A/N: So, after seeing the series, and watching Serenity, I finally felt competent enough to write some fanfiction for the wonderful, beautiful thing that is Firefly. What can I say? I've been converted to a Browncoat. :D So this is my first Firefly fic, as you may have guessed. It's mostly about Mal, and his relationship with his crew (and other people in his life). It's short, but I like it. Here's hopin' you do too.
Family
Malcolm Reynolds knew what family was. He'd had his ma back on the ranch, and a bunch of rough, uncouth (and some possibly crazy) ranch hands. But they was family, and always tried to do right by one another. No matter how many times he screwed up, he was always welcome. And then the war came along, and he jumped right into it. He'd been willin' to fight for a noble cause, and in the process lost his family. But war offered him Zoe and the other soldiers, and that was family too.
That war woulda' been more hell'n it was, but for the friends he made there, and the times they shared. Both good, and bad. Because family was that, as well; you stayed with family through thick n' thin, no matter what, no exceptions. Mal mightn't have been the nicest person in the 'verse, but weren't nobody alive could say he wasn't loyal. The Captain of Serenity showed his affection in other ways, ways he deemed important and practical. Like taking care of his crew, making sure they was all alive at days end, and if not happy, then at least well fed.
Malcolm Reynolds knew what family was, all right. Family was who you had to help you through, the people you chose to share your life with (even though he himself shared little of his past with anyone); family was those you trusted with your life, and more importantly, with your heart. Now, no one could accuse Mal of being a sap, but he certainly had his moments, most of 'em concernin' his crew. And in the end, those moments would always win out.
Family was like what they used to say: "When you can't run anymore, you crawl, and when you can't do that... you find someone to carry you."