He’d bought it because it called out to him. Something about the painting had persuaded him to part with his hard-earned cash. After some haggling, of course. Couldn’t be seen to be too eager. But he’d paid what he thought was fair, and carried it back to Serenity. He hadn’t gotten any idea what he was gonna do with it, but took it into his bunk, planning to hang it somewhere, maybe above his guns, but it stared at him, like it was daring him to say something, do something in the middle of the night. So that kinda made up his mind for him.

Everyone was sitting down at dinner, chatting away. Mal had just told a joke that was on the wrong side of bad, and Freya had thumped him on the arm, causing him to threaten her with withdrawal of conjugal rights.

“Mal, I hate to point this out, but we ain’t married,” Freya said. “We are living in sin.”

“Lot of that going on,” Kaylee said happily, patting her rounded belly. “And a whole lot more.”

“I've offered,” Simon said, but she shushed him with a finger to his lips.

“’N’ I told you I don’t want that. Not yet.”

He smiled at her, his love shining from his face and making everyone else feel a mite uncomfortable. Except for River.

“If you start here I shall hit you over the head with a chair,” she said calmly.

“Start what, sweetie?” Kaylee said mischievously.

“Anything at all.”

Simon hid a smile and turned to look at his sister. “Did I tell you today just how much of a brat you are?”

“Yes.”

“Then just take this as a reminder.”

River gave him a dazzling smile and threw a bread roll at him.

“Hey, we gonna have a food fight?” Hank asked, brightening up. “I bags Zoe on my team.”

“No food fight,” Mal said firmly. “It costs too much to waste –“

Freya plucked the other roll from the air in front of his face. “River, stop it.”

“None left,” the young psychic said, not at all repentant.

“Jayne, I know my food ain't a patch on Kaylee’s, but you got some problem with it?” Zoe asked, looking at the big mercenary. For on