The Shepherd stepped out of the Abbey gates and looked at the world. It had been a long time since he’d arrived, hiding from everything inside, but it didn’t look like things had changed that much. Even the Second War of Independence hadn’t touched Southdown, and the scars were healing elsewhere.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” the Abbot asked, his hands clasped gently in front of him.

“I think I have to. Long time overdue.”

The Abbot nodded. “If you decide to come back, there’s a place for you, my son.”

“Might. Not sure. Depends what I find.”

“Then may God be with you in your search.”

-

He wandered many worlds, hearing tales and seeing ghosts, but never catching up. Then, one day on Prometheus, he saw the Cortex and realised the date. That date. The one he kept etched on his heart, the one that almost killed him whenever he thought of it. The one when the ‘verse all but died. Hiring a horse, he rode out towards the valley.

-

It was there already. Sitting on the hillside, looking like he remembered, the sunlight glinting off the solar panels and various windows. For a long moment he wondered if he’d be welcome, then spurred his horse. This wasn’t for them, but to remember her.

-

The Firefly huddled into the ground, and Kaylee pushed her hair out of her face as she waited for the rest to come down from their bunks.

“Momma?” Bethany came out of the common area, her large brown eyes watching carefully. “He’s coming.”

“You sure?”

“I can feel him.”

“I know you said he’d be here, but … can’t believe it myself.”

“I knew he’d come. It’s been twenty years.” She crossed the bay and put her arm around her mother. “I knew he’d find his way back.”

“Your Pa know?”

“I told him.” She touched the swell of her belly. “Lots to tell.”

“That’s for sure.”

Ethan walked down the stairs. “Is it true? Is he here?”

“Coming now.”

He joined the small group, holding his wife’s hand tightly. “I don’t know … it’s been so long …”

“He couldn’t help it