“Hey, doc, I just saw a small naked butt disappear into the cargo bay.” Jayne leaned on the doorway to the infirmary. “So unless we’ve got elves …”

“Bethany,” Simon breathed, glancing at Freya, sleeping the sleep of the quietly sedated, then hurried past the mercenary, almost vaulting the steps into the bay. “Bethany!” he called.

Jayne watched him, a wide grin on his face, then, turning on his heel, said, “He’s gone, squirt.”

A little face looked out from behind one of the easy chairs. Bethany giggled. “Game,” she said. “Daddy playing.”

The big man nodded down at her. “You’re getting to be something of a handful.”

Bethany giggled again. “Daddy playing with me,” she repeated. “Hide ‘n‘ seek.” She stood up, as naked as the day she was born, looking around for a new hiding place.

“Yeah, we got your Pa good and proper,” Jayne agreed, scooping the little girl up into his arms and sitting her on his hip. “You think we outta tell him you were playing with him?”

Bethany shook her head. “Is a secret.”

“’Kay. We won’t tell for the mo,” Jayne grinned, hearing some very unaccustomed language from the bay as Simon banged about. “Although, you know, he ain’t exactly gonna be pleased. Don’t reckon we’d better let this go on too long.” A muffled yell indicated Bethany’s father had dropped something on his foot.

The little girl put her hands on Jayne’s face, stroking his beard. “Bear,” she said approvingly.

“Well, at least you ain’t calling me a rabbit.”

“Uncle Jayne. Bath time, ‘kay?”

“You want me to bath you?” he asked. “Not sure your momma would like that. ‘N’ I’m damn sure your Pa won’t.”

“Jayne,” Kaylee admonished, hurrying down the stairs. “What did I tell you about that kinda language in front of Bethany? She’s talkin’ up a storm now, and I don’t want her to be hearing that sorta thing from you. Or anyone.”

“Hell, that ain’t nothing compared to what your husband’s saying in the bay.”

Kaylee listened, and sure enough she could hear Simon’s voice, his invent