A/N: This is effectively the end of the NEW series. There is one one-off left, A NEW LOVE, set approximately twelve years after the end of this story. I'll post it over the weekend.

Thanks again to all for reading, commenting and hanging in there - I know it's been angst fest with occasional spats of fluff.

And to Leiasky - who came with me through the entire 1,000-page opus and did more for the story than you can ever guess! Thank you.

***

A NEW REASON, 5/5

***

16 Months After Jayne’s Death

***

“She is a beauty, baby girl.”

Jayne’s deep voice echoed in her ears, even as River was awakened by the sound of Maddy’s cry. Rolling out of bed reluctantly, River pulled on her robe and headed for her daughter, opening the door to the room her girls shared to find Cadie already standing over her crib.

Turning at River’s entrance, Cadie smile and said, “She’s okay. She just needed a little tummy rub.”

Smiling at her, River moved forward and saw for herself that Maddy was once again drifting off. Placing a kiss in Cadie’s hair, she murmured, “Well, thank you, little one. Let’s get you back in bed.”

Tucking her in, Cadie stared at her mama with those maddeningly big blue eyes and murmured, “Tell me a story.”

Raising an eyebrow, River ran her hand through Cadie’s hair and whispered, “A story? Oh, I don’t know too many good stories.”

Shaking her head, Cadie said insistently, “Yes, you do. That one you told us during the slumber party, on the ship, that was a really good story.”

Smiling at the memory, River remarked, “That’s the first time you ever called me mama.”

“I know,” Cadie said quietly. Watching her for just a moment more, Cadie pushed back her covers and crawled into River’s lap. “Please tell me a story.”

Lifting her, although it was none to easy, River scooted to the head of the bed and rested against the wall, pulling the covers up over them both. With her arms wrapped firmly around Cadie’s small form, River began. “This story is about a little girl who was very lonely,” she said, her voice taking on the hushed quality of a practiced storyteller.

“When this girl was little, very little, even littler than you,” she said, tickling Cadie lightly, “She found herself all alone. And she didn’t know what to do. She didn’t have a mother or a father or any siblings. But one day, this girl, who was very smart and very sad, was out playing and she met this boy. He was bigger than her and tough, and sometimes he said mean things that she didn’t understand …”

River continued to spin the tale long after Cadie had drifted off.

***

Mal knocked three times in rapid succession and then counted to ten. After another knock, he pushed open the door to Walt and Marie’s den and found Winnie and Inara hunched over plans and papers.

“How’s the secret plannin’ goin’?” he asked, his voice taking on a ridiculously hushed tone, as he moved to his wife’s side and kissed her.

Rolling her eyes at him, Inara answered. “Just fine. And what was with that idiotic knock?”

Looking hurt, Mal sat beside her on the sofa and said, “How else you gonna know it ain’t River?”

Snorting, Inara muttered, “Oh, I don’t know - the stomping footsteps and smell might be a good indication.”

Grinning wickedly at her, Mal reached around and tickled his wife fiercely, pulling her tight to his chest and causing her to be breathless in seconds. Winnie watched the happy couple and took her leave, muttering something about chores and Inara could only wave her goodbye as her eyes watered with tears of laughter.

Once the door was again shut, Mal turned her in his arms and kissed her passionately, leaning her back against the sofa. As he moved his lips from her mouth to her shoulder, Inara fisted her hands in his hair and asked, “Good day?”

Looking back to her with another wide grin, he said, “The best. I got two beautiful baby girls, the most incredible, gorgeous and sexy wife –“ Inara lowered her eyes demurely to accept the compliment – “And Zoe and me just got the best job ever, that’s gonna pay us about five times what we’ve been makin’.”

As Mal again lowered his lips to meet hers, Inara placed a hand on his shoulder, pushing him up. “What?” he asked, really wanting to continue their foreplay.

Crossing her arms over her chest, Inara gave him a look and asked, “Five times?” He nodded and then with a heavy sigh, she said quietly, “Mal, I thought you were done with the illegal smuggling.”

“It’s not illegal,” he told her indignantly, placing his hands on her shoulders. Noting her still skeptical gaze, he reiterated, “It ain’t, my hand to god.”

“You don’t believe in god,” Inara reminded him, edging closer to him again.

Nodding once, Mal figured that were true enough. “All right, then, my hand to Buddha.”

“Mal?”

“Yes, darlin’?”

“Just shut up and kiss me.”

***

18 Months After Jayne’s Death

***

“She’s going to be one tomorrow.”

“I know.”

Jayne and River were wrapped in each other’s arms, lying in some tall, soft grass with a gentle breeze ghosting over them. High overhead the sun was shining and River heard what she thought were birds, singing some kind of chipper melody in the distance. It was perfect.

But it wasn’t real.

With a sigh, she pulled her head from Jayne’s shoulder so she could look in his bright blue eyes. “I really miss you,” she told him quietly, needlessly. He knew how badly she missed him, otherwise, he wouldn’t be here.

“Too much, I think,” he murmured, his hand still running through her silky hair.

Blinking back tears, she nodded once. “You’re probably right.”

Leaning down to kiss her, their lips met, softly, gently and River reveled in the sensation.

When they parted it was a few seconds before he again spoke, his voice soft and far away. “I ain’t gonna come back again.”

Her tears falling silently, River closed her eyes against them and murmured, “I know.” Waiting just a handful of seconds, she reopened her eyes and let out a breath when she saw he was still watching her. “You’re not really going to leave me though, right?”

Pulling her tight to him, Jayne whispered, “Why d’ya think Maddy’s eyes is so blue? I ain’t goin’ no where, at least not permanent-like. ‘Member that.”

Again closing her eyes against his words, River sighed and reopened them to find the bright sunshine of morning streaming through her window. With a resigned sigh, she rose and got ready.

Today was her daughter’s first birthday.

***

Inara ushered Simon and Kaylee into her and Mal’s room, the children already playing over at Millie’s and under strict instructions not to let Aunt River or Cadie see them. They seemed to understand the importance of the surprise, so they were currently tucked away with Mimi in Ellie’s room.

“Sorry that we have to be so sneaky,” Inara told them, as they sat side by side, hand in hand on the edge of the bed. “But, well, do you have any idea how hard it is to surprise a reader?”

Raising amused eyebrows to his wife, Simon turned back to face Inara, and asked incredulously, “Do we have any idea how hard it is?”

Laughing lightly, Inara said, “Oh, of course you do. Forgive me.”

Rising, Kaylee took the opportunity to again hug her friend, so glad to see her after four months apart. The last time Mal and Inara had been by to visit had been when they’d moved River, Cadie and Maddy from Aberdeen to Harvest. And now, Kaylee was making up for lost time with Sophie too, picking the girl up from her crib in the corner and making faces at her, listening to her baby talk.

Simon watched his wife and her friend for a moment and then wandered to the other side of the room, looking out the window. He could see the Frye’s from here, could see the tent that Mal and Walt were erecting in the backyard for the festivities in just a few hours. Simon remembered with a bit of fondness the day they’d put up a similar tent for Rylee’s birthday.

Shaking off the dark memory, he jumped slightly as Inara placed a light hand to his shoulder. “Everything all right?” she asked quietly, noting his furrowed brow.

Smiling, Simon faced her, taking her hands in his and said, “Yes, everything’s great, really. Thank you so much for doing this for River and Maddy.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek and then added, “You have no idea how much easier I sleep knowing that she’s got you and Mal close by.”

Giving him a knowing grin, Inara said, “I’ll bet you never thought you’d see the day you entrusted your sister’s well-being to Mal.”

Rolling his eyes and chuckling lightly, Simon commented, “I would have seen it sooner than entrusting it to Jayne.”

The mention of the man’s name brought their conversation to a halt as Inara thought of all River had been suffering through these past few months. Looking again to Simon, she watched as his gaze drifted back out the window. She had hesitated to tell him anything of River’s distress, of her dreams, as she didn’t think it was fair to worry him when he was so far away. But now that they were here …

“Actually, Simon, there is something I wanted to talk to you about.” Her serious tone caught his attention and Kaylee’s, and as Simon focused his eyes back to his friend, his wife joined him at his side.

“Somethin’ wrong, ‘Nara?” Kaylee asked quickly. “You ain’t sick?”

Smiling to her, Inara told her, “No, mei mei, I’m fine.” Looking back to Simon she said, “It’s actually about River.”

***

Simon found her at Winnie and Thom’s rocking Maddy to sleep, trying to get the girl to take her early afternoon nap so she’d be well-rested for the party. But it appeared that the baby knew something was happening and she was fussy; she was never fussy.

Simon watched as River paced the room, humming lightly to her, his shoulder leaning against the jamb. Her back was to him and he knew she was lost deep in thought, in another time and place, and he found himself drifting right there with her.

When River had first become a mother, Simon had been nervous, petrified actually that something would happen, something unforeseen: that Maddy would get sick or hurt and she’d be gone from River’s life as quickly as she’d come. But as the weeks had passed and then the months, Simon had realized it wasn’t Maddy’s health he feared for, it was his sister’s.

Because that little baby, who today was turning a year old, had healed River in ways Simon could not believe and as grateful as he was, he was also skeptical of its ability to last. But it had, and so with love and joy in his heart, he watched as River finally rocked the child to sleep and laid her gently in her crib.

Lingering over her daughter for just a minute, River straightened up, a small smile playing across her features. She knew her brother was trying to surprise her, but she’d had a feeling he and Kaylee were close a few hours ago. And now, she knew with certainty that he was here.

Simon entered the room, and reached out, placing a light hand to her back and River turned to face him. “Simon,” she breathed, tears forming at the sight of him. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

“Shh,” he told her, holding her tightly as she threw her arms around his neck. “Come on, let’s leave Maddy to sleep.”

He gently drew her out the door, her hand in his and they made it down the hall to River’s room. Shutting the door, she squealed, wrapping him up in a tight embrace again and Simon just hugged her back.

“I can’t believe it,” she whispered, her tears falling easily. “I can’t believe you’re here. I thought you told me you couldn’t come until next week?”

“Surprise,” he said sheepishly, amazed that the ruse had actually worked. She must really be as distracted as Inara had said.

Pulling back, River’s eyes lit with joy as she asked, “Where are Kaylee and the little ones?” Moving past him, she headed for the door, “I want to see them.”

“Wait, mei mei,” Simon said, grabbing for her hand and turning her around. “You’ll see them in just an hour or so at the party.” Lowering his voice to a whisper, he confided, “Technically, I’m not even supposed to be here, but I slipped out past the guard.”

Giggling at him, River wiped her tears away and shrugged. “All right, if you say so.” Sitting on the edge of her bed, she patted the space beside her for Simon and he sat dutifully, keeping her hand in his. “So, why’d you risk the firing squad to come see me?” she asked, her eyes gleaming with the shared conspiracy.

Smiling back at her, Simon swallowed thickly and said, “Well, because I missed you.” Reaching out a hand, he cupped her cheek and added, “I just really wanted to spend some time with my baby sister.”

She held his look for a minute and then frowned mightily. “That’s not it,” she told him sternly, knowing him better than that. With a small sigh, she said, “Inara’s worried about me and she told you.”

Nodding once, Simon couldn’t very well deny the truth to her words. “I do miss you mei mei,” he reminded her. Bringing his eyes back to hers, he added, “But yes, Inara is worried about you. And so are Mal and Winnie and Kaylee and I.” Studying her eyes for a moment, he said softly, “Let me help.”

Sighing, River blinked back a few tears, these ones of sadness, instead of the tears of joy she had cried moments before. Rising, she walked across the room, and sank into her rocking chair, one of Jayne’s old t-shirts folded on the seat. Fingering the worn material, she finally brought her teary eyes back to her brother and said, “You can’t, Simon. You can’t bring him back.”

Watching her for a moment, Simon was certain he could feel her pain – any time he looked into her big brown eyes, he could pretty much relate to whatever she was feeling. As it was with Kaylee, her eyes were also the windows to her heart.

Of course, Simon was also an expert at identifying pain; it was one of the cardinal lessons of being a doctor – an accurate diagnosis. But he also knew that River’s pain, at this moment, was one he could never hope to cure.

But he thought he might know someone who could. Kneeling in front of her, he took her hands in his. When River brought her eyes up to meet his face, he saw that she was crying, and reaching up with a gentle hand he wiped a few tears off her cheeks. “You’re right, mei mei,” he told her softly. “I can’t bring Jayne back, no one can.” Biting her lip to keep in a sob, River continued to listen. “But you have Maddy, and that little girl, she’s the next best thing.”

Pausing, he considered the statement and the man he was talking about and amended, “Actually, considering how crude Jayne was and the smell, I think Maddy is the better end of the deal.”

River smiled to him them, even as a few more tears fell from her eyes. Looking back to the shirt in her lap, she said quietly, “I don’t want to forget him.” Squeezing his hands urgently, River looked back to her brother and said, “I want Maddy to know her father.”

“And she will,” Simon assured. “You’re not going to forget about Jayne and what you loved about him. And neither will any of the rest of us. We’re all here to be sure that Maddy has a very – accurate,” he said with a wide grin, “picture of her father and the man he was.”

Swatting at his arm, River said, “That’s it, you are not to tell my daughter any stories about her father.”

Laughing with her, Simon pulled her to her feet and said, “I think that’s fair.”

Holding each other’s gaze for a moment more, River finally embraced her brother tightly and told him, “I love you, Simon.”

Hugging her back, Simon responded, “I love you too, mei mei.”

They stayed locked in the embrace for a long while, neither of them minding. Finally, as commotion started downstairs, no doubt the first guests arriving for the party, River leaned back from her brother, a familiar gleam in her eyes and the smallest of smiles curving her lips. “My baby’s one today,” she told him excitedly, reaching up on her tiptoes to give him a kiss on the cheek.

“I know,” Simon smiled back, pulling her from the room. “So let’s go celebrate.”

***

The party was everything River could have wanted and more. Maddy was so happy. She was clapping and laughing, doing her best to stay on her feet, even though she was still only able to stand unaided for a few seconds at a time. But she was surrounded by family, aunts, uncles, cousins and there was always a set of hands ready to catch her, to pick her up, to play with her and River could not stop smiling.

As soon as she had greeted Kaylee, she had known the secret her sister was trying to keep. Hugging her fiercely, River repeated a phrase to her she had used years before, right after the woman’s wedding. “I won’t tell. Not until you do.”

Pulling back, Kaylee only laughed this time and said, “Well, we kinda wanted to make the announcement today. If’n you don’t mind?”

Smiling even wider River had said, “Of course not. This is a day for family.”

Squeezing her hands, any other statement Kaylee might have wanted to say was cut off as Rylee and Danny came bounding by, each holding a twin by the hand. At almost two, Emma and Ethan were now causing their parents, and their older siblings a whole bunch of trouble, but with big grins and their wide and mismatched – one green and one blue on each of them – eyes, they both managed to avoid any scolding. Kneeling in front of them, River kissed all four of her nieces and nephews on the cheeks and looking to Rylee asked, “How are you, little one?”

“I’m good, Aunt River,” Rylee said proudly, her face full of a grin. “I’m babysitting.”

“You’re helping me watch them while Mom and Dad say hi to everyone,” Daniel amended, rolling his eyes at his younger sister with a purely ‘Simon’ look.

Trying to hide her smirk at the familiarity of the expression, River told him quietly, “Yes, well you’re both doing a fine job.” Kissing them each again, she said, “Go. Play.”

Not needing to be told twice the four of them darted off, heading in the direction of where Cadie and Ellie were playing with Mimi. River continued to watch and then began swaying to the music. The Fryes had become quite friendly with the local men who played in the band that had worked Simon and Kaylee’s wedding so many years ago, and they were back again now, playing folk songs and jigs and waltzes with equal skill.

Weaving her way through the crowd, River plucked Maddy out of her Uncle Mal’s arms, and moved with her towards the area designated for dancing. Whirling and twirling with a practiced ease and grace, River danced with her beautiful baby, feeling such joy, she wasn’t sure if her body would be able to contain it. Watching as Maddy continued to clap her hands and giggle, River stopped abruptly as she caught a slight shift in her daughter’s sense.

Holding her close, River nuzzled her nose into her the baby’s soft cheek and murmured, “I love you, little one. Happy birthday.”

Looking to her with those big, blue eyes, River saw Jayne there for a just a minute and then, her breath caught in her throat as Maddy finally said her first words. “Mama,” she joyfully, her hands coming to rest on River’s cheeks. Holding her gaze for a moment more, she added, “Love.”

With tears of happiness, River kissed her baby girl and whispered, “Yes, baby. Mama loves you,” and continued to dance far into the night.

***

THE END