Author's Note:

Yeah I know this has taken me forever. I really didn't want the epilogue to be like this, but this was all I could come up with. It's also a lot shorter then I would have liked but I didn't know how to make it longer. Anyway I hope you like it and thank you so much for reading this story.

Epilogue:

"Wow Zoe," Kaylee sighed, "that story is real romantic." The whole crew was sitting around the meal table, enjoying a cake in celebration of Zoe and Wash's anniversary. The couple was holding hands and beaming happily.

"More like that story was a real snore," Jayne snorted, "we hear this same story every year and every year I can't figure out why you make me out to be a rude asshole."

"Amazing," Simon commented, "that is the exact description I was thinking of."

"You want to go doc?" Jayne demanded half rising in his chair.

"Sit down," Mal ordered in Chinese before switching back to English, "no one is going to fight tonight, and that includes you Jayne. Just eat your cake and keep your mouth shut."

"But-"

"Mouth shut Jayne."

"I'm just saying that Zoe makes you out to be a fool in her story," Jayne pointed out.

"I may have seemed a tad out of touch with the goings on in my ship in Zoe's tale," Mal said, "but the truth is that I was only acting the fool. I knew what was going on the whole time." This claim was met by jeers and disbelieving laughter from all around the table.

"The pupil of the human eyeball expands and contracts with changing light and when the person tells a lie," River told them.

"Fascinating," Wash said looking across the table at the captain, "is anyone close enough to see Mal's gorgeous eyeballs up close? I can't tell if the pupils are doing whatever River said eyes do when people tell outright lies."

"You can all believe what you want," Mal protested, "but I'm telling you that I knew what I was doing. I always know what I'm doing."

"I do not need to look at his eyes to know that that statement is a lie," Inara laughed.

"I am deeply hurt," Mal pouted.

"So," Kaylee turned to Zoe and Wash, "are you two going to do anything special since this is your fifth anniversary?"

"Well," Zoe looked over at her husband, "we were thinking that the Shepherd would help us renew our vows."

"Ohh," Kaylee squealed, "that is so sweet." Jayne looked as if he had something very different to say about the idea but a glare from Mal caused him to keep his mouth shut.

"I think that is an excellent idea," Book smiled at the couple, "would you two like to have the ceremony in here or somewhere else?"

"Perhaps in the cargo bay," Wash suggested. The whole crew stood up and began to make their way towards the cargo bay. Book led the way, thumbing though his Bible for the proper section. Kaylee was gushing to Simon who listened to her every word attentively. River was humming the wedding march under her breath while Zoe and Wash smiled at each other. Mal was walking next to Inara, and he could not help but to notice that she was once again wearing a beautiful shawl. Jayne brought up the rear.

"Hey," Jayne grinned, "maybe Mal won't pass out this time."

The End