“Okay, people, this is the plan.” Mal looked around the breakfast table. “We land at Eavesdowne Docks in a couple of hours, and local time’ll be about two in the afternoon. Inara should be waiting for us. Then them as needs it have three hours to do shopping, get any fancy duds they require – although requests for advances on the next paycheck will be swiftly dealt with in the negative – then we head over to Southdown.”

“Three hours?” Kaylee said, shaking her head. “Cap, that ain’t long enough to get something special.”

“You ain’t the bride, mei-mei ,” Mal pointed out.

“No, but River is. And Zoe.”

“I’m not planning on anything too much,” Serenity’s first mate put in.

Kaylee turned to stare at her. “Course you are! You gotta. Zoe, it’s your wedding!”

“I will wear a dress, but I can get that anywhere.” She wiped Ben’s fingers where he was running them around his plate.

“Zoe -”

“No. I don’t need to be all fancied up.”

“Honey, you have to have a wedding dress,” Hank said, taking her hand. “It’s traditional.”

“I didn’t when I married Wash.”

“Well, this time you’re marrying me. And I say you do.”

“It’s just a dress, Hank.”

“Like this is just a wedding?” His tone sharpened half a degree.

“No, I didn’t mean … it’s just … dresses ain’t me.”

Kaylee looked like her puppy had been kicked. “Oh, come on, Zoe. You gotta get something nice. ‘Sides, we gotta make sure River gets something pretty too.”

Simon stirred. “Kaylee, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. Persephone has a lot of Alliance around at the moment, and even though the warrants haven’t been updated lately they’re still active -”

“I can go in disguise,” his sister interrupted. “Put up my hair and wear boy’s clothing.”

Mal laughed. “Somehow don’t think that’s gonna fool anyone, albatross. Not seeing as you’re near eight months gone.” He sobered a little. “I’m more concerned about you going out in your condition. Persephone ain’t exactly a peaceful place sometimes. Don’t want somet