Title: Miles to Go Before I Sleep
author: Jmaria
Rating: FR-18
Disclaimer: Joss is god, I am a lowly worshipper.
Spoilers: The series, but not the big damn movie. Also, for Baby on Board, Just Unsettlin', Nightmare Seduction, Nucleus, Not Whole, Mama Cobb, Tiny Thing Like That, Family Matters, Gathering, Hootenanny or a Shindig (part one and part two), & Floozies, Vixens and the Manner of Grief
Summary: Here comes the bride. . .
A/N: So I gave you half a wedding. . . this part is partially flashbacks during the prep time for the wedding. Because of all the drama in the last part, I couldn't fit it in then, so here it is.

Miles to Go Before I Sleep

The Cobb house had been emptied of men on the day of the wedding at six in the morning. Except of course for the preacher, whom Evie seemed to develop a little crush on. It was precious, at least to Kaylee. Jayne found it creepifying, and well, Book blushed a bit.

"Ain't natural, my mother getting all giddy 'round Shepherd Book," Jayne commented to his groomsmen as they finished getting all spiffy for the ceremony.

"What ain't natural is that you look halfway civilised in a suit. I find that more than a bit creepifying," Wash said thickly, due to his swollen lip. It'd gone down a bit, but it still looked ugly.

"He does clean up well, it's disturbing," Simon grumbled.

"I'll take that half-assed compliment," Jayne laughed, and then immediately winced. His head was bruised in at least two spots.

"Are they being civil together?" Wash moaned.

"Quit it you two, you're givin' us the heebie-jeebies. Half expect ya'd be marriyin' Simon ruther than his sister today," Mal said, fixing his tie. "I hate these things."

"Weddings can be fun, don't discourage the man just because you called Inara a stripper," Wash laughed.

"Well, if the description fits. She strips to fer her clients don't she?"

"Can we not get into this discussion, I'm feeling ill already," Simon muttered, watching as Jayne groomed.

"As I was saying, weddings can be fun. Sure there's that feeling of utter insecurity and a vague 'oh god, why me' but other than that -"

"And all the sexin' ya can get in the clear anytime you want," Logan, Jayne's youngest brother who was standing up, laughed.

The four other men didn't say anything for the rest of the time concerning the benefits of weddings or married life.

At five o'clock, as the sun was beginning to set Jayne stood in the yard. He cut a handsome figure in his Pop's old suit coat. The Cobb sisters were the first guests in place, sitting on the brides set of benches Jayne remembered his father making when he was just a boy. Pop had always been good with his hands, good at making things. Kinda like he were there in a way.

The Cobb sisters all dressed in pink, with their hair done up and flowers in their hands. The nieces all wore white and the nephews wore black. Jayne knew it was his mother's touch. Few folk from town came, just his mother's old lady friends. They sat on the groom's side, which just made Jayne shudder in fear.

Inside the Cobb home, Inara was putting the finishing touches on River's hair. Truth be told, she never thought she'd make it on time, but as she had told Mal, the Companion Training House had excellent couriers.

"You look simply beautiful, bao-bei," Inara sighed, a smile on her lips.

"Good of you to come, needed you here. Was missing, off key without you," River smiled, her hand resting gently on her hidden stomach. "Had to take measures, precautions, or else our family would have been torn asunder."

"River, sweetheart?"

"Would have lost him, like we lost you. Would have quarreled, and been gone when we needed him most," River murmured.

"Who are you - are you talking about Jayne?"

"Jayne, Wash, Simon, Mal, Book. Were lost without your guidance, lost boys looking for a mother. Never grow up, never leave the Valley, so lost without the beacon, the signal of hope. Hope that he could be something better," In that instant, Inara knew the girl wasn't talking about the Mercenary.

"Mal -"

"We're nearly ready, girls. Simon's come back to fetch River." Zoe said, smiling in the dress River had picked for her.

"Time to go, many miles before we can rest. Before we sleep."

"Everything okay, Inara?" Zoe asked as they left the room River was dressing in.

"No, it's not. I can't believe she's marrying Jayne Cobb," Inara laughed to hide the confusion the girl's words had caused in her mind.

"Threw us all for a loop when she told us. Actually, when he told us. Never thought I'd see him find a -"

"Ladies, it's time. Ms. Serra if'n you'll take your seat?"

River sat with her hands clasped tightly together when Simon came in the room. She smiled at him. He was struck by how beautiful his baby sister was. And the thought that Jayne did not deserve her crossed his mind again.

"I love you, Simon."

"I love you too, mei-mei."

"Be happy for me," she begged.

"Are you happy, River?" Simon asked, hoping she would say no, that she would give up this game.

"Yes. Everything is fully functioning, I feel and think like a girl and the bits are staying down. Be happy Simon, that's all I need."

"If - do you?"

"Do I love him?" River whispered, looking down at her hands.

"Do you?"

The room was silent for several seconds, and Simon hoped she would say no. It wouldn't make him happy, but it would make some kind of sense for him. If she were doing this out of guilt or fear he could understand.

"I do," her voice is stronger, and he will become complacent with her answer.

"It's nearly time," is all he can bring himself to say.

Zoe fingers the blue pendant in her hand as River leaves the room. The soldier smiles at the girl and River looks at it.

"Tradition?"

"That's right, little one. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Wash gave this to me after our first successful job."

Zoe held out the blue carved bird pendant that looked a bit like Serenity. The old brown leather cord that it had hung on had been replaced with a new white strip of leather. River smiled brightly.

"Old, new, borrowed and blue."

"Figured it save on time finding four things," Zoe shrugged.

"Thank you."

"Time to go, Zoe," Kaylee cried excitedly.

Phoebe and Mattie followed Zoe down the aisle. Kaylee pecked her quickly on the cheek before she made her way out the door. Simon stood just outside the door as she tied the necklace around her throat. He smiled at her, and she smiled back.

The wedding march played on.

Simon felt the lump rise in his throat as they made their way through the yard to the preacher. He felt slightly nauseous. River dug her nails into his arm, giving him a hooded warning look. Then came the moment he dreaded.

"Who gives this woman away?" Book asked quietly.

"I do," Simon said stiffly.

"Kiss my cheek and sit down by Inara," River said quietly when he hadn't moved.

"Yes. Take care of her, Jayne," Simon murmured, giving River's hand to the bigger man.

Shepherd Book went through the formalities of the ceremony, giving a lively sermon as to the importance of the bonds of marriage. Mal looked bored during the sermon until Wash casually kicked him in the calf.

Then came the time the entire crew, even Simon, were looking forward to hearing. Jayne's vows. As of this morning, he still didn't know what he was gonna say, and had said as much to Mal and Wash. River would speak second, probably so's she could show him up.

"Jayne and River have decided to write their own vows. Jayne?"

"Um, well, I ain't so good with words. Don't normally find much use fer 'em," he coughed, looking River in the eyes.

"Is he reusing his speech from Canton?" Wash hissed.

"Seems he might -" Mal was cut off by Jayne's hand swinging back into his stomach.

"As I were sayin', I ain't got nuff schoolin' in my life to know enough big words that mean a whole lot and can string together fer you. I'm a simple kinda guy, and I reckon I got somethin' I prolly don't deserve, and Simon'll be the first to say so. Ain't a good, kind man, no matter what Ma'll try and tell ya, but you seen that and you still picked me. I got enough brains to know that if someone as special as you sees something in me, something good nuff to choose all a this - well, I'm glad you did." There was a pregnant pause as the crew sat back. Jayne cleared his throat and looked at the preacher, who was as shocked as the rest of the crew. "That's it."

"Um, yes. And River?"

"Mine aren't as pretty," she said grinning, tears in her eyes..

"That's quite alright, my dear," Book smiled, and the guests gave a quiet laugh.

"Never knew, when I first saw you that you'd be the one my thread in life would be bound to," River said, looking deeply into his eyes. "Didn't see what made the man that you were, saw fragments and too far between to know it all. Saved me from the dark places in all your simplicity, more than the rest. Teased you because I could, and knew you wouldn't do anything too severe. Nothing I couldn't handle. Clouded judgment followed by perfect clarity. Chose you, this, in a world of no choices. You gave me a voice, a weapon to use. An anchor in the storm." Her voice trembled, and Jayne feared she'd start crying. But she smiled, "And Jayne is definitely not a girl."

Simon snorted, his laugh building. It was infectious, and soon the whole yard was in an uproar of laughter. When they'd all recovered from it, Shepherd book continued.

"By the power granted to me by God and before these witness, I pronounce you Man and Wife. You may kiss the bride, son."

Jayne coughed again and hesitantly moved forward, planning on a quick peck on the lips. But River merely sighed and snuck forward, pulling the large man down to kiss him fiercely. She kissed until she felt his lips responding. One hand cupped her face and the other dipped around to the small of her back. River sighed, and Jayne was sure he felt it slide through him, settling deep in his stomach.

The sun had set by the time the food had been set down and the wedding guests were enjoying the food and liquor. Somehow, they made it through the dinner when someone brought out a guitar. Soon there was dancing and laughing, and Jayne felt himself being tugged up by River who insisted they dance as Man and Wife.

"Aww, girl I ain't skilled at dancing," Jayne moaned.

"Lucky that I am," River grinned, pulling him harder.

She pulled him close and was content to let him simply sway as if they were both still children at their first dance. She danced with everyone, with Mattie and Phoebe. Simon, Mal, Wash, and Book were all treated to several turns. However, she kept slipping away from them and leaving them mostly in Kaylee, Inara, Zoe and Evie's capable hands. She danced with his brothers, and his sisters' husbands, his nephews and nieces. But she wasn't content until she was in his arms, which made him all manner of confused.

"Safe. Best partner in the 'verse," River murmured against his chest.