Disclaimers : Everything belongs to Joss, except for one character of my creation.

As regards that character - hopefully she's not so much of an obnoxious Mary Sue that she turns people off, but the story basically wrote itself in my head and needed to get out. This is my first fanfic ever, and the first writing of any sort I've done in awhile, so all comments are appreciated!

Rated PG for most of the story, mostly for salty language. There is some sex, but not for a few chapters yet. I'll try to put a warning at the beginning before it happens!

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Her name was Alexandra Morgan, Alex for short, she told Kaylee as the young mechanic showed her to her room and gave her a tour of the ship’s common areas. She looked around, the layout immediately coming back to her as she walked the corridors.

“I worked on an ‘03 in the war,” she said.

“Really?” Kaylee marveled. “I didn’t know Fireflies was fightin’ ships.”

“They were, some. But ours was a med ship,” Alex told her. “I was an army nurse.” She examined the details of the ship as they walked. It was old and had seen better days, but there were homey touches all around, from the soft yellow walls with stenciled flowers in the galley to the comfy, mismatched furniture in the common areas. Clearly, the ship was loved by her crew. She said as much to Kaylee. “Of course, our ship was all chrome and shiny, seeing as how it was a flying infirmary. This one feels like home.”

Kaylee smiled.

“We love our Serenity ,” she agreed.

The crew would have a sit-down meal, Kaylee said, at 18:00, and Alex was welcome to join them. Alex happily did so, eager to meet the people she would spend the next couple weeks with. It felt like a family meal, and she was right away at ease.

“We sit down and eat together like this often as we can, every day if possible,” the captain said during the meal. “Otherwise, kitchen’s open, help yourself to whatever’s he