A Slightly More Detailed Description: A brief story of the life of Annette Washburne.
Author's Note: Like I said in the (first) description, this is set after my other stories, and if you're going to skip them, please note that a) everyone's alive, and b) I have an OC aboard Serenity. Also, there is or will be an accidental Arrested Development reference in this story; try and find it!
The crew could tell something was up. Wash was grinning like a madman and looked far too pleased to be entirely healthy, but there was nothing all too odd about that. Zoe was looking a strange mixture of happy, nervous, and embarrassed, and that was odd, not to mention a little scary. Mal had a feeling this had happened before. It took him a second to remember it. The time they'd announced their engagement. This couldn't be good.
As they finished their dinner, Wash found it harder and harder to suppress his nervous giggles. Zoe gave him a wide, radiant smile (making everyone at the table shiver) and whispered, "Do you want to tell them?" she almost giggled. This was serious.
"No, you should," he replied in a similar state.
"But you're so much better than me at these kinds of things,"
"Okay, fine," Wash said, then turned to address everyone, "Zoe's pregnant!"
Silverware clattered to the table, mouths hung open, and everyone stared. Mal was the first one to say anything. "She's what?"
"Pregnant. Isn't it wonderful?" He knew very well that Mal was furious, but he wasn't about let anything ruin his good mood.
"We don't want to know whether it's a boy or a girl, so River, honey, keep your mouth shut," Zoe said with a smile. The captain turned to her.
"Have you thought this through?"
"I think we have, sir," she replied, reverting to her customary cool tone.
"Congratulations!" Kaylee said, a bit late.
"Yes, that's um," Simon said, "That's very… are you sure that's a good idea?"
"Simon!"
"He's got a point," Jayne said.
"Well I think it's wonderful!" Kaylee said defiantly.
"Thank you, Kaylee." Wash grinned, "At least someone's on our side."
"We're not picking sides, we're pointing out the facts!" Mal said, and then, "Remember what I said about shipboard romances splitting loyalties? This is what I was talking about."
"You were also opposed to us getting married, and see how well that turned out?"
"That was completely different! You were both already on the ship, the only change was the wedding ring! And neither of you were tiny and helpless- well, Wash was kind of helpless-"
"Hey!"
"Point is, this is different."
"Well, there's really nothing we can do about it now, now is there?" Zoe said coolly.
Mal sighed. "I guess not."
"Now, about names," Wash said, taking in his normal position behind the helm and gesturing for Zoe to sit in the co-pilot's seat, "If it's a boy, under no circumstances are we to name it Hoban."
"I wasn't planning on it."
"I'd be fine with naming it Zoe, though," he smiled, "If it's a girl, I mean."
"I don't know. It seems a bit strange to me."
"Now that you mention it, it would be a little creepy."
"So, what will we name it?"
"What about… I don't know. How 'bout… Geez, this is harder than I thought."
"What about… Lily, if it's a girl."
"No. I dated a Lily in college, and it did not end well."
"Well then maybe… Alice."
"That's my grandmother's name, it seems a bit old-lady-ish."
"Is there any name you do like?"
"How about… Veronica?"
"Uh-uh."
"I like that name!"
"And I don't."
Wash sighed. "If it's this hard to pick a name, actually raising the kid's gonna be impossible."
"Maybe this wasn't such a great idea."
"Hey," Wash said soothingly, "It'll be fine. We'll find a name, and it'll be perfect, and we'll have the best gorram kid in the 'verse." Zoe walked over and hugged him, and he layed his head on her shoulder and grabbed her hand. "You're going to be a wonderful mother," he said.
