It's impossible not to feel a little self-conscious, putting the stranger parts of her youth on display. Mulder, she reflects, really has no idea how deep that goes. Eventually she's probably going to have to tell him. But the strangest part of this, really, is giving it an earnest try for anyone other than herself or her sister. As a party trick it was just that-- a trick-- but with Mulder, while she doesn't believe in magic, she'll try harder.

"All right," she says decisively, looking at the deck before raising her gaze back to him.

"This isn't exactly the right way, just what Missy and I came up with. We used to stack them, actually-- easier to shove away if Mom came in." The memory makes her smile, as she starts to lay the cards out, face down, in the space between them in four neat rows of three.

"First, a big-picture answer; the next rows are past, present, future, though that's not exactly right if this has all happened. Maybe more like-- before, during, after? We'll have to see."

While she's still warm and easy with him, it's clear there's a little shift; she's taking this as seriously as an autopsy, like there might be real information to be gleaned from the faded cardstock.

"Ready?"