The Bravest Thing Part 8 by Nailani Williams

Disclaimer: No Copyright Infringement intended so Joss put down the Sword of Truth!

Summary: Taking place after the BDM. Jayne and Zoe, pairing. Jayne’s secret personal grief from his past ends up pushing him closer to Zoe than he could ever imagine.

Rating: PG-13

A/N: Thank for the feedback, it really keeps me going!

~

Zoe:

I was dreaming of lying on a beach, I was alone. Then suddenly I saw him. He was walking towards me wearing one of his ridiculously loud shirts. I stood up running to him. I went into his arms and he hugged me.

“Someone’s glad to see me,” Wash laughed squeezing me.

“I thought after Jayne and I….I thought you wouldn’t come and see me,” I said and he kissed me.

“I may be dead, but I’m far from stupid,” Wash grinned and took my hand in his. We walked down the beach, silently. “ He can have you in life, and I can have you here,” he said pulling me down into the sand so I was lying on top of him. The sun began to set as we kissed. “I hate to admit it babe, but he’s it for you,” Wash sighed and I shook my head and turned around in his arms so we could watch the sunset together. Wash’s hands were on my shoulders.

“I don’t know, maybe he is, maybe he isn’t, it’s too early to tell.”

“Trust me, one day you’re gonna be dreaming and it’s him that’s going to be walking towards you on this beach,” Wash squeezed my shoulders and I turned to look in his eyes.

“And you’re okay with that?” I asked and he smiled.

“Yes!“ he yelled making me jump. “No, I’m pissed that it’s not me with you every night until were old and gray, but go se happens,” he sighed and I teared up. He cursed himself. “Don’t, Zoe, I’m sorry.” he kissed my temple. “He cares for you, Zoe, he needs you, you need him, and I’m glad you two found each other,” Wash wrapped his arms tight around me.

“It might not work Wash, it might fail. I mean he’s Jayne for Christ sake’s.” I said.

“Sweetie, you know that’s just fear talking, right?”

I knew he was right. I was afraid of loving Jayne, because Jayne wasn’t like Wash. He goes on missions, he gets shot and hurt, constantly. What if he died, would I survive it? I thought irrationally and Wash rolled his eyes.

“Would you have taken back our life together, if it meant that I lived? Would you have been able to give up our love? Our happiness?” he asked me.

“No,” I said honestly.

“Love is about risk, the question is all on you, my love, are you ready?” he asked and I looked out at the moon over the ocean.

Jayne:

I was dreaming of my home on dead would. It was spring and the butterflies were coming out of there cocoons.

“Can we chase the butterflies daddy?” Ruby as she came outside. I smiled at her.

“Only if you promise to let them go. I remember before that you cried and cried cause I wouldn’t let you keep them,” I reminded her and she nodded climbing up my lap.

“I promise, Daddy.” she said resting her head on my chest listening to my heart beat.

“Aren’t you two a picture,” Vera said and I smiled as she sashayed her way towards us.

“Daddy is gonna help me catch butterflies!” Ruby said and Vera smiled.

“Well you best get to picking up all you’re toys off the floor in your room then, because I know for a fact that butterflies don’t like to be caught by messy little girls.” Vera announced.

“Yes, mommy,” Ruby smiled and hopped from my lap running inside.

“You’re sitting there looking like a tomcat that’s just been fed fresh fish, at least act like you’re a little scared of my reaction,” Vera said folding her arms across her chest and I sat up nervously.

“You-you said you’d be alright with me moving on!” I said and she laughed.

“God, you’re so easy,” she slapped my arm.

“How are things here?” I asked and she rolled her eyes.

“Perfect Jayne, stop worrying!” she sat in my lap and I kissed her neck.

“I found Lance, I didn’t kill him,” I confessed.

“Good, Lance wasn’t responsible, he just wanted to feed his own family, besides his life after our incident took a turn for the worst for him anyway. So, you don’t have to go worrying that he has anything you don’t because he doesn’t.” she told me and I nodded.

“She ain’t nothing like you bao bei, she’s a leader and a fighter. She shoots nearly as good as I do,” I sighed and she laughed.

“So, I guess you better not piss her off,” Vera said and I slapped her butt.

“Keep laughing at me woman…” I warned and she rolled her eyes again.

“Member when we first met…” she said and then I laughed.

“I came to rob your Daddy of his gold and I robbing him of you,too,” I grinned at the memory.

“We hated each other at first, ’member?” she laughed. “I thought you were this dirty evil scoundrel.”

“And I thought you were the most annoying, prissy, spoil brat, I had ever met!” I laughed.

“And then we fell in love,” she whispered over my lips.

“And it was a miracle, when you choose me specially after you found out what I did,” I was still amazed.

“Yeah well, daddy might have been a Preacher, but nothing about him was holy,” she admitted. We sat in silence for a little bit enjoying each other‘s company.

“You’re not the same man you were before, who were into busty blonde’s with curly hair and sassy attitudes,” she said describing herself. “You’ve grown Jayne, you think if you met me now you’d even put up with me?”

“Of course,” I said, and then wasn’t sure. If I met a woman exactly like Vera now, would I?

“Bullshit, J.” she said. “You’d used me for sexing and then break atmo as fast as you can.”

“Why would you say that?” I asked and she sighed.

“We all have our moments in time, J., when you and I were together you liked the fact that I was delicate, that I was so scared of your guns that you hid them around the house instead of leaving them visible. You liked the pure innocence of me,” she said and I couldn’t argue. “Now you’re different, you don’t want a woman that can’t fend for herself because you need to know that in case you get into a bind that she would be okay. And that reasoning is fine considering what you’ve been through.”

“I don’t think any less of you,” I added and she nodded.

“I know that! This girl is good for you Jayne, she’s exactly what you need,” Vera said. “You just have to decide if you’re truly ready, once that decision is made, there’s no stopping either of you. Trust me.”

I heard Ruby running inside of the house and the baby was crying. “I got to go feed our son,” she sighed and kissed my forehead before leaving inside of the house. As soon as she went inside Ruby came out carrying to butterfly nets. I spent the rest of my dream catching butterflies with my daughter. ~