#au where emily lives
msr | Emily AU | words: 730
People make fun of him.
But he doesn’t care. After all, he is named Fox Mulder, and growing up with that name has shielded him from that particular type of harm.
“Is that what you got from your babysitting job, Mulder?” Langly laughs.
Mulder shoots him a dirty look. “Jealousy andenvy, Virgin Boy?” He flaunts with an air of pride, “and it’s not babysittingwhen it’s your kid.”
Mulder pretends he doesn’t see the grins that appear on his friends’ faces. “And if you three play nice, I bet you’ll get one too.”
He’s talking about the bracelet, not the kid. Emily’s recently gotten the Beady Bunch 2000 from a carnival raffle, and she’s been busy making bracelets for all her favorite people. The first one Emily made says Scully and it’s for Mommy. The second bracelet is for Mulder; it also says Scully in neon green lettersand has two stars.
“Emmi, do you need help spelling my name?” Mulder whispers. He doesn’t know Emily already knows how to spell M-U-L-D-E-R; she’s learned it months ago.
“No,” the child answers loudly, her little fingers sorting the beads into a big plastic box with compartments. “I can spell Mulder, Mulder.”
“Then why does my bracelet say Scully?”
“Don’t you like it?” Emily responds mischievously, reminding Mulder of something Sam did so long ago; his little sister in two braids singing in glee: …and fox sittin’ in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!
“Sure I like it,” he quickly replies, “if I got Scully, how come Mommy didn’t get Mulder?”
“Mommy doesn’t need to get Mulder.”
Mulder contemplates too much and too seriously on the child’s response.
He soon discovers that he loves to have a Scully bracelet; it wouldn’t be the same if he had gotten a Mulder bracelet. It would be silly to wear a Mulder bracelet on his wrist. He feels so proud wearing a Scully bracelet. It’s a seal of approval. It’s his medal of honor. He wears it the moment Emily presented to him, he studies the difference between his bracelet and Scully’s, he even wears it to bed that night, and Scully makes fun of him until he distracts her with his kisses.
He wears it to the market on the following day, wears it to the Gunmen to discuss important issues while eating pizza, and wears it to work when the weekend’s over.
“Are you sure…” Scully begins and he shoots her a glance that meant end of discussion.
Mulder wears his bracelet to two budget meetings, and Scully has to bite the inside of her cheek when Skinner’s eyebrows shoot up as his sight lingers on Mulder’s wrist. She quickly reaches over and tucks the bracelet into his sleeve. After all, it does says Scully on it.
Emily is more than thrilled to see Mulder wearing the bracelet she gave him, but after a little talk with Mommy, she approaches the tall man after dinner.
“Mulder, I’m glad you like my bracelet.” Emily says diplomatically.
“Oh yeah, Baby Banana. I love it.” He smiles at the child, “are you upset that Mommy doesn’t wear her bracelet?”
“No, Mommy’s is for her keys. She’s not supposed to wear hers. When I was making it, Mommy said she used to make friendship bracelets when she was little. So I decided to make one for you. But I think I’ll make you another one so your friends won’t make fun of you.”
“Honey, I don’t care if people make fun of me.” Mulder picks Emily up and puts her on his lap. “People can make fun of a lot of things.”
“Do you cry after?” She asks in her little voice.
“No.” Mulder displays the skill he’s mastered at the age of 8. “I don’t cry about silly things like that.”
“Mulder,” Emily touches his bracelet, “I’ll make you a new one from this one; I’ll make it extra better.”
“Thanks, Foxi.” He drops a kiss on top of the child’s head and off she goes.
The next morning, Mulder gets one that saysMulder and Emily hooks it onto his keys. He misses the Scully one, but he knows it’s probably for the best.
Three days later, he discovers his little girl has finally gotten around to make one for herself. It says MOMMY + MULDER in banana yellow letters.
And Mulder tells himself that he doesn’t cry about silly things like that.
Tagging@today-in-fic & @mulderscreek, thank you.
Note: I saw this posted by an Anon on @baronessblixen. I love it so much I had to do something with it! Thanks!!
