Chapter 21

"Sarah, you need to talk to Cameron," Inara insisted. "This shade of purple simply doesn't go well with my skin tone."

In response, Sarah just turned and glared at Inara for a moment before going back to reading. Jayne looked up and gave Inara an equally dirty look. "I ain't makin' new gowns for everyone. Seein' as I'm the only crew who can sew up a dress from scratch, you're gonna wear that gown."

"Twin's favorite color is purple," River reminded Inara. "This purple. Twin is the bride, not the Companion. Companion is only a bridesmaid. Must do as Twin says."

"C'mon, 'Nara," Kaylee chided. "It's Cameron's special day. 'Sides, you really want to get her and River all riled up?"

"Zoe, surely you agree we need a different color for the bridesmaids dresses?"

"I agree with you, Inara. I also agree with River. It's Cameron's special day. That overrides anything I think about the color. Besides, you can get John to fix the color on his computer when they get back from their honeymoon."

"I doubt it," Sarah interjected without looking up from her tablet. "Cameron would notice a change in the images. Remember who has a photographic memory? Literally."

Alone in her dissent over the color of the bridesmaids dresses, Inara fell silent and sat quietly for a few minutes before retreating to the safety of her shuttle.

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"I promise you, Captain, the hull integrity will actually be stronger when I'm finished."

"Cameron, I'm not sure I like the idea of a shuttle with weapons mounted."

Growing frustrated with the Captain, Cameron glanced at John, pleading for support with her eyes, a new human behavior she had successfully mastered recently.

"Captain, Cameron understands that. What I don't think you understand is the guns will be mounted in a turret that recesses into the hull in the cargo area in back. From the outside, the gun turret is not visible. In the cargo area, by lowering the deck plating ten centimeters and the ceiling another twenty, we can make it appear like the area has not been modified."

"Something will go wrong," Mal muttered. "Always does."

"Captain, if we've been boarded and someone is in the second shuttle, I would say the gun turret is the least of our worries."

Cameron rested her head on John's shoulder and smiled at Mal. John was helping to make a strong argument to support her own, making Cameron happy.

"We need to be armed, Captain. I only want to mount a pair of .50 caliber projectile weapons in an automated turret. It can be controlled by an automatic setting or by a human gunner on the shuttle or from the bridge."

"I'm more worried about you and Jayne going somewhere in the shuttle and the two of you getting into trouble," Mal replied, glaring back at Cameron.

"If we get into trouble, we will need the guns to return to Serenity," Cameron answered.

"And whatever trouble you rustled up is going to be right on your heels," Mal answered. "Meaning its trouble for Serenity."

"Nobody would expect a Firefly class freighter to have defensive capability. The element of surprise would be on your side, Captain."

Feeling the argument slip away from him, Mal changed the subject. "I'm okay with the other changes you want to make, Cameron. When you're finished and Kaylee's looked the shuttle over, you and John can move in here for your living quarters."

Noticing John's warning expression to not push things, Cameron smiled at the Captain and launched herself at him, surprising Mal with a big hug.

"Thank you Captain. John and I have never had a permanent home. It is a wonderful wedding gift."

Mal stood still, surprised by Cameron's display of physical affection and appreciation. He also couldn't escape the cyborg's grasp.

"Um, Cameron, I've got Captain things to do."

Cameron released Mal who departed quickly from the shuttle.

"That went well," John told Cameron.

She frowned at him. "The Captain did not approve of my plan to install weapons on the shuttle. You didn't even let me bring up the plasma cannon."

Not wanting Cameron to lock in on the subject and focus on dealing with the Captain as Terminators are wont to do at times, John slipped his arms around her and kissed Cameron.

"Soon, this will be our own living quarters," John teased. "I can do more than just kiss you."

Cameron smiled at John for a brief second before the frown returned. "No changing the subject. It is essential proper defensive systems be installed on the Serenity and the shuttles. It is the first of many safety precautions that need to be taken to keep you safe, John."

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"I want to thank everyone for being so gracious," Sarah informed the assembled crew. "It means a lot to me. You took me and my family in as crew and you didn't have to."

Jayne nodded in agreement and then glared at the others, challenging them to disagree with Sarah.

"So let me thank you on behalf of my son, John, and Cameron, for agreeing to participate in their wedding. Captain, I particularly want to thank you for speaking with the Bishop at the Abby and taking care of the Sheppard for the wedding."

"Not a problem," Mal replied. "Didn't want Tin Miss having a fit over not getting her way about it. Wouldn't likely be healthy for any of us."

"Inara, thank you for agreeing to wear the gown. Cameron would have crushed you, I mean been crushed if you hadn't."

Everyone but Inara chuckled at Sarah's attempt at humor.

"We leave for the Abbey at 1400 hours tomorrow. Everyone will depart dressed for the event. John and Cameron will not be returning from their honeymoon for five days. After the ceremony we're going to a local place for dinner. It's not a traditional reception, but under the circumstances the best we could do."

"Twin is in a hurry to get her new husband alone to consummate the marriage," River announced to Sarah's dismay. "Twin has waited a long time and is not going to let John get away," she added with a broad grin.

"No," Sarah corrected, frowning at River. "It's more to avoid trouble with local officials and enemies. It's just that a wedding without a party isn't a wedding."

"Don't we need to rehearse?"

"Kaylee, normally, yes. But John and Cameron have met with the Bishop and the ceremony is going to be very brief," Sarah explained.

"Because Twin wants…"

"River, that's not polite," Inara admonished.

River responded to the rebuke by crossing her arms across her chest, sticking her tongue out at anyone paying attention, and pouting.