Title: Mischief

Rating: PG. For mischief and a little cursin'. Shh, don't repeat that in front of Mei-Mei.

Characters: the whole crew, plus the Pirate Children and Alistair Caramia (the latter are mine, the rest are Joss's)

Pairings: Canon pairings. I generally lean towards M/I, but this one is not as shippery as Shadow or any of the others. This is more about the kids.

Summary: Yet another Pirate Children story. Set thirteen years post-BDM, AU. A look into daily life for the children aboard Serenity. How do four children pass the time in the Black?

Author's Note: This is the end... Of this fic. There are many more to come. Thanks for joining me on the ride!

Part 4

“Brought you some tea, Al.”

Ally looks up from the personal data player, and film feed nicked off the Cortex, pausing it to smile at the new arrival.

“Thanks, Kace,” she says, sitting up on the common area couch outside the infirmary and accepting the cup from him.

“Lolly said you might like it,” Kacey shrugs, his darker complexion hiding most of the blush that fills his cheeks and ears. “Also think she might’ve been trying to kick me outta the kitchen. She an’ Aunt Kaylee were cooking something, I think.”

“More giggling than cooking, I’m sure. How’s your morning been?”

Kacey shrugs, scratching behind his ear a little, stifling a yawn.

“Just got up. It’s hard to sleep through that,” he gestures to the cargo bay and the raucous sound of Serra and Mal’s game of hoopball, which has already pulled in Jayne, Zoe, and Wash.

“Are you going to join them?”

“After I wake up a little. Maybe see if I can get Abe outta the shuttle, even up the game.”

The boys, though constant rivals and frequent squabblers, are closer than they want anyone to think, are brothers in a very real sense.

Ally glances at her watch. “I doubt you’ll get him out of there for another hour yet.”

“Right. Gotta have his nose in a book, ‘less he be normal for once.”

“Is everything okay with you and Abe, Kacey?” Ally asks, sensing more hostility than u