“He propositioned me!” Simon said, affronted.

“So?” Freya said, leaning on the counter, her mug of coffee in her hand.

“He pressed up against me, put his hand on my crotch, and asked me to go to bed with him!” Simon was appalled. “Only not in those words!”

“At the risk of sounding repetitive, so?” Freya looked at him. “Simon, in this day and age, it ain't exactly unusual.” She smiled. “And I didn’t think you were a prude.”

“You say that?” Simon said indignantly. “After the colour you went last week?”

“That’s me, Simon. Only me. Not you.”

“Do I look sly?” he asked, putting the coffee pot down and gazing at her. “Do I?”

She looked him up and down, still neat and tidy despite his time on Serenity. “Maybe. A little,” she admitted.

“So unless I look like Jayne, I’m going to get this?”

“Once in a while.” She laughed. “Look, Simon, I've been propositioned myself. Don’t take it to heart. It’s quite flattering, actually.” She tried to stop the smile. “’Sides, Jayne’s been chased at least once.”

“God, no. Did he kill him?”

“No. Not that I’m aware. But I think Jayne gave him a good talking to.”

“Is that some kind of euphemism?”

Freya laughed again. “I hope not.”

“He touched me, Freya,” Simon insisted.

“Did you like it?”

He stared at her. “I have a … well, not a wife, but near enough, and a baby!”

“Did you?”

“No!”

“Then you’re okay.” She sipped her coffee, eyeing him mischievously. “So who on this boat would you go with, supposing you were sly?”

This time Simon dropped his mug, coffee spilling across the counter. She laughed and helped him wipe it up. “Freya, are you kidding me?”

“No, come on. It’s just a game, so come on. Tell me.”

Simon shook his head. “No. You say. You started this, so I think it only fair that you tell me who you’d sleep with.”

“Well,” Freya began, crossing the galley to sit at the table, “I ain't ever been with a woman, so it’d be pure guesswork.”

“Try.” Simon joined her.

“Hmmn. Well, Zoe’s too s