“You sure ‘bout this?” Mal had asked his son. “I mean real sure. Ain’t summat ya can go back on.”

Derry had been sure. He’d felt the Call, not unlike his namesake. Knew he wanted to follow those footsteps and become a Shepherd.

So Mal had called in a favor or several with the abbot at Southdown Abbey, and in a couple of weeks, the life of Derrial Wash Reynolds would forever be changed. It was nothing short of ironical that it was Mal’s daughter Carly who had followed his path and become a soldier, and his son who took after Inara’s more spiritual side. Funny old ‘verse, that.

But before then, there was adopted family to visit, in the form of Kaylee’s sprawling clan. Two weeks from today, the taste of Pa Frye’s BBQ ribs would be a distant memory for Derry.

As would Kaylee’s little cousin, Robin. And that, right there, was the first time Derry seriously wondered if he was built for being a Shepherd. Hell, he and Robin had run around together during visits when they were growing up -- climbing trees, splashing in the creek and spying on their older siblings.

But seeing Robin this time, Derry began to doubt he could go through with it. Furthermore, the fact that she’d seriously outgrown the gawky phase and was now all curves and curls was not helping matters. Not that Derry had never kissed a girl before. He’d kissed a few in his 17 years.

But he’d steeled himself. Told himself that he could overcome the temptation.

Until…

Until the second to last night of the visit, when she’d crept up into his guest bedroom. And damned if Derry knew how it happened, but there was kissin’. And a few things beyond kissin’. Which was only halted by the steel-cold reality of neither of ‘em having come to the party with proper protection.

Derry started to thank God for having intervened at the last minute, but then Robin leaned forward with her nightie still all undone and whispered, “One last chance, Derry. Bring somethin’ tomorrow night.”

Then she vanished.

Somewhere in the back of Derry’s brain, God