“Here?” Jayne and Hank spoke together as Freya stopped outside a somewhat upmarket store.

“What’s wrong with here?” she asked, arching an eyebrow at them and trying not to smile.

Mal looked into the window. “Now, I can just see you in something like that.” He pointed to an outfit that seemed to be made entirely of gold leaf. “Maybe the pair of you. Kinda like bookends.”

Jayne threw him a glare. “Ain't wearing that.”

“I wasn't suggesting you do,” Freya said placatingly. “And this is far too expensive. I just wanted to take a look, see what sort of things were in fashion at the moment. It’s not like I get the chance every day.”

“I didn’t think you were interested,” Simon put in.

“Just because I wear the same kind of clothes all the time doesn’t mean I don’t … well, yes it does, but it makes a nice change.”

“I think you always look meili ,” Mal said gallantly, putting his arm around her.

“Well, I don’t wanna look like a dog’s dinner,” Jayne said pointedly.

“Nor me,” Hank agreed. “Zoe’d die laughing if she saw me standing in front of the Preacher wearing that.”

“I told you, I …” Freya looked at the pair of them, stubbornness radiating from every pore. “Oh, come on.” She sighed heavily and strode off towards the cheaper stores.

“Is it wrong of me to be wishing Frey had got them dressed up in those suits?” Mal murmured to Simon as they followed along at the back. “You know, just to see what they looked like? Just this once?”

“Only if it’s wrong that I agree with you. I think we could have been blackmailing them for a long time to come.” He patted the capture maker in his pocket.

“Missed opportunity?”

“Big time.”

Mal sighed.

---

“Oh, that’s pretty,” Kaylee said, fingering the green gauze of a tiny dress hanging up.

“Momma …” Bethany whined, swinging the bag in her hand from side to side. “How much longer?”

Her mother looked down at her. “Just ‘cause we got something for you real quick doesn’t mean we can’t still look. And we still have to