Chapter 21
Mal and Simon exchanged an amused glance at the excited shrieks coming from Kaylee and River. They had just stepped off of Serenity at the docks on Draco and the two women were giddy with excitement over the bright city spread out before them. Draco was a moon which consisted entirely of entertainment venues; the main city of Virgo was lit up like it was Christmas. All around them bright lights advertised casinos, restaurants, theaters, strip clubs, brothels, and countless other places to spend money at.
"Oh this place is so shiny! Look at all the stores! We definitely need to do some shopping for the weddings while we're here." Kaylee said excitedly to River.
River nodded enthusiastically and both women turned to link arms with their husbands to be. Kaylee's eyes darkened as they all watched Inara's shuttle take off and head towards whatever client she had scheduled on Draco. River put a hand comfortingly on her friend's shoulder and after only a second or two Kaylee was back to her usual cheery self.
Mal watched the exchange between Kaylee and River with suspicion. He knew something was going on between the two women and figured it had something to do with Inara, since he noticed Kaylee avoiding the Companion for days now. He put the thought out of his head knowing that neither of the women would talk about it unless they wanted to. Smiling he pulled River into his arms and led the crew in the direction of a casino. His hope was that River could earn enough straight away so they could all get rooms in a nice hotel. It had been a really bad few weeks for the crew and he figured they were all sorely in need of a vacation. Plus the idea of him and River taken a nice long private bath together was enough to make his legs nearly buckle.
The group split off to go their separate ways when they entered the casino and Mal led River over to a bank of poker tables. He watched her carefully knowing that she was still uncomfortable in large crowds since the rape.
"I'm fine ai-ren. As long as you stay close by me, I'm fine." River assured him.
"I ain't goin no where I promise." Mal guaranteed with a warm smile.
The crew had been confident in River's abilities and pooled all of their remaining funds together for River to use which Mal quickly transferred into chips.
"Honey what da ya say we try some poker?" Mal drawled loudly as he slung an arm clumsily over River's shoulder, falling easily into the part of a drunken husband on his honeymoon.
"But I don't know how to play poker honey." River complained immensely enjoying the little bit of role playing she and Mal were currently engaged in.
"Ah hell baby doll. Its simple, promise you'll pick it up in no time." Mal assured her as he pulled out a stool for her to sit down on.
They were dealt into the next hand and Mal spent the next fifteen minutes "teaching" River how to play the game. For her part River did an admirable job of pretending to be a clueless airhead with beginner's luck.
She smiled sweetly as she laid down her hand and the entire table groaned around her.
"Is getting all hearts good? It's probably not good, but they look pretty together like that." River asked innocently as the dealer pushed a large pile of chips to her.
"Yeah honey all hearts is real good, it's called a flush." Mal said sounding irritated that his wife was beating him.
"What do you say me and you go find somethin else to do?" Mal asked, making it look like he was trying to save the last of his dignity by shuffling the wife off before she could emasculate him further.
They walked out of the casino holding hands and grinning happily at each other.
"How'd we do bao-bei?" Mal asked.
"We're up five hundred platinum." She replied sounding extremely proud of herself.
"Five hundred platinum already? Sweet Buddha I think I just fell in love with you all over again. You up for playin at one more casino before dinner?" Mal asked as he led River to another gambling establishment.
"I think I can do that." She giggled.
Three hours later they stumbled from the casino, laughing loudly and fairly drunk on cocktails they'd received for free from the bar to congratulate River on her winnings.
"Can't believe we're up five thousand platinum already!" Mal slurred happily.
"Six thousand actually I realized that Roulette is very easy while you were at the bar." River giggled proudly.
"Have I mentioned that I really really love you?" Mal asked.
"Hmm not in the last ten minutes." River replied as they reached the bar where they had agreed to meet the crew.
The walked up to the bar to find Jayne and Zoe heatedly discussing guns; Mal was shocked that Jayne didn't appear to be sizing up any of the many whores standing around the bar. Kaylee and Simon were equally as involved with each other, they however weren't talking. Mal thought if Kaylee's tongue went any further down the doctor's throat she'd probably be able to check his tonsils, he also wondered when the doc had become so comfortable with public displays of affection.
Everyone turned hopeful expectant eyes on the couple when they walked up to the group.
"So did it go good?" Kaylee asked hopefully.
"What do you think would be good?" Mal asked enjoying drawing out the moment.
"Well seein as how we forked over two hundred platinum I'm hopin ya at least doubled it." Jayne answered.
"So you were hopin for at least four hundred?" Mal asked sounding disappointed.
"Ya didn't make that much?" Kaylee asked her face falling knowing they wouldn't be able to afford to stay in a hotel.
"Actually we made just a bit more than that, well I should say she made." Mal amended and pointed a finger at River.
"So quit stallin and just tell us already." Jayne grumbled.
"Six thousand four hundred and twenty three." River stated proudly.
Her announcement was met with four matching sets of wide eyes and open mouths.
"Six thousand platinum, in three hours?" Jayne gasped. "River ya wanna marry me stead a the Cap'n?" He joked.
River gave him a wide grin, "Fat chance." She giggled.
"Whattda ya'll say we go get us a big dinner a real food and then see about finding us a nice place ta stay for the night." Mal suggested.
They found a beautiful restaurant around the corner that was situated right next to a river. They ate outside on a stone patio where they could watch paddle boats covered in lights sail by.
"Ain't this romantic?" Kaylee sighed and leaned back against Simon's chest.
"It is that." Simon agreed.
It suddenly occurred to the Captain that perhaps it was unfair to force Jayne and Zoe to eat and converse all night with two recently engaged couples, especially in romantic settings. Surprisingly when he turned to check he again found Jayne and Zoe engaged in conversation and ignoring the two couples.
After paying the bill the group made their way to a small inn the waiter at the restaurant had recommended. It was away from the tourist areas of the city and while it was cheaper than anything they would have found there it was every bit as nice.
River smiled broadly as she surveyed the suite she and Mal had rented. It contained a large brass bed with soft sheets and a goose down comforter. There was a fireplace on the other end of the room and the bathroom contained a tub large enough for two. River couldn't contain the sigh of pleasure that escaped her lips when she thought about sinking down into that deep tub with Mal.
As if he were the reader Mal came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders and rested his head on the top of her head.
"That tub looks damn inviting don't ya think bao-bei." He asked and began kissing behind her ear.
Using all of her will-power River pulled away from Mal's embrace and turned the water on in the bathtub, making sure it was as hot as they could possibly stand it; the showers on Serenity were warm at best and never hot and River intended to make the most of this opportunity. Both of them moaned in pleasure as they sunk into the hot soapy water. Mal took his time shampooing River's long thick hair, he loved the small quivers of pleasure that the act brought to her. Afterward River moved behind Mal, wrapped her legs around his hips, and began massaging his shoulders and neck. Mal groaned and leaned back into her arms.
After only a few minutes of massage Mal pulled River around so that she was straddling him and began to kiss her deeply. She slid onto his length slowly and smiled as she heard his breath hitch in his throat, she loved knowing she could have that kind of effect on him. As she rode him River reveled in the total privacy that the room afforded them; they didn't have to worry about being interrupted or keeping their voices down. Mal dug his hands into her hair, needing something, anything, to hold onto as he lost control and felt like the entire world exploded around him; River's screams assured him that she was having the same reaction to their lovemaking.
They lay panting in the hot water, sweat streaming down both of them. Once they could breathe normally again they stepped from the tub and wrapped themselves in the soft robes that were in the bathroom. They spent the next two hours sitting in front of the fireplace and sipping champagne. River couldn't imagine a more perfect night and hoped that they could return here after they were married for a honeymoon. She fell asleep leaning against Mal and woke up only briefly as he carried her to the bed and tucked her in.
"Mmmm… love you ai-ren." She whispered still half asleep.
"Love you too, more than you can imagine." Mal replied and kissed her lightly before molding his long body around her much smaller one, loving how perfectly they fit together.
Mal and River spent the next two days frequenting casinos all over Virgo. Since there were over two hundred casinos to choose from they never stayed in one long enough for management to become suspicious of River's playing abilities.
The third night that they were at the hotel was a bad night for River. It was nearly three in the morning and she still couldn't sleep, she tossed and turned in the bed and occasionally brought her hands to her ears to block out noises only she could hear.
Mal woke up to find River close to tears and gritting her teeth in pain.
"River?" He asked immediately concerned. He scooted closer to her and reached a hand out to comfort her, but she flinched away from his touch.
"Too loud. Can't block them out." She murmured. Although her speech was short and punctuated it was fairly coherent and Mal could tell it had taken a lot out of her to simply explain that much to him.
"Its gonna be fine bao-bei it's just a bad night, I'm gonna go get Simon so he can give ya something to help ya sleep dong ma?" Mal explained as he quickly jumped from the bed and pulled his pants on.
He hurried to Simon and Kaylee's room and felt a moment's guilt when the noises on the other side of the door informed him that the pair weren't sleeping. But there was no way he was going to let his girl keep hurting so he banged loudly on the door to make sure he got their attention. From inside he heard whispered curses and after half a minute the door opened a crack revealing a very disheveled and cranky looking Kaylee.
"It's the middle a the gorram night Cap'n. We was kinda sleepin." She whispered harshly.
"You two sure make some funny ass noises when ya sleep then. I'm sorry ta interrupt but River's havin a bad night I need Simon ta come down and give her a smoother so she can get some shuteye." Mal explained.
Kaylee's face instantly softened into a look of concern and from behind her Mal could hear Simon grabbing his medical bag.
"Did anything happen to set her off?" Simon asked as he walked down the hall towards Mal's room.
"Not that I know of. She just mumbled somethin bout it bein too loud, I think maybe bein this close ta all the people stayin here is gettin to her." Mal explained.
They both hurried into the room to find River curled into the fetal position on the bed, her eyes squeezed tight shut and her jam clenched.
"Hey mei-mei. Mal says you're having a bad night. I'm going to give you a smoother so you can get some sleep alright?" Simon asked gently.
River nodded her head but didn't open her eyes or reply. Her breathing began to slow down and she visibly relaxed only a minute after Simon had given her the injection. She opened her eyes and gave the two concerned men a meek smile.
"I'm sorry." She whispered sounding embarrassed.
"Hey now bao-bei ain't nothin ta be sorry for. Ya can't help havin a bad night once in a while. 'Sides as much money as ya made the crew this week, you could probably get away with a whole hell of a lot 'fore anyone'd get angry at ya." Mal comforted as he ran a hand through her hair.
"Just get some sleep mei-mei and I'm sure you'll feel much better in the morning." Simon instructed and leaned over to kiss River on the forehead.
Her eyes began to droop a second later and she was fast asleep within another minute. Both men breathed a sigh of relief to see her resting calmly. Simon stood to leave and Mal walked him to the door.
"Sorry I interrupted you and Kaylee. I didn't want to, but…"
"It's fine Mal. She's my sister anytime she needs my help its fine for you to come and get me. Besides I'm a doctor believe me I've gotten used to getting interrupted at all hours." Simon assured Mal and gave him a quick smile.
"Not sure little Kaylees to keen on that." Mal pointed out.
"Hey if Serenity even makes a strange squeak she's off to the engine room before I can even get my pants on. I think we make a perfect couple." Simon argued lightly.
"Good point. Thanks again." Mal said and gave Simon's shoulder a squeeze.
Simon smiled and headed eagerly back towards his room to resume the activities he'd been pulled away from.
Mal turned to head back into his room when something at the other end of the hall caught his eye. A door about four doors down from his opened and through it Mal could make out Zoe. She was standing facing into the room and wearing only a t-shirt that barely covered her ass. Seeing his army buddy so scantily clad was enough to make Mal uncomfortable, but when he realized she was kissing someone standing in the room he damn near passed out. Zoe had her arms wrapped around a man's neck and was kissing him in a definitely not just friends sort of way. That was enough to nearly stop Mal's heart, but suddenly she stepped back and Mal caught a look at the man she'd been making out with.
There stood Jayne wearing only a pair of jeans, the two of them spoke for a moment and then laughed intimately at a joke Mal couldn't hear. Zoe placed a hand on Jayne's chest and pushed him a little, the move was so casual and comfortable that Mal could tell this wasn't the first time they'd been together in this sort of situation.
Mal backed into his room slowly his mind reeling with what he'd just seen. He lay down on the bed beside River but lay staring at the ceiling sleep seeming an impossibility now.
"Son of a bitch." He muttered as his anger at Jayne began to build. He felt the need to punch Jayne extremely hard but realized he didn't have one good reason why he'd be allowed to do it. The rule on ship board romances had gone out the window long ago and both Jayne and Zoe were adults who had the right to do what they pleased. Mal was for an instant mad that Zoe would betray Wash in that way, but it then occurred to him that it was going on two years since Miranda and Wash probably wouldn't have wanted Zoe to spend the rest of her life alone. But Jayne? He was sure his first mate had better sense than that, although really he'd never gotten her and Wash either. Mal's internal torment about the situation was enough to wake River up for a second from her drug induced slumber.
"You ok ai-ren?" She slurred groggily.
"Sorry didn't mean ta wake ya up." Mal apologized.
River tilted her head to the side and for just a second her glassy stare became clear.
"Oh you know about Zoe and Jayne then." She whispered and gave Mal a teasing smile.
"You knew? How longs this been goin on? How come ya didn't tell me?" Mal asked sounding put out.
"Not your business or mine, they'll tell when they're ready." She explained with a large yawn. "Although I suppose six months is a long time to keep a secret." She added and fell back asleep.
"Wuh de ma! Six months!" Mal yelped and then lay there seriously considering getting Simon to give him a smoother.
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A/N- I know this chapter is complete and utter fluff, but the last few chapters have been pretty dark and I always thought that it would have been great to see the crew in Vegas. Plus I always wondered why they never used River's reader skills for gambling.