Eating on Serenity was never a quiet event. There was always people talking over each other, arguing over a particular piece of the meal, general outpouring of rambunctiousness from a pent up crew.
"Hey, everybody," the ship's mechanic, Kaylee Frye, said so the roar of the noise would die down to a loud rumble. "Me and Simon's got some news."
The doctor, Simon Tam, grinned from ear to ear. "I've asked Kaylee's hand in marriage."
River squealed at her brother and bounded to their side of the table to give hugs and kisses. Zoe Washburn smiled and nodded her congrats in a quiet manner. Jayne stole River's left behind piece of bread, not bothering to comment on the situation at all. Only Inara Sierra noticed the man sitting next to her and his scowl.
Captain Malcolm Reynolds had enough of the ruckus and slammed his fists on the crowded table to get the attention on him. "Ain't you forgetin' something?"
Kaylee blinked her innocent eyes at him. "What, Cap'n?"
"My crew needs my permission to wed."
She smiled sweetly at the gruff man even as her fianc blanched and felt his nerves mess with his insides. "Actually, Cap'n, I wanted it to be a surprise 'coz we wanted your permission to wed us."
His scowl dropped. "Me? But I ain't no prayer man."
Simon disengaged himself from River's grip and sat back down at the table. "You don't have to be, Mal. As captain of a ship you have the authority to legally bind us in marriage."
Mal took a bite in front of him as he thought about what he was just told. "Hm. Me a preacher. The good Sheppard is no doubt laughing from his corner in Heaven."
"Inara, will you help me with the dress?" Kaylee asked, excited to get her plan started. "You too, Zoe? I want ya'll to be my maid girls."
Inara smiled beautifully. "I'd be honored, mei mei."
Zoe nodded. "I can't wait to see what we can come up with."
The happy girl then turned to Jayne. "I'd like you to walk me down the aisle."
The big man looked apprehensive. "Will I have to wear a monkey suit?"
"You gotta since I gotta," Mal told him.
"Ai ya," he muttered under his breath before noticing the shifting of the quiet girl next to him. "What about Crazy?" he asked as he pointed to River with his thumb in case there was any doubt of who he meant.
"Watch the name callin'," Mal glared at him. "She's wearing a dress 'coz she's a girl. Get it through your head you're wearing a zhou ma suit."
Jayne scowled back but didn't bother to let him know that was not what he meant.
Luckily Simon spoke up. "River, this is an unconventional request but there seems to be nothing conventional about what we do anymore. I want you by my side- as my best woman I guess is how it would be described. Even as a pesty little sister you've been my best friend so I want you right there beside me on the happiest day of my life.'
River smiled her bright smile even as tears prickled her eyes at his words. "Simon, wo jiang zuo ta!"
Ai ya - oh, God
zhou ma - damn
wo jiang zuo ta - I would be honored