A/N: I'm really sorry I haven't updated in awhile. I got busy with school again, and suffered from a writer's block. I had a few chapters written in a notebook, then lost it. I got the box set for my birthday, and I've been inspired to go back to it. Oh, and thanks to ScaryNightmare for the advice.

Chapter 4: Strawberries and Dinosaurs

The next morning, Mal found Jayne and Sida talking in the mess. Sida was cooking, and managing to make their go-se tasting food smell good.

"Well, Mal left before Ma remarried, but he knew he had a stepfather. I made sure of that. I didn't know our pa, so I took a liking to Joe, and pretty soon, I was calling him Pa. Back on Shadow…" Mal's walking in had interrupted Sida.

"What'cha makin'?" he asked casually.

"Breakfast," she answered brightly.

"Yeah, and she was telling some mighty embarrassin' stories about you as a kid," Jayne said, smirking. "Like how your ma caught you skinny dipping with some little country girl." Mal looked up, his face turning a slight shade of red.

"Well, I was just tryin' to get to know people. What else do I got to talk about?" Sida asked, a poutiness in her voice.

"How's about you tell him about the time your skirt got caught in your horse's saddle and how it ripped right offa you as you got off?" offered Mal, taking revenge.

"Now that woulda been somethin' to see," said Jayne.

"She is my younger sister," said Mal, turning on the merc. Mal tried to stare Jayne down, when he felt something hit his cheek, a strawberry thrown by Sida.

The bowl was between the two of them. They lunged for it, but Mal was quicker. He managed to catch Sida between the eyes with a big juicy one. Finally, Kaylee entered the mess. "You know, some people might want to eat those." She came up and took the bowl away from Mal as Sida stuck her tounge out at him. Sida bent down, picked up, and ate the strawberry she was hit with. "It still tastes good," she said, and went back to cooking.

While the crew ate, Kaylee brought up the subject of room arrangements. Mal sighed and sat back from the table. "How about this? WE see how Sida does with River a few nights, with Simon there with them and we'll go from there." Kaylee smiled across the table at Simon.

Sida turned to River. "Looks like we're rooming togther tonight."

River nodded. "I don't always sleep well," she warned.

"Doesn't bother me. Ma sa…well… used to say I could sleep through a stampede."

"If we're to be without Simon, you have to calm me down."

"I can handle that. I'd keep my horse calm during storms back on Shadow." The two finished eating, when Sida said, "Hey, I got an idea."

River and Sida excused themselves from the table and headed for the bridge. "You ever played with these?" Sida asked, indicating the toy dinosaurs strewn about. River shook her head. Sida picked up the Tyrannosaurus Rex and handed River a stegosaurus. River examined it, then looked up at Sida, a grin spreading over her features. Soon they fell to playing. Their laughter carried to Zoe as she headed for her bunk.

"…Can't do that, he eats plants," she heard Sida say.

"It's self-defense, your dinosaur initiated the attack." This exchange was followed by a fit of giggles. Zoe approached and waited at the door, watching them. The pair laughed, lost in their imaginary world. She could almost see Wash standing over them, cheering them on and giving the girls ideas. River looked up and her dinosaur fell to the floor. She had let go of it when she saw Zoe. "Sad, these were hers."

"Whose?" Sida asked, confused.

Zoe came in and picked up the toy. "They belonged to my husband, Wash. He would get bored, and play with them. He was our pilot. You and I got something in common, Sida. He was killed by Reavers."

"I'm sorry, I wouldn't have…" Zoe cut her off. "Wash would have wanted you to, and no need to be sorry." She handed River the toy dinosaur. "Go back to what you were doin'." As Zoe left them for her bunk, a tear slid down her face, and a smile stretched across it. She missed him, but she knew he'd be proud of what she just did.