(Author's Note: Wow. Chapter 40. Thank you, readers. Thank you lots. Reviews are love. They keep me encouraged to keep writing. You should probably know when Earth That Was Finishes up I intend to write a sequel-Miranda That Is. That being said, happy 40th, here is some Sam River fluff)

"Where are we?"

River looked up as Sam approached her. She was sitting on one of the hanging walkways of the Serenity.
"My home. I decided you needed to see part of my life." River stated as he sat beside her. Their legs hung over the side and they were secure behind the railing.

"It's looks like the inside of a ship."
"It is."

In her memory the cargo bay the crew played a game, the teams of Jayne, Mal, Zoe, Kaylee, Book, and Wash were constantly shifting. Her brother had said they weren't playing by any civilized rules. That was just like the crew though.

Sam didn't say anything. His face was blank-Samuel Colt's life probably just let him out. River suspected if it was his memory they'd be in a burnt room.

"The blonde man is Wash. He was the pilot before me. He was married to Zoe, the one with the curly hair..." She began pointing them out. "The girl with brown hair is Kaylee-she's in love with Simon, my brother. The captain is wearing a red shirt. The man with scary hair is Book. Jayne-"

"You died in my arms."

River turned to Sam as he spoke. He was upset, his eyes red and his cheeks wet. She placed a hand on his cheek and met his eyes.
"Rowena died in Samuel Colt's arms. They aren't you and I."
"Then why did we have to watch?" Sam exclaimed. "Why did I have to watch a lifetime without you?"
"Because we needed to understand why I was sent back to save the world."
"Raziel and Sammael, right? Walker-Crowley mentioned them."
"I was sent back because they claimed no one else could do it." River replied. "You are not Sammael. I am not Raziel. You are Sam Winchester and I am River Tam. No matter how many times we lived previous, you are you and I am me!"

Sam stared at River for a moment.
"If you're trying to save the future you're from you should just kill me."

She stared back. She had intended to tell him the truth that night-how did he know when she was from?
"How do you know-"
"When I returned to my mind Lucifer told me. About what he told you. That he plans to bring back Ruby and 'unite' with her. And when that happens, my soul will disappear."
"I won't let that happen!" River shouted.
"I think to save your future, my body has to die."
"I want a second opinion!"
"Who from?" Sam replied.
"I don't know! But I want one?"
"Why can't you accept that I may have to die?"
"Because I've fallen in love with you!"

Before the words left her lips, River hadn't understood the context of love. She asked Wash about it once. He'd helped. By now she understood it couldn't be measured. There was no explanation as to why she felt that way. No mathematical one anyway.

"River, I'm cursed." Sam stated. "Every girl I've ever cared for seriously-"
"Died or betrayed you. I know." River sighed. "You don't have to make excuses. I'm a crazy girl from the future."
"That's not what I'm saying River. I'm no good. I unleashed Hell on Earth!" Sam exclaimed.
"Tell me something I don't know." River replied.
"What will it take to make you abandon me?"

Sam had risen by now in his exclamations. River sighed and stood, only measuring up to his chin as she looked up into his hazel eyes.
"The only reason I'd abandon my feelings is if they're one-sided. If you can look me in the eyes here, in the Mind scape, and tell me you don't care about me, I will wake up and run you through as you have so asked. But only if."

Sam met River's eyes and she saw the conflict in his. She was sure he was going to try to lie, even though one could only speak their mind on the mind scape.

Instead he kissed her.

River double took. It wasn't like Colt and Rowena's kiss. Rowena had known how to. River didn't. Sam helped her though, guiding her to tilt her head.

River wasn't sure when she'd wrapped her arms around his neck, or when the memory changed to her childhood home. She was sure the kiss had grown feverish as Sam lowered her onto the rug in front of the fireplace.

River was even more sure Simon would have killed him if he'd known what he'd done.