Zoë tried to open her eyes and found the normally simple task too difficult to accomplish. She could hear a voice. Faint, but audible.

"Zoë."

That voice.

Her eyes stung.

Her heart leapt.

She found her strength, and swung.

"Zoë."

This is no kinda joke...

"Zoë."

This was torture...

"Zoë."

This was war...

"Zoë. Zoë, listen. I fly, baby. I know math and maps and plans. That's what I do. I know this isn't safe and I know it isn't a plan. But I don't need safe. I don't need sane. And I would follow you into that hole on Hera and back if it meant I got to keep you with me."

Her fists froze up as the rest of her warmed. No one else knows that. I never told anyone how he proposed. It has to be him.

Wash?

"There ya are. Hey you." Wash took the opportunity to take her hands in his. It was as much for safety as it was sentimentality.

Wash, really? How is it...

He shushed her as she opened her eyes. Her gaze fell on the center of his chest. Instinctively, she loosened her hand from his and touched him. He was solid, the muscles tensing under her hand as he laughed. "Yup, it's me, baby. All here."

You can still laugh.

Zoë looked up to meet his eyes, but her gaze froze just beneath his nose.

You grew that mo min chi meow moustache back?

"Huh?" Wash asked, confused. His eyes crossed trying to see what she was talking about. "Oh, I forgot," he said peeling it off. "No, I just knew you were coming. Wanted to make sure I had your attention."

Laughter. It feels nice. It feels nice here.

Wash stood and offered his hand to help her up. "Come on. I'll show you around."

Zoë looked at his hand and made a face. Wash smiled as she gracefully eased herself up off the floor of the white room they were in. Wash just shook his head. "My Zoë."

She took his still outstretched hand and he led her out a doorway without a door.

Wash...this is. This is what you always wanted.

The water was so light blue it was almost clear. Tall palm trees moved listlessly in the breeze. Just off in the distance, next to a pool of water, two small dinosaurs wrestled in the sand. Like house pets they wore collars that clanked as they played. The sky was an odd color, almost orange. Zoë found it familiar, but just couldn't place it. She laughed as recognition hit her. It was the same color as Wash's favorite shirt.

Wash's world. A whole piece of rock, exactly as you would make it.

"Almost exactly how I would make it. But I can't make you stay. That's your call."

Zoe took a good look around. I can stay? Forever in a world of Wash's making.

Wash's brow furrowed as he took her hand. "It's not really fair to ask, but-"

No, you lived and died in my world. To be with me...you died...that makes me...Wash?

"Zoë, baby. I'm thinking you should lie down."

Her legs gave underneath her and even through her clothes she could feel the white sand envelop her skin.

Wash?

He stood next to her. "It's okay, baby. I'm okay. I'm right here."

Her eyes fluttered shut before she could see the wave coming towards them. She didn't know that he didn't move, she didn't see the shadow as the wall of water eclipsed the sun. She only felt herself float.

Zoë tried to open her eyes and found the normally simple task too difficult to accomplish. She started to hear a voice. Faint, but audible.

"Zoë."

She recognized the voice. It was Simon. She opened her eyes on the calm, cold blue steel of Serenity's infirmary.

Her eyes stung.

Her heart froze.

It was torture.

It was war.

It was nothing she couldn't handle.