For years, they've been mistaken at hotels and crime scenes and diners; she's known they call her Mrs. Spooky behind her back. Of course, if she were to have a baby without some very conspicuous other candidate, people would assume it was Mulder's. Honestly the only surprising thing is the notion that leaving it unsaid would be enough to get away with it.

And the rest-- she's still piecing bits of it together. Something happened, and William had to go-- somewhere? Adopted, probably. Mulder keeps alluding to danger, which isn't a total shock-- their lives have never been simple-- but there must have been something truly dire, if they decided to give up their child.

"I don't know if I believe that," she says softly, sliding her hand along his arm to thread their fingers together. She can't imagine a world where she'd have someone else's child-- she can't imagine a world where she wouldn't want Mulder to be a father, not just an undefined friend.