#-about the intruder. But like. It's not her fault. How could she have known? Maggie knows its not her fault

[bluejaybytes]

💘🍛 I like both of these. What's most important to your oc (of choice but I'm thinking of Maggie), and what their usual dinner looks like <3

Hiiiiiiiii <3

💘 HEART WITH ARROW — what and/or who do(es) your oc consider the most important to them?

Maggie has sooo few people she's close with BUT the people she IS close with she is VERY close with, the three main ones would be her brother, Hawke, her Girl Best Friend (come to your own conclusions on this one, they'll never have an actual discussion about it), Jenna, and one of the ghosts that hangs around her, Opal. Hawke she was always fairly close with as a kid, while he never actually believed her when she would talk about the ghosts and their various shenanigans, he was always one of her strongest and most reliable supporters, and would claim to believe her. She knows now that he never actually believed her (She figured that out as a preteen), but she definitely appreciates the fact he was still always there for her and standing up for her when she'd get talked over by others. When she wakes back up after her murder, finding where he lives is one of her first priorities, because she's basically having like a million crises at once and figures he's the person she trusts must to be able to help her.

Paragraph break because I'm going on longer than anticipated WHOOPS. For Jenna, she's close with her for several reasons. The first part is... honestly just a bit of necessity. Maggie's lost and scared and has no idea what's going on, and Jenna's the first person to approach her and is someone willing to try and help her figure out what's going on, during a situation where anyone else would've just forced her to go to a hospital (Which... to be fair Jenna definitely should've suggested they go to some sort of medical help, given that she was passed out in the middle of a field and wakes up talking about being murdered). Outside of necessity, however, she and Jenna just like... basically instantly latch onto each other. They're frankly both a bit obsessive with each other because they both... really don't have anyone else? Once the plot ends and their lives calm down they'll get some other friends and their dynamic will become more sustainable longterm, but in the moment they've only got each other and GODDAMN do they have each other. Jenna's like 90% of the reason Maggie wants to actually take care of herself, because if she's not doing it, Jenna just does it for her, and she doesn't like feeling like a burden, even if Jenna's doing it willingly and without viewing as such. Their bond is so largely based on their willingness to support each other, so. yknow <3

For Opal, she's known Maggie since she was only a few months old! Ghosts took notice of Maggie's ability to see them LONG before Maggie would be learn this was Not normal, AKA, as a several month old baby, she'd track ghosts with her eyes and try and interact with them like any other person, which alerted the ghosts to the fact she could actually see them. This made her essentially a bit of a celebrity/VERY weird and kinda creepy to the ghosts, so word of the Magic Baby Who Can See Dead People spread, and tons of local ghosts would hang around just to see her themselves. Opal ALSO heard of her, and she just generally loves kids, so she went to go see baby Maggie, only to realize that oh man. This is going to be. a tough life for this kid. So she takes it upon herself to watch over her, and chases away other ghosts who bother her so that Maggie doesn't have to spend her entire life being harassed by ghosts. Their dynamic is a bit weird throughout Maggie's life, as Opal tends to be a bit overbearing, and also tends to talk over the living people Maggie's trying to talk/listen to, making it difficult for her to concentrate, but as frustrating as Maggie finds her to be, they still are very close, Opal's someone Maggie can be actually open with, and someone who is always trying to look out for her and protect her any way she can. Their dynamic gets WAY more strained after Maggie's death but this is already a VERY long ramble and that would involve a LOT more so I'll save that for another day

🍛 CURRY AND RICE — what does your oc's typical dinner look like? do they usually eat dinner?

Bad it looks bad.

Okay the actual answer is more nuanced <3 Prior to her murder, Maggie was still living at home (She was only 17 and had JUST graduated highschool, graduating a year early), so her typical dinner was just... whatever her mom made! Nothing too fancy, just pretty generic dinner items. Maggie's never really had much of an appetite, but also stayed up extremely late every night, so typically it'd be eating like half the normal portion of whatever dinner was -> stay up until 2am -> Get hungry and finish off the other half of dinner -> stay up until [god knows how late]. Her favorite meal is probably stew, though while she is an extremely picky eater, of the foods she's okay with she doesn't tend to have really any standout favorites.

Once she wakes back up after her murder and has to care for herself, her dinner is... crackers. As mentioned, she's an extremely picky eater, but she also has no skill in cooking and is also just deeply depressed, so she can't really give the effort to care about it enough to want to eat properly, so she just. doesn't! However, once Jenna starts hanging around more, specifically hanging around for long enough stretches of time to see Maggie's abysmal self care and eating habits, THEN Maggie's typical dinner stops being "crackers" and starts being whatever Jenna makes her. This is typically things like easier to prepare meals like mac n cheese, but Jenna always adds things to them that aren't included to make them nicer, so it's always more than just "box of kraft mac n cheese", its got some added vegetables and meat added in there to make it better!

Once Maggie actually starts trying to learn how to cook herself, her typical dinner consists of one single bite of whatever she tried and promptly failed to make, and then a plate of Whatever Jenna Made Instead. She's trying her best but oh boy. its not great.

[baronessblixen]

Mother Knows Best

Day 12 for @thexmasfileschallenge: secret Santa. Tagging @today-in-fic

Maggie Scully has always known what her children want for Christmas. Even when they didn't know it themselves. Bill and Melissa had always been always loud; their wish lists long and screamed from the top of the stairs. Charlie, no matter how hard he tried, was never like his brother. When he received a book on sailboats one Christmas, a wish he hadn't dared to put on his list in fear of mockery from Big Bill, his eyes lit up and he disappeared to a corner for the rest of the day. Then there was Dana. Her youngest daughter never needed much. She earned the money for the things she wanted, even as a young girl. As an adult that of course hadn't changed. Maggie watched her daughter with curious interest whenever she saw her. Her little tomboy all grown up hiding in beige, expensive sweaters. Those weren't the things Dana needed. The first Christmas after Ahab's death, a hard, harsh winter, all her daughter had needed was a shoulder to lean on, to cry on. Maggie had gladly provided just that. When one Fox Mulder called late in the evening her daughter had smiled for the first time that day. That was the moment Maggie Scully knew that one day she'd have the perfect present for her little Dana.

Maggie thinks about that Christmas now, years ago. Her plan is infallible, downright perfect. When she clicks on the visitor badge for the FBI, she feels a bit silly. She's never been to her daughter's work place before. She is accompanied to an elevator and told to go to the basement. The basement? She is surprised but nods. People get on and off the elevator but she is all alone when it dings open on the lowest level. With confident steps Maggie Scully walks over to the open door. The man she's looking for is there, just like she'd planned.

"Knock, knock." She says and puts on a huge smile. 

"Mrs. Scully?" He is surprised, almost falls out of his chair. He is by her side a moment later as if she were old and fragile, in need of help. "What are you doing here? Did something happen to Dana?" His concern for her baby daughter is what makes her love him so much. His eyes move about rapidly, searching for a clue. She takes his hands in hers and marvels how big they are, how warm. He doesn't calm down.

"Dana is fine, Fox. I'm here to pick her up." His eyes grow wide and he tilts his head. She is reminded of a big, fluffy puppy. She should ask Dana if she ever thinks of her partner as a trustworthy canine. 

"She left an hour ago, Mrs. Scully." She tries to act as surprised as possible. It's all going to plan.

"We were supposed to meet here," she sighs and hopes it doesn't sound too dramatic; she might have dabbled in acting as a teenager, but her talent was limited, "we were supposed to drive to my house together. You see, both her brothers will be there for Christmas this year. We are all so excited! Oh dear, oh dear. You don't happen to know the bus schedule, do you, Fox?" 

"I can drive you, Mrs. Scully." He offers like the good man he is. She smiles.

"Don't be silly, Fox. I can take the bus." He shakes his head decidedly and grabs his coat off the rack. 

"I'll take you home, Mrs. Scully. I insist." She nods, seemingly gives in. Maggie bites her lip to keep herself from grinning. Her plan is going perfectly.

Fox is a great driver and an even better conversationalist. Her daughter is one lucky woman and she is about to get even luckier. Fox grows quiet as he parks his car right behind Dana's. He observes the car a moment then turns to her. He makes no attempt to unbuckle.

"Here you go, Mrs. Scully. I wish you a merry Christmas."

"But Fox you have to come in, say hello." He glances at the front door, nervousness sneaking up on him. Maggie uses the moment to open his seatbelt. 

"I don't want to intrude, Mrs. Scully."

"Don't be silly, Fox. Without you I would not be here now and Dana is probably worried sick already. Bill and Charlie don't get here until later. I'm sure Dana will be happy to see you."

"She saw me at work earlier." He counters. It makes her wonder if there is something going on between her daughter and this man. Something that might threaten her plan. 

"Then she'll see you again. I won't accept a no, Fox." He sighs; the same noise her own sons make when they give in. Fox dutifully trails behind as she unlocks the door.  

"Mom? Is that you?" Dana, dressed casually, walks out from the kitchen and startles to a stop when she sees her partner. "Mulder?"

"Hi." He says sheepishly and hides behind Maggie. She wonders if she could just push him towards her daughter, steer them under mistletoe and let them find magic. It won't be that easy, she fears. 

"What are you doing here?"

"Fox was nice enough to drive me home."

"Why? Where were you?" Her daughter, ever the skeptic. 

"I was in the city. I thought we'd drive out here together."

"But you said-" Dana begins and Maggie stops her with a raised hand.

"It doesn't matter now, does it? Fox, what do you say? Will you stay for dinner? You have to." 

Dana and Fox are eerily quiet during dinner and Maggie wishes at least one of her sons were here already. Though she doubts Fox would have set foot in the house in that case. They remind her of teenagers, these two. Her suspicions are confirmed when they throw each other little looks now and then, always quickly looking away when caught.

"Now Fox, what are your plans for Christmas?"

"I'll watch a movie. Do laundry maybe." Maggie lowers her fork. She knows from Dana that he isn't close to his family but it breaks her heart. 

"That is unacceptable. You will have to stay here with us." The words just tumble out of her mouth and maybe she should have timed them better. Fox chokes on his food, his face turns red and he starts coughing violently. Cutlery clatters as Dana jumps to his rescue. Maggie can do nothing but watch as her daughter strokes his back, pats it gently until he calms down. Dana hands him his glass and he takes a few sips. Maggie doubts she is aware of it, but Dana's fingers curl around his neck. 

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Scully." He rasps and then he looks up at Dana. She smiles at him before she sits down again. 

"That was my fault, Fox. I really do want you to stay here."

"I really don't want to intrude on your family time. On Christmas. I should get back to the city now. Dinner was delicious." He gathers his plate and Dana follows his example. Maggie watches them walk into the kitchen together wondering if they realize that they're walking so closely together that their shoulders touch. She follows them, picks up mistletoe from the counter where she put it earlier. 

"Your mom wanted me to come in. I would have-"

"Mulder, I am always happy to have you around." 

"I better get going anyway. I'm just going to use the bathroom real quick." Maggie uses that moment to join her daughter in the kitchen.

"Dana, I know it's not Christmas just yet, but I think I need to give you your present now."

"Mistletoe?" Dana takes the green twig from her hands.

"No, silly, Fox."

"Mulder?" Maggie nods. "You got me Mulder for Christmas? Mom!" She can't help but giggle.

"Merry Christmas from your secret Santa, dear." Maggie hugs her daughter and kisses her cheek. She knows the exact moment Fox reappears because Dana gasps. She lets go of her and winks at Fox before she pretends to leave them alone. She is not going to miss this.

She can't hear them, but she doesn't have to. Their faces are close together, every word a secret, a conspiracy. They talk too much, Maggie thinks, and as if Dana could hear her thoughts, she lifts the mistletoe over their heads and finally they meet for a first, rather tentative kiss. Maggie watches a moment longer, happy.

Yes, Maggie Scully always knows what to get her children for Christmas.