Disclaimer: I still am just lovin' playing in the sandbox that Mr. Whedon and his pals own. There is a special place in heaven for folk like you.

There will be at least one, but probably two more parts to this. I have left enough on the cutting room floor and am loath to leave much more there.

It was late when Serenity lifted off Fairfield. Loading the oranges had taken the better part of the afternoon. Marcus and Katie insisted they stay for dinner. After that, Miss Katie and her girls brought baskets full of vegetables, bread, and other fresh food to the ship. Zoe, Kaylee, Inara, and River helped them weave the baskets past the men loading the orange crates and up the stairs to the kitchen.

Katie looked around the old kitchen and slowly shook her head. “I don’t know how you folk travel about, cooped up in this, this…” She waved her arms around. “No fresh air or sunlight. No green, growin’ things. I came over from Harmony on a ship like this twenty-five years ago. It still gives me the shivers just to think about it.” She paused and smiled as she looked at the younger women. “But, I s’pose some folk are just suited to it.”

Zoe laughed. “Yes, ma’am. Some are suited to it. I can’t imagine staying in one place for long. After a few days, I’m anxious to get going.”

“Me, too.” Kaylee shrugged. “I mean, I grew up on a farm, but it’s shiny going to all the diff’rent places we been to, meetin’ new folk. I might want to settle down one day, but not yet.”

River stood at the table, slowly emptying a basket, carefully inspecting each item. “Safer on the move. We never stop moving.” She looked up from the basket and smiled.

They all headed back to the cargo bay. The girls said good-bye and left their mother to bid her farewell. Katie heaved a deep sigh as she watched them walk down the road. “Well, that’s the last of it, and by the looks of this here hold, the boys have finished loadin’, too. I expect y’all’ll be leavin’ presently. She turned to the younger women. “Next t