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A Mother's Work is Never Done by Wickdzoot
Summary: Sometimes, the Deification of Motherhood makes a party gag-- especially for Maggie Scully. Humour.
Standard Disclaimer Rating: Quite PG Summary: Sometimes, the Deification of Motherhood makes a party gag-- especially for Maggie Scully A Mother's Work is Never Done by Wickdzoot@aol.com Standing in her diningroom, Maggie Scully serenely surveyed her dinner arrangements and smiled, the smile of a Madonna, the smile of a saint. The smile of a woman whose plans were going precisely as she intended. "Mom?" Her daughter's voice made her turn, still smiling. She nodded approval at Dana's sensible pantsuit and opened her arms for a fondly maternal embrace as Dana entered the diningroom, carrying a typically tasteful floral arrangement. "Happy Mother's Day, Mom." "Thank you, Dana, dear," Maggie murmured and pressed her cheek to her daughter's lovingly. "I'm so glad you could join us." "Is Charlie really going to be here?" "Yes, yes, he's upstairs right now, taking a shower." Maggie drew back, cupping her daughter's cheek tenderly. "And Bill is actually in town, if you can imagine that. All my children will be here." Dana's eyes grew overbright. "That's great, Mom." Maggie patted her gently, understanding instinctively that their thoughts both had gone to the missing child--Melissa. Killed by mistake instead of Dana. "Now, would you like to help me in the kitchen, Dana?" The doorbell rang as Dana formed an answer. "Oh, why don't you get that, sweetheart, I need to check on the ham." Dana nodded and turned back toward the door. Humming to herself, Maggie made her way back to the kitchen and opened the oven to admire the glaze on the ham. Very nice indeed, and she would take it out now, to allow it to cool slightly for slicing, put the rolls in to heat properly. Everything was going to be just perfect. Humming again, she went back out to see who had arrived and was amused to find Dana and Fox Mulder staring at each other in puzzlement. "You left me a message, Scully," Mulder was saying. Maggie's serene smile returned. "No, actually, I did, Fox. I'm sorry, I wanted to make sure you'd come. Your mother should be here any minute." Mulder's eyes widened slightly. "She will?" he asked, sounding as if someone had their hands around his throat. "I--er, Mrs. Scully." She took his arm and led him into the house. "Now, Fox, I know you and your mother don't always see eye to eye, but she's still your mother." For a moment, she thought he was going to protest, but he evidently thought better of it. "I know." Almost meekly. She offered him an approving nod. "Dana, why don't you and Fox bring out the hors d'ouevres from the refrigerator for me, and get some ice for drinks." Dana still had that silly look of bafflement on her face. "Okay, Mom." Maggie smiled again. Yes, this was going to be a delightful evening. Just the way she'd planned. ********************************************* It became clear, as the evening progressed, that Dana was not the only one of her guests to feel bafflement. Among other strong emotions. Bill could scarcely bring himself to be civil to Fox Mulder, and Teena Mulder, while courteous, was likewise baffled by the invitation. Maggie simply kept her serenity and kept the conversation going whenever it showed signs of lagging. Really, though, Charlie needed a wife, his table manners were slowly degenerating under the influence of the Navy. Wife or not, Bill was drinking far more than he ought, it was a pity that her maternal talk had done little to mend that. Dana....well, it wasn't truly Dana's fault, but a childless career woman wasn't quite what she'd wanted for her daughter. No, indeed, nor what her late husband Bill had wanted, either. Ah, well, if one hoped too much for one's children, one was doomed to disappointment. After all, once they became teenagers, it was debatable if they were even really the same children held to your breast, she mused inwardly, watching Fox Mulder nervously watching his mother. Still, dinner proceeded at an orderly pace and she was pleased to see that everyone tried every dish. Dessert was a deep dish berry cobbler that vanished in no time at all. "Mom, this is great," Dana told her. "I'm not going to be able to eat for a week after this." Maggie smiled at her. "Now, darling, you've got nothing to worry about, you look wonderful." "This was very kind of you, Maggie," Teena Mulder offered, sipping at her coffee. "And the coffee is wonderful." "I'm so glad you were able to come," Maggie told her kindly. At that moment, Charlie dropped his face into his dessert dish with sufficient force that the dish cracked. Maggie sighed. "Really, that boy never did learn not to gobble his food." "Charlie," Bill growled, "Don't be an ass. How much has he had to drink today, Mom?" "Not as much as you, Bill, dear." Maggie sighed and took a sip of her water. Dana leaned over to her brother. "Charlie?" Worriedly. Mulder frowned. "Scully, I don't think he's breathing, he's got cobbler in his nose." "Of course he's not, Fox, dear," Maggie told him approvingly. Mulder had always been exceptionally bright. "He's dead." Dana touched her brother's throat and emitted a sort of muffled shriek. "Jesus Christ, Mom, he's dead." "I think that's what I said, dear." Maggie smiled and took another sip of water. Mulder's head turned, he stared at Maggie. "Oh. My. God." Dana tipped over her chair backing it out. "Mulder, Bill, help me, we've got to start CPR." Nobody moved. "Dana, dear, it won't do any good," Maggie rose and went to her daughter, put her arms around her. "Just sit down, sweetheart." Dana stared at her, and her lower lip began to tremble. "Mom?" "Yes, dear." Maggie patted her, retrieved the chair and guided her daughter into it. "I'm afraid it's true, Charlie is gone." "Scully." Mulder's voice again sounded somewhat strangled. "I think we're in trouble." Maggie smiled at him approvingly. Very bright indeed. Teena Mulder had gone white as the table linen. Bill was frowning as though he hadn't quite figured it out--Maggie sighed inwardly and returned to her chair. "Mrs. Scully." Mulder pushed his chair back a little. "What did you use?" Maggie poured herself fresh coffee. "Oh, a variety of things, Fox. Don't worry, they're all quite, quite painless." "Why, Mom?" Dana's eyes were wet with tears. "Why did you kill Charlie?" Poor Dana. Shock was dulling her mental processes. Reaching out, Maggie took her daughter's hand. "Darling, it wasn't just Charlie." Very gently. Mulder made a strangled sound, got up and went for the phone. Maggie smiled again. He was game, was Fox, but she'd already taken care of the telephone. And the cellphones, for that matter, a little matter of a disruptive electromagnetic field generated by a delightful little machine. "Don't worry, darling, it's not going to hurt a bit." Mulder came back, his eyes wild. "The phone's dead, Scully and my cell isn't working, where is yours?" Dana blinked. "In my bag, Mulder. On the couch." He vanished again. Bill had finally put it together, sort of--he scowled at Dana. "Dana, are you accusing Mom of doing something to Charlie?" "Bill, dear, shut the hell up," Maggie suggested, suddenly feeling just the teensiest bit of irritation. "Really, I can't imagine what your father would think of you nowadays." Bill bristled, but not for long--with a muffled thump, he slid off his chair and under the table. Dana gave another little shriek. "Mom, why?" "Well, darling, it's this new job I have," Maggie told her kindly. "You know, since your father died, I haven't been content to simply stay home, and volunteer work is only moderately rewarding. My new employer, however, offers generous medical coverage--and you know, I'm not getting any younger--and wonderful side benefits." Dana moaned. "Oh, God, Mom, what have you done?" Teena Mulder put a hand to her throat. "I'm not feeling very well," she murmured. "Oh, dear." Maggie drew back, eyeing Teena with concern. "Is it your heart? Really, you shouldn't be feeling a thing." Teena's eyes rolled up into her head even as Mulder came back, looking even more wild-eyed. "Mom!" "That's better," Maggie approved. Mulder caught his mother before she fell and cradled her. "Mom!" "Really, dear, you're better off," Maggie advised "After all, she hasn't exactly been the most attentive mother, has she?" Mulder wept. "Mom." Dana opened her mouth and closed it, looking not unlike a goldfish removed from the bowl. "Mom, I've got to arrest you." Horrified blue eyes met hers. "Mom, oh, God, what have you done?" Obviously, Dana thought she'd simply gone round the bend in a rather Grand Guignol manner. Ah, well, it was difficult to understand one's children and equally difficult for them to understand her. "Darling, I don't think you understand. It wasn't personal in the least." Mulder suddenly toppled over, still holding on to his mother's body. Dana shrieked again, far more loudly. "He's dead!" "I'm afraid so, Dana." Maggie rose and kissed her daughter's cheek, ignoring the insulting way Dana flinched. She patted Dana's shoulder. "I'm sorry to leave before you're gone, sweetheart, but I do have a prior engagement." "Why, Mom, why?" Dana rose, tried to seize Maggie's wrist. "Don't just tell me it was a job, what kind of job would require you to kill your own children?" "Well," Maggie admitted, "I did throw Bill and Charlie in there just because I wanted to, I admit. Charlie was just a waste of skin and breath, and Bill was so unkind to Tara so much of the time. You and Fox and Teena, though--that was professional." Dana gaped at her, comprehension finally arriving right on time. Maggie smiled again and kissed her daughter's cheek. "Truly, darling, there wasn't anything personal in it." Dana swayed suddenly. "Here, darling, sit down again, you don't want to be in an undignified sprawl when they find you." Dana sobbed. A sound at the doorway and Maggie turned, sighed. "I know, I know, Alex, I'm running late. But just give me a half a minute." The handsome man with the green eyes nodded. "No problem, I'm early. "Alex Krycek," Dana hissed and laid her head on the table. "I knew you had to be behind this." "Darling, that's more than just a teensy exaggeration," Maggie reproved. "Now close your eyes, sweetheart, and go gentle unto that good night." Another sob, broken off in the middle, and Dana's blue eyes regarded her lifelessly. Maggie closed them and sighed. "A mother's work is never done," she murmured. "All right, Alex, let me get my coat--my bag is up in my room if you wouldn't mind." "Not at all." And Maggie smiled serenely. "That would be lovely."
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