Disclaimer: all things Firefly/Serenity are the property of Whedon et al. I’m not making any more off this, just playing with the toys.

A/N: for danniisupernova over at livejournal. This one's for you!

The party had been a very good one. A little fancier than the one where Mal got himself wed, but not so much as the one where Mal got himself stabbed. Still, it was nice to get off the ship and just relax. Even River and Simon were able to partake of the festivities, the doc even loosening up some to let River dance and laugh.

And how she danced. The small band excelled in folk music and River shone. Her face was glowing as she kicked and leaped her way across the wooden dance floor. Her eyes were the clearest they’d been since Miranda. For the first time in a very long while, River was content.

Simon smiled broadly at his sister then scrunched his shoulder as Kaylee breathed into his ear, knowing how sensitive her man was. She giggled and smiled as he laughed along with her. Finally, it seemed, he was letting himself feel.

When the fiddler took the stage, a roar went up. The couple turned their heads to find that the new player was a shepherd, a much younger one than either had been accustomed to. When he drew the bow across the strings, it was as though heaven itself had touched him the music was so wondrous. Kaylee latched onto Simon’s wrist, jumped up and dragged him to the dance floor to join in the others who were now crowded onto the small area. The dance itself was unfamiliar to the mechanic, but was simple enough to learn.

The whole outdoor party was loud, boisterous and the most fun the crew of Serenity had had since no one could remember. Mal, though, was being more than a little cautious, taking his drinks only from Inara and then only after checking that no laurel graced his head.

Zoe watched it all from her spot in the corner. Her drink had warmed in the evening air, but she wasn’t much interested in it. Other memories filled her, of another time when