A/N: Thanx to the lovely people that review, as always :) Now, I guess its time the crew found out about the Rayne baby...
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)
3. Celebration and Contemplation
"Oh come on, Zoe" complained Mal, sounding more like a whiney child than the Captain as he followed her down the walkway of Serenity towards the bridge.
"If you hadn't noticed, Mal, I'm a mother now" his second pointed out as she turned to face him with the Alyssa held tight in her arms, "And she even outranks you... sir" she added as an afterthought as she continued on her way to seek out Wash.
"But it's U day!" Mal called behind her, despite the fact he knew by now it was pointless.
"Ain't the drink he's wantin'" he heard someone say and turned to see Jayne telling River what he believed to be true, "It's the brawl that comes after" he grinned, as the couple moved past their Captain and headed towards the galley.
"Ain't denyin' it appeals" Mal agreed as he followed them, "How 'bout it you two? You like an honest brawl amongst folk, an' I'll see to it ya come back in one piece each" he told them as they reached the eating area and River sat down at the table, next to where Daniel was quietly drawing.
"Jayne will go" she said easily, "Inappropriate for me" she said, her meaning clear to her husband and her son, but not to her Captain.
"Nah, I'll stay too" the merc shrugged, sitting himself the other side of Danny and taking an interest in what he was doing.
"Now what in the 'verse is wrong with my crew?" Mal wanted to know, as he walked around to the kitchen and looked to Inara for an answer, but she was busy making tea and really paid no mind.
"Violent tendencies disperse in so much love" said Daniel, causing Mal to spin around and look at him, "like tiny drops of ink in a gallon of water" the boy explained, never taking his concentration away from the paper he drew upon"
"That may be so, and fair poetical, Danny" his Captain agreed, "but it don't get me far with wantin' a member of my crew to help me out"
"Mal, could you not just let one U day pass without breaking your hand on an Alliance face?" suggested Inara, all calmness and grace as she rounded the counter with a cup of tea each for her and the Captain.
"I second the suggestion" Book threw in from behind his bible, sat at the other end of the table quietly reading up to this point.
With an almost defeated sigh, Mal sat down beside Inara, thanking her for the offered tea and tried to settle. He might've done so were it not for Kaylee and Simon walking in at that moment, hand in hand. The little mechanic looked quite stunned to see her Captain there before her.
"Well, you was the last person I expected to see, Cap'n" she said with a slight frown, "We thought for sure you'd be planet side, kickin' a little Fed butt for U day already" she smiled then at the thought of the activity she knew pleased Mal so much.
"Yes, it's not exactly U day unless you frequent the infirmary with classic bar room brawl injuries" Simon agreed as he followed his girlfriend into the kitchen.
"I know this" said Mal as he twisted to glance their way before leaning across the table towards Jayne and River, "C'mon you two, best fighters I got, 'specially with Zoe all motherin' and such with her little bundle"
"Am mother too" pointed out River, as she put a hand on her son's shoulder.
"Yeah, but Danny don't need you ev'ry minute. Little man on his now, ain't ya, son?" he encouraged the boy to agree, though it did him no good.
"Sure am" he nodded, glancing up from his paper grinning, "but Ma won't go" he shrugged, finding this whole situation just a little amusing.
"Even when the drinks are on the Cap'n?" offered Mal, knowing that would at least get Jayne's attention, which it immediately did.
"I could go" he said, looking up fast, "Maybe, for a while" he said, looking River's way, not wanting to make her mad but likin' the sound of free booze and a fight he was pretty much guaranteed to win.
"Alcohol is no good for me" River shrugged her slender shoulders, "and fighting just as ill-advised, if unnecessary" she declared, silently pointing out something Daniel had missed on his picture.
"Well, that's true for anyone" Simon said from his place in the kitchen, "but obviously in your..." he stopped short when he realised what he'd said, the dual glare from his sister and her husband making him feel instantly sick.
"In her what?" Kaylee prompted him to continue, but Simon quickly shook his head, urging her not to say anything more, he really shouldn't've said as much as he had.
"Doc?" said Mal as he got up from his seat and turned to face him, "You got somethin' to be tellin' me?" he asked, but Simon could only shake his head.
"It's really not my secret to share" he said, his hands already rising in some kind of surrender as the Captain glared at him some.
"No, it ain't" growled Jayne, knowing this was not how their news was supposed to come out, and worryin' some already how River would react.
"They're telling you without telling" she sighed, apparently somewhat frustrated by the turn of events but not really mad, which was a good thing for everyone, "She may as well admit" she rolled her eyes, "Surprise child was a precious gift" she smiled then, as she ran a hand over her boy's hair, "Two will be treasured from first breath" she said, as her hand went to her stomach that showed no real sign of change, and yet they all knew what she meant.
"Oh my... You're pregnant?" Kaylee gasped, grinning all the wider when River nodded it was true, and hurrying across the room to hug her friend tight, "Oh, River, that's so shiny!" she declared, in apparent joyous mood at the news, "More babies!" she said happily as she faced the rest of the crew who were also mostly happy.
Mal, as usual, looked cautious about the whole thing, and Inara noticed more than anybody, as the rest of the crew gave their congratulations to the soon-to-be second time parents.
"Mal, be nice, please" she whispered to him, before getting up herself to offer heartfelt congratulations to River and Jayne.
"Nice?" he muttered, "Tzao gao, I'm always nice" he said a little louder as the others turned to look at him, "But another little critter onboard? So fast after the last one?" he checked, finding the whole thing a little off-putting - all he'd wanted out of today was a couple of drinks and a brawl!
"Must be something in the water, as they used to say" said Shepherd Book, making River and Kaylee giggle at least.
"I know it's been a while, Preacher" Jayne said as he stood up next to his wife and put an arm around her shoulders, "but it ain't drinkin' nothin' that got my kid in there" he leered somewhat, making everybody else wince.
Mal was perhaps the only one no longer listening, so stunned was he by the revelation that there was to be another birth aboard his boat.
Union Day might be everything he stood against, but this was one he would recall with a smile, he realised, as the shock subsided and he lowered himself back into his seat. He hadn't pictured having so many young'uns amongst his crew, but Uncle Mal was words he could easy get used to, if'n he wasn't ever to be no-one's Pa anyhow.
"Should be givin' you congratulations my ownself, I reckon" he said then, as he looked over at the happy couple, "Y'know Malcolm is as good a name as any for a boy" he winked River's way, making her roll her eyes.
"Almost a shame she is a girl" she declared as she retook her seat at the table beside Daniel.
"River, you can't know that" he brother pointed out, though he ought to have learnt by now that arguing with her on such matters was fruitless and usually ended with him being proven wrong.
"My baby, Simon" she told him, "My body. You'll see"
"Reckon we shall, bao-bei" her husband agreed, as he leaned over to kiss her briefly, "Not for some while yet though" he reminded her.
"Before next U day" she shrugged easily, actually feeling happy now that her news had been told, after all, she was going to share soon anyway, and this was supposed to be a day of celebration, as Kaylee was about to point out.
"Hey, we should celebrate" she said with a smile, "Y'know, our own U day. All the unions on Serenity, 'cause she's made four now that've stuck, and brought three little ones along" she pointed out.
"That she has" agreed Mal with a nod, and that rare thing from him that was a genuine smile as he sat amongst what was essentially his family, "Reckon you just had a right good idea, little Kaylee" he declared, as the mechanic raided the kitchen for any food or drink fit for a party, and Book got on the comm to ask Zoe and Wash if they'd like to come through and join the festivities if they were able.
As the crew gathered around the table, a look came over River's face as she stared across at Simon, then glanced behind him at where Kaylee was busy in the kitchen.
"What?" her brother asked curiously.
"Could be next" she smiled mischievously, and the look on the Doc's face showed he wasn't sure whether to believe she was serious or not, and wouldn't know how to take it even if he were sure.
Jayne's laughter sounded louder than anything else at the expression on his brother-in-law's face, but nobody paid no mind. Today was a joyous day for celebration and fun. Aboard this Firefly class ship, that was worth grabbing at whenever you could.
- The End -