Now 24-years old River was happier than she had ever been.

Eight long years had passed since Simon had rescued her from the academy.

Her mind was no longer in a fog it was clear and sharp.

Even more so than in her childhood.

She finally felt like herself again.

Through River still harbored terrifying memories of her time in the hands of the academy she was recovering very well.

She and her brother had lived for the past eight years on the transport ship Serenity.

River loved the old ship because she could sense all of the past, present and future emotions of it.

She was in her room drawing a portrait of her brother and of his wife Kaylee.

The instant River met her she sensed that her and Kaylee would become best friends.

Best friends is exactly what they had been for the past eight years.

She felt closer to Kaylee than ever before.

River was equally happy when Simon and her had gotten married, she loved seeing her brother and Kaylee happy.

Suddenly their was a knock on her door.

Putting the picture under her pillow River said knowingly "Qǐng jìnlái Simon."

Simon came inside and replied sarcastically "Why do I even bother knocking?"

River smiled and quipped endearingly "Because hān, it's polite."

Simon laughed and shook his head.

He then asked curious "Your right it is so mèi-mei, what are you doing in here?"

River shrugged and said casually "Just thinking, where's Kaylee?"

Simon replied nonchalantly "She's in the cargo bay she said that you and her had a Jacks game today."

River said happily " That's right, I can show you both what I want there, come on."

Simon walked out of the room, River grabbed the picture and followed him.

Once in the cargo bay, she spotted Kaylee sitting on the ground next to the crates.

River cartwheeled gracefully over to her and replied breathlessly "Sorry, I hope I didn't keep you waiting for too long."

Kaylee said brightly "It's all right, so you ready to start playin'?"

Simon gently lifted Kaylee up so that she was sitting on his lap, she in turn laid her head against his chest contently.

River replied eagerly "Sure but I want to show you both something first."

She took the portrait out of her pocket, and gave it to them to see.

Kaylee exclaimed impressed "Wā, River it's great, it really looks like us!"

Simon said awestruck " This is amazing, mèi-mei, thank you!"

She replied happily "Your welcome, I'm glad you both like it."

Kaylee set it on the floor beside them and said ecstatically "I'm gonna hang it up on the wall in the engine room so I can look at it always."

River replied excitedly "Thanks, Kaylee!"

Kaylee shrugged and said cheerily "No problem, I know it must of taken you a long time to draw it and all."

Simon smiled at Kaylee and said softly "You are so nà zhǒng shànliáng I really love that about you."

Then unabashedly the couple started to kiss.

Simon gently straddled Kaylee she in turn ran her hands throughout his hair.

The couple soon started to disrobe, Simon slipped off his shirt, and Kaylee untied the front of her tank top and slipped it off.

Both clearly forget that River was sitting right across form them.

When she saw that her brother was starting to slide off his pants, she decided to stop them.

River yelled irritated "Hey I thought we were going to play Jacks?"

The couple immediately snapped out of their passionate embrace.

A incredibly red faced Simon quickly slid off of Kaylee and hurriedly pulled his pants up.

He then quickly pulled his shirt over his head and smoothed it out.

Equally flush faced Kaylee slid on her tank top and hastily re-tied the front of it.

She too promptly sat up, and swiftly put her static-riddled hair in a pony tail.

Simon anxiously raked his right hand throughout his hair where Kaylee has mussed it.

He bowed his head slightly and replied apologetically "I'm am so sorry, mèi-mei I guess we got a.. little carried away, I promise it won't happen again."

Kaylee nodded in agreement and said sheepishly "Yeah, I'm real sorry too River, do you still wanna play?"

River smiled and replied jokingly "Sure and don't worry boob I won't tell the Captain."

Simon smiled and said teasingly "You really are a brat."

She laughed at her brother's expense.

With that Kaylee and River played four rounds of jacks which ended in a tie.

River suddenly realized something Serenity was her home, for the past eight years she laughed, cried, and played on this ship.

She felt more at home here then any other place she had ever been.

Kaylee interrupted her thoughts and said "River you comin' it's time for dinner."

Smiling River got to her feet and said teasingly "Race you to the dining room Kaylee!"

Kaylee laughing replied keenly "Oh your on!"

Simon counted them down before he got to three River went sprinting and ran up the scaffolding.

She could hear Kaylee yelling annoyingly "River you cheated, get back here!"

Laughing River shot back jokingly "You'll have to catch me first!"

Kaylee said threateningly "I'll catch ya, and you won't be all gigglin' when I do River stop come back here!"

As River ran through the ship she knew in her heart that Serenity was her place

her home, just knowing that made her the most content than she had ever felt in her entire life.

FIN

Mandarin Translations

mèi-mei- little sister

Wā- wow

Qǐng jìnlái- please come in

hān- silly

Nà zhǒng shànliáng - kind hearted