SQA

Sweet Child o' Mine

A/N Takes place about 18 years after BDM.

Disclaimer: We don't own Firefly. It belongs to the man they call Joss.

..

As I finished stowing the 'goods' in the cargo hold, I heard Inara telling our daughter, Hera, how pretty she looked.

I glanced up from the storage compartment to see my sixteen year old baby girl, dressed up like her momma did when she was still companionizing. Hera had Inara's curly hair, but it was my brownish color. That and the fact that she had my blue eyes, was the only way to tell I was her daddy. Though when she smiled, she looked exactly like my momma did the day I gave her that pretty rock I'd found in the nearby stream, way back when I was just a little thing. I smiled bitterly at the memory, like the doc used to, when reminded of his past at that big Core hospital. I'd always be reminded of my former home when she smiled.

"She's got a smile that it seems to me, reminds me of childhood memories. Where everything was as fresh as the bright blue sky. Now and then when I see her face She takes me away to that special place. And if I'd stare too long, I'd probably break down and cry."

There was no doubt that my girl looked gorram swell.

"Sweet child o' mine. Sweet love of mine."

"Well, ain't you the prettiest thing. What's the occasion?"

Hera looked like she would just burst from all the compliments she was getting from me and the crew.

There was a sudden knock on Serenity's door.

She rushed down the catwalk stairs, trying to get to the door before me. She didn't.

I opened the door to find a boy standin' there. He was tall, dark and handsome. I didn't like him. He took look at my face and I could just see what he was thinking, go se.

"What's your business here boy?

"I..uh I- I'm here to pick up Hera Reynolds for our date tonight."

"Well okay come on in... Wait. WHAT?! Date! Oh no! Oh gui no! Get yer gorram pigu oughta my sight! I don't wanna see your ruttin face 'round here AGAIN! Ye hear?!"

"B-but she asked me to go out for d-dinner with her earlier..."

"CHUFEI WO SI LE!"

The boy looked like he was gunna pee his pants, he threw one look at Hera, and ran off.

"DADDY!"

I turned and saw Hera's pretty blue eyes filled with tears.

"That's the third this month! Not counting the little fiasco involving that boy in the market..."

"I just want to protect you bao bei. Them boys are evil. Only want one thing. And I think you know what."

"No daddy I don't. How could I when you won't even let me go out?!"

"Okay. Fine. You can go out. As long as you take yer Uncle Jayne with ye."

"B-b-but DADDY!"

Inara walked over and placed her hands on Hera's shoulders. "Mal! You have to let her grow up sometime. She's not a baby anymore! She has to make her own mistakes!"

"No I don't. She's my baby girl. And I'm the captain on this gorram boat. And I have to make sure she don' get hurt."

Hera walked over to me and looked up into my eyes. "I know you mean well daddy, but I need my own mistakes. But know, I'll always be your baby girl."

I smiled at her, and drew her into a hug. "I know darlin' I just want to protect you from all the things, my momma and pappa never could."

"I love you daddy. You're doing a great job"

"I love you too, bao bei."

"She's got eyes of the bluest skies. As if they thought of rain, I hate to look into those eyes, and see an ounce of pain. Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place. Where as a child I'd hide. And pray for the thunder and the rain, to quietly pass me by.

Whoah oh oh, Sweet child o' mine. Oh oh oh oh, Sweet love of mine."