(A/N: Okay, So I was informed by Jedi Takeru that usually ff. net doesn't allow stories in script format. So from here on out, the fic will be in regular format. This means a lot more cliffies. If the Mods catch the earlier chapters and decide to take it down, I will repost them on a different website and link you guys to them so you can reread them at your leisure. Either way, the fic will continue indefinitely so don't think I'm giving up on you guys!
Chapter Seven
Ariel
River Tam tossed her braid behind her shoulder and looked back at her kid sister. Katie Tam smiled happily earning a grin from River.
The only person in their expedition who was not happy was Jayne. He was delighted to have the chance to peek through the curtains of the dressing rooms to see flashes of River in her birthday suit. However, when it came to carrying hers and Katie's purchases about, he was somehow less than pleased.
"Don't see why you couldn't-a brought the gorram cart," Jayne muttered sullenly.
"The cart is flashy. I want to have a day without everyone looking at us," River explained.
"So havin' a me totin' your stuff 'bout makes it easi'r?" he demanded.
River smiled beautifully at him. "Of course it does. Now don't complain or I'll tell Simon you were peeking."
Jayne had the decency to blush and shut up.
River turned back to her sister. "So, why exactly did you pick Seven for a name?"
Katie sighed, tossing back pale brown hair.
"I guess I just liked it. Simon told me what your name was and I liked it. It was edgy and cool. Nothing like Katie."
"I'm anything but edgy," River protested.
"You're something..." Jayne muttered.
River shot him a glance then looked temptingly at a shoe store. Jayne paled at the idea of hauling another pair of leather knee high boots around.
"Katie... why did they want you?" River asked, deciding to spare her erstwhile boyfriend for the time being.
Katie looked at River as if it were obvious. "Because of you, Riv."
"Me? I'm not that cool."
"No, but you're smart. A regular weapon of mass destruction. They wanted more of you. They tried to see if I would work and when I didn't, they impregnated me."
Jayne looked like he was dying to ask something. River had a pretty good idea what it was and shot him a venom filled look. Jayne fidgeted under the glare but decided there were worst things then an unsatisfied curiousity.
"How is motherhood for you?" River asked, pulling her hat down over her eyes as they passed a dive where she had once nearly killed the entire population.
"Well--" Katie began when a shrill voice called out.
"River Tam! You get your gorram ass back here!"
River winced at the obviously feminine voice as everyone stopped to see who the beautiful Companion who stood on the steps of the dive was adressing.
Jayne and Katie both turned to look at the tall beauty. She had long blonde hair, curled into pretty little ringlets. She wore the kind of dress one would expect from the wild west and stood with her hands on her hips, glaring down at River, who had yet to face her.
"Girl, if'n you have troublin' type thin's to say to our lil River," Jayne began.
The beauty barely glanced at him. "Shove it, handsome. This is between River and me."
"River?" Jayne asked, glancing at his captain.
River sighed and turned around.
"Hi, Caris."
(A/N: I told you. A lot more cliffies. Anyway, thanks again to Jedi Takeru for telling me. Hopefully this one won't get caught but if it does I'll be posting on my xanga website, the link to which is on my home page.
