A/N Can I just say you guys are awesome?

Such lovely reviews. This chapter comes thanks to your kind encouragement and thanks to a prompt from the lovely deandjoforever1. (So nice to have you back.) Though I need to give a slight disclaimer to the prompter: hon, it meets the letter of your prompt but veers off in quite a different direction! I'll explain that at the end...

Hope all of you enjoy! :D

Requiem

Life debts were tricky things.

There were certain planets that held with the notion that once you saved someone's life, they owed it to you. That it was theirs to do with as they pleased.

That may been taking things a mite too far for the crew of Serenity but they were definitely of the opinion that once someone saved your life you really ought to do whatever favour they asked of you… no matter how wacky.

Which is why they were currently gathered around a makeshift bier in the ship's galley with River laid on top of it.

The whole thing had started with Kaylee.

She had idly remarked that funerals were often the place you heard the nicest things said about people and "weren't that a crying shame that they weren't around to hear it".

River had been present at the time and the notion had taken root, as things sometimes did with her, leading to the declaration that she wanted to have a ceremony to "exorcise what had gone before and create a new beginning".

Even if saving all their asses on Miranda hadn't inclined them to go along with her, she had then looked wistful as heck and added that it would be nice to have some good voices to drown out the bad, which simultaneously saddened and rattled the majority of the crew so much they became determined to give her what she asked for.

So here they were, under lowered ship lighting, approaching the bier where River lay dressed in flowing white, with eyes closed and flowers in her hair.

Zoë was taking the lead – because she could be the most trusted to keep a straight face at all times. Once everyone had formed the circle and fallen silent, she began to speak, intoning softy:

"We are gathered here today to do honour to the memory of River Eden Tam. Graceful warrior, exceptional xiōng can sha shǒu and pilot of the good ship Serenity. "

The others raised their brows in surprise – both for the poetic turn of phrase and for her final words; they knew what they must have cost her. But Mal seemed to take both in his stride.

He was the next to speak.

"River Tam, the honest-to-God genius, who picked up piloting quicker than sin. Not because of her 'Verse-sized brain, but 'cos she learnt the first rule early. River Tam, who loved Serenity and was loved by her in return. River Tam, the Li'l Albatross who slipped the millstone round her neck and learnt to fly free."

Mal looked to Inara, who stood beside him, and she picked up the narrative.

"Hers was a layered beauty," she began, in her musical voice. "The pain that she bore, the breakings she'd been through, only served to deepen it, rather than detract or degrade. Her beauty will never leave her because it is the beauty of her soul."

She wrapped an arm around Kaylee, whose head had been inclined against her. The sunny mechanic smiled.

"River was brave and strong and crazy-smart, but more'n that, so much bigger than that, she was kind. She had so much kindness in her. Didn't matter none that others hadn't shown it to her – they could never rob her of that. They could never take away her goodness. And they never did."

Simon took her hand and squeezed it, trying to convey his love and gratitude. He paused for a few seconds before speaking, as if gathering his thoughts. "River was the perfect mei-mei. Fun, mischievous, loving... and almost unparalleled at being a brat." His sister's lips twitched before she managed to control them. "She was the bravest person I ever knew. Not just because she fought and won against the Reavers, but because she fought and won against demons that would have destroyed someone else a hundred times over... Above all things she loved to dance, and above all things, her brother loved to see it. They say you cannot choose your family, but if you could, she would always be my choice."

There was a delicate pause to allow those that were that way inclined to surreptitiously wipe away their tears.

Then the attention fell on the last member of the circle: Jayne.

Jayne who had been noisily chomping on a soya roll and watching the proceedings with the air of a semi-interested bystander who does not consider himself to be directly involved in any way.

"Jayne!" Kaylee's voice was as close to a hiss as it could be, considering there weren't any esses in his name. He looked at her in inquiry and she jerked her head towards the bier.

"Oh, right." He cleared his throat and spoke gruffly. "River was one of the few people who coulda handled Vera." He returned to the last of his sandwich.

Simon rolled his eyes in semi-tolerant contempt, but Zoë and Mal's heads turned to Jayne in surprised reassessment and River's brows drew together.

Her eyes fluttered open. "The subject of the ceremony has a last request," she announced.

"Ain't you supposed to be dead?" Mal objected. "Corpses ain't generally chatty."

Her eyes snapped shut again. "I am slowly expiring in an unstoppable yet aesthetically pleasing manner," she corrected. "Last requests are traditional in this circumstance; only a hún dàn would refuse to grant it."

There was a delicate pause as her words hung in the air, softly accusing.

"So, a last request you say..." Mal spoke with determined cheerfulness. "And what might the little darlin' like?"

"The little darling would like one last kiss," she replied.

Mal's smile froze into a sickly-looking rictus.

"Say what now?"

"She would like one last kiss," River repeated. Then her mouth pursed in assessment. "In truth it would also be a first kiss, but why quibble over semantics?"

Mal opened and closed his mouth several times, but no sound came out.

"From who?" Kaylee asked, stepping into the breach, sounding intrigued. "Who would you like the kiss from, River? You ain't short of options. Plenty of people here," she added in tones that were nothing short of encouraging.

"Kaylee!" Simon objected, starchier than he'd been in months.

"Oh, come on, bǎo bǎo." Kaylee smiled without malice. "Isn't it better if you know it happens somewhere safe? With someone who loves her? Or at least likes her a lot..."

Simon appeared to consider this, then nodded reluctantly. "How about Inara?" he suggested.

Jayne's ears pricked up, looking fully engaged for the first time. "Damn, Doc. Never knew your tastes played to such kink. But..." He reconsidered. "She's your sister, bài lèi. That's twisted even by my standards." He looked disgusted.

Simon returned the look with interest.

Meanwhile, River was considering Simon's suggestion but then she shook her head. "Inara is very beautiful, but she is wearing cream and it would spoil the aesthetic. Besides, I think I would like it to be a boy." She considered some more. "But not one who is related to me… or who stands in the role of parent."

There was another pause... then everyone slowly edged round to look at Jayne.

He slowed his chewing as he became aware of their attention, and then swallowed down the last of the sandwich in one almighty gulp.

"Why the hell you all lookin' at me?" They continued to stare; River's words sank in. His eyes widened with absolute horror. "Nope. Uh-uh. No way! Not a chance in hell. No ruttin' how!"

"Come on, Jayne," Kaylee wheedled. "We all agreed we'd do whatever River asked."

"I ain't never agreed to that!" he objected.

"She saved you from a slow, painful death at the hands of dozens of Reavers," Zoë coolly reminded him.

He hesitated for a moment but then looked stubborn once more. "I tole you all before – I don't do kissin'!"

"So, make an exception," Kaylee said encouragingly.

His eyes began wildly pinwheeling about, as if seeking salvation. "Why's it gotta be me? Why can't Mal do it?"

"I said not a father figure," River pointed out, still with her eyes closed.

Mal looked decidedly relieved to have been definitively ruled out... but it wasn't long before "relieved" gave way to "nastily gleeful".

"Come on, Jayne – grant her her dying request. Or are you totally heartless as well as shockin' ungrateful?" He put a hand to his heart, looking appalled. If he'd had pearls, he would have been clutching them.

Jayne glared at him. "All those times you talked about no fraternisin' with the crew, threatened airlocks if I so much as looked at her sideways, and now you want me to kiss 'er?"

Mal's expression turned soulful. "What can I say? I'm a sucker for true love." He batted his eyelashes.

Jayne growled at him but looked around at the rest of the crew. Their expressions told him he wasn't getting away with it. Still, he wavered; Jayne Cobb was nothing if not ornery.

But then River spoke again, soft as a whisper.

"Please, Jayne."

A spasm that was part panic, part despair crossed his face.

He stepped forward and swiftly brushed a kiss against her forehead.

The others howled their dissatisfaction; if they'd had popcorn, they'd have been throwing it.

"Come on, Jayne!"

"What was that?"

"She's not your grandmother."

"For it to be a true kiss, the lips have to dance."

"Yeah! What she said! Give 'er a proper smooch!"

He growled at all of them this time, but reluctantly bent down once more, pressing a quick, chaste kiss to River's lips before backing away again.

Their rude commentary came even thicker and faster, raising his ire with every word until his chest was almost heaving.

"Pbbblllllt."

"What a disappointment."

"No wonder you don't kiss 'em on the mouth! You ain't any good at it!"

"I would award you five out of ten for technique. Because I am generous."

"Well, what did you all expect? Apes aren't exactly known for their fines—"

Simon cut himself off in shocked horror. The crew's jaws collectively dropped.

Jayne had caught River up from the bier, supporting her full weight with one hand so that her back arched in a tableau that had Inara's eyebrows rising in cool reassessment and Kaylee fanning her cheeks with both hands.

His other hand was cupping River's cheek, large and tanned against her ivory skin, as he firmly but tenderly guided her into his kiss.

And what a kiss it was…

Deep, claiming and passionate, yet considerate, as if he was conscious of her lack of experience. He took his time, never going too far or too fast, yet increasing its depth and feeling until her arms were wrapped round his neck and she was widening her jaw of her own accord.

It was at the point that River inadvertently made a small little noise, clearly signifying desire and intense enjoyment, that the crew rapidly unfroze and all hell broke loose.

Simon grabbed hold of Jayne's shoulder and wrenched him away.

Jayne staggered back, licking his lips.

River was supporting her own weight now and grinning at him. He grinned back a little dazedly, ignoring the tsunami breaking over their heads.

"Jayne... You brought me back to life." She was positively beaming.

He nodded back, looking enormously pleased with himself… and her.

"Right back at yer, girly."

fin

Glossary:

bǎo bǎo – baby; darling

bài lèi – sicko

hún dàn – bastard; scoundrel

mei-mei – little sister

xiōng can sha shǒu – ass-kicking killer

A/N2 So, here's the thing: Deanandjoforever1 asked me to write a fic post-BDM where River is dying and her last request is to share a real kiss with someone that is not female a father figure or her brother. Clearly, this was supposed to be a tragic prompt but... I couldn't do it. I've written death fics for Jayne and River before and I just couldn't face it this time. It hurts me to hurt them! So instead I started thinking about how River clearly loves to perform and her general quirkiness, and before I knew it, that story came out!

Hon, I hope you can forgive me for the artistic licence, and I hope you still liked it! XD

PS Guys, if you have a prompt, I am open for business ;)