“Burton!” River was almost bouncing in her seat with joy as the captain of the Firefly Road Runner materialised on the screen.

“Young Miss River, you sure are a sight for sore eyes, and prettier than ever.” The owner of the gruff and grizzled voice was just as he should be, except that a wide grin split his face under the thick grey moustache.

“It’s young Mrs Cobb now, Burton,” she corrected, waggling her tattooed ring finger in front of the screen.

“You finally got that poor mountain of a man to marry you?”

“I finally said yes.”

“Now, that ain’t fair. You know I was just waiting for you to come around to the idea that I was the one you wanted all along.”

River was beaming. “And how would Yuki feel about that?”

“She knows ours’d be a fleeting affair. My heart belongs to that can bao of a woman.” He laughed. “So? Where is the old kuh-ooh duh lao nao-jurn ?”

“Less of the old,” Mal said, moving into range of the screen.

“So I can still call you a curmudgeon?”

“Depends.”

“On what?”

“On whether, once Frey’s explained exactly what you mean by that, I decide to take offence and shoot you.”

Burton Wyatt hooted with laughter. “You ain’t changed, you old -”

Mal interrupted. “You might wanna reconsider whatever term of endearment you were about to come out with, Burt. Got sensitive ears here.”

“Who, you?”

“No. Caleb.” River picked up her sleeping son and turned him so Wyatt could see.

“Looks just like ya, Mal,” the older man observed.

“You keep those kinda thoughts to yourself, Burt,” Mal advised. “Jayne’s got something of a jealous streak.”

“He got anything to be jealous over?”

Mal smiled and shook his head. “You ain’t changed.”

“Why should I? Everyone loves me the way I am.”

“That’s a matter of opinion.” Mal gestured to the main bridge window where he could see the other ship approaching, her retros firing silently. “You okay to dock?”

“Sure thing. Give me a few minutes and you can insult me in person.”

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