Zoe tracked Jayne's movements through the kitchen.
While she had learned to trust the man in a fight, she never could bring herself to trust him in the kitchen. The man couldn't boil water. Had no call to be in there anyhow with them having a professional cook on board to prepare their meals.
But the man had taken to stomping and cursing all over the ship and the kitchen was just today's place to be an ass.
"Where are the damn knives," Jayne shouted to the room in general. "Things should be in their proper place. Everybody in the 'Verse knows that!"
Zoe quickly scanned the reactions of everyone in the room.
No one was paying much mind to their resident merc of late. Simon didn't even to bother to look up from his book. Mal shot him an irritated yet half-hearted glare, obviously preferring to review some wedding detail or another with Inara. Missy, their cook, just stood to the side watching. Smart woman, that one.
Kevin, her adopted son, was enthralled with his simulator screen as usual and didn't even seem to hear Jayne.
The boy certainly did have a passion for flying. A small smile crossed her lips. The fact that the child never met Wash didn't seem to matter. He weren't even blood to either of them but the spirit of her long-gone husband surely did live on through the boy.
"Knives don't just walk away," shouted Jayne. "People walk away, not an itty bitty knife."
Zoe thought he mumbled something about him not being the one to walk away but couldn't quite hear to the clamor he was making.
"Where in the 'Verse is the rutting knife?" Another shout from Jayne.
Scanning to her left, Zoe spied Kaylee.
The girl's usual sunny disposition was gone and she was looking on the cursing man with what seemed like pity. Now, that girl knew something and she was keeping awful quiet about it, Zoe thought.
The last two years were different than all the other years on Serenity. Fortune had smiled on most of them, for starters and for a change. Simon and Kaylee got engaged and were even fixin' to having a baby. Mal and Inara were planning their wedding now that Inara had resigned from the Guild. Her boy had been admitted to the fancy distance-learning flight school that was supposedly impossible to get into. Jayne had more coin in his pocket than ever before but, surprisingly, didn't make him happy. In fact, he'd become crankier and more irritable. Zoe pegged it back around the time that River left.
His mumblings about "walkin' away" and Kaylee's look of pity put her mind on a path of thinking. She smiled at her own ignorance. Seems Mal wasn't the only one to have things go unnoticed on his own ship. But she need to be sure. Ain't no use in being wrong when being right was way more fun.
"Kaylee," Zoe spoke up. "Any word from River of late?"
The banging in the kitchen immediately stopped.
Jayne now stood motionless, a wooden spoon clutched tightly in his right fist. Kaylee's eyes tracked slowly to Jayne's back before turning her attention to Zoe.
"Actually, I did talk to her at couple nights ago," Kaylee said, almost reluctantly. "Just for a bit though. She was real tired from bein' at some shindig."
"She planning to visit any time soon," Zoe pushed.
The sound of the spoon snapping in half was all the confirmation Zoe needed.
While her first instinct was to smile at her discovery, Zoe found herself frowning. She knew what it was to miss someone so bad that much else really mattered. Of course, her decision to adopt Kevin had changed things for her…. but Jayne? No, Jayne didn't have anything or anyone to call his own. Her heart went out to him.
"Captain, perhaps we should pay a visit to River," Zoe suggested. "Might be good to deliver that fancy wedding invitation in person, don't you think, sir? Seems we're due for a bit of R&R soon and Osiris ain't that far."
The room exploded with energy. Everyone talking all at once about how that was such a good idea. Kaylee making her puppy-dog eyes at Mal, Kevin talking about plotting the course. Even Missy was asking Simon about River's favorite foods.
Zoe watched as Jayne turned slowly and seemed awfully intent on Mal's answer. While his jaw and fists were all clenched tight, there was an unmistakable look of hope, and maybe even longing, in his eyes.
Well, there it is. Looks like the big man is in love, Zoe thought.
"I have been wanting to ask River to be one of my bridesmaids for some time," Inara added quietly as the room awaited Mal's response.
Zoe smiled knowing that would be the clencher. Ain't no way Mal would deny Inara anything, especially anything to do with the wedding.
Mal pulled back his shoulders, a move Zoe knew meant he was looking to establish authority. "I imagine that's a right fine idea, Zo," Mal smiled. "Ain't seen my 'Tross in a spell and Osiris is a good place for 'Nara to find herself a proper wedding dress."
Inara rolled her eyes behind his back but rubbed his forearm gently and nodded her agreement. It had become a bit of joke that Mal cared more about Inara's wedding gown than she did.
"Then it's settled," Mal said in his best captain's voice. "Can't see a reason to wait. Inara and I will go make arrangements. Kaylee why don't you give our little debutante a call and let her know we are headed her way in about…"
"Three days," chimed Kevin. "Already plotted, sir."
"Three days, then," smiled Mal. "Zoe why don't you see if we can dig up any work while we are there. Call the usual suspects, I suppose. And Jayne?"
Jayne's posture screamed readiness and anger, a hand even moving to the gun on his hip that he hadn't had to carry onboard in years.
"Ya, Mal," Jayne nearly threatened.
Mal noticed the aggressive stance as well. "Ummm, why dontcha just….I don't know….uh….check her bunk? Make sure it's fit if she decides to grace us with her presence and want to stay the night."
An actual blush crept onto the big man's neck and cheek. "Um, sure, Mal," Jayne stumbled as he turned on his heel and marched none too quietly out of the room.
Zoe relaxed quietly back into her seat as the room continued to buzz with enthusiasm and excitement at the new plans and the prospect of seeing one of their own again. She turned her eyes to her son.
Kevin raised his chin in the direction that Jayne had just stormed off in, wiggled his eyebrows, and threw his signature wink.
Zoe nearly giggled in response. Her clever boy never missed a beat.
SHORTLY AFTER, ON OSIRIS
River disconnected the wave with Kaylee and flung herself back onto her bed. A finger found a home in her hair and started twirling.
"One hair, two hair, ties that bind. Binding, binding, bound. Bound to be right. Bound to go home."
She couldn't stop the huge grin from blossoming on her face.
