based on the world of Firefly by Joss Whedon

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He sat gazing into the sky, eyes slowly falling as his boat rocked him to sleep. Too much good food and drink had made the old captain sleepy, but he had volunteered for a shift in the chair so the rest of the crew could celebrate the New Year. After all, for him now, every year was the same.

They had had a good one though, in essence. Kaylee would be having a little one anytime now and River had been improving since their time on Miranda. Jayne was still antsy to do another big job, even though their last one had set them up rather well. Still, even he knew the money wouldn't last forever. Badger, though a pain in his ass seemed to always deliver and of course, there was always Patience, his shoulder throbbing at the idea.

Soft hands followed by arms slid down his chest as red hair spilled over his neck. He breathed in deep, the smell of rich vanilla and brown sugar causing his full belly to burn with another desire, but right now, he just leaned into her as she purred.

"Thought you needed company." She spoke, a soft, yet sensual voice that reminded him of the animal she was so aptly named after.

"Beautiful women are always welcome on my bridge." He smiled as she sat in the navigator's chair.

"Stars are pretty tonight." She let her green eyes cast a look toward the Black as he took in the dim lights playing with the soft features of her face.

"Ain't the only thing pretty tonight." He smiled as she did, her fangs just barely visible under her lip. "You realize today is the tenth anniversary of the day I met you."

"I remember." He watched as she cast a glance back toward the stars. "Was suppose to kill you that day."

"Never told me why you couldn't. That 'I killed too much today' bullshit ain't gonna fly either. Seen what you and your beast can do. Killing's never been a problem." He reached out to punch a button on the console, draping them in the dark so they could both see the stars better and