River had piloted the shuttle loaded with the rest of the family, telling Hank that as it was her home she got to fly. She landed next to other, sleeker vessels, but nobody noticed as they exited, hurrying through the crowds to the pavilion set up at the exclusive end of the processional route.

“Momma!” Two tornadoes detached themselves from a group and threw themselves at Kaylee, while Ben launched himself at Zoe and Hank. Caleb was a little slower, but Jayne scooped him up and tossed him high on the air before holding him to his chest so River could cuddle both of them. Simon, meanwhile, took David Gabriel from a young woman, quickly checking him over with his professional eye before smiling as the little boy grabbed his finger and took it to his mouth to suck.

Freya and Mal stood back, having already had their own reunion.

“You’d think it had been months,” Alex muttered, having come up unseen behind them.

“I’m sure yours are just the same.” Freya smiled at him.

“They’re a bit older so they don’t get quite as enthusiastic.” He laughed as Kaylee was forced to sit down on the ground to avoid being knocked into a passerby. “Which I have to say I’m perhaps a little glad about.”

“Are they here?”

“Mmn. They’re looking at the stalls at the moment, and I’m sure Ellen is buying them everything they want.”

“And Mother? You couldn’t persuade her?”

“She says she’s tired. She might join us for dinner later, though.”

Freya winced, knowing what family meals could be like sometimes. At least Bethie had been persuaded not to bring Fiddler.

As the reunion calmed down Ellen joined her husband, two girls at her side.

Alex introduced them. “This is Milly, and this one is Tilly. Well, Matilda and Charlotte, actually, but …” He stopped at the glare they were giving him, then went on quickly, “They may look like it, but they’re not twins.”

More than a year separating them but still only a couple of years older than Bethie, they did indeed look like they were the same age, with the