They did contact Serenity using the crude cortex screen in the shop. The ship had reached the safety of a moon and were going to quickly refuel before coming back. It shouldn't take too long, so they had to wait it out. That made Mal a mite twitchy, but he was somewhat calm once he found a medical kit to mend his hand and a barrel of fresh apples.

While he relaxed and snacked in the shop, Rose and River went for a walk outside. Rose needed the fresh air and open spaces after being crammed in a tight vault. Especially with Malcolm Reynolds.

"Jayne thinks that you are either brave or stupid," River told her as they swung their snared hands with every step. "Zoe thinks that you're too nice."

"She really would leave Mal behind?"

"Captain would do the same if she were hit. But, they always come back for each other. War bonds. Solider minds. They're besties. Won't ever admit it."

Rose laughed and had to ask. "What about Simon and Kaylee?"

"Worried sick. One of the Tams now."

"No doubt about that."

There they were in the center of a pillaged town. Houses were in shambles, possessions were scatted like rubbish, and some bodies littered the streets. The corpses were almost all slavers from the townspeople fighting back, or they were gone due to the determination of a woman in love. It was a horrid sight to behold, but they were too tired and desensitized to pay much attention in the moment.

The desert surrounded them with sandy dirt reaching the blue horizon. Rose could see the smallest of ponds down the road, and it reminded her of being on a beach. Bad Wolf Bay flashed in her mind with the face of the Doctor. It stung, it always would, but this world felt right. Everything about it felt right.

"You know, I can't help thinking that today happened for the best," Rose commented and quickly backpedaled. "Not that people being taken and killed is for the best. I meant for us. Sort of patched things up with Mal back there."

"I know. Disliking each other less."

Hold on. If River knew that conversation, did she know what Rose had told the Captain? She wondered if River did know, and she wondered if River would say it first. It was always scary to see who would take that plunge. Even though Rose was certain that her feelings were requited, the anxiety was still there.

So, she told herself to say it. They walked through town a bit more. She told herself to say it. They reached the end of town and circled back. She told herself to say it. They had their arms around each other, and Rose's head was on River's shoulder. Just say it.

"River had to do it," River stated as they came to several of the men that she had ended. "Tried to stop me from getting to you. Couldn't let that happen. Never will. Still sad. Death is always is."

"Yeah. It is."

"At least I found you. Only had three minutes, fourteen seconds, and nine milliseconds left of air. Wouldn't have been late, though. Don't have to be a time traveler to have perfect timing."

"I love you."

River's eyes snapped to Rose's face. Rose gulped and waited to see what would happen. It had just slipped out, as it had in the vault. It was something too natural to keep silent any longer, yet River wasn't saying anything. Rose panicked.

"I…" she awkwardly cleared her throat. "Just thought you might like to know about, you know, the love and all that…"

River smiled and gracefully stepped closer to Rose. "Something I've wanted to know."

"Yeah?"

"Yes," River grinned and pulled her into a passionate kiss. When they parted, she whispered it into Rose's ear. "I love you too. Always have. But…"

Her heart skipped a beat. That was never a good word. "But?"

"You told Mal first."

"It just came out. A reflex. Just automatic. I had to tell someone. I was going mad."

"Me too. Heard it in your head. Your heart. Why'd you wait?"

"Why did youwait?"

"Waiting for you to say it first."

"I was waiting for youto say it first."

"But you couldn't wait."

"No. I couldn't. You know, now that I've said it, I'll say it a lot. So get used to hearing it."

"Already am."

They began to kiss as fervently and lovingly as possible, and then Mal stepped through the door of the general store. "Serenity is going to be here in…what in the special hell are you two doing out here?"

"What does it look like, Captain?" River paused to answer him before returning to Rose's lips.

"There are dead people all around you. Look at the ground. The streets. Dead. People."

"You know us," Rose took a moment. "Anywhere and everywhere all the time."

He backed away with his hands in the air. "Fine. You ladies go on and make with the lovin' among corpses. I'll have the doc wipe the images from my pretty head."

"Pretty?" River and Rose said in unison.

Scowling, he stalked off and wondered how he got twocreepifying girls on his crew. And, he guessed that Rose was crew, which did make her family. Kind of like that family member that a person only wants to see once every five years. But, still. It was progress.

Once Serenity landed, they brought fuel to the shuttle and it returned to the ship along with the missing crew members. Simon and Kaylee gave Rose a warm welcome, she got a nod from Zoe, and a wink from Jayne. The Captain only received waves.

"Why didn't I get some big welcome?" he pouted.

"Because, sir," Zoe smirked. "She's prettier than you."

There were laughs and then they gave the Captain his warm welcome as well. The ship left the planet and Rose happily sat with Simon, Kaylee, and River at the kitchen table. She was recounting her afternoon trapped with the Captain, which was definitely an interesting tale.

"But, we're okay now. I think. Maybe," Rose explained that she had mended fences with the man. "We agreed to never like each other."

"That's being okay?" Kaylee wondered.

"Yeah. That's as close to okay as we get. I'm glad. That's everybody getting along now. We can have a happy and functioning ship for the first time since I got here."

"We're always going to be dysfunctional. This is Serenity," Simon had to smirk.

"Other happy news," River grinned as she took Rose's hand.

Rose was smiling just as much. "We finally admitted that love each other."

Kaylee applauded and Simon was thrilled. "I'm so happy for you, mei mei. I'm so happy for both of you. I do have one favor to ask."

"What is it?" Rose wondered after a peck on Rose's temple.

"Don't be so affectionate around the ship, especially when you're in the kitchen. I have to eat here."

Kaylee lightly shoved him. "I think it's so cute. They're just so cute. I can't wait for their wedding."

"Wedding?" Rose slowly repeated.

"And all the little kids," Kaylee continued.

"Kids?" Rose repeated again.

"Don't scare her off," Simon whispered in Kaylee's direction.

Rose had left her apprehensions behind long ago. "I think we'd start with a pet first."

"Mal would never allow that," Simon chuckled.

"Since when have we listened to him?" Rose pointed out.

"A cat," River decided. "We'll get a cat. Name it Britain."

"No. I don't think so, Rivy."

"Ain't that where you're from?" Kaylee questioned.

"It is where I'm from. It's not home, though. Not anymore. This is home."

River gave a glowing grin. "Yes."

"Perfect isn't it?"

"Love it."

"I think that it's got a nice ring to it."

Simon rubbed his forehead. He'd have to get used to hearing another person use River-speak now. It felt like they were on their own wavelength. They were, he figured. That made it hard to know what they were on about.

"What are you discussing over there?"

"Cat names, Simon," River briskly explained.

"Got the perfect one," Rose added.

Kaylee excitedly squealed. "What you got?"

"Firefly," Rose and River said in unison.

"Because that's where we are," River told them. "But, home is wherever we're together."

Rose felt her stomach swarm with butterflies. She had reintroduced that word, along with everything she had rejected so long ago. They began to kiss and become lost in their respective emotions, making Simon and Kaylee feel a bit awkward. So, they left the women alone.

After all that had happened, the couple's hearts were beating in time, as hearts continue to do what they do. And, if they had learned anything, they had learned that the improbable always has a chance, as few things could be impossible. However, Rose Tyler and River Tam falling out of love—that was impossible.

End.