Here's chapters 3, 4, 5 and 6 for you all. Its a bumper crop so please read and review! This should answer some questions and pose a few more!

Chapter 3: New Families and Old

Mal is finishing a bowl of rice when Wash enters the dining room. The crew seem to have taken to eating separately for now. Wash had baby Mal balanced against one hip, and gives Mal a grin. He sits baby Mal onto Mal's lap without asking permission, only saying "No high chair."

Mal was slightly taken aback. Gun toting maniacs, reavers, he could deal with them, but babies? Baby Mal gurgles and waves his pudgy arms in the air. He grabs the edge of Mal's shirt and tugs it. Mal can't resist a smile. He is quite cute really. In baby Mal he sees Zoë's coffee coloured skin, Wash's eyes and thankfully not a trace of Wash's red hair. But he covers it when Wash comes back over.

Wash plonks himself down next to them with a bowl of baby food and a spoon.

"Open up for daddy…come on yummy food…num num."

Baby Mal is not impressed and keeps his mouth firmly shut. Mal recognises that look all too well. Its Zoë's face when she really disagrees with his orders.

Wash is now pretending to eat the food himself. "Num num yummy food." He extends the spoon again. Baby Mal grabs at it sending food flying into Wash's hair. Wash ignores it, and Mal's snort of amusement.

"Open wide for the spaceship," Wash tries. He makes engine noises. Baby Mal refuses to play. "For Zoë he'll sit still and open his mouth. For me…oh no." Wash lays the spoon down. "For me he turns into Jayne."

He picks up the spoon again and shoves it into Mal's hand. "You try."

"What? No way…I ain't…" he trails off knowing when to give up.

He scoops up some of the baby 'mush' and holds it tentatively to baby Mal's mouth. He obediently eats it. And another spoonful, and another.

Wash smiles. "He likes his godfather."

Mal's mouth makes a few soundless vowel shapes.

"We always planned on asking you, but you know the death got in the way. With Jayne and Simon pushing up daisies too we settled on two godmothers. You should have heard Kaylee squeal."

"I can imagine. But please tell me Jayne wasn't really in the running…"

"Over my dead body," Zoë steps into the room. She holds out her arms for her son. "You may want to give…"

She doesn't finish the sentence as baby Mal burps up most of his dinner down the front of Mal's shirt. Mal looks disgustedly at it. He gestures to Wash.

"Another reason I told you no Zoë."

Zoë smiled weakly at Wash, her hair sticking to her forehead with sweat.

"It's a boy! We have a boy!" Wash cries loudly, holding up the bundle in his arms. Zoë smiles at him. He couldn't be more proud of his boy. The nurses have faded away. Would they have done this if things had been different?

"Wash…" Zoë said quietly. "I've already got an idea for a name."

"I know," he cradles their son tenderly as he comes to sit next to his wife on the birthing bed. He looks down at him, "He'll be called Mal. And he's gonna be as funny as his dad and as beautiful as his mother." Wash grinned at Zoë, then looked back down at baby Mal. "You're gonna be a great pilot, just like your old man, and Mal you're gonna be as brave as your mummy," he pauses, just slightly. "And you'll be as idealistic and pigheaded and downright courageous as the man you were named for."

Mal grabs Zoë by the arm in the cargo bay as she and Wash are preparing to leave.

"Zoë?"

"Yes sir?"

"Don't go."

She smiles at him. "Got to. Just another mission. I'll be back with the stories."

Mal sighs and turns his head away.

"Promise?"

"Yes Mal. I swear."

He turns back and kisses her on the forehead. "I need you Zoë. Always did."

Zoë just looks at him. She's known Mal through everything. Never seen him like this. Through the war years when he had faith. Serenity Valley and after when they had nothing. Then as her captain when he had everything and didn't realise it. She'd seen him through the worst and the best, his rages and rare tears, the nightmares and the plans, but the laughter and friendship more than made up for anything he could throw at her. She'd watch his back and he'd watch hers, not matter what. Even after six years he was Mal. And that was enough for her.

"I don't want to be alone again."

"You never will be Mal."

Mal sat on a bench in Eavesdown Docks on Persephone. Serenity was docked miles away. No point bringing a ghost ship into town. He's got three weeks worth of beard and he was dressed like always, except he'd shunned his brown coat for a grey one. He shifts uncomfortably. Feels like he's rejecting something. Gorram coat has his gorram soul. His hair is combed neatly. He's watching the door to Badger's den intently. He's traced her this far, he wonders if she's really real. Or is she a mirage he's chased for far too long?

The door opens and she walks out. Mal's stomach knots. It's her. He'd know at a glance. Just like she would know him. He drops his stare, but catches a few words of the conversation.

"You're a piece of go se Badger," Zoë says.

Badger tips his bowler hat to her. "You know I never say no to a lady."

Zoë makes an exasperated noise in her throat and walks away.

Mal follows her, keeping his distance. Something is different. Zoë's different but he can't quite put his finger on why. Her hair is longer but not by much. She seems glowing. Maybe its sweat, she looks a little out of shape. Her leather vest is straining slightly in the middle.

Wash is standing by a stall, wearing a lurid orange Hawaiian shirt and idly scratching a dog through the bars of a cage.

"The Dinosaur is ready to fly my beautiful wife. We got a job?"

The Dinosaur? Mal wrinkles his nose. Zoë is flying on a ship called the Dinosaur? All the more reason to stroll up to them as if nothing has ever happened, bark out an order, get them on a ship with a proper name and wait for a reaction.

Translation Notes

go se - shit