Visitation Day by Lolabeegood E-mail: lolabeegood@gmail.com Distribution: Archive freely with my name attached Rating: PG Categories: S, R Keywords: Mulder/Scully romance Spoilers: Up to and including IWTB, but this takes place before it. Summary: A day in the life of Fox Mulder while living in long-term isolation. Author's Notes: Just a little something that has been working itself out in my head and I thought I'd write it out. I do not own the characters. I do not make any money from this. Enjoy! ************************************* Fox Mulder rose from his seat on the couch when he heard the familiar 'clank' of the gate. He walked to the window, wondering why Scully was coming home so soon, and then he saw an unfamiliar car. He quickly fell back behind the curtains and peered around the corner, trying to identify the driver. The blue sedan bounced up their bumpy driveway and came to a stop in front of their house. He reached for the phone and was just about to speed dial Scully's number when he saw Margaret Scully emerge from the car. Since Scully had come out of hiding a couple of years ago, she had visited her mother about a dozen times. They talked on the phone frequently, and they e-mailed each other on occasion. Never once had she invited her mother to their house. Never once had Scully told her mother that Mulder was living with her. Maggie walked up the creaky stairs carrying a parcel in her hand and knocked on the door. Mulder froze in his spot. 'What the hell is she doing here?' he asked himself. "Fox," he heard her call from the other side. "Open up, I know you're there." His eyes darted toward their wooden door and he held his breath. "Dana doesn't know I've come." She called again. "Please open the door." He took one tentative step toward the door and then froze for a moment. How could he be sure it was actually Maggie? "I made you a batch of those rolls you like so much." She called to him. He walked toward the door and opened it wide. "I knew the rolls would win you over," she smiled up at him. "Hi Maggie," he smiled back at her. "Come on in." "Thanks, it's freezing out here," she said as she handed him the basket and walked inside. "Is that why you grew that?" she gestured toward the beard. "I figured if I was going to be a shut-in, I might as well look the part." "What does Dana think of it?" she asked as she removed her shoes. "She hates it, but I'm hoping it'll grow on her." "How long have you been hoping for that?" she asked as she took off her coat. "A month." He answered as he took her coat. "If she doesn't love it by now..." "I know," he chuckled. "The house is nice," she said looking around their living room. "It's nicer inside then out," he smiled as he hung her coat up. "Do you want the grand tour?" "Sure," she said as she awkwardly touched his arm. "It's good to see you Fox." "It's nice to see you too." He smiled back. "Lead away," she said as he walked past her. "Well, this is obviously the living room. The fireplace is nice, and cuts the chill in the winter. We get a hell of a lot of snow up here." "I'm surprised Dana doesn't drive a truck or an SUV," Maggie commented. "I wanted her to, but she wasn't comfortable in a big truck. If it's really bad she just stays at the hospital or she'll park on the driveway close to the road and I'll walk her in." They walked toward the kitchen. "It's a nice bright kitchen." She said as she looked at the yellow walls. "Scul...I mean Dana liked the size of the countertops, but she only bakes about twice a year," he laughed as he leaned against the door jam "I do most of the cooking." "And how's that going?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. "I'm pretty good. I'm still learning, but neither of us has got food poisoning, yet." "Well, then you're doing quite well, I'd say" she smiled at him. "Out here is a washroom, and a mudroom, and the laundry," he said as he gestured down a hallway. "Here is where we eat and this," he said as he approached an open door "is my office." Maggie took a tentative step inside and looked around at the posters and newspapers and sunflower seeds. Mulder was dealing with being isolated either very well, or not well at all. She couldn't tell. "There's an upstairs?" she asked as she exited the room. "Uh, yeah," he said as he gestured for her to go up the stairs first. "Maggie," he started as they climbed the stairs "why now?" She didn't answer at first, and he wondered if she heard the question. When they got to the landing at the top of the stairs she turned to face him. "Fox, I knew she couldn't tell me about you. I knew she wanted to, but, couldn't. Whenever we talk you're the elephant in the room. You are such a big part of her life that, without acknowledging you..." she stopped and thought for a moment. "I needed to let her know its okay." "Okay," he smiled down at her and shook his head in agreement. "Thank you." "And," she paused and touched his arm "it's nice seeing you again, too." He felt some emotion, long dead, come to the surface of his face. It was the love of a mother, the love he had done without for much of his life. He steeled himself and turned away from her, walking towards Scully's office. "This is her office," he said as he opened the door. "She does some research here, but mainly works from the hospital." "Our Lady of Sorrows," she groaned. "It's a small hospital but she is allowed to branch out there. She wouldn't have some of these opportunities at a bigger facility." "So, you approve of Father Ybarra?" "No, I think he's an asshole." He snickered "But, I think working as a doctor and helping people makes her happy." "It does." "Over here, is our guest room." He said as he opened another door. Maggie looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "You have many guests?" "No," he chuckled. "But, I have slept there a few nights over the years when I ticked off the lady of the manor." "Dare I ask what you did?" "Let's just say she can only live without indoor plumbing for 3 days before all hell breaks loose." "Taking on home repairs, Fox?" "Not since then," he smiled and walked across the hall. "There's another washroom here and some linen closets." "This is a big place," she said looking at the high ceilings. "Yeah, it takes me half a day to clean it," he said as he walked toward a door. "And this is our room and washroom." Maggie walked into the large bedroom and smiled. It was bright and soft and very much her daughter. Mulder stood awkwardly at the door, feeling surprisingly sheepish showing Scully's mom the place where they slept together every night. "And that's the place, except for a creepy cold cellar and attic." "I'll pass on those," she said as she walked back into the hallway. "You and Dana have made a very nice home for yourselves." "Thank you," he said, as his heart swelled with pride. "How long are you able to stay?" he asked and then corrected "I mean, you are going to stay for the night?" "I had planned on staying at a hotel if you didn't open the door, but since you did..." "Your bag's in the car?" "Just the one, in the trunk." She said as she took keys form her pocket and handed them to him. He left her and went downstairs. She walked back into their bedroom and looked around once more. His glasses lay on one nightstand and hers on the other. A pile of conspiracy books on his side, and biographies on hers. There were fresh flowers in a vase on a low dresser and a basketball was housed underneath a taller dresser's legs. In their washroom two electric toothbrushes stood side by side and her make-up bag lay open next to a shaving kit. She heard the front door bang shut and she quickly exited the room. She watched him amble up the stairs and walk towards the guest room. "I'll just put it in here," he smiled at her as he walked into the room and re-appeared moments later. "When does Dana usually get home from work?" "Usually, it's a bit of a crapshoot depending on what's going on at the hospital." He said as he ran his hand through his hair. "I could call her." "I'd like to surprise her," Maggie smiled at him. "I'll call and see if there is an ETA and I could always make up something to get her home quicker." "I don't want her to panic, Fox. Why don't you just call her and we'll go from there?" Mulder walked toward the phone in the hallway and pressed the one speed-dial button they had set up. He put the phone on speaker and listened to it ring. "Hi," she said on the other end of the phone. "Are you busy? Can you talk?" he asked. "Uh, yeah, let me just shut my office door." They heard a few footsteps and a soft click. "What's up?" "I was just wondering when you expected to be home?" he asked while Maggie smiled. "What time is it?" she asked. "Almost 3" he answered quickly. "Uh, I have to finish looking at some lab work and..." "I'm making fish tonight and I don't want it to get cold waiting for you," he offered. "Are you sure it's not you waiting for me?" she asked seductively. "Uh," he stammered "do you have a time Scully?" "Not one of those calls?" she asked, somewhat perturbed. "No, I'm uh...cleaning the toilet while we talk," he offered as he looked at Maggie embarrassed, and she looked out the hall window. "How romantic," Scully snickered. "I can be home by five. Five thirty at the latest." "Okay, see you then," he said as he went to hit the end call button. "I love you," she cooed on the other end. "I love you too, Scully," he said as Maggie looked toward him. He ended the call. "So, she'll be back by..." "I heard, Fox," she smiled at him "Do you need help with the fish?" "The what?" "Fish?" "Oh, I made that up," he smiled. "I was just going to made some spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread." "Well, let me help," she said rolling up her sleeves and walking towards the stairs. They spent the next couple of hours making supper and talking. Maggie told him all about Dana's visits, something Scully didn't talk about much with him, and he told Maggie about their life on the road before getting this house. They opened up a bottle of wine and were a drink down when Scully's car pulled up in front of the house. "We should have parked my car around back," she said as she watched Scully walk up the stairs. "It's good she saw it. Seeing you in the house with no warning, would have shocked her." He offered. Scully tentatively opened the door and peered inside. "Mulder?" she called. "I'm here," he called "with our first house guest" He walked from the kitchen with his hands on Maggie's shoulders. Ushering her into the dining room and towards her daughter. "Mom, what are you doing here?" she asked. "I saw your car, but..." "I wanted to surprise you with a visit." Maggie said as she engulfed her in her arms. "It's a surprise, but mom, no one can know about Mul..." "Dana, I knew he was living with you all along. Where else would he be?" she smiled as she took her daughters face in her hands. "But mom, its danger..." "I couldn't stay away any longer." She smiled at her daughter's surprised face. "I'm so happy for you Dana, and I wanted to see your life with Fox with my own eyes." "Mom?" "You two have made a nice home here," she smiled at her daughter. "Thanks, mom," Scully said as her eyes welled up with tears. The two women hugged and Mulder left the room. He got the garlic bread ready while they talked on the couch. Scully offered to show her around but Maggie informed her that Fox had already given her the grand tour. The oven beeped and as Mulder leaned down to pull the garlic bread from the oven he felt two arms wrap around his torso from behind. "Maggie, I'm a one woman man," he joked. "Mulder!" she snapped as she lightly smacked his back. He turned to smile at her as he put the pan down. "Gotcha!" She moved towards him and wrapped her arms around him again, this time from the front. "This is so nice." "I'm glad she came, Scully. She scared the shit out of me when she arrived..." "She said you looked a little green when you opened the door," she laughed. "I must have." He said as he rubbed circles on her back. "Mulder, I'm so happy," she said looked up at him. "I know," he said as he kissed her nose. They ate dinner, drank the rest of the bottle, and spent a jovial evening in each other's company. Maggie retired to bed shortly after 10 and Mulder and Scully cleaned up the dishes. "I'm calling in sick tomorrow," she announced as they climbed the stairs to their room. "Did I hear you correctly?" he asked as he put a finger in her back jean pocket and followed her up the stairs. "My mother is visiting us Mulder, I can't think of a better reason to play hooky" she said as she reached the landing. "I can, but maybe we can do that after your mother goes home." He said in a sultry voice as he pulled her towards him. "Mulder, my mother is just down the hall," she whispered. "I said after she went home," he clarified in a whisper. She smiled up at him and he got his answer. ******************************************** The end.