Not According To Plan
Author's Note: Just revamping a bit, and hopefully writing more. I've added a bunch, and Chapter Two is completely new. Please, tell me what you think.
Disclaimer: I only own my OCs, nothing else.
Chapter One: Unexpected Meeting
Siciline Aden strode into the small back room of the café she worked at and let out a frustrated sigh. She'd been on Beaumonde, working low-paying, do-nothing jobs for almost five years and she didn't want to do it for another lousy day.
"Sisi! Sisi, where are you? Sisi, we've got customers!"
She groaned to hear Nanette's shrill voice call her name. Siciline didn't know why Nanette insisted on using her nickname; Siciline had made it quite obvious she hated her. And besides, her childhood nickname just made her sad and nostalgic. How she longed for the easier days back on Osiris. Sometimes she wondered just why she'd left...
"Sisi, where are you?"
"Coming!" she shouted, quickly composing herself.
Siciline hated standing behind the counter and watching happy couples sit at the sweet little tables in the sunlight. They had no idea what real life was like. She wished she could be that happy.
"Hey! Watch it."
She took the man's money a little too forcefully. Nanette came over.
"Why don't you make the coffee? I can work the register."
Siciline scowled behind her back and crossed the distance behind the counter quickly. She put all of her anger into making the coffees, hoping it would ruin someone's perfect day. A strawberry mocha with sprinkles on top? Seriously? She chose a few choice Chinese words to utter angrily.
"Can you handle bringing the drinks out or would you like me to do it?" Nanette asked sweetly.
"Thanks, I got it," Siciline replied through clenched teeth as she ducked under the counter and grabbed the two iced coffees.
She walked briskly through the maze of tables, trying to be angry at the beautiful weather too. All but slamming the drinks on the table, she was a little too quick to turn away and the man at the table turned to get her attention.
"Excuse me, miss?"
Siciline composed herself for what seemed like the hundredth time that day and turned around, false smile jauntily in place.
"What can I do for you si—Simon? Simon Tam? What're you..." she trailed off at the scared and confused look on the man's face. The girl sitting with him grinned and tapped his shoulder.
"Simon, it's Sisi! Don't you remember?"
A look of relief, recognition and joy came over him. "Siciline! What are you doing here?"
Siciline smiled genuinely for the first time in ages.
"I work here. How are you? Both of you. I've seen the Alliance waves, and I can't say I haven't worried."
"We're great. I'm a doctor on a transport ship. There's quite a lot to do. And we get to see lots of different places. River enjoys it too, right River?"
River smiled, and nodded. She liked happy feelings and memories; they weren't such a burden.
"Yes, River's found home in Serenity."
"I'm so glad that you're happy River. I remember when no one but me believed Simon that you were in danger. We came up with all sorts of plans, none of which really worked, did they?" she laughed. "Well, they weren't that clever. How did you finally manage it Simon?"
"Spent large sums of money and made the right contacts. Used an alias and a uniform, just walked right in. Saved me," River said proudly.
"Well it wasn't as easy as that but I suppose the actual rescue was pretty simple. So Siciline, how did you come to be on Beaumonde? You seem to have come pretty far since we last saw you."
"I was tired of the rich, sheltered life; I wanted some adventure, you know? I don't know about you but I couldn't stand all the decisions being made for me and never having to do anything to get anything. And all the while there were people out there starving and homeless. I took what I needed and as much money as I could and I hopped a ship out of Capital City. Sadly, I didn't know the first thing about picking a ship or a captain and I got conned out of a lot of money. I've been here for almost five years. I hope I'll have enough to make a move soon."
"Where are you planning on going next?"
"No where in particular. What ever sounds the most interesting and costs the least."
"Living life on the edge?"
"Something like that."
"What I've really wanted to know, ever since you left, is why you didn't tell me? Or at least wave me. I've been you're best friend since we were six and seven."
"I'm sorry Simon. I did try to wave you a while back but I guess that was after you sprang River from the academy. I haven't been able to reach you since."
"Well, it's a good thing we've got chance on our side."
Siciline glanced at the clock tower.
"Hey, I'm off in five minutes. I'll be back then. Enjoy your coffees," she said, getting up and going back to the counter, positively beaming.
"What happened to you?" Nanette asked snidely.
"Shut your face, Nanette," she quipped. "My day can only get better."
"I can't believe it's her. Our luck must be changing River. We may have found the one person in the 'verse that isn't after us. And she's a friend too."
River smiled and nodded. She had always liked Sisi. Sisi was the only one of Simon's friends who hadn't been annoyed by her superior intelligence or regarded her as a bratty younger sister. She had been kind, protective and a lot of fun. Both the Tams and the Adens had large estates on Osiris; Siciline had been their closest neighbor. One of their favorite pastimes had been horseback-riding in the fields. River shut her eyes, remembering the smell of the horses and the wind blowing through her hair. It was a good memory, one she was glad not been replaced by the experiments. She also remembered the paper flowers Sisi would make her and the dancing. The dancing had been fun.
River opened her eyes. "Simon. Serenity is a transport ship. Sisi needs a ride."
Simon weighed the idea in his mind. On the one hand Siciline was his oldest friend, aside from River. He didn't want to lose touch with her again, now that they'd met up. She did want to leave Beaumonde, and soon. On the other hand there was the fact that Serenity was most often used for smuggling. And while Simon and River had grown accustomed, even attached to the crew, most people from back home would find Serenity completely unsuitable. But Siciline had given up her rich, comfortable life for some adventure and if she wanted adventure then she'd find plenty of it with the crew of Serenity.
"I think that would be okay, but we have to ask Mal first. He doesn't like us to do our own thing. I don't know if she just wants to planet hop; she might want a more permanent home. She's been moving around for a while."
"Yes, ask Mal. Sisi's happy to see us, happiest she's been for a long time. She'd like Serenity. Doesn't care where she goes. Wants a family again. Can't go home, needs a new one."
"River, don't read minds if you can help it."
"I can't. Voices are everywhere. Saved our lives before. Can help us again. Need to listen."
Simon smiled. She was right. Her psychic abilities had saved them many times. In a way it was a gift, if one born of pain. Knowing what was going through Siciline's head would help when he appealed to Mal to let her come with them.
Siciline wandered back to their table carrying a drink of her own and sans apron, visor, ponytail and nametag. She looked better with her hair down. Simon had always loved her red-gold hair; Simon had always loved everything about her. They had never been anything more than exceptionally close friends but he had always hoped they would be.
Siciline sat down and they easily fell to chatting about everyone and everything that had happened to them in the time they'd been apart. However, it soon gave way to reminiscing about their childhood. The boring parties their parents insisted they attend that always held some new found adventure. The way they were always able to get away with anything at school, they were so clever. The numerous secret forts they had strewn between the two estates. The horseback riding. The long summers spent doing anything they wanted. The dancing. The paper flowers. And when they grew to like it, which didn't take long, the theatre. The space race. So many different things. And River remembered every one of them.
They talked for what seemed like hours, both Simon and River forgetting where they were and the ship they would be going back to. Siciline couldn't imagine the dreary days she spent trapped behind the counter of this café. Their drinks sat forgotten in front of them.
"Would you like to see my apartment? It isn't much but I don't want to invite myself to your ship."
"Yes, that would be f—," Simon was cut off by the arrival of the crew of Serenity.
"Sorry we took so long. You two haven't been getting in to any trouble, I trust? Reckon we got ourselves a bit of a handful with this next job. Who's this now?" Mal had noticed Siciline.
"Captain, this is my friend Siciline Aden, from back on Osiris. Siciline this is—"
Siciline was staring at the captain. "Mal?"
Mal blinked and looked at her again. His eyes widened.
"Sisi?"
Simon didn't like the way she was looking at him. She was out of her chair in an instant, knocking her drink to the ground as she threw her arms around him and buried her face in the crook of his neck. He stroked her hair, grinning awkwardly at the rest of the crew, who looked on in amazement. Then she looked up and kissed him. Simon's jaw dropped. What the hell was happening?
