She awoke with a start. Although she couldn’t remember the dream clearly, she knew it had involved reavers. Zoe wiped her hands over her face and collected her hair in a ponytail. The sleeping body next to her turned and gazed up at her.

“Another nightmare?”

“Yeah.”

It was only the second one she had in months, so things were much better. She got up and dressed with a pair of concerned eyes caressing her lithe frame, watching every move she made. Zoe climbed the ladder out of her bunk and wandered around the ship. As she moved, she felt the weight of her grief lighten. She touched the railings and took comfort in the gentle hum of Serenity. Eventually, as always, she ended up on the bridge. She sat in the pilot’s chair and exhaled. It’d been a long time since she, everyone, lost Wash. She had come to terms with his death and knew that life had to go on. But that tragic event brought to surface feelings of doubt. Nothing in her life seemed to last; everything was uncertain. Her life seemed to be a series of major bad events lightly dusted with tiny happy ones. Her sense of self became unstable. She wasn’t from a particular planet like everyone else. She grew up on a boat, constantly traveling. Her parents were senselessly murdered when she was young. She fought for her beliefs in the war, but was defeated. No one, no thing, had ever been constant in her life. Zoe stared into the black…searching…

“I knew you’d find me.”

“I always do. You shook up bad?”

“No. Just needed to breathe a little…lose myself in the ‘verse for a while. You didn’t have to get up.”

“Had to make sure you were alright, is all. Can’t sleep alone no more…”

Zoe turned to look at him. He had that boyish smirk on his face. That smart mouth that had gotten them into more trouble than she remembered. But no matter what happened, they always got out. Together. She gave a small smile as went to him, and lost herself in his arms. They slowly ambled back to her bunk and helped each other undress. Their bodies provided the comfort they yearned for. They gave and gave to each other until their actions presented them with pleasurable sleep. As they drifted off, he caressed her face.

“I’m here. Always have been, always will be, hear? I love you.”

“I love you too Mal.”