This is short, but I didn't think I should end such a happy story on the note that this one ends with. So the very end of this story was turned into the Epilogue.

The honeymoon is next, and unless I combine everything, it will be 3 parts. And then the fun begins - well, for me, not for the readers or the characters :)

~*~

Epilogue

~*~

“We’ll be there in a week.” Mal switched off the Cortex screen and turned to River, who was staring unblinking into the black, her legs pulled to her chest. “Albatross, plot course for -“ Mal trailed off when he noticed the look on her face. “River?”

“Don’t trust him.”

Mal sighed. They’d gone over this before. In fact, they went over this every time they took a job from Badger. She tended to get tetchy whenever his name was even mentioned.

“I don’t trust him either. But he is givin’ us work and we ain’t had work in over a month. We’re short on cash -“

“Simon will give you what mom and dad gave him.”

Mal had heard that Simon and Kaylee had received a gift from his parents. He also suspected it had been River that had somehow let her parents know her brother had gotten hitched.

Mal hadn’t asked what they’d received. He didn’t really want to know. Mal raised his hands. “He ain’t doin’ that again. Your folks gave him whatever they did for him and Kaylee to use.”

“They can’t buy forgiveness.”

Mal hesitated for only a split second, briefly wondering if that is exactly what they had been trying to do. But it didn’t matter. He wasn’t going to take their money. He was too proud. What mattered was getting back out into the Black. Flying free. Not being tied down. They’d been on Paquin long enough.

Mal set course that would take them to their next destination, not knowing, not realizing, that his decision to take this job would change the lives of his crew forever.

~*~

“Everythin’s ready.” Badger said, his mouth twisting into a wry grin. “Reynolds has agreed to take the job.”

“Excellent.” The old man clasped his hands together with glee. From behind him a scream echoed, and the man’s thin lips twisted into a happy smile.

A news bulletin cycled in the background behind Badger, revealing high level government corruption due to verified and confirmed information gleaned from an investigation into the Miranda affair. Respected and revered politicians called publicly for Parliament members to resign.

The old man laughed as he heard the report, the tone chilling Badger to the bone. He would be glad to complete his business with this man so he could go back to dealing with petty criminals. Unfortunately, there would be one less to deal with when Adeli Niska finished with Malcom Reynolds and the crew of Serenity.

END