12/22/99
Mistletoe
by Araxdelan

Notes- This started out as an image of M and K kissing under the mistletoe,
and it grew to include the gift-giving.

This is for the WAFFers. Thanks for making my life more warm and fuzzy on a
daily basis.




~***~ ~***~ ~***~ ~***~ ~***~ ~***~ ~***~ ~***~

	Fox Mulder unlocked his door, opened it, and gasped.

	When he had left for work that morning, his apartment had been bare.
Undecorated, despite the fact that it was December twenty-fourth; Christmas
Eve. But now...

	There was a large tree in the corner. Real, if the woodsy smell was
any indication. It was covered in tiny white lights, crystal "icicles", and
gold balls. It had a delicate gold angel on the top, and a gold tree-skirt
underneath. A gold skirt piled with presents.

	The coffee table had a single pillar candle, surrounded by holly.
Next to the candle were two plates, heaping with all sorts of traditional
food. Turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables...

	There were garlands strung everywhere and...

	"Hello, Mulder."

	Alex Krycek walked out of the kitchen.

	Mulder stared, open-mouthed and dumbfounded for a moment, before
he gathered himself enough to ask a single question. "Why?"

	Krycek smiled. "Well, I could have done it all just to see that look
on your face. But, really, I did it for two reasons. One, even people who
have given up their lives to the fight ought to have a nice Christmas. I
knew you were all alone, and I couldn't think of a better way to spend my own
holiday than with you...

	"Two, I thought now would be a good time to end this stupid feud
between us. And what better way than this?" he said, his hand making a
sweeping motion to indicate the jolly splendor before them.

	Mulder thought about what was happening. He found no more anger, no
more ill-will in his heart. Not when it came to Krycek. The prospect of an
evening with the man actually put a smile on his face. He was looking forward
to not spending the holiday alone or working, as he had so many times in the
past.

	"All right," he said, "no more fighting."

	Krycek regarded him suspiciously for a moment. "This isn't a trick,
is it?"

	Mulder laughed. "No, I'm just as serious as you are."

	Krycek smiled. "Good. Mulder?"

	"Yes?"

	"We're standing under the mistletoe."

	Mulder looked up to see that Krycek had indeed placed a sprig of
mistletoe above the doorway. Mulder could sense it's deliberateness, and
his smile grew broader as he pulled Krycek in for a kiss.

	The first touch was little more than a gentle brush, but Mulder
pressed in more firmly. After a pulse-pounding moment, he let his tongue
lick at Krycek's mouth. The other man groaned, and parted his lips, allowing
Mulder inside.

	A careful exploration was undertaken, and soon Krycek was
reciprocating. But after a bit the two had to break apart for air. They found
that, at some point, they had wrapped their arms around each other.

	Krycek rested his forehead against Mulder's, and smiled. "Wow. I
didn't expect that to work."

	"Why not?"

	"Because you're a stubborn bastard."

	Mulder chuckled. "And you want me anyway?"

	"Not anyway. Because. You wouldn't be you if you weren't such an
ass sometimes. It's part of the package."

	Mulder snorted. "No wonder people aren't eager to be around me."

	"Hey, I find it endearing."

	"I better hold onto you then."

	"I'm here for as long as you'll have me."

	Mulder tightened his hold on the other man. "Okay."

	Krycek began giggling. "I guess I won't need those presents to soften
you up, then."

	Mulder broke away, and headed towards the tree. "Why? What's in
them?" He picked up a box and shook it.

	Krycek smiled at the scene. "The truth."

	Mulder turned to him, eyes alight. "Really?"

	"Yes, really. I finally gathered enough evidence to bring them
down. It's sort of reason number three for this whole set up."

	"You've gathered evidence against The Consortium..."

	"Yes."

	"And of the aliens..."

	"Yes."

	"And gift wrapped it for me."

	"Yup."

	It was then that Mulder realized he was falling in love. He took
Krycek into his arms and gave him a hug. He pulled back, and said, "Let's
eat."

	"Eat? Don't you want to open the gifts."

	"Won't the food get cold?"

	"I guess..."

	"So, let's eat."

	Krycek shook his head in amazement. "You were one of those kids who
woke up early and tortured themselves by not opening any of their presents
for *hours*, weren't you?"

	"Yup. Now hurry, I'm not that big a masochist. I do want to open
them, and then I want to unwrap my other present."

	"What other present?"

	Mulder leaned in and kissed Krycek deeply. "You."


~***~
 The
 End
~***~