Rose ran. She ran like she did when she had angry aliens chasing her and a Time Lord at her side. She ran like her life was in jeopardy. In a way, she felt like it was. She couldn't imagine Serenity without River. She couldn't imagine much without her.

"Simon!" she shouted as her boots skidded into the cargo bay.

By now, Simon knew that tone of voice. He grabbed the essential tools just in case someone couldn't make it to the infirmary. Rose had already lowered the ramp and her breath tripled in speed. It couldn't be River. It just couldn't.

She could see Mal and Jayne rushing towards the ship. It seemed that the Captain was covered in scratches, and he was partially dragging the mercenary across the ground. Simon ran to help them inside. Rose still couldn't see Zoe or River, but it was obvious that Jayne had been hit.

"Rose, help the Captain take Jayne into the infirmary."

Clearly, she would rather stay and have Simon deal with Jayne. But, he had to be in the cargo bay if the others needed immediate medical attention. Rose couldn't think of an excuse to stay other than I'm waiting here until your beautiful sister gets back. So, she reluctantly followed Simon's orders.

Mal and Rose had to haul Jayne to the infirmary and lift him onto the table. Jayne was conscious, albeit a hazy sort of state. Mal leaned over him and studied the holes in his shoulder and leg. "Jayne, you good?"

"Hey," Jayne tugged at Rose's sleeve. "How abouts you make a dying man happy and—"

"He's going to be just fine," Rose commented and plucked his hand from her elbow.

The second she was freed from Jayne's advances, she ran back to the cargo bay to find Simon examining a nasty gash on Zoe's leg. It was too close to an artery for comfort, so he gave it a quick bandage and ran for the infirmary. He was in full doctor-mode, so it hadn't crossed his mind just yet that River still wasn't back.

It was the first thing in Rose's head.

"River?" she breathlessly called to Zoe.

Zoe looked around. "She was right behind us."

"Was she hurt?"

She nodded her head at Rose's question. "She had a knife thrown at her. I think that it took, but I'm not sure where."

"Gorramit," Rose had subconsciously picked up the phrase. "I'm going out there."

"Don't even think about it," Zoe sternly snapped. "They were close. It's just a matter of time before they get here."

"We aren't leaving River."

"I never said that we were. She'll get here. We can't have another person down."

Rose being Rose, she didn't listen. She stole Zoe's gun and darted into the open. She looked around for River, but she still didn't see her. She did see a force of horses and angry cowboys getting closer and closer. Panic set. This could not be happening…

She was in the middle of preparing the gun when a noise startled her.

"Zoe is not happy with you."

Flipping about, Rose finally saw River Tam wandering towards her from the back of the ship. She had a large bag in one hand and a bloody sword in the other. There was blood all over her, but Rose couldn't tell if it were hers or from the fight. Rose went straight to her and embraced her like she might break a rib or two. River pulled back and pointed to the oncoming herd of bad guys.

"Time to go."

Rose took the heavy bag and helped River into the cargo bay. The second that they entered, Mal closed the ramp and ran to pilot the ship. They felt the ship take off in record time, and then Rose forced River to sit down on the couch. She was terrified to see exactly what they did to her.

"Scrapes and bruises," River assured her. "Just a knife wound in the shoulder. Doesn't need stitches."

Rose still looked her over and placed a fraught hand on River's neck. "You're sure you're all right?"

"Yes. Came back with all my parts. No stakes involved either."

That brought a relieved laugh from Rose's lips. "Good. Why did you take so long? You gave me a heart attack."

"Had to go back," she gestured to the bag. "For our pay."

"No more playing the hero. Seriously. If something had happened…"

"It didn't."

They smiled at one another and River patted the spot beside her. Rose sat down at River's hip and smirked when River's temple went to her shoulder. Without even questioning motives or meanings, Rose wrapped her arm around River's shoulders. Her chin went to the top of River's head, and River held onto the soft fabric of Rose's sweater.

"Report?" Mal asked upon reaching the area. He looked at the women and was about to say something, but he spotted their pay on the floor. "River, did you go back for that?"

"Yes, Captain. It's all there."

"You're my favorite person right now, li'l albatross."

"Always am."

He left Rose and River alone. Everybody left them alone, save Simon who gave River a quick examination. She was indeed fine. She was better than fine. She was in Rose's arms.

… … … …

"Try," River instructed.

Rose shook her head. "I'm not ready."

"You are. Trust me. I'll be in the copilot's seat. Ready. A safety net."

For three weeks, River had given Rose flying lessons. It was truly Kaylee's idea, and River was a bit peeved that she hadn't thought of it first. Rose and River were more than happy to have an excuse to be alone—and quite uninterrupted.

"Shake a leg," River playfully nudged her.

"All right. You've got my back," she realized that it wasn't a question but rather a statement of the obvious.

River nodded and carefully trailed her fingers through Rose's hair. Rose had run out of metaphors and similes for things that flutter, so she had switched to feelings of warmth. It was steam that filled her chest like a teakettle, ready to pop through her ears like in the cartoons. She tried to pretend that she didn't notice.

Shakily, she took control of the ship and it only rocked a tad. Rose Tyler had officially learned how to fly a firefly class ship. She beamed with pride. "I'm actually doing this."

"You are."

"You're not doing anything over there?"

River held up her hands and wiggled them along with her bare toes. "Back to autopilot. Getting late. Night cycle starts soon."

Autopilot was activated and River took Rose by the wrist. Rose felt lightning in her spine and webbed their fingers together. They said goodnight to a few crew members in the kitchen and retreated to their respective bedrooms. Their goodnight was not said with words. It was said with light and innocent physical contact. It made Rose restless in any case.

The nightmares in Rose's sleep had lessened in frequency and intensity, but she often woke up from too much coffee or creaking sounds in the ship. That night, she was kept awake by quizzing herself on piloting maneuvers. Eventually, she decided that she couldn't fall back asleep. Instead, she thought that she'd check on River. Maybe she would be awake and they could have tea until their eyelids were too heavy to remain open.

River's door was open, so she had to be awake somewhere. Rose assumed that she would be in the kitchen or on the bridge, yet she was in neither one. She wasn't sure why she was so determined to find her, but she was dead-set on seeing that stunning reader. And, she did find someone in the cargo bay.

It was River Tam, and she was dancing alone. There was no music, but her motions were in perfect time. Rose watched the elegant girl from the catwalk. She was talented, something almost majestic, certainly something beautiful…

River paused and looked up. "Rose."

"Don't stop on my account."

"Come down. Know a dance for two."

There was a second of indecisiveness, yet Rose went to her. River put an arm around Rose's waist and took her hand. Rose put a hand on River's shoulder just like in fancy dances. This was hardly an upscale ballroom, but it was where they met. That made it more special than any other place.

River brought her closer. "I lead. Just follow."

"Any music on this ship?"

"In my head. Dance," she started the dance and softly hummed. It was a familiar song to Rose, but she couldn't place it. River didn't tell her. "Hum, hum, hum…"

"You're quite the dancer," Rose lightheartedly commented.

"So are you. Hush. Listen. You'll hear it."

Rose listened and could almost feel the music. It was a slow dance, indolent and smooth, and Rose desperately kept her eyes closed. The reader had the kind of soft glance that could put a murmur in anybody's heart. She had already developed the murmur several months ago when she stared at the black by River Tam's side.

Spending so much time alone, fearing that River was lost, every second they spent together—it was getting harder and harder to ignore the gentle murmurs in their hearts.

Finally, Rose had to open her eyes. She was getting too dizzy to keep them closed, but the dizziness failed to cease when she saw River's face. Her mouth was suddenly dry and her nerves were frayed.

However, the gentle moment led Rose's eyes to the long scar on River's forehead. She didn't like to think how she got it, and she had the urge to trace it with her fingertips. And, she did. Her fingers steadily moved across River's cool skin and stopped to rest on her cheek. She noted that River was clearly impacted by the contact just as she impacted by causing it.

The dance stopped. Their bodies remained close. Rose timidly moved her chin a bit closer to River's, and River closed the distance. Their mouths tenderly met for a kiss. River held onto her shoulders and Rose pulled her into a deeper kiss by the neck. There was no way to describe it other than perfect.

Rose abruptly realized what she was doing. She was kissing River. Her best mate. And, well, a her. She untangled herself and took a lasting glance at River. Their eyes locked and Rose promptly rushed to the safety of her room without a word. The door shut tightly and she sat on her bed in shock.

"That didn't just happen," she muttered to herself.

River stood in the same place where Rose left her, and a single tear trickled off her chin. "But, it did."