http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=11012>Part 1, http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=11036>Part 2, http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=11050>Part 3, http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=11075>Part 4

http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=11178&nid=16105>From Bad to Worse: by RiverIsMyGoddess <---companion piece to this

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“You ready to leave everything and everyone you've ever known?” Mal was standing in Anna's kitchen, helping her pack up some meager belongings.

“I only need my kids Mal, everything else,” her voice broke. She didn't look up from the dishes she'd insisted on washing. “Well I can't look around here and see a single thing I wouldn't give up for them.” Mal didn't respond, knowing that despite what she said, it was killing her to leave. He just picked up the two bags she'd brought downstairs containing the kids personal items and carried them out into the backyard to the awaiting mule.

Zoe was standing guard when Mal came outside with the bags, Jayne was stationed in the front while Wash and Kaylee had stayed on the ship to make sure they could get a quick get away if they needed one.

“You think she's going to be able to do it, Sir?” Zoe asked once again as she studied her surroundings.

“It's what she's been trained in since she was 12, I hope that with that much work experience she can seduce some ugly middle-aged man who drunkenly beats his wife and kids.

“How you holdin' up?” Zoe asked finally looking at Mal. It wasn't like them to sit and talk about how they felt inside, but Zoe knew this wasn't easy for Mal.

“It's strange ya know. Growin' up I used to look up to Frank. I wanted him to marry my ma for a while. He was way too young of course but I couldn't see that. Just thought he'd be the kind of dad every kid would want.” Mal looked down at the bags he'd loaded into the mule. “Now I see him as unfit to have any contact with his kids.”

“People change Mal.”

“Yes t