AN: I just want to thank those two lovely people who replied so soon after me putting the first part up, you really gave me a big boost there! So as a thank you, here's the next part, now please excuse me, I need to and fall in to bed, its nearly 2 am .

You may notice, but I was feeling rather soppy as this was written, but I hope you enjoy it anyway.

Disclaimer: I STILL don't own anything :C

Jayne told her about his home, how he lived on an outer rim planet with his Ma (Radiant), Pa (Joseph) and siblings, Mattie, Ella and Carei. His Ma would stay at home and look after the kids and garden, and Pa would work down the road as one of the local welders. He told her about how Mattie had damp lung, which took a lot out of her, and meant that his mother had to keep an eye on her a lot of the time. Even though she spent most of her life ill, she was determined to do the best she could for the family, so she spent most of her days in the small, but surprisingly fertile, garden that she had claimed as her own. Jayne said that some how, she managed to grow strawberries, that would come back year after year.

There was nothing in this 'verse that was sweeter than Mattie's strawberries, fresh from the plant. Once she had a basic knack gardening, she managed to grow most of the families veg, which put them at an advantage, because if there were any left over, Ma said that she could go and sell them down at the market and use the money for what ever she wanted as a reward for working so hard. She always split it 4 ways, a quarter for Ma and Pa, a quarter each for the twins, and she would save her share for when Christmas came. Most families couldn't afford to have many niceties around this time of year, and this is where Mattie really shined.

Jayne said that she had Kaylee's enthusiasm when it came to big events like this. She would get the whole town together and have a big party in the middle of the road, with the money that she had saved all year. but the ultimate treat is when the twins would use the money that they had saved together to buy some chocolate. In those parts it was incredibly rare, and extremely expensive. They would go and melt some in a bowl, grab a selection of fruits that Mattie had grown and preserved through the year, and the children from the town would come and share this extra special treat.

Quietly and carefully Mal, Zoe, Kaylee and simon move closer to the sofa with their chairs, not wanting to disturb this blissful moment but eager to hear more about the stories that the mercenary brute Jayne Cobb has to tell, that can bring his voice from a deep growl to a soft whisper. The man is now completely relaxed cradling the sleeping woman on his lap with one arm, and adjusting the blanket around her where it has slipped, making sure she won't get cold.

'Have you guys ever seen him like this before?' Simon questioned the group quietly.
'No, never.' Zoe replied
'What ever your lil' meimei has him completely under her spell don't she.'
'Aye, she sure does that Kay. We're gonna have to keep a close eye on this,' Mal said quietly 'but honestly, as long as every one is fine with it, I am too. They are both adults, even if they don't act like it at times, and as such, they are free to make their own decisions.'
All Simon did was nod quietly, deep in his own thought.
'Ahh, Inara, come join the party,' Mal called over to the ex companion that had just entered the room, Jayne's telling Riv all about home.'
'Here you go sweetie, you can have my chair, I think I should go check up on a few things elsewhere, the atmosphere is getting to me a little if i'm being honest. I'll be back later to check that everyone is still breathing and intact.' And with that, Zoe left the couples behind her, still mourning of the love that she had lost.

'Riv, has anyone told you that your hair is like thick dark chocolate? Its the same colour and its just got that shine to it, that makes it look like its melting under the heat of the light.' Jayne absent mindedly ran his fingers through her hair, fingers just running down the base of her back, causing her to skip a breath. If he were paying proper attention he would have noticed that she was no longer sleeping, just relishing the warmth and comfort that he was providing. Jayne was one of the few men that she really felt safe with, he was tough and strong, yet gentle and kind to her. He was nearly always fully packing and wouldn't let anyone touch his guns, but he always made sure that she was protected somehow, and rarely let any harm come to her.

If she tried to single out his thoughts, River could see the pictures to go with the stories. She could see the big man towering over these small infants picking them up carefully and checking over, before kissing them softly on the forehead and laying them down in their cribs. The next memory was of him as a boy, watching his father working, he was sat on the wall with his legs dangling over the edge, he must of been about 10 years old, full of energy and desperate to help, but there was nothing he could do but stay out of the way. He felt useless, so he walked back home to find his mother crying in the kitchen softly holding Mattie in her arms. At first he panicked, and then he saw the smile behind her tears. 'Ma what's wrong?' he asked her as he handed her his handkerchief 'Why'ya cryin' for?' he was completely puzzled. 'Watch my boy, you watch Jayne.' she said, placing Mattie down on the floor. The Toddler puller her way up her mothers legs, tring to find her own feet, once she was stable, she waddled over to her big brother and held her arms up high, the signal that she had learnt to use if she wanted to be lifted, wheezing slightly as she did so. 'Hiya Mattie, how's we doing to day beautiful gurl?' She gave him a million platinum grin and coughed a little, reaching up she managed to get out the little first word that they had been dying to hear, after being told that she would be a mute. 'Gane'.

Never had he cried like that, when he needed punishing, his dad took the cane to him. He might have whimpered but he never cried.'Jayne Cobb,' his pa would say,'If you are my son, you will stand there and take this like a man. Even if it hurts like hell isself, you do not cry, ya hear me boy?' This was different, squeezing her tight, dancing around in a little circle, the centre of his universe in his arms, and she could say his name. Ok, it's not quite right, but to him at that moment, it was perfect.

River tilted her head in to his chest a little more, so that he could not see the tears that were rolling down her cheeks.

The next memory that came was of his mother, she was ill and in bed, but Jayne was sat next to her holding her hand. 'Hey River?' she tried not to move as she realised that he was actually talking to her, not really focusing on the memory. 'There was this one time, when my ma were really ill, that I went home to see her. She was so pleased, but she was upset that I din't send a wave before I got there, so she was still in her bedclothes, and her hair was down around her shoulders, which apparently, I should never see her like. I told her it was nonsense and sat down behind her with her brush, and started to work my way up, hookin' the ringlets up all at the back of her head. She said that it looked amazin', but I know I made a mess of it, it weren't hard to tell.

But I know she enjoyed it, she said so, and I was real gentle like too. If ya want, I could try and do your hair for you next time we ground for a day or so, and I'm sure 'Nara would love to take you out and see some people or sommin'. Besides, it might help you relax a bit more if we get stuck up here longer than expected again, and you won't have to have so many of those needles that you don't like'. Jayne smoothed the hair away from her face, watching the rhythm of her shoulders. He whispered quietly to the top of her head, 'I always think you look as pretty as a picture any way Riv.'

AN2: This is where I had to stop for now, in fear of drowning in tears and ruining my laptop! I'm sorry if Jayne seems a bit to out of character, but I felt that it was important to show just what a kind and loving person we was, and still can be underneath.

G'night guys and gals, hoping to see some more reviews soon ;D

Don't forget constructive criticism does actually help, so if you think that there is something I could do better, or something that you would like to happen, please let me know! :D

There was no beta for this one, not even a check over from the lovely hubby, because he is sound a sleep next to me!