I apologise profously for such a huge massive ginormous delay in this last chapter. I wasn't able to upload it due to the fault something or other, then this weekend I was at Collectormania in Milton Keynes meeting Tony Head and James Masters (swoon).

Thanks for the reviews. I hope you enjoy! I know its short but it kinda came to a natural ending.

Chapter 3: Home

River taps on the infirmary door before poking her head round it. "Simon?"

He looks up at her. "River."

She steps into the room and slides the door shut behind her. "I missed you."

This isn't what he was expecting at all. "Sorry?"

"I missed you. I missed Kaylee." She can feel her eyes starting to well up. "I missed Inara when she left. You should have heard her yell at Mal when he left you. I still want to be a girl. I still want to be your sister. If you'll let me…"

"River…"

She cuts him off with a wave of her hand. "Let me finish please. I want to be your mei mei but I ain't the same girl that you left. I love him Simon and nothing you say will change that. You wanted me to get better. Well I did. I did and I made a grown up decision. Simon please let me make that decision and stand by it. I tried everything. Learning to look after myself helped me Simon. It helped make me better. I know you think I'm not feminine enough, that I became hard like they are. I can hear you thinking it. But they would do anything for me."

Simon looks at the floor, fiddling with the metal instrument in his hand. He remains silent.

"I didn't become hard through choice, or because of them or anything like that. I'm like this because I have to be…"

"Why?" he interrupts suddenly.

She looks at him sadly. "They tried to treat me like a little girl. It didn't work…I couldn't be her anymore." Tears start to well up in her eyes. "Zoë took me shopping, and brushed my hair, did you ask her that? Wash played games with me, danced round the cargo bay until he went red in the face and couldn't breathe. But I couldn't…I couldn't be that little girl because you weren't there. My stupid big brother walked out and left me so I had to grow up. Simon I had to grow up!"

Simon's lower lip is wobbling alarmingly.

She steps towards him. "Please Simon…"

He reaches a hand out as though to touch her, drops it. "I'm so sorry River."

River stares at his dropped hand. "Don't feel guilty Simon. Good things came of this too."

He stares at her, wide eyed.

"Yes I can read your mind. Not that I couldn't help but hear you right now."

He folds his arms defensively and she sighs.

"That won't work you know. So tell me why Kaylee is sat in the engine room looking like someone broke her heart?"

"What?"

River looks at him. "You are such a boob. She wanted it to be something and you dismissed it out of hand."

Simon has the good grace to look thoroughly ashamed.

"Go talk to her Simon. Tell her that you love her."

His eyes go wide and she smiles at him.

"Go tell her that she's the first thing you think about when you wake up. That you love the way her hair smells. That you think that grease smudge on her nose is cuter than all the make up in the 'verse…"

"Okay okay just shut up alright," Simon interrupts sharply. "Just stop doing that!"

She grins innocently at her and he gives her a look.

"You know I don't remember you being such a brat."

River swats at his arm and he dodges her. He heads for the infirmary door.

"Wait Simon."

He looks round at her.

"Talk to Mal, please?"

He pulls a face but nods before he leaves.

Simon stops short at the door of the dining room when he catches sight of River and the Captain. He's just come from kissing Kaylee senseless against the engine housing, and now wants to tackle Mal while his bottle still holds. Mal is setting the table, while River chops up some red protein to add to the rice that is bubbling on the stove. Mal seems happy enough that River has a big knife in her hands. He says something softly and she laughs. Simon stays out of sight behind the doorframe.

"Its all rather domestic isn't it?" Zoë's voice says in his ear.

"Yeah," he says softly. "And thank you for what you did for River. I had no idea."

Zoë shrugs. "We tried. She chose this though. She didn't speak to anyone for two weeks when you left except Mal. She didn't say goodbye to Inara. Locked herself in the engine room while Inara cried the other side of the door. Mal tried to explain that she shouldn't take it personally to Inara. River didn't come out for two hours after 'Nara went. Then looked the Captain right in the eyes and said, 'Now you know how it feels,' and gorram smiled at him. Think that broke him just a little too." Zoë looks back at Mal and River. "We didn't realise at first. It just happened Simon, they didn't plan this. They fell into this messed up relationship because…because they make each other just that little bit less messed up."

Simon nods slowly. He gets that.

Zoë smiles. "Never realised Jayne was so puritanical though. He threw a blue fit when he found out. Punched out Mal, picked River up over his shoulder and locked her on the bridge with Wash until she calmed down a little. Told Mal he was a perverted old man and that he was taking advantage of River. Told River she was a stupid naïve little girl who didn't know what she wanted. Nearly got flushed out the airlock but wouldn't back down. Its taken a lot to prove it to Jayne and I doubt Mal thinks it will take less to prove to you that he's serious about her." Zoë gives him a little push. "Go."

Simon takes a deep a breath and steps into the room.

"Hey," he says.

Mal looks up slowly and eyes the doctor waiting for the punch that isn't coming.

"Want a hand?"

River raises an eyebrow. "You can cut this up Simon. I've got to get more rice from the hold."

Mal almost tells her that there is plenty of rice in the storage locker behind her but she nudges him with her elbow and he shuts his mouth. Simon takes the knife and starts cutting the protein up as River leaves the room. The two men continue working in silence for a minute or so.

"Its surprising," Simon says suddenly. "How such different ingredients can come together to make a wonderful meal." He scoops up the protein and dumps it into the pot.

Mal nods, immediately picking up on the subtext. "Sometimes the oddest things do seem to balance each other out."

They both look at each other. Simon can see the apprehension in the older man's eyes then gives him a little smile.

"Treat my mei mei right, or I will hurt you," he says softly, threat lurking behind the words.

Mal grins. "Wouldn't expect any less."

"Can we come in yet?" Wash yells from outside the room. "I'm starving! Either kiss and make up, or punch the good gorram out of each other."

Mal and Simon look at each other.

"You want me to kiss you or punch you?" Mal asks quietly.

"Neither," Simon says wrinkling his nose. "Unless you want protein shoved up your nose."

He flings a piece at Mal who catches it grinning.

"Come in!" he hollers at his crew.

They come spilling into the room. River looks between the two men and smiles widely. Simon drops a kiss on her forehead and she smiles at him and sits down beside Mal. Kaylee takes him hand and grins at him, and he realises that they are home.

Translation Notes (for whole story)

Tāmāde húndàn – fking bastard

Pigu – ass

Chùsheng xai-jiao de xiang huo – animal fking bastard

Ai ya – damn

Dang ran: of course

Bù kê néng! No way!

Hwoon dahn – son of a bitch

Mei mei – little sister

Bao bei – beautiful, precious