Serenity was mourning.

Her laughter had departed with her pilot. Her soul was aimless with the loss of the Shepherd. She watched as her remaining crew struggled with the aftermath of Miranda.

River wasn't the only one to sense it. Kaylee had mentioned at breakfast that she had noticed that the engine was running half-heartedly. However, the mechanic blamed it on the ever faulty compression coil.

But they would get through this. Though they all were so different, they had become a family. Serenity had become home.

River smiled as she thought about the blanket she was crocheting. Their little family was about to get bigger. Simon and Kaylee just didn't know it yet.

Soon their mourning would turn into joy.