“This is not a good idea,” Freya said, walking along with her hands in her pockets.

“We’re just honest citizens,” Mal pointed out. “All we’re doing is accompanying a prospective candidate to the Election office.”

Zoe, half a pace ahead of them, glanced over her shoulder. “You don’t have to come, sir.”

“And have you sneaking off? I don’t think so.”

“I don’t sneak.”

“Good.”

“And I don’t think that’s what Freya was talking about, sir.”

“I wasn’t,” the woman in question agreed. “I meant your plan.”

Mal smiled. “Frey, honey, we’re just taking a walk. Besides, this place needs its pomposity pricked.”

The night before, he’d explained what he and Zoe had been planning on their walk back from Lacey’s and their meeting with Leo Gunn, and for a moment, just as he was at his most vulnerable by getting naked, he thought she was going to get angry with him. Instead she just sighed.

“Mal, why can’t we just let Kaylee do her thing, let Zoe do her thing, and leave?”

“Because this is my thing.” He’d slipped under the covers and pulled her to him, feeling her body relax against him, her chin resting on his chest.

“Your thing is getting shot,” she pointed out.

“Not always.”

“Most of the time.”

“No, now, that’s not –”

“Do you want me to get River to work out the math?”

He looked down at her, her face lifted towards his, her eyes dark in the dim glow of the night light. “Is this ‘cause I had me a drink?”

“No.”

“Frey ...”

She dipped her head, laying it back in the crook of his shoulder. “Maybe.”

“I only had a couple.”

“I know.”

“Then what’s the ... oh.” He realised, albeit belatedly, as her fingers traced the scar on his chest. He put his hand on hers, holding it steady. “Frey, I wouldn’t do anything stupid. Well, not any more stupid than normal,” he revised quickly. “I stopped taking those pills Simon gave me half a week back, and he said I could have a drink again. So I had a couple. That’s all. It ain’t gonna kill me.”

She didn't speak for a