Serenity juddered sending Mal stumbling across the cargo bay. Grabbing hold of the stair’s banister, he steadied himself, a frown creasing his brow. Striding over to the comm., he hit it with maybe more venom than was necessary. “River?” he yelled. “River? You crashin’ my ship again?”

River wandered leisurely up to the Captain, her hands clasped behind her back. “No.”

Mal’s eyes were wide for a moment, before his face fell into a glower of realisation. “Seph!”

There was a silence in which River played with her hair, gazing up towards the bridge. Then came a crackling and a sweet voice replied, “Yes, Captain.”

“Where are-” Before Mal could finish, he was thrown away from the comm. system by a violent shudder.

“Might not be the best time for a chat!” came a close to hysterical reply.

Mal was already halfway up the stairs.

~

“This is not a laughing matter, young lady!”

“Oh, Captain, you’re turning into such a grouch !” Sephora smiled.

“This is the last time you hurt Serenity . You are not allowed to sail her until you are eighteen. Taking the shuttle with Inara is one thing, but-”

Sephora’s mouth fell open, her eyes contorted into a frown. “I got her down didn’t I?!”

“Without most her parts left!”

Sephora gasped in reply. “That wasn’t my fault! The couplings on the grav boot must be shot. The front nav sensor fell off before I took over! You wouldn’t have been able to land it at all!” The young girl’s large dark eyes were flashing dangerously in the light of the mess.

“That’s not the point! You’re a child! You are not flying my ship!”

Sephora glared heatedly at Mal for a moment, trying to muster a response. Finally, she stamped one of her small feet. “You suck!” She turned on her heel, flicking her mass of coffee curls behind her.

Mal sighed, hearing the stomp of every rung beneath Seph’s booted feet.

~

Zoë slid the door of her daughter’s room quietly open. Sephora was flounced on her bed, head in pillow, her dress spraw