Epilogue
"Things never go the way you plan, do they, Princess?"
"No, they don't. I suppose this will have to do, though. No one died; I can so call that a win."
"Shame you couldn't get Wes in on it. He'd have enjoyed it."
"Someone else had other plans for him. You know how it is. The more seniority you have, the more oomph you've got with the higher-ups."
"What'll happen next?"
"They'll pick up a sheep in town so Spike and Angel will have something to eat on the way to Persephone; and then when they get to the Eavesdown Docks, Spike, Fred, and Angel will ride off into a figurative sunset while the Serenity crew finds another job. I'm pretty sure Badger has something lined up for them."
"Pullin' strings again?"
"Just a nudge! Don't look at me like that."
"Jayne and Illyria...didn't see that one comin'."
"I guess it works if you squint. Hey, you hungry?"
"Feelin' a mite peckish. Could use a beer."
"There's this great new place. You'll have to dress better than that, though."
"Always goin' on about my taste in clothes..."
"How do you get to be a Higher Power and still wear those things? That has got to be the ugliest jacket..."
Still bickering about his clothes, Cordelia and Doyle walked up the street of the celestial city, arm in arm.
finis
A/N: Many thanks to my faithful readers and reviewers for coming along with me on this ride. You guys rock! I hope the ending to this didn't disappoint you too much.