Disclaimer: Firefly and all related elements, characters and indicia © Mutant Enemy Productions and 20th Century Fox Television, 2003. All Rights Reserved. All characters and situations—save those created by the authors for use solely on this website—are copyright Mutant Enemy Productions and 20th Century Fox Television.

Author's Note: This is a coda for Objects in Space and is all spoiler-y and such. Big thanks to all by betas, especially Laurie, Dangermom, Missy, Rachel, and maystone! I loves you, I loves you so.

Ribbons and Bows
by Tara O'Shea

"It's late. Let's get some rest," Mal said, and Serenity's crew and her passengers rose from the scarred and battered wood table bolted to the floor of the galley.

"Simon?" Kaylee called after him.

"I have to go check on my assassin," he said, his back still to her, voice tinged with bitterness.

Her heart sank. "Oh, please don't be mad," she begged. "I had to say something."

"I'm not mad at you," he said as he turned to face her. "I just..." He looked up at Serenity's bulkheads that rose around them. "She loves this ship. I think it's more home to her than any place she's been."

"W—What about you?" Kaylee asked, feeling all fidgety all of a sudden. Like she'd swallowed a flock of butterflies.

"I thought the hospital was home," he said, and she smiled, trying to get all them butterflies to settle down some. "I was really making a difference there... and embarrassingly large stacks of money," he added wryly, "and I could've... I would be there right now if she hadn't..." he trailed off.

"If—