Jia lay awake in Mal's embrace. So much had happened so fast. This morning she had been miserable. Tonight she was married to the only man she had ever loved. She knew her sister would give her hell for not being at the wedding, but that wasn't a concern right now. Something else was. He had been so sweet and considerate last night. She was sore but at no point did he hurt her. It hadn't been what her mother had led her to expect. She was glad of that. She lay there thinking.

Almost like he felt it he awoke, "Something wrong?"

"Not really. Just...can I ask you something?"

He smiled, "Don't need my permission."

"Did I please you?"

Now she had his complete attention. "What makes you think you didn't?"

"I didn't really know what to do. You'll have to teach me what you want me to do."

He started shaking so she looked at his face. He was laughing.

"Don't laugh at me."

"I was just thinking of how much of a turn on it was that you didn't have any experience." He turned over to face her, "You are all types of pleasin' Jia. All I want you to know you already did."

She smiled at him, "Really?"

He nodded. "If'n I'd of wanted a courtesan I'd have gotten one. I married you Jia. Never even though about doin' that with anyone else."

She snuggled into him, "How long before we can do that again?"

He half smiled, "I love you."

He kissed her and showed her the answer.

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Mal awoke slowly the second time. His eyes were still closed as he thought on the day before. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't bring up any regrets or panic. He smiled at the thought of his new bride. He knew it wasn't a dream because he felt the titanium band he had purchased and she had placed on his finger.

Last night had been incredible. His body stirred at the thought and he reached over to wake Jia. He kept reaching. He opened his eyes. She wasn't there. He could see she had been there. She had cleaned up. He chuckled a bit. That was new, his room was clean. He got up and dressed quickly. As he expected he found her in the kitchen starting breakfast.

"What are you doing?"

She looked up, "Breakfast. I think we have had this conversation before."

He walked up behind her. "We are supposed to be having a small honeymoon. No one expects us up here today."

She turned to face him, "The entire day? Who's gonna cook?"

He sighed, "Probably the same person who's been cooking for three weeks."

She looked around, "They made a mess too."

"Do I have to carry you again?"

Jia smiled, "No."

He led her back to what was now their room.

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An hour later, Jayne was sitting in the galley with a frown on his face when Shepherd Book and Simon entered.

"Where in the Gorram hell is she?"

Shepherd looked confused, "Who?"

"Jia. Ain't she usually cooking by now?"

Book smiled. Simon got a look on his face that said what he thought of Jayne's intelligence. "She's probably with her new husband. I doubt she'll be cooking today."

"All DAY?" Jayne grimaced, "Hell. Thought now she was back she'd be cookin'."

"She will, just not today."

Jayne got up, clearly disgusted and walked off. Shepherd Book was chuckling to himself. Simon watched him go and shook his head.

"I don't think he can get any more oblivious."

Zoe, Wash and John entered, "Oblivious about what?"

Simon turned to them, "Jayne expected Jia to be up here cooking."

Zoe rolled her eyes. Wash laughed, "Yeah right."

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River lay sprawled out on her bed staring at the ceiling. Victory! It felt wonderful. It doors so long ago had been right. Now all was in place and the next phase could progress. She smiled and sighed. The hard part was over. Daddy and Mommy were finally together. The base was formed. It was always easier to build from there.

The only thing she couldn't figure out was how Simon would prove himself worthy. The awkward silence was still between them. How that could be fixed would just take time. Him proving his worth was another thing all together.

Another path was up for consideration. Perhaps it wouldn't be so destructive as she had previously thought. It may be possible to keep such things a secret. She shook her head. Another pillar had to be solidified before adding to it. It would have to wait.

She found the new baby very interesting. A man in a tiny body. A person of possibilities and future in such a small stature. Fascinating. John James Washburn would continue to grow. She hoped to be there for at least some of it.

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Much to Jayne's disgust, it was the next day before anyone saw Jia Li Reynolds. She was in the kitchen cooking breakfast when Zoe entered with the new baby. She looked up and smiled.

"Morning Zoe."

Zoe went up to her and hugged her, "Congratulations."

Jia ran her hand over the baby's head, "You too. He's adorable Zoe."

"Thank you. Where's the old man?"

Jia chuckled, "On the bridge asking around about jobs. Mr. Productivity you know."

Zoe scoffed, "Unfortunately I do know."

Wash walked in, "Well if it ain't the second Mrs. Reynolds. How's married life treating you girly?"

Zoe laughed and went and sat down, "The first Mrs. Reynolds don't count."

Wash turned to Jia with a more somber face on, "He told you about her right?"

Jia laughed, "Yes he did. As for an answer, married life is wonderful."

He sat by his wife, "Ain't it just." He said with a long suffering sigh, "It's so much better than being single. You know, the freedom, the lack of responsibility, the scores upon scores of other women. Who needs all that?"

Zoe raised her eyebrow at him, "'Scores.' I don't remember one other woman besides me."

"Once I saw you the others paled in comparison my love."

"Uh huh. Sure."

Jayne looked in quickly to see who was cooking and when he saw Jia, smiled and came in the rest of the way.

"Now we're talkin'."

As he sat down River skipped in, hugged Jia and sat down in her usual spot. Simon and the shepherd followed behind. Kaylee came in from the other direction.

Jia set the food down, "I'll go get Mal."

Jayne stood up, "I'll get him. I wanna eat sometime this year."

Jia blushed slightly and sat down.

Mal came in with Jayne a minute later.

Mall announced, "We got a job."

Zoe asked, "What's that sir?"

"Transporting some animals."

Zoe's eyes widened, "Not more cows I hope sir."

Mal sat down, "Hell no. Horses."

Wash looked off into the distance, "I don't see the difference."

Mal shrugged, "Less of um for more money."

Wash nodded, "Ah. So where to Cap'n?"

Mal looked at him plate, "Alcazar."

Kaylee looked up, "Alcazar? My home?"

Mal looked up and nodded before returning to his plate.

Kaylee didn't look anywhere near as excited as everyone thought she would be. In fact she looked a little scared. Simon never looked up but he was blushing slightly.

Jia tried to comfort her, "You don't have to go of ship if you don't want to."

Kaylee sighed, "If'n my folks heard I was there and didn't visit I would catch it. Suppose I gotta."

"I have to get some supplies anyway I could go with you."

Kaylee brightened considerably, "That'd be shiny. Thanks Jia."

Jia turned to Mal, "If you don't mind Captain."

Mal looked at her with narrowed eyes, "Like I'm gonna say no and hear about it for the next year. Wash and Jayne go with me. Rest of you stay here."

Shepherd Book asked, "Would you mind if I came along Captain?"

Mal looked at him strangely, "Why? If'n you don't' mind my askin'?"

Book inhaled deeply, "I was thinking perhaps I could be of some assistance. Perhaps I could start pulling my weight around here if you don't mind."

Mal still looked suspicious but still said, "Why not? Could always use an extra hand. Just don't get shot this time. I'm all out of favors owed to me by Alliance officials."

The holy man nodded, "I will do my best sir."

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As they were 'in the neighborhood' as Wash said, the trip didn't take very long. They were there in a few hours. Kaylee got more and more nervous as time went by.

Serenity dropped off Kaylee and Jia in town. They took the large mule to get to Serenity when they were done. Kaylee drove them. When she parked in front of her parents place she was shaking.

"Did you want me to go in with you Kaylee?"

She shook her head, "This I gotta do alone."

"Meet me at the general store in town later then."

Kaylee nodded and went in the house.

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Kaylee walked into town an hour later. The visit had been very strained as she had to tell her parents over and over why she wasn't getting married. She felt about two feet tall right now, and it wasn't going to get better. Bonnie Kruger was coming right towards her. Bonnie was the kind of person who took joy on others misery. Kaylee had been on her list ever since a boy Bonnie had liked had liked Kaylee instead. That was when they were twelve. Bonnie had never forgotten.

She was all smiles as she approached, "Hi Kaylee. How are you?"

Kaylee tried to start out with a big smile but only half accomplished it, "Hi Bonnie. I'm fine."

Bonnie's face dropped to that of total and complete sympathy, "I heard you're not getting married anymore Kaylee. I'm so sorry. Guess there was just too much difference between you two. Him a big important person and you a maid on a little transport ship."

Kaylee didn't even fake a smile anymore, "I'm a mechanic not a maid."

Bonnie smiled, "Of course dear, but you can't expect a man of quality to over look that." She sighed, "I guess you just have to know how to please a man to keep him. Not that you didn't have a lot of practice, but some things, like class and grace, have to come naturally."

Kaylee fought back tears. She wished she had the words to say what she thought of Bonnie, but they never came. She was holding back the tears so hard that she never heard Jia come up behind her.

Jia wrapped her arm around Kaylee's shoulder, "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend Kaylee?"

"Jia this is Bonnie. Bonnie this is Jia."

Jia put on a knowing look, "Oh so this is Bonnie." She put a big smile on, "I always wondered what the village bicycle would look like."

Bonnie started and bleached white, "The what?"

"You know, 'Everyone's had a ride'. I have a question for you though. Is there any tred on the tire any more or is it just like throwing a sausage down a hallway?"

Bonnie looked like a fish out of water for a minute before storming off. Kaylee looked to Jia with wide eyes, "How did you do that?"

"I saw the look on your face and knew she wasn't being nice. Just thought I would help out."

"I have never had the courage to say anything to her. She has always been that way. But how did you know she was a loose woman?"

"Took a stab in the dark. Aren't you glad I was right?"

Kaylee smiled and nodded. The two women joked there way to the car.

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Mal, Wash, Jayne and Shepherd Book approached the ranch. Something was definitely wrong. There were pastures everywhere, but no horses. When they got to the door they were let in by an older man with cowboy boots on.

"You must be the transporters."

Mal nodded, "Something wrong."

The man's face got red, "Rustlers took almost all my herd. Killed most of my hired hands. All done in less than an hour too." The man seemed to get an idea, "You know anything about horses or tracking?"

Mal nodded carefully, "Maybe."

"You get um back, I'll pay you three times what I promised before."

Mal put his hands up, "We ain't law men here. We run a transport ship."

The man looked upset, "Jones told me you was the best. Maybe his praises ain't exactly right."

Mal sighed, "We are the best, at transporting."

"Five times what I offered before."

Mal blanched, "Why are you willin to pay that much?"

The man sighed, "I ain't got no hired hands to go after them. They'll be off planet by the end of the week. If that happens I got no chance of ever finding my horses again. I can't hire new hands that fast. Law around here is useless. I need someone now."

Mal thought it over and looked around at his crew, "What the hell, we'll take a shot at it."

The man let out his held breath, "Great. I'll get you set up with my remaining horses and supplies." He left to do just that.

Mal turned to his guys. Wash raised his hand, "What just happened here?"

Mal shrugged, "If we don't get um back big deal. If we do we get paid really well. Jayne can track anything. Been a ranch hand myself number of times, not that difficult." He pointed at Wash, "You wanna go or you stayin with Serenity?"

He shrugged, "I never get to go. Sounds safer than the last mission I went on."

Mal didn't look convinced, "Last mission you went on was planned as a cake run. The fact that we were captured and tortured was not part of the plan."

Wash looked into the distance, "Ah memories."

Mal shook his head, "Jayne, go get the doc. We might need him."

Jayne moaned, "He has to come along. Didn't know this was a babysittn job."

"Fine. You get shot you're on your own."

Jayne thought about it for a second, "I'll go get the doc."

As Jayne left the rancher came back in, "All's ready."

They followed him out the back.

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Jayne and Simon had just joined them when they were finalizing the plans.

"They didn't get the best of my horses so that's what you'll be ridin. Figure that will be enough to draw them to ya."

Mal nodded, "They get paid for the quality more than quantity with horses. We'll make ourselves real obvious."

The rancher went in and came out with three horses. "This is all I got left. These and my two work horses is all those bastards left me. My wife is attaching them to the wagon."

Wash put in quickly, "I'll drive the wagon."

Jayne couldn't help teasing him, "Don't like ridin' city boy?"

"No I just don't want the wagon to go off a cliff. Like it would if someone else were driving it."

Mal stopped the inevitable argument with an order. "Doc, you and Wash on the wagon. Rest of us will ride." as an afterthought,"You do ride, right Preacher?"

Shepherd book nodded, "Indeed I do."

Inwardly, Mal was a little disappointed, "Good."

They set off when the wagon got there. The horses were indeed fine. Wash was in high spirits. He started humming a song. It wasn't long before Jayne got it stuck in his head and started humming it too. Simon joined them when Wash kept elbowing him. Mal rode up front and tried to ignore it. Unfortunately, they were soon not humming but singing. Mal was ready to swing around and kill them when they came upon a gentle but high hillside.

He yelled over the singing, "We'll camp there for the night."

Camp was set up with no more singing, as it was obvious Mal had enough. They made a large campfire to make sure they were seen by the rustlers.

Mal knew something was coming by the silly look on Wash's face. "Lets tell ghost stories."

Mal sighed and shook his head, "You are never coming along again."

Shepherd Book interrupted, "Why don't you start then Wash?"

Wash rubbed his hands together, "Once not far from here a group of ranchers set out on a cattle drive."

Mal groaned, "For God's sake Wash."

Wash ignored him, "Little did they know that an escaped maniac had escaped that afternoon. They were sittin around the campfire when suddenly..."

The bushes behind Jayne began to move.