“It’s lovely,” Kaylee said, clapping her hands in delight at the small room she’d been given. The sunlight had warmed the old stone walls, and the cheerful rug on the floor matched the bedspread, an old-fashioned quilted design using lots of old fabric swatches.

“I’m glad you like it,” Shepherd Delrani, a tall, upright man with silver hair, said, smiling. He pointed to a small chest of drawers in the corner. “I hope there will be enough room for your clothes.”

“Oh, I ain't brought much. Don’t dress up fancy too often.” She grinned at him. “And prob’ly be a while before I get to again,” she added, patting her belly.

“Yes, I had noticed.” Delrani inclined his head. “And your husband? Is he not joining you here?”

“Oh, I ain't married,” Kaylee said, turning to look out of the window, and so not seeing the slight tightening of the Shepherd’s mouth. “Simon’s the father.”

“The young man with you?”

“Mmn.” She glanced back at him. “Cute, ain't he?”

“I can’t say I've noticed.”

Kaylee waved to someone outside. “See you in a few days!” she called, watching Freya as she turned and walked out of the courtyard back towards the bulk of Serenity sitting high on the hill. She turned back. “Frey’s my friend,” she explained, leaning back on the windowsill. “Been through a lot together, all in all.”

“She seemed … attentive.”

Kaylee laughed. “Making sure I'm okay. All the crew are like that: we’re family.”

“Yet the Captain hasn’t made sure that the father of your child marries you?” Delrani shook his head. “Surely it is his responsibility –“

“Ain't no-one’s responsibility but mine, Preacher,” Kaylee said hurriedly. “Ain't asking Simon to marry me. ‘Sides, he ain't goin’ anywhere.” She laughed again and turned back to the window. “Sure is pretty here.”

Simon, in his room a little further along the hall, watched Freya walking back to the ship, Mal waiting for her. He was glad they were back together, the way it should be, but he was even more glad that they weren’t going to