A/N: Well, here's the last part, a happy ever after one more time. Thanx for the reviews so far ;-)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

8. Family and Friends

"You're gonna like it here. Don't look like much of a ship, but its special 'cause we're all family, and Serenity is a part of that family. She keeps us safe. 'Course she's not the only one lookin' out for us. My Ma and Pa, and Uncle Mal, and Aunt Zoe, they fight off any bad guys that come. My Uncle Simon... that's your Pa, he fixes us up when we get sick or hurt, and your Ma, she does the same for Serenity. Then there's Aunt 'Nara, she's always real nice, and Shepherd Book, he prays for us so that God is always takin' care of anythin' we can't handle our ownselves. Then there's me, and Jessie, and Lyssa, we're all your cousins. So, don't ever worry about bein' lonely or scared, 'cause we're all here for you, all the time"

Kaylee smiled as she lay on the nearby bed, watching through half-closed eyes as Danny leant over the cribs in which her newborn twins lay and told them all about the family they'd been born into. He was the sweetest kid, she'd known from the day he arrived he belonged here on Serenity. What she hadn't figured on then was how much things would change in the months and years that followed. From one little boy on board to two, plus two little girls. It was a real family now, by blood and marriage and pure love, and Kaylee couldn't keep the smile off her face knowin' she was part of it.

"Sorry if I woke you, Aunt Kaylee" Daniel duly apologised as he glanced her way just the moment she opened her eyes up.

"Oh, don't worry on it, sweetie" she told the boy kindly as she sat up, aching in places she'd sooner not ache and feeling hardly less tired than when she started her nap, but she could live with it, because it meant she was a mother to two beautiful babies now, "I'm glad you was welcomin' my angels to the family" she said as she shuffled over to the cribs and peered in at the babies that slept still.

"Aunt Kaylee, how'd you pick the names for them?" asked Daniel, "Nathaniel and Persephone are good names, but how'd you pick?"

"Well, I met your Uncle Simon on Persephone, that was where he and your Ma got aboard Serenity" she explained, "So it seemed like a good and special name for our little girl" she smiled, "And since I named her, I asked Simon to name our little man, and he picked Nathaniel after his Grandpa"

"Like Jessie is named after Grandma Cobb's middle name" he nodded in understanding as he looked once again into the cribs, only to have the twins suddenly wake and begin bawling.

"Oh, here we go again" she said, reaching in to lift her daughter out, just as Simon hurried into the room.

"I heard them on the comm" he said by way of explanation as he came over to pick up his son and lend a hand to his soon-to-be wife anyway he could.

"Simon, you must've gorram flew from the infirmary" she smiled at his enthusiasm that he had from day one when it came to fatherhood, and to think that just a couple of years ago when he first arrived onboard ship, he couldn't string together a sentence in front of her without stammering and blushing all over.

"I should go" said Daniel, "Think the Captain wants to talk to me" he said with a slight frown as he picked up on distant thoughts from Mal.

By now Kaylee and Simon were so caught up feeding and comforting their babies, they almost didn't notice his leaving.

Heading down the hall and turning a corner to go up the stairs, Daniel came face to face with Mal, who jumped when he realised he was suddenly there.

"Danny, I been hollerin' for you from front to back of this boat!" he told him, not exactly angry at him, the boy was certain, but perhaps a little frustrated.

"Sorry, sir" he said dutifully, knowing this was a time to respect his Captain, not a moment for playing games with Uncle Mal.

"That be alright, nyen chuh, no harm done" he assured the kid that he always had a lot of time for.

He may be barely eleven years old but the kid could fly a shuttle or Serenity herself well enough. He came in handy as Reader alongside his Ma, and was almost always ready to jump in and help with whatever was needed, sometimes without even bein' asked. Yeah, Mal had a lot of time for the boy, even if he was an odd hybrid of Jayne and River manufactured in a lab by Alliance hwun-dahns, it didn't matter none.

"It ain't where you're from, it's where you're headed" Daniel read from the Captain's mind and smiled, he liked that sentiment.

"Always true, Danny" he nodded, putting a hand on the boy's shoulder and leading him back up the stairs, headed for the bridge, "And we're headed into a whole heap of trouble if we ain't prepared for what's comin' our way" he explained, as they walked on and Mal started to explain to him what he needed from Danny, mostly involving his flying skills for the spare shuttle.

As they passed by the sleeping quarters, the boy smiled as he felt the warmth of his family in the room below.

Baby Jessamine was asleep in her crib, with River resting on the bed. Jayne watched over the two of them, proud as a man could ever be. It was still strange for the mercenary to think about how his life had changed. Just a couple of years ago, if a person had told him he'd be married by now, to a crazy little thing like River no less, and have two kids like he did, well he'd a called 'em fong-luh and shot 'em just for kicks!

Now Jayne Cobb was a family man. Though he was happy enough to go out for a drink and a brawl sometimes, he was just as eager to stay aboard the ship with his wife, son, and daughter at other times. Since the little one was born, he'd found he could sometimes spend hours just staring at her, wondering at how the beautiful little girl could be something he'd made. Then he'd look at his wife, and realise she was the reason.

"Not true" River said, eyes still closed even as she spoke to him, "She is as much father as mother, just as important" she explained, clearly having been listening in on the thoughts that filled her husband's head, "Told you this before, many times" she said, her eyes finally opening as she stirred and sat up.

"That you did, babydoll" he nodded his agreement as she walked over to him and he pulled her into his lap, holding her close, "Still, sometimes think I got me a lot more than I deserved, havin' Danny find us, you and me gettin' wed, then the little one comin' along"

"You are blessed" she agreed, "but true of both. I found you" she said as she leaned back into him, "My Jayne-man, my special boy, my beautiful girl. Perfect world" she sighed contentedly, eyes closing as she revelled in the feeling of being here in his arms, knowing he was as happy as she was.

Trouble would come, faster and more often than she'd like, but that was life. Nobody's life, no matter how seemingly wonderful, went on untarnished by events around them. Life would have its ups and downs, but there was nothing the extended family aboard the Serenity could not endure, this at least River was always certain of.

~ The End ~

A/N2: Thats it - The End, but as I've mentioned before, I am considering a fourth fic for this series, which would be a few years in the future and a proper flowing story, instead of one-shots. The two major plot-lines would involve Jayne, River, & Daniel, and Mal & Inara. Please let me know if you'd be interested in reading some more or not, I'm not sure about it right now...