Title: Relations
Series: Let it Flow
Author: Sevangel
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Not mine
FYI: I'm very excited by this chapter and the one that will follow, as I have been building up to this since the start of the story.
Jayne reaches for River and sits up with a growl when his arms come up empty. Looking around his bunk, he sighs heavily when he sees her sitting on the ground, a pad of drawing paper in her hand. "Whatcha doin'?"
"Making you new pictures." River answers as finishes the picture she is drawing. "I removed the other ones."
Jayne glances over to his wall to see all his nudie pictures gone. "You that jealous, baby?" Jayne questions with an egotistical smirk.
River looks up at him with a glare. "Would you like for me to have naked pictures of other men on my walls?"
His smirk disappears. "No."
River tears the last picture off and sets the pad on the ground before grabbing the rest of her drawings. She stands up gracefully and jumps on top of Jayne with a squeal, the paper held tightly in her hands.
Jayne grunts as River lands on his stomach and his hands come up to grab her ass. He kneads the soft flesh with his hands, his body hard.
River moans and rubs herself against Jayne for a second before pulling away with a determined look. "I drew you pictures of your girl."
Jayne takes the papers, thinking it's more pictures of his guns. His jaw drops open and he stares at the pictures with lust-filled eyes.
"I peaked." River whispers.
"Huh?" Jayne mutters as he leafs through the pages.
"This is how you see me." River explains. "I peaked just so I could see."
Jayne thinks he should be a little pissed that she went peakin' into his mind but he's too busy starin' at the pictures. The first one is innocent enough, just River sleepin'. He remembers exactly where and when it's from; right before the first time they kissed. He can still see the peaceful look on her face.
The next one is a little racier; she's straddlin' what he knows to be his stomach and his hands are under her nightgown. Her body is arched towards his hands, her eyes closed and hair dangling to rub against his thighs.
He flips to the next page and runs a finger down the page. He remembers this one well. She's leanin' back against the shower wall, her body being soaked with three of her fingers deep inside her. Her face even has the frustrated, painful look that he remembers bein' on it. The next picture is just a few seconds later, his face buried deep in her heat. Her legs are diggin' into his back while her face is flooded with pleasure.
The fifth picture right as she came, the first time they had sex. Her legs are wrapped tight around his hips, her mouth opened in a scream, and her body arched with pleasure. The last one is of them on their hands and knees, his body blanketing hers, her hands digging into the mattress, head arched to the side with his teeth holding her in place. One of his hands is tweaking a nipple while the other is between their bodies.
"Do you like them?" River questions nervously.
"Love em." Jayne assures her. "It's like you took pictures of how I remember it."
"Are you going to hang them up?" River asks.
"Are you crazy?" Jayne replies quickly. "What if'n somebody comes down here? I don't want nobody but me seein' you like this. I'll pick somethin' up on Persephone to keep em in." He reaches out and gently sets the pictures on his chair before snaking his hands out to pull her against him. "You sore, baby?"
River dips a hand between her naked legs to bury two fingers inside of herself. She pumps them a few times before pulling them out and pressing them against his lips. "Nope." River answers, moaning when he sucks on her fingers. "Not sore."
"That's good." Jayne drawls lustfully. "Cause I'm thinkin' we should be workin' on that sex we was talkin' bout."
"Yes." River agrees as she straddles his cock. "I would like that."
Jayne drops his mouth to suck at her throat right as she drops her body on his. He lets her set the pace and is rather happy that it's just as he prefers it, hard and fast. His hands mold her breasts, paying close attention to the two hard nubs pressing against his palms. His mouth drags down her throat to drag a nipple into his mouth, his teeth pulling gently on the aroused bit of flesh.
"Ohh..ohh…full." River moans as she slams herself onto him over and over again. "You fill me right up."
Jayne grunts when River's body slams down onto his hard enough that one of her weaves bust open. Jayne grasps her hips to stop her downward thrusts.
"No." River growls. "Don't stop."
"Baby, you're hurt." Jayne says.
"Please, Jayne." River pleads. "It burns."
"Not so hard then." Jayne gives in, his hands grasping her hips to keep her thrusts softer. Jayne pulls her nipple back into his mouth while his hand buries between them to find her clit. He rubs her clit roughly and tugs her nipple with his teeth.
River arches towards Jayne and opens her mouth with a wordless cry as her walls clench tightly around him. Jayne bucks up against her a few more times before coming with a loud groan.
River collapses against Jayne's chest, panting heavily.
Jayne pulls away after a few minutes and lies her down on the bed to examine her stomach. "Your brother's gonna hafta put another weave in." Jayne declares through clenched teeth.
River stands up to wrap her arms around Jayne's neck. "Not your fault." River whispers. "I didn't want you to stop."
"Get dressed, baby girl." Jayne orders as he looks around his bunk for her clothes. "Where's your clothes?"
"You carried me naked, remember?" River replies.
"Right." Jayne agrees. "Wait a ruttin' second, you must'va left to get the drawin' stuff, what'd you wear then?"
River walks over to grab a t-shirt off the ground. "This." River declares, holding his old, cut up blue sun t-shirt.
"You ruttin' walked round this boat in nothin' but a t-shirt?" Jayne bellows.
"Everybody was sleeping." River defends as she pulls the shirt back on.
"But they ain't sleepin' now." Jayne growls. He digs around his clothes until he finds a pair of drawstring shorts and hands them to her.
River pulls the shorts on and pulls the drawstring tight. "They are much too big." River declares, the shorts hanging off her small frame.
"Well, yeah, you're so gorram tiny." Jayne agrees as he ties his boots. He stands up and stretches before ushering her towards the ladder. "And where are your slippers? Ya gotta stop walkin' round barefoot."
"They are in my room." River answers as she climbs up the ladder. "I will go get them."
"Nope." Jayne says, snagging her wrist. "You're goin' to the infirmary."
"Do I have to?" River asks with big eyes and a small pout.
"Yep." Jayne replies, bending his head to nip at her lip. "That look ain't gonna work on me."
"It has before." River pouts, her arms crossed over her chest.
"You're just so gorram cute." Jayne says as he wraps an arm around her waist. "And it don't work if it's bout keepin' you safe."
River sighs and leans against his side as he steers her towards the infirmary. She hops up on the sickbed and kicks her feet back and forth while Jayne hits the com to call Simon into the infirmary.
Simon runs into the infirmary with Zoe and Mal right on his heals. "What happened?" Simon questions Jayne.
"One of her weaves busted open." Jayne answers.
Simon orders River to lie down and pulls up the bottom of her shirt to examine the damage.
"Busted open how?" Mal yells. "Gorramit, Jayne, I trusted that she wouldn't come to harm with you."
"Stop it, captain daddy." River yells back. "It wasn't Jayne's fault. He stopped but I made him continue."
"Made him continue what?" Mal asks.
River just gives him a look.
"Oh." Mal mutters. "Little witch, I didn't wanna know that."
"You did ask." River replies.
"Guess I just overreacted a bit." Mal admits sheepishly.
"I shoulda stopped." Jayne says. "But she's too gorram hard to say no to."
"I know." Mal and Simon both agree.
"How's she look?" Jayne questions, looking down at River's stomach. "Why you takin' em all out? Shouldn't you be puttin' em back in?"
"She's healing at a remarkable rate." Simon replies, slightly in awe. "I've never seen anyone heal this fast; she just needs the wound covered with gauze."
River waits for Simon to finish before sitting up with a happy sigh. She jumps off the bed and walks over to Jayne. "I'm hungry."
"Me too." Jayne agrees. He takes the hand she's holding out and they walk out of the infirmary.
"Well, looks like you got yourself a shiny new brother." Mal comments to Simon.
"What do you mean?" Simon questions.
"I've seen that look on a man before." Mal replies. "He's in love with your sister and I know Jayne well enough to know that nothin' short of death is gonna make him let her go."
"Well, that's a nice development." Simon comments. "So you're saying that my sister now has her very own, personal mercenary?"
"Yep." Mal replies.
"My father would have a fit." Simon says with a smile. "And I wish I could tell him just so I could see it."
"That ain't a very charitable attitude." Mal observes as he follows Simon out of the infirmary.
"You've never met my father." Simon replies. "You'd understand if you had."
-
"Alright, we're gonna be landin' on Persephone in an hour or so." Mal tells the crew as they're gathered around the table, eating lunch. "Me, Jayne, and Zoe will go meet with Badger while Nara and Kaylee work on River and the doc's disguises."
"Disguises?" Jayne questions as he shovels food into his mouth.
"Yeah." Kaylee replies cheerfully. "Cap'n is lettin' em off the boat but we gotta disguise em first."
"Jayne, River's with you and Simon's with Kaylee." Mal orders. "I want everyone stayin' away from places feds are known to be and keepin' a low profile. That means no hurtin' somebody if'n they happen to look at River in a way you don't approve of, Jayne."
"Is this really a good idea?" Jayne asks.
"Probably not." Mal replies. "But they ain't gotten off the ship since we picked up post and River needs clothes of her own. Looks like you get to go shoppin'."
Jayne mutters a few curses under his breath.
"I need new under things." River whispers to Jayne. "You may pick them out."
"Huh." Jayne mutters with a grin. "Now that don't sound half bad."
"Mei-mei, I didn't want to hear that." Simon groans.
River smiles at her brother before leaning over to whisper in Jayne's ear. "And you can help me try them on."
"That defiantly don't sound bad." Jayne drawls as he pulls River out of her chair and onto his lap.
"Are you two going to do that all the time?" Simon questions, wincing as he watches his sister nip Jayne's neck.
"Yep." They both answer.
"Do ya have to do it in front of us?" Mal asks, looking away from them.
"Yep."
"That's gonna get real old real fast." Mal mutters. "Jayne, keep your hands outa her clothes when we're in the room."
"Oh, Mal." Jayne complains, his hands sliding under the shirt she's wearing.
"I mean it." Mal says firmly. "I know you're…sleepin' together but I don't wanna have to witness it, dong ma?"
"Fine." Jayne agrees. "You bout done eatin', baby?"
"Yes." River answers.
Jayne stands up with River in his arms and starts towards the door. "We're gonna go work on the sleepin' thing."
"You best have your ass in the bay in 45 minutes." Mal yells after Jayne.
"Wasn't that interesting?" Wash comments. "Anybody else notice they both have bite marks?"
-
"What the hell are you supposed to be?" Jayne asks Simon before bursting into laughter.
"That's a nice look for you." Mal comments with a smirk.
"Shut up." Simon says. He looks down at the bright, tropical-flowered shirt he's wearing and loose cargo pants with old, dirty boots before looking back up Mal and Jayne. "I'm not leaving this boat."
"Course you are." Kaylee says as she walks over to grab his hand. "Oh, we forgot somethin'." She sets a battered hat on Simon's head with a smile. "There you go."
"I look like an idiot." Simon groans. "An idiot that a clown exploded on."
"My favorite shirt?" Wash complains as he moves into the bay. "How did you get my favorite shirt? I've been looking for it for months."
"Zoe said he could use it." Kaylee replies.
"Wifey, did you hide my favorite shirt and then give it to Simon to wear?" Wash asks.
"Yes." Zoe answers.
"Okay." Wash replies. "But Simon, I want that shirt back."
"You can have it now." Simon says. "Because I'm not going."
"Yes, you are Simon." River says from behind them.
Jayne turns around, his jaw dropping open. "You're goin' out in that?" Jayne asks slowly. "I don't think so."
"River, don't you look pretty." Kaylee gushes. "I love that dress."
"That ain't a dress." Jayne growls. "Hell, there ain't nuf fabric in that to make a shirt."
"You don't like it?" River questions quietly.
"Course I like it." Jayne replies. "What's not to like?" His eyes move down the tight, short blue dress she's wearin'. It has small straps that leave her arms and shoulder completely bare, the front dippin' down to show the tops of her creamy breasts. It molds her from the top of her body down to her waist and then flows down to end a few inches above mid-thigh. Her legs are bare and feet strapped in a pair of high-heeled sandals. Her hair is piled on top of her head, a few curls hangin' down and she's wearin' makeup. All-in-all, she don't look nothin' like her picture floatin'round on the cortex. "Whose clothes are those anyways?"
"Nara's." Kaylee answers. "They're bout the same size except in the chest area."
"Alright, I want everyone back on this boat in 2 hours." Mal orders. "Book, you wanna go with Kaylee and Simon? I'm gonna go with Zoe and Wash."
"Sure." Book agrees.
"Come on, baby." Jayne says as he wraps an arm over her shoulder and pulls her against his side.
River cuddles into Jayne as they walk through the crowded streets of Persephone. She spies a general store, one that sells clothes, food, toys, and other general merchandise and points to it. "There."
"You wanna go in there?" Jayne asks. "I figured you'd wanna go to some fancy store."
"I'd rather go in there." River replies. "I've never been in a store like that."
Jayne opens the door and leads River into the crowded store. She happily grabs a cart and pushes it towards the clothing section.
Jayne shakes his head at River's excitement and follows her through the store.
River stops in front of a display holding shorts and tank tops and puts a few of each in her cart. She then pushes the cart over to a rack of dresses and flips through them before pulling out 5 that she likes. They're all the same cut that she's wearing now; strappy, dresses that are tight on top, down to the waist and then flow down her body. One of them ends mid-thigh, one ends above her knees and the other three reach her feet.
"That all the clothes you're getting'?" Jayne questions.
"I need new pajamas." River answers.
"Nope." Jayne replies with a grin. "You don't need em."
"And why not?" River asks with a grin.
"Cause." Jayne answers as he moves right up behind her. He places his arms around her and his hands on the handles next to hers. "I like ya naked."
River leans her head back against Jayne's shoulder and nips his neck. "I like being naked." River whispers.
Jayne drops his mouth onto River's and she tilts her head to deepen the kiss. His hand moves up to cup a breast and he swallows her moan. His other hand reaches down to her thigh and starts to work under the material when he hears a loud cough. Breaking the kiss, he looks up to see an old couple looking at them with smiles.
"Just thought I'd remind you that you're in a public place." The old man says with a smile. "And point out the group of boys staring at your girl."
Jayne looks to where the man indicates to see a group of boys, no older than 18 or 19, lookin' at River in a way he don't approve of. "Got a problem?" Jayne questions evenly.
"Just looking." One of the boys replies.
"You don't stop lookin' and you ain't gonna be conscious long nuf to remember what you've seen." Jayne threatens, his arms tightening around River's waist.
"Jayne, don't." River says quietly, her hands moving over his while her body leans completely into him. "They're just boys."
"They're just boys who are gonna find themselves bein' thrown through a ruttin' wall if they don't stop lookin' at you." Jayne replies, glaring at the group.
River pushes the cart away from the boys and towards the lingerie section. Jayne's hand rests on the pistol strapped to his, a non-verbal threat aimed towards the group still starin' at River. After a moment, the boys move on with one last look at the tiny genius.
"Jayne." River says, tugging on his arm to get his attention.
"Yeah, baby girl?" Jayne replies, turning his head to find her. A low-wolf whistle leaves his mouth at the fabric held in her hand.
"You like?" River asks, holding the black lace thongs up in the air.
"Hell, yeah." Jayne replies as he starts to sort through the racks of underwear. "These too." Jayne says after a few minutes, showing River an assorted amount of underwear.
River raises an eyebrow at the scraps of fabric Jayne threw into the cart. "Any others?"
Jayne spies a pack of plain, white cotton panties and grabs her size. "I'm thinkin' them lacey things can't be all that comfortable." Jayne tosses the pack into the cart. "Don't ya need to get some bras?"
River glances down at her chest. "I probably should." River agrees as she mentally calculates the size she will need. She's never worn off the rack clothing and this shopping experience is completely new to her. She grabs one cotton bra and then lets Jayne pick out the rest. "I should try them on now."
Jayne follows River as she walks across the clothing section to the dressing rooms. He waits while she gets the card from the kid runnin' the rooms and then reaches into the cart to grab all her clothes. With a smirk at the kid, he follows her inside and closes the door firmly behind them.
River kicks the sandals she's wearing off and drops her dress to the ground. She turns around and puts a hand on Jayne's chest to push him down onto the chair in the corner of the small room. She then digs through the pile of clothes on his lap until she finds the black thong and matching bra.
"I'd known you didn't have panties on under that dress we never woulda made it out of the boat." Jayne drawls as he leans back in the chair, his arms crossed behind his head as he watches River dress.
"Which is why you were not told." River replies as she grabs a tank top and pulls it on. "Is it too tight?"
"Turn around so's I can see." Jayne orders as he shifts restlessly in the chair. His eyes start to gaze over as he takes in his girl dressed in nothin' but a tight, white tank top and a pair of black-lace thongs. "No." Jayne manages to choke out.
River grabs a pair of the shorts she picked out and slips them on. They're short and tight, barely covering her ass cheeks.
"Ya know ya ain't walkin' outa the boat dressed like that." Jayne says as he motions for her to turn around. "Or my bunk."
River rolls her eyes as she strips back down to the underwear. She hands the shorts and top back to Jayne and grabs one of the dresses. She slips it on and turns around for Jayne to zip up.
"I like it." Jayne drawls, placing a hand on her waist to turn her around. "Looks all kinds of innocent if'n I didn't know ya hand on them panties."
"Unzip me please." River says as she turns around again.
Jayne tosses the clothes onto the bench and then pulls River towards him until the back of her thighs touch the chairs. "You tryin' on more?" Jayne questions lowly as he runs his hands up her bare arms.
"No." River moans. "They are all the same and there is no point in trying more on."
"Good." Jayne drawls as he slowly pulls the zipper down her back. He pushes it down her shoulders to pool at her feet.
River kicks the dress away and shifts her feet restlessly as she waits for Jayne to touch her. She bites her lip when his fingers graze the crotch of the panties she's wearing.
"What's it feel like?" Jayne growls as he caresses her clit through the fabric of her panties.
"Rough." River moans. "Scratches and makes me wet but offers no release."
Jayne continues to rub her through the fabric with one hand while the other slides up her side to cup her breast. His thumb rubs the lace against her nipple until it's hard as a rock. He then moves to her other breast to give it the same treatment.
River widens her stance and starts to ride Jayne's hand, trying to get him to touch her more. "Please."
"Please what, baby girl?" Jayne questions, his voice rough. He slips a finger into the tight panties and rubs it against her clit, once.
"Ohhh.." River shudders as she bucks against Jayne's hand. "Jayne, please."
"Please what?" Jayne repeats as he pushes his finger inside her tight sheath.
River's head drops forward as her hips press back against his fingers. "Want you inside me." River moans. "Want you to make me scream."
Jayne pulls his finger out with growl and then stands up. "Take em off." Jayne orders as he unbuckles his belt and pushes his pants and boxers down. Grabbin' the chair he'd been sittin' on, he spins it around and pushes the seat against the wall. He pulls River towards him, kisses her roughly, and then spins her around. "Hold on to the chair."
River grabs the back of the chair and holds on tight.
Jayne places a kiss in her exposed neck in an effort to soothe her tense body. He uses his knee to spread her body until she's bent over the chair, her legs quivering from the strain of keeping herself up. "You alright, baby?" Jayne asks.
"Please." River begs, wiggling her ass at him. "Inside."
Jayne places a hand on her hip and reaches down to separate her folds. He pushes into her with one hard thrust, his eyes closing at the feel of her surrounding him.
"Oh..oh.." River grunts, her hands holding onto the chair with a death grip. In the back of her mind she registers that they are in a public area and bites her lip to hold in her moan.
Jayne thrusts heavily into River, his hand moving to rub against her clit. The sound his body hittin' hers echoes through the room and he knows anybody standin' outside can hear em. He gives em bout 3 minutes, 5 at the most until somebody's poundin' on the door. He presses his thumb against her clit, pinches a nipple and slams into her body over and over again. "Baby, don't scream."
"It will come out on it's own." River moans, knowing that she won't be able to hold it in.
Jayne moves his hand away from her breast and up to her mouth. "Bite down on my arm when it's comin'."
River drops her mouth to rest against Jayne's arm as he fills her and unfills her and fills her over and over again. She knows if it weren't for the chair she is leaning against, she would have collapsed long again. His thumb presses hard against her clit once, twice, and on the third time, she bites his arm to muffle her scream.
When River's teeth break his skin, he pushes harder into her, the chair crackling under the strain, and buries his face in her back to disguise his groan.
River pants heavily, her body absorbing the feel of Jayne's on top of hers.
Jayne moves back after a few moments and glances down at his arm to see blood trickling from the mark. He wipes it off on the t-shirt he's still wearing and pulls his pants back up. He bends down to grab the black panties and bra and takes the tags off them before moving back to River. "You alright?"
"Yes." River says happily. "Just resting."
"We probably got bout 2 minutes for somebody comes poundin'." Jayne says, smacking her bare ass lightly. "Gotta get dressed."
River straightens up with a sigh and turns to face him. She steps into the panties he's holding out and lets him pull them up her body. "They're wet." River comments, a slight shudder running through her body when the fabric rubs against her still sensitive flesh.
"That ain't surprisin'." Jayne smirks as he hands her the bra.
River slips her arms into the straps and then reaches behind her to snap the bra. She picks up the dress she wore in the store and pulls it on over her body. She slips on the sandals Inara leant her and then turns to face Jayne with a big smile. "I like shopping."
"Baby, shoppin' normal don't happen like this." Jayne replies as he gathers up the clothes she's buyin'.
"Why not?" River questions as she follows Jayne out of room. "It's fun."
-
"Neal, boss said it's time for your break." Nick tells his best friend. "Don't see why the hell you need one since the only thing you do is sit on your ass, hand people cards, and tell them what room to use."
"Shh." Neal hushes, waving his arm.
"What the gorram hell?" Nick starts to question when he hears a moan from one of the dressing rooms. "What's going on?"
"Bout 30 minutes ago, some big guy and some hot girl went into that dressing room." Neal starts to explain.
"You're not supposed to let couples go into the rooms." Nick says, staring at the door.
"I know that but there was no way I was telling him that." Neal replies. "He's huge and armed."
Both boys stare at the door, straining to hear what's going on behind it.
"Neal, you're supposed to be on break."
Neal and Nick turn around to see their manager David walking towards them.
"What are you staring at?" David questions following their gaze. Right as he's about to ask another questions, a door opens and a large man walks out followed closely by a small woman. "Why didn't you stop them?"
"Because I didn't want to have my neck broken." Neal replies, nodding his head to the large man. "He looks like the kind of man to do that kind of thing."
-
Jayne walks out of the dressing room and looks up to see three guys starin' at him. A scowl cross his face as he waits for River to catch up to him. Spyin' a checkout counter, he stomps towards it. "Come on, baby." Jayne orders. "Still need to pick up some ammo fore we go back to the boat."
River ignores Jayne and walks over to the display of albums. She picks out a black one and carries it over to where Jayne is still glaring at the guys. "For your pictures." River says as she sets the album down. "Jayne, you're not allowed to hurt anybody, remember? Captain's orders."
Jayne wraps an arm around River's waist and pulls her to his side. "They shouldn'ta been listenin' to what weren't their business." Jayne says, still glaring at them.
River sighs and reaches under the hem of the skirt where a pocket is sewn. She pulls out the money inside it and looks up towards the store's employees. "May we pay now?" River questions sweetly.
"Um, yeah." David replies as he starts to ring up the clothing. When his hands linger to long over the panties, the large man slams a hand on the counter.
"You best be hurryin' this up." Jayne growls loudly.
David quickly rings up the rest of the purchases and puts them in two bags. "Anything else?"
"Yeah." Jayne replies, digging into his pocket to pull out the tags he torn off the bra and panties she's wearin'. "These."
David fingers the tags. "Um, I'm confused."
"She's wearin' em." Jayne explains. "Just ring em up." Jayne waits for the total and starts to pull out the money when he sees River start to hand over some cash. "Where'd you get money from?"
"Captain daddy." River answers, looking up at Jayne.
Jayne grabs the money she placed in the clerk's hand and replaces it with his own. "Ain't no way in hell I'm lettin' Mal buy your clothes."
River rolls her eyes, slightly amused by Jayne's possessiveness.
"Come on, baby, let's go." Jayne says as he takes the bags from the clerk. He places a hand on River's back and ushers her out of the store. "Gotta get some ammo, smokes, and booze."
"Okay." River replies, leaning into his side.
Jayne glances down at River, a bit shocked that she didn't throw a fit bout him wastin' money on booze and smokes.
"Jayne." River says.
"Yeah." Jayne replies.
"I would like to buy a gun of my own." River says.
Jayne thinks bout it for a second before agreeing. "Alright, but nothin' big."
-
"We're late." River comments as they walk towards Serenity.
"Yeah." Jayne agrees, not really caring. "Looks like your brother ditched the hat."
River giggles at the sight of her brother, who is still wearing the bright shirt.
"I see em." Kaylee says, poking Simon in the shoulder and gesturing to River and Jayne who are walking towards them.
"They're late." Mal says.
"Don't be such a grump, cap'n." Kaylee scolds. "They had to go clothes shoppin', that takes a bit of time."
"Don't see why." Mal mutters. "Just grab what ya need and move on, that's my theory."
"Ya gotta least try things on." Kaylee replies. "Right Simon?" When the doctor doesn't answer, Kaylee looks over at him. "What's wrong?"
"Doc, whatcha starin' at?" Mal questions, following Simon's gaze. He sees the private transport ship parked next to them that has the doc so fascinated. "Miss ridin' round in those richie vehicles?"
Simon turns to face the crew, his face completely white. "We have to go." Simon says, panic evident in his voice. "We have to go now."
"Son, you need to calm down." Book says calmly.
"No, you don't understand, we have to leave now." Simon practically screeches. "JAYNE!"
"Simon, what's wrong?" Kaylee asks, starting to get worried.
Simon doesn't answer, just continues to wave River and Jayne towards them.
"Sir, what's going on?" Zoe questions, her and Wash running out of the boat.
"Got no clue." Mal answer. "Doc's lost it though."
"What the gorram hell is goin' on?" Jayne says as him and River run up to the ship.
"We have to go." Simon replies. "We have to go now."
"Too late." River whispers before turning around. "Hello, Alfred."
The crew follows River's gaze to see an older man dressed in a crisp, black suit. Jayne grabs River and pulls her against his side.
"Mistress River." Alfred says, nodding to her. "Master Simon."
"Hello, Alfred." Simon replies with a sigh. "I assume mother and father are right behind you."
"Yes." Alfred says.
"I wanna know what the gorram hell is goin' on." Mal yells.
"Mal, I'd like you to meet our mother's personal assistant, Alfred." Simon replies. "Alfred, this is captain Reynolds."
"Mr. Reynolds." Alfred says, bowing slightly.
"Simon, what are you wearing?" Gabriel Tam says as he moves to stand beside his wife's assistant.
"Hello, father." Simon replies.
Mal glances around and sees they're starting to draw a crowd. "I think it's time we took this little meetin' inside." Mal orders. "Wash, tell Nara to get back here; we might have to leave early."
"Can do." Wash replies as he runs back into the boat.
"Who are you?" Gabriel sneers.
Mal pulls out his gun and waves it towards the ship. "I believe I done said get inside." Mal replies. "It weren't a request."
"Son, who are these people?" Gabriel asks.
Simon doesn't answer instead he starts walking into the ship.
"Hello, father." River says. "Mother."
"River, what are you doing here?" Gabriel asks.
River just leans against Jayne and lets him lead her into the ship.
"Gabriel, maybe we should just follow them." Regan Tam suggests.
Gabriel sighs and motions for Alfred to follow the disappearing crew into the ship. "I really do not have the time for this." Gabriel says, glancing down at his watch. "The meeting starts in 30 minutes."
Mal waits until the Tam's walk through the bay door before slamming his hand onto the button to close the doors. "Now, I wanna know what the gorram hell is goin' on." Mal says as he faces his crew. "These are your parents?"
"Yes." Simon answers.
Gabriel looks around the room before focusing on his daughter, who is sitting on the lap of some large man. "River, what are you doing?" Gabriel questions, his voice not changing. "Who is he?"
"That's Jayne." Simon answers, with a grin. "Her lover."
Gabriel's jaw drops and his face turns completely white. He tries to say something but nothing comes out of his mouth but an undignified squeak.
"Her what?" Regan asks.
"Lover." Mal repeats.
"You…" Gabriel stammers out at his daughter. "And him…."
"Are having sex." River finishes for her father. "Yes."
Gabriel turns to his son. "You let her sleep with him?" Gabriel yells. "It's bad enough that you took her out of her school but now your prostituting her so that you can remain fugitives?"
The audible sound of two guns cocking is his reply.
"I don't take to hearin' folk talk like that to my crew." Mal says, his gun pointing at Gabriel. "And I know Jayne ain't likin' hearin' you talk bout his girl that way."
"Damn straight." Jayne agrees, his gun pointed towards his girl's father.
"Jayne, it's okay." River says, placing her hand on his arm to point the gun down. "Captain daddy, it's okay."
"Captain daddy?" Gabriel yells.
"Yep." Mal replies. "See, she's like my kid regardless of blood and I don't take kind to hearin' people talk bout her that way."
"She's my daughter." Gabriel sneers. "Not yours."
"Please." Simon laughs. "She's your daughter when it suits you otherwise she was just an object."
"You're out of line." Gabriel says.
"You left her there." Simon replies. "And would have left her there forever regardless of what they were doing to her. And when I tried to get her out and got caught, you disowned me."
"She was fine." Gabriel yells.
"No she wasn't." Simon yells back. "You have no idea what they did to her; hell I have no idea what they did to her. But I do know I sit with her while she cried herself to sleep, while she was so scared that her entire body shook with it, when Mal and Jayne would have to hold her down just so I could sedate her. You didn't want to know; you just wanted your perfect life with your perfect children."
"I can't do this now." Gabriel says, glancing down at his watch. "I have a meeting to attend."
Simon laughs humorlessly. "Yes, you can't miss one gorram meeting."
"I don't know what happened to you and as of right now, I'm not sure that I want to know." Gabriel says to his son before turning to face his daughter. "River, get your things; I've been in contact with the academy and they still want you back."
"That ain't gonna happen." Mal says angrily.
"What are you going to do, shot me in cold blood?" Gabriel replies.
"Might." Mal replies. "But I know Jayne will."
"Yep." Jayne agrees.
"See, Jayne here kills people for a living." Mal explains. "A mercenary is the technical name. It won't faze him to shot all three of you and I won't stop him."
Gabriel swallows heavily. "You would never get away with it. This isn't some backwater moon. They will find our bodies…"
"Actually they wouldn't." Simon replies. "Do you have any idea what happens to a body if it's dropped out of a boat as it breaks atmo? There would be nothing left to find."
"You would let them kill us?" Gabriel asks in shock.
"To keep River safe, yes." Simon answers.
"I can't believe…what happened to you?" Gabriel stammers.
"Gabriel, you're going to be late." Regan tell her husband.
"Yes." Gabriel agrees, glancing at his watch. "We'll just have to let the feds handle this."
"No." Regan argues. "Don't you remember what happened when they were declared fugitives? The gossip and the reporters that we had to endure. Do you really want to go through that again? Or endanger your merger by everyone finding out that your fugitive children are in town?"
"You're right." Gabriel agrees.
"If you leave now, you can still make it before the meeting starts." Regan says. "Alfred and I will stay here and deal with this problem."
"Alright." Gabriel bends down to kiss her cheek, looks at his children once more, and starts for the door.
"You can let him out, captain daddy." River tells Mal. "He would never risk a merging going bad."
Mal pulls open the door and gestures for Gabriel to walk through. He follows the man out and watches as he walks towards the dock attendant to get a taxi. Mal waits until the taxi drives away before moving back into his ship.
"Is he gone?" Regan questions.
"Yep." Mal replies. "Took first taxi that came and didn't look back."
"Mother, I don't know what you're planning on doing but I will not allow you to endanger River in anyway." Simon says angrily. "Mother, are you even listening to me?"
Regan can hear her son taking but can't comprehend what he is saying. Her feet move on their own accord and in a few seconds, she finds herself standing less than a foot from her daughter.
Jayne tightens his hold on River's waist, his gun still held tightly in his hand. He studies his girl's ma and sees where she gets most of her looks. When he sees tears fill the woman's eyes, he glances down at River to see shock in her eyes.
Regan looks at her daughter and can fee the tears starting to run down her face. And without even knowing that she's going to, she finds herself wrapping her arms around her daughter. "My baby girl." Regan whispers as she squeezes River tightly.
"Doc, you wanna explain this?" Mal asks, waving his arm to the older woman hugging River.
"I'm not sure." Simon replies, never having seen his mother act like this.
River can feel her mother's tears hitting her face and feel her fingers digging into her back. Jayne's hands are still wrapped around her waist and it makes her feel like the inside of a sandwich. "Jayne." River whispers. "It's too much and she feels smothered."
"It's alright, baby." Jayne says soothingly as he pulls her closer to him and away from her mother. "Ya need to back up some; you're makin' her uncomfortable."
Regan removes her hands and straightens up to stare down at her daughter. "My beautiful baby girl." Regan cries. "What did they do to you?"
River slides her hands under the bottom of Jayne's shirt, grounding herself with his skin. She does not understand what her mother is feeling but she knows it is real. Burying her face in Jayne's chest and digging her nails into the bare skin of his back, River burrows as far into Jayne as she can get.
Jayne keeps one hand wrapped around River's waist while the other cups her ass to keep her against him. "It's alright, darlin'." Jayne whispers into River's ear. "I'm right here."
"Pain." River whispers. "So much pain and fear and relief and happiness and grief and she can't push it out."
Jayne kisses River gently, not knowing what else to do. His hand starts rub up and down her back in a calming gesture.
River's hands move up Jayne's chest as she loses herself into his mouth. Everything that she was feeling from her mother has disappeared and all she can feel is Jayne.
Regan stares at her daughter kissing the large man under her and turns to look at her son.
"You get used to it." Simon tells his mother, wincing when he catches a glimpse of Jayne's hand moving under River skirt. "Or at least I'm hoping we will."
"Gorramit, Jayne, I done said keep your hands outa her clothes when we're in the room." Mal yells.
River breaks the kiss and leans her forehead against Jayne's. "Thank you."
"For what?" Jayne replies.
"Making everything disappear but you and me." River says.
"Now that sounds like a plan." Jayne drawls as stands up. "We'll be in my bunk."
"We can't." River says sadly, her hand gently patting Jayne's face. "The time is not right."
"Course its the right time." Jayne argues, his hands adjusting against her bare legs.
"Down." River orders.
Jayne puts her down with a sigh.
River pushes on Jayne's chest until he sits back down on the crate and then crawls back onto his lap to lean against his chest.
Simon watches his mother, expecting to see disgust or at least shock cross her face. He's completely confused when his mother smiles at River and Jayne fondly. "Mother, what's going on?" Simon asks.
Regan turns to face her son and instead of answering, hugs him tightly. She draws back after a few moments to examine her son. "You're looking so much healthier." Regan comments. "I'm hoping you are working less."
Simon's jaw drops open as he stares at his mother. "Working less?" Simon gasps. "You want me to work less?"
"It's for your own health." Regan replies. "You're going to work yourself into an early grave if you don't slow down."
"I think I've gone mad." Simon mutters.
"I'm confused." Mal says. "Cause I was under the impression your parents didn't give a flyin' go'se bout you two."
"So was I." Simon agrees.
Regan smiles sadly at her son. "You saw what you were meant to see."
"Does the crazy thing run in the family?" Mal asks Simon. "Cause that just sounded like somethin' your sister woulda said."
"I don't know." Simon replies. "I have no idea what is going on here."
"Sir?" Zoe says.
"Got no clue." Mal replies. "I'm still stuck on her huggin' Simon and River."
"I'm still stuck on Mr. Tam saying he was going to turn back to the academy." Wash comments. "Would he really do that?"
"If he didn't think the backlash would effect his business, yes he would have." Regan replies.
Mal starts to say something when he hears a shuttle door open. He looks up to the walks to see Inara walking quickly onto the walks and down the stairs to the bay.
"What's going on?" Inara questions quickly. "Are we in trouble?"
"Celeste?" Regan whispers.
Inara turns around to see an older, beautiful woman staring at her. "I think you have me confused with my mother." Inara says, trying to place the woman.
"Inara." Regan says softly.
"Do I know you?" Inara asks, still not able to place her.
"Inara, this is my mother." Simon explains. "Mother this is…I guess you know who she is. How is that, by the way?"
"Mrs. Tam, maybe we should leave." Alfred suggests, moving behind his employer to place a supporting hand on her back. "You don't need to go through this."
"It's okay." Regan assures Alfred. "They need to know."
Alfred tenses. "Very well."
Regan looks back at Inara, her eyes examining every inch of the beautiful woman in front of her. "You look so much like your mother." Regan says, her hand reaching out to brush Inara's cheek. "So very beautiful; so very much like your mother."
"Thank you." Inara replies, starting to feel a little anxious.
"Except for your eyes." Regan continues as though she didn't hear Inara. "They're your fathers."
The bay goes completely quiet as everyone stares at Inara and Regan.
"You knew my father?" Inara whispers.
"No." Regan replies. "I know your father."
"That's impossible." Inara says. "My father is dead. My mother said he died before I was born."
"She just wishes he was dead." Regan replies. "But he is very much alive."
"How do you know that?" Inara asks, her voice starting to crack with emotion.
Regan smiles sadly at Inara. "Because I'm married to him."
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