"Inara, stop fussing."
"Mal, you're not the one who's pregnant!"
Serenity's captain grinned. "If I was we'd all be fussing."
"If you were I'd sell tickets," Simon said, pushing him out of the way. "Let me get Zoe inside."
"I am perfectly capable of walking." Zoe shrugged off his hands.
"And it's icy around here. You either let me help you, or Jayne carries you. Which would you prefer?" The young doctor fixed her with his professional eye.
"Then I'll graciously accept your arm."
Serenity had landed on Lazarus as the sun set, segueing into its long period of winter night, and the bright pinks and purples lit the sky in welcome. If the actual touchdown was a little rocky, everyone gave Hank the benefit of the doubt.
Inara was waiting, bundled up in her heavy coat, and in the doorway of the house Mrs Boden and her husband lurked. At the windows were the Reilly girls, noses pressed to the cold glass.
Hank bustled down the stairs from the bridge. "I'll help her," he said, pushing his arms into his coat.
"Thank you, dear," Zoe said, smiling at him. They walked … rather, Hank walked and Zoe waddled … down the path towards the house.
Mal sighed and looked at Freya, who was sitting on one of the crates in her own brown coat, trying unsuccessfully not to smile. "Hey, it ain't funny."
"Yes it is."
"You wait. When you're looking like that again, we'll see if you think it is."
"And you're not even the father of this one." They exchanged a look and Mal sighed.
Kaylee walked out of the common area, Ethan toddling next to her holding her hand. "Aw, they gone already?"
"Just this second." Freya got off the crate and went down onto her heels, holding out her arms. "Hey, there, honey," she said, and Ethan crossed the bay unsteadily to her.
"Mama," he said, smiling hugely.
She pulled the collar of his little coat up higher around his neck. "You ready?" she asked.
"Snow?" he asked, waving his arms, the gloves on a string whipping through the air.
"No snow yet," his mother said, putting his hands inside them. "Maybe in a day or two." She looked up at Mal. "And I haven't forgiven you for those socks yet," she added.
"Hey, you ain't lost them though, have you?"
Her eyes narrowed, and she would have made some comment, but Kaylee called, "Bethany! Come on! We're waiting!"
After only a moment a small bundle of energy barrelled out of the common area, and bashed into Ethan, throwing him into Freya's arms. She rolled onto her back, holding her son to her chest.
"Sorry, Auntie Frey," Bethany said, running out of the door towards the house, Fiddler barking and leaping around at the end of his lead.
Mal, having first ascertained that neither his wife nor child were hurt, laughed. "Now that's funny," he said, then leaned over to pick them up.
"Just wait," she murmured. "Just wait."
Jayne, standing on the top catwalk outside the shuttle entrance waiting for River, chuckled to himself.
---
"Auntie 'Nara!" Bethany shouted as she ran into the house.
Inara was in the process of making sure Zoe got up the stairs okay, and she called out, "Hello, sweetie. Can you wait in the drawing room? I'll be down soon."
Bethany stood pouting in the hall, but Hermione stuck her head out of one of the side doors.
"Come on," she said, smiling. "You can keep me company."
Bethany, her happiness returning, threw off her coat and followed the Reilly girl into the large yellow room, where a fire was blazing in the hearth. For a long moment she stared at it. "Oh," she whispered as a log broke open, sending sparks up the chimney.
"Haven't you seen a fireplace before?" Hermione asked, sitting down on the floor in front of it.
The little girl shook her head. "Only fires outside."
"This is fun," the twelve year old said. "Later on we can make toast." She patted the floor next to her, ignoring the two sets of twins who were nudging each other in the corner. "Come on. You can tell me everything you've been getting up to. I see you've got your cast off."
"Daddy took it off." Bethie held up her arm. "All healed."
"Good." Fiddler sniffed at her fingertips. "He's growing."
"He keeps falling over his own feet." The little dog rolled onto his back and waved his legs in the air.
"So do I." Hermione shrugged, scratching idly at his belly. "Inara's trying to make me into a lady, but …"
Bethie nodded in sympathy. "Hard."
"Very."
"Got your letter."
"Good."
"No snow yet."
"Mr Boden thinks it'll be tomorrow. Or the day after. Will you be staying that long?"
"I 'spect so. Babies take a long while."
The little girl looked so serious that Hermione smiled. "So I've heard."
"Got the capture too." Bethany suddenly giggled. "That was funny."
Hermione glanced towards her half-sisters. "Secret," she whispered.
"I know," Bethie said just as quietly. "Auntie Zoe's having my brother," she carried on in her normal tone.
"Brother?"
"Not brother like Momma and Daddy, but … like Ethan."
"More a cousin?"
"No. Brother. We're all family." She smiled at the older girl. "So are you. My sister."
Hermione blushed. "Bethie, I ain't … I mean, I'm not your sister."
"Course you are. Uncle Mal's my other Daddy, so you're my other sister."
"That don't make sense."
"Doesn't have to," Bethany said, shrugging. "I'm only three. What do I know?"
Hermione laughed. She could hear an adult voice saying that, a perfect reflection. "Yeah, what do we know?" She leaned forward. "So what did you get for your birthday?"
Bethany was suddenly flushed with excitement, remembering the day only a couple of weeks before. "Well, Uncle Jayne made me …"
They sat together and chatted companionably while Fiddler investigated the side of the sofa then lifted his leg against it. The girls looked around at the slight sound.
"Noni, Inara's going to hate that!" said Rosemary, the oldest of the other girls. "You'd better clear it up!"
Hermione rolled her eyes and Bethany giggled.
---
"I'm fine, don't nag," Zoe said, slapping at the hands trying to help her onto the bed.
"You're due in a few days," Simon pointed out. "And I'm your doctor. I'm allowed to nag."
"And if I don't want to go to bed?"
"What do you want to do?" His calm blue eyes seemed amused.
She glared back then relented. "Okay. Maybe I could do with a rest."
"Good. Rest is good."
Hank stayed by the door.
"Aren't you coming in?" Inara asked.
"No. I … there's a couple of things I need to do on Serenity … make sure everything's locked down tight."
The ex-Companion stood up. "I'm sure Mal can take care of that."
"No!" Hank realised he'd raised his voice, and looked sheepish. "No, I … I need to do it. My job." He backed up. "I'll be just a few …" He fumbled at the handle until he almost fell into the corridor.
"Hank –"
Zoe put a hand on Inara's arm. "Let him go. This is hard for him."
"Hard for him?" Inara stared at the dark woman. "Wasn't he the one who was desperate for children?"
"And he'll be fine once the baby's born. It's just … he knows what's going to happen …" Zoe trailed off.
"And you're going to let him get away with this?"
Zoe grinned. "Oh no. No way."
Inara laughed. "That's the Zoe I know and love."
---
Freya closed the front door behind them, stopping the cold air from filling the house. She went to take Ethan from Mal. "Here."
"No, he's fine," her husband said.
"I just want to take his coat off."
"That's okay then." He grinned at her and let her unbutton their son.
Mrs Boden materialised from the back of the hall.
"Would you like some tea?" she asked, unphased as usual by the appearance of a whole slew of people.
"That would be really nice, thank you," Freya said, smiling as she hooked Ethan's coat on the stand.
"Got any whisky?" Jayne asked.
"Jayne!" Kaylee admonished, swatting him on the arm. "This ain't your house!"
"She asked."
"She offered tea."
River sighed and looked at Mrs Boden. "Please forgive him. His manners haven't improved."
Mrs Boden smiled, just a little. "There is nothing to forgive. And there is whisky in the drawing room."
"Tea will be fine," Freya said firmly.
"Aw, hell, Frey …" Jayne complained.
"Tea."
Mal smiled slightly and put Ethan down on the floor before taking off his leather coat and helping Freya with hers. Jayne, seeing the simple but tender action, did the same for River. The young woman kissed his cheek.
"There is a room set aside for the doctor and his family," Mrs Boden went on. "To be near to the expectant mother."
"Thanks," Kaylee said, tugging her own coat off and hanging it up.
"Doubt we'll be spending much time anywhere else ourselves," Mal said warmly.
"Then I'll make sure there are other beds prepared. I'll bring the tea to the drawing room." The housekeeper melted into the shadows.
"I wish I knew how she did that," Mal muttered. "And 'expectant mother? Not quite the way I've ever considered describing Zoe."
"How would you describe her, then?" Freya asked, adding quickly, "And it'd better be clean."
Mal went through all his options. "Blossoming?"
She thought for a moment, then nodded. "Sounds okay." She grinned at him as she walked past him into the drawing room.
"Shouldn't we be doing something?" Mal asked, taking Ethan's tiny fist in his and following her. "Boiling water or something?"
"She's not giving birth yet, Mal."
"Yeah, but … you know, hand holding or something?"
"When she needs us, Simon'll call. Until then we just relax."
"Easy for you to say."
As the door closed with a satisfying click, Hank sidled down the stairs. It wasn't that he'd lied to anyone. There probably were a few things on Serenity that he could do. If he looked. But that wasn't exactly the plan.
---
"I see you got the best place," Mal said, smiling at Bethie.
"Course, Uncle Mal." She grinned back at him as he sat down on the sofa, lifting Ethan onto his lap as Freya joined him. Kaylee edged into a small two-seater opposite, watching her daughter as she drew her legs up under her.
"You okay, Hermione?" Mal asked.
The girl coloured a little. "Shiny, thank you, Mr Reynolds."
"Well, technically I'm a captain, but since that'd make it sound too formal … how 'bout you call me Uncle Mal like Bethie does?"
Hermione now went bright red. "I don't –"
"You'd better," Freya said, smiling. "Or he'll cry."
"Might," Mal confirmed. "Pretty horrible to see, too. I kinda go all blotchy and red."
"His nose runs too," his wife added.
Hermione couldn't stop a small laugh bubbling from her lips.
"That's better," Mal went on. "So, Uncle Mal?"
She nodded. "Okay. Uncle Mal." Quickly she turned to gaze into the fire so he couldn't see the happiness on her face.
"And how're the rest of the girls?" he asked over his shoulder.
There were various murmurings of 'Fine' and 'Shiny', but nothing more forthcoming.
"They're shy," Freya said softly.
"That what it is? I thought it was my intimidating nature."
"That too."
He grinned.
"Mama," Ethan said, holding his little arms out to her. "Cuddle."
"I can see who he loves most," Mal complained, but it was with a smile.
Freya took her son, settling him into the crook of her arm, his eyes already beginning to close. "He's just tired. It's been a long day."
"That it has." He leaned forward to get his hands a little closer to the flames. As he did so he noticed something. "Is that a damp patch?" he asked, looking down at the end of the sofa.
"Her dog did it," one of the Reilly twins said, whom Mal seemed to remember as being called Phoebe.
"Did he?" Mal asked Bethany.
"He got excited," the little girl replied. "Couldn't help himself."
"Well, I'm sure Inara won't worry too much."
"And ya shouldn't go blabbing," Jayne growled, dropping down into an armchair, having been steered away from the small bar by a determined River, who sat on the arm next to him. "Ain't ladylike to tell."
There was more mutterings, and the two sets of twins got up as one and hurried out of the door.
Mal looked at Freya then nodded towards the big mercenary. "Now that's intimidating."
"Are you frightening people again?" Inara asked, stepping inside. "Only the girls seemed to be going to bed early."
"Not me," Mal maintained.
"Of course not."
Bethie got up quickly and hugged Inara tightly around the legs. "Missed you," she said softly.
"I missed you too, sweetie," Inara said, stroking her soft brown hair.
"Where's Giselle?"
"Upstairs in my bedroom. I thought it was better if she kept out of the way."
Bethany nodded seriously. "Good idea."
"She hasn't been fed yet. Do you want to ask Mrs Boden for some food for her?"
"Enough for Fiddler too?" Bethie asked, suddenly all bright smiles.
Inara laughed. "I'm sure there's plenty."
"Come on, Noni," Bethany said, holding out her hand to Hermione. "You can come help." The two girls hurried out together.
Inara joined Kaylee on the small couch. "It looks as if that's the start of a lifelong friendship," she said, putting her arm around the young mechanic.
"Hope so," Kaylee said. "Hermione's a mite older than I'd like, but it's good Bethie's getting to spend some time with other girls."
"What do you mean?" Mal put in quickly. "She's got Jayne."
River giggled, and the big man rolled his eyes.
"How's Zoe?" Freya asked Inara quickly to avoid any argument, gently rocking Ethan.
"About to murder Simon. He keeps annoying her."
"I'd'a thought she was saving that for Hank."
"She would but he's not there."
"He ain't?" Mal sat up a little.
"Didn't you see him?" Inara asked, surprised. "He left just after we got upstairs. I thought he said he was going back to the ship."
"Must've just missed him. Though I'd'a thought he'd be by her side from now until the bitter end."
"He's nervous," Freya explained. "Maybe he needed a few minutes alone."
"So I shouldn't send a search party out looking for him?"
"Not quite yet."
"Actually, Zoe asked if you could go up. I think she'd like someone else who's a mother with her right now." Inara couldn't hide the slight tensing of her forehead as she spoke. "To deflect Simon a little."
Freya understood but didn't comment. Instead she handed Ethan, now fast asleep, to Mal and stood up. Her son mumbled on the fist in his mouth, but didn't wake. "Sure."
"What about me?" Kaylee asked. "Can't I do something?"
"You're the next shift," Freya said smiling as she went out of the door.
---
The old mule was fuelled up, ready to go, and it wasn't much more than the work of a moment for Hank to drive it outside, leave the engine running while he closed the ramp again, then climb back on. He looked towards the house, the warm light shining brightly into the darkening sky, then twisted the accelerator and sped off away from all that was going on inside.