't so good at distinguishing whether it was in the 'to' or 'from' field. She'd already ripped open a pair of Bugs Bunny socks I'd helped her buy for Mulder. Astrid was bouncing up and down, buoyed by Josh's unexpected gift. "Can we start opening now, Mommy?" "Well, I..." I paused, realising something. "Where's Daddy?" As if on cue, Mulder plodded into view. Not Mulder in faded pajamas and ruffled hair, but Mulder in a green velvet elf suit, bells jingling as he walked. It was a complete costume, from the peaked jester-style hat to the buckled belt, ridiculous pointy shoes and - yes, tights, green tights. "Daddy!" Astrid cried, half-delighted, half-embarrassed. Josh hid a smile. Erin had stopped and was just staring, as if not sure how to respond. Hannah, a little distressed by the strange image, reached up her arms to Josh as he stood only a few feet away. "Mommy, the presents?" Astrid reminded me, recovered from the surprise and eager to get on with things. I was still distracted. I gazed at Mulder, amused and amazed. Never had I imagined that he could look so good in such a stupid outfit. He moved closer. "You like?" I smiled widely as I realised. "Is this the little something extra?" He grinned, acknowledging it. "Just for you." "So it wasn't under the tree after all..." "Doesn't mean you don't still get to unwrap it." He grinned suggestively, then did a silly little jig, making the bells jingle again. I laughed. "Oh yeah, very sexy." He tugged me to his side and I slipped my arms around him, kissing him lightly and hugging him. My man. Astrid was jumping from foot to foot, impatient. "Mommy!!! The *presents*?!!" I smiled, pulling away from Mulder. I glanced at my watch. Six a.m. on the dot. "Let's go." fin. ===== : VISIT aRcaDIaNFall$' X-FILES FANFIC : http://www.geocities.com/arcadianfalls/ http://my.yahoo.com.au - My Yahoo! - It's My Yahoo! Get your own!