"Now this family was loyal to a fault. . . mostly. They took turns teasing one another and laughing together. Sometimes the teasing turned to petty bickering, sometimes it was a bit more serious. Living in such close quarters and working together created a bond of sorts between each and everyone of them. The captain of Serenity, Mal Reynolds was a tough, but soft- on- the- inside, not so mean ex- soldier. He liked to believe he was in control. He was finally living his dream of flying free in the black and heading up this formidable, if somewhat eclectic crew. Although he would never admit it, this crew and his beloved boat had come to mean more to him than anything ever would."

"He had a flying boat?! But, how did it work without airplane wings?"asked the little girl curiously. "Mama, if it didn’t have any sails, how do they stay floating in the water?"

"Well you see baby, in the future people travel in spaceships instead of cars like we do. Many, many years before our daring Captain and his crew ever came to be, earth as we know it was devastated beyond repair. It was no longer inhabitable so the people had to seek out new homes on different planets and moons throughout the entire galaxy."

"Then what did all the people do?" The child yawned taking in every word of the fairy tale with wide, unbelieving eyes. "Who else lived on Serenity with the captain?" she asked.

"Maybe we ought to continue the rest of the story tomorrow? It looks like your getting awfully tired, little one.

"No, no, please mama, tell just a little more. I’m not sleepy. Please I want to know what happened to Mal and his family?"

"Oh all right. I suppose a few more minutes wouldn't hurt, but then its time for you to close your eyes and rest that sweet little head. No arguments, okay?"

" ‘k. I promise."

"On the ship was also Mal’s best friend, Zoe, they had fought in a war together several years before. Zoe was a beautiful woman, smarter and stronger than any other warrior Mal had ever met in his whole life. They were more closely connected than any two people could possibly be. A connection they forged during a very troubled time. It was not long after these endless sea of battles, Mal had taken up with the idea of finding a ship of his own. Once he had found Serenity and convinced Zoe, they were well on their way to freedom. What they didn’t know, was that with this freedom they’d also be taking on great adventures and formidable adversaries. Freedom also meant finding themselves intwined with a seven other unique and somewhat peculiar crew mates.

***********************************

"I’m sure it’s nothin’ probably just hit some space junk. I’ll go and check her out Cap’n." Kaylee said not quite holding her usual smile.

"You can wait just a minute lil’ Kaylee. We ain’t taking no risks with anyone’s life an limb just yet. Wash, lets go see what the switchboards sayin’ and make sure we ain’t leakin’ fuel. The rest of ya just stay put a minute."

"Where he goes, I go." Zoe stated leading the men towards the bridge.

Mal and Wash followed without question.

"Was she talkin’ bout Wash or Mal?" Jayne asked feigning an innocent look. Kaylee slugged him playfully on the arm, trying to hold in a giggle begging to escape. "Hey, what was that fer? I only said what you were all thinkin’ to say."

"I highly doubt you were doing much thinking at all, but I suppose there is really no need to state the obvious." Inara spoke up, a bit flustered with Jayne’s implication of anything going on between Mal and Zoe.

"Just cause yer too cowardly to own up to your lustin’ after Mal don’t mean you got any right to..." Jayne began before Wash’s voice cut him off coming over the com.

"Everything here looks shiny. Kaylee, your clear to check out the engine room. Looks like you were right, must of just hit some turbulence."

"Well not everything is shiny." Mal said walking back into the mess area. We’re good to go ‘cept it looks like the Cortex has been wiped temporarily. Were goin’ ahead with a trail to Persephone as planned. Wash laid in course, should be just a matter half a days jump ‘till we hit landfall. It’s the closest stop anyhow and we could do with some refuelin'."

"Do you have an estimate as to how long it will take to get the cortex up again? As it is, I have very little time to prepare a proper client schedule."

"Well, ‘Nara I can’t rightly say. You see there’s all them wiry technical type things gotta be looked over. Don’t go worryin’ none. I’m sure I can have it set back up in no time ‘t all."

" You are going to repair the cortex?" Inara asked

"Now Inara, just ‘cause Kaylee’s the mechanic don’t’ mean she’s the only one that has the know how. ‘Sides she’s busy at the moment. She don’t have time to be fussin’ with the vid screens and such when I am perfectly capable of havin’ it fixed up myself." Mal stated.

"Serenity’s runnin’ sound as a pig in a puddle cap’n." Kaylee said joining everyone in the mess just a few minutes later. "Have what fixed?"

"Oh it’s nothing Kaylee, it seems the cortex has been damaged. Not to worry though, Mal has it all under control, he’s going to fix the problem. He apparently has expertise we were unaware of."

****************************************

"Dear, you about have our course programmed?" Zoe asked standing behind the pilots chair.

"Yea Zo, almost. Just gotta flick these three switches here and it’s all set."Wash said turning around to face her. "You have that look on your face again."

"What look would that be husband?" she asked.

"You know the one. The look that says ‘I’m going to take you right here right now whether your ready or not.’ Not that there’s ever a time when I’m not ready to cuddle up to the most gorgeous woman ever invented." He said pulling her on to his lap.

"Cuddle, huh? Well, that’s too bad ‘cause I was lookin’ forward to heading back to our bunk for a few hours involvin’ a whole lot more than cuddling, but if that’s what you want. . ." she teased.

"So you admit it!" Wash exclaimed. "You are turned on by nude beaches, I knew it."

"Oh I’m turned on all right, but not by a bunch of zhu tu men leering at me on some god forsaken public piece of rock. You should know by now that all I need is a look at my big damn handsome husband."

"Well, when you have a point like that, who am I to argue. Just one question." he said.

" Long as it's just one. What is it?" Zoe asked.

" You mind if we save the cuddling part for later?" he asked as he helped her off of his lap.

******************************************

"It’s really no trouble at all. Just give me bit to look it all over. Might even be able to re-route some of these wires and have it up within the hour."

" Well, I guess I know when I’m not wanted." Mal said pouting.

"It ain’t that we don’t’ want you cap’ it’s just we don’t need you." Kaylee said throwing her arms around him in a bear hug.

"Just for that, Lil’ Kaylee, no engine parts or pretty new tools you’ve been begging for. Too bad, I hear tell there’s some mighty fine shops on Persephone, too. Lots of them specialty places that carry everything your little mechanically ‘clined hands could ever imagine."

"Fine, you can watch just long as you promise not to touch. I have to go back and grab the one them small tool kits. I’ll meet you up there, then we can have a look at the screen in ‘Nara’s shuttle."

"I think I will stay here for a bit." Inara said. "Maybe help the Shepherd round up some a hearty protein stew for supper. You’ll let me know as soon as you have it fixed, Kaylee?"

"Sure ‘Nara. Like I said shouldn’t take more then an hour or so."

"Thank you dear, I don’t know how any of us would ever survive living here without your ever present ingenuity and sweet demeanor."

"Yea, Miss Kaylee you’re a real gem. Now go ‘n hunt up that kit and get your sweet demeanor a workin’ on fixing our cortex screens.

*******************************

While most of the crew busied themselves with what needed fixin' or other interesting endevors, River and Simon had retreated to the infirmary. River sat perched, cross-legged on the ledge of the counter. Simon busied himself updating his logs, trying to push away thoughts of what might await them on their journey into Persephone.

"Concepts are upside down. The plots been breached." River said trying to keep up with the flow of her own thoughts.

"Uh huh." said Simon distractedly.

"You use to read me fairy tales." River stated.

"I'm sure Book would let you borrow one of his books if you feel like reading. He has quite an extensive collection." Simon said, hoping this was a sign that River was having one of her more coherent days.

"Book doesn't like to share his stories." she said. "They're too sacred."

*************************************

Several hours later most of the crew had settled into their bunks for the night. Wash had just reemerged from his bunk an hour before to prepare for landing. He stared out at the stars still lost in a reverie of the days events.

"What's our status, Wash?" Mal asked, breaking his concentration.

"Once I get these complicated switches configured, we will be right on target for landing. We got about twenty minutes before we hit the Eavesdown docks." Wash replied

"Good ta know at least one gorram things goin' right on this boat." Mal said.

"Right, 'cause visitin' a planet where you were nearly murdered is always a treat." said Wash not quite under his breath.

"I'm thinkin' now would be a good time for you to do a whole lot more flyin' and whole lot less yappin' before I decide to practice some of them fancy swashbucklin' skills." Mal retorted.

"Yes, sir." Wash said, not daring to turn around and find out if Mal would make good on his threat. As he turned his attention back to the controls he noticed the cortex screen was starting to flicker. The picture cleared of static and he inched closer to the screen. "Tzao gao!" he shouted over the com link. "Mal, you might wanna get back to the bridge. The coordinates haven't changed, but we are most definetley not headed for Persephone."