Mal stood in the waiting room and looked out at Ariel City. Too much steel, as far as he was concerned, and people hurrying to get somewhere they didn’t want to be in the first place. He liked easy, languorous journeys, and while he still had to have one of those, it was a nice thought.

He smiled to himself as he watched a liner take off from the port, and idly wondered where she was headed. Still, much as those newer vessels were all shiny and full of things that actually worked, he wouldn’t give up Serenity for anything. Catching sight of his reflection, smiling back at him, his grin widened. They’d have to pry him off that Firefly. Or use dynamite.

He turned to sit down again, putting his hand in his pocket. Damn. He’d forgotten again. He headed for the reception desk.

“’Scuse me,” he said, smiling at the young woman sitting behind it. “But … would you know of a good place that repairs jewellery?”

“Jewellery?”

“Rings.” Mal turned Freya’s wedding and engagement bands over in his pocket, the cut edges sharp against his fingers.

“Oh. Well, there’s a jewellers about five minutes away.” She smiled at him, noting the brown hair that really needed a cut flopping over his blue eyes, the friendly grin, the big hand hitched into his belt, and felt a tug in her belly. “I could show you if you like. I … have my lunch in an hour.”

Mal sighed inwardly. How come he seemed to be this fascinating to women now he was married? Why hadn’t it happened before, when he was young, free and single? Oh, yeah, that’s right – he was fighting a war at the time. “That’s nice of you,” he said, keeping the warmth in his voice. “But my wife’ll be finished in with your good doctor in about forty-five minutes, and then it’s my turn. Get my psychoses out into the light of day.”

“Oh well. Another time, perhaps.” She became business-like again. “Outside the main entrance, turn right. It’s on the corner of the next block.”

“Thanks.” He glanced towards the doctor’s office. “If I'm a little la