Zoe could do nothing but smile broadly all day. The only thing that dampened her lofty spirits was the knowledge that she'd have to confront Mal with the news.

However, it was Mal who confronted her as he was passing through the kitchen. She was sitting with her boots on the chair next to her, humming softly.

"What's up with you?" He questioned. "Yer giddy as a schoolgirl."

She grinned and nodded. "Well, it's a good day, sir."

"Oh yeah?"

Her smile wavered a bit, then she put on her blank, business face. "Wash asked me to marry him." She couldn’t stop the smile from returning in full force.

Mal tried to keep his face free of the bewilderment and anger he felt rising within him. "What?"

"Deaf, sir? I said I'm getting married."

"Married! I'd say not."

"Well, Mal, you're not my father. I don’t have to have your permission." She was beginning to get as angry as Mal looked.

"I'm your superior officer." Mal said, as if he had proved something.

"Not so much. War's done, sir." She took the same tone.

"Fine! I'm your captain and your employer, and as such I forbid it."

"You gonna fire me if I get married?" She was indignant.

"No." Mal paused. "But I might him."

"He's the best pilot you'll ever find, and you know it."

Mal was forced to agree.

"What do you have against the marriage anyhow?"

Mal shrugged. "Don’t much hold with shipboard romances is all."

Zoe raised an eyebrow. "Remember how Kaylee came aboard? I remember the story as you told it."

Mal sighed. "That's different."

"Whatever." Zoe stood. "This is a romance that's gonna continue."

"I thought you said you didn’t like him."

"Seems I was wrong."

Mal shrugged, realizing that he was defeated. "Against my direct order."

Zoe turned to walk out.

"Wait, one thing, Zoe. If you're gonna go through with this..."

*** The wedding was not a ceremony. Zoe and Wash walked to a federal building to have the papers signed and to get new ident cards labeling them as married. Zoe was in a dress, the first dress Mal had ever seen her in, and Wash wore one of his brightest shirts. Mal noted with a grin, that Zoe was good on her word. Wash's moustache was significantly missing.