I own nothing.

River liked living outside the small town of Tree Gap. People were beginning to warm up to them. The shopkeep, Mr. Carrington, had-as River had predicted- employed her to repair and assemble the vast majority of electronic devices he had acquired over the years. Once word got around that there was someone with the ability to rig up a portable cortex, different town residents began demanding one of their own and River was cut in for forty percent of the profits. Jayne's moonshine was a hit and once he announced he planned on using it as payment for helping him to build their barn, several men volunteered their services. Only one of the six men Jayne hired was paid in cashy money as he had a small family to feed and Jayne understood that a jug of moonshine wouldn't exactly feed a family of five.

The man, Art Wilkerson, wasn't very old-only thirty- and his wife, Delphine, was even younger. Jayne wasn't sure how much younger, but he wasn't gonna start gettin' in the habit of asking women their real age any time soon. They had three children: two boys named Jacob and Travis and a little girl named Susan. The boys, were near identical twins. Delphine, or Delly as they called her, would come up every day around lunch time to help River cook. River had taken it upon herself to feed all the men, though she never made a habit of sitting with them as their thoughts tended to cause her to become flustered and babble. However, Art and Delly's children, she adored. She explained that their thought patterns were also linear due to their young age and it made it easy for her to cope with them. Before long, the Wilkersons were regular dinner guests. Jayne and Art would go out hunting together and Delly and River would take turns helping one another with their gardens.

It took a month for the barn to be completed. Jayne suddenly found he had an abundance of free time and his fingers began to itch for something to do. So, he built a swing for the porch. Then, he built a small table and a set of chairs to go with the swing. He built a bigger kitchen table. He built a bed for the extra room and then a dresser to go with the bed. Once he was out of room for all his creations, he was forced to stop. His fingers itched again. He said he thought the roof was leaky just so he could redo said roof. Then, there was something wrong with the door and the porch steps.

"You know," River ventured one day while sitting on the porch next to the ex-mercenary, "when Mr. Carrington stopped by yesterday to drop off some parts he noticed the porch swing. I told him you made it and he wanted to know if you'd be willing to make a couple for him to sell."

Jayne perked up quick. "Really?"

She grinned at his excitement. "Yes."

He smiled sheepishly and glanced down at his large hands. "Don't like not doin' anythin'. Feel I always gotta be doin' somethin'. Used to be killin' an' stealin', but now...I don't know. I guess it's changed kind of."

River nodded her understanding. "Where once you destroyed, you now create. There has been a shift in both of us."

He thought on her words for a moment. "That seems right. I feel different about things. Like, maybe we wasn't really at fault."

River shifted in her chair, wrapping her feet around the chair legs. "I am not so sure about that."

"Just 'cause you can predict the future don't mean you can change it, Girl."

"But I would have been able to try," she said in a sad voice. He asked gently, "An' if you couldn't, would you have felt any better'n you do now?"

River was silent for a few moments before saying in a soft, incredulous voice, "No, I wouldn't."

"Really weren't no one to blame," Jayne said slowly, as if pondering whether the words he was speaking were really true or not. River stared down the road with a confused expression. "Alliance put the bullets in Book. Reavers impaled Wash. No way to get to Book in time, but Wash?"

"Not yer fault, not mine. We wasn't nowhere near him when they got 'im." Jayne followed her gaze to where the sky met the ground. River huffed slightly. "But the equation makes no sense. We are the protectors and we were not given the chance to protect. I don't understand."

"Yeah, that part don't seem too fair ta me either," Jayne agreed. Sam's bark startled the two and the wolf stood.

River had decided not to name the wolf as she considered it rude to try and name an almost fully grown animal who had most likely already been named by its parents. If she had been of mind to do it, she would have named him Augustus. Jayne had laughed at her choice and argued that by not naming him and calling him "Wolf" she had inadvertently named said wolf Wolf. River found Jayne's logic just as amusing as he did and had laughed just as hard.

Someone was riding toward them on a chestnut bay. They were still far off, but River was able to get a read instantly. River bristled next to Jayne and he stood. "Take it he ain't the kinda folk we want ta be carryin' on with."

"No, he is a very bad man. Not from Tree Gap, slithered here from the other side in hopes of taking what he wants."

"What does he want?"

"Bad things."

"Go inside, take Wolf with you," Jayne ordered. River let her hand rest on his back briefly. "No violence will occur. Of that I am sure. Still, be careful."

River did as she was told and Jayne waited patiently as the man on horseback neared the cabin.

The man dismounted his horse and took several steps up toward the cabin, stopping short when Sam growled and lowered his head. Jayne forced himself to relax, but kept his arms crossed over his chest. He stared blankly at the man before him. He found that most didn't know how to react to a man of his size when they couldn't figure out by his body language whether he was on the defensive or not. The man's demeanor quickly shifted from unusually confident to incredibly unsure. "Heard tell you make some good moonshine," he said nervously. Jayne remained impassive. "I do. Who might you be?"

"M'name's Andrew Stockley, but most who know me just call me Andy," he replied, smiling slightly and Jayne was able to see that he was missing several teeth. It also hadn't escaped Jayne's notice that the man was accompanied by a rather unpleasant stench. Jayne was more than a little sure that Andy hadn't had a shower in quite some time.

"I was hopin' maybe I could take a jug off yer hands fer a few credits."

Jayne continued to stare at him, making sure he stared long enough to make the smaller man as uncomfortable as possible before nodding. "'Spose I could sell ya a jug fer twenty credits this once."

"Twenty credits is an awful lot fer a jug a moonshine," Andy said and Jayne's eyes hardened further. "Well, like you heard tell, my stuff is good. Now either you can pay twenty credits or turn back 'round and get a jug down at the town bar for thirty credits. Take yer pick."

"Twenty it is," Andy said with finality and Jayne nodded. "I'll be back in a second."

He looked down at Sam and said, "Passen Sie ihn auf."

Sam immediately became more alert, his eyes never leaving Andy as Jayne disappeared into the cabin. He threw an annoyed look at River who smiled up at him from the table where she was seated. There were several miscellaneous parts laid out before her. Jayne raised an eyebrow at them as he pulled a jug out of one of the cabinets.

"Power generator that will rely on decomposing matter such as rotten vegetables as its fuel source. The larger pieces are out in the barn. I will need your help in assembling those," she said, answering the question he had been thinking of asking.

Jayne nodded and started for the door when she called out behind him, "Your German has improved."

He threw her a brief smile before returning to the porch. Andy was staring back at Sam uneasily. He handed the jug to the man , who handed him the twenty credits quickly and immediately mounted his horse. Jayne smirked as he watched the man ride away. He patted Sam. "Good Boy." Sam wagged his tail happily at the praise. River soon joined him back on the porch. Her face was slightly smudged by grease and grime from the parts for the generator and it reminded him briefly of Kaylee after she had been working on Serenity's engine. The reminder caused him to feel a twinge of pain in his chest, but it was not so strong as it had been a month before. She attempted to rub some of the grease and grime from her face and sighed. "The parts are extremely dirty. I shall have to continue to put together the generator in the barn."

"Want me ta make you a work table?"

River nodded, smiling brilliantly. "That would be nice."

Jayne gave her a quick hug, confusing both himself and River. When she looked up at him questioningly, he could only shrug. She smiled up at him and hugged him back just as quickly before skipping back into the house to continue working on her project. Jayne sat back down on one of the porch chairs and patted Sam. The screen door pushed open slowly, and Wolf cautiously stepped on to the porch, watching Jayne intently. He settled down on the porch not far from Jayne's chair, but far enough away that Jayne wasn't to worried. He still didn't like the animal, but if keeping it around made River happy, he wasn't going to argue. River deserved to be happy for once in her life. He did, too, for that matter. Was he happy? He had once stored happiness in how much money he had in his pocket and how many guns he could collect, but now that he thought on it, even when he'd had a lot of money it hadn't really had the affect he had thought it would and the joy he found after adding another firearm to his arsenal faded all too quickly. He and River had more money now then they'd ever had running all over the 'verse pullin' jobs and they didn't even need it. He'd sent a few thousand credits (what would have been equal to several month's pay on Serenity) back home over a month ago and Matty had sent him a letter saying their Ma had fainted at the sight of all that cashy money. Matty asked if he had robbed a bank. He and River had both had a good laugh over that.

River opened the screen door and gave him a look. "Are you going to come in and eat dinner or should I just give it all to Wolf and Sam?"

Jayne rolled his eyes at her. "Don't get sassy with me, Little Lady."

"I'll do as I please, Jayne Cobb."

"Whatever you say,River Cobb," he shot back and she grinned up at him. "I'll make you sleep on the floor."

"No, you won't."

"Will, too."

"Brat."

"Ape-woman."

"I ain't a girl or a woman an' ya damn well know it," he barked. She smirked at him. "I know, but it's funny how angry you get when I say you are."

River stood leaning against the fence watching as Jayne helped Art wrangle in some loose cattle at the Emerson's ranch a good way out of town. Jacob and Travis had climbed up on the fence next to her, watching their father and "Uncle Jayne" work in fascination. Susan was nestled in her mother's arms not far away. She had been crying. The cows had scared her.

"Aunt River, why'd you marry Uncle Jayne?" Travis asked. Jacob looked at his brother as if he were stupid. "Because they like each other an' that's what boys an' girls do when they like each other."

"Well, I know that, but why do you like him?"

River thought on the question for a moment, cocking her head to the side as she watched Jayne coil a length of rope in his big strong hands. She liked Jayne; they were friends. "He trusts me and I trust him. We understand one another."

"I guess that sounds 'bout right," Travis said with a sage nod and she grinned at him, ruffling his straw blond hair. She looked back up to the men and found Jayne smiling at her. She smiled back. He gave her a playful wink in return and her smile grew.

"Ew, you guys'er doin' what Ma an' Pa do," Jacob groaned as he made a face. "Growed ups is so strange."

"It's grown ups, Jake," Travis said in exasperation and River stifled her laugh. "How many times do I gotta tell you that?"

"Shut yer trap, Travis!"

The herd of cattle came to a stop-Jayne and Art having gotten them all into the pin-and one of the heifers stuck her nose in between the planks of the fence. Jacob and Travis had been so busy picking on one another that they had failed to notice and when it finally came to their attention, they jumped away from the fence in unison with a startled cry. River threw back her head in full out laughter at their comical expressions. "The cow poses no threat."

She reached out and tickled its wet nose and the cow puffed out hot air through its flaring nostrils. A shadow fell over her and she looked up to see that Jayne had come to lean against the fence next to her, his eyes full of mirth. "You makin' a new friend, Honey?" In the presence of others, they were careful to call each other pet names and exchange what many believed were meaningful glances. She smiled up at him. "Yes."

"Well, you ain't bringin' her home with us," he said, grinning down at her. For some odd reason, Jayne seemed bigger to her in that moment and it scared her. Her eyes widened and she turned away a little too quickly. Jayne caught the change in her demeanor instantly. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she lied. He raised an eyebrow at her challengingly, but she refused to answer and he rolled his eyes, giving her a practiced squeeze around the middle. "Yer a funny, little thing."

She squinted up at him, her equilibrium somewhat restored. "You are a funny, big thing."

He nodded and chuckled. "Yep, we sure do make a pair," he said, before turning to walk away. River fought the urge to frown at him and moved over to stand with Delly. Delly smiled at her, her green eyes full of warmth. She looked up over River's shoulder and nodded of towards the men. "Looks like Missy Emerson is makin' eyes at yer man."

River turned to look and found that Missy Emerson, Walt Emerson's daughter, was indeed making eyes at Jayne as she served him and Art a tall glass of lemonade. Jayne smiled his thanks, not seeming to notice as he and Art continued to talk. River shrugged. She was used to the way women stared Jayne down when they went into town. She found it amusing.

"Most women I know'er ready ta rip another woman's hair out fer so much as glancin' at their man. You sure must trust him an awful lot," Delly said. River didn't say anything and settled for watching as Jacob and Travis ran back and forth after one another in a mad game of tag. River wished she were that young again. Travis yelled at his brother, "Ya can't catch me! I'm faster than an Alliance Skiff on hard burn!" He ducked behind River, using her as a human shield and she smiled down at him. "Don't let him catch me," he whispered up at her and she nodded conspiratorially. "Okay."

Jacob ran up and tried to step around her and she stepped to the side to block his progress. He tried to sidestep her again and again, she blocked him.

"Aunt River, no fair," he wailed and she shrugged. "You'll get over it."

Jacob held up a small branch at her and said in a serious voice, "Step aside, or I'll shoot ya dead!"

River's eyes widened in mock horror. "Travis, he has a gun-run!"

Travis and River screamed in unison and took of running with Jacob in hot pursuit screaming as if he were going into battle. "Head for the tree, it's base," Travis cried out breathlessly, pointing to a tree on a hill not far away. They both turned sharply and and fell into a dead run. All three of them were giggling hysterically. River reached the tree first. "Safe," she called out, raising one arm triumphantly. Jacob dropped the branch and tackled his brother to the ground. "Yer it now, Travis!"

Jacob took off running and Travis called out, "Uncle Jayne is base."

River's jaw dropped open. "No fair," she laughed as she took off running with Travis hot on her heels. Jacob was already attached to Jayne's right leg. "Run, Aunt River! He's gainin' on ya!"

River let out another high pitched shriek as she jumped right onto Jayne, knocking him to the ground with an "oomph" as the air left his lungs. Travis howled once more, throwing himself on top of Jayne as well. He let out another grunt and was about to ask what they were doing when Susan climbed out of Delly's arms and leapt onto her Uncle Jayne as well. The four giggled down at him and he smiled. "Ya know what happens ta ornery little boy an' girls an' wives that done jump on mean ol' men like me?"

"What, Unky Jayne," Susan asked excitedly. He sat up and grinned at them. "I tickle em' ta death!"

Faster than lightening, the children scrambled from Jayne's reaching arms and River fell to the ground, gingerly climbing to her feet. Jayne was quicker. He grabbed her around the waist, pulling her against him and his fingers dug into her sides. They had their desired affect and River dissolved into tearful laughter, crying out, "Help! Oh, Jayne, stop!"

"No," he said, with a shake of his head, "gotta make an' example of ya." As if to emphasis his, point he attacked her sides with renewed force and tears ran down her face freely as she gasped between laughs. "Travis, Jacob, Susan, help!"

"Naw, Aunt River, he'll get us," Jacob called back from beside his mother. Susan glared at her brothers and ran up beside Jayne, her face red with fury as she gave him a sound kick in the shin. Jayne yelped in surprise and looked down at the small girl with wide eyes. "Stop hurting Aunt River!" She yelled up at him.

"Susan," Delly cried. Jayne stared down at the curly haired little girl. "I ain't hurtin' her none."

Susan's lower lip quivered. "Yes, you are. You made her cry."

Jayne pulled away from River and hauled the little girl up in his arms. "Susie, I would never ever hurt yer Aunt River."

"You promise?" She stared him down and for once, Jayne Cobb was the one feeling more than a bit intimidated. He nodded. "I promise."

"Susan, sometimes laughter brings tears," River explained, rubbing the girl's back. Susan made a face. "Really?"

River and Jayne nodded. Susan looked back up at Jayne, squinting. "You really, really promise?"

Jayne nodded solemnly. "I really, really promise."

"And you won't make her cry no more, right?"

"Right. I can't stand ta see a pretty girl cry an' yer Aunt River's the prettiest of all," Jayne declared. River smiled. Jayne was a good liar. Her smile faded, however, when she noted the seriousness of Jayne's expression. He was telling the truth. Susan smiled beatifically up at him, wrapping her tiny arms around his neck and planting a small kiss on his cheek. "I love you, Unky Jayne."

River's smile returned when she saw the way Jayne melted in Susan's arms. He gave her a pat on the back and a small squeeze. "I, er, love ya, too, Squirt."

Susan giggled and tightened her arms around his neck, crushing her cheek against his. River covered her mouth with her hand to keep from laughing out loud at the mixture of discomfort and affection on Jayne's face. Jayne glared down at her. "What'er you laughin' at?"

"Nothing at all, Unky Jayne," she chortled, poking him in the side, "nothing at all."

He continued to glare at her, but it didn't quite reach his eyes and he gave her a quick hug. "Think it's time we all got ourselves home an' had us some of yer fine cookin'."

He looked up at Art and Delly who were both smiling in amusement. "Ya'll gonna stand there lookin' at us funny er' what?"

Art shrugged. "We're ready when you two lovebirds are."

Jayne glowered at Art, as River flushed a deep red. Art burst into a fit of laughter as they climbed into the wagon. River and Jayne both shot him a dirty look and River said in a prim voice, "No pie for you."

Jayne smiled proudly at his wife as Art's laughter died and Delly's laughter began.

German Phrases

Passen sie ihn auf: Watch him.

A/N: Yes, I know, ridiculously fluffy and seemingly pointless. However, I'd like to point out that Jayne and River are beginning to realize they are not at fault for the deaths of Wash and Book. Also, it should be noted that even though Jayne built a bed for the extra room, he and River still sleep in the same bed. I should probably point out that River is slowly gaining the ability to block out the thoughts of others for lengthy amounts of time, but continues to read Jayne's mind occasionally as he no longer finds her ability to do so intrusive. The inclusion of the Wilkersons is significant in that it shows how much a part of the community River and Jayne have become. It also shows that they are planning on remaining on Harvest permanently, though they themselves do not realize it; they have moved on from believing that they are merely trying to survive to trying to find happiness together.

In case you're worried that Jayne and River's relationship is progressing too fast, it should be known that they have been on Harvest for over five months and have been interacting with the other townspeople on a regular basis. Because of this interaction, what was supposed to have been a carefully crafted act of mutual marital affection is slowly becoming more and their teasing of one another on a regular basis is purely subconscious as neither one of them quite realizes the direction in which their relationship is turning. My rationalization of this is that neither River nor Jayne have ever had a proper relationship as River had been in the Academy and Jayne never really had the need to hone his flirting skills when he could simply pick up a whore on the nearest planet. You can easily compare them to school children who pick on one another by calling each other names to show they like one another.

Andrew Stockley will play a minor role in the future. He is a minor antagonist, but his role is indeed necessary for story progression.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask and please review. Even negative feedback is appreciated.