Captain-Rouge-River: I would respond to your suggestion but that would be a spoiler for what might come later…Thanks for continuing to read and your support!

Kayli: I love having regular reviews, thanks so much for being patient and sticking with me!

So guys this is the last chapter before the epilogue and I know I have quite a few regular readers, I hope that you can find the time to give me your honest opinion about this finished story, good parts, bad I don't care I just want to know what you thought!

Their first weddings vows were simple to the extreme. This time around Jaynes eloquence might have been solely Books doing but the promises behind them were his. He promised to protect her and their family but this time he promised to also honor and love only her for all his days. Cassidy couldn't help but feel her eyes water when she heard him say it and she knew she wasn't alone when she heard Inara sniffle behind her.

When it came time for Cassidy to promise the same she hesitated for the briefest of moments still not completely believing that it was really happening. One squeeze from Jaynes hands however reminded her that it was real and she repeated her wedding vows.

Once it came time for the rings Cassidy was overwhelmed by guilt. In all the rush she had forgotten, looking down at her hand she noticed the absence of her wedding ring and wanted to explain…how it had been taken from her during her captivity and probably pawned away. Then she marveled that Jayne had never asked her about it and looked up to see his grin.

Jayne had know the significance of her wedding ring, her mother had given it to her saying that it was her grandmothers to be passed down and she carried it in a box on her dresser until they were married and she could wear it. It had taken him a few days to notice that she didn't have it on anymore and thought that maybe she just stopped wearing it like he had, when, after finding her goodbye note, tore it off in a fury only to later throw it in his travel bag as a reminder. It wasn't until Mal and Jayne were moving the body away from the ship that he noticed what the man was wearing around his neck, it was falling forward and Jayne, with a sharp twist, jerked it free. The bastard had worn her wedding ring around his neck…He debated on whether or not she would want it so decided to leave it up to her, but when he pulled both of their rings out of his pocket her expression alone told him his answer.

"Jayne!" she exclaimed, "how on Earth did you find it?" she moved to reach for it but Jayne closed his fist.

"Not important Cass," he waited until she looked up at him to continue, "is it ok?"

She knew what he was referring to, if she wanted to wear something that might have been tarnished by the past, but she had survived and was thankful that her family's ring would as well.

She nodded and Jayne wasted no time putting it on her finger where it belonged, Cassidy played with it a moment getting used to its familiar feel when she noticed Jayne move to put his own ring on, she snatched it from him saying, "that's my job" and followed suit.

The kiss sealed the deal, Cassidy could hear the crew and her son celebrating around her but she was focused on the love of her life. Jayne knew it was only the beginning…he had told Wash to take them to the home they had made for themselves before everything went to hell, a place that they both had and would call home…if Cassidy agreed that was. In his mind, the hard part was over, she was his and she couldn't back out of it now.

The crew of Serenity came together to make a celebratory dinner that made up in celebration what it lacked in extravagance. Jayne sat on a crate and watched his wife dance with Wash to some music Kaylee connected to the sound system. Evan was running around being chased by River in a game he called 'dancing but more fun.' None of them could have ever believed that their Jayne was married and it was even harder to believe that here he had sworn to be a one woman man for life…

Cassidy laughed and the sound made Jayne smile to himself.

"You look like a man who can't wait to get his wife alone," Mal said as he sat next to him.

"Do you blame me?" Jayne answered without looking away from his wife.

"All this time I thought you would be an eternal bachelor like me and the whole time you were married!" Mal laughed at the absurdity.

"Ah hell Mal you're one step away from being where I am."

"With a wife and kid? I don't think so"

"I do."

Mal didn't want to push and he was still curious about one thing, "I have one question…why try to trade Vera for a wife when you already had one?"

Jayne looked at Mal with an expression that showed how stupid a question it was, "the woman was all too willing and a good cook. I was trading for a woman Mal, not a wife."

Mal laughed, "only you would think that makes perfect sense."

"She doesn't fault me for it," Jayne shrugged, thankful.

"That's because she's a good person, but are you ready to be a one-woman man Jayne?"

"I wouldn't have married her if I wasn't"

"When are you telling her you're leaving us?"

Jayne was not phased by the jumps in topic. "Tonight," he answered.

Of course…it was a long night. The crew celebrated late and when Evan fell asleep in Jaynes arms he carried him to the shuttle he would share with Inara for the night, afterwards he would share their room but it was their wedding night and Inara offered.

Cassidy watched as Jayne laid Evan down and tucked him in, she felt warm inside and reached out to hold his hand when he went to the door to meet her.

Kissing her on the cheek he led her down to his room…talking the whole way.

"We're married now Cass."

"Yes I know"

"You can't take any foolish risks like you did today"

Her smile left her, she didn't know she was going to get lectured! "I didn't know he was waiting for me Jayne!"

"You left the ship alone"

Jerking her hand away she looked long and hard at him, "am I to understand that I will be under lock and key?"

"Of course not gorram it but how am I supposed to protect you if I don't know where you'll run off to next…God Cass you could have died."

The look in his eyes told her what this all stemmed from and she immediately lost her anger, "I didn't Jayne," she said as she reached up to cup the side of his face, "I'm not going to leave either." He had brought up their confrontation and it reminded her of something, "What did you mean when you said you died?"

Jayne briefly thought of pretending he didn't know what she was talking about but only for a moment before he was completely honest with her, "I've been dying for a long time Cassidy," he said as he pulled her close, they had reached his door without her even knowing, "I was barely holding on and I think I did for a little bit, but you and Evan called me back, gave my life reason again."

Cassidy kissed him and he pushed her against the wall but she laughed and turned away to open his door and go down with him right behind her.

Jayne couldn't keep his hands to himself and Cassidy didn't want him to. They made love happy to finally be at the same place together without having to worry and just plain understanding each other.

Later, when both were exhausted and about to drift to sleep Jayne quietly asked the woman in his arms what he had feared for a long time, "will you ever tell me the whole of it?"

Cassidy was draped over her husband so she knew he felt her tense, "I gave them everything I had to offer to keep Evan safe…" she trailed off until Jayne softly squeezed her. "If I ever have to Jayne, you will be the one I confide to, but I don't think I have to anymore. You have helped me move past so many things," she said as she kissed his chest causing him to take an indrawn breath. She moved up until they were eye level, "maybe one day I'll need to, but until then…I'm happy like this." Kissing his neck she couldn't help but add one more thing, "I love you Jayne Cobb."

With that he rolled over her and showed her exactly how much he loved her back…

It only took two days to reach their home planet and, after hearing Jaynes plans, Cassidy was struck dumb by the plans he had made without her.

"You're kidding Jayne, you would be giving so much up!"

He didn't consider it giving up something but gaining a family that he had spent too much time without. "Evan needs a stable place to grow up in, with people around him that don't keep disappearing. He needs to place roots."

She didn't need him to remind her what her son needed but she hated to admit he was right…"You love it on this ship," she said with Serenity slowly approaching their home.

"Yah well, its not like I won't love it here."

Cassidy had a doubtful expression, she didn't understand why Jayne was so ready to settle down when he had spent so long chasing adventures. She used every idea she could think of to keep from taking that away from him, as much as she wanted him to stay safe and with them she also wanted him to continue to do what he loves. She ever tried to convince Jayne that her and Evan would stay behind and maybe even stay with his family while he could go but he would here none of that.

The view from the ship showed Cassidy what she hadn't seen in a long time and she lost her will to fight such a stubborn husband and went to prepare Evan and their luggage. The crew accompanied them to the house Jayne had bought for them while he listed all the plans for work and Evans school that he had already arranged. It was beautiful…Evan ran through the house exploring while Cassidy followed behind giving Jayne some privacy with the crew.

"Well Jayne, we'd love to stick around, but well you know how it is in these respectful communities…"

Jayne smiled and clasped Mals outstretched hand. As many differences they had in their history together he was the closest thing Jayne had to a best friend left and in their hand-clasp it was obvious that was reciprocated, "I know, but don't be strangers." He addressed his comment to the whole crew.

"I never thought I would see the day where you would settle down," Zoe commented as she came up to hug him goodbye.

"Stay out of trouble Jayne…and if you can't I'll fly us here as fast as that ship can move," Wash added to his wife's goodbye.

"Thanks, Wash," Jayne returned genuinely thankful for his concern.

"Well I'm not really good at things like this, but I want to thank you for well at least the good parts of our interactions" Simon stumbled with his words but paused when Jayne clasped his hand like he had Mals…as friends.

"Take care of that sister of yours," Jayne added.

As if on cue, River ran up to Jayne, grabbed his shoulders and pulled herself up to whisper in his ear, "she worries about your spirit Jayne, but there's plenty of adventures left to be had." Then she quickly pulled back with a smile, hugged him and walked away without looking back, leaving Jayne speechless until Inara came up to him.

"I would say 'be good' but then again I'm talking to you and it would be wasting words," Inara said to Jaynes smirk. She reached up to pull him down so she could kiss him on the cheek and continue, "either way, take care of yourself Jayne."

Jayne was finding it harder than he thought it was going to be to say goodbye…he had no words for Inara and didn't have to try when Book came up to him for his chance at farewells.

"It is in my opinion that people never really leave each other if they have made an impression, and my boy, I believe you have made an impression," he spoke as he pulled Jayne into a hug, "besides…I have a feeling we'll meet again." When he pulled back Jayne saw a telling glisten to his eyes that caused Jayne to feel choked up and only able to smile in thanks at him.

It was Kaylee that showed the most emotion and almost proved to be Jaynes undoing. She stood by Simon who was holding her hand as a few tears escaped to fall down her cheeks and hesitated to take her turn.

"You're a good man Jayne Cobb," Kaylee said as she slowly walked up to him to give him a hug as well, "don't forget that."

Moved by the strength of her hug and words Jayne felt he had to say thanks to the crew he had been with for so long, "you guys rescued me in so many ways…thanks for the…well thanks for everything I guess," he finished awkwardly but they understood what he meant.

Cassidy and Evan had taken the time to each say their own personal goodbyes to the people that had become extended family. Cassidy tried to convince Mal to stay a bit longer but he didn't want to prolong it. Evan had never said goodbye to people, they just left and never came back so Cassidy was thankful for Inaras help when she explained that they would come to visit, that goodbye, in their case, wasn't a permanent thing.

With the last farewells Mal and the rest of the crew turned to walk back to the ship…with a noticeable absence among them.

It was Kaylee who pointed it out, finding it impossible to stay silent and act untouched, "it feels like the family it breaking up," she said with a sniffle and a backwards glace and wave.

"No mei mei," Inara said moving to put her arm around the younger girl, "his family is finally back together again."

"Take care of them Jayne!" Mal yelled to her former merc, not knowing how eerily familiar his words would sound to Jayne or the effect they had since Jayne could only raise his hand in the air as a response.

Further away, standing outside their house watching their friends leave Cassidy and Jayne stood while Evan climbed onto Jaynes back.

"Are we going to live happily ever after like in Inaras stories?" Evan asked his parents who couldn't help but share a much needed laugh over that.

"Of course we are Evan…one big happy family," Jayne said as he moved to tickle his son. As Cassidy watched everyone disappear from sight she turned to her rough-housing son and husband and thought her heart couldn't feel more full.

"Are you happy Cass?" Jayne asked her when Evan ran off to get a drink. Her smile was soft as she helped her husband stand and stood on her toes to kiss him. He had done so much for her but now she understood that this wasn't just for her happiness, but his as well.

"I'm very happy Jayne," she answered. Her past no longer haunted her, she felt safe and secure and she was with the two most important people in the world to her…yes she was happy.

And they lived happily…until the next inevitable adventure came their way.

Remember, since this is the end of the continuous story I would really like final opinions!

Thanks so much