Disclaimer: Joss Whedon is a genius… and amazing. He owns all that is Firefly… He can sell me Jayne if he wants though… I'd take good care of him.
"Hold 'er steady, gorramit!" Jayne yells from atop a ladder. River had managed to convince him that he was the tallest one that could reach the lights to pull down the fabric coverings without risk of injury.
"Sorry…" Kaylee says looking up at the angry face of the mercenary. "Ya know, yer lucky it's me down here. If'n it were Simon er Mal, I'm purty sure they'd knock this gorram thing out from right und'r ya." Kaylee yells up. "So, be nice ta me! I think yer just cranky that Simon took River to have a little talk."
Jayne grunts. "Damn right you are. What right's he got takin' her 'way from me? I still haven't gotten a chance ta give her somethin' I got fer her when we were last planet side." Jayne complains as he successfully removes the shimmery cloth from the light fixture, letting it drop to the ground.
"What the…" Mal says as the fabric falls on him, covering his face, causing him to stumble and almost knock the ladder over.
Jayne wobbles. "HEY!" He yells down while attempting to keep his balance.
"See…" Kaylee says mockingly. "I told ya he'd try'ta knock ya offa the ladder." She smiles up at the mercenary as he starts to climb down the ladder, grumbling.
"Jayne." Mal says pulling the cloth off of his head. "You and I need to have'a dialog in a little while." He says looking the merc straight in the eye, his face stern and serious.
"I know, Mal. I'll be in ma' bunk." Jayne says, collapsing the ladder and passes it to Kaylee. "I'll help ya tear th' rest of the dec'rations down in'a bit, Kaylee."
Jayne stalks back to his bunk, throwing open the hatch and clambers down the ladder. Leaning against the ladder, Jayne closes his eyes and sighs. "Gorram… what 'm I gonna do? Mal's most likely gonna kill me." Opening his eyes, his gaze falls on his bed. "Kitten, what're we gon' do?"
River smiles back at him, still dressed in her leather get-up, without the tail, ears, and makeup. She is sprawled across his bed, hair spread around her, arms above her head, and her legs are tangled with the sheet on the bed. "You talk with Captain Daddy, and she'll talk to Simon. Currently occupied though… there's time for skin." She says, biting her lower lip suggestively, looking into his eyes.
Jayne groans, feeling his pants start to become mighty uncomfortable. "Aw, Kitten. Yer gon' be the death 'a me."
Detaching herself from Jayne's sheet, River sits up on her knees on his bed, looking into his eyes seriously. "She already told you… she'll bring you to life. Not kill you." She smiles and beckons him to come closer with a finger.
"T'ain't enough time ta sex ya up the way I wanna, kitten… the way ya should be sexed up." Jayne says raising an eyebrow in her direction. Soft whimpering sounds coming from her. "Come'on, River… yer gonna make me do somethin' before I wanna… before yer ready."
"She's ready… been ready for a while now." She says, rising off the bed, stalking over to Jayne, who's caught in a corner. No escape. "She's aching for you… and you ache for her, too. Your man parts are hard again." She says with a sly smile. "I want to lie with you, Jayne. I'm ready for you."
Jayne grunts as River pushes her body against his, forcing him against the ladder, his hands immediately grasping onto the rungs in a desperate attempt to keep his hands to himself. "Kitten, yer drivin' me crazy… I've ne'er wanted someone so much… so ya needa understand… how… hard this is fer me."
River smiles up at him, letting her hands roam under his shirt, feeling his warm skin against hers, and her hands grope his stomach and chest, desperately. Finding his strong shoulders, she runs her arms through the sleeves of his shirt, pulling it over his head, practically ripping it off of his unmoving arms. "Aw, now ya owe me a new shirt, kitten."
With his upper body exposed to her, she moans softly as her hands reach around to take hold of his strong back, dragging her nails across slowly. Jayne winces slightly then growls at her. "This kitten's got claws." River says, her eyes dancing with passion and desire.
River brings her mouth down on his chest, kissing and nipping lightly, driving Jayne wild. He finally lets go of the ladder, letting one hand tangle in her hair as she lightly licks and nibbles on his nipple. His other hand slides down her body, starting at her back and finally staying gripped on that deadly ass of hers.
River pulls away from his chest, letting her eyes run all over his body, finally resting on his eyes. Her lips are parted and her eyes are wild. They are so close to each other. Jayne can feel her hot breath run over the skin on his chest. With his hand still knotted in her hair, he loosens his grip a little, but brings her face up closer to him.
"There ain't enough time, kitten." He says, his breath hot on her face. The feeling of him, pulsing slightly against her lower stomach, sends shivers down her entire body, making it difficult to stand on her own. Her footing falters, but Jayne's grip on her rear, holds her up, tightly to him.
River inhales sharply, feeling him so closely against her. "There may not be time for full skin… but there is enough time for this." River says as she pulls Jayne's face down on hers. Their lips meet, almost violently. He bites lightly on her lower lip and teases her by running his tongue along the crease of her lips.
At this, River parts her lips slightly, allowing Jayne's tongue to run across the front of her perfect, white teeth. Everything about her is so perfect compared to him. What have I done to deserve her? I don't…
River groans and softly speaks against his tender lips. "You deserve her. You deserve her more than you will ever know." River says softly, letting her hands roam up and down Jayne's big arms. Her fingers dance across his back, caressing and scratching as his tongue roams her mouth, making her squirm in his arms and moan into his mouth.
Jayne moves his hands to grasp River around the waist, lifting her off the ground. She wraps her legs around his waist, never breaking their kiss. Holding her small body tight to his, he moves up against the wall behind them. He always liked to be in charge, he was surprised that he didn't move her into this position a while back. Why AM I stoppin' m'self? She says she's ready... god knows I'm more'n willin' ta fulfill her e'ery desire...
"You love her… want to take things slow." River says, breaking their kiss just enough to speak softly against his lips.
Pulling her lips back to his into another kiss, he feels her begin to gyrate against him. He moans, although it comes out in low growl against her lips. She's so good... I'm b'ginnin' ta wonder if'n she's been wit anyone else... highly unlikely tho...
River smiles against his lips. "You're her first… first everything… first kiss, first love."
"Aw, kitten. Ya shouldn't love me… yer first should be som'one who can give ya e'erythin' ya want… e'erything ya need."
Pulling away from his lips entirely, River looks into his eyes seriously. "I love you. You're all I want… all I need." She says, traces of hurt in her voice. "Stop questioning her love for you. She loves you…" River smiles, "Deal with it."
Jayne smiles at his petite, feng le girl, literally, attached to his hip. "Ya know… a guy could git used ta a beautiful girl… woman lik' ya hangin' on them in such a manner." He brings her laughing face close to his again. "I love you, River. I really do. But, what did I do to deserve you?"
River sighs and groans. "Stop asking what you did to deserve her… This should answer your question…" She says, pulling herself into his body as closely as she can. "I fit. We were made for each other… See… We fit together. Two parts of a whole." She says still holding her small body tight to Jayne's large one.
She was right. There was never another woman that fit so perfectly in his arms or to snuggly against his massive chest. Once he had her in his arms, he never wanted to let her go. He would do anything to keep her with him… keep her happy.
"You make me happy, Jayne. Make me feel less crazy than everyone knows and thinks I am." She says looking into his eyes, lovingly, longingly. "Have you noticed that she… I refer to myself as she and her less and less?" Jayne nods. "The reason I ever did that was to objectify and disassociate myself from anything that had happened in the past. You make me want to be River again. Make me want to be a whole person again."
Not knowing what to say to that, Jayne looks into her endless eyes and sighs lovingly. "Come 'ere, kitten." He says bringing her face closer to his, causing their lips to meet in another kiss. This one sweeter, more gentle than the lust filled kisses with their tongues fighting for dominance. River felt her pain kissed away by Jayne's careful, loving caresses. The pain will never be forgotten, but Jayne could at least make her happy now and dull the pain she had endured. Making every bit of it worth it in River's mind.
"RIVER!" Simon shouted while banging on the hatch leading to Jayne's bunk. "Are you in there?"
"I thought ya alre'dy talk'd ta that brother 'a yers." Jayne looked curiously into River's eyes.
"If she had talked to him right then, he wouldn't have let her speak. Too mad." River said plainly, unwrapping her legs from around Jayne's waist. "He won't like me still in this outfit." Mischief filling her eyes.
"Too bad ya ain't got any 'a yer own clothes in here, kitten." Jayne says laughing.
"River!" Simon says, desperately from the other side of the hatch.
"Coming, coming." She says sounding annoyed. "Need a different shirt. Bother the interrupting brother more." She looks around Jayne's bunk.
"Over in that cab'net o'er there." He says pointing and grinning lazily. Leaning on the ladder, watching her walk to get another shirt, he laughs lightly. "Yer gonna give yer brother the wrong idea." River smiles knowingly. "Yer evil, kitten, ya know that?"
"Can I wear this one?" She says holding up a shirt, avoiding answering his question.
"A course." Jayne raises an eyebrow suggestively. "Ya gonna take that lil leather git-up off in front 'a me?" He asks hopeful.
River sticks her tongue out at him and turns around, showing her back to him. Jayne groans. "Aww." She unties the front of her vest and struggles to tug it up over her head. "Need 'a hand, kitten?"
"No thank you, Jayne." River says giggling.
Her back completely bare to him, Jayne can feel himself become excited again. It's as though her back is the sexiest thing he had ever seen; so creamy and milky white. I just wanted to run his hands over it and shower every inch of her exposed skin with kisses.
He wants to be tender with her. Tender isn't something that Jayne Cobb is good at, or known for. This girl makes him want to do and be things he is not. Things he's not normally. She brings out those qualities that he learnt at his mama's knee, telling him that he'd find a girl one day who would make him so happy that he'd do anything, be anyone just to be with her.
"She loves you for you." River says, pulling Jayne's shirt over her head. It reaches just above her knees, making her look smaller than normal in it. "Don't you dare try and change for me, Jayne Cobb." She says, sending him a warning glare over her shoulder.
Jayne walks over to her, pulling her back into his arms. "Don't you change e'er neither, River." He says, kissing her forehead lovingly. "I love you for you, too."
"RIVER?" Simon yells for the third time. "Get up here right now if you're down there."
River sighs heavily. "He's such a bother."
Jayne lets go of River, leading her to the ladder up through the hatch. "Tha's wha' brothers is for." River rolls her eyes as Jayne pulls the hatch open for her, looking up at Simon's concerned face. "Sorry Doc. Couldn't keep 'er hands offa me." River grins up at her brother and Simon looks like he's about to be sick.
"Why aren't you wearing a shirt? And why aren't you wearing your own shirt?" Simon asks, looking back and forth from Jayne to River. Sighing, Simon closes his eyes and brings a hand up to rub his head. "Never mind, I don't want to know."
River grins up at her brother, climbing up the ladder. Jayne watches her leave, then closes the hatch. With a sigh, he collapses down onto his bed. He can still feel her in the room, still smell the sweet aroma of apples that is River.
Thinking of her and all that had happened, Jayne dozes off into a light sleep, wishing she were still with him. He found himself thinking thoughts he never imagined he was capable of thinking. He wanted to hold her close, keeping her close to his heart, listen to her talk to her, tell her that he loved her over and over. Jayne Cobb was thinking about a girl in a non-sexual manner. It didn't scare him like he thought it would of, it made him happy.
"Jayne! Git yer lazy ass up here!" Mal calls while banging on the hatch incessantly.
Jayne's eyes snapped open and he groaned, pulling himself up off his bed. "A'right. I'll be righ' ther'." He grumbles while searching for a shirt.
Pulling it over his head, he walks to the hatch and drags himself up it. "A'right Mal. I'm re'dy fer whatev'r yer gon' say er do ta me."
"Follow me to the bridge, Jayne, and don't talk…" Mal says, leading the big mercenary down the hall. Jayne sighs and trudges along behind the captain. As much as Jayne hates to admit it, he respects Mal and would never do anything to betray him, especially since Ariel. Jayne almost shudders at the thought of how he almost turned in the girl whom he would, now, protect so adamantly.
When they reached the bridge, Mal motions to Wash who nods and leaves without a word, closing the door behind him. Jayne looks up at Mal. "Jayne. You know what I think of romance on my ship, especially between m' crew… especially between m' hired muscle and… anyone! I don't like it. I don't know how it happen'd… or when it happen'd… which baffles me since I'm th' captain on this ship and I should know everything that's goin' on. But I don't… and I'm gettin' used to it." Mal says looking into Jayne's eyes as seriously as he can muster. "Why should I let you two be together… on my ship?"
"I love her, Mal." Jayne says without hesitation.
Mal nods, bringing a finger up to his lip, contemplatively. "I see. Well, if'n that be case…" Mal smiles slightly at Jayne and moves past him and opens the door and looks back at him. "You have my blessing."
Jayne blinks and looks at Mal confused. "Wha'? That's it? No punchin', no yellin' and screamin'? No airlock?"
"I may no like it, but ya'll love each other. I can't stop it." Mal says a-matter-of-factly. "Lemme tell you this. If'n you hurt her… or do anythin' wrong… you're outa here, and you'll be lucky if'n it ain't through the airlock." Mal turns and leaves Jayne alone on the bridge with no one but the stars. He gazes out the front window and sits down in the co-pilot seat, trying to imagine the conversation between River and her brother, laughing slightly.
In the guest quarters of the ship, River packing all her things into a bag while Simon is trying to keep his sister's attention. "Mei-mei. Stop this right now. What are you doing? I know I told you that you could date that overgrown ape, but never did I say that you could sleep with him!" Simon argues desperately. River giggles. "Literally! I swear you have such a dirty mind for a young girl."
"WOMAN!" River practically. "She a woman Simon! Stop treating her like a little child. I'm your sister, not your daughter. Understand that I'm going to make my own decisions in life that you will have no say in. I'll listen to them, but they won't always affect the outcome of my decision."
Simon stares at his sister, open-mouthed. "And here I was thinking I was going to be the one giving the lecture." He says sadly.
River finishes packing up her things then looks at her brother. His eyes are full of care, love, worry, and disbelief. "Don't worry. Jayne will take good care of her. He loves her." She says carefully. "I love him, too, Simon."
He sighs, averting his eyes to look at the floor. "Simon." She says, attempting to regain his attention. He looks back up at her. "You'll always be the big brother. No one can replace you. I love you, too, Simon. A different kind of love."
Simon smiles at his sister. "I love you, too, mei-mei." He says softly, his face growing serious. "If he hurts you, I'll kill him."
River rolls her eyes at her brother, picking up her bag and heading to the door. She stops, turns around and leans on the doorframe, looking at her brother. "I won't let you… and he won't hurt me." She says disappearing from Simon's sight.