Ariel was spread out below them like a platinum encased jewel, the city reaching to the horizon on all sides.

Hank expertly brought Serenity through the high clouds, River watching his every move from the co-pilot’s chair, her feet on the seat, her arms around her knees.

“You thinking I might not be doing it right, dumpling?” he asked, glancing across at her and smiling.

“It’s been a while since the captain let me fly,” she said wistfully. “I miss it.”

“You shoulda said.” He shook his head. “I’d’a let you. Any time you want.”

“It’s not your boat.”

“I'm the pilot,” he stated firmly as he corrected their trajectory just a tad as the Firefly dropped towards the landing area. “Always did feel like that makes her mine.”

“Some of us would disagree on that issue,” Mal said from the doorway, leaning on the walls either side.

“Leave me with some of my illusions, Mal,” Hank pleaded, grinning at River.

“So you’re gonna start paying people now, are you?” Mal looked out at the city. “That might be fun. Only I hope you got a lot of cashy money in reserve. ‘Cause the people on board said boat are sore in favour of eatin’ occasionally.”

“Hey, I'm happy being the hired help.”

“Well, the hired help better not crash us. Ain't we going down too fast?”

Hank shot him a scandalised look. “No, we’re not.”

“Yes, we are,” River put in.

“And there I was being all noble in offering to let you fly,” Hank said, taking a little of their speed off.

“I think I’d rather be alive to enjoy it.”

Mal laughed, surprising the pilot. He’d seemed so cheerful the past couple of weeks since they’d done the drop on Verbena. Shapiro had only half intended her threat to gut him for being late, and as he’d turned the charm onto full, she’d let him get away with just a warning. “Think we’re all of that mind, little albatross,” he said.

Hank pulled back on the yoke and settled Serenity with barely a bump into her allotted space. “Happy now?” he asked, turning in his seat.

“You’re getting bett