Lyrics belong to Mr. Mathers (what a nice, clean boy he is...), characters belong to Mr. Whedon and the rest is mine. Mine, I tell you!

p.s. MINE!!!

Wash watched as his wife, his beautiful Amazon wife, always so strong and powerful, slept peacefully beside him, breathing deep and slow. A tendril of golden tinged hair curled across her cheek and she smiled slightly in her dreams. She let out a murmur that could have been his name and shifted her shoulders into a more comfortable position. Tentatively, he reached towards her hand, trying not to wake her. Lord knows she didn’t get enough sleep as it was without him getting her up for the selfish reason that he wanted to touch her. His fingertip brushed her palm and instinctively, she wound her fingers around his. She sighed happily and cuddled into his side. Lifting an arm around her shoulders, he looked up at the ceiling of their bunk and listened to her breathing. He whispered into the dark:

And when I'm gone Just carry on Don't mourn Rejoice Every time you hear the sound of my voice Just know that I'm looking down on you, smiling And I didn't feel a thing So, baby, don't feel no pain Just smile back…

* *

Zoë wrapped the Hawaiian shirt tighter around her body and looked around the infirmary. Where was he? Her husband had been blindsided earlier that day while driving the mule through the streets of Persephone and knocked unconscious. Since being brought back to Serenity, he had lain prostrate in the surgery with a gash across his brow and a purple-and-green egg-sized lump on his forehead. She had been sleeping by his side and when she woke, he was missing. Moving through the ship, she searched the corridors, cargo bay and engine room anxiously for him. She stepped into the mess and caught sight of a familiar jumpsuit at the far end of the corridor and her breathing eased slightly. Then she was annoyed. He had sent her running around the ship like a madwoman while he sat and played with his dinosaurs. Striding forwards, she made her way into the cockpit, ready to tear him a new one. Then, abruptly, she stopped and her anger melted away. Leaning back in his chair, he was snoring lightly with his mouth open. In his lap were a star chart and a photo of her. She had no idea when it was taken, but she was laughing at something just out of sight, most likely her husband. Her face softened and she bent to pick up the image. Placing a gentle hand against his cheek, she smiled and whispered to the stars:

And when I'm gone Just carry on Don't mourn Rejoice Every time you hear the sound of my voice Just know that I'm looking down on you, smiling And I didn't feel a thing So, baby, don't feel no pain Just smile back…

* *

Wash drifted through Serenity’s halls, running his hands over the walls and enjoying the cool feel of the smooth metal beneath his fingertips. Hearing a noise, he turned and made his way down to the cargo bay. He emerged onto the catwalk a few moments later and stopped, looking at the goddess standing not a few feet away. Zoë. As he stepped forwards and reached a hand out to touch her, her shoulders shook and she swiped at her eyes. Alarmed, Wash reached out again but missed as she shifted to look over the railing. It was then that he spotted the little recording device in her hand and all at once, he understood. He’d gotten the idea from Tracey, and while he didn’t think Zoë had enjoyed hearing such a message the first time around, he knew he had to let her know somehow and this was the only way he could think of. Besides, he’d figured if he came out of Mal's crazy scheme okay, he could just delete the message and she’d be none the wiser. Brushing at her damp cheeks, Wash laid a goodbye kiss on her forehead. Time to go. And as he floated away into the dark, the pilot smiled and whispered along with the recording:

And when I'm gone Just carry on Don't mourn Rejoice Every time you hear the sound of my voice Just know that I'm looking down on you, smiling And I didn't feel a thing So, baby, don't feel no pain Just smile back…