When eventually Simon and Freya strolled back, Ethan slung over the young doctor’s shoulder like a giggling sack of Gen-seed, Mal was sitting in Kaylee’s fold-out striped chair just on the ramp, legs stretched out in the sunshine slanting into the cargo bay. He looked relaxed.

“You found him, then,” he said, nodding at Ethan, as always slightly surprised by Simon’s quiet strength.

“He was halfway across town,” Freya said. “If Simon hadn’t snuck up on him from behind, I hate to think where he’d have ended up.”

“Funny Mama,” Ethan said, wriggling. Simon put the little boy down, and he bounced up to his father. “Daddy! Did I do it right?”

He lifted his son onto his lap, and grinned. “That you did. Maybe a little too right, in running quite so far, but you did good.” He mussed his son’s hair.

Ethan leaned closer, feeling sun-warmed cotton under his cheeks. “Bethie’s going to be jealous,” he said quietly, as if it was a secret.

Mal had to laugh. “I reckon she is, but you’ve got to be a gentleman and not make it worse. No crowing.”

“Not even a little bit?” His bottom lip stuck out. “She does. When she can.”

“I know, but she’s a girl. It’s allowed.”

“Why?”

Mal shrugged, very carefully not looking at his wife. “Just is. They can say ‘I told you so’, and we just have to accept it. And not say it back.”

“Do you do that with Mama?”

“I surely do.”

I’ll remember you said that , Freya’s voice blossomed in his mind. And I have witnesses.

Mal grinned up at her as Ethan rolled his eyes.

“Use words,” he said on a huge sigh.

“Now, you know that ain’t gonna happen, xiao er ,” Mal said, laughing.

Another sigh, if possible even bigger than the last one. “I know.”

“Ethan, you’d better go and wash up,” his mother said, unsuccessfully trying to stop a smile of her own. “You’re bound to be all dusty. And then we’ll see if we can’t find some milk and cookies.”

“Some of Auntie Kaylee’s?” His eyes were bright, wide open.

“Possibly.”

“Yum.