“You could’ve stayed,” Mal pointed out as Freya collapsed onto the bed in their bunk. “Mrs Boden said she was more’n happy to make us up our room.” He stepped off the last rung and put his arm through the ladder.

“No. I want to be in my own bed.” She sighed and closed her eyes.

“Even with the big bath next door?”

“Even then.”

“Tired?”

“Exhausted.”

“That why you ain't getting undressed?”

“I thought maybe some kind soul might do that for me.” She lifted her head just enough to see him looking at her with amusement, then dropped it back. “Obviously not.”

“Now, wasn’t gonna say that.” He let go of the ladder and stood with his arms crossed. “Just don’t want you to get into the habit of me doing that kinda thing for you.”

“You did. For a long while,” she pointed out, and shivered just a little.

“Yeah, well, that wasn’t through your choice.” He knew what she was talking about, and really didn’t want to go there. Instead he crossed to the bed and lifted her leg, pulling off her boot and tossing it into the corner of the room. “But what’s got you needing my assistance today?” The other boot went the same way.

“It’s just …”

He sat down next to her, his hand on her belly. “Tell me.”

“The night here is too long,” Freya complained.

“It’s always night on Serenity.”

“It’s not the same.”

“I know it, darlin’.” He undid the buttons on her shirt. “Throws you a little, doesn’t it?”

“What’s wrong with twenty-four hour days?” Freya said, sighing as he ran his hand across her skin.

“Just happens that way. Lazarus has twenty nine, and one little moon I know of has fifteen. People get used to it.”

“I don’t want to.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I suppose.”

-

“I suppose,” River said softly, slipping out of her dress.

“Suppose what?” Jayne asked, putting his gun away carefully on the wall mount.

“Nothing.” She stretched, her muscles and tendons lengthening in the small light.

He watched, feeling himself begin to engorge, his pants tightening.

“So