"So, how'd it go?" Wash whispered into Zoë's ear when the trio returned from shopping a few hours later.
Zoë was about to respond when Mal strode into the cargo bay, instead mouthing 'later', to Wash's obvious disappointment.
"Seems like you got a good haul! How much we got left?"
Kaylee skipped over to Mal, kissing him on the cheek before placing the remainder of the money into his hand. "'Good haul' don't quite do it justice! We packed in good, Cap'n!"
Mal smiled at the girl, his face almost glowing with a kind of paternal pride. "Y'sure did, little Kaylee. Those are some fine bargaining skills you've got there, Wash. Good work."
"Thanks… Mal." Wash replied, hesitantly, looking at Zoë with a facial expression that almost screamed: IT'S A MIRACLE!
"Well everyone, time for us to be gettin' off this rock. Wash, what'd'ya say you take the bridge? You're gonna have to be on duty for a few hours to get us on track."
Wash's look of surprise faded completely. Of course Mal had just been warming him up to taking another nightshift, ship-time, after a long days work. He had to resist the temptation to roll his eyes at his wife.
"Sure thing Mal, I'm going up…" He grumbled, dragging his feet to the stairwell.

"Just a second there, pilot!"
Wash stopped dead and turned to face Mal, worried that whatever Zoë had said while he was gone may have struck a wrong chord.
But, to his astonishment, Mal just smiled and turned to Zoë. "You wouldn't mind keepin' him company, would you, Zoë?"
"I think I can manage, Sir." Zoë replied, grinning.
"Well then, off you go! I want this bird off the ground!"

"What was that?" Wash asked once they were back in the black, and out of atmo.
"Cap'n understands now, Wash." Zoë said simply, resting her hand on his shoulder as she stood behind him. "I told you I'd talk to 'im…" She added, whispering in his ear.
"Yeah but… I mean… did you threaten him? 'Cause that was a quick recovery!"
Zoë just laughed and spun his chair around straddling his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. "You got a course?"
Wash smiled at her, linking his hands behind her back. "Sure do. Should be smooth sailing from here on out." He said, letting out a deep yawn.
"Ah, then I'm thinkin' it's time for my husband to get some sleep!" Zoë exclaimed, climbing off of her pilot's lap and walking towards the bridge cupboard. Wash groaned unhappily.
"Whaa? But… Mal said you had to stay with me!" He pleaded, his blue eyes all sadness.
Zoë chuckled as she pulled a wool blanket out of the cupboard, and walked back over to him.
"Who said I was leavin'?" She asked, spreading out the cover.
Wash looked up at her hopefully, "You're not?"
Zoë stopped what she was doing to lean over and give her man a kiss, tracing her finger along the line of his jaw. "I absolutely am not…" She muttered, climbing onto his lap once more, but this time sideways, laying her head against his chest, and covering them both with the blanket.
Wash sighed happily, kissing the top of her head as he wrapped his arm around her back.

"I'm glad you're staying…" he murmured, already falling into sleep.
"An' why wouldn't I? Gorram pilot…" She joked, pinching his stomach lightly, making him laugh.
"I don't know…" he replied, yawning again, "I guess…I'll just never understand why you chose me, Zo…"
Zoë opened her eyes then, lifting her head so that she could look at Wash's face, whose eyes were closed. She leaned over, softly kissing him on the cheek before nestling back against his neck.

"Maybe I'll explain it to you someday…"

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Done and done! Sorry it took so long, but it is finally all up. I hope everyone enjoyed it, and like I said, further stories will be up in the future. Either as fill-in for episodes, fill-in for this story, or just a whole new interpretation all together.
Thanks for the reviews, and have a good one!