Title: Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot... Writer: Xphila Rating: G/PG Keywords: MSR, Angst Spoilers: None, this happens outside CC's timeline. Disclaimer: Mulder and Scully aren't mine either, just giving them a little festive...um...is fun the right word? Anyway, you'll never know they were gone. Notes: As promised it did it :). Obviously I have never been divorced (or married for that matter) but the thing behind this is my parents and having spoken to a lot of my friends it isn't just me who spends a lot of time with headphones on blaring out very loud music, but I won't go into it. Also, loads of people say that Mulder and Scully could never stay together so this has something to do with that. Dedication: Joey, because she was why I said I'd write a Xmas fic. Mary who should be back from NY some time soon ::Turns green:: and the rest of the people on CADF. Happy Christmas, guys. *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies Fairy tales of yesterday may grow but never die I can fly, my friend The Show Must Go On! *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* ----------- Driving home for Christmas Xphila ----------- It was never going to happen. The young woman started at the piece of paper. He wouldn't sign it and she sure as hell wouldn't. They would never be divorced. In many ways they would never even be separated. But in the most real sense they were. Ironically Christmas day would mark six months since he moved out. Maybe there was no such thing as true love after all. They were never supposed to fall out of love. Well, that wasn't really what had happened. She still loved him more than ever and knew he felt the same. But they couldn't live together. That was the defining point. Until you have actually had a blazing row about a toilet seat you can joke about it. Once you have screamed and ranted about it, it suddenly loses it's hilarity. Maybe if we'd had a normal marriage we could have a normal divorce. But normal is a word which can never be used to describe anything that involves them. he thing that made it impossible for her to get on with her life was that she saw him every day. They talked, argued, laughed, teased, flirted and work side by side ever day. She still dealt with his late-night sole searching. Still sat by his bedside while he slept off his latest injuries. Still comforted him, humoured him, looked after him and brought him back down to earth. She could still be held by him when she needed it. Which was as infrequently as before. She could still reply on him to ask her to work late when she had nothing but her empty apartment to go home to. She still missed him. Missed constantly knowing he was sleeping next to her rather than out in no-man's land. Missed everything that she loved about living with him. She even missed arguing him. Not about the cases they were on, she still had that, but about who's turn it was to do the washing up or do the ironing. If there was ever a good time to tell him, Christmas was it. he would be lonely. As he was every year up until they got it together. He's probably be watching the old, black and white 'A Christmas Carol' with the terrible over-the-top English accents. The one which the TV networks took in turns to show each year. The paper remained unsigned, folded away in it's envelope. Out of sight but not yet out of mind. She wondered if he had signed it. Neither of them had specifically wanted the divorce. After talking they'd decided that it was the thing to do. She signed and stood up from the desk, pushing her hair away from her face. On her way to the door she picked up her coat, surveyed the apartment. It wasn't as nice as her old one but it was sufficient. She wanted to go to he office, thinking of her partner had reminded her of several things which she had meant to do earlier in the day. Out in the street the cold air hit her full on in the face. Pulling her coat around her tighter she pressed her face into the collar, crunching over the icy parking lot to her car. Apart from blocking the wind out the car was not much warmer. Putting the car into gear she wondered what they'd be doing of they were still together. They had spent only one Christmas together right after their Vegas wedding. Very 'him' but not very 'her'. That was the best Christmas she'd ever had. She signed wondering where the sudden nostalgia had come from. As she waited for the elevator, her hand went to her neck. She pulled out a chain, longer than the one with her cross on. She fingered the ring there, pressing the inscription with her thumb. 'Truth'. It was very fitting. Their relationship was supposed to be part of the truth they were seeking. A truth that had broken down only seven months after they found it. She knew, really, that it was her fault. She had been the one that found his habits annoying. But then, he hadn't gone out of his way to make things easier for her. If they started again she'd know what to expect. Come to that, if they started again, the would probably stay together. Outside their office she paused, pulling of the necklace she pocketed the chain and slipped the ring onto her forth left hand finger. She touched it with her other hand gently before pushing open the door. Flicking the lights, she walked over to the desk before jumping out of her skin. "Mulder! What the hell are you doing here?!" He clenched his fist round something and she looked down. On the desk was his side of the divorce paper. "Mulder? What are you doing down here with the lights off. "Thinking," he smiled slightly up at her. "Have you signed it yet?" Scully looked down and shook her head. His fist moved towards his pocket. She stopped it with her left hand and unclenched it. When she saw what he was holding she just nodded. "Why did we break up, Scully?" he asked, running his own finger over the ring on her hand. "I think it had something to do with you ordering anchovies on a pizza. And I don't like anchovies." He tried hard to conceal a smile at the blunt way she put it, but in vain. "Did I ever apologise for that." "I don't think it would have made much difference." Mulder nodded and stood. Scully often though that he liked their height difference as long and he was the one that was taller. He walked round the desk. "What are you doing here anyway." "There was a reason but I don't remember what it was." "I still love you." His eyes were clear, honest, almost amused. "What's so funny?" She asked, ignored, for now, the admission. "This." "Well I'm glad you find it amusing." She looked up at him and groaned. "This was why," she sighed. "Can't live with me, can't live without me." He looked ruefully at her. "No, it was my fault. I think I turned into my mother. There was a time where everything my father did was wrong. My mum came down on him really hard then. I think I did the same thing. Though, I was worse." "Scully. I lived alone for a long time. All my annoying habits didn't annoy anyone else. When they started to annoy you, I didn't even try. We were both to blame. You're not going to sign are you?" She shook her head. "I still love you." "Do you remember that fantasy you told me about?" A wicked smile crossed her face. "The one in the office." Mulder nodded. "Yeah, I remember." "we never fulfilled that one did we?" Scully shook her head. He had already moved close to her, his body touching hers, his arms round her. He kissed her. Finally she pulled away. "You know what I want for Christmas this year." She whispered in his ear. "I think I can guess." as his lips descended on hers again she realised she was home. Just in time for Christmas. FINI Merry Christmas Send Feedback, Christmas Cake and anything you find in your Christmas cracker this year to me!