“It never rains but it pours.”

“Watched kettle never boils.”

“A stitch in time saves nine.”

“What?”

“I’ve always assumed it meant that if you mend it now, you won’t have a bigger job later.”

“S’pose so.”

“Your turn.”

“Too many cooks spoil the broth.”

“In or out of hair?”

“I don’t do that anymore.”

“Know that, moonbrain. Just checkin’ though.”

“And last time, Freya’s broth was so thick we had to cut it with a knife.”

“Well, I guess I know who my friends are.”

“You started this.”

“I did not.”

“Yes, you did. You came out with ‘let sleeping dogs lie’.”

“I wasn’t being poetical! I actually meant be careful because Fiddler was under the table taking a nap.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Oh. I thought –“

Mal stepped down into the dining room and looked around at his crew, slouched in various chairs. “Ain't any of you got any work to do?”

“Nope,” Kaylee said, smiling brightly at him. “Serenity’s running real good, and that last batch of fuel we picked up seems to be a lot better quality than we’re used to.”

“Prob’ly pinched,” Jayne added, lifting his mug. “Some ‘lliance scout ship’s prob’ly drifting and cursing ‘cause someone siphoned it off.” He laughed and took a sip.

“Well, their loss is our gain.”

“Ha!” Simon pointed.

“What?” She peered at him. “Not a saying.”

“It is too.”

“S’not.”

“It is.”

“And I'm tellin’ you it ain’t.” Kaylee glared at him belligerently. Kaylee, who always thought the best of people. Who was always disgustingly shiny, even first thing in the morning.

Mal reached over his wife’s shoulder and picked up her mug.

“Hey!” Freya complained, reaching for it but missing.

He sniffed and raised an eyebrow. “Booze?”

“Just something I whipped up, Cap’n,” Kaylee said, back to her bright and cheery self.

“I thought your fermentation set-up blew up. Damn near took the whole engine room with it, as I recall.”

“I fixed it. Better’n ever.” She grinned widely and waved her mug, liquid spilling over her wri