Dear mamma,

Just thought I’d drop you a line or two, post it on Persephone, rather than wait for us to be close enough to vid. Soon as we can I'm plannin’ on telling the Captain to stop by, make sure we get a proper visit in, and then you can get to meet the newest addition to the family. You’re a granma! Bethany’s her name, and she is the cutest little dumpling you will ever see. I’ve enclosed a capture so you can see what I mean! Ain't she the most beautiful baby?

That there with me is Simon, Bethany’s daddy. He’s pushing me to get married, and tell Pa I will eventually, just not yet. It don’t feel like the right time, but it will be soon. Guess I feel like Freya, you know, the woman you met? She’s put the Captain off for a long while, ever since she … well, she lost a baby of her own, and I can only imagine what that did to her inside. But he’s finally managed to get her to name a date, and soon as we hit Boros, they’re gonna get hitched! Simon thinks we should make it a double ceremony, but I … well, I don’t … I just can’t yet. ‘Sides, it’s Freya’s day, and I don’t wanna take anything away from her. She has to be the centre of attention, her and the Cap’n.

He’s going round the place looking like he’s just learned how to smile but don’t know how to stop. Ain't never seen the man so happy. It kinda affects the whole crew, you know? Zoe and Hank – she’s the Cap’s first mate and he’s the pilot – well, they’ve been talking. I know that don’t sound much, but normally she’s telling him what she’s likely to do to him to make him go away, but they’ve actually been talking. Like real people. He even made her laugh, and I can tell you, you coulda knocked the Cap’n off his chair with a feather. I reckon he’s seeing the possibility of another breaking of his ‘no shipboard romances’ rule in the not too distant future. I wouldn’t mind – I loved Wash with all my heart, in a not-squishy-sex kinda way, but Zoe deserves to be happy. ‘N’ I think Hank could do that. Not that I'm gonna tell her. Freya does that enough and sometimes I think Zoe’s likely to shoot her.

Inara’s been working a lot lately. Not been on board too much, but we’re picking her up on Persephone when we go get paid. I think she’s coming to some kind of decision. I ain't spoken to her about it ‘cause I didn’t want to upset her, but I think she’s feeling like she’s missing out on something. She’s seeing us all, me and Simon, Freya and the Cap, even Hank and Zoe, and she’s thinking there’s something not there in her life. Maybe she’s planning on leaving again, but I’m hoping it’s not that. She’d leave a big hole in the family if she did. So I'm guessing it’s something else. Maybe she’s thinking of taking on a trainee – I’ve heard tell of Companions who do that, teaching ‘em how to be … well, Companions, without having to go to one of the Training Houses. Maybe.

Anyways, so this wedding coming up is making everyone feel happy. River’s feeling better because she’s annoying Jayne even more, turning up in his bunk at all hours of the day or night. It riles Simon something fierce because he’s sure Jayne’s encouraging her somehow, but I keep telling him that ain’t the case. And you’d believe me if you heard some of the cussing coming out from his room when he wakes up and sees her staring at him. And she knows exactly what she’s doing – seen her smiling about it. Last night she didn’t go there, and he was wandering the ship looking for her, making sure she was okay. I was in the common area, feeding Bethany, saw him go check on her room. He didn’t see me, but I know he was a mite worried. Wonder what’s really going on there?

Well, I've gotta go, momma, Bethany’s woken up and needs another feed. Or maybe changing. Simon’s getting pretty good at it, except he’s having to use so many weaves on his fingers where he keeps stabbing himself on the pins. I haven’t the heart to tell him that he could use tapes, but he’s being a good father.

Tell Pa that I miss him, and the rest of the family too, and I’ll be by to see you soon.

Your loving daughter (and delirious mother!) Kaylee