DISCLAIMER: Once again I do not own this show.
A day after Mal's surgery, the Tams decided to return home even if it was without their children. They were going to leave in little over an hour. River didn't see them the whole time they were present on the boat. Her mother, however, thought it would be better to say good-bye to her daughter in a private meeting.
Megan Tam sat on a small chair that was across from River in the girl's room. "I wanted to say goodbye without all the crying."
"Who said I would cry?" River said effortlessly. She wanted her parents to leave quickly. They invaded the family she had made on Serenity.
"I know I will." Megan said trying hard to get her daughter's attention. There was a soft knock on the door and the caller opened it. River didn't look at who it was but she could tell by the way her mother reacted.
"Hello Captain Reynolds." Megan said coldly. River knew that her mother disapproved of the way that the Captain looked at her daughter.
"Sorry if I'm interrupting. I'll come back later." Mal said nicely. He turned on his heel when her mother started talking again.
"No. I was just ready to say goodbye to Simon. You can talk with her." Megan got up, walked to her daughter and kissed her softly on the forehead. "Goodbye and hopefully our paths meet again." She exited the room, giving Mal a cold look. He noticed she didn't close the door and did so himself.
"Hello Captain." River said with a small voice. She got up and faced him. "You look better."
"Yeah Doc said I can move about now. Decided to see you first."
"That was nice of you." River turned her back and picked up the small transmitter. She turned it in her hands while Mal started to talk again.
"It wasn't your fault no matter what you think. Your brother patched me up like what he's done with every one else on the crew. I'm fine now." Mal walked towards her and gently turned her around. She put her head in his chest and started to cry. They stood there for several moments until Mal took his chance and lightly kissed the girl. She returned the kiss patiently, not wanting to let him go. They only separated when they couldn't breathe anymore.
"Aren't you something else, then." Mal said, catching his breath.
"My parents want to say goodbye. I'll allow them if you want me to." River said looking up at him. Reluctantly, he let go of her and opened the door so that both of them could go to the hangar.
Once there, they noticed that the Tams were being more respectful to the rest of the crew. They had say goodbye to Simon already and were ready to bid farewell to their daughter.
Her father came up to her, gave her a quick hug and released, "I hope you're happy here. It doesn't seem like much but if it's home then alright." River gave her father a giant smile. He let his wife come to River.
"Be very safe. If something happens and everyone is wounded or killed, run away. Just leave you can let them die." Her mother gave her a small smile and hugged her too. "Watch out for your brother." She whispered and also, "Whatever is going on between you and the captain just make sure it's nothing bad."
"I'll be careful don't worry about it. The crew's a great family." River gave a huge smile and hugged both her parents at the same time. They left and Wash pushed the button to bring up the cargo ramp and turned to face his surrogate family.
"Where we headed to?"
A/N: This was the last chapter you could review to.