“Did you ever think you’d see that, Mal?” Inara asked, watching Jayne and River sitting on a blanket in the orchard, both cooing over their infant son.

“Depends.”

“On what?”

“If’n I ever thought I’d be going insane.”

She hit him mildly on his upper arm, and he grinned at her.

They’d touched down on Lazarus a week after the birth, giving Inara plenty of time to arrange things. As soon as the Firefly landed Bethie was out of the door and running to see the puppies, the other children quite a bit slower but just as enthusiastically following her.

“Auntie ‘Nara!” she squealed as the woman came out of the house to meet them. “Where are they?”

Inara smiled, knowing exactly what she meant. “Downstairs in the kitchen. But you have to be careful. Giselle is very protective.”

“S’why Momma said we couldn’t bring Fiddler.” Bethie was almost vibrating with anticipation. “Giselle might not like it.”

“That’s right. You’d better go down. And ask Mrs Boden for some milk and cookies, if you like.”

“’Kay!” She ran past into the hallway.

“Hello, Auntie ‘Nara,” Ethan said more formally, looking quite the little man in his suspenders.

“Hello, Ethan,” she responded, going down elegantly onto her heels to look him in the face. “And how are you?”

“Shiny.” He grinned.

“And everyone else?”

“New baby,” he said succinctly, managing Mal’s look of faint disgust quite well.

“So I gather.” She smiled and stroked the hair from his forehead before turning to Hope and Ben, close together like they always were. “Do you want to go and see the puppies too?” The children nodded, slightly in awe of her as usual. “Come on.” She held out a hand, and Ben wrapped his fingers in hers. She straightened up and saw Mal coming towards her, Jesse in his arms. “I’ll be right back,” she said. “Don’t go anywhere.”

“Wasn't planning on it,” Mal replied, smiling. He watched her lead the children into the house, then looked back to the Firefly. Hank and Zoe had strolled out, hand in hand.

“Hey,