Four Candles
by Christine Leigh

Summary: Post-series.  A birthday
celebration.
Rating: G
Category: V, AU
Spoilers: None.
Disclaimer: All characters are the products of
Chris Carter. They also belong to Ten-Thirteen
Productions and the Fox Network. No copyright
infringement intended.
Archiving: If you would like to archive anywhere, I'd 
appreciate a quick note first.
Email: Feedback is always welcome, leighchristine@hotmail.com
		

May 2005

May has been cool this year for these parts,
or so everyone says.  They've only been here
five months, but cool is the word on the
street regarding the weather. Mulder isn't
certain if this is supposed to be good or
bad, but he likes it.  He can run later in
the day if he wants -- and he usually
will do that when he gets home around five.
Scully is home earlier most days, and he'll
stop to check in, and then he'll change his
clothes and go.  When he returns, and after
a shower, dinner will be ready.  Sharing his
evening meal as the sun goes down is the high
point of his day, something that he has never
told to anyone.  Memories from his former life
of all those nights spent eating alone have
fallen so far off his radar.  Now, his life,
their lives, appear so mundane.  It's a
precarious facade.

This morning Scully had been as she is most
mornings -- a little grouchy, but snuggly in
his arms as he spooned her to him.  It hadn't
lasted long, though, interruptions having become
a regular part of their daily routine since a
year ago when they had made fierce love on this
anniversary.  He had thought back to that night
when he had wished that he could wipe all
anniversaries off the calendar.  Anniversaries,
birthdays, holidays -- all of it.

He's on his second lap around the small park at
the end of their street, and is debating a third,
when he decides to throw it in and go home.  They
had started this day with pancakes.  He can only
imagine with what delicacy they will end it, but he
has an educated guess.  Life can be good.  He knows
that's sap, but it's also, on occasion, true.  He's
not a fool, however, sometimes he can play the part.
Today is one of those days.

The house is only a two-bedroom and could definitely
use a coat of paint, but as Mulder approaches its
threshold, in his view it might as well be every
Town and Country house he'd lived in on the Vineyard
and elsewhere when growing up.  As he enters, he
grins at the scene before him, that is, after he
finishes hugging -- there is a lot of hugging.

The cake on the kitchen table is frosted with
chocolate and is a little lopsided.  There are
four candles upon it.  Scully looks happier than
he's ever seen her.  Will looks, well, four.

This has been the best year.


- end  -