A/N: Well, this fic has taken a while to complete, and sometimes its been a struggle to keep the muse in gear, but we made it folks! Thank you so much for all your supportive reviews - you all rock!

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 21

River did not argue with Jayne about their trip to Persephone, because she already knew his reasoning. Getting off this moon had to be done secretly, without show, thanks to the amount of nefarious people that existed in these parts. Sure'n they could catch a shuttle trip a long way out to the Rim from here just as well as at the Eavesdown Docks of Persephone, but the boats that docked there would be better for choice and better for hiding on.

Jayne had experience of these things. He knew most often from the look of folks if he could put a little trust in them or not. He didn't put a lot of faith in anybody and the longer River lived in the world she more she understood his reasoning. Of course, she had taken a chance on her bodyguard and been proven right, so perhaps her instinct for reading people in that way was as good, if not better than her lover's own.

"They got all kindsa business folks, in business that don't want messin' with the law, at Persephone" Jayne had explained, "Not that we're gonna go tellin' 'em we're fuggees or nothin', but they ain't so much the type to ask questions and all"

River nodded her understanding and huddled into his side to rest her head a while. She wanted to be rested and prepared for any trouble that came when they got off this ship at their next stop. If such people as Jayne described were ready and waiting at Persephone, there would be others like them too, runaways and criminals of a much worse type than River or Jayne, and she wanted to be alert. Besides which, whatever the people were like, there would be so very many of them at the docks. The young woman with a mind that read all others of its own accord wanted to have all her strength to keep her head as clear as possible. If she became overwhelmed and caused a scene, well, both Jayne and Simon were here to help now but things could still end badly. Drawing attention to themselves was the very last thing any of them needed.

"We gotta get your brother somethin' else to wear when we hit Persephone" Jayne grumbled, and River felt rather than heard it with her head rested on his chest.

"Standing out like a proverbial throbbing thumb" she giggled as she watched Simon make his way back from the bathroom through the crowds of rough looking folks, all silk shirt and polite excuses, "He does not like another tagging along" said River then, catching Jayne's attention as her head came up and she stared at him, "Cannot send guh-guh away now, he will not go" she insisted, and a tremor of fear in her eyes and tone confirmed what her man already knew.

"Ain't gonna be sending your brother nowhere, bao bei" he promised her, his fingers tangled in her hair as he encouraged her to lay back down calmly and get her rest, "Gotta admit, things was a might easier just the two of us gettin' along, but you want him with us, we take him. Ain't no trouble to me, so long as he does what he's told" he muttered.

"She loves him more for it" she swore, her words so softly spoken that Jayne almost thought he heard wrong, but never got a chance to check if that was a certain L word he got a hint of as Simon returned to them and sat down.

"You were serious about this being a lot to get used to" the doctor sighed, "but it could be worse, right?" he shrugged, squirming just a little at the sight of his sister wrapped around her bodyguard.

"You got no idea" Jayne chuckled, as he kissed the top of River's head and held her close as she drifted off.

Captain Malcolm Reynolds shook his head and smiled as he watched his ship's mechanic charm a local into taking a ride on their boat. Looked like a man of the cloth, which didn't altogether sit well with Mal, but coin was coin and whatever the preacher man could spare worked for him. Course, just one fare to Beaumonde weren't gonna cut it, they'd need others. Damned if there was any man or even woman who could resist Kaylee's smile 'neath her rainbow umbrella. She'd have the entire ship filled up afore the day was out if Mal gave her the chance to carry on.

Wandering back inside and leaving her to her task, the Captain of the ship named Serenity didn't see the latest arrivals on Persephone wander into view. They made an odd set that was for sure, the over-sized muscle of Jayne with his arm slung over the shoulders of slim and delicate little River, with Simon walking a pace beside, looking as shifty as anyone ever could.

"Could ya maybe try not to look like the fugee, ya are?" Jayne hissed over his shoulder at the boy who seemed so young and naive compared to his own little sister.

River socked her man in the arm even as she laughed.

"Brother needs time, as she did" she reminded him, "Will adjust"

Jayne didn't look convinced but let it go. Right now there were more important things to worry about than Simon's fancy clothes and too-good manners. They could most like find an excuse for stuff like that. What they needed now was to find a ship to get outta here on, a boat they could travel on without worrying too much about the law and all. It didn't much matter where they was goin', so long as it was far.

"Mine's the nicest ship you'll find" said a little voice so suddenly it almost made even Jayne jump.

"What's that, girly?" he asked as he spun around with River and Simon following, "You say somethin'?"

"Surely did" she smiled brightly as she hopped up from her lawn chair, spinning her pretty parasol, "I noticed you looking at the ships. You gotta know what you're lookin' at and don't seem to care much for where your headed, just what kinda boat you get there on"

"You certainly seem to have a... fine vessel here" said Simon conversationally, though his actual words were vague at best and most likely a lie.

Jayne doubted a fancy man like his little woman's brother would know one end of a Firefly (nor any other kind of ship) from the other. Course, that didn't seem to matter much to the girl tryin' to sell 'em all a ride, as she fluttered her eyelashes at the good Doctor and waxed lyrical on the advantages of travelling with her particular crew.

"What d'ya think, bao bei?" asked Jayne as he watched her take in the ship her ownself.

Her eyes studied every detail, her hand reaching out, not quite making contact with the metal. He didn't know better, Jayne'd bet she was talking to that ship somehow. Hell, the tricks his little woman could pull, maybe that's just exactly what she was doing!

"Midbulk transport, standard radion-accelerator core, classcode 03-K64, Firefly" River suddenly rattled off, which might've surprised Jayne if he weren't so used to her ways.

"Now there's a curious thing" said another male voice and all looked up to see a man in a brown coat approaching them, "Damn sure even I don't remember all that, even on a good day" he smiled at River, "You must know your ships, young lady"

"Know a great many things, Captain" she greeted him easily, making Mal wonder just briefly how she would know he was in charge, but then he did have an air about him, he guessed.

"You looking for safe passage to Beaumonde, we got ya covered" he sold them his best deal, "Not for free, but a reasonable price" he assured them.

"Won't get a smoother ride nowhere else" Kaylee assured them, "Serenity's the best of her kind"

"Serenity?" Simon echoed, apparently a little underwhelmed by the name at least, "That's... vaguely funeric" he said, with some distaste.

"Ain't wrong" Mal agreed, a kind of steel in his eyes that let Jayne know just exactly what he meant.

Battle of Serenity Valley was a turning point in the war. He hadn't fought himself but he knew somethin' about how things went down. That valley was hell itself, so they said, and if'n this man in the tell-tale brown coat had been there, well, that meant no trouble with the law if they rode on his boat.

"Name's Jayne" he said, holding out a hand to the Captain, "This here is my woman, River, and her brother, Simon" he introduced them.

"I'm Malcolm Reynolds; this is my mechanic Kaylee" he replied in kind, accepting all offered hands, "Y'all are welcome aboard my boat if you can pay the fare" he assured them with ease, mindful of getting off this rock before too much longer.

"They gratefully accept" River answered for everyone, looking from Mal to Jayne with a wonderful glow in her brown eyes, "Serenity is not freedom from the storm but peace amid the storm. She has a good feeling" she smiled.

"Works for me, bao bei" he nodded his agreement, hefting up their bags from the dusty ground and going aboard the Firefly class ship that'd be home for a while at least.

Alone on the ramp a few moments later, Mal looked to Kaylee as she in turn watched Simon's rear end disappearing from view.

"Interestin' bunch" said the Captain without further explanation, "Got a feelin' it's best they don't stay too long here"

"Really?" the mechanic answered, with a sudden frown darkening her usually such sunny features, "I kinda hope they'll hang around a while" she said, a smile flickering through at the very idea, "I like the look of 'em, all of 'em" she confirmed when Mal gave her that fatherly look she knew too well, "I just think they'd fit in so good here with us"

"Where you get such notions, little Kaylee, I ain't ever gonna understand" the Captain told her, ruffling her hair as he strode by and up inside the ship again, "Get yourself clear now, time to go"

"All aboard" said Kaylee with a genuine smile as she swung her folded chair in one hand and her parasol in the other.

The ramp lifted and closed on Persephone, the engines humming into life beneath Serenity. River looked out through the tiny crack above the door until it finally closed shut tight. She smiled then, bright and warm as the glowing engine she knew was firing up and taking her away into the black she would learn to love as her new home. In whispered words that only she knew had been said, she sighed;

"Here we go"

The End

A/N2: And thats it, we're done. Thanks for reading, and may I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, or Seasons Greetings as is appropriate to you.