AUTHOR'S NOTE: SO there I was...naked in the Amazon fishing for piranha. (That has nothing to do with anything, I just think it's funny.)

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This chapter will be as PG as I can make it. It deals with the more intimate relations aboard Serenity. There are some important plot points and character development, so I can't recommend skipping it. If this really bothers you, review and I will leave a summary at the beginning of the next chapter.

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Mal knew something had been bothering his new wife for about two days now. At times she seemed deep in thought. When he asked she said it wasn't important. The man part of his brain wanted to believe that. However, the other part said it was important if it was important to her.

He sat in the bridge with Wash letting his mind wander. They had been plotting a course, but had been disagreeing on the destination. Wash thought Persephone is where they should go because they had never had trouble getting a job there before. Mal wanted to go anywhere else. He still wasn't happy after Jia had run off there.

Mal interrupted Wash's sarcastic ramblings, "If we go there will it shut you up?"

Wash nodded.

"Fine."

He immediately got up and walked to his room.

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Jia waited in the bathroom for her husband to come down the ladder. After thinking about it for a good long while she had come to a decision about her actions. She was going to act tonight.

She heard the hatch open and then close. She went to the door of the bathroom and leaned against the doorway. She saw him stop dead in his tracks and stare at her outfit. She had chosen and bought the satin nightie on Kaylee's home world. It came to mid thigh and was jet black.

He was speechless and had not been able to move since laying eyes on her. That had been her plan.

"Something I have to talk to you about."

She didn't expect him to answer.

"I'm not a china doll Mal. I'm not going to break."

That jabbed him back to reality, "What?"

"I can feel you holding back when we are together. You don't have to do that. I want you to be able to do anything with me you want."

His eyebrows shot up, "I ...you really don't know what your asking Jia. Your not used to this yet."

"Mal, we've been married for almost three weeks now. I am ready for anything you can dish out. I'm not a pampered princess and I'm not a society miss. I love you and want to be what you want."She began to walk slowly towards him and stopped, "So I want you to take me roughly. I don't want you holding back anymore. I want you, now."

He stayed still for a moment more before walking up to her and lifting her up. She wrapped her legs and arms around him. He pressed her up against the wall. He put his lips to hers without restraint. To his amazement, she pushed back. He used his tongue and teeth to make her want more. His hands went to her back side to press her intimately against him. She took a sharp inhale of breath but didn't stop. One of his hands went to her thigh and worked the nightie up. When his hands came in contact with nothing else he couldn't wait anymore. His hand went to the front of his pants and he undid them. Without so much as a warning he impaled her. She moaned in response. Much to his surprise there was no pain or censorship in her gaze, just pure unadulterated lust. He worked into her roughly. She gripped him with her thighs and pressed herself closer. One of the straps of her nightie had come down and one of her breasts had become exposed. He lavished his attention on it with gusto.

He could feel her climax coming fast. She whimpered and upon the moment of cresting she bit into his shoulder. He never felt it as he found his own release as well. After the fireworks were over they still stood there, holding on to each other. He kissed her hair and murmured, "I'm sorry baby."

She nuzzled his neck and said, "Don't say that. I'm not sorry."

He let her down with obvious reluctance, "Did I hurt you?"

She smiled sweetly and shook her head.

He picked her up anyway and laid her on the bed. He removed the black nightie and shed his own clothing. He drew her close to him and simply lay there with her. He was amazed when she started wiggling against him. His body automatically reacted. He wasn't a teenager anymore, but ever since marrying her, he had never had trouble being ready whenever she was.

Jia kissed his chest and with a smile on her face looked up at him, "Is that all you got?"

He raised his eyebrows at her and moved over her. He then backed up and stood by the bed. He motioned for her to come to him and she did. When she got there he turned her around.

He whispered in her ear, "On your hands and knees."

She seemed confused but obeyed. When he gripped her hips and brought her to him she understood. He entered her again and she shuttered. She tried to spread her legs but he trapped her knees together. She whimpered and he chuckled.

"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."

He started off slow with deep penetrating thrusts. Slow to the point of madness. He had been wanting to try this since the beginning, but had thought her too innocent to understand what he wanted. He realized now his thoughts had been foolish. This woman always knew what she wanted.

Mal had never told her this because she knew she would never believe him, but his favorite part of her body was her back. Hourglass shaped. Flawless pale skin. It hinted at the treasures of her body and yet kept them secret. He longed to see her in a backless dress, but knew he would probably just rip it off her.

He reached around and caressed her breasts. He kissed her shoulder and her upper back. She arched and continually unconsciously fought to spread her knees wider. She was building again. He could tell by her breath speeding up and her pressing herself against him harder. He smiled at the fact she was trying to speed him up. She was a firecracker his little wife.

He did speed up but just a little. His hands went to where they joined and rubbed her there. She moaned in appreciation. He rode out her orgasm then found his own quickly afterwards. He rolled to the side and quickly embraced her to him.

"You are without a doubt the best but most confusing wife anyone ever had."

She smiled, "I'm sure many other men have done that with their wives."

He chuckled, "I keep forgetting you've never done this before."

She looked into his eyes, "What? Why?"

"It's not always like that. In fact it's never like that. I have never had anything like this. It's mind-blowing Jia. Not everyone has that."

She furrowed her brow, "It's not always like that for everyone."

"Hell no. I've had sex before, but I have never felt like this before. Never."

Jia smiled, "I take it that's a good thing."

He scoffed, "Oh yeah."

As she put her head back on his chest a thought occurred to him. First he was amazed a thought could penetrate the haze right now, then he thought about the question on his mind.

"Jia?"

She mumbled.

"Are you on any birth control?"

She looked up at him, "Yeah. I have about a year left on it."

He was again surprised. That didn't bring the reaction from him that he thought it would. He thought he would be relieved to an exhausting point. He was actually a little disappointed.

She looked a little uncomfortable, "I suppose we should have talked about this before getting married, but how do you feel about kids?"

He met her uncertain gaze, "I guess I never really thought about it. I want 'um, but... maybe we should spend some time just you and me first. It's a good thing about the year. Do you want kids?"

"Yeah I do."

"Good, in a year we can talk about it. We can make the decision then."

She smiled, "I like that idea." She snuggled back into his side.

He looked down at her. The idea should have terrified him. Kids, marriage. The funny thing was it didn't. She was perfect for him. He loved her, that's what made the difference. He wanted to see her with his child. He wanted to see her pregnant, his baby growing inside her.

The thought of sleeping with her forever didn't scare him either. She certainly made it interesting. Not just the sex. The sex was phenomenal. Sleeping next to her was something he had instantly gotten used to . Now he woke up when she got up to make breakfast. Sleeping without her beside him seemed an impossibility. She was so beautiful when she slept. She was beautiful when she was awake. But it was the times between when he was awed by her. When she sleepily nuzzled him or mumbled something. His wife. He still liked the sound of that.

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River sat on her bed and tried to distance herself from the strong emotions onboard. Mommy and Daddy's relationship had become much more intimate recently. Simon and Kaylee had not had sex, but were now involved again. She worried about them. They didn't really talk about it. They just sat and held each other a lot. They were back on the right track though. That made River happier. Wash and Zoe had begun their intimacies again since it had been six weeks since the baby. It was all a little too much. The unrestrained passion all around her.

She had turned eighteen quietly, during the fiasco with Simon and Kaylee's breakup. Only Simon knew and he had kept it quiet on her request. Like she had told Kaylee so long ago, there was something to be considered. Sex was something she had always had to deal with onboard Serenity, but it had become overwhelming lately. Something had to be done. She changed clothes. She put on an outfit Zoe had bought her but she had not worn yet. A black tank top and khaki cargo pants. She looked at herself in the mirror, she looked like a adult. She smiled. It was time. She walked towards her destination with a purpose.

She arrived there and found he wasn't in residence. River sat on his bed and waited. He came down the ladder and didn't see her at first. When he did he jumped.

"What the Gorram hell you doin here girl?"

She stood, "I was wondering if you could help me."

He looked guarded, "With what?"

She ran her hands up her stomach to embrace her small breasts, "I need release."

The merc's eyes went wide and he staggered back, "I ain't interested crazy girl. Now git."

She stalked towards him with hooded eyes. "I need you Jayne. I need your help. Please."

He all but ran up the ladder screaming for Mal.

Mal came rushing up his ladder adjusting his clothes and wiping the sleep from his face. Zoe and Wash gathered around too.

"What's wrong Jayne?"

River came up Jayne's ladder with a frustrated sigh. Mal immediately jumped to the wrong conclusion.

"What's wrong with you?"

They were all joined by Jia. From the other side came the Shepherd.

"It ain't me. I went down into MY room and there she was. Talkin bout me 'helpin' her."

Simon came around the corner with Kaylee.

"Keep your nutso sister out of my bunk."

Simon looked at River, "What were you doing in HIS bunk River?"

She sighed, "Sexual gratification."

There was complete silence.

"Captain Daddy and Mommy were together. Brother and Kaylee patching relationship. Zoe and Wash are having sex again. I needed a partner."

No one moved an inch, until Wash started laughing.

Jayne was livid, "This ain't funny pilot boy."

Zoe pushed her husband into the bridge and shut the door. Mal sighed and put his hand on his face.

"River, Jayne is off limits understand?"

She looked frustrated, "But Daddy..."

"No butts. No any other parts either. This ain't happenin River so you might get used to it."

She snuck past him towards her own room.

Jayne looked at Mal, "What the hell am I supposed to do? Don't think lockin the doors gonna work."

Simon spoke up, "I'll talk to her. I'll try to get her to understand."

Shepherd put his hand on the boy's shoulder, "I may not have much experience on this particular topic, but perhaps she would be more comfortable talking to a non family member. Better yet a Female. Perhaps Zoe or Jia would be better at this sort of thing."

Jia put up her hands in surrender, "I have no idea what I would say to her."

Zoe considered it, "Neither would I. Maybe it would be best for us two together."

Jia rubbed her forehead, "After breakfast tomorrow?"

Zoe nodded. With plans made out they all returned to their sleep. Jayne stopped Mal from following Jia to their bunk.

"What am I supposed to do?"

Mal half grinned, "You mean if that ninety pound girl forces herself on you?"

"That ain't funny Mal. You know what she's capable of."

Mal sighed, "Don't worry Jayne. It will be taken care of tomorrow."

Even with Mal's reassurance, Jayne didn't sleep well that night.