A/N: I love you guys so much. Thanks for sticking by me! I'm sorry I haven't been updating as quickly but I'm working on it.


Badger had never intended on collecting the favor Jayne Cobb owed him. A small man, Badger thrived on dramatics and airs as much as he needed the money he earned from delegating business. He needed a hired man, badly, and Jayne came to mind. Resignedly, he waved Malcolm Reynolds.


They met in the alleyways and corners of Serenity. Any time they weren't together was wasted breath in both of their opinions. If it wasn't for River's magnificent acting talents and the crew's long-held belief that Jayne could never fall in love, they would have been discovered.

He lay in bed every night, his arms over his head, thinking about her hair, her eyes, her everything. She grew on him like moss clinging to a rock in a river. It was incredible how he could understand her now – no more nonsense, no more games. And she understood him as well! He basked in her approval and her smile. What a smile! He was used to women who screamed and moaned their pleasure when he was with them, but River made no noise at all. At one time he had worried about that, whether he made her happy, satisfied her, but to see her face when she was with her: it was an earth-shattering smile, dazzling as the sun, and it made his knees weak. Compared to her, he was a sha gua but she still smiled for him, and that was worth all the gold in the 'verse.

They left dinner one after the other. They spared no glances or words and left the rest of the crew to their masticating. A quick turn here, a duck under here and he had her in his arms where she belonged.

"I missed you," River murmured into his ear as Jayne nibbled on her neck. Once in a while he was inclined to go slowly; though they had hardly any time to spare, and usually they collided like gasoline and a lit match, but sometimes, just sometimes, he needed to savor her.

"I always miss you River-girl," he mumbled back, his teeth digging into her neck. She hissed at the sharp feeling and scratched her broken nails against his face.

Jayne smiled slightly. He enjoyed this part of their relationship (is that what they had? He thought): the physical, almost bloodthirsty quality with which they needed each other. "Do that again an' I guarantee you'll be in mighty big trouble."

She whipped him across the face, cutting into his cheek.

"Brat," he growled dangerously and bit her neck hard, instantly causing a bruise. She squirmed but he held her in place with his body and lifted her up with his arms. He felt her dancer legs twine around his back and he loved it.

"What does a rock know of the river's destiny?" She gasped softly into his ear.

"I already know all I need to 'bout destiny," Jayne whispered. He hugged her tighter, his greedy hands sliding under her shirt against her back. "Got you in my arms, right? 'Sall I need."

River smiled at him and he nearly collapsed. How did he feel such things in such a short period of time? He wasn't a smart man, but he was a gambling one: he would bet on destiny for that.

They stood together like that for ages, kissing and touching and moaning and groaning. If only he could take her back to his bunk, Jayne thought, and treat her properly. That might have been an oxymoron a few weeks ago, Jayne and treating a woman properly. It wasn't anymore. He was tired of hiding her. It felt like covering a jewel-colored bird with a sheet, or muddying up a precious jewel. What they shared was priceless to him.

Her delicate hands rose softly underneath his shirt. Fingertips softer than velvet ghosted over his taunt stomach, so gracefully he couldn't bear it.

"River," he growled, and was about to shuck his cargo pants off but suddenly a noise crashed over the intercom. River quaked in fear between Jayne's corded arms. "Jayne, get your pi gu up to the bridge now!"

The Captain was angry about something.


sha gua - idiot

pi gu - bottom, behind, butt