Seven days to go ...

It was going to take a week for Serenity to drop below the main routes and hang a left for Phoros. It wasn’t that Mal was worried about the Alliance coming after them for the bank robbery on Jericho Wells. Not worried. Not exactly. More ... thoughtful. There’d been nothing on the Cortex about money going missing, and when Kaylee had waved Leo Gunn to thank him for everything, he’d been very clear.

“Nope, nothing happening,” he’d said. “Back to the same old same old, you know how it is.” He grinned. “Mind, young Miss Mercy is sure stirring up a hornet’s nest.”

“Oh?” Kaylee leaned forward as far as her belly would allow. “How’s she doing that?”

“Well, for starters she’s insisted on an office. Proper office, with all the mod cons. Seems like someone told her what was in the rules, and she’s making sure they stick to it.”

“Really.” Kaylee couldn’t help her lips curving. So that was what River and Zoe had been talking about as they were walking back from voting. The Firefly’s first mate must have passed the information on.

“Yep. Got a secretary and everything. And arranging meetings.” He chuckled. “Jericho Wells don’t know what it’s let itself in for.”

“You’d better keep me updated, then. I know for sure Zoe’s gonna want to know what’s going on.”

“No problems.” Leo smiled. “Give your Ma and Pa my regards, will yah?”

Kaylee grinned. “A’course.”

“And tell ‘em they got themselves a good one when they got you.”

She blushed. “You’re a bad man,” she admonished.

Leo laughed. “And don’t you be a stranger,” he insisted.

As the wave ended, Kaylee sighed happily, turning in her seat to see Mal standing in the bridge doorway. She gave a small yelp in surprise. “You startled me.”

“Have a nice chat?” he asked, crossing the small space to sit in the co-pilot’s chair, his eyes automatically roaming over the boards to make sure everything was okay.

“Shiny.” Kaylee smiled. “He’s a nice man.”

“That he is, although I conjure I a