Bedlam: Part 8

By Kaynara

***

It wasn’t often Malcom Reynolds got this sort of reception. Hell, usually he was lucky to get any reception at all. A punch in the jaw was more likely. This--this weren’t half bad.

He and River had brought Serenity in just after dark, landed her in a clearing ‘bout half a mile north of the Brandywine Township.

“Malcom Ruttin’ Reynolds, you old son of a.” Mayor Parsons met them by a moonlit grove of trees--actually, the entire planet seemed to be trees.

Inara leaned close to Zoe, taking her arm.

“You’re sure they were friends, right?”

Zoe smiled, patted Inara’s hand reassuringly.

“Mal...do you remember the last time we had Everlift?” Parsons swayed slightly, as though he’d already begun the celebration.

“I remember you teaching me how to inhale. Then I don’t remember much of anythin.”

Parsons slapped him heartily on the shoulder.

“That’s a boy. C’mon, see what the missus and I cooked up for you all.”

***

Reclining in the grass, legs extended, Mal watched his crew with something akin to satisfaction. If a warm reception was a rarity, then this--all of ‘em well and fed and smilin’ mostly--was a gorram miracle.

Simon and Kaylee were dancing. The doctor had dragged her out where the others were, insisting when she hesitated, blushed and said she didn’t know the steps. Mal watched him twirl her around in some high-society fashion. The pair looked a bit out of place amidst the Brandywine folk, who were simple country people in their plaids and denims. Still, she was beaming, her cheekbones cutting high in her face, her hair flying as Simon spun her about, dipped her low to the ground. If Kaylee was happy, things were right with the world.

River was watching them too. She smiled when she saw Mal looking, waved at him across the way. She sat with Zoe in a patch of moonlight. Every few minutes, she bent her head close to Zoe’s stomach, murmured something softly as though addressing the baby. For all Mal knew, the kid talked back to her.