Here it is guys, the last chapter. And I know I swore that this was the last sequel...ok I lied. There will be a sequel to this, purely because I have had an idea.
Please read and review so that i know there is want for the 4th part of the series.#
Watch this space.
Chapter 6: Weddings
Wash wonders when he became Zoë's backup on jobs. When he became the one with his boot on someone's throat. Like today. He isn't pressing hard enough to kill the man, just hard enough that he might pass out sometime soon. Wash is not sure that he's entirely comfortable with this, but if it keeps Zoë alive then he'll do it. She taught him how to shoot as well. He can kill a man from twenty paces…in the right wind conditions, and the right light and if he's lucky and they aren't moving. But he has a gun, and he'll use it if he has to. Zoë also taught him a few fighting moves. Just enough that he won't get flattened in a bar brawl. There have been a few of those. Zoë has taken up the U-Day tradition and found a long brown coat similar to how Mal's was. She got it on sale.
"Honey?" she calls.
Wash looks up at his wife.
"We're finished here."
Wash removes his foot, and the guy splutters and chokes. He follows his wife from the room. It's all just business. It keeps them alive.
They hear the sound of footsteps crossing the floor from above them. Simon tenses and glances nervously round the room. He sees Mal doing the same, checking for anything within any kind of reach that could be used as a weapon. Jayne is still unconscious and laying flat out.
Simon pulls his hands against the restraints. The hands have lots of tiny bones in them. It won't matter if he breaks one or two. He tugs harder, trying to slide his hands out to no avail.
The footsteps come steadily down the stairs, towards the door.
Mal leans back against the pipe, and draws his knees up to his chest. Whoever did this is going to regret not securing his legs.
The door swings open to reveal a man backlit by an unseen source. Both Mal and Simon stiffen as he steps forward, tips his hat back from his face and…grins at them.
"Miss me?"
Inara tries to talk to Kaylee again as they return to the ship but she walks ahead with River, ignoring her. Inara knows she disappeared in the bar, probably to run back to Sam. Now the dawn is breaking on the horizon and she hopes that they have beaten the men back to Serenity.
Beside her Zoë limps along in the high heels.
"How do you wear these all the time?" she asks Inara.
"With practise," she laughs. "Maybe Wash will give you a foot massage."
Zoë grins. "Maybe the captain will give you one."
Inara catches the double entendre. "Zoë!"
The first mate just grins again. "Lets catch up with the bride to be."
"So how did you do it?" Mal studies Wash suspiciously as they walk back to the docks.
Wash grins. "Well you know. It's all just in a night's work for a super hero like me. Mild mannered pilot by day, ass-kicking man of steel by night."
Mal gives him a look.
"Took a leaf out of Simon's book," Wash admits.
"Bored them to death?" Jayne butts in.
Simon gives him a withering look, and puzzles for a moment over what Wash has said. Then realisation spreads across his face. "You made a bet…"
"You did what?"
"One roll for your souls…sorry lives. Hell, maybe I'm getting good at this gambling thing." He grins at them. "They admired my audacity. Plus you were a pain in the pigu to hold. Hired goons." Wash shakes his head sadly. "You just can't get the staff these days."
"You made a bet? For our lives?" Mal continues disbelievingly.
"Well if it didn't work I was fully intending to get Zoë," Wash protests as they near the ship.
Simon suddenly gets the feeling of being watched and wheels round to scan the docks. The only person is sight is far away. Simon squints and stares at him. It's an older man, rigid posture, salt-and-pepper hair. There is something familiar there. The man is walking away. Simon cannot shake his unease.
"You coming?" Mal calls down the ramp.
"I…err…yes," Simon throws the man a last look and enters Serenity.
They find the girls sat round the dining table.
"How was dinner?" Wash asks leaning down to kiss Zoë.
River looks up and stares strangely at Simon. "You're not his son anymore. You weren't the day you spirited me away."
Simon's stomach does an unpleasant back flip, which shakes up the alcohol a little more.
Kaylee looks up at him too. "Simon your face?"
He holds up a hand, "Excuse me," and makes a bolt for the door.
Jayne rubs River's hair. "Coming to bed baby girl?"
She flashes him a look. "No. You can't see me until the ceremony."
He looks put out. "But…"
"No. Tradition."
"How was your night?" Mal asks Inara, hoping to make amends.
"Very pleasant thank you." She eyes him critically. "And unlike yours Captain, it did not involve a brawl."
Inara sweeps from the room leaving Mal standing open-mouthed behind her.
Mal conducts the ceremony in the cargo bay. River had insisted he do it. Kaylee is the bridesmaid and decked out in her huge pink dress. River has a long white dress and a huge bunch of pink flowers. They even get Jayne into a suit. Baby Mal is the pageboy, in a tiny suit.
Inara cries and Simon gets very choked up. His baby sister is married. But he won't cry.
Afterwards they throw a giant party that seemingly spreads itself all over the ship. Kaylee has decorated everything she can reach with paper streamers.
They set up a huge table full of food and Kaylee pipes music into the cargo bay so they can dance.
Wash and Zoë are dancing around, holding baby Mal between them. River and Jayne are too wrapped up in each other to notice anything else.
Simon and Kaylee dance slowly, with her occasionally standing on his feet. He doesn't say anything. He leans down to kiss her and she flinches. Not enough that the others see, but he notices. He draws back without kissing her.
"What is it?" he asks softly. He will not make a scene at his sister's wedding.
"Did you think of me?" she looks up at him, eyes wide.
"What?"
They are still dancing, but they're not paying attention anymore.
"In those six years, was I…was I just dead?"
Simon stares at the floor and lets the tears dry on his cheeks. Today is the day he has given up. Today he told himself that she was dead and for the first time he believed his words in the mirror.
"Simon!" River yells from somewhere else in the house.
"In here River," he calls, rubbing his eyes.
She comes running into the room and throws herself onto his bed next to him. In her hand is clutched a piece of paper.
"What is this?"
She holds it out to him. "I've been drawing."
He takes it and his breath catches painfully in his throat, like a large glass marble is lodged there. He blinks a few times and tries to breathe. What is she trying to do to him? She is looking at him. Right down to the flecks in her eyes and the charcoal grease smudge on her nose.
"I drew her for you," River whispers, cuddling up beside him. She puts an arm around his waist. "So you won't forget."
Simon swallows the marble with difficulty and forces his voice out of his mouth. "River please can you…can you leave me alone."
She silently leaves the room. Simon grips the edges of the drawing between his trembling hands and stares at it. Kaylee stares at him from the paper.
"You're dead, you're dead." He mutters to it. "You're dead."
He stands abruptly and throws the paper on the bed. "YOU'RE DEAD!" he yells at it. Kaylee continues to smile in charcoal.
"Yes, I did think of you. I mourned you for a very long time…"
"Do you love me?"
Simon frowns. "Why are you asking me this?"
Kaylee sat on the fence rail and watched the sun go down, tears streaming down her face. She hears her father's footsteps behind her.
"Are you alright little Kaylee?"
She shakes her head.
"That pilot friend of yours has just sent a WAVE. Wish?"
"Wash," she corrects.
She hops down from the fence and dusts her hands off on her trousers.
"I'm sorry," her father says softly. He rubs a tear from her cheek with his thumb.
She nods. "I just wish…"
"We know," he says sadly.
Kaylee bites her lip and gives the red sky one last look. If she can just sit here, on that fence, a little longer, then maybe she can hold onto the hope that somewhere they are still alive. But if she walks into the house and talks to Wash, then all she knows is that they are dead. And she won't have that hope anymore.
She takes a deep breath, turns and walks to the house.
"Do you?" she insists.
"Yes," he says simply. "Kaylee what…?"
She shakes her head and draws herself closer to him, as much as the dress will allow anyway. She rests her head against his shoulder and he doesn't see her cry.
Mal creeps away to the miraculously empty dining room. Sometimes he can't get used to the ship being full again. He scuffs his feet and sighs, leaning on the back of a chair. He can hear the music from the cargo bay. The sound of laughter. Kaylee is probably stepping on the doc's toes. Mal feels strangely disconnected from it all.
He hears Inara enter the room.
"Hiding?" she asks.
"No."
The music changes to a slower waltz. It sounds like the music from that ball so long ago.
Mal bows low to Inara and takes her hand. He pulls her gently to him and kisses her on the lips before she can protest.
"I'm sorry," he murmurs against her ear. "I was wrong. I don't admit that often so make the most of it."
She smiles. "I forgive you. Again."
Mal grins lopsidedly, and dips her low. She squeals in surprise as he pulls her back up and kisses her again. They waltz around the dining room in time to the music.
She sits in the chair and stares at him accusingly.
"You told me it would be simple! Just get him and then we can find her."
He shrugs. "I'm sorry. We hadn't counted on the others."
She wipes angry tears from her eyes. "What did you think he would do? He's smarter than that. Of course he has friends."
He looks at the floor and shifts his weight. He is too old for this. So is she. But that won't stop her. "Then we'll keep trying."
"No more mercenaries. I don't want them hurt."
"yes, of course."
She sighs and twists her hands. "I pray he found her. You said he was alone. Where was she?"
He shrugs. "I don't know."
"He's our son! At least pretend you care!"
The End