It was love at first sight. She just took my breath away. She was so… beautiful! I knew that this was it, the start of something. I didn’t really need any persuading to take the job, though I liked to make them think I did. She was just such a beautiful boat. She had an air about her. I slumped into the pilots seat and felt like I was home.

“So you’ll take the job then?”

The captain seemed anxious to impress so I shrugged. “Might do, might do.” He was a tall, straight kind of guy with a honourable quality to him. Next to him in the cockpit door stood his First Mate who I judged within an instant did not like me. I tried a winning smile but the result was a glare of utter disgust.

They left to discuss me while I got a feel for the ship, a Firefly. I had never sailed one before, in fact to be honest I didn’t know they still were sailed. Still, she seemed a steady vessel and I knew I could fix her up good.

~

I could not explain why he bothered me. He seemed so laid back and not a little bit cocky. He wore a stupid Hawaiian shirt, not to mention the ridiculous moustache. Still, the Captain said he was the best so I went with it. If he was as good as they said then we could certainly use him. I couldn’t shake it from my mind though. I could not shake him from my mind. More than anything that annoyed me. He was such… an idiot!

~

A few weeks and a change of mechanic later, we were sat around the table in the kitchen.

“What happened to the moustache?”

“I thought I looked more suave and manly without it,” I explained.

“You were wrong,” came Zoë’s sharp reply.

“Ouch! Mal, this woman’s words are spears and each one stabs!”

“Just be thankful she hasn’t got her guns.”

Zoë stood up sharply and I involuntarily flinched. She caught my eye and a flicker of a smile glanced across her lips.

“I think it looks lovely, Wash!” Kaylee interjected. “Much sweeter, don’t you think Zoë?”

Zoë shrugged as she walked away from the table.

“Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence,” I said loudl