The music had a beat to it that called at the feet, and the lights, set up just for the fair, made the stars dim. Barkers called out to the people to come and try, and several ships sat next to Serenity a ways off.

“Don’t be all night,” Mal warned. “I need everyone back here – sober – ready for cargo tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry about us, cap’n,” Kaylee called, her arms linked one in Simon and the other through River’s. “We just gonna have a good time.”

“I’ll get them back in plenty of time,” Simon confirmed.

Freya, standing next to Mal at the top of the ramp, watched them amble off, and nodded towards a most unlikely couple. “Doesn’t that just bring a tear to your eye?” she asked, nudging Mal.

Mal looked at Zoe and Jayne, walking together, if not actually 'together'. “Don’t worry, she’ll probably kill him before the night is much older.”

Freya smiled. “It is definitely not something I ever thought I’d see.”

“Seems unnatural, don’t it?” Mal descended the ramp then turned and held out his hand. “You coming?”

Freya smiled and walked towards him, but as she stepped off the edge something jarred and she doubled over slightly in pain.

“You think this is anything close to a good idea?” Mal asked, waiting for her to recover but not seeming too anxious – she was still capable of causing him some serious harm.

Freya took a deep breath and stood up carefully. “Doc said a little light exercise would do me good.”

“My own recollection is that what he said was that it was on your own head,” Mal pointed out.

“Yeah, well, he didn’t tie me down to the bed, so it’s the same thing.”

As they walked slowly towards the fair, Mal keeping his pace down to hers, he said conversationally, “You know, I've often wondered about that myself.”

“About what?”

“Tying you to the bed.” He very carefully didn’t look at her. It didn’t stop her from elbowing him in the stomach.

“In your dreams, Malcolm Reynolds.”

“Oh, usually,” Mal said, massaging the sore spot.

Kaylee and Simon had found thei