Title: Home Is A Shelter From Storms – All Sorts Of Storms

Author: Irishbrneyes

Disclaimer: I do not own these awesome characters. That would

be the god of all….the mighty Joss! Please do not

sue!

Rating: PG now, but it will probably be moved up to an R or

NC17. Maybe, if I have the guts to pull it off!

Length: I haven't a clue how to do that, but if someone could

tell me, that would be really awesome.

All mistakes are mine, and mine alone! So there!

AN: This is dedicated to GoddessofBirth & Raynesupreme! You both ROCK! And extreme gratitude also goes to Raynesupreme for being my beta while RL is an absolute f—kin' joy at the moment. So a huge THANK YOU and Huggles! The title is a quote I came across one day by William J. Bennett. It reminded me of the crews relationship with Serenity. ENJOY!

Three months had gone by without any kind of trouble for the smuggling ship Serenity, and her small band of misfits. The Operative had been true to his word, and the warrants were lifted from the records of Simon and River Tam. They could go back to their old lives if they wished, but both were so much happier right where they happened to be. Simon had Kaylee, and River was getting her sanity back. There was nothing else that either of them needed of that old, privileged, and hollow life. On the ship Simon could still be a doctor, regularly, and River turned out to be an excellent pilot, and extra gun hand, when needed. They both had a purpose; a reason for being.

Every now and again River's mind would wonder over to thinking about her mother and father. Shortly after the Miranda wave was broadcast, riots broke out on most of the Core planets. Osiris, unfortunately, was the hardest hit since it held the Alliance's seat of power…Parliament. Bombs of every kind were being detonated all over the planet. Sadly, Gabriel and Regan Tam did not survive the onslaught of violence that had consumed their world.

Lists of those who had died were broadcast on the Cortex one night as Mal was on watch. When he saw those two names he couldn't decide how he should feel. On one hand, these were the people who ignored what was happening to their daughter, and disinherited their son for helping her get out. On the other hand, he knew that his Albatross had been keen on seeing her parents again, and wanted some kind of closure with them. She wouldn't be getting the opportunity now, and it was breaking his heart. He slumped down into the pilot's chair with a heavy sigh, wondering what he was going to say to his crew.

Breakfast was one of two meals that were eaten together as a family. Mal and Zoë were always the first to rise still being on military time. When Zoë walked into the mess she saw Mal sitting in his chair with his head in his hands. Giving him space, she started brewing the coffee. When she was finished she brought two cups to the table with her. When her sitting down, and a cup of fresh coffee didn't 'rouse him, she decided she needed to find out what was wrong.

"Sir? Sir? Mal!"

"Sorry, Zo. I didn't hear you come in."

"You didn't even hear me fixin' the coffee. Is everything alright, sir?"

As Mal was staring into his cup, she could see on his face that something was definitely not right.

"Do you know if the others are up yet, Zo?"

"Too early yet. Especially for Jayne! You know that. What's going on, sir?"

"Just call everyone up here, please."

The others took their time getting to the mess, but sooner than expected for an early morning wake-up call, Mal was facing everyone around the table. Everyone that is, but River. When she finally came into the room he could see that she had been crying. Her eyes were red, and she was walking in a daze, which was not her normal MO any longer. She stopped in the doorway, and just stared at him with her big, soulful brown eyes. He knew that she already knew.

"I'm sorry, 'Tross." was all he could manage before he had his arms full of a trembling, crying young woman.

Simon was as perplexed as everyone else seemed to be. "Ah, excuse me…. what are you sorry for? Why is River crying? And, why in the verse is she hugging you?"

Mal took his seat, as best he could with River still permanently attached, looking at Simon.

"I wish there were an easier way to say what needs bein' said, Doc, but there ain't. While on my watch there was a flash news wave of the goin's on with the fightin' that's been happenin' in the Core since Miranda."

While he was talking he could see the look of slight understanding in Simon's eyes. Everyone else remained quiet as reality was thrust onto their family once more.

"I'm sorry, but your parents were on the list of them that died."

Kaylee had started tearing up the minute she saw River run to the Captain's protective embrace not knowing why. Now she was bawling, and holding on to Simon who looked to be in horrific shock, or suffering from coronary thrombosis. Zoë, still as stoic as ever, just bowed her head with a heartfelt sigh. She never had to say much. Her feelings always seemed to come across right just by looking at you. Inara, her companion poise starting to shatter had silent tears falling from her eyes. She was looking between a distressed Simon, who was being as comforted by Kaylee as the crying girl could, and a sobbing River, who was still nestled in Mal's arms like he was her anchor in these rough waters, with no plans of letting go. Jayne, the big lummox, was quiet for a change. No badmouthing. No pithy remarks left his lips. Instead, Mal observed, he was looking as heartbroken as the others for the two people he always had a hard time accepting as crew.

As Mal gazed around the mess, he couldn't help wondering why their luck was so bad, and when was it ever going to be right for him, and his crew.