Here we are again.

Sorry it took so long.

Thanks so much to Serenity Valley Girl, bjg, SusanMarieS, NightStar28, phantom-lass, and Whit-Dragon-of-Hope for the reviews!

Serenity Valley Girl- Thanks! Hope you enjoy the chapter!

Bjg- All of these questions shall be answered in this chapter and the next one. J Hope you enjoy!

SusanMarieS- Hahaha, I just had to end on that line.

NightStar28- Thank you so much, I'm so glad you enjoy it.

Phantom-lass- The parents will leave soon….and come back. There will be plenty of cute River and Jayne.

White-Dragon-of-Hope- Thanks! Hope you like the chapter!

So, without further ado....


Regan stared at the people who were her children.

"Please, we've found each other. Let us talk."

River met her gaze, "You are talking. We aren't taping your mouth shut or threatening you to shut up. Talk if you want, only we can choose to listen. I'm here for the drinks." River raised her glass and took a gulp, smiling at the burn.

Gabriel glared at her, "Who the hell are you?" he bellowed.

River hissed, "I'm River Tam. I'm everything and nothing and I'm anything I want or need to be. I however, will never ever be your daughter."

Jayne met her gaze and pulled her onto his lap, she kept her bourbon in her glass and smiled at him, snuggling closer.

"Thank you, my Jayne."

Regan gagged and River shot her a look, the crew watched curiously and Gabriel glared.

"I know when ya need comfort. I'd say with them two ya sure as sin needs it now." River smiled at him.

Regan shook her head, "Your Jayne? River, is he…" River smiled devilishly and leaned up to whisper to him, "Wants to know if you're my lover. Can I have some fun?"

Jayne chuckled and reached up, tracing her lips as permission. "Is he my husband? No," River shook her head and smiled at Jayne, "Is he my lover, oh yes." She purred it and Jayne smiled wider.

Inara and the others were smiling, enjoying watching River torture her parents after what they'd done to her and Simon.

"Regan, those are bad thoughts."

Regan stared wide eyes now and River sighed, "Don't act surprised that I read minds. You know damn well and shiny what the Academy did to me, everything and why."

Simon started, she'd never told him that or anyone else for that matter.

"You don't understand," Gabriel started and River jumped to her feet, "I don't understand what? That you valued status and money over me?

"That when Simon tried to convince you to get me you both tried to convince him I was fine for the sake of your money and status? That you shut him out when he saved my gorram life?

"That you wanted us both dead and waited for the time we came home so you could sell us both for more? No, I understand those. What I don't understand is what drives me up the walls in trying to comprehend."

She swallowed and took a gulp of bourbon, glaring at her parents, "Why did you send me away? I behaved and did everything and it wasn't just the money and status you sold me away for.

"You sold me because I wasn't enough and you couldn't love me. I don't understand that. Why wasn't I enough? I heard your thoughts and did everything you wanted to make you love me. Why was I never enough for the two of you?"

River shook her head and looked away, going and pouring more drinks as she glared at her hands.

Simon seethed, wanting to hurt his parents as he watched his mei mei bottle up her emotions after her outburst.

"You both have two minutes to speak your peace before I allow guns drawn on you." His voice was low and dangerous and Kaylee stared.

She reached for his hand and stopped as she heard a 'tisk'. "Simon, really? You allow River to become involved with that man ape and you are with a common little,"

Simon slammed his fist down, "If you finish that sentence your blood connection to me or River will not matter because your blood will be rushing from your body from various gaping wounds."

Gabriel smacked his mouth shut and River laid a hand to Jayne's chest, "Not ape like. We never meant it like they do."

Jayne took her hand and kissed it, "I know darlin'. Mal,"

Mal smiled to him, "Thinkin' on how that one job went last month, one supplied by Rabbit. Is that allowed?"

Mal looked at Regan and Gabriel, a dangerous smile playing at his lips as he met the other members of his crew's eyes and then looked back to Jayne, "Yes."

Regan gulped as Jayne glared at them. River stood again and sighed, "Sit down."

She waved them to seats but they didn't move.

Frustrated River growled with clenched fists, "Sit!" they both sat immediately.

River took out her knife and twirled it, a habit she'd developed since Jayne gave her the knife.

"Anyone mind if I talk the most? Seeing as how I can speak for everyone's thoughts."

Her new family nodded and River smiled thankfully, turning and staring at her parents,

"You wanted to talk. I offered to leave, now you're going to listen."