Author's Note: This challenge has given me the chance to write for `Fly characters I never thought I would write about. Here's a drabble written mostly in Wash's POV. Sort of similar to Harriet Vane's entry for the same challenge, but I thought this up before I read hers. VERY SLIGHT SPOILER FOR ONE LINE OF DIALOGUE FROM ZOE IN "HEART OF GOLD" THAT GIVES NOTHING AWAY ABOUT THE PLOT. Subject: home. Length: 440 words.

A Proper Home

By Trisana McGraw

It had been bothering him since they had stepped back on to the ship after their honeymoon. He knew a man's duties as husband: take care of the wife, support her with all she should need, like a home and a life. But Zoë seemed able to support herself fine, and he was feeling rather useless.

He was at the helm, while Zoë sat on the console beside him. He absently flicked a few switches, his mind trying to work around how to say what was troubling him.

Finally he decided to just blurt it out. "Do you ever think about settling down?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know, living in a real house that's firmly rooted to the ground, in a neighborhood with other people living the same way. White picket fence in the yard, kids and a dog, that whole deal."

Zoë's forehead creased in confusion, and Wash realized that it had never truly crossed her mind. Upon seeing the unease in his face, she hopped off the console and placed a hand on his arm. "What's this all about?"

He shrugged, keeping his eyes trained on the blinking lights. He could feel her stare boring into him, and he eventually surrendered and looked up at her. "I just thought, being your husband, I had a certain duty to give you a proper home, and all."

She laughed and stroked his cheek. "Husband, I have a home: this ship. I've never wanted to be tied down on a planet. I grew up on a ship, and I wanna keep on living like that. Besides, you told me that you got into flight school just to see the stars. It sounds like you wanna fly as much as I do."

He had to admit, she was right about that. He managed a small smile, which she returned. "You're right, Zo. It's just that, some couples want to stay rooted to one place, you know?"

She laughed again, her voice like the heavenly tinkling of bells. "Honey, neither of us is exactly standard, and I thank God for that every day."

"But I still feel like I owe something to you, you know . . . ?"

"You give me all that I need, Wash. You keep me going every day." She bent down to kiss him.

"I love you," he said when they pulled away.

She came behind him and massaged his shoulders while he fiddled with the controls, keeping them soaring through the black. His plastic dinosaurs were perched on the console next to her rifle, and he realized that this was his home. "I love you too."