“I understand that you were helpin’ our Kaylee out in the engine room before,” said Mal, being the last to finish his meal. Abram opened his mouth to answer but Kaylee interrupted.

“Abram’s been on a Firefly before, Cap’n. He’s a mechanic.”

“Still,” Mal continued, “You’ll understand why I feel a mite nervous lettin’ strangers near the critical parts of my ship.”

“It is understandable, Cap’n. Please forgive me.”

“But, Cap’n,” protested Kaylee. Abram assured her.

“It’s alright, dear. Captain Reynolds is right.”

“This Firefly anythin’ like the one you were on, Abe?” asked Jayne, burping quietly. The meal Esper had cooked had tasted real nice and he had to stop himself from picking up the plate and licking it. Esper answered for her father with a pleasing smile for Jayne that was not missed by some of the other crew, as well as Abram.

“Well it has all the same workin’s but, no it’s not. It could never be,” she added, a little sadly. Abram watched his daughter look at Jayne and he could tell she liked him a lot, but she would never say, or do anything about it. Like him, she was saving herself for their ghosts. Whatever had brought about this remarkable coincidence he did not know, but it was time for them both to cleanse themselves of some of their pain. Esper did not deserve to live attached to spirits when she could still have a chance at happiness, even if it meant he never saw her again.

“She walks in beauty like the night,” Abram said to her. Esper looked at him blankly wondering if her father was going senile or had possibly been sneaking shots of brandy. He repeated the line again. Esper smiled when she realised what he was saying and then looked around at the others.

“I don’t play hide and seek anymore, father, I’m too old.”

“What’s he talking about?” asked Jayne with half a grin, imagining an interesting game of hide and seek in one of Serenity’s secret compartments with Esper.

“Byron,” said Mal, earning himself a few surprised looks from the people at the table, to which he