Even though my Muse is ducking my calls right now, I have plenty of Freedom written out, so I have a cushion of more than enough chapters.

December 16, 2540

The crew was celebrating. It was now almost a year since they had left Serenity. Plus, it was Lara's nineteenth birthday.

"Happy birthday Lara!" Hel cried as she pulled out a cake, complete with candles.

"With the success of our last job, it's made of real flour, butter, sugar and eggs." Rex got out plates for everyone, grinning.

Lara looked around the table at her friends, her family. "Were you all in on this?" The resulting grins gave her the answer.

Gel leaned forward. "Don't blow out the candles yet, we forgot something."

"What?" Lara laughed as presents seemingly came out of nowhere.

"Happy birthday to you..." Gel led the crew in singing.

Jess was walking through the cargo bay, unable to figure out why he was so restless. He decided to head to the kitchen, to see if there were any leftovers. He stopped in the doorway as his transgenic hearing picked up the sound of someone crying softly.

He looked inside to find that it was Lara, sitting all alone at the table. "Lara? Lara what's wrong?"

She looked up, tears streaming down her face. "Oh it's you Jess."

He stepped inside, pulling up a chair across from her. "What's wrong?" He repeated. "I thought you liked the party, and the presents."

She shook her head, wiping away her tears. "I did. That's not why I'm crying you big dummy."

"Oh." He sat back. "Why are you crying then? I've never seen you do it before."

"It's stupid." She sighed.

"Tell me." He was just glad she'd stopped crying.

"It's eighteen years exactly tonight that she left." She murmured, barely audible.

"Your mom." Jess remembered that night vaguely. Mostly just memories of shouting.

"Inara. Maybe she gave birth to me, but she is not my mom." Lara pulled her knees up to her chest. "She cared more about being a Companion than being my mom."

"Then she's dumb." Jess said decidedly. "You are pretty, smart and one of the shiniest people I know."

"You think I'm pretty?" Lara grinned.

"Of course." Jess gulped, but continued. "Your hair is soft, and the color of your dad's browncoat. Your face is beautiful. And your body makes me think things that would get me thrown out an airlock if your dad found out."

"Airlock worthy huh?" Lara grinned again. "Didn't my dad threaten to throw your dad out of an airlock once?" All trace of sadness had left her eyes, replace by laughter.

"A few times actually." He lowered his voice conspiratorially and leaned in towards her. "The most famous time was when Mom had a seizure and Dad brought her in to Uncle Simon."

"Why would Dad threaten him over that?" She began whispering too.

"Well, Mom was naked." Lara gasped and giggled. "Plus Uncle Simon let it slip that she was pregnant with Lex and me."

"I'm surprised he didn't actually throw him out." She pressed her fingers of one hand over her lips to stifle a laugh. "What stopped him?"

"Mom." Jess laughed softly. "She got dressed and threatened your dad." He laughed harder and Lara joined him.

What do you think about my characters, they'll be developing as time goes on.

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