Angelle's mine, but the rest belongs to Joss.

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Home....the sea of green and brown below us glittering bright against the firelights gathered 'round the landing strip, a huge welcome shape shadowed near the platform, and hundreds of little ants that I knew were my family ready to embrace me when I got off...Damn, it was good to be home...or at least, would be if SOMEONE would ever land this boat.

"Watch how close you get to that edge, Mal." I called lookin' over in hopes to better direct him. A frustrated grumble acknowledged my directions.

"Gorram it, woman. Can you just let me fly this thing?"

"I just would rather not be gator chow, thank you." I growled back. "Plus it may just damage your pride a bit if my Betsy Lou has to dig your Serenity out of the mud pit."

"It might, but if you'd just shut up and let me land her, then it won't come to that or to me, shootin' you, dong ma?" He looked at me quickly and with a huff, I folded my arms and pouted. It seemed like the only thing I could do at the moment. Dad always said I was a nervous flyer and with good reason. Most that tried to land on our platforms ended up in the mud.

Serenity, without my nagging, leveled out and soon I could feel her landing struts find purchase on the platform. Smoothly, I could feel the engine almost sigh with relief and I couldn't help but smile and clap my hands softly. "Guess you didn't need my help after all."

"Ain't my first landing." He grinned and held out his hand to me. "Ready to go meet the natives."

"Not sure. Heard many a disturbin' thing about these backwater inbreeds. Did you know they wear necklaces out of animal teeth?"

"That's only the REAL crazy ones." He grabbed my hand and pulled me out of my chair. I would have landed on my feet perfectly had my one ankle not caught on the seat belt, which tripped me and sent me into Mal's arms, not an altogether bad place to be. "You okay?"

His voice seemed almost distant as I took in the smell of