Malcolm Reynolds’ crew landed on Avery with a sigh of relief as loud as Serenity’s engine. The dust had settled from Miranda and with no contacts, the little money the Alliance had thrown them and a space-weary crew, Mal had made the only decision that made sense to him.

“Time off,” he said to his assembled crew. “Took Zoë and I a good amount of time to find a planet that we got no trouble on,” he paused, mostly for Captain-y effect, “but we think we’ve found it.”

“Avery has apples,” River replied grinning.

“It does at that, in fact looks like we arrived just in time for their harvest festival, so you folks go play. Y’all earned it. Ship leaves at sunset in two days. Questions?”

Six sets of eyes looked at Mal, shaking their heads, smiling, excited to have permission to be capricious once again.

River hopped up to Inara like an excited puppy. ”Will you braid my hair before we go?”

“Of course, may I have some time to find a few ribbons and things? Will you meet me in my shuttle in ten minutes?” she asked standing up.

River nodded, “Captain, I need to see you on the bridge, please.”

Mal was out the door and into the hall. He poked his head back into the room and nodded. “I’ll be there directly,” he said walking away.

River looked at the remaining crew and grinned mischievously. “I have a plan.”

The crew walked off the cargo bay ramp and scattered faster then usual. Jayne had gotten a tip on a card game played by some of the orchard hands after dark. He and Zoë were off to make a little coin.

Simon and Kaylee took off in another direction hand in hand, with River behind them, babbling on about crafts. Mal and Inara realized very quickly that they were left standing alone.

Mal turned to watch Zoë as she walked off and feeling his eyes on her, she turned and winked.

Inara looked to Kaylee, but was surprised when River turned, grinned and gave her a thumbs-up.

Open mou