Simon woke that morning to a sudden revelation: it had been eight years since Wash had died. Eight years since they had sent out the Miranda 'wave. Eight years since Zoë had discovered she was carrying Wash's child. Eight years since everything had changed.

Mal had done everything he could to convince Zoë to stay. She had gone along with it, too...for a while. Where else would she find a doctor on hand 24 hours a day for every question she might have, every concern she might think up - and who else would know what questions not to ask? As the months passed, though, it became clear to everyone she wouldn't stay. It wasn't just that her growing belly was getting in the way of committing crimes, it was the way she looked after her cut had been handed to her...the look that said she was trying to justify crime to her unborn babe.

She gave birth to a baby girl, stayed on the ship a few weeks and then left.

Mal didn't try to stop her anymore.

In a way, they all knew that was the end of their crew. They dropped Zoë off at a quiet little plot of land she had bought. It was a small, one bedroom house and a tiny square yard, but it was hers. Hers to raise Wash's daughter in; hers to live in; hers to grow old in. They had only left her a month or so before Simon approached Mal about leaving the ship.

By then, Mal didn't have any argument left in him. He left newlyweds Simon and Kaylee to their own plans on the Rim planet of their choosing without a backward glance. It had been Inara who had hugged them both close and tried to let them know how much they meant to everyone... It was Inara who sent updates later on; Inara who told them of Jayne's departure and later of his arrests and narrow escapes. It wasn't until Inara's death that the updates stopped coming. River had sent that 'wave, asking for Simon and Kaylee to come to the burial. It was short and to the point: Inara had succumbed to her disease, she was at peace; Nandi's Girls - now led by Pedaline - would host them for the week.

When they had