Jayne eyed the desserts in the glass cabinet as he walked by, and chose a booth in the corner by the window. He couldn't decide between the peach cobbler or the big slice of apple pie. He'd spent his credits on some ammo and a new pair of boots instead of getting some trim. But, for once, that wasn't so bad and oddly, he found himself feeling satisfied. He chalked it up to the afternoon he'd spent, being' in the holiday spirit and what-not. He decided on the peach cobbler and a cup of coffee and just as he finished giving his order to the waitress, two gals walked in and sat down in the booth behind him. Neither was that big of a deal to look at, but one gave him the eye when she walked by him.
Jayne, who would normally have approached the gal bein' that he was always on the lookout for trim, just politely nodded at the girl as she sat down. They started carryin' on, laughin' and gigglin' about girlie stuff and he zoned-out and watched the people on the busy street rush about as they did their last minute holiday shopping.
Serenity had sat down on Stonebrook that morning to fuel-up and flush and clean their water tanks and stock up on supplies and food. The crew had hurriedly disembarked and set out to take care of their business before it began to snow. Since there were only two days left until Christmas, most were out to buy gifts and window shop and enjoy the holiday cheer. Earlier in the week, while deep in the black, Kaylee, Inara and River had gotten the Christmas decorations down and set up the old artificial tree. They hung tinsel and strings of popcorn and all of the ornaments each crew member had contributed over the past few years, and were delighted when Zoe came out of her bunk to join them and helped them hang ornaments. She had healed as best she could and now was busying herself with cooking and baking with the other women. Her participation bolstered the crew and got them into the spirit in a mighty way. Even Jayne found himself looking forward to Christmas. They'd grown into a tight knit little family they had. He sat and ate and fondly thought of his own family, as they were probably doing exactly the same thing right about now.
Inara had taken Zoe out for lunch and shopping, while Mal stayed behind to supervise the crew that would be cleaning, sanitizing and filling their water tanks and refueling the ship. Jayne, the Doc, his little sister and Kaylee had gone off to acquire medical supplies, food and personal items. They'd started out in the market and made sure Jayne was with them to haggle and get the "scary-man discount" as Kaylee called it.
It was bitter cold as they walked through the covered stalls. Kaylee had attached herself to the Docs side and was chattering away. Everywhere they went it seemed folks were paired off and strolling together. Jayne had never really been the lonely type, but the holidays did make him a bit more aware of what he was missing. A large man pushing a cart full of pies shoved his way past River, causing her to stumble into Jayne. He glared fiercely at the hun dan and quickly pulled her to his side to prevent her from slipping and falling on the icy pavement. Instead of chastising her or making a rude comment, he kept his arm around her.
"Take it easy there, don't want you to take a tumble."
River looked up at him in bewilderment and he was momentarily stunned at how beautiful she looked. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the cold, her hair was blowing in the frigid breeze and her lips were plump and red as she gazed up at him with her chocolate eyes that reminded him of hot cocoa. It was then he realized she was waiting for him to growl at her as he would normally do. But Jayne wasn't feeling normal today. In fact, he was admittedly happy and enjoying the excursion. He decided that he would keep his arm tightly wrapped around River's shoulders to make sure no hun dan pushed her again. So, they walked on and he pulled her tighter into his warm embrace. As they stopped to peruse items of interest, he let his hand rest lightly on the back of her neck at her hairline and was delighted when she visibly shivered.
"It's cold out ain't it!"
"Yes, but the shiver was not due to the cold," she coyly replied.
"Oh yeah?" he smirked, with mischief in his eyes.
"Yes, in fact, she is very warm and cozy."
"Hm, is that a fact," he drawled, pulling her even tighter to him.
As they moved along through the busy market, he'd guide her along with his hand at the back of her neck as if he were steering her, and then finally wrap it around her again and grin down at her. He pulled out his cigar and clamped down on it as he strolled with the girl at his side and the others plodding along in front of them. He knew Simon had seen him with his hand on her back, but the younger man didn't seem the least bit concerned. They spent the rest of the afternoon like that. He'd carry her bags as Simon did with Kaylee, he'd wait and chat with the Doc as she eyed a bauble or gift item and he kept her close and warm as it began to snow.
--
River's senses were electrified. She had not meant to almost fall into Jayne and was surprised that he protectively tugged her into his side. She figured Jayne was concerned that she would fall and waste their time with a twisted ankle, but found herself puzzled as he continued to behave in a very uncharacteristic and chivalrous manner. She began to get used to the feeling of being tucked into his side. She found herself enjoying the musky, tangy scent of him and the feel of his warm hand resting on her shoulders and neck. She noticed all of the happy couples strolling together and figured he had as well, and wanted to join in the holiday revelry. As the afternoon wound down, she, her brother and Kaylee separated from Jayne as he went off to buy ammo. The three of them still had Christmas shopping to do, so it was time for the unusual romantic bubble to burst and life to return to normal. She waived as Jayne headed off in the snow, away from her, and oddly, she found herself immediately missing him.
--
Jayne's mind came back to the present as the waitress placed his cobbler and pie on the table along with his check. He relaxed and took a sip of the steaming coffee and enjoyed the cobbler. It weren't as good as his Ma's, but it would do. The dark clouds loomed over the little town as the snow quietly blanketed everything. As he took another bite of his cobbler, he glanced up to see Kaylee, Doc and River laughing as they exited a store across the way.
He focused his attention on River, who still looked lovely. She had grown into a beautiful young woman, not that he hadn't previously noticed, but today he saw her in a different light. They'd shared the afternoon together in a very intimate way and it stunned him that it had felt so natural. The snow was coming down pretty hard now and he inwardly smiled as they held their hands over their heads and walked out onto the street. River was catching snowflakes on the tip of her tongue when he saw Simon hand her and Kaylee some credits and the two girls dashed off into a shoe store, leaving Simon waiting in the cold.
Jayne banged his fist on the window to get Simon's attention. Simon looked up and smiled and walked into the shoe store momentarily. Jayne saw him motion to his watch and point towards Serenity then he left the two girls in the building and ran across the street and into the diner to join Jayne.
Jayne thought back to a time when he'd of no sooner sat down and shared a meal with the Doc than he would'a with the Queen of New London herself. Now, they were friends and Jayne was glad to have the company. Jayne watched as Simon entered the diner. The Doc had changed a bit, as they all had. He now wore more casual and functional clothing. Jayne noted Simon's t-shirt, work jeans and jacket as well as his plain leather work boots and the fact that he now carried Eileen in a leather holster at his hip. Jayne had given it to him a few months back after Simon had gotten into a street fight with several young punks that were tryin' to make time with River. Between River's cunnin' fightin' skills and the fact that Simon was learnin' to throw a damn good punch, they'd gone off laughin' and came back telling everyone about the first fight they'd gotten into, and won, as siblings! Jayne decided then and there that Simon was ready for a gun. He'd even shown him how to properly clean and care for it. They'd spent many a night yammerin' an drinkin' and cleaning their weapons on the table in the galley. Simon would spread out his medical tools and sanitize and clean them then carefully put them away and begin dressin' down Eileen like she too were a fancy surgical tool.
"Howdy Doc, have a seat and warm up a bit."
Simon brushed snow off of his head and removed his jacket and tossed it and the many bags he was holding onto the vinyl seat across from Jayne and slid in for a spell.
Jayne motioned for the waitress to come back over to his table and ordered another coffee and another cobbler for Simon.
"I'm glad you got my attention. I honestly wasn't looking forward to shoe shopping, but, standing outside in the snow wasn't much better." Simon fished into his pocket and handed Jayne some credits.
Jayne waived him off as Simon tried to hand him the credits. "Nah, keep yer money Doc, I got this. So'd we manage to get everything on the list?"
Simon pulled out a tattered piece of paper from the pocket of his very "un-simon" like flannel work shirt. "Yes, we did well and got everything."
"How'd the gals do?"
"Oh, they found what they needed as well. After you left us, I thought we'd never get out of the last store. River literally wanted everything she laid her eyes on," he laughed.
"Yeah, I know how that can be, having sisters of my own and all." Jayne thought he saw a shadow of sadness briefly cross Simon's expression.
"Must be hard an all, bein' that you an River came from money and knowing ya can't afford what your used to havin'."
"It's not that bad. I admit when we first came onto Serenity, it took some getting used to, but for myself and for River, we're much happier and we're much safer on Serenity. That is of more value to us than anything else. By the way, thank you for keeping her safe today at the market. She gets so uncomfortable in crowds and today she actually seemed to enjoy it all."
"Weren't nothin'."
Simon nodded as both men drank their coffee and ate in silence. The girls at the table behind them laughed a bit louder than normal and Simon and Jayne couldn't help but overhear their conversation.
"Oh my god, how funny, Peggy, look at those two girls across the street! They look like they just fell off the rim-trash express."
The other girl gave a shrill laugh. "You wouldn't catch me wearing a dress like that to wash my dog in. And the dark haired girl is actually wearing a dress with those awful boots!"
"I can hardly wait until the alliance takes full control of Stonebrook, then we won't have to deal with rim-trash like that on our planet."
"Well, Daddy has made all the right connections with all the right people and things are going to change. It's so exciting."
Both men looked out the window to see what the fuss was about, and frowned when they saw River and Kaylee walk out into the snow.
Jayne let out a low growl and the look on his face made Simon recall earlier days when that look had instilled mistrust and fear in him.
Jayne raised his eyes to Simon and the men shared an instant understanding. Jayne commented to Simon, in a voice just loud enough for the two shrews sitting behind them to hear, "Look at them cute little snow-bunnies out there. You don't see beauties like that often."
"I see what you mean, they're gorgeous."
"And look at the long legs on the dark haired gal. She looks like one a them fancy ballet dancers."
"The other one has the most beautiful strawberry blond hair. Oh, my friend, what I wouldn't give for more women like that in the 'verse. All of the women here are so plain it's just dreadful."
"Yep, b-o-r-i-n-g."
They noted the hush of voices behind them. Simon grinned at Jayne who took a large gulp of coffee and threw in one last bit to get a reaction.
"Yeah that little one is a mighty tasty lookin' thing," grinning at the surprised look he received from Simon. Jayne just gave a low rumble of a laugh as he watched Kaylee and River head back to the ship.
A bit more quietly, he asked, "Ya think we should catch up to em and take 'em back to the ship in the mule?"
"No, it's a short walk and it's good for them to go on their own. This planet seems safe, so I'm not worried, besides, I can call Mal on the com in a few minutes to make sure they got back okay."
"You're doing good letting the girl have some freedom, Doc."
"Thanks. It is hard to relinquish control, but she is twenty now, and she's proved over and over that she can handle herself better than any of us in a fight, so that in itself helps."
Jayne grunted his agreement and the men finished their dessert while they listened to the two girls behind them carry on.
Apparently one of them was plannin' a big holiday party and from what Jayne could glean from the conversation, her parents were outta town. Simon began to talk and Jayne eyed him and gave him a hand sign to be quiet. Catching on to what Jayne was up to, Simon quietly listened to the women. The party would be held the followin' evening on Christmas Eve, and with all of the planning and shopping the girls were up to, Jayne was able to take away from their chat that the party house would be empty tonight as one of the gals was stayin' over-night at the other gal's house. A sly smile formed on his face as he began to put together a rather cunnin' plan.
Jayne leaned towards Simon and addressed him in a low voice. "Hey, call up Mal to make sure the girls got back to the ship. I gotta plan, Doc. Why don't you and I take a little ride in the mule. We can see where these two harpies live, and if I'm right, you and I are gonna be plannin' our own little Christmas party later tonight." He confidently took out his cigar from his jacket, lit it and took a big puff, exhaling the putrid smoke into the booth where the two women sat as he and Simon left the diner.