The snow was deep and crisp and even, and sparkled like a billion supernovas in a white sky.

“You really think we can walk through this?” Indigo asked, shading his eyes from the sunlit glare. “Someone’s sure to notice us. Or me, anyway.”

“That’s why we’re taking the mule.” Mal glanced up into the comparative darkness of the Firefly’s cargo bay as a clanking of chains and grinding of gears announced Jayne was starting to lower the hover vehicle. “Better get out of the way ‘fore he squashes us both and takes over the ship.”

The men moved to one side to allow the mule to descend, but Indigo still wasn’t convinced. “That’ll just be more obvious.”

“So much so nobody’s gonna think twice we’ve got someone on board we shouldn’t. And you can hide in the footwell.” Mal fastened his coat, the leather settling around his shoulders and conforming to his body in a warm embrace from an old friend.

“That’ll be fun.”

Mal smiled slightly at the ironic tone.

“Are we ready?” Freya asked as she descended the metal staircase into the bay. She was bundled up in her own heavy coat, her cheeks already pinking from the cold air coming in.

The hover mule touched down on the floor with barely a whisper.

“Just need to get her warmed over,” Jayne said, releasing the clamps and climbing into the driver’s side.

“Story of my life,” she murmured, making the big man growl a laugh. Walking around the yellow vehicle she approached her husband. “You forgot this.” She draped his scarf around his neck, tucking it beneath his collar. “Don’t want you catching a cold,” she added tenderly.

“Thanks, ai ren .” Mal smiled.

Indigo looked down at his boots. As much as he’d cared about Polly, Sara’s mother, there’d never been this easy intimacy between them. Maybe if he’d been around more, not just making visits, things might have been different, but in his heart he knew it wouldn’t have been. He was too ... contained.

He hadn’t had a home, had roots since he’d walked out on an abusive father as soon