Harry stepped off the ship, carrying his broom. Most of the crew was following him off. Each carrying a broom of their own, ready for their first day of work.

They weren't professional racing brooms, like Harry's, but rather top of the line "Travel Brooms". They had small, horse-like, saddles. Each with a number of charms on them, as well as bigger on the inside pockets... even a cup holder, and a retractable tray.

These brooms were designed for comfort and convenience, not speed or maneuverability. Apparently, they were common among grown, non-Quidditch obsessed, flyers.

"Straight to the community center," Mal reminded the boy. "River'll tell me if ya skip."

Harry did his best not to groan. This man really didn't understand him. The young prophesized savior of the wizarding world, was looking FORWARD to hanging out with the other kids of the village. No Dudley to bully him, no titles to make others gawk at him, and no school to get in the way...

Harry had been longing for this moment, his whole life. But the captain didn't know that... because he remained a virtual stranger. Mal was trying his best to be a good guardian... but the man was very reserved, and when he did talk... it was usually a meaningless joke, or stern order.

Because of that, Harry hadn't learned anything about the man, in the 2 and a half months they knew each other. The kid almost wished he went with Inara. Then he remembered Dudley was there. Harry figured a standoffish guardian, was better then dealing with a bully of a cousin. Besides, Harry was getting to know the rest of the crew, and they seemed pretty cool.

River walked over to the boy, smiling in her childish way. As if she was much younger then 17.

"Come on Harry," She mounted her broom. "Race you." and immediately took off into the air.

Harry tensed, before jumping on his broom, and following after her. All the while screaming, "Cheater!!!"

Simon came up beside the Captain. Looking up at his sister... after so long of looking after her, he had to accept she didn't need him breathing down her neck anymore.

The medicines the Goblins made, based on Alliance formulas... well, mixing magic into the meds had made them more effective. She still wasn't quite right, and would never be, but she was truly functional now.

According to the Goblins, she had become no odder then your average "seer". She would do well in this world. She could even be trusted to look after a child, while the rest of the crew worked.

"She'll be fine, Doc," came Mal's words of encouragement.

Simon sighed, "I know... still it's hard accepting... she doesn't need me anymore."

"She'll always need ya," Mal sounded oddly comforting. "You're her big brother."

"We're all family," Kaylee smiled, walking over. The rest of the crew slowly gathered. About to leave for their new jobs around the City State. "even the Goblins agree."

"Family..." Mal looked up at the sky. He'd been debating something for weeks, and that one word got him to finally swallow his pride.

• A Few Hours Later:

"That man did WHAT!?" Inara lost her calm demeanor, as Griphook delivered the magically binding paper work. It was bad enough it had to be signed in blood, but it was just like Mal to force things to go his way.

"You misunderstand," Griphook was told she might find this difficult. "The role of 'Mother', in a coven, holds no obligations to the 'Father'. You would be more a spiritual leader. While Lord Reynolds is the more direct leader. You would have the ability to contradict him, and he would have to respect that."

Inara slowly processed that... it was obvious Mal wanted more then that. But if what Griphook said was true... It sounded like Mal was sacrificing a hell of a lot with this gesture... a magically binding contract to listen to her.

Inara sighed, and realized, she could leave the ship, even leave Mal's side, but they were still bound together. Their union with the Goblins assured that.

Inara regained her regal demeanor, worthy of the best companions. "So they wish for me to be House Mother, to our Coven." Putting it in Companion terms.

She would have to fit somewhere... and Mal offered her a seat of power, next to himself.

"The entire coven, wishes that," Griphook assured.

Inara just barely resisted giving another sigh. Before picking up the papers, and reading through them. They were expansive, leaving no room for misinterpretation of her duties... nor Mal's... but then...

"Mal... is giving me Dudley?" The Papers included joint custody over Dudley..

In the months Inara had been working with Dudley, the boy was certainly shaping up into a fine young man. Still a tad too greedy, and quicker to tantrums then a boy his age should be, but he was taking to his re-education well...

Especially since, the healers had been able to remove various mental curses, cast on the boy... Dudley's behavior... was not his own... which had some terrifying implications for his family... Inara really should tell Mal what the geisha had uncovered... but she knew it would eat at him.

"Lord Reynolds," Griphook explained. "Had me write up separate custody papers, if you don't want to be Coven Mother. And wanted me to assure you, the two aren't dependent on each other."

Inara eyed the goblin a moment. Then picked up the blood quill. He had already warned her, this would hurt, but he brought ointment so the marks wouldn't scar.

Determined now, Inara signed the papers. Feeling her own signature carve into her hand, yet she refused to so much as hiss at the pain.

Thankfully, the boys they claimed, weren't obligated to fill out this paperwork. At least, not until they were 17, and gained the role of "Brother" or "uncle".

Griphook nodded at her, impressed a human could handle the blood quill with such dignity. It was an ancient Goblin artifact, strictly for signing their magical contracts.

Passing her the ointment, Griphook collected the papers.