A/N Hope everyone is enjoying it so far. Thanks for everyone who has reviewed and please keep them coming.

RionaEire: Glad you're enjoying it so far. In the following chapters I'm certainly going to try and get more of River in the picture. Sometimes I think I have good River moments then read them back and erase them. Love writing for her but I want to make sure I get it right. Also glad you're enjoying the humor. I'm trying to capture Simon's dry sense of humor so I hope that's working.

Bytemite: Glad you enjoyed the dinosaurs scene. That came to me one day when I should have been working and had to scribble down the idea for that so I didn't forget it. I can see Wash and River doing that and having the grandest of times.

Still don't own anything. Maybe next week, right?

Simon walked over to the refrigeration unit intending to dig out the leftovers that Book had provided River and himself from the meal in the village. Moving the few items around, he could see that there didn't seem to be any leftovers from last night in there. Taking a look towards the stove, an empty pot answered his unasked question and judging by Mal's cleaned plate that was the last of it. Saffron stood close to Mal with a guarded expression on her face, awaiting Mal's judgment of her culinary skills.

"Mighty tasty." Mal said, slightly uncomfortable with everyone's attention on him.

"No more." River stated flatly looking towards the empty cooking pot.

"It's ok River, there's still plenty of beans, that will be better than the protein cubes." Simon quickly said, pulling the dishes out. He prayed that River wouldn't get too upset. While he did admit he had looking forward to another fresh meal, River could take things differently. He had already caught her glare towards Saffron when they first entered. As far as he knew, River hadn't seen or spoken to Saffron yet so he wasn't sure what that was all about.

Perhaps feeling the icy tension in the room, Saffron walked over to a cupboard, opened it and extracted something while speaking nervously. "I'm sorry, I was just trying to prepare my husband a decent first meal." Mal nearly choked at those words. Glancing next to him, Simon saw River narrow her eyes at this. He also guessed that Mal hadn't told Saffron the latest plan involving her getting off at Beaumont yet. Continuing, Saffron looked over at Simon again. "I'm sorry, it's been quite a shock adjusting. You're Simon right? And this young lady is...?". Saffron looked towards River.

River stood up from her seat, threw another glare at Saffron and marched out, her boots clomping down the metal hallway.

Simon stared after her, a confused expression crossing his face. "Um, that's my sister. If you'll excuse me, I need to go check on her." With that Simon hurried out of the dining room. He looked down the hallway not seeing any sign of River. It was strange too. Simon had seen River in a variety of emotional states since she had come out of cryo but this was new. If Simon wasn't mistaken, River was angry. Really angry. He could tell by the way she left with the lack of her usual grace, stomping out of the dining room. Judging by everyone else's confused stares, they noticed too.

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Checking all of River's usual hiding places, Simon was coming up empty. He'd been searching for at least half an hour and Serenity wasn't the largest ship to begin with. She's only been on this ship a few months and she probably knows it better than the captain...Simon thought. Standing in the cargo bay, Simon sighed and gave up. "River??" He called out. "River, please come out. I'm sure you can hear me, now come on out."

With a slight screech of metal as a panel was removed, River's head poked out of one of the many smuggling holes located in the cargo bay. "Rabbit warrens." She explained. "Have to burrow, hide from the wicked queen."

Simon sighed and came over to help River extract herself. "Why didn't you come out sooner? I was looking all over for you."

River looked at him, her eyes sad. "You didn't ask." She softly explained before gracefully pulling herself up and seating herself on a crate against the wall. "Happening too fast, thoughts fly by. Bottom soon to drop out."

Simon came over and squatted down before her. "What's happening too fast? River, is there something you're worried about?"

River gave him one of her best condescending looks.

"I mean more than normal." Simon corrected himself.

"Covered in shadows, the tranquility of deception descends." Seeing her brother's confused expression, she tried to modify her response. "Nothing is as it seems." she added darkly.

With that, River hopped off the crate and made her way out of the cargo bay.

Simon stared after her for a long time, lost in his own thoughts.

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Simon looked over his charts in the infirmary. He was in the process of analyzing River's blood work for clues on her reactions to various medications when River walked in carrying a red pillow. Before he was able to question where she got it, she took his arm with a smile and gently pulled him out of the infirmary. Walking into the common room, he nearly ran right into Shepherd Book.

"It seems River doesn't want me making up a room for our young guest." Book said with a hint of amusement in his voice and slight confusion on his face. "Either that or she's starting a pillow collection."

River glanced at Simon, her eyes searching his, absentmindedly picking at the pillow she clutched tightly to her chest. Simon returned her gaze, wondering what was going on. With a sigh and a tired smile he turned back to Book.

"I'm sorry. I'll take care of the room..." He started to say.

"Not important!" River said with a gleeful smile. She looked at Simon. "Tell him."

Confused, Simon looked back at her. "Tell him what?"

River took Simon's arm pulling him close to her and smiled at Book. "We want you to marry us."

"What?!! No!! No!" Simon exclaimed as a shocked expression crossed his face. He turned to see Book's face holding an unreadable expression. Simon turned back to River. "What??"

"Two by two. Everyone a match, a mate, a doppel. I love you." River explained with a gentle smile.

Simon's mind raced trying to keep up with this strange turn of events. "Now River, mei-mei, of course I love you too but we can't be married." Simon saw the light in River's eyes dim and felt badly for a moment before remembering the topic of conversation. Turning to Book, he said in a low voice, "She's really crazy."

Unfortunately, River heard him and lashed out with her foot, connecting with his shin for the second time in two days. "OWW!" Simon exclaimed hopping on one foot. "River, owww... I don't mean crazy. That's just not something brothers and sisters do." River opened her mouth to say something but Simon saw where this was going and quickly cut her off. "Ok, maybe on some planets, but only pretty bad ones." he finished lamely rubbing his sore shin.

River still did not looked convinced. "The captain took a wife." she stated matter-of-factly.

"That's also complicated." Book interjected trying to conceal his mirth.

"I don't know where this is coming from." Simon said looking to Book.

"We'll take care of each other." River pleaded. "I'll knit." Seeing the bewildered expression still on her brother's face, her own face fell. "You don't love me."

Simon felt the need to correct this as soon as possible. River's delicate emotional state had been mostly in balance the past few days and he had no desire to upset it now. Taking her hand in both of his, Simon looked River right in the eyes. "No, no. Mei-mei, I love you more than anything. It's just as I explained. We can't be married but that will never mean I don't love you or I don't want to be around you or even to take care of you. You're my little sister and you'll always have a special place in my heart reserved only for you. Nobody can ever have that space but you and you can never be replaced. Remember what I told you before. Everything I have is right here." He let go of her hand to grip her shoulders briefly before taking her hand again.

River looked slightly placated at this. "Promise?" she asked, her eyes meeting Simon's.

"I promise, River. With everything in me, I promise you." Simon squeezed her hand gently in both of his at this point. She searched his eyes before nodding and smiling.

"What's going on here?" Mal arrived with Saffron in tow.

Simon really didn't know where to begin or how to explain so he simply settled for a simple, "I really couldn't say."

Mal frowned and looked towards Book. "I was going to show Saffron to her room. Is it ready?"

Simon felt his face go red slightly as Book told Mal that once upon a time, it had been ready. Thankfully Book didn't mention River was the reason it wasn't now. River was still plucking at the pillow in her hands but her eyes hadn't left Saffron since she had appeared and she was scowling slightly at her. Simon noticed this and questioningly looked towards her. She inclined her head towards Saffron and looked back at him to see if he got it. Simon was still confused. River tried again, exaggerating the movement of her head towards Saffron. When Simon still didn't get it, River blew a frustrated puff of air out of her mouth and chose that moment to speak up.

"You're a thief." River directed towards Saffron. For a moment, nobody said anything, stunned by River's accusation.

"River!" Simon hissed.

She turned her dark eyes on him and mumbled. "It's true."

"Whoa now, little miss." Mal said with a frown. "That's an awfully large leap you're taking. Anything to back that up?"

River looked down at the floor before muttering again, "It's true. The thief enters the house through the front door, no one ever suspects."

Now Simon was truly confused. River seemed to have a lot of animosity towards Saffron for no clear reason Simon could see. Now if it had been Jayne, Simon mused, I could completely understand.

Saffron's soft voice interrupted his contemplations. "I'm sorry, I didn't know when I was to be fed." She said pulling a nutrient packet out of her pocket. "There was nothing left but scraps after I prepared my husband's meal." Simon saw Mal wince again and had to suppress the urge to grin. He had no real desire to get hit again by Mal.

River turned towards her brother, concealing a smile from the others as she nudged him. "Told you." she said quietly.

Rolling his eyes at her, Simon wondered again how she knew about Saffron.

As if reading his thoughts, River spoke up. " I didn't see it."

Simon looked back at his sister while Mal firmly lectured Saffron. River's behavior truly was puzzling to him. She had always been very perceptive of her surroundings but it seemed like that trait had been increased in her time away from him at that place...Simon gritted his teeth again at the thought. Turning back to the conversation at hand, he only caught the tail end of what Mal was saying.

"...And I've got no use for people taking what ain't theirs." Mal finished.

"Yes, we frown on that here." Book said with a straight face. How he was able to pull that off, Simon had no idea. He knew he couldn't have done it. Seeing the tension still in the air, Book quickly spoke again. "Saffron, why don't I show you to your room. I just have to tidy it up again but it will only take a moment."

Book left with Saffron to her room, while Mal stomped off to the bridge, muttering about not getting any respect from passengers, let alone crew.

Simon turned back to River, noticing that River had placed the pillow under her sweater. "Now we might have to be married." River explained. "I'm in the family way." gesturing to her expanded abdomen.

River giggled as Simon's eyes bulged in disbelief before River pulled the pillow out, whacking him across the face. "Silly Simon. Eyes will stick like that if you keep them that way." Skipping back towards her room, she turned around one more time, laughing at her brother before sliding her door shut.

Wash and Zoe came down the stairs then. Zoe spotted Simon and made her way over.

"You do know you've encouraged my husband to spend even more with his dinosaurs. All he's done so far this morning is talk about his impending dinosaur battles with River and now he's on his way to pick out the 'very best' ones to show her later." She spoke in a no nonsense tone but Simon could see a sparkle behind her eyes that was rarely there.

"I know! I hope River is as excited as I am." Wash interjected. Nudging his wife playfully he spoke. "Like I told Simon, some people just lack the imagination to have some fun. Everyone loves dinosaurs! Who can honestly say they don't like dinosaurs?"

Simon began to get the impression that if this kept up, the upcoming dinosaur battles would probably spill into the common area outside the infirmary. He wondered who might pilot the ship during all this. Wouldn't that be something. We drift so far off course because our pilot is busy playing dinosaurs with my genius, fugitive sister. Simon thought to himself. Still laughing Zoe walked towards their bunk, Wash still happily discussing the merits of dinosaurs and improvements of crew morale.

Simon went and sat down on the couch, glad for a moments peace. He began reaching for his medical book to read up more on some promising articles he had found regarding neural lapses when a bubbly female voice reached his ears from the cargo bay.

"I can't wait to make planet fall. Maybe the captain will let us get off for awhile. Much as I love Serenity, the ole girl can become claustrophobic after awhile."

"I know Kaylee, I don't think I'm going to be picking up any clients this far out. Perhaps, we could go do some shopping, just the two of us." Inara's voice also floated out.

"Inara! That'd be great." Kaylee squealed. "Maybe you can help me look for something I can look a little more respectable in. Maybe get Simon to notice me more and not just the engine grease on my face."

"Kaylee, you don't need to dress yourself up to get Simon to notice you. Besides, he has enough things on his mind with River so I'm not sure if it's worth your effort at the moment. Just be yourself and be supportive of him. I'm sure he already sees what a wonderful girl you are." Inara said.

"Well, it'd be fun to look and I'd have something for when I do..." Kaylee came around the corner and nearly jumped in shock seeing Simon sitting on the couch seemingly engrossed in a book. "Simon! Uh, how long have you been there?"

"Awhile, just catching up on some reading. River has settled down for a bit. She didn't sleep too well last night so I'm grateful she's resting now." Simon smiled at Kaylee and greeted Inara as she stepped into the room as well.

"Um...You didn't happen to hear us did you?" Kaylee asked blushing.

"I just heard you say you'd have something and then I saw you. I was pretty focused on my reading." Simon said with an inward smile.

"Oh, ok! Great. I mean that's fantastic that you're so focused on your reading. Anyway, I need to go. Um...I need to check something in the engine room. I'll see you later." With that, Kaylee practically fled from the room, her cheeks bright pink.

Inara took a seat next to Simon and spoke. "So, never a dull moment on board is there?" she said with a warm smile.

"Seems there's always a new adventure of some kind. Some of us get shot or stabbed, others nearly get burned at the stake, and then others get married without realizing it. I can honestly say that I didn't expect this when I booked my charter on Persephone."

Laughing, Inara asked, "Well, would you change any of it? I mean, maybe the burning at the stake part."

Simon laughed as well before a resigned look came over his face. "The only part I would change would be if something could help River. She's been more up over the past few days but she can also hit the lows hard. I don't know how much I can do for her here and really how much I can do at all even if I had the proper equipment."

Inara put her hand over Simon's and looked at him. "Simon, you are doing so much for River right now. You're all she has and I can't think of anyone that'd be better to be with her right now. She was wonderful with me earlier and I don't mind looking after her again sometime so you can have some more time to your studies or maybe just some free time. I'm sure Kaylee would love to show you around some of the planets out on the Border sometime and there is more on the ship then just the infirmary." She said with a small smile.

"I know, it's just hard to think about anything else right now. I guess I do get a little caught up in everything else. Maybe I do need to relax a little more and unwind." Simon said.

With that Inara gracefully stood up. "Just think on it Simon. Even the best doctors need some down time as well." She smiled and left Simon sitting on the couch, thinking on her words.

At this moment, Jayne came clomping down the stairs, semi-automatic rifle in hands. "I can't believe that gorram fool. Vera is worth at least three times that wench Mal picked up. What kind of man can pass up a deal like that?" Seeing Simon, Jayne hollered across the room, "Can you believe that man? Mal wouldn't trade the woman for Vera here. I mean, this is a mighty fine piece of hardware, holds thirty round magazine, custom grip, laser sight, light as a feather, and nearly no recoil. I polish her every night, best damn piece of machinery on this boat." Seeing Simon's dumbfounded face, Jayne sighed, shook his head and made his way towards his bunk. "Don't know why I'm asking you. Hell, if you knew a damn thing about a woman or a gun I could ask you. Maybe I'll go ask Zoe, I bet she could give me a straight up answer." Pushing by Simon, Jayne made his way out the door.

Simon stood alone in the common room trying to decipher when and where the entire ship had gone insane.