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atths--twice · 1 year ago

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The First Halloween

It's William's first Halloween. Who is more excited?

Season 9 never happened. As far as we're concerned, the story faded out with two people celebrating the birth of their son. They have moved on in many ways, together, as it should have been. This year, William celebrates his first Halloween as an active participant and it's hard to tell who is more excited.

Fictober Day 2 prompt: Just in case this doesn't work

October 31, 2002

“Oh my goodness. He looks so adorable,” her mother said to Scully, smiling at William in his puffy pumpkin costume. “I don't think that little hat will last too long, though.”

“Oh, I’m sure it won’t,” Scully said with a laugh. “Although we have been putting it on him every day for the past couple of weeks to get him used to it. He’s better about it, but I’m not too hopeful it will stay on all night.”

“It does complete the pumpkin outfit, but he’s still cute without it.” Her mother knelt down beside him, touching his costume. “So cute.”

“Gamma,” William said, handing Maggie a colorful block. He looked up at Scully and touched his hat. “Off. No.”

“You don’t want to wear it?” she asked and William shook his head, tugging at the strap of the hat. “Okay. You don’t have to wear it.” She helped him take it off and then kissed his rosy cheeks. “I love you, little pumpkin.”

“Puh-in,” he said, patting his costume and smiling. “Puh-in, Mama.”

“Yeah. You’re my sweet pumpkin.” She kissed him again and caught her mother staring at her. “What?”

“I’m happy to see you happy. To have him. To have…” She broke off as tears filled her eyes and Scully reached over to hug her. “I’m just so happy for you, Dana.”

“I know, Mom,” she said, closing her eyes as she held her tightly. “I am too.”

Little hands patted against both of them and they laughed as they separated and turned their attention to William who looked at them curiously.

“William, my love, what do we say when we knock on the door?” Scully asked, smoothing back his light brown hair. “Knock, knock.”

“Tick teet,” he responded, grinning at her.

“Oh my God,” her mother said, laughing and crying at the same time.

“That’s right. Such a clever little pumpkin,” Scully said to him, kissing and hugging him as he repeated himself over and over.

“Hey hey,” Mulder called out as he walked in the front door, home from work at last. “It has been a day. Oh, hi Mrs. Scully… sorry, Maggie.” He smiled at her as she rose to greet him.

“Hello, Fox,” she said, kissing his cheek. “I’ve come to join the stroll through the neighborhood this fine Halloween evening.”

“Good,” he said, putting his arm around her shoulders and looking at Scully and William with a smile. “Speaking of which, I saw some kids out when I was driving in. Is the candy ready?”

“In the bowl on the table. Oh! I forgot to light the pumpkins.”

“I got it,” he said, giving Maggie a quick squeeze before stepping away to pick up William who was running to him as quickly as he could in his costume.

“Dada! Dada!”

“Hey, little pumpkin man. You are so adorable.” He kissed William’s forehead as William patted his cheeks and giggled. “Hat didn’t make it, huh?”

“As we predicted,” Scully laughed as she joined them, putting one hand on Mulder’s back and the other on William’s. “Did you not have a good day, hon?”

“Eh, it was fine. But it’s better now.” He smiled at her and she raised up, kissing him softly. “How about we wait on lighting the pumpkins and giving out the candy and we head out now?”

“No, we can wait. My mom brought dinner with her and I’m sure you're hungry.” She gave him a pointed look, knowing he most likely missed lunch as he was wont to do, his focus on teaching becoming all consuming.

“I can-” he started to say and she stopped him with a shake of her head.

“We’ll eat first. Go change.”

“Was she always so bossy?” he asked Maggie, handing William off to her. “Or has it just been since I’ve known her?”

“Little bit of both, I’d say,” Maggie said, smiling as she looked at Scully.

Ding dong.

“Saved by the bell,” Scully told him, raising her eyebrows at him as she went to grab the bowl of candy. “Go. Change.”

“Alright. Alright,” he said, sharing a look with Maggie as he began to untie his tie.

Thirty minutes later, the dishes soaking in the sink for their return, they were heading out for William’s first Halloween.

Scully blew out the candles in the pumpkins and a sound to her left made her look up to see Mulder pushing the stroller.

“Just in case this doesn’t work with him walking the whole time. He’s small yet, but still, he gets heavy.”

“I was going to suggest it, actually. For the exact same reason.”

“Great minds,” he said, grinning at her and stealing a kiss as he passed.

Children of all ages ran past or walked at a slower pace, the streets empty of vehicle traffic. William stopped to watch them, waving excitedly and clapping his hands.

Two little girls dressed as angels stopped and told him he was a cute pumpkin.

“Puh-in!” he exclaimed, touching his costume. “Puh-in!”

“Yes. You’re a pumpkin. We’re angels. See our wings?” They turned around and he gently touched the delicate silver and white wings.

“Pity,” he said softly and Scully exhaled a shaky breath while her mother gasped and put a hand to her mouth.

“Thank you, little pumpkin,” the older girl said, smiling at him when she turned back around. “Happy Halloween. Have fun!” And then they were off, with William waving goodbye.

They all walked to the first door, but let him go the last few steps on his own.

“Knock on the door, honey,” Scully said. “Knock, knock.”

“Tick teet!” William called back to her and they all laughed.

Mulder walked up and rapped on the door twice before stepping back to rejoin Scully and Maggie.

The door opened and an older woman drew in a deep breath at the sight of him. Squatting down, she smiled at William.

“Did you knock on my door, little pumpkin?”

“Knot. Tick teet. Knot.”

“Trick or treat, yes. Would you like some candy?”

William nodded and then noticed a cat that was behind the woman.

“Oh! Cat. Hi, cat!” He waved and the woman chuckled softly.

“Come here, Blue. You have an admirer.”

The snow white cat chirped and wound itself around the woman’s legs, staring up at William with big blue eyes. William placed a hand on the woman’s knee and lowered himself onto his own knees to get closer to the cat.

“Mulder,” Scully whispered, shaking her head, thinking they should stop him.

“He’s okay,” he whispered back as they watched him pet the cat and then press his forehead to the top of the cat's head.

“He likes you,” the woman said as the cat dropped to the ground and started rolling around.

A group of kids ran up, pushing past the three adults and startling the cat. He ran back inside the house and Scully hurried forward to collect William.

“Hold on now,” the woman said firmly to the other children. “This little pumpkin was here already, he gets his candy first.” She handed William a bag of m&m’s and he took them, looking around for the cat.

“Cat?” he asked as Scully picked him up.

“Thank you,” she said to the woman and she nodded as she began handing out candy to the other children. “Come on, sweetie. We’ll see the cat later. Do you want to go to the next house?”

“Cat,” he said, looking back at the house sadly. “See cat.”

“I know,” Scully sympathized, kissing his head and holding him close.

“Maybe we need to have another discussion about getting a pet,” Mulder said hopefully as they walked to the next house and William continued to look over Scully’s shoulder.

“Maybe,” she agreed.

“You heard that right, Mrs. Scully- I mean Maggie? You heard that she agreed to have a pet?” he asked, turning to look at Maggie, who was pushing the stroller.

“I heard an agreement to a discussion,” she answered, smiling mischievously as she met Scully’s eyes. “But if I get a vote, I’m definitely pro pet.”

“Yes! You definitely get a vote,” Mulder said, nodding enthusiastically.

“Mulder,” Scully laughed, shaking her head.

Four more houses and William lost interest, not knowing or caring about getting candy. They walked around the neighborhood looking at decorations instead, William now in the stroller. When he began to yawn, they headed home.

Pajamas on, stories read and lullabies sung, he was down for the night.

The dishes washed and put away, they answered the door for a few more children before turning off the porch light and joining Maggie, who had been persuaded to stay the night, in the living room for a glass of wine.

“So about that pet discussion,” Mulder said, taking a drink and winking at Maggie. “I say we skip right past it and just vote yay or nay to getting said pet. Mrs… Maggie?”

“Mulder,” Scully admonished him with a laugh.

“I vote wholeheartedly in favor of getting a pet. Do I need to remind you about Mr. Buttons, Dana?”

“Mom,” Scully said, her mouth dropping open in disbelief.

“Ohhh, who’s Mr. Buttons?” Mulder asked.

“He’s the cat we had when I was younger. He looked similar to the one we saw tonight, but he was more of a soft gray color,” Scully explained, shaking her head at her mother.

“And you loved him,” Maggie stated, before taking a sip of wine.

“I did. Very much,” Scully agreed softly, thinking of the sweet, soft cat who used to sleep at the foot of her bed.

Mulder and Maggie looked at each other and Scully sighed.

“Fine,” she said, rolling her eyes affectionately, knowing she had been outvoted. “Let’s get a pet.”

Expecting a whoop of happiness from Mulder, she was surprised when his celebration was quiet.

Leaning forward, he tapped his wine glass to Maggie’s and grinned at her.

“I thank you, Maggie. Wholeheartedly.”

“Oh, you’re welcome, Fox. More than welcome.”

#fictober23 #xf fanfic #the x files #msr #love #happy #family #canon divergence #domestic #domestic fluff #halloween #first halloween #trick or treat

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