A/N: I was challenged to release a full length Firefly fic, this is an idea I've been toying with since I started writing fics again.  I was just testing the waters up until now.  Post BDM and series, this is just a little opener.  I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own this 'verse, but I sure like playin' with 'em.

--

Prologue

--

"It ain't all buttons and charts, little albatross.  You know what the first rule of flying is?" he paused glancing in her direction as she flicked and pressed switches and buttons on the copilot console, she stopped.

"Well, I suppose you do, since you already know what I'm about to say."

"I do," she smiled, hugging her knees to her chest, "But I still like to hear you say it."

"Love," he states simply looking out at the rain, "You can learn all the math in the 'verse but you take a boat in the air that you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of worlds.  Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting before she keens.  Makes her a home," Mal turned his face to her.

"Storm's getting worse," River says looking out the window in front of her.

"We'll pass through it soon enough," he says returning his gaze to the sky outside.

Sure as day, it's only a minute ride before they break the top of the clouds, daylight flooding the bridge through the large front window.  River smiles still hugging her knees to her chest and looks around the cockpit, taking in every inch as if she were just truly seeing it for the first time.

Love.  That was indeed something she felt for Serenity and her crew.  Such a powerful feeling welled in the pit of her stomach and worked its way up to her face.

She turns back to the now black window, tears welling in her eyes and a smile playing on her lips.  She holds onto the emotion, not letting it escape and feeling truly happy, something she hasn't felt in a long time.  She holds the explosion in and gazes upon her captain.  Love.

She is capable of it, and he is too.  He'd shown it to her.

Suddenly she is shaken from her thoughts.

"What was that?" Mal searches the many displays and screens for the source of the noise.  When he doesn't find it he tries to catch a glimpse of the ship outside the front window.

River reaches her arms out front to touch the console.  She runs her hands along the front edge, soothing Serenity.  Love.