Title: Mistletoe

Rating: PGish for some kissin'. Yup, see the title.

Characters: Kacey Washburn! lol... Actually, the whole crew, PCs, Ally, etc. But Kacey's the main person.

Pairings: Canon pairings apply, but there's really only Z/W... I think my world is falling apart.

Summary: Another PC fic, 17 years post-BDM AU. Christmas, Serenity-style, through her oldest child's eyes.

Disclaimer: Most of the characters (sans PCs and Ally) aren't mine, nor are the Christmas songs referenced.

For newbies: Brother, Shadow, Mei-Mei, Mischief, Pirate Children, Mistletoe, Hell-Raising, Tough, Echo (?)

Author's Note: Merry Christmas!

Part 2

‘The incident’, as it will be known one day in the future, starts before dinner, December 22nd, three days from Christmas. There’s mistletoe everywhere. Mal has been whining about it ever since he had a near disaster with Jayne before breakfast this morning. Most of the crew knows to avoid walking together under doorways and the like if they don’t want to kiss the person next to them, but a few interesting match-ups have occurred over the past twenty-four hours.

Serra has continued with her penchant for constant Christmas carols and dances around the table as she sets it with her brother, obviously fully recovered from yesterday’s candy-cane overdose. Abe doesn’t join in with the dancing this time, but he grins at his little sister as her boundless energy bubbles over, occasionally adding a “rumpapumpum” on her command. Ally and Inara are in the kitchen, putting the final touches on a fine meal of processed protein.

Mal comes, purposefully alone, into the kitchen, grousing (less convincingly every day) about the choice of soundtrack. In reaction to his complaints, Serra merely spins more, extra flourish on the placement of each utensil. Mal shakes his head and grabs some plates from Abe, helping his children lay out the table.

As dinner-time approaches, Kacey comes up from the common room just as Lolly is making her way from the engine room. Thinking nothin