Disclaimer: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, and associated characters are property of Chris Carter, Ten-Thirteen Productions and Fox Broadcasting Corporations, as well as David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, and the actors who play them. After all, they have to contribute something to the characters... besides looks. Jackie St. George and Marty Nantus belong to Sheryl Martin and themselves... and are used with plenty of permission... (I thank thee, Sheryl, for allowing this honour and privildege!) Victoria Jensen is mine... and her own. *smile* Author's Note: Since everyone on the North American continent found out that Mulder's birthday is October 13, I figured I might as well write a story to celebrate it. Also, this contains a few indirect spoilers for "Paperclip", but not enough so that those who haven't seen it would have the episode spoiled. It's just a hint of those events. Also, I take no responsibility for the gifts from Jackie and Marty, as well as the one from Scully. Jackie and Marty's gift idea comes from Sheryl Martin herself. Scully's gift idea came from Chris Wildbore... my boyfriend. *grin* Comments (good or bad) and other things are apprieciated and go to cshuy@netcom.com. Happy Birthday, Mulder! by Christina Shuy cshuy@netcom.com 11:21am EDT 13 October 1995 Washington D. C. Fox Mulder was in a bad mood... he'd woken up in the morning with the worst taste in his mouth, and on the floor besides, as he'd fallen off the sofa he usually slept on sometime during the night. As for what he'd dreamed... it had been about Samantha, the usual nightmare... only this time it was mixed in with the encounter with the clone who had claimed to be his long lost beloved sister. A knock at the door broke through his thoughts. "Mulder? Are you in there?" Dana Scully's voice was muffled through the wood of the door. Mulder scrambled to get off the floor and went to answer the door, wishing he'd managed to at least clean a path from his couch to the door with a slightly amused smile. "Scully, what are you doing here? It's Friday, and we have a few days off to boot, especially since Skinner's decided we were both working too hard." he said, opening the door to reveal his red-haired partner and best friend. "You shouldn't spend so my time around me. It's bad for you. Not only that, it's a day for bad luck... Friday the 13th and all of that." "I'm not superstitious... Besides, I told you I'd pick you up this morning so we could go to my mother's for the weekend. She asked us both up and we both agreed, so let's go." Dana Scully answered, walking into Mulder's apartment with a determined look on her face. "Go?" Mulder still looked slightly lost and half asleep for that matter. "Go where?" "I told you... we were going to go up to my mother's for the weekend. Remember? Or did you completely forget?" It was apparent from Mulder's expression that he had indeed forgotten that he'd agreed to visit Scully's mother... even though he could clearly remember that he hadn't even been asked over. A little voice in the back of his mind wondered what Scully was up to. "Well, come on Mulder, do you have an overnight bag you could throw some clothing in so we can go?" "Actually, I have a bag I always keep packed in case of emergency or something..." he nudged at it with his foot as it was sitting at the foot of the sofa he always slept on. "Okay, then, let's get going... Mom's expecting us by this afternoon." Dana seemed to be in a hurry. A few minutes later, they were on their way... Mulder and Scully arrived at Margaret Scully's house a few hours later. The house itself seemed warm and inviting, but there was something wrong. The lights were all out and it appeared that no one was at home. "Are you sure we're expected, Scully?" "Yes, positive. Mom even called me this morning to make sure we were coming." Dana answered, turning off the engine and moving to get out of the car. "Come on, Mulder... or are you going to sit out here and ponder the mysteries of life?" "I thought I was already doing that..." Mulder half-smirked, though he moved to get out of the car as well. Dana opened the trunk of the car and got out the bags that they'd each packed. "You know, I've never been here before..." Mulder's voice was soft and somewhat amazed. For a moment, he sounded like he was twelve again and all was right with the world... or so he had thought at the time, not knowing what his father had been involved in. "I hope you like it around here. Mom usually keeps it warm and comfortable for anyone who comes for a visit. She thinks highly of you, you know." Scully said, smiling at him as she fished a key out of her coat pocket and started up the porch steps. Mulder wondered to himself what was going on. There was something weird going on, and the fact that it involved Scully made it seem all the stranger. "You coming or not?" Scully asked from the porch. "Oh... right." he turned his attention back to the present from analysing what was going on and then moved to join his friend and partner on Margaret Scully's porch as Dana unlocked the door. "Scully, are you absolutely-" the door swung open and the lights went on instantly. "Surprise! Happy Birthday, Mulder!" there was a room full of people he knew and was close to as well as a large banner on one wall declaring that it was Fox Mulder's 34th birthday and that this was a party for it. "I... I... I thought you'd all forgotten or something." he managed to say as the unfamiliar feeling of belonging and of family, as well as happiness, filled his heart. "How could a mother forget her own son's birthday? Happy Birthday, Fox." his mother stepped out in front and gave him a hug. She was also smiling, which made Mulder glad. He hadn't seen her smile in a long, long time. At the same time, a flash blinded him and when he could see again, he saw the person holding the camera. Jackie St. George's fiance Marty Nantus. "Now we can remember that expression on your face... Special Agent Fox Mulder actually surprised... amazing." Marty said. "How could we have forgotten your birthday, Mulder... come on now... we're better friends than that." Jackie stepped out from where she'd been hiding behind Marty, already holding onto a large tumbler of her favourite alcoholic beverage. "How indeed." Mulder grinned, a mischevious gleam in his eye, as he turned to look at Scully. "What are you looking at me for?" Dana's tone of voice and facial expression were carefully neutral. "This was your idea, wasn't it..." he asked, as they all went to sit down. "Actually, Agent Mulder, it was my idea." Mulder was surprised to see Skinner there as well. "I interrupted Agent Scully in the middle of trying to figure out what to do for you for your birthday and I suggested that she have a surprise party." Skinner smiled warmly, and Mulder was amazed to see that, even after all the bend-over-and-grab-your-ankles sessions, the Assistant Director was actually human. "Is this why you gave us the day off?" Skinner smiled. "One of them, yes... The other was because you really needed a break." "I thought I got that while I was dead..." Scully laughed. "Not with a bullet wound and smoke inhalation, you weren't." "Okay, so maybe I wasn't exactly resting..." Mulder grinned. They settled in the living room, talking and munching on the snack tray that had been set out... which included a large bowl of sunflower seeds. "Mulder, one of your friends couldn't be here today, but she asked us to play this tape for you." Dana said, going over to her mother's VCR to start the machine and turn on the television about an hour later. Turning to the television, the tape started, and an elegant woman with black hair braided back and having intense dark eyes appeared on the screen. Scully paused the tape for a moment. "Victoria... " Mulder smiled as the tape started up again. "Mulder, by the time you get this, it will be your thirty-fourth birthday. Yes, I know... don't remind you... too late for that." the woman on the screen laughed. Mulder shook his head and grinned at his old friend from Oxford. She had been one of the bright spots in his university career... as well as being one of the best friends he'd ever had. "When you get this, I will be headed for the North of England to investigate a case... with Phoebe..." she blanched. "It may well be that one of us will not return from Yorkshire alive... or at least unharmed." she smiled slyly, and Mulder noticed Jackie smiling too. When Phoebe and Jackie had met, they'd almost killed one another, so she understood how Victoria felt. "I also felt that I should let you in on a few things. Though we didn't get to talk about it, I know your father did care. Let your mother know that the choice between you and your sister cost him quite dearly as well, but that there was no other choice, though he did try to stop them from taking her." Mulder grabbed the remote and paused the tape, looking carefully at his mother, watching her reaction. "Mom?" he asked softly. "I'll be alright... we can talk later, Fox." she answered. He put a hand on hers and squeezed gently and reassuringly. She smiled at him again. He started the tape up again. "Also, you are going to have to watch out for that temporary partner of yours from a while back... the one you almost killed... he is out for blood, and I don't think he cares who it belongs to, so long as it's either yours, Dana's or Walter's... or even that of Jackie St. George... so make sure you watch out for each other." Mulder, Dana, Skinner, and Jackie looked at each other, making Marty more than slightly nervous. "I'd like to meet this woman eventually." Jackie said, her curiousity piqued. "After all, anyone who can't stand Phoebe Green either can't be all bad." Victoria, on screen, cleared her voice. "Right... onto another subject for me, then. I don't want to depress you, so I'll stick to a happier subject. "I'm glad to see you're alive and well... as often as possible. And you will be coming up on several highly amusing cases in the near future... though I think you should try to listen to Dana at times. She sometimes has the right idea to be skeptical." Mulder looked at Dana who was smiling and shaking her head. Victoria always said some of the strangest and most unlikely things. It had been the same way since he'd first met Victoria Jensen. Victoria grinned at Mulder from the television screen and Mulder got the strange feeling she was looking directly at him, even from the other side of the Atlantic while on another case. "Now remember, don't be a stranger. Keep in touch as best you can and I will do the same. You'll always have a friend in me, and I will try to keep from killing Phoebe on this upcoming case. Keep looking for Samantha. You will find her eventually. Don't give up. "Take care, Fox Mulder. Remember I do care, and that you'll always have a friend in me. You and Dana take care of each other and you'll make your parents proud and happy. I'm off for now. Victoria Jensen out." With that, the video tape cut to the blue screen that the VCR used when there was nothing else on the tape to see. Mulder stopped the tape and switched off the television. "She always did have a way with words." he said. Several hours later, after the cake and ice cream and a dinner made up of all of Mulder's favourite childhood dishes as well as several of Dana's, it was time to open presents. Skinner was first. There was a card Mulder opened first. "To an agent and a friend... in pursuit of his interests. May you have the best of luck." Mulder read. Then, he tore open the wrapping paper carefully. "Whitley Strieber's most recent book... Thank you, sir." Mulder felt a little uneasy. "I was planning to get this eventually anyway." Skinner gave a warm smile. "I thought you would like it, Agent Mulder. When I read the inner flap, I figured it sounded like you." "Mine next! Well, mine and Marty's." Jackie plopped a large box into Mulder's lap. Mulder picked up the card. It was plain and had 'To Mulder, from Jackie and Marty' written on it and signed by them both. "Jackie, if this is a bomb..." Mulder looked at the couple suspiciously, though it was obvious he was playing around. "Ha ha, Mulder. Just open it." The box was opened and he started going through the layers of tissue which had been randomly stuffed inside. First, there was a flat box full of plastic fish which looked real enough. It was full of tropical and gold fish. He laughed. It was perfect. His fish were always dying anyway. Then, at the bottom, there was a stack of twelve issues of 'Cosmopolitan' dated from last year, along with a card indicating that he had a subscription for the next year for it. "Jackie... Marty... I don't know what to say..." Mulder was speechless for a moment. It was one of the funniest presents he'd ever gotten, but it was also very thoughtful, especially considering who it had been from. "That's a switch... Mulder... speechless." Skinner joked. "How about 'thank you, Jackie and Marty'?" Jackie said, grinning. "Thank you, Jackie... Thank you too, Marty." Mulder repeated, obediently. "How was that?" Jackie lightly punched him in the arm and they all laughed. He continued opening presents. Both his mother and Margaret Scully had gotten him ties with unique patterns on it. He smiled and looked at Scully, who was laughing. More than likely, before too long, she'd be seeing those ties mismatched with his suits. "And, finally, here's my present." Dana handed him a small box. "Scully, you shouldn't have..." Mulder opened the box. Inside, there was a small tie clip shaped like a flying saucer in titanium and a card. Mulder opened the card and read that he'd just gotten a subscription to Playboy. He grinned at Scully, who grinned back at him. "Just what I've always wanted... Thanks, Dana." he said, proudly picking up the tie from his mother, looping it around his neck and then clipping the tie pin onto it. It was loud, it was tacky... it was ALL Mulder. "So... what do you think?" Scully asked. "This is the best birthday party I've had in a quite a while..." Mulder was literally beaming. "I can remember a time when he had another full birthday..." his mother recalled... and then the stories started. A few hours later, everyone was settled in for the night in the house and Mulder and Dana were the only ones still left awake, though that was not going to last for long. Just before Mulder and Dana went into their separate rooms, Mulder turned to her and gave her a hug. "Thanks, Dana..." he murmured into her hair. "What was that for?" "The party... making me want to celebrate my birthday and all of that. This is much better than cold pizza and assorted videos all day." "With some of the videos you watch, Mulder... sometimes I'm not so sure." Dana grinned. "No, I mean it. I had a good time tonight, and I want to thank you for it." "You're quite welcome, Mulder." Feeling rather awkward, he let go fo her and started walking into the room he was going to stay in for the weekend. "Mulder...?" "Yeah?" "Happy Birthday, Mulder..." Dana smiled softly at him. "Thanks, Scully... thanks for everything. This is one birthday I'm going to want to remember..." "You're welcome. Good night, Mulder..." "'Night, Scully." -The end- So... did I meet the challenge? =) And do people want to hear more from me? If so, let me know! -- "The Truth is Out There. Trust No One."- from "The X-Files" "There's something about distance that gets to us all."-Latitudes(Elton John) "You're not subtle, you're not politic, and sometimes, you're a pain in the ass!" Commander Jeffrey Sinclair ("The Gathering" - Babylon 5 season 1) Pursuing a BS degree in Electrical Engineering-Nova Scotia, Canada anyone?