“It never rains but it pours.”

“Watched kettle never boils.”

“A stitch in time saves nine.”

“What?”

“I’ve always assumed it meant that if you mend it now, you won’t have a bigger job later.”

“S’pose so.”

“Your turn.”

“Too many cooks spoil the broth.”

“In or out of hair?”

“I don’t do that anymore.”

“Know that, moonbrain. Just checkin’ though.”

“And last time, Freya’s broth was so thick we had to cut it with a knife.”

“Well, I guess I know who my friends are.”

“You started this.”

“I did not.”

“Yes, you did. You came out with ‘let sleeping dogs lie’.”

“I wasn’t being poetical! I actually meant be careful because Fiddler was under the table taking a nap.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Oh. I thought –“

Mal stepped down into the dining room and looked around at his crew, slouched in various chairs. “Ain't any of you got any work to do?”

“Nope,” Kaylee said, smiling brightly at him. “Serenity’s running real good, and that last batch of fuel we picked up seems to be a lot better quality than we’re used to.”

“Prob’ly pinched,” Jayne added, lifting his mug. “Some ‘lliance scout ship’s prob’ly drifting and cursing ‘cause someone siphoned it off.” He laughed and took a sip.

“Well, their loss is our gain.”

“Ha!” Simon pointed.

“What?” She peered at him. “Not a saying.”

“It is too.”

“S’not.”

“It is.”

“And I'm tellin’ you it ain’t.” Kaylee glared at him belligerently. Kaylee, who always thought the best of people. Who was always disgustingly shiny, even first thing in the morning.

Mal reached over his wife’s shoulder and picked up her mug.

“Hey!” Freya complained, reaching for it but missing.

He sniffed and raised an eyebrow. “Booze?”

“Just something I whipped up, Cap’n,” Kaylee said, back to her bright and cheery self.

“I thought your fermentation set-up blew up. Damn near took the whole engine room with it, as I recall.”

“I fixed it. Better’n ever.” She grinned widely and waved her mug, liquid spilling over her wrist. She stared at it and lifted it to her mouth, about to lick it off.

“No, let me,” Simon said, drawing her hand towards him, leaning over it and delicately lapping at her skin.

“Oh, that’s nice,” Kaylee purred, her tongue flicking out around her lips.

“You wanna try that?” Hank asked, looking at Zoe.

“Maybe later.” Her eyes sparkled at him, and he warmed inexplicably.

“You too?” Mal shook his head at his first mate. “Shouldn’t you be setting a good example?”

Zoe shrugged. “If you can’t beat them, join them.”

“Ha!” Simon said again, this time pointing at her without looking, still entranced by the taste of Kaylee’s wrist.

Mal picked up the keg in the middle of the table and recorked it. “I think you’ve all had enough.”

“Can’t help it, Mal,” Jayne growled, wrapping his arm around his mug in case anyone tried to take it away from him. “Ain't no-one trying to kill us, got coin in our pockets but nowhere to spend it … can’t expect us to sit in our bunks and twiddle our thumbs.”

“Ha!”

“That ain't a saying. My Ma used to make Matty and me do it when there was nothing else. Said it improved co-ordination.”

“And did it?” Mal asked, interested in spite of himself.

“Not sure. But I got strong thumbs out of it.”

“Really?” River pressed herself a little closer to him. “How strong?”

“Uh … I … uh …” With his blood rushing to another portion of his anatomy and leaving his brain high and decidedly dry, Jayne attempted to compensate by gulping the remaining alcohol in his mug before standing up. “We’ll … be in our bunk.” He reached down and lifted River from her seat, carrying her out of the galley.

“Hey, that’s a good idea,” Hank added. “Zoe? You wanna carry me?”

In response the dark-skinned Amazon grabbed his hand and pulled him up. “After you,” she said, smiling at him.

He couldn’t have moved much faster if Reavers had been on his tail. She followed a little slower, but they all heard the laughter as the hatch swung shut.

“Um, Simon?” Kaylee didn’t really want to interrupt his ministrations, but she was feeling a little flushed.

“Mmn?”

“Could you … could you accompany me to the ‘fimary?”

He looked up, his blue eyes soft. “Why, you need medical assistance?”

“I think I might.”

“Then the doctor is in.” He got to his feet. “My lady,” he said, bowing deeply over her hand.

She giggled and allowed him to lead her out.

Mal sat down in the seat next to his wife. “This all your fault?”

Freya looked at him, scandalised. “What makes you think that?” She shook her head. “And you say you love me.”

“Oh, not suggesting I don’t. But I don’t recall my crew being like this ‘fore you came on board.” He took a mouthful from her mug, then waited for his eyes to stop watering. “I think Kaylee needs to water this down a bit.”

“You get used to it.” She thumped him on the pad of his arm.

“What was that for?”

“Saying I'm to blame.”

“Well, actions speak louder than words.”

“What?”

“How about all’s fair in love and war?”

“Now look, Mal –“

“Bad workman blames his tools.”

“I never … what?”

He pulled her across to him. “Been looking ‘em up. Can’t be letting you have all the fun.”

She settled into his lap. “Not too heavy for you, am I?”

“I’d tell you if you was.”

She stroked his cheek, feeling the press of bristles through his skin. “You need to shave.”

“Already did this morning.”

“I could shave you.”

“With the amount you’ve been imbibing?” He shook his head firmly. “Not letting you anywhere close with an open razor in your hand.”

“I’ll have you know I had hardly anything.”

He grinned. “More’n enough, though.”

“Maybe.” She smiled and laid her head on his shoulder. “You know, everyone else seems to be otherwise occupied.”

He looked around. “Seems like.”

“We have the entire dining area to ourselves.”

“That we do.”

“And the kids are with Bethie.”

“Really.”

Freya licked his neck, just lightly. He shivered. “Cold?”

“Warming up,” he admitted.

“I could warm you up more.”

“I don’t doubt that.” Mal stood up, and pressed her back onto the table.

“In here?”

“You suggested it.”

“Someone may walk in.”

“Might.”

“What are you doing?”

“What does it feel like?”

“Shouldn’t we consider … wuh duh mah.”

He grinned wider. “Let’s just say, faint heart never won fair lady.”

“Ha!” She pointed at him, then twisted his shirt in her fingers and pulled him down into a deep and loving kiss.