“You didn’t tell him,” Hank said as they wandered back to the ship.

“Neither did you.” Zoe stared ahead.

“I was kinda hoping you might say something so I wouldn’t have to.”

“Are you afraid of him?”

“Nope.” Hank shook his head firmly. “Ain’t afraid of no-one. ‘Cept you, course.”

“How it should be.”

“It’s just … you do want this baby, don’t you?” He stopped, trying to see her.

She turned, a dark figure in the dark night. “Hank, we didn’t plan this. And I …” She swallowed. “I’m scared. Not of what the captain’s going to say. But …”

He pulled her to him, enveloping her in his arms. “I’m here, Zo. You ain’t gonna do this alone.”

“I know.” She looked into his eyes. “And you stink.”

Hank took umbrage. “What? There I am being all loving and supportive and you say I stink?”

Zoe stepped away from him and waved her hand in front of her face. “It’s cigars. And that punch. How much of it did you drink?”

“Not that much.” He put his palm over his mouth and huffed, sniffing in quickly. “Can’t smell a thing.”

“If you think you’re coming to bed with me, you’re going to shower first.”

“Baby …”

“Or you don’t come to bed.”

“That’s cruel. I know damn well you’ll be asleep by the time I get back. Your head hits that pillow and you’re out, I’ve seen it. And I just think that’s -”

“Who said you’d be showering alone?” She turned back to Serenity, walking in her usual stately fashion.

Hank stared, then a grin appeared on his face. This night just keeps getting better and better.

---

Mal was right. It was a bath. A big bath. A big round bath. People could get lost in that bath. And Freya wanted to find out just how much fun that could be.

She turned on one of the taps experimentally, and hot water gushed out.

“Kaylee said it’d work fine, once she got the generator going,” Mal explained.

“Where does the water come from?” Freya watched as steam began to fill the room.

“Pumped from the lake.” He watched her run her fingers o