Title: We all have our battles
Part Thirteen: Food Fight and Apologies
Author: Fire Fairy
Disclaimer: I've been working on the railroad, all the livelong day. I've been working on the railroad, all the livelong day. I've been working on the railroad all the livelong day, and I still don't own a thing! Like my song?
Spoilers: Of course
Summary: Jayne's sister is the new member of Serenity and everyone seems to be having jolly old time.
A/N: Hey people! What's up? I hope those of you reading like my story. If there's anything you want me to change, just tell me. I know I said this was about Jayne but I've decided, or my muse decided, to broaden it to everyone. I think it still works though. I do have to say I love improv. and I love not having to re-type every chapter. I just have to wait 'til I can get on the family computer. So what the heck was that book that Tara bought? What's in it? You'll find out... I think. Enjoy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" Weird." Mal muttered before sitting down in a spot where he could enjoy the breeze.
~~~~~
" Everyone have a good weekend?" Sunday dinner, Serenity had left port and was flying on autopilot. The response rose up, everyone trying to talk at once. " One at a time, okay?"
" Zoë and I spent more time outdoors doin' nothin' than we have in a long time."
The fresh air had been good for the couple who haven't had even the slightest disagreement yet.
" Window shopping is fun." That morning, Simon and Kaylee had gone out for the items everyone needed and spent the rest of the time window-shopping.
" I bet it is. Preacher?" Mal was smiling at Kaylee's enthusiasm when he turned to Book.
" I had several interesting conversations with Tara." Tara and Book had spent the entire weekend walking around and talking about everything in the universe.
" Like what?" Mal was interested. Since the whole music thing, the girl had been even quieter than usual.
" Oh meaning of life, what our purpose is." He said, to rattle off a few.
" Preacher stuff." Tara spoke up before Book could.
" Weaponry, warfare, thievery, ships, families and the Alliance. Including 'Preacher Stuff'." The list was impressive.
" I bet you did most of the talkin' then, Tara."
" We talked quite evenly." Book answered.
" Oh. Okay."
" What did you do Captain?" Kaylee asked, lifting the silence that had fallen over the group.
" Sat around mostly. Watched the ship while everyone else was having fun."
The table erupted in laughter at that, while Wash sat forward.
" Next time, you can have all the fun and I'll watch the ship." He said it so seriously that you knew he was trying very hard to keep a straight face.
" Yeah. We won't leave you out of the fun next time captain."
" I'm touched." He put his hand to his heart with a mock look of tenderness on his face. It just got the table laughing louder. " Now that I've gotten everyone to laugh at me. What was that book you bought Tara?" The table turned silent and waited for Tara's answer.
" Nothin' much really." She whispered the statement. /Just forget about it. Please./
" Didn't look like nothin' much. Pretty heavy if I remember correctly."
" Just... stuff. Nothin' important." Tara started picking at her food, refusing to look into anyone's eyes.
" Okay then. I'm not about to ask Jayne what he did." A few giggles and broad smiles followed the announcement.
" For once I didn't get in a fight if that's what ya mean. I stayed here and talked with River."
" You mean you didn't go to a single bar? I'm shocked. River, whatever your doing keep it up." Wash started laughing at the memory of what Jayne had said when they'd found out about River killing those three guards.
" What's so funny little man?" Jayne asked angrily. He didn't like to be laughed at.
" Just remembering when..." He remembered how Jayne reacted and stopped smiling. " Nothin'. Just forget it."
" What?" Wash couldn't keep the laughs in any more.
" She's in congress!" He cracked up, putting his head in his arms and pounding the table with his fist. Wash was laughing so hard he had tears coming out of his eyes.
" Shut up."
" Seriously, how DID your brain form human speech? It just doesn't seem possible." He ducked a piece of bread that flew at him.
" Enough you two. No food fights." Overall, dinner was a happy occasion. The break had been good for everybody.
~~~~~
" Jayne?"
" Yeah?"
" What's wrong?"
" Tara hasn't talked to me since Saturday."
" She'll forgive you. No where to go. Don't worry."
" You're probably right."
" I'm always right. Now go back to sleep."
" Okay."
~~~~~
" Hey Tara?" Tara slammed the book shut and shoved it under her bunk as her brother's shoes appeared climbing down the ladder.
" Yeah?"
" I'm sorry for what I said about dad."
" It's okay. You didn't mean anything." He sat down on the edge of the bed next to her.
" It's just. I wasn't there when you needed me and I should've been. I should've taken you with me."
" You couldn't. And anyway, it nearly killed mom when you left. If we'd both gone she would'a died. Lot sooner than she did."
" It's just, I don't want you to be mad at me-" Tara cut in.
" I can't really hold a grudge on a spaceship for six years. Kinda hard when I see ya everyday. Anyway, you did what you had to. No way to get around that."
" Just wanted ya ta know, I love ya. I just want ya ta be safe."
" I know." Jayne hugged his sister. /She's grown up so much since I left./ " I love you too Jayne."
" I know."
" Okay, now that this mush fest is over. Anything else you need?" She asked, pulling away.
" Nah. I'll talk to you later."
" Okay." Tara watched her brother climb back up the ladder and waited a second before pulling the book back out. /That was close./
Part Thirteen: Food Fight and Apologies
Author: Fire Fairy
Disclaimer: I've been working on the railroad, all the livelong day. I've been working on the railroad, all the livelong day. I've been working on the railroad all the livelong day, and I still don't own a thing! Like my song?
Spoilers: Of course
Summary: Jayne's sister is the new member of Serenity and everyone seems to be having jolly old time.
A/N: Hey people! What's up? I hope those of you reading like my story. If there's anything you want me to change, just tell me. I know I said this was about Jayne but I've decided, or my muse decided, to broaden it to everyone. I think it still works though. I do have to say I love improv. and I love not having to re-type every chapter. I just have to wait 'til I can get on the family computer. So what the heck was that book that Tara bought? What's in it? You'll find out... I think. Enjoy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" Weird." Mal muttered before sitting down in a spot where he could enjoy the breeze.
~~~~~
" Everyone have a good weekend?" Sunday dinner, Serenity had left port and was flying on autopilot. The response rose up, everyone trying to talk at once. " One at a time, okay?"
" Zoë and I spent more time outdoors doin' nothin' than we have in a long time."
The fresh air had been good for the couple who haven't had even the slightest disagreement yet.
" Window shopping is fun." That morning, Simon and Kaylee had gone out for the items everyone needed and spent the rest of the time window-shopping.
" I bet it is. Preacher?" Mal was smiling at Kaylee's enthusiasm when he turned to Book.
" I had several interesting conversations with Tara." Tara and Book had spent the entire weekend walking around and talking about everything in the universe.
" Like what?" Mal was interested. Since the whole music thing, the girl had been even quieter than usual.
" Oh meaning of life, what our purpose is." He said, to rattle off a few.
" Preacher stuff." Tara spoke up before Book could.
" Weaponry, warfare, thievery, ships, families and the Alliance. Including 'Preacher Stuff'." The list was impressive.
" I bet you did most of the talkin' then, Tara."
" We talked quite evenly." Book answered.
" Oh. Okay."
" What did you do Captain?" Kaylee asked, lifting the silence that had fallen over the group.
" Sat around mostly. Watched the ship while everyone else was having fun."
The table erupted in laughter at that, while Wash sat forward.
" Next time, you can have all the fun and I'll watch the ship." He said it so seriously that you knew he was trying very hard to keep a straight face.
" Yeah. We won't leave you out of the fun next time captain."
" I'm touched." He put his hand to his heart with a mock look of tenderness on his face. It just got the table laughing louder. " Now that I've gotten everyone to laugh at me. What was that book you bought Tara?" The table turned silent and waited for Tara's answer.
" Nothin' much really." She whispered the statement. /Just forget about it. Please./
" Didn't look like nothin' much. Pretty heavy if I remember correctly."
" Just... stuff. Nothin' important." Tara started picking at her food, refusing to look into anyone's eyes.
" Okay then. I'm not about to ask Jayne what he did." A few giggles and broad smiles followed the announcement.
" For once I didn't get in a fight if that's what ya mean. I stayed here and talked with River."
" You mean you didn't go to a single bar? I'm shocked. River, whatever your doing keep it up." Wash started laughing at the memory of what Jayne had said when they'd found out about River killing those three guards.
" What's so funny little man?" Jayne asked angrily. He didn't like to be laughed at.
" Just remembering when..." He remembered how Jayne reacted and stopped smiling. " Nothin'. Just forget it."
" What?" Wash couldn't keep the laughs in any more.
" She's in congress!" He cracked up, putting his head in his arms and pounding the table with his fist. Wash was laughing so hard he had tears coming out of his eyes.
" Shut up."
" Seriously, how DID your brain form human speech? It just doesn't seem possible." He ducked a piece of bread that flew at him.
" Enough you two. No food fights." Overall, dinner was a happy occasion. The break had been good for everybody.
~~~~~
" Jayne?"
" Yeah?"
" What's wrong?"
" Tara hasn't talked to me since Saturday."
" She'll forgive you. No where to go. Don't worry."
" You're probably right."
" I'm always right. Now go back to sleep."
" Okay."
~~~~~
" Hey Tara?" Tara slammed the book shut and shoved it under her bunk as her brother's shoes appeared climbing down the ladder.
" Yeah?"
" I'm sorry for what I said about dad."
" It's okay. You didn't mean anything." He sat down on the edge of the bed next to her.
" It's just. I wasn't there when you needed me and I should've been. I should've taken you with me."
" You couldn't. And anyway, it nearly killed mom when you left. If we'd both gone she would'a died. Lot sooner than she did."
" It's just, I don't want you to be mad at me-" Tara cut in.
" I can't really hold a grudge on a spaceship for six years. Kinda hard when I see ya everyday. Anyway, you did what you had to. No way to get around that."
" Just wanted ya ta know, I love ya. I just want ya ta be safe."
" I know." Jayne hugged his sister. /She's grown up so much since I left./ " I love you too Jayne."
" I know."
" Okay, now that this mush fest is over. Anything else you need?" She asked, pulling away.
" Nah. I'll talk to you later."
" Okay." Tara watched her brother climb back up the ladder and waited a second before pulling the book back out. /That was close./