Tantomile looked down at the book she held in her hands and approached Cohen's door.

The shepherd had his thick, grey hair out of the queue he usually had it pulled back in. To say it was frizzy was putting it mildly which was why he usually tamed it like he did. As it was at the moment he was preparing for bed, going through his nightly rituals, one of which involved trying to get a comb through the nest on his head.

"Hello?" Tantomile called out.

"In here, Tant," he replied, setting the comb aside and turning his attention to washing his face.

"I tore these out of your symbol and they turned into paper but I want to put them back..." she said, looking at the bible rather than into the room.

He straightened, drying his face off as he turned to her, "What's that?"

"I..." she looked up, her eyes widening and shrieked at seeing the halo of his hair, dropping the bible on the floor and running.

"Tant?" He blinked in confusion, starting to follow her, "Tantomile?"

Coming around the corner Jemi froze. "Whoa."

The shepherd arched a brow at her, "Tant's run off, we probably ought to find her..."

"Probably," the first mate agreed.

"Cargo hold first, perhaps?"

Jemi looked him over once more, suppressing a grin and turned to do just that. "Tant, honey?" she called, looking around.

They finally located her in one of the hidden holds in the cargo bay, Cohen crouching down outside, "Tant?"

"They say the snow on the roof was too heavy," she was muttering. "They say the ceiling will cave in. His brains are in terrible danger."

That garnered a long blink from the preacher, "Tantomile? Why don't you come out?

"Can't," she muttered. "Too much hair!"

Cohen rocked back on his heels, glancing at Jemima, "Is that it then?"

"Oh hell yeah, preacher," she said, finally laughing. "If I didn't have things to do I would be in there with her." Of course it didn't appear she had much to do, as she was sitting on the stairs laughing.

"It's part of my order. A symbol, like the book," he started trying to explain to Tantomile.

"Uh huh," Jemi gave him a long look. "That's not gonna work. Honey, he's putting the hair away."

"Doesn't matter. It will still be there," Tantomile muttered.

Cohen finally gave in and tied his hair back again, "Tant, will you come out? The hair's gone away." A dissatisfied noise was all he got in return.

s-s-s-s

Back at the bar, Mistoffelees sat next to Coricopat, watching Tugger lord over the mudders. He glanced down at the drink he had and back up.

Coricopat, moderately drunk but still coherent, shook his head, "You know, I've saved lives. Dozens. Maybe even hundreds. I reattached a girl's leg, you know. Her whole leg. She named her hamster after me. I get a hamster. He drops a box of money, he gets a town." The doctor shook his head, "The 'verse is a strange place."

"A hamster?" Mistoffelees asked, looking over. "That's adorable."

The taller man shrugged slightly, raising his glass with a murmured, "To Tugger, the box-dropping, man-ape-gone-wrong-thing."

Mistoffelees giggled. "You're pretty funny when you want to be, you know?"

Coricopat offered him a bit of a smile, "Well, I like seeing you smile."

"Huh?" Mistoffelees glanced over.

"I like seeing you smile. You're...rather handsome. Even covered in engine grease. You're...no, actually especially then. You've got a smile that lights up everything."

"I'm..." Mistoffelees was staring at him with wide eyes, moving forward when Mac suddenly appeared behind them. "It's time to get out of this nuthouse and start plannin'."

"Now?" Mistoffelees protested, eyes snapping up. "Things are goin' so well..."

"Suppose so. Tugger's certainly feelin' all kinds of good about life..." he trailed off when Mistoffelees titled his head toward Coricopat and widened his eyes. "Oh, well. Yeah, how about this? You two watch over our hero and Pounce and I will head back to the ship, yeah?"

Coricopat glanced up at the captain and nodded slightly, "If you want, sir."

"Sure," Mac said, patting Mistoffelees shoulder and going to fetch Pounce.

The doctor watched him go before turning back to Mistoffelees, "Where were we?"

"I think you were tellin' me about my smile?" he offered.

"Right. It's a real nice smile. You smile a lot, but it's always nice. Some people, when they smile it doesn't look real."

Back over at the bar, Tugger glanced over and scowled.

"And mine looks real?" Mistoffelees asked, inching just a little closer.

The doctor offered him a gentle smile, "Yeah, it always reaches your eyes. You're honest about being happy. You're honest about a lot of things. I like it."

"You say honest like it's such a compliment..."

"Well it is. Honesty's the mark of a beautiful soul. In your case a beautiful soul in a handsome form."

"How much have you had to drink?" Mistoffelees asked, trying to laugh it off and failing.

The doctor shrugged, "Not sure how steady on my feet I am, but I don't think I'm drunk."

"O-oh. Cos... the things you're sayin'..."

"Think I gotta be drunk to say things like that?" there was a brief flash of indignation over the brunet's features.

"Well, you ain't said them before," the mechanic replied.

"Well...aright my inhibitions might be lowered a bit."

"But you're still bein' honest?"

Coricopat nodded, "Yeah." The doctor reached out, placing a hand on Mistoffelees' cheek, "I..."

"You?" he said, tilting his head into the touch and inching closer.

The only answer he got was when Coricopat leaned forward to close the gap between them, kissing him gently, though the angle was a bit awkward. It was made slightly less so when Mistoffelees moved forward to just about plaster himself against the other, holding him in the kiss.

Wrapping his arm around the mechanic, Coricopat leaned into the kiss, one hand resting on the smaller man's waist. Mistoffelees tilted his head into the kiss, trying to press even closer, or anything so he didn't have to actually pull away. Coricopat's hand moved from Mistoffelees' waist to rest against his cheek, finally drawing back just enough to catch his breath. Eye wide, Mistoffelees just looked at him a moment.

The slender doctor leaned in and kissed him briefly again, "I..."

Choosing not to say anything, Mistoffelees tugged him into another kiss. Coricopat certainly didn't protest, leaning into the kiss and drawing the other just fractionally closer. Starting to finally relax into the kiss, Mistoffelees just about leapt back and off the bench they were sitting on when Tugger cleared his throat. "Hell you two doin'?"

Coricopat startled at that, just about falling off the bench, "I...we...that is..."

"What's it look like, Tug?" Mistoffelees said, swallowing and glancing sideways at Coricopat.

Tugger just snorted. "He don't seem to know."

The doctor's eyes narrowed, "I don't know that it's really your business."

"Sure it ain't," Tugger shook his head as a mudder girl appeared, giggling against his side.

"It ain't when you're doin' worse," Mistoffelees muttered and Tugger nailed him with a long look.

"Not goin' back into the black with me now are they?" he asked before grinning down at the girl who was probably more than a little drunk and leading her away.

Coricopat blinked after him, "How does that argument make it better?"

"Means if you make a mistake they're not followin' you," Mistoffelees said, looking at his hands.

The doctor glanced at him, "Do you think this is a mistake?"

"That's not what I said. I said... that's the argument he's makin'."

"I...guess he's got a point."

Mistoffelees froze, eyes finally tracking back up to Coricopat's face. "What?"

"Not saying I agree fully, but if it did turn out to be a mistake..."

"You thinkin' it's likely to then?" Mistoffelees demanded.

"No. I didn't say that," Coricopat amended quickly.

"Then..." Mistoffelees bit his lower lip obviously. "Then what are you sayin'?"

"Just saying he's got a point, whether I think it applies or not."

Mistoffelees just stared at him, looking hurt for a moment. "Oh."

The doctor looked at him for a long moment, "I...didn't mean it like that."

"Then, just, answer me straight, how did you?"

"Just thinking out loud is all. Didn't mean anything by it."

Searching his face for a moment, Mistoffelees looked down. "Alright."

"I...I didn't mean anything by it," the brunet repeated.

"Did you mean anythin' by kissing me at least then?" he asked. Every part of him was aware of the amount of space between them and honestly it was too much for his liking.

"Of course I did!"

"Well what'd you mean there then?"

"You're handsome. You're...nice, sweet, you."

"That's not... that's not that much," Mistoffelees mumbled, not meeting his eyes.

"What do you want me to say? You're amazing."

"I," he didn't quite look like he believed the other. "But..."

"But what?"

He took another break. "I don't know. I don't know what's goin' on or why you're kissin' me or what Tugger's sayin' and..."

Coricopat interrupted him, "Do you mind me kissing you?"

"What?" Mistoffelees asked, shocked.

"Didn't you hear me?"

"Of course I heard you," Mistoffelees murmured. "Just tryin' to figure out why you're asking."

"Well, I...you seem to be asking a lot of questions about why I did it..."

"W-well I..." the mechanic swallowed hard. "S-should make sure Tugger isn't doin' anything stupid like," he attempted, failing all the while.

"I'm not sure I want to move quite yet..."

"W-why not?"

"Well, I like sitting here. With you."

Mistoffelees blinked at him and then couldn't help but laugh. "We're a mess, you know that right?"

"Are we?"

"We, Yeah," Mistoffelees nodded. "Not sayin' I... would give it up but yeah we are."

"Can't say I mind." He paused, "May I kiss you again?"

"You wanna?" Mistoffelees said, as if part of him couldn't help but be surprised.

"Of course."

Eyes going wide again for a moment, Mistoffelees surged forward, into another kiss, hands going to the front of Coricopat's vest and holding on. The taller man startled very slightly at that, before one arm wrapped around Mistoffelees to pull him close, his free hand going to card through the other's hair as he pressed into the kiss.

Tasting alcohol on the doctor's breath, Mistoffelees tried to push away the thought they were quite possibly both a little too drunk for this to be meaningful, instead focusing on keeping their noses away from each other and sliding their mouths together. Coricopat nipped lightly at the other's lower lip before drawing away from the kiss enough to trail kisses along the other's jawline and back, resting a final one on the corner of Mistoffelees' mouth, almost teasingly.

Trying to bit back a moan, Mistoffelees pulled away, looking around the room. "Coricopat-"

"Mm?" He tilted his head down to nip at the other's jaw.

"Movin' fast for a lot of people in the room," Mistoffelees got out past his increased heartbeat.

The doctor drew back, remembering where he was, "I...r-right." His face was a bit flushed and his breathing quick.

"A-and I can't help thinkin' you'll regret it in the mornin'."

"Regret..." He shook his head, "Why would I?"

The mechanic glanced at the empty mudder milk bottles and back. "It ain't really the place for this."

The doctor nodded after a moment, "True..."

"I'm the one that called stop," Mistoffelees muttered. "Does that mean I need to be the one to stop kissing you."

"Probably..." Coricopat murmured.

"Don't wanna," he said, carefully kissing Coricopat this time, a hand smoothing through his hair, ruffling it slowly. The young doctor leaned up into the kiss, his arm tightening around Mistoffelees' waist slightly, but allowing the other to lead most of the kiss this time. The slow slide of their mouths was actually that much worse for Mistoffelees than the earlier kisses so he pulled back, eyes still huge.

Coricopat drew a shaky breath, "We should stop..."

"Yeah," Mistoffelees said, burying his head in the crook of the other's shoulder.

"Perhaps get a bit of sleep? See if things look different in the morning?"

Mistoffelees laughed softly. "I can't just turn sleep on and off."

That earned a faint smile, Coricopat's hand coming up to gently stroke over Mistoffelees' hair, "Really?"

Breath catching, Mistoffelees let it out slowly at that. "Well, if you do that..."

"If I do that, what?"

"It's soothin'," Mistoffelees mumbled.

"Sleep then?"

"We didn't do a very good job of watchin' Tugger," Mistoffelees said, voice already sounding drowsy even though he didn't move back from resting against Coricopat's chest.

"He went upstairs earlier didn't he?"

"Which is why we're doin' such a bad job..."

"Should we have followed him up?" the doctor sounded skeptical.

"Suppose I'd rather not see whatever he was gettin' up to," Mistoffelees said.

"Sleep's a better plan. We'll check on him in the morning."

"You sound like you just want me to fall asleep on you," Mistoffelees said, a light note of teasing entering his voice.

The doctor smiled a bit at that, "Well, I wouldn't be averse to it. You're warm."

Mistoffelees tucked his head under Coricopat's chin. "You'd make me think you were just usin' me as a blanket."

Coricopat smiled faintly at that, "No, not just for that. Though you make a nice blanket."

Smiling against him, Mistoffelees gave into the warmth, practiced at cutting out extra sound to fall asleep. Part of him didn't want to give up the touch and the idea that maybe he wasn't insane and could have something like this.

The doctor leaned his head back, and closed his eyes, more than content to focus on the other's breathing and heart rate until he was able to drift off as well. The gentleness and intimacy of the contact was soothing, and more than welcomed.

s-s-s-s

Griddlebone finally got the beastly magistrate of the planet to leave her shuttle. She leaned against the door for a moment, calming herself as she turned to the man's son and offered him a charming smile. His father claimed he wasn't yet a man, well, there was more than one way to define that, and it was up to his son how to do so. The companion moved over to sit on some cushions, by the tea she had been pouring when the men entered. She glanced up, "Will you join me, Fess?"

He glanced over at her, shifting and adjusting his glasses. "Well, if you think that's appropriate," he managed.

She smiled, shaking her head at that, "Come join me for tea, that's all I'm asking. It's an honored tradition."

The man hesitated a moment before moving forward and sitting down gingerly on the edge of the seat. "I'm not sure my father would approve of tea..."

"Well, your father isn't here, is he?" She finished pouring the tea and offered the young man one of the cups, "I'm not here for him, or what he thinks I should be doing. I'm here for you."

"I'm not entirely sure I want you here," he murmured, looking down.

Grids nodded slightly at that, "Well, then what we do is simple. We talk, we wait an appropriate amount of time so your father can think what he likes and doesn't give you hell for it, and then we go our separate ways." She paused, "May I ask you why, though?"

Fess shifted his shoulders, taking a quick gulp of the tea. "No offense, because you are very beautiful and I know this is your profession but... he may not think me a man for never having had... someone in bed, and he may be right but," he shook his head, a little unsure where to go or how exactly to stand up to anyone, even someone not his father.

Griddlebone considered him as she sipped at her tea, "Forgive me if I pry too far, but is there someone you care about?"

That got a startle out of his and he carefully set the tea cup back down. "What would make you ask something like that?"

"Because you remind me of my little brother," her mind flickered to the story of how Mistoffelees came aboard Serenity and she quickly added, "in some ways."

He blinked. "For some reason I never quite imagined companions having little brothers."

"Well, not by blood. He's the mechanic on the ship I travel with, but he's my brother in all the ways that matter."

"I suppose I wonder what would make a companion travel as well," he said, looking down at the tea. "But it's not my business."

"It gives me the opportunity to see places I mightn't have otherwise," she offered by way of an answer

Nodding, he adjusted his glasses again. "I'm sure it allows you a broader range of clients as well."

Griddlebone nodded slightly, "It does, I will admit that."

He finally looked up from the tea to consider the shuttle. "You have a rather nice place."

"Thank you. You should have seen it before I got a hold of it..."

That got a small chuckle from him. "I'm assuming that means I would not have wanted to?"

She laughed quietly, "I'm not sure most people would have."

He leaned back, finally starting to relax. "You seem to have built a life for yourself at least," he said, not sure if he meant it or if he was just trying to make idle chatter.

"I suppose I have. For what it's worth, it's a good life," her smile faded ever so slightly. "What of you, do you have any hopes or dreams for your own life?"

At that his shoulders started to tense again. "I suppose," he murmured. "I'm not sure I know them though. Or the ones I think I have I won't once my father decides what he wants."

Grids frowned slightly at that, but cleared her expression, "What ones do you think you have?"

"I..." his expression closed off more. "Various things. Things to help people."

"A noble thought. Nothing you say here will leave this shuttle, you have my word on that," she added quietly.

His eyes searched her face a long moment. "You'll have to excuse me," he said finally. "For not trusting you. My father is not a forgiving man, and he would not appreciate my plans for making the mudder's life's more bearable."

She smiled faintly again, "And that's where he's erred. You needn't sleep with someone to become a man, Fess. You need to do as you feel is right."

Once again the young man considered her, as if trying to decide what he should actually say. "I'm not sure he would appreciate someone he's paying saying something like that. But... thank you. I think."

She inclined her head slightly, leaving the topic to rest for the time being and seeking a less shaky footing.

s-s-s-s

Cohen looked up from where he was still trying to coax Tantomile out of the secreted hold as Mac and Pounce entered. Pouncival looked around, "Honey, we're home!"

Jemima approached, having left Cohen and Tantomile a while ago. "Hell you guys been? Our contact's been screamin' at me all night. Says he wants his merch yesterday."

"Well," Mac started. "We still got a couple wrinkles to work out of that."

Pounce grinned at his wife, "Did you know Tugger's a bona fide folk hero? He's got a song and everything."

Jemi just blinked at him. "Husband mine, you've been drinkin'," she said, smelling it on his breath.

"That he has," Mac agreed, glancing at Cohen. "Don't make it any less true."

Pounce nodded, "He's got a statue an' everythin'. They're throwing a big day in his honor tomorrow."

"What?" she repeated, glancing at Mac as if asking him to verfy it.

"It's true enough. We got a few pillars of the Mudder Community to throw a Tugger day celebration in town square tomorrow. Should give us a distraction to get teh stolen goods from one end of town to the other."

The pilot grinned at that, "So, all should work jus' fine."

"Should," Mac said, going over to the Sheppard. "Now, what the hell are you up to?" he asked as Jemi dragged her husband away, still questioning him.

Cohen looked up, "Tantomile's decided to remain in there rather than come out."

"Really now?" Mac arched a brow.

"Too much hair!" the teenage girl declared again. "His brains are in danger and I don't have the right kind of shovel to get him out!"

The shepherd sighed, "I had my hair out of the tie, and it apparently was enough to set this off."

The captain blinked at him. "Right," he said. "Tant, hon, it might be time to come out. Don't want to worry your brother none."

There was a shuffling and she finally poked her head out. "Where is he?" she asked, eyes huge as she looked up at Macavity.

He had to blink again to try and figure out an answer. "He and Misto are watching Tugger, makin' sure he ain't doin' anything stupid like."

She considered and nodded. Cohen stayed quiet, but looked moderately impressed at that, assuming Tant came out and stayed out.

"He'll be worried, you sleep in there," Mac said, voice entirely casual.

She shot Cohen a worried look, eyes narrowing slightly as she considered his hair before nodding again, rising, and flouncing off.

The minister watched her go, shaking his head, "You have a way about you, Captain."

Mac stared after her a moment before turning back to Cohen. "Perhaps. Certainly come in handy a time or two."

"And may it continue to hold out, for your sake."

"Hell that mean?" Mac asked, giving him a long look.

"I mean, that I wish you well. You have a streak of astonishing luck and I do rather hope it holds out."

"Alright," Mac said, still giving him a long look. "Held out quite a while so far."

Cohen shrugged slightly, "Good. Well, if you don't mind I'm going to try and get some sleep."

"Yeah, a good plan all around," Mac said, hooking his thumbs in his suspenders and glancing up at where Griddlebone's shuttle usually was. Shaking his head he turned and strode toward his own chambers.


Hey dear readers. This is just to let you know that the next chapter is going to be the last of this story posted here. The fic will continue to update (under the same name) on AO3 (Archive of Our Own) and you can find us under victoriousscarf and Meadowlark4491. Your authors are packing up and moving.