Phantom Shadows p1-Jo-r1

***

Cape Haven
December 24th
6:30 a.m.

Mulder stopped on the cobblestone path beside a lighthouse that stood on a cliff overlooking the bay. He stood silently in the predawn hours admiring the tranquil view of the moonlit waters below. The lighthouse was five miles from Skinner's old colonel, and its beckoning light had been his destination when he started on his run. There had been just enough moonlight so he could see the uneven ground once his eyes had become accustomed to the night. A cold mist was drifting on the surface of the water; it glowed eerily as the revolving light from the lighthouse reflected off its surface. Mulder took a deep breath of the cold morning air, then exhaled and watched as the thick condensation slowly drifted in front of his face. The temperature was in the mid twenties and the weather report was predicting snow for later in the day.

He rubbed his glove-covered hands together to warm them further. He had dressed in layers for his morning run. Long underwear, sweats, jogging shorts, and a sleeveless down vest, on his head he wore a funny looking knit, stocking cap that Scully had given him two years ago, it had a few tassels dangling from its droopy points. She had bought it for him as a joke and never expected him to wear it. It had become one of his favorite pieces of clothing to wear while jogging in the winter. The bright colors made him standout against the stark winter landscape.

He turned around and started to jog back toward the house. This was the first time Alex and he had been back to Skinner's Chesapeake Bay home since spending two weeks there in November as his prisoners. At the time, the A.D. was punishing them for an incident that had happened between them in San Francisco. Mulder was still ashamed of how they had tricked Skinner there, but it all had ended well, after Skinner had gotten his pound of flesh. Mulder grinned remembering Skinner's method of punishment; it had made it worth getting into trouble, well except for the spankings, he corrected. Unfortunately, their punishment ended too abruptly due to Scully's unexpected arrival. Mulder was still paying big time with his partner over that incident. She absolutely refused to recognize his love for Alex or his new relationship with their boss. Instead, she just refused to discuss it, pretending as if it didn't exist. Mulder considered himself lucky that she hadn't left him. He hoped in time she would come to accept that Alex and now Walter were a major part of his life.

Alex and he had gotten together with Skinner several times over the past weeks since then, mainly over at Skinner's Viva Tower apartment. The first time, they spent helping Skinner clean the place, after his apartment had been vandalized. Skinner had found it that way after returning from his Cape Haven home. They never did figure out what the vandals were after, but had speculated that they must have worked for the consortium.

So now here they were. Walter had invited them to spend Christmas and the following week through New Years with him at his colonel on the bay. He had told them that this would be the first holiday he'd spend at the house. Mulder had caught Walter's subtle hints over the past couple of weeks, he knew that Walter wanted them to move in with him here. Although, Walter had never come right out and said it, Mulder reasoned that the older man's fear of rejection had stilled his tongue. The house was certainly big enough, and Walter and he could drive the fifty-five minute commute to D.C. together.

Mulder was breathing heavily as he approached the house his breath was coming out in white wisps. He noticed that the light was on in the kitchen so he made a beeline for the backdoor. A shiver raced up his spine as he passed the double, storm-shelter doors that led down into the basement. He thought for a moment that he saw something move out of the corner of his eye. He turned cautiously and headed over to the horizontal, storm doors to investigation. He jumped as a rabbit leapt out of the shadows and scurried across the yard and under a pine tree. Mulder chuckled nervously over how jumpy he was. He looked down at the steel chain and large padlock that secured the handles of the storm doors together. He wondered what Skinner kept in his basement? Last time he was here, Skinner had kept him too busy that he never had a chance to explore the old house. Its age fascinated him and he wanted to know if there was any interesting history involving the house. He turned and headed for the backdoor pulling a leather cord from around his neck over his head, it held the house key. He climbed the three steps up to the backdoor and unlocked it. The smell of sausages frying and fresh coffee brewing made his mouth water as he stepped into the warm homey kitchen.

Skinner looked over at him from the stove and chuckled. "What's that on your head?"

"A hat. Scully gave it to me. Don't you like it?" Mulder asked with a straight face as he took off his gloves and shoved them in the pocket of his down vest, which he then shrugged out of and hung on a hook inside the mud room. He then peeled off the stocking cap and tossed it on the shelf.

"It's...different," Skinner said diplomatically.

"It's goofy looking," Krycek grumbled, stumbling tiredly into the kitchen and heading over to the coffeepot.

Mulder smirked. "You're only jealous because you cannot pull off the look."

Krycek rolled his eyes, holding the mug with two hands he blew on the steaming coffee. "What look is that? Supreme geek?"

"No, hot and sexy. The babes love it. You'd look like an elf in it," Mulder joked, walking over to him and place his hands over Krycek's on the mug then brought it up to his lips and took a sip.

"The babes better not love it or that tasseled monstrosity is going into the fireplace," Krycek growled, looking hotly at Mulder's beautiful face his lover's cheeks were ruddy from being out in the cold. "Your hands are freezing. Go sit by the fire, Fox, and I'll bring you your own mug of coffee."

Mulder did as ordered and turned the chair so he could watch Skinner at the stove. The older man was dressed in faded blue jeans that hugged his firm ass perfectly and a navy blue sweater that was molded to his broad shoulders and muscular pecs. Mulder didn't require the heat from the fireplace to warm up. The sight of the older man was heating him up in places that the fire could never reach. Krycek handed him a mug of coffee then sat next to Mulder to share the view.

"You know, if you two want to set the table, I won't stop you," Skinner said, glancing over his shoulder at them as he flipped another batch of pancakes onto a platter already piled high.

"I think the man is hinting, Alex," Mulder quipped, setting his mug on the table and standing.

"I'm feeling very obliging today, Fox," Krycek replied and followed suit. The two of them had the table set just as Skinner set the platters of pancakes and sausages down in the center.

Skinner sat next to Mulder and looked over the table at Krycek. "I'm glad you're feeling obliging today, Alex. You can help me bring the boxes of ornaments in from the truck. Then we can all go out looking for a Christmas tree."

Krycek grinned as he loaded up his plate. "Sounds like a plan, Walter." His heart had started to soften toward Skinner during past weeks they had spent socializing. It no longer bothered him to see Fox and Walter kissing, he no longer doubted Fox's love for him. This was going to be the first normal Christmas he'd had in years. He'd even bought Christmas presents and had them hidden in his duffel bag. It had been a surreal experience for him to shop at the mall with all the normal people scurrying around him.

Mulder liberally poured the maple syrup over his stack of pancakes. He glanced through thick eyelashes at Walter and Alex who were quietly eating; both appeared to be lost in thought. It pleased him that they were really getting along so well now, and he was looking forward to Christmas and Christmas Eve with them. Usually he dreaded the holidays, but being in the presence of his lovers was enough to keep his painful childhood memories at bay. He'd even gone Christmas shopping during his lunch hour yesterday and couldn't wait to see his lovers' faces when they opened the gifts he'd bought them. Life was definitely looking up.

After they were done eating Skinner and Krycek went out to unload the truck while Mulder did the breakfast dishes. He was always getting stuck doing the dishes. He probably should learn how to cook, he had a pamphlet from a community college that offered cooking classes in the evening, and he was seriously thinking about taking them. He opened the silverware drawer to put the forks away and realized that he only had two. He searched on, then under the table for the missing utensil, but he couldn't find it. Maybe one of his lovers had washed it and put it away while he wasn't looking. Why they'd do that was even more of a mystery.

"Are you ready, Fox?" Skinner asked, stepping into the kitchen.

"Ready?"

"For the trek out to Jake's tree farm and cut us down a Christmas tree. It's an hour drive from here and should be just opening by the time we get there."

"You're really into this holiday stuff, aren't you, Walter?"

"Yeah, Christmas was always my favorite holiday. I haven't had much to celebrate over the past few years though. But that is no longer the case," Skinner said, stepping into Mulder's warmth, he placed his hands on the younger man's shoulders then leaned in and kissed him. "I have so much to celebrate now," he whispered against Mulder's lips.

Mulder shoved his hands into the back pockets of Skinner's jeans and drew their bodies closer as he opened his mouth to suck on the larger man's tongue. He loved the way Walter tasted and smelled, so undeniably masculine. The feel of Skinner's muscular chest against his, and Skinner's powerful arms holding him firmly was dizzying. He reluctantly pulled away. "If you and Alex will hold on a few minutes I need to shower and change," Mulder said huskily. Then he turned and rushed up the back staircase.

***

Washington, D.C.
December 24th
9:00 a.m.

CGB Spender put the skillet in the sink to soak. He hated the holidays; it only made him realize how all alone he was. He longed for a companion, someone who would wait on him hand and foot. Attend to his every single need. He carried his breakfast dishes to the sink and rinsed them in the soapy water. Someone to cook for him, clean for him, have sex with him. Someone...Alex. It all came down to Alex...that was who he wanted and needed. Alex had catered and pampered his British colleague...chauffeured for him, ran errands for him, even cooked for him, and the smoker was positive that Alex had also provided sexual services for the old man.

Alex would make the perfect companion. The smoker just needed to figure out a way to get the young man into his bed, and keep him there. Like any dangerous creature he was at the risk of getting bitten if he didn't handle Krycek in just right way. He would get Alex one way or another.

He went into the living room and picked up the present that he had gotten his son. He found that as he got older, he wanted to establish a relationship with him or at least to finally let Fox know who had sired him. This present accomplish that. The box contained an analysis of his and Fox's DNA establishing him as the young man's father and not Bill Mulder. It also had a photo album with pictures taken during his and Teena's affair. He only wished he could be there when Fox opened his present.

He picked up the phone and called his courier service. Fox was spending Christmas at Walter Skinner's Cape Haven home; he would have the courier deliver the package there.

***

Jake's Tree Farm
December 24th
10:00 a.m.

The sky grew ominous as dark storm clouds blew in over the tree farm, then large snowflake started falling. The three men below were oblivious to the menacing weather as they bickered and joked over what tree to cut down.

"Fox, that tree is a bit scrawny," Alex said, shaking his head at the absurdity of his lover's choice.

"I don't know, I think it has character. All the trees you two have selected are flawless...so boring," Mulder added.

Skinner shook his head chuckling. "We are selecting a tree, Fox, not a companion."

Mulder rolled his eyes as he wandered through the rolls of trees. He felt like he was tempting fate by surrounding himself with too many wonderful things lately. He needed a little imperfection to keep everything balanced. His eyes lit up as he spotted a beautiful blue spruce two rolls over. It was perfect! Okay, so maybe one more piece of perfection wouldn't cause his world to suddenly crumble...he hoped.

"Hey, how about this tree, Guys?" he shouted.

Skinner and Krycek were four rolls over in the other direction looking at a long, needle pine tree. They looked at each other with trepidation. "We'd better humor him, Walter. Fox will pout the rest of the day if we don't at least look at the damn tree. Then we'll convince him to get this one," Krycek suggested, nodding at the nice looking pine tree.

Skinner nodded in agreement as he pulled the flaps on his fur-lined cap over his ears. "Yeah, this tree is it then. I think we should be starting back anyway, the weather looks like it is turning nasty."

They turned and started in the direction where Mulder was. "Okay, Fox, let's see this tree..." Krycek stopped talking suddenly as he got a good look at the tree in question. "Hey, it's beautiful," he mumbled, stunned.

"Yep, it's perfect," Skinner agreed, imagining it in front of the window in the living room. "Okay, Fox, we'll get this tree. I'll go get Jake to cut it down for us." He started toward the warming shed.

Krycek leaned up against Mulder as they watched the older man vanish behind the trees. "Walter's not such a bad guy. Under that gruff exterior...is a sentimental caring person. I should learn to listen to you more often."

"You did have good reasons not to trust him, Alex. I'm just glad that everything worked out the way it has. Now I have two men to cook for me and stuff my ass," Mulder quipped, brushing the snowflakes out of Alex's dark hair.

Krycek chuckled. "If I could only teach you how to cook, but at least you wash a mean pan."

Mulder chewed thoughtfully on his bottom lip, before speaking tentatively. "Alex, I've been thinking about taking some cooking classes. They offer night classes a couple of times a week at the community college. Do you want to go with me? We get to eat what we cook."

"I'll pass. Somehow eating your first attempts at cooking just doesn't strike me as a fun time." The snow was coming down harder and Krycek lovingly pushed damp chestnut bangs out of Mulder's eyes.

Mulder wasn't willing to give up on convincing Alex to go with him. "They do have guest chefs scheduled to come in on certain days. The curriculum has Chef Sambino scheduled to teach three out of the fifteen nights."

Krycek brows furrowed, Sambino was a famous chef in one of the DC's trendier restaurants, he had his own cooking show and had published several cookbooks, and he was openly gay. "Just be sure that learning to cook is the only thing you do, Mulder," he growled.

Mulder eyes widened, he was puzzled by what had set Alex off, he was about to ask when Walter came back with the owner. Jake revved up his chainsaw and promptly cut down their tree, he trimmed off the bottom branches then wrapped the tree in a nylon netting to keep the branches from breaking off during their trip home.

By the time they got back on the road the snow was coming down so heavy that Skinner had a hard time seeing more than a hundred feet in front of him. Instead of an hour it took them two hours to get back to the house. There was already over an inch of snow on the ground and it was coming down at least an inch an hour. They jumped out of the truck and kept their eyes shielded from the pelting snow.

"Get the door, Fox," Skinner ordered as he and Krycek wrestled the tree off the roof of the car.

Mulder climbed the steps to the front door and stood under the covered entryway. As he pulled the key out of his pocket he noticed a package resting propped up against the door. It was placed well out of the reach of the weather. Mulder grabbed the package and opened the door; looking at the label on the package as he stepped into the house and was surprised to see his name. He stepped out of the way as Skinner and Krycek came in with the tree, which they carried into the living room.

The A.D. had made space for the tree and placed the a tree stand on the floor before they left. Therefore, they only had to maneuvered the base of the tree into the water-filled stand. When it was firmly in place, Krycek pulled out a switchblade and started cutting the nylon netting from around the tree.

Skinner nodded approvingly as Krycek quickly removed the netting and the branches of the tree fanned out. He took a deep breath of the fresh pine scent. "Mm, I'm going to build a fire," he said, stepping over to the fireplace, he stacked kindling around the logs and reached for the butane lighter he kept in the drawer of the end table.

"I think I'll start lunch, we should eat before we decorate the tree," Krycek said, carrying the wrapping to dispose of in the trash off the kitchen.

Neither man noticed that Mulder wasn't around. He was upstairs sitting on the bed, looking at the contents of the package. His whole world spun out of control, CGB Spender was his father, and by the photos, the old bastard and his mother had been *very* close. "Nothing stays perfect for long," he muttered, shoving the documents and album back into the box, he went to hide it at the bottom of his suitcase. Mulder did not want to spoil Christmas for his lovers by dropping this bombshell on them. God, how would they feel to find out that he was the son of their worse enemy? Would they even be able to stand looking at him?

***

Amothea's turn!