“Does this taste okay?” Freya held out the spoon she’d been using to stir the stew with. Kaylee tentatively took a lick.

“Tastes good,” she said, somewhat surprised. Freya didn’t cook often enough to get much practice, but she had offered to arrange this evening’s meal, mainly to take her mind off Mal.

“I never can tell,” the older woman admitted, smiling.

“So how are you and the captain getting along?” Kaylee asked, pulling plates from a cupboard.

“Me and Mal?”

“You having sex again yet?”

Freya laughed. Kaylee had never seen the need to be embarrassed by sex, or anything to do with it. “I think it’s accurate to say you’re getting one hundred percent more than I am.”

Kaylee nodded, almost distracted. She hugged the plates to herself, then said quietly: “You get on really well with Simon.”

Freya looked at her, surprised by the wistful tone. “Little Kaylee, do I hear a touch of jealousy there?”

“Well, you do.” Kaylee was on the defence.

Freya sighed and turned to face the young woman. “Yes, we get on well. Something to do with being born into the same circle, maybe. I like him. And I can see why you like him.”

“More than like,” Kaylee muttered.

“I know,” Freya said kindly. “But that’s it. There’s nothing more. There’s no attraction.” She patted Kaylee on the arm, squeezing gently. “And if there was I wouldn’t do anything about it. I’d never hurt you, xiao mei-mei, nor put you in a position to be hurt. So don’t let a little jealousy complicate things.”

Kaylee looked into her friend’s face. “It’s already complicated.”

“What do you mean?”

“I'm pregnant.”

Freya stared. “Wha …?” She closed her mouth, taking a moment to let it sink in. “Does Simon know?”

Kaylee shook her head. “No. I ain’t told him.”

“Then maybe you might not –“

Kaylee interrupted. “I seen a doctor on Persephone. There’s no mistake.”

“Does anyone else know?”

“No. Only you.” Kaylee hung her head a little. “Freya, can you tell him?”

“Who?” Freya asked, although s