Serenity breathed through her; she could feel it. Serenity pulsed with life, energy, love --- right through her very fingertips as she took hold of the controls. Mal watched her silently, but she hadn't seemed to notice his inquisitive eyes. She could hear him, but she didn't see him.

There was nothing really around her but this ship, this place that had docked right to her heart and threatened to stay there. She knew that, somewhere inside, she was a weapon, a killing machine. She knew that she was made to hurt, made to kill, but this place made her feel human, made her feel like she used to.

It's only when she sets the ship's trajectory that she moves away, fingers reluctantly brushing away from the controls and the panels.

"She's free again." River states, eyes wandering to the corners upon Mal.

"My sky makes her so." The man nodded matter-of-factly and the smile she saw on his face made her smile, too. She could feel his sorrow and hurt from their past obstacles, but the sky put that glow in everyone.

Delicate feet carried her out of the bridge and into the cargo bay where Kaylee lay, staring up at the ceiling. It was odd that she wasn't in the engine room, listening to Serenity. She was sure dear Serenity had much to say.

Kaylee was listening to music, though; something upbeat and light, just like usual. something to keep the crew smiling. There were people missing from their crew physically, but she could hear Book's gentle scolding or see Wash's bright smile. Inara was gone, too, but there was gentle warmth still lingering that she had left behind.

Everyone was here. Closing her eyes and taking in a deep breath, she opened her arms to Serenity and spun, letting the music take her body in its arms, pulling her and swaying her with the rhythms. She forgot about everything around her again as she was filled with the sheer life that emanated from these broken people.

Zoë watched from the overhang with Mal, Simon had appeared and sat curled close to Kaylee, and Jayne was watching from his weight set, long forgetting the intention to build muscle. They were all transfixed because she loved this ship. Serenity was holding onto her and she wasn't sure she wanted the ship to ever let go.

As the music ended, her body slowed and she breathed deeply, only to laugh afterwards, falling to her knees as she did so. Back in the bad times, they would've worried about her—everyone would have. They would have stared and gasped and looked so damn terrified. Now, however, they all laughed with her, their voices filling the metallic emptiness of Serenity's corridors.

"Home." Her whispers echo.

In this place, there were missing pieces. There were holes that could not be filled; there were smiles that couldn't be found again, there were loves that had long vanished. But in Serenity's walls --- she heard and remembered. In Serenity's eyes, no one was solitary, no one was begotten, and not one soul was ever left forgotten.

Within Serenity, she was whole. Her soul was not shattered and her mind was clear.

She was River Tam.

And within these walls, she could smile about that.