Breakfast the next morning was pretty much taken up with further discussion of the meeting the evening before, although by the end of it Zoe wanted to walk out of Serenity and never look back. Well, almost. It was only Hank’s warm thigh pressed up against hers that made her hold her tongue, to not tell everyone – particularly Kaylee – that she wished she’d never said anything, hadn’t let her emotions get the better of her, but listening to those women on the stage, the men below … something had snapped.

Her parents had never treated each other like that, and neither had Mal, right from the moment they met. Then first with Wash and now with Hank it had never been an issue, and in all honesty she didn’t see how anyone could stand for it, male or female alike. And yet ... and yet here they were, a whole gorram planet. And she was just playing a part until they could leave again. It didn’t feel right.

She concentrated on her food, and even then hardly tasting it.

Mal caught the darkness of her mood, and glanced at Freya. She okay? he thought carefully.

For once his wife didn’t answer, just shrugged slightly. He was taken aback, but even without her input he had an inkling of what might be wrong with his first mate, and determined to see what he could do about it. Frey, am I right?

Leave it, Mal.

She’s my friend.

Mine too. I’m just … if you’re going to do this then … tread carefully.

Always do.

Her eyebrow raised a millimetre, and he took a mouthful of hot oat cereal to hide the smile.

As everyone finished, he stood up from the table. “Okay,” he said. “You got jobs, go do ‘em, else I’ll find you something to do.” He looked at the children. “And you’d better get your school work together, since there’ve been way too many skiving days lately.”

“Uncle Mal …” Bethie whined. “Wanted to go play outside.”

“Not right now. And not without someone being with you to supervise ever. This ain’t the kind of planet looks kindly on children running around, not that I