River wasn't very comfortable in the crowded spaces of the Sky Plex they were in. She never liked crowds when she was a child, and she didn't like them any more now. Mal and Zoe were once again strolling around every bar looking for some job to do. The incident at Miranda did help the Serenity crew somewhat, as they didn't have to stay under the radar anymore. But, as Mal was, he decided to do it anyway.

River heard nothing but noise. She was finding her way following the rest of the crew, and she could barely make out Simon and Kaylee amongst the crowd. Suddenly her heart stopped. She felt as if someone was looking at her. She turned her head around and found nobody. Then she heard a voice. "River..." She couldn't make out where it came from. Looking around, she could only make out vague figures. "It's okay... River... I'm right here." The sound got more sense of direction as she looked into the direction and saw a young man. A smile. Nothing more, just a soft smile was the only response she could give. She looked into his eyes and somehow she sensed incredible feelings. Comfort. Gentleness. Was it... love? "I couldn't help notice you," the young man spoke. "Forgive me, did I scare you?" River closed her eyes and looked back at him with a shy gaze. "I'm so sorry if I did... I'm Alan." The name somehow sounded familiar in River's ears. Although she never knew someone called Alan, it felt like she knew him for a long time. "So much... feeling... noise... hard to control..." River said it before she knew she even thought it. "It's okay... I know... would you want to come with me? We can go to a place a little less... crowded," Alan offered. Confusion came over River. Noone was ever interested in her like that before. Although it felt incredible, she was a little anxious, and she took a step back. "If you don't want to... that's perfectly okay... but I want you to know... you don't have to be afraid..." His tone of voice was the most comforting River ever heard. Simon had a way of comforting her but this was a thousand times stronger. She felt a little more confident and decided to take the guess. Alan reached out his hand and stood up from the stool he was sitting on. "Please." River took his hand and followed him into a small alcove in one of the corridors. The corridor was empty except the two. She couldn't help being curious about him. "Are you really... interested in me?" He smiled and looked into her eyes. She quickly closed them, afraid of embarrassing herself. "I hope that doesn't bother you...," he told her. She slowly opened her eyes again and a tear rolled over her cheek, she was deeply touched by his care for her. "Not at all," she said, "but I've never felt like this with someone before..." He tried to touch her cheek and wipe the tear off her face. She took a little distance, not wanting to be touched. "It's okay," he said, "trust me... please." As his hand touched her cheek, a rush of emotion hit River like she was hit by lightning. She got tense but quickly relaxed as she let the feelings in. Suddenly the noise she heard all her life, from everyone, was gone. The only thing she could hear was a soft whisper from Alan, which was the most comforting sound she ever heard. She started to cry. Crying not of intense fear or sorrow, but complete happiness. For the feeling she just experienced, she knew was true love. She knew that she wanted to be with him for as long as life could take them. River buried her head into his shoulders and Alan started to run his hand through her wonderful locks of brown hair. "You're so beautiful," he told her, "ssh, it's okay now..." For a good fifteen minutes, the couple sat this way. Adam was rocking River back and forth ever so gently, which made her feel more relaxed than she ever felt before. It was like nothing could bother them anymore. If the 'verse collapsed around them, they wouldn't even notice. Alan could feel River relax and drop herself over his arms. She was about to fall asleep. "You're tired, aren't you?" he asked. River nodded. She hadn't felt this comfortable since she was a 4-year-old in her mother's arms. The only thing she wanted to do right now is close her eyes and sleep. "Be patient... we'll get you back home, okay?" Adam took her back to the bar where they found each other, where Mal was just thrown onto the ground by two guys who obviously didn't like him. "Mal Reynolds I suppose?" The person who asked Mal didn't look any familiar. River was standing next to him, holding his hand. "Depends on who's asking..." Mal crawled back onto his feet and looked at Alan. "And you are..."

Meanwhile, Simon was looking all over the Sky Plex for River, closely followed by Kaylee. He finally made his way back to the bar where he apparently lost her, and found her standing opposite Mal holding a stranger's hand. "River!' he shouted. River looked around and saw Simon, and smiled at him. Simon turned his attention to the stranger who allegedly picked up River. "Okay, now, who are you and what are you doing with my sister?" River quickly came in between. "Simon, please... it's okay... you can trust him..." Mal was still not satisfied with Alan's lack of answer. "What do you want?", he demanded. "Just a paying customer, captain," he answered. "I just need a ride." Mal wasn't amused. "So, you first take my doctor's sister and do who-knows-what with her, and now you're asking to come aboard??" He was quickly turned over by the amount of money Alan showed him. "Or... maybe we can discuss it..." "I promise," Alan explained, "I don't intend harm to anyone. I'm just a traveller." Simon couldn't help notice that River was tired but was feeling incredible. She changed since the incident on Miranda, but she was never as happy and excited as she was right now. "I think we need to get this sweet young lady back to her ship," Alan suggested. "I believe she needs some sleep."