IN THE DINING AREA

Simon stared off toward the door, almost as if he was trying to keep his eyes on his sister that had just exited the room, headed toward the cargo bay.

Kaylee could sense that something was bothering him, but quite honestly, she was just too excited to have her ship healthy and her crew happy that she couldn't concern himself too much. At least not now.

The whole room was still abuzz from such a lively dinner. River had come aboard hours before. There had been lots of hugs and a little tears but she settled in real fast, just like she'd hadn't been gone nearly two years.

Although, some things sure had changed in that time.

For one, she'd learned to cook. That was really surprising. But probably most shocking was the change in her appearance. To look at her, you might mistake her for a Companion. Hair all done up real nice and a dress to make a man's eyes pop outta his head.

And Kaylee couldn't help but notice a certain man on board who's eyes got more than a little bug-eyed. Poor Jayne. Been missing River so much but ain't hardly admit it to himself.

Putting away her musings and the last of the clean glasses, she turned to address the group at large.

"Well, I sure think that was a right fine evening."

Mal stood, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder as he placed his cup in the sink. "Sure, sure, lil Kaylee," Mal complimented. "Mighty fine cookin' and even finer to have our 'Tross back on board."

The room erupted into murmurs of agreements.

"I do think it's a bit odd how she didn't have much to say about what she's been up to," Mal frowned slightly.

"Oh, Captain," Kaylee bubbled. "A girl's allowed a little mystery, dontcha think?"

"No," Simon chimed in. "I agree. I know my sister and she's definitely hiding something."

Kaylee smiled a bit thinking that the girl were certainly hiding a crush on Jayne but Mal perked up, obviously hating to be left out of any goings-on. "Something not good," he asked. "Something bad?"

His question hung in a way that inferred the biggest secret she ever had; Miranda.

"No," Simon sighed. "That nearly destroyed her psyche. This….well, this reminds me of how she'd get when we were younger, when she'd build these elaborate schemes. She just seems kind of smug and mysterious, I guess."

Inara gently placed her porcelain tea cup aside. "Gentlemen, please. Can we just enjoy that fact that River has taken time out of her extremely busy schedule to visit with us?" She looked to the other women in the room, soliciting their support. "Perhaps talk of secrets and schemes can wait until our next adventure in crime?"

Zoe huffed a curt laugh. "I sure could use a little crime 'bout now. A woman's bound to die to boredom 'round these parts," she winked at her son, who picked up her mother's joke in an instant.

"I would like to do some crime, sir," Kevin played along. "I hear all the cool kids are doin' it."

At that the whole room burst into jovial laughter.

"All right," Mal stated. "If the girl's got any secrets, supposed she's old enough to own them. Ain't no sense in scaring her off none. Let's just enjoy our time together."

Kaylee watched as everyone in the room agreed in one way or another and settled back into their conversations.

Simon even nodded before turning his head toward the exit again.

MOMENTS LATER, IN THE CARGO BAY

"Hey, Moonie," Jayne smiled. "You're lookin' good and...grown."

River grinned at his trademark leer and, since they were now alone, she tempted further flirtation by twirling in a tauntingly slow circle. When her eyes returned to his, she was shocked to see raw hunger not humor. The force of it slammed into her so hard she stumbled back a step.

She quickly regained her balance and stood tall, thrilled to begin the scene. The big reunion scene. The one she had begin to write even before she had left.

"Thank you, Man-With-A-Girl's-Name," River teased.

He knew his cue. He took a slow yet determined step to close the distance between them.

"Told ya' not to call me that, Girlie," he grinned. "Don't make me prove I ain't a girl." A playful hand reached out to tug a strand of her hair. "You won't like it….much."

She mimicked his move but landed her fingers on his earlobe instead of his hair. "You won't like your brain bleeding out of your ears…" She paused, placing gentle pressure on his ear. "….much."

River watched with delight as Jayne's eyes closed and thrilled when his chest proffered a throaty purr. She dared to trace his jugular vein with her fingertips. His hand answered by digging deeper into her hair. He grabbed hold and pulled her hair down. Her chin involuntarily jerked up to meet his heated stare. Her body was hauled up against him.

"Ain't goin' to walk away this time, Moonie," he growled. "And neither are you."

With that commandment issued, his lips were on hers, crushing and demanding. Her body instantly relented, but only for a moment, until her lips and arms starting making demands of their own. Her senses fired hot.

The brutal kiss slayed time so time fell away. His strength battered her defenses so weakness was revealed. Too much, too quick, her thoughts raced. She feared she'd get lost in the torrent of emotion engulfing them. And then it was there. Stark and real. Unexpected and undeniable. Fear.

She slowed the kiss as much as she could. Her hands pushing his body away as gently as she could to give herself the moment she needed.

As quick and violent as lightning, River realized what hadn't truly occurred to her all along. This was real. Real hands. Real heat. Real consequences. Real life. And, most importantly, Jayne was real. A real man with real feelings.

She snapped back to the moment as strong hands shook her gently.

"River?"

His face was flushed and soft and confused. Every thread of arrogance and optimism she'd woven together over the past two years began to fray. The purity of his love was plain, but everything else suddenly seemed convoluted.

"Not everything is real," River struggled to explain, staring off for words. "The author was one but there should be two and the heroine can be greedy. The hero could be hurt."

She returned to Jayne's eyes and saw the confusion, and the truth of everything she just said. He could be hurt, and by her hand no less. A slow burn of panic ate at her insides. Her eyes unwillingly sought the exit.

"Girl, stop your blabbering. I got no idea what 'yer talkin' 'bout," Jayne huffed. "But 'yer coming home, right?"

"I'm not sure."

Her eyes dropped to the floor. His hands fell from her shoulders. Time rushed in and stretched out, paining them both. A sea of silence flooded at their feet.

"I think it's best you stay on Osiris and I stay here," he stated. He turned his back to her, fists clenched to his side. "It's safer that way."

The hero was hurt.

"Perhaps, you are right," River whispered. "I'll go."

He made no move to stop her.