Zoe sat in the infirmary with what looked like a piece of fabric attached to her belly. Wash stood by and held her hand. Simon was nearby poking at a machine. The screen finally started up and Simon smiled.
"Do you want to know the sex of the baby?"
Wash spoke up, "My wife has informed me we do."
"It's a boy. You're about three months along and you should start showing soon."
The couple looked at the screen in silence. A little boy. Wash's mind was full of pilots lessons, playing catch, names and what the child would look like.
Zoe's mind was going along a different track. She was panicking. She was thinking about her inexperience with anything like this and the repercussions if she did anything wrong. Zoe was not an overly emotional woman, but she wanted to do this right. It was the most important thing she had ever even attempted. Her usual confidence was shaken, and she didn't care for it.
Throughout the rest of the exam Zoe sat in silence. Wash asked questions about everything from diapers to colds. Zoe wondered how he could be so relaxed, but he always was. That was what had first attracted her to him. Life was so easy when you were with Wash. He made it feel as though you could do anything. She wished she could feel that way now, but her panic was too great. Afterwards the couple returned to their room. Wash sensed something different about his wife. Instead of filling her ears like he wanted to do, he sat beside her on the bed and put his arms around her. She put her head on his shoulder and tried to relax and let Wash's feelings overtake her. It didn't work.
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That evening the crew sat at the table for dinner. Kaylee was telling a story about her childhood and everyone was laughing. Everyone except Zoe. Wash sat beside her and tried to figure out his wife and comfort her. The problem was that he didn't know what the problem was. It never even occurred to him that his brave wife could be afraid of anything. He considered talking to Mal about it, but Mal didn't know any more about Zoe's feelings than he did. About the time Kaylee was finishing her story, the thought occurred to him to talk to the girls. The four female members of the crew had developed a kinship over the past months. They had been friends before, but the bond seemed to have grown considerably.
He thought about how to approach the situation through the end of the meal. When they started to break off, Wash followed Kaylee. She was the one he was closest to.
He caught up with her outside the infirmary. "Can I talk to you Kaylee?"
"What's up Wash?"
"Have you noticed Zoe's...problem lately?"
"Not really, but I've been distracted." Kaylee held up her ring finger which now was decorated with Simon's ring.
"Could you girls maybe talk to her? She has been mulling over something and I can't get it out of her."
"Maybe it should be you who talks to her Wash."
"She won't talk to me."
"Then talk to her. You're a good talker Wash. Just tell her you're there to listen."
With her cryptic response she walked away from him. Wash stared after her for a minute before looking for his wife.
He found her on the bridge. He came up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder. When she turned around he said, "I can listen when you want me to."
He turned around and descended into their quarters. She watched him go and wondered at his strange behavior.
Zoe got up and moved towards their quarters. She told herself she was going to ask him what he meant even though she knew. She stopped in front of the ladder and thought about it. Wash had always been there even when she didn't want him there. This was their baby, no one else's. She needed to talk to him.
As she descended the stairs she tried to figure out what she would say. When she locked the door and turned to see him standing there, it all came flooding out.
"What if I'm a horrible mother?"
Wash went up to her and threw his arms around her as she collapsed on the bed. She just held him and vented. She talked on and on about how she was scared and uncertain. Wash sat and held her, trying to understand. When she finished, her throat was sore and her face burned with her shed tears. As Wash rubbed her back he thought about how he had seen his wife cry way to much lately.
He pushed her back so he could look at her face. Wash wasn't much for perfect words, but somehow he came up with them. "We just have to take it as it comes. I know you will be perfect, you always are. You will be a great mother."
Zoe sunk into his arms once again. Sometimes Wash was the perfect man.
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When they once again reached Persephone to report back to Badger, Mal had made up his mind. He caught Jia before she could get to the cargo bay. He pulled her into the corner.
"I don't want you going to Badger's."
Jia set her stance in preparation for a fight. Before she could start however, Mal pulled her towards him and planted his lips on hers. He kissed her until her could feel her give in a little. He pulled back and looked into her eyes. "I trust you just not him. Please just don't fight me this time."
Jia nodded and smiled, "Manipulator."
"You better believe it."
Jia pushed away with a smile and walked into the cargo bay. She yelled for the other three women to wait for her.
"You're not going to Badger's?" Zoe was confused.
"Mal wants me to go with you guys instead."
Kaylee giggled, "You mean he don't want you going to see Badger."
Jia shrugged and they all made their way out of the ship to shop for clothing for Zoe and River. Zoe needed bigger clothes for the months ahead and River just needed her own clothes. Book had convinced Simon to go to a bookstore with him. Jayne and Mal made their way to Badger's. Wash stayed on the ship as usual.
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Kaylee held up a little dress, "Isn't this just the shiniest thing?"
Zoe smiled, "I really doubt Wash would like me dressing our little boy in dresses."
Kaylee pouted but put the dress back. She was immediately distracted by a little pair of overalls. She squealed and headed for them.
Zoe held a shirt to her and sighed, "I don't see why I gotta spend so much on clothes I will only wear once."
Jia looked up from the rack she was looking at, "You don't wanna have more kids?"
"I think one should be enough. Serenity ain't exactly built to house tons of kids. Besides I can only watch one at a time."
Jia laughed, "I guess."
River ran up to them in a new outfit, "What do you think?"
The dress was ten sizes too big and covered in huge flowers. Jia grimaced, "Honey, why don't I help you?"
She led River towards the smaller clothing. Kaylee came up to Zoe with yet another little outfit, this time a boy's sweater set. She didn't say a word just squeaked. Zoe laughed and took the outfit from her.
"Ok, Kaylee, we can get that one."
Kaylee jumped up and down and skipped off to get another one. Zoe shook her head. She returned to the clothing in front of her. She grimaced, they were definitely not her style. Of course, her style consisted of anything slinky, and that definitely would not be a good idea right now. She put her hand on her growing stomach. She had begun to notice the difference this morning, which had made her realize she needed new clothes.
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Jia wondered at River's choices as she was in the dressing room. River seemed determined to remain a kid. Jia had made some choices for her and sent her to the dressing room with some clothes River never would have picked out.
The dark haired girl emerged in black pants and a dark yellow tank. She looked like a grown up. At that moment Zoe and Kaylee came around the corner and saw her. Not a one of them said a word. They never realized River was a beautiful woman.
Zoe was the first to speak, "You look pretty River. I like it."
River smiled, "I do too. More suitable."
She returned to the dressing room and Kaylee turned to Jia. "How did you do that?"
Jia shrugged, "I don't think I did."
River returned moments later with another grown up outfit, khaki shorts with a white shirt. River tried on several things that day, and they all made her look like the grown up woman she was. River was ecstatic. Perhaps she could proceed with her own happiness now that Simon was almost settled. She didn't need to remain a kid anymore for his benefit. She could finally grow up.
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The girls returned hours later with many, many bags. Mal and Wash were in the cargo bay. Wash went up to help them.
"You leave something for anyone else snookums?"
"Just a few, husband."
Jia turned to Mal, "How did Badger take it?'
"Not well but I don't care."
Kaylee looked back and forth between them, "Take what?"
Mal didn't look away from Jia. "The fact Jia won't be part of any more business deals."
Kaylee nodded, "Ok."
Zoe changed the subject, "Any hits for jobs sir?"
"Actually we got two. One shipment and a nice legal passenger. Figured we could take them both. We pick up both and drop off the guy in a shuttle while the rest of the crew goes to drop off the shipment."
"We're gonna split up sir?"
"Yeah."
"That usually don't go well."
"I know, but nothing ever goes smooth anyway, so I figured we could take care of two disasters at once."
Zoe nodded. "What's the split?"
"The shipment is for the Rogers boys."
Wash perked up, "My buds?"
"Yeah, so I figured you and the wife can take that to them in Serenity and I will take the passenger with someone on the shuttle."
Zoe was not impressed, "Are you sure sir?"
"Yeah I am. Passenger will be here soon so everyone look professional."
Jayne walked in the cargo bay and belched.
Mal winced, "Never mind, just look busy."
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