Title: Crushes
Series: Heart of Gold; Rayne style
Author: Sevangel
Disclaimer: Not mine
Rating: PG-13
-
River sits huddled in the corner of the Cobb living room, a photo album on her lap. Everyone else is sleeping, the men having passed out by the fire a few hours ago and the women retiring to bed a few hours before that. She runs her finger down a picture of her Jayne as a boy of 12. Even at that age he was bigger than she is now, just as Roy is. Roy takes after his big brother a great deal, though he is a bit smaller than Jayne was at the same age. And he lacks the darkness that her Jayne has and River knows he'll never have it. She wishes she could go back in time and see Jayne play as a boy, when his innocence was still evident in his eyes.
She doesn't know how long she sits there flipping through the album, looking at the Cobb family from Rita and Robert's marriage picture to the last picture they have of Jayne before he left up to the picture taken last Christmas. She tenses when she hears a sound and closes her eyes before realizing its just Rita getting up to start breakfast. She gently sets the album onto the coffee table before walking quietly into the kitchen.
"Good morning." River whispers.
Rita spins around, hand held against her chest. "River, sweetie, you bout scared me to death."
"Sorry." River replies as she walks into the kitchen. "Sometimes I forget to make noise."
"It's okay, sweetie." Rita says. She takes in her daughter-in-law's rumpled clothing and the small bags under her eyes. "Did you get any sleep?"
"No." River answers quietly. "Too loud."
Rita looks confused for a second before realizing what the girl means. "Why didn't ya just get Jayne?" Rita questions as she pulls out a large basket of potatoes. "Didn't you say he quiets everything?"
"Yes, he does." River agrees as she walks over to Rita. "He doesn't get to see his family a lot or just relax, he's always taking care of me. I didn't want to ruin that. I'll be okay."
"Jayne ain't gonna like that when he finds out." Rita says as she gathers flour, oil, and eggs to make a batch of biscuits. "He's like his pa that way; he finds out you was hurtin' and he coulda prevented it, he's gonna be ticked."
"I know." River replies as she watches Jayne mother prepare breakfast. "But at least he enjoyed his night. Would you like help?"
"That would be great." Rita replies. "My hands act up when I try and cut potatoes. If'n you could slice em up for fried potatoes, I'd 'preciate it."
"How big of slices?" River questions as she takes the knife Rita is pointing at.
"Bout quarter of an inch." Rita replies. "You've never sliced potatoes before?"
"No." River answers. "I've never cooked before coming on Serenity, Simon either. I used to watch our cooks but I wasn't allowed to help. I don't think Simon even knew where the kitchen really was."
"You come from money." Rita states.
"My parents have money, yes." River agrees as she calculates the length of the potato and how many quarter-inch slices are in it. She pushes the knife through the raw vegetable quickly, looking over at Rita when she moves again. The older woman starts a large pot of coffee before moving back to the biscuit dough.
Rita glances at River and sees the small girl's hand slicing the potato, the genius not looking at the knife, instead looking over at her. "River, sweetie, you should probably be watchin' what you're doin'." Rita warns.
River glances at Rita again before looking back at her hand. She finishes the potato she's on and move to the next one, pushing the perfectly even slices to the side. "How many do we need?"
"Bout 25 or so." Rita replies.
River nods before returning to her task.
Rita puts the biscuits in the oven to bake and grabs a couple pounds of bacon. She starts frying it and jumps slightly when River places a bowl of sliced potatoes next to her arm.
"I finished half." River says. "Thought you might want them now."
"Probably a good idea." Rita replies as she pulls out another large pan to fry the potatoes.
River starts back towards the rest of the potatoes and stops suddenly. She walks over to a cupboard and takes out 9 coffee cups. She sets them all on the edge of the counter and fills each with coffee before putting a bowl of sugar and a small pitcher of milk next to them. She starts a fresh pot and then returns to her potatoes.
Rita starts to question River when she hears the front door open followed by the sound of 9 men dragging towards the kitchen.
"Rita, baby, I hope ya got some coffee…" Robert says as he walks into the kitchen, stopping when he sees nine cups of coffee sitting on the counter. "Guess you knew we was comin'."
"Nope." Rita replies. "River did."
Jayne grabs a cup before walking around his father to step in front of his wife. "Baby, you sleep okay?" Jayne questions.
"Fine." River lies.
Jayne sees his mother tense up and pulls his wife's face up to examine it. "Don't lie to me, baby." Jayne says quietly. He traces the bags under her eyes with his thumb. "You didn't sleep at all, did ya?"
"No." River concedes.
"Mei-mei, you have to sleep." Simon says as he looks at his sister.
"She knows." River says, wincing slightly. Her hands reach up to rub her temples with a grimace.
"Come on, baby." Jayne says. "We'll go outside or somethin' where it's quiet."
"No." River says. "She wants to finish helping, she needs to finish. If everybody just goes wash up and stops worrying so much, she'll be fine."
Jayne sets his cup down and brings his hands up to massage her temples. River drops her own hands and leans into Jayne's with a contented sigh. Jayne rubs at her head for a few moments before bending down to kiss her forehead. "We're takin' a nap later, dong ma?"
"We are?" River questions with a happy sigh. "That sounds nice. We have to go to Serenity though, captain and Simon don't want to hear again."
"Didn't mean nap that way." Jayne replies.
"But I need the right incentive to sleep." River says, looking up at him. "And my Jayne can always make me sleepy."
Jayne leers down before pulling her closer for a kiss.
"Alright, Jayne." Mal says. "You heard your wife, it's time to wash up. Don't think everyone wants to wait until you two are done 'fore eatin'."
Jayne pulls away from River before returning to drop a light, almost chaste kiss on her lips. "I'm headin' up to take a shower." Jayne says. "Sure you don't wanna join me?"
"NO!" Simon and Mal yell.
River giggles before pushing on Jayne's chest. "Go get clean, dirty boy." River orders.
Jayne growls at her, smacks her ass, and grabs his cup of coffee before leaving the kitchen.
"Hey, who said you get first dibs on the shower?" Tim yells after his brother.
"Me." Jayne yells back. "And the fact that I could toss ya cross them room if needed."
"I swear, no matter how old they get, they still act like little boys." Robert mutters as he follows his sons. "And if'n any of you even think bout usin' the shower in my room, I'll kick your ass."
The rest of the Serenity men head to the boat, deciding it'll be quicker and safer to wash up there.
"They're very loud." River comments.
"Yeah, they are." Rita agrees.
-
"What's the plan for today?" Sam questions as they're eating breakfast.
"Don't know." Jayne answers. "You got any stuff needs done?"
"Some cattle moved and some fences fixed." Sam answers.
"Do you all have separate spreads or do you share?" Mal questions.
"Share." Robert replies. "Bill takes care of the corn and wheat, Tim does the book work and helps out where needed, Sam runs the herd, and I supervise."
"Runs what?" Simon questions.
"Cattle." Sam answers. "Ain't you ever been round cows before?"
"No." Simon replies. "Not beside the illegal one's we transported before."
"Doc's all citified." Jayne replies.
"He ain't one you see dealin' with animals and the like." Mal agrees.
"He's never been around animals." River comments. "Either one of us have, besides exhibits and guard dogs."
"Which we steered clear of." Simon replies. "They were trained to kill trespassers on the spot."
"They weren't very friendly." River agrees.
"Mei-mie, please tell me you didn't try to play with them?" Simon groans.
"I wanted to pet one." River replies. "But he just growled at me."
"You didn't have pets?" Cassie questions.
River snorts.
"What?" Cassie says, looking confused.
"Gabriel Tam allow animals in his house?" River says. "He'd just as soon shoot himself in the foot as he would get a pet."
"Our father is a bit…alright, extremely snobbish." Simon replies. "Both him and our mother are very into outwards appearances."
"Kaylee, if you think Simon is stiff and proper, our parents are 10 times that amount." River says. "They would have had a coronary within 5 minutes on Serenity and not just because of the captain."
"What do I got to do with it?" Mal questions.
"You're an independent." Simon replies. "Most of our father's business is through the Alliance."
"Oh." Mal mutters.
"But that's not what would have bothered them the most." River says. "Zoe and Wash would have; just like Rita and Robert."
"Why?" Robert questions.
"Because you share sleeping quarters with your wife." River answers.
"Your parents don't sleep together?" Sam questions.
"No." River answers. "A wife must always look presentable to her husband, like a recently polished trophy. He must never see her soft with sleep."
"What bout sex?" Kaylee questions.
"Kaylee." Simon hushes.
"What?" Kaylee answers. "If'n they don't share a bed, how do they, ya know, do it?"
Bill and Tim glance at each other before laughing at the mechanic's outspokenness. Within a few seconds, most of the table is laughing with them.
"What?" Kaylee says. "I'm just curious."
"Mother fulfilled her wifely duties twice a month." River replies. "The second and forth Tuesday of every month."
"That's it?" Kaylee says. "They only did it twice a month?"
Simon drops his fork and puts his hands over his face, groaning with embarrassment. "I don't even want to know how you know that, mei-mei." Simon says. "Or how you know the answer you're about to give."
River just smiles secretly at her brother. "Mother was far more interested in shopping, luncheons, and committees." River says, answering Kaylee's question. "When father wanted physical contact, he would just buy it."
"Whores?" Mal questions.
"Companions." River verifies.
"Did your ma know?" Kaylee questions.
"She paid the bill." River answers. "She would even contact the guild when father was becoming too stressed."
Jayne glances at his wife. "Your ma really didn't care that your pa cheated on her?"
"Not as long as he was careful." River answers, looking up at her husband. "But I'm not my mother. If you even try it, I'll rip her arms off and beat you to death with them."
The table goes quiet as they wait for Jayne's reaction.
Jayne chuckles deeply and pulls River onto his lap. "That's just bout the sexiest gorram thing I've done heard." Jayne growls, kissing River deeply.
"Only Jayne would be turned on by having his wife threaten to beat him to death." Wash comments.
"Alright, son." Robert says. "That's enough."
River pulls away from Jayne and smiles down at him. "We will finish at nap time." River tells Jayne. "Right now, we mush finish eating and then your brothers want to see your other girls." She gives him one last peck before moving back into her own seat.
"Jayne, you got some other girls stashed on that boat?" Robert questions his son with a scowl.
"Yes." River answers for her husband. "They sleep beside us, all shiny and hard."
"She means my guns." Jayne explains. "Collection got a bit larger since you last saw."
"Still got the targets set up in the back yard." Sam says. "Don't get a lot of use but I'd like to get my hands on somethin' a bit different than my old shotgun."
"Me too." Bill agrees.
"Doc, maybe Jayne here will show you how to actually hit something." Mal comments with a grin.
River giggles. "I wouldn't wager money on it."
Simon glares at his sister. "Brat."
"Boob." River retorts.
"Children." Mal scolds. "This ain't the place for that. You can take your bickerin' outside."
"Fine." River and Simon reply.
"River, can you show me and Cass some dances today?" Britney questions.
River tilts her head and closes her eyes for a moment. "Yes." River answers. "We can dance outside."
"Shiny." Britney and Cassie squeal together. "When?"
"After the target practice." River answers. "I want to watch."
"Ma, can I watch too?" Roy asks.
"Yeah, I suppose." Rita answers.
"Can I shoot a couple times?" Roy questions a few seconds later.
"If'n Jayne'll show you, then yes." Robert answers. "Since they're his guns and he's got the most experience."
"Jayne?" Roy pleads.
"No." Jayne growls.
"River?" Roy says, looking towards her.
"Jayne will let you." River replies, smiling at the boy.
"Says who?" Jayne grunts.
"Says me." River replies.
"Girl." Jayne warns.
"Boy with a girl's name." River says back.
The table laughs while Jayne glares at his wife.
"You're gonna pay for that." Jayne threatens with a growl.
River giggles before jumping up and running out of the room, her bare feet moving across the ground quickly.
"That's one sassy wife you got there, Jayne." Tim comments.
"I know." Jayne replies as he pops a piece of bacon into his mouth and stands up. "Best go see where she went fore she gets herself in trouble."
"Yes, if anyone can find trouble, it'd be River." Mal agrees as he stands up. "She's libel to get herself kidnapped or some such."
Simon stands up with the aide of his crutches and Kaylee to follow the men outside. "Jayne, do you see her?" Simon questions, using a hand as a visor to reflect the sun.
"Nope." Jayne growls. "I swear that gorram girl's gonna drive me nuts."
"Most women do." Robert replies.
"Hey." Kaylee protests. "I ain't drivin' no one to nothin'."
"Yet." Sam replies, grinning down at the mechanic. "Just think you need some time." He nods his head, indicating to Simon.
Kaylee punches him on the arm. "Nice to see the teasin' runs in the family." Kaylee says.
Robert glances around his back yard, looking for his son's wife when he suddenly sees her. "Tianna." Robert whispers.
"What?" Jayne growls. He follows his father's line of sight to see his wife in the middle of a field, bending over to peer down at some flowers. "What the hell is she doin?"
"What she's doin' ain't as important as where she is." Bill replies.
"I don't understand." Simon says.
"We keep a horse in that field." Robert explains as he slowly makes his way off the porch. "A stallion, one that ain't any manner of friendly. Done thrown all of us off him."
"We have to get her out of there." Simon exclaims.
"Ya gotta quiet down, son." Robert says quietly. "He ain't around so he might not know she's in there. But if'n we all go runnin' and yellin', he's gonna know."
Jayne reaches for the small of his back and comes up empty. "Gorramit, I left my ruttin' gun on the boat." Jayne growls as he follows his father, his footsteps slow and light.
"Whadda need a gun for?" Bill questions.
"Gonna shoot that gorram horse if'n he gets near her." Jayne growls.
"That's my ruttin' horse." Sam replies.
"And she's my ruttin' wife." Jayne growls. "And like I done said, I'll kill to keep her safe, animal or person."
They all look towards the field when they hear the sound of hoof beats running across the hard soil. Jayne takes off towards the fence just in time to see the large animal bearing down on his little wife. River stands up, frozen in spot as the large, black horse moves towards her at a fast gallop. Jayne's heart jumps into his throat when the wild animal barrels at his wife and he yells her name when the horse comes within a few feet of her.
Kaylee gasps and grabs onto Simon's arm when the horse comes right at River. The large animal comes to a stop less than a foot away from the genius, the horse tilting its head to peer at the girl. River tilts her head back, looking curiously at the animal.
Jayne breathes a sigh of relief when the horse doesn't instantly trample of his wife but his body is still clenched with fear and he knows it won't go away till she's out of that field. The horse suddenly gives a little neigh and reaches out to nudge River's stomach with its head. The animal rubs its head against her stomach for a few seconds before moving up to nuzzle between her breasts.
"Jayne." Mal says quietly.
"Yeah Mal?" Jayne questions.
"Is it just me or is that horse copin' a feel?" Mal questions.
"I don't think its just you." Robert replies, completely baffled by the horse's behavior. He honestly thought River was gonna get trampled if not killed by the large animal.
Jayne stares at the animal nuzzling his wife before moving towards the fence with a growl. He puts one foot on the bottom rail when the horse lifts its head to stare at him, baring its teeth as its feet shuffle restlessly.
"Son, you best stop." Robert warns.
"Yeah, looks like he's stakin' his territory." Mal adds, unable to keep the smile off his face.
"Ain't his territory." Jayne growls. "She's mine."
"Just the same, I think he's gonna try to attack you if'n you go in there and your wife's between you and him." Sam says.
Jayne removes his foot and glares at the animal. The horse neighs again before nudging River's face with its nose. River giggles and brings her hands up to rub against the soft hair.
"Baby, I want you out of there, now." Jayne orders loudly.
River glances over her shoulder at her husband. "But he's so cute." River protests. "Can't I play a little longer?"
"I ain't jokin', baby." Jayne growls. "I will go get a gorram gun and shoot that ruttin' animal if'n it don't get away from you."
River sighs. "Just want to pet an animal." River says quietly.
"I'll find you some nice and safe horse to play with." Jayne says, hearing the wistful note of her voice. "But not that one; he's wild as hell."
"Yes." River agrees. She rubs the horse's head a few more times and they all watch as the horse rubs back happily. "I have to go now; my Jayne is so very over protective and I don't want him to shoot you."
The horse whines back, its head nudging her stomach again.
River bends down to kiss the horse's head before turning back to the fence. She walks towards her husband, the horse right behind her. She starts to climb the fence when the horse bends its head to burrow under the bottom of her skirt, its head nuzzling the back of her thighs.
River turns her head around quickly to look down at the horse. "That is inappropriate touching." River scolds loudly. Amazingly enough, the horse hangs its head, properly scolded. River pats its head one last time before climbing the rest of the way over the fence and into her husband's waiting arms.
Jayne runs his hand over his wife's body before pulling her tightly against his chest. "You can't keep doin' this to me, baby." Jayne growls. "I'm gonna end up havin' a ruttin' heart attack if'n you keep puttin' yourself in so much gorram danger."
"He wouldn't have hurt me." River assures him. "He is just scared and tired. I understand the feeling."
"Little witch, was you readin' that's horse's mind?" Mal questions.
River giggles. "You're funny, captain daddy." River says. "A horse doesn't have thoughts, not like us, although they are smarter than cows. But they do have emotions and the horse is scared. Something's nipping at his heels and he can't sleep for fear that he'll get gobbled up."
Their attention is moved off the genius and back to the animal when it whines again, its head trying to reach River. Jayne pulls River against his chest and glares at the animal.
"Go play." River says softly.
The horse tilts its head again before rearing back on its hind legs, neighing loudly. It then takes off across the field at a fast gallop, its tail waving in the wind.
"Well, Jayne, it looks like your brother isn't the only one with a huge crush on your wife." Wash comments with a smile.
Jayne glares at Tim, his arms tightening around River.
"Wasn't talking about him." Wash says. He nods his head towards the rapidly blushing Roy.
Roy gives River a puppy-dog look before taking off across the yard towards the house.
"Now look what you did, husband." Zoe says quietly. "He's probably so afraid that Jayne's gonna kill him that he ain't gonna come out of his room until we're gone."
"I'll go talk to him." River says.
Jayne tightens his arms. "No, you won't." Jayne growls.
"I'll talk to him." Kaylee offers. "I know what it's like to crush on somebody without them showin' or givin' ya any clue that it might happen."
"He best know it ain't gonna ever happen." Jayne growls.
"Jayne, he's just a boy." Simon says. "Didn't you have crushes at that age?"
"Yeah." Jayne replies. "And I acted on em a year or so later."
"You best not let your mother hear that." Robert warns. "She finds out you was sexin' when you were 14, she's libel to skin us both alive."
"Why you?" Kaylee asks.
"Who do you think gave me the protection?" Jayne replies.
"Oh." Kaylee replies with wide eyes.
"I weren't ready to have grand kids then." Robert defends. "He was gonna do it no matter what I said."
River looks up at her husband. "You're far more experienced than I am." River comments.
"Yep." Jayne agrees.
River turns around and reaches up to whisper into Jayne's ear. "I think I need to catch up." River says huskily. "And I need you to help."
Jayne's eyes glaze over slightly as he pulls River flush against his chest. "She's had a rough mornin'." Jayne says over his shoulder. "We're gonna go work on that nap thing. We'll do the gun thing later." He then starts walking River towards Serenity, his hand rubbing up and down her back. She wraps her arms around his neck before jumping up and clasping her legs around his waist.
"Looks like we gotta couple hours to burn." Mal says as he watches Jayne carry the moaning genius into Serenity. "Feel like givin' us a tour or somethin'?"
"Sure." Bill replies.
"Yeah." Sam agrees. "Looks like Jayne's gonna be distracted by his favorite weapon for a while."
"At least we won't have to hear this time." Kaylee points out brightly.
"You know, she's right." Mal agrees. "This day just got a bit shinier."
-