Imparts to Human Hearts

“No, but I should think that’s highly unlikely.”

‘No really. Each ‘gift’ from the true love represents something religious. The ‘partridge in a pear tree’, for example, represents Christ, or the baby Jesus.”

“Go on,” her tone was patiently amused. “What do the other ‘gifts’ represent?”

“Well, the ‘two turtle doves’ are the Old and the New Testaments. The ‘three French hens’ are the theological virtues ‘faith’, ‘hope’ and ‘charity’—although some reports also have it as the Holy Trinity: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The ‘four calling birds’ are the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The ‘five gold rings’ are the first five books of the Old Testament, the ‘Pentateuch’—Genesis. Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy…“

“The Books of Moses?”

“Yeah, that tells the history of man’s ‘fall from grace’. The ‘six geese a-laying’ are the six days of Creation. The ‘seven swans a-swimming’ are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments. The ‘eight maids a-milking’ are the eight beatitudes. The ‘nine ladies dancing’ are the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit. The ‘ten lords a-leaping’ are the Ten Commandments. The ‘eleven pipers piping’ are the eleven faithful apostles. And the ‘twelve drummers drumming’ are the twelve points of the Apostles’ Creed’. What?” By this point, Mulder became aware of the look his partner was giving him.

“Where did you hear this?”

“It was called in to some conspiracy theorists friends of mine.”

“Well, your friends have been had… if they didn’t make it up themselves.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Mulder, it’s all nonsense. For starters, out of all those ‘tenets’, as you called them, only the seven sacraments, the beatitudes, and the Fruits of the Holy Spirit can be considered exclusive to Catholicism. Everything else is taught in the Protestant faiths as well, so there was hardly ever a need to disguise the teaching of them. And when it comes down to it, the Books of Moses, the six days of Creation, and the Ten Commandments are not even exclusively Christian. They were originally Jewish.”

Mulder shrugged, seemingly unaffected that Scully had so completely shot the theory down. “Oh, well. Did you know that Christmas trees, the real kind, are edible?”

“Yes, I did know that actually. Mulder, are you trying to tell me that we’re about to investigate a Christmas-related X-File?”

“No,” he replied lightly. “Although, there are some seasonal-type X-Files here…”

“Mulder, we’re not working over Christmas!” she cut him off, her voice raised; hoping that her pitch and tone would convey that she meant it despite where he seemed to be going with the conversation.

“…but there’s nothing new in any of them that would warrant fresh investigation,” he finished, mildly reproving. “Scully, did you really think that I would make you work over Christmas?”

“Well, I wouldn‘t put it past you,” she hedged. “You are rather work-driven, especially when it’s related to an X-File. I believe that you would work over Christmas or any other holiday if you felt that the case warranted it. And you would have no problem with dragging me along with you, regardless of what plans I may have.”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

“Oh really? I seem to recall you interrupting me while on a date to investigate the Jersey Devil.”

“That was different. And it seemed as though you were grateful for the interruption.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” she muttered.

“Anyway, interrupting a date is one thing. Interrupting Christmas, that’s something else. I wouldn’t do that. Unless it was a really pressing case that couldn’t wait. Or unless the order came down from the Director.”

“Uh huh,” Scully’s tone was dry.

“So, what are you doing for Christmas, Scully?”

“Just dinner with my family—my parents, Melissa, my brothers. Nothing big, but it is my family, and it is Christmas.”

“Sounds nice,” Mulder held his hands up. “I don’t have any work planned, I swear.”

“For now,” again, her tone was dry. “So what have you planned for the holidays?”

He shrugged. “Nothing much. I might head up to the Vineyard to see my father, but we’re not too big on Christmas in my family.”

“Really?” there was a note of sympathy in her voice.

“It wasn’t always like that,” he hastened to explain. “When we were little, my family did the typical things most families do. But after Samantha disappeared… it just wasn’t the same. Mom and Dad tried, for my sake; but I was already practically a teenager, so after a few years, they just gave up. We still exchange presents, but it’s virtually just another day for us.”

“That’s a shame. Oh, speaking of presents,” Scully reached into her handbag and pulled out a brightly wrapped box. “Merry Christmas.”

“Scully, you didn’t have to.” Opening he box, he found another box inside, this one a dark blue jeweller’s box. Glancing up at Scully, he opened this to find a tie clip and a set of cuff links. He looked back up at his partner again.

She grinned. “Look closer.”

Puzzled, he did so. Neither the cuff links nor the tie clip was plain. Acid-etched into the silver was what he was amused to see were alien heads—a single one on each of the cuff links, and a line of them on the tie clip. The design was subtle, nothing that would be inappropriate for work at the FBI; but it was there, like an in-joke—which was probably what Scully intended.

He chuckled. “These are great, Scully. Thanks.”

“I thought you’d like them.”

“I have something for you, too.” Mulder opened his desk drawer and produced a present, also brightly wrapped, this one long and thin. “Merry Christmas.”

“Thank you,” Scully accepts the present graciously, though her expression held a touch of suspicion. Curiosity won out, however, and the opened the present. Like her present to Mulder, this was also a velvet jeweller’s box, though this one was a deep red in colour. Inside was a silver charm bracelet with five charms evenly spaced. The first and last charms were initials, a ‘D’ and an ‘S’ for her name; the second was a dainty cross; the third a tiny stethoscope (she wondered where he found that one); and the fourth was an alien head. That earned a wry look, but she still smiled. “It’s really lovely, thank you. What made you think of a charm bracelet?”

“I was in a jewellery store looking for a broach for my mother when I saw an advertisement for charms. This place had just about every charm imaginable, and some that you wouldn’t even think of; so I thought I would try and make a bracelet unique to you.”

She laughed a little. “I’m not sure how this,” she fingered the alien head charm, “is unique to me. Aliens are definitely more your thing.”

He shrugged. “True. But I wanted something to remind you of the X-Files, which you now are a part of.”

“As if I could ever forget,” she smiled again, her blue eyes sparkling. “Thanks again for the present, Mulder. Merry Christmas.”