A/N: I don't know if anybody noticed this but I seem to like alliteration. I don't know why, but if I write a sequel to this I don't think I'll have the chapter titles all alliterized. By the way if anyone does want a sequel please tell me now so I know not to try and shoot the plot bunnies cuz this one's about to end in five or six chapters or so. Okay I'll stop rambling and let you guys get to the chapter, as always thanks for the reviews you guys rock.

Chapter 31: Stop Hugging and Start Stomping

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Kaylee stormed away from Simon. Dear Buddha that man was a master in anything involving medicine but give him a girl who liked him and he was a ching-wah TSAO duh liou mahng. He had the tact of a frog.

As Kaylee made her way to the kitchen she passed Jayne. He nodded in her direction and she stopped him. "Have you seen Oz? Wait of course you haven't cause otherwise there would be—"

"Yea he's in the dining room." Jayne interrupted her.

"Oh my god you didn't hurt him did you?" Kaylee asked very concerned.

Jayne rolled his eyes, "No, me and the wolf have come to an understanding."

"So you ain't gonna try to kill him no more?" She said. Jayne nodded. Kaylee let out a sound of excitement before hugging Jayne.

"Uh Kaylee… did you get knocked in the head?" Simon asked coming up the stairs looking for his sister.

"No."

"Then why are you hugging Jayne?" Simon wondered.

"Cuz he ain't trying to kill Oz." Kaylee responded.

Jayne smirked down at Kaylee, "Hell if I'd known I'd get this kind of treatment I'd of made nice with Oz a long time ago."

The mechanic rolled her eyes at him and smacked his arm, "Shut up." She smiled and then continued to the kitchen with Simon following her.

River and Oz were sitting at the table rather closely holding hands. Simon started to clear his throat. River rolled her eyes but scooted her chair slightly away from Oz's. Simon went to clear his throat his again but Kaylee stomped on his foot.

"Ow!" Simon yelped.

"Oh geez, I'm sorry was that you're foot?" Kaylee asked a look of pure innocence on her face. She led him to a chair, "I'm so sorry Simon. Sometimes I'm so heavy footed. Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm okay." Simon said taking a seat across from his sister and Oz. Kaylee took a seat next to him. "So I heard that Jayne isn't trying to kill you anymore. How did that come about?"

"Talked to Jayne, he can be pretty reasonable." Oz answered.

"Reasonable?" Simon scoffed. "We are talking about the same Jayne here right? Jayne Cobb?"

"Oh he ain't all that bad." Kaylee said. Simon gave her a look. "Well not all the time." She amended.

"Peace treaties can always be reached once a side has been subdued and beaten. All wars are won when a side loses never a win-win. Always someone loses. Bloody fights, broken bodies, butchered souls." River said her eyes starting to tear as images filled her mind.

"Ssshhhh." Oz murmured placing her hand on his wrist or more specifically his meditation beads. A look of calm settled on her face even though a tear fell down on her cheek. Oz gently brushed away the tear drop and River graced him with a smile.

"How?" Simon asked, not angry just a little jealous, "How can you make my sister so calm? You've only known her for a few days."

"It's the meditation beads. They hold years of barriers, of walls, of calm. And that's what River needs. A wall to block out all the thoughts, even on this ship with only nine people, it's still a little too much." Oz explained.

"What do you mean?" Simon asked.

"Come on Simon, you know she's a reader." Kaylee said.

"I know she's very perceptive but—"

"Simon," River interrupted her brother, "I've been completing your thoughts since I could talk. Including that one time at church when I was five and you—"

"I thought we agreed to never bring that up again." Simon said his face turning slightly red.

Kaylee looked between the smirking River and blushing Simon, "Oh I want to hear this."

"Weeeellll—"

"River, you don't tell her and I won't say anything about you and Oz anymore." Simon bargained.

River shrugged, "You know I don't really remember anymore."

"Aww," Kaylee said then she looked at Oz, "Hey why don't you give River a kiss."

"Hey, wait a minute. You—" Simon paused at seeing Oz's slight smirk, River's outright laughing, and Kaylee's shaking shoulders. The doctor rolled his eyes at all of them, "Ni si jia yu dian."