Bethany was bouncing on Hank’s lap. “Is that it?” she asked, pointing out of the bridge window at the jewel hanging in the black.

“That’s it.”

She stared. “Ooh.”

“Phoros,” Hank agreed. “Where your Ma grew up, and where your grandparents live.”

“Soon?”

“Soon.” He smiled and put his arm around her little waist. “If I don’t die of terminal bruising before then.”

Bethany turned and put her lips to his cheek. “Kiss it better.”

Hank laughed. “You know, I think it does.”

“Hey, are you cheating on me?” Zoe asked, coming onto the bridge.

“Can’t help it,” Hank said. “Got this beautiful young lady in my lap … it’s something of a foregone conclusion.”

“So me and mine are gonna end up helpless, on the drift?” She sat down in the co-pilot’s chair, ostentatiously rubbing the bulge at her waist.

Bethany climbed carefully off Hank’s lap and looked into her eyes. “Uncle Hank loves you,” she said solemnly.

“I know, sweetpea,” Zoe said, lifting her up to sit on her thigh. “And he knows what would happen if I caught him cheating on me.”

Bethany giggled, covering her mouth, and Hank managed to look pained.

“We gonna crash?” Mal asked, stepping over the sill.

“No sir,” Hank said, turning back to his controls, ostentatiously correcting their flight path by half a degree.

“Good. Don’t wanna be crashing today. Not when Kaylee’s so all fired up for meeting up with her folks again.”

“Going to see Grandma and Grandpa,” Bethany said.

“That you are, squirt,” Mal smiled.

“Going to be fun.”

“You got Fiddler all cleaned up and ready?”

“All ready.” Bethany grinned.

“What about you?” He stroked her hair. “You all ready?”

“Bethie!” Kaylee’s voice echoed along the corridor. “Get back here now!”

“Not ready yet,” Bethany said with a sigh, climbing down from Zoe’s lap. She swung her cast dispiritedly as she walked slowly off the bridge.

Mal chuckled.

---

Serenity landed at the dock, settling easily into her space. The cargo bay doors opened and the ramp l