A/N: I'm not done with the Tams yet, so enjoy the ensuing tension!

Thanks to Leiasky for getting to this, especially because she's been so busy!

And again, thanks for all the shiny comments. Browncoats really are the best!

***

Best Intentions, ch. 15

***

“River?”

As his sister turned to him, her face shining with a healthy glow he couldn’t quite remember ever seeing before, Simon swallowed past the lump in his throat and again furrowed his brow. “Let’s go over the ground rules again.”

With an eye roll she had perfected over the years, River turned to fully face her brother, folding her hands demurely in front of her and waited for his prompt. “Okay, what is the first rule?”

“No talking about your sex life.”

“And the second?”

“No talking about anyone else’s sex life.”

Simon nodded, glad those two had stuck; despite the list of ten rules he’d supplied her with, he felt they were really the most important. “Number three?”

“Do not mention either time you were shot.” As Simon opened his mouth to ask her for the fourth, River raised a hand and began ticking the rest of the rules off on her fingers. “Four, do not mention the baby. Five, don’t mention that fact that Jayne names his guns and knives or that he likes to spit at the table or that he offered to show me his man parts once.” Simon shivered as she continued. “Six, never mention being almost burned at the stake, kidnapped by a bounty hunter or held at gunpoint by a Fed. Seven, do not talk about Fruity Oaty Bars. Eight, do not mention that I am a reader. Nine, do not mention that you were offered a job at Sihnon Memorial. Ten, do not agree to go back home with them.” Dropping her hands to her sides, she fixed him with a patient look and sighed. “Satisfied?”

“For now,” he told her, stepping forward and placing a kiss to her cheek. Taking her hands in his, he said quietly, “You understand why I’m nervous, don’t you, mei mei?”

“Don’t want to lose me,” she said, matching his tone. Reaching a hand to his cheek, she smiled and said, “Don’t know that you can’t. I live here,” she finished, taking the hand she rested to his face and placing it against his heart. “I can’t be lost as long as I’m in here.”

Pulling her into a tight embrace, Simon whispered, “And you always will be, mei mei.”

She held him back for a moment and then turned sharply just as the door chime sounded. Simon hesitated in the living room, waiting for Kaylee to emerge from the kitchen where she was just finishing dinner. While Simon had always considered her to be one of the better cooks on Serenity, he’d never truly been able to appreciate her talents – there was only so much one could do with molded protein. But over the past few days, as she had begun to feel better and had been cooking with real food, Simon quickly realized she was a genius in the kitchen as well as the engine room.

As she came to his side, her face a mixture of happiness and nervousness, Simon wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. Pressing a kiss to her temple, he asked, “Nervous?”

“Should I be?” she asked back, trying to joke, but finding it difficult. She was more than a little anxious over what this entire evening could bring.

“No,” he told her firmly, facing to greet their guests. “No, you shouldn’t.”

River entered the room a second later, in between her parents, one arm threaded through each of theirs, her face beaming. Simon greeted them both with a curt nod as Kaylee stepped forward and extended her hand to them. “It sure is nice o’ ya to come an’ see us,” she said, her smile easily lighting the room. “I ‘pologize I wasn’t able to meet ya proper a couple o’ nights ago.”

Shaking the woman’s hand, Regan studied her as she said, “That’s all right, dear. Your friend, Miss Serra, she explained your situation.” Her brown furrowing with concern, she added, “I do hope you’re feeling better.”

Smiling even wider at the woman’s compassion, Kaylee stepped back to Simon’s side and placed her hand in his. “Well, o’ course, I am. I got the best doctor in the ‘verse.”

Both Regan and Gabriel smiled lightly at this remark before silence settled in the room. Glancing to Simon uncomfortably, Kaylee cocked her head towards the patio where they had set up the dinner table. Getting her hint, Simon gestured to the sliding door that was open, allowing a light breeze to waft in the room as he asked, “Can I get you something to drink?”

Regan and Gabriel followed him to the terrace, as Kaylee grabbed River’s hand. “Can you help me with the food sweetie?” she asked. Nodding once, River followed her and the two girls worked side by side, putting finishing touches on the dinner.

As River loaded her arms with a platter of meat and vegetables and Kaylee grabbed some other side dishes she prepared, she looked to her soon-to-be sister and said, “Go easy on ‘im, okay?”

Puzzled, River said, “I haven’t been hard on him.”

Frowning at her, Kaylee replied. “River, this is prolly one o’ the hardest things Simon’s ever done, invitin’ them here, tryin’ to pretend that nothin’ happened. I know you wanna forgive ‘em or at least get to know ‘em and I think that’s great, but don’t be too disappointed if your brother can’t do the same.”

River studied Kaylee for a moment and then smiled wide at the girl. Leaning down, she kissed her cheek, and told her, “I’m so glad Simon found you. He needed you, even before you met. He just didn’t know it.”

“An’ I needed him,” Kaylee murmured, following the younger woman out and to their waiting guests. As soon as she stepped onto the terrace, she felt a sudden chill, although the night air was warm against her bare arms.

Quickly divesting herself of the food she carried, she turned to the sullen looking adults and said brightly, “Dinner’s ready.”

As they made their way to their seats, Simon bringing her a glass of water and holding out her chair, Kaylee watched him closely, shooting a knowing look to River, before also studying his parents. Sitting at the head of the table River’s eyes swept between her mother and father and Simon, all three of them doing their best to avoid making eye contact, before again falling to Kaylee, the hint of a smile turning up her lips.

Passing the plates of food around, Kaylee decided if they weren’t going to talk, then she would. “So, Mrs. Tam, how was your trip from Osiris?”

The older woman glanced up sharply at the direct question, her eyes studying the young woman who had addressed her. Regan still wasn’t quite so sure what to make of her, but she had decided that if she had any hope of again being part of her son’s life, she had to at least make an effort. “Oh, it was fine, dear,” she said noncommittally. “And you can call me Regan.”

Smiling to her, Kaylee nodded once as she dug into her food. “Well, thank you, Regan, that’s mighty kind o’ you.” Looking to Gabriel, she asked, “And how are you, Mister Tam?” As Gabriel’s cheeks flushed slightly at the young woman, Kaylee reached for Simon’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “I can see where Simon gets his shyness from.”

“Ah, well, I,” Gabriel stammered, dabbing at the corners of his mouth with his napkin though he had yet to take a bite. Glancing back to the young woman, whose smile was indeed infectious, he returned her grin with a guarded one of his own and said quietly, “I’m fine, thank you.”

As Kaylee again opened her mouth to ask another question, Regan decided that she would rather get the bubbly girl talking than vice versa. “So, Kaylee, is it?” she asked hesitantly, getting another wide smile. “How did you and my son meet?”

If it was possible, the girl’s face appeared to be swallowed by her grin. It covered her features completely, rising up into her eyes, even making her sit a bit straighter. Gazing to Simon adoringly for a moment, who, Regan noted, returned the gaze in full force, Kaylee sighed and said, “On Serenity.” Looking back to them, she explained, “That’s Captain Reynolds’ ship.” Regan nodded once, encouraging her to continue, although it was obvious the girl didn’t need it. “He was on Persephone, lookin’ for passage an’ I asked if’n he wanted a ride.” Her voice had grown wistful as she remembered that hot and sunny day when he’d come walking by in that fancy suit with those silly glasses. Kaylee had recognized right away how handsome he was, but it wasn’t until he’d smiled at her that she’d felt her heart swell.

The two lovebirds continued to stare and so River decided to elaborate. “Simon had just gotten me from the Academy and he needed to keep me safe. We were lucky to find Kaylee and Captain Daddy and Inara and all of them,” she said, matter-of-factly. “They’re good people.”

Regan and Gabriel had torn their eyes away from the young couple to regard River with skeptical looks. Having met these supposedly ‘good people’ just a few nights ago, neither of her parents were convinced that was an accurate assessment.

Reaching for her mother’s hand, River told her earnestly, “They are, mother. They took care of us. Looked out for us when they didn’t have any reason to.” Looking back to her brother and Kaylee, she added, “Loved us and made us whole.”

Swallowing hard past the lump in her throat, Regan found herself unsettled, although she wasn’t sure why. There was something different about her daughter. She was no longer the free-spirited teenager who had joked and teased her brother. As Regan studied her big brown eyes, she saw a sadness there, a pain, that spoke of tragedy and grief and Regan found her skin pebbling with goose bumps the longer she stared.

Noting her distress, Gabriel reached out a hand and squeezed hers and she smiled to him warmly. Maybe it was just her imagination.

“So, Kaylee, what do you do on Serenity?” Gabriel asked, his voice still low and guarded. “Do you just look for passengers?”

Giggling at the thought, Kaylee told him, “Aw, heck no, I’m her mechanic.”

“The best mechanic there is,” Simon agreed wholeheartedly, smiling proudly at her. Looking to his parents, he added, “Kaylee is quite gifted when it comes to machines.”

“And roast beef apparently,” Regan complimented, taking another bite and chewing slowly. “This is delicious, dear.”

Blushing at the compliment, Kaylee told her, “Well, thank you, Regan. It’s an old recipe my mama taught me. I’m just glad I ‘membered it. It’s been a while since I’ve had cause to use it.”

“Always remember the things your mama said,” River said, her voice taking on an enigmatic tone. Reaching out she placed a gentle hand to the girl’s head and added quietly, “They’ll always be up here.”

Kaylee smiled to her, not at all unaccustomed to River speaking in cryptic sentences. Turning back to her food, she did not notice the odd glances that Regan and Gabriel gave to each other or to their children.

Hoping to distract them, Simon hurriedly questioned, “How long did you plan on staying?”

If they were surprised by his bluntness, it didn’t show. Clearing his throat, Gabriel answered, “Well, we weren’t sure, son. We wanted to have plenty of time to visit with you and your sister.” While River’s face glowed at this statement, Simon’s only darkened with disgust.

Looking to her brother sharply, River scolded, “Play nice.”

“Mei mei,” he warned, his voice low.

“Simon,” she answered back, sticking her tongue out quickly and causing him to smile despite his discomfort.

“Well, some things never change,” Regan murmured, unaware she’d spoken out loud until all eyes focused on her. She’d been unable to help it though; for that last split second, their family had felt normal again, as it had all those years ago and it warmed her heart.

“Nope, same old Simon,” River teased, grinning at him.

“Same old brat,” Simon muttered back, actually enjoying their banter. He didn’t care if it was inappropriate or childish; it felt comforting in a way too.

Kaylee observed all of this in silence feeling more at ease as it became obvious Simon was finally relaxing. As the evening wore on and everyone drank more wine, the conversation didn’t necessarily get easier, but it at least flowed a bit and Kaylee was grateful she didn’t have to keep prompting them all; that was tiring.

Rising as they finished their meal, she reached for the plates, but Simon’s hand over hers stilled her movement. “I’ll get them,” he told her quietly, his eyes shining a bit with the alcohol he’d had.

Smiling widely to him, she leaned down and said, “Sorry, sweetie, but the last time you cleaned up, we lost some dishes.” He blushed at the memory, dropping his gaze even as she pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I got this, ya’ll just visit some more,” she added, and with a slight nod of the head she moved back inside. As more silence built between them, Regan rose abruptly and gathered a few plates as well, following the girl and River followed her, leaving just Gabriel and Simon to stare at one another.

The quiet that filled the space between them was rife with anxiety and unspoken anger. Simon shifted uncomfortably in his seat, wishing vehemently that he hadn’t had so much wine; if his father was going to attack him again, he’d need to have a clear head. Pushing back from the table a bit, Simon settled for simply returning his father’s gaze, more than willing to wait the man out.

And he did. “So, Simon,” Gabriel began slowly, mimicking his son’s posture. “How are you?”

“Why?” Simon asked the first question that came to his mind, not at all surprised when his father flinched slightly at the harshness of his response.

“Because I want to know if you’re all right,” Gabriel said, by way of explanation. “You are still my son, Simon. I still care about you.”

Snorting, Simon rolled his eyes and allowed his head to fall back so he could see the stars. “Right, you care,” he said bitterly. “You cared so much you slammed the door in my face all those years ago.” Bringing his eyes back to his father, he said, “Cut the act.” Leaning forward, his elbows on the table, he asked, “Why are you really here?”

As Gabriel’s mouth fell open, his eyes widening in shock at Simon’s accusation, Simon sat back, allowing his own features to fall into a smug expression. Allowing a bit of the hurt and anger he felt to color his tone, Gabriel sat forward and said, “Look, Simon, if you still want to hate your mother and I, that’s fine. But we love you, son, we always have; you and your sister both. When we found out where you were, we couldn’t stay away, pretending we didn’t know. Pretending we didn’t care.”

“But you didn’t care,” Simon said angrily, rising and swaying a bit on his feet; damn wine. Steadying himself against the chair back, he continued hotly, “You cut us off, you left River to suffer in that torture chamber!” Simon’s anger was back on the rise and with it his volume. His voice reaching a strangled pitch he shouted, “And now, you’re back, thinking that we owe you something! Well, we don’t!”

“Simon.”

River’s quiet voice cut through his anger as it usually did, and turning to face her, he felt a bit of his bile leave him. Stepping back outside, she moved to his side and said quietly, “It’s not fair to blame him for everything. It wasn’t all his fault.”

“Then whose was it, River?” Simon’s eyes still burned brightly, demanding answers. “Who should I blame?”

Placing a light hand to his face, River said quietly, “No one.”

Shaking his head violently, Simon backed away from her and whispered, “No.” Turning back to his father, he leveled a finger at him and said, “I blame him.”

“And what has that blame gotten you, Simon?” River’s voice was steady even though her mind churned with his anger and his sadness. Trying to push them away, she asked, “What has the anger you feel towards him ever done for you, except make you hurt?”

Whirling on her, he whispered roughly, “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?” she asked, cocking her head to the side and regarding him with wide eyes.

Frowning at her, Simon said, “Stay out of my head, River. This is my anger and you can’t have it.”

With another sad smile, she shrugged lightly and said, “I don’t want it.”

They stared at each other for a long moment and Gabriel simply stood and watched them. He wasn’t exactly sure what had just transpired, or why his son would have accused River of ‘getting into his head.’ Not a lot of things were making sense.

Sensing her father’s distress, River turned to him and said, “I wish I could explain, but it’s against the rules.”

Even more puzzled, Gabriel stepped towards her and rested a hand on her shoulder. River wanted to hug him, to have him hold her, but she couldn’t do that to Simon. He was still fuming, mad at everyone, including his father, and to see her so willingly trust him again would kill him.

Noting her hesitant gaze, Gabriel finally focused his attention back on his son. “Simon, explain it to me.”

With a confused gaze, Simon asked wearily, “What?”

Swallowing hard, Gabriel moved past his daughter and stood before his son. Holding Simon’s blue-eyed gaze in his own, he said again, “Explain it to me. All of it; the letters, the black-out zone, the Academy, Serenity.” Placing a tentative hand to Simon’s shoulder, he lowered his voice and said, “I want to understand, son.”

“Why?” Simon found he was asking that question a lot, but it seemed to be the only one that made any sense.

“Because that’s what I owe you,” Gabriel answered him.

***

As the three women entered the kitchen, depositing dirty dishes in the sink and half full plates of food on the counter, they worked in silence. It wasn’t the tense silence that had befallen Simon and Gabriel, but more of an amicable one, and it wasn’t until River left the room that Kaylee even realized she was currently working side by side with the woman who would be her mother-in-law.

Feeling suddenly uncomfortable, Kaylee worked more diligently, surprised when Regan addressed her. “Kaylee?”

Turning to face the woman, Kaylee smiled slightly and answered, “Yes, Regan?”

“Do you love my son?” She asked the question simply, but Kaylee could feel the woman’s need to know that while she could no longer bring comfort and security to him, Simon had found someone else to care for him.

Smiling wide, Kaylee told her honestly, “Regan, I ain’t never loved anybody the way I love Simon.” Taking her hand, she squeezed it slightly and said, “He’s my whole world.”

“Even in light of what he did? Breaking River out? Becoming a fugitive?”

Regan leaned back against the counter, her arms over her chest and Kaylee furrowed her brow at her. She wasn’t exactly sure where Regan was going with this. Was it a test? A challenge? Deciding it didn’t matter as Kaylee’s feelings for Simon would never change, she said, “I’d say everything Simon did, all he went through for River, all he gave up, that only made me love ‘im more.”

As Regan’s eyes clouded with a few tears, Kaylee generously avoided her gaze, wanting to give the woman a moment to collect herself. Just as she was about to ask if she was okay, raised voices could be heard coming from the patio and Kaylee recognized the sound of Simon’s distress. Moving towards the door to go to him, Regan placed a hand to her arm and told her, “Give them a minute, dear. Unfortunately, Simon and his father have a few things to work through.”

Kaylee swallowed her fear for her fiancé, and nodded once, going back to the sink where she was rinsing dishes. Regan stood beside her and they again worked in silence, until Regan finally said, “I’m sure you must think I’m a pretty terrible person.”

Kaylee turned a wide-eyed gaze to her, but Regan continued, unimpeded. “It’s all right, dear. Most days, I don’t think much of myself.” Turning to face her, she continued quietly, “I wish I could take that time back. I wouldn’t have turned Simon away so easily. I wouldn’t have dismissed him. I should have realized what you have.” Kaylee frowned at her again, signaling her confusion and squeezing her hand gently, Regan explained. “That Simon is a good man, the best, and if he believed something, to the point he believed that River was in danger, then he deserved to be trusted. I should have recognized that.”

Pausing for a moment, Regan again swallowed hard and then brought her eyes back to Kaylee’s. “I can see that he loves you, believes in you. I’m glad he’s found you. It’s obvious to me you make him very happy.”

Kaylee smiled wide, causing Regan to smile as well, and said, “Regan, I don’t rightly know why you did what you did all them years ago, but if’n you wanna make it right, you can. Simon still loves you and Mister Tam. You’re just gonna have to be patient with ‘im. You’re gonna have to re-earn his trust.”

Regan nodded once and then unexpectedly moved forward and embraced the girl. “Thank you, Kaylee,” she told her. Straightening quickly, she took her hand and led her from the room. “I say there’s not time like the present to start repairing that relationship. What do you think?”

Following her, Kaylee agreed.

***

Simon had found himself growing more tired by the second. Just the thought of recounting the story of River’s rescue and the past two years, brought an exhaustion to him he hadn’t known for a while. Sitting heavily on one of the lounge chairs, Simon glanced up as his father sat on one across from him. River, unable to take sides, sat on the floor between them, her legs crossed Indian style, her gaze drifting back and forth from one man to the other.

Rubbing a hand over his tired eyes, Simon said slowly, “I don’t even know where to begin.”

Resting a hand to his knee, River met his gaze and said quietly, “I do.” Turning to look to her father, she started his story, her nightmare, their tale of survival.

“The Academy wasn’t an Academy, father. It was an Alliance-sponsored laboratory; a place for very bad men to do experiments on very smart and very frightened children.” Gabriel swallowed hard at this statement, his eyes never leaving his daughter’s face as she continued. “I needed to get out of there; they were hurting me, all of us and I knew that I wouldn’t survive.” Looking to her brother with shining eyes, River said softly, “So I started writing my letters.”

Gazing back to her father, River slowly recounted her code to him, the meticulous way she’d selected every word, every letter so that it couldn’t be detected by anyone but Simon. Gabriel simply sat in silence, his mind reeling with each new secret she uncovered. As River spoke, she found her throat closing, her sobs threatening to overwhelm her and she stopped, resting her head against Simon’s knee.

He reached down almost absentmindedly and laid his hand against the top of her head, before leaning over and kissing her head. She closed her eyes against his touch and a few tears fell down her cheeks. With a sigh, she stayed still there, knowing that it was Simon’s turn.

Looking to his father, Simon picked up where she’d left off, just as his mother and Kaylee came outside. Moving to the sides of their respective mates, both women sat close to their men, Kaylee’s arm easily wrapping around Simon’s back, while Regan took Gabriel’s hand in her own and squeezed lightly. Not bothering to explain what they were discussing, Simon simply continued. “It took almost all of the money I’d earned at the hospital and a lot of time, but when I finally got to River, she was …” Simon trailed off, shivering slightly as he remembered that frightened and fragile girl who had crawled out of that cryo unit in Serenity’s cargo bay.

“I was damaged,” River said for him, her voice soft, her eyes still closed. Taking a deep breath, she turned to face him and said quietly, “You can say it, Simon, it’s okay.” Looking back to her parents, she said, “I was crazy, a moonbrain, not right. I screamed and yelled and had nightmares and couldn’t speak in complete sentences. I was broken,” she finished quietly, her head again resting against her brother’s leg.

“Oh, River,” Regan breathed, her eyes welling with tears. Leaning forward and placing a hand to her daughter’s cheek, Regan waited until her big brown eyes again opened and then asked, “Are you all right now, sweetheart? Are you better?”

River nodded once and said, “For the most part. Some of what they broke can’t be fixed. But Simon made me well again. Made me whole.” She turned to smile brightly at him and Simon felt his heart beat sharply in his chest at the sight. “Simon took care of me.”

Leaning down, he again placed a kiss in her hair and whispered, “Always, mei mei.”

Silence stretched between them and it was Gabriel who broke it this time. “I’m still not sure I understand,” he said, his face full of confusion. “What exactly happened in that place? And why?”

As the three members of Serenity’s crew shared skeptical looks, it was River who said, “I didn’t break the rule,” giving her brother a small grin.

Returning it, Simon told her, “I know, River. You were very good.”

Smiling proudly, River looked back to her parents as Simon and Kaylee shared a quiet moment. “You wanna tell ‘em?” she whispered, her face close to his, her lips near his ear.

Squeezing her knee gently, he murmured back, “Not really, but I suppose I don’t have much of a choice now.”

Kaylee kissed his cheek lightly and told him, “If’n you want any help, jus’ give me a sign, and I’ll fill in the gaps.”

Simon smiled slightly at her, and then turned back to his parents. “The Alliance selected River because she was more than smart,” he said quietly, his eyes again drifting to his sister and then back to his mother and father’s expectant gazes. “They wanted River because she was special, because she’s a reader.”

Both of the elder Tams inhaled sharply; that term, Reader, was part of myth, a legend told about strange hermits on border worlds, people driven mad as their minds were constantly assaulted by the thoughts and feelings of those around them. It was not a term one heard in polite conversation and even less likely to be uttered in the kind of social circles Regan and Gabriel inhabited.

“What?” Regan sputtered, looking between River and Simon in disbelief. “That can’t be true.”

“It is, mother,” Simon said tiredly. “River had an innate talent that the Alliance simply discovered and exploited.”

“To what end, son?” Gabriel’s expression had turned from one of confusion to one of resignation and Simon wondered how much he’d been able to piece together.

“They wanted to make River a weapon,” Simon said quietly, his eyes focusing on a distant point. “And they succeeded.”

This time the silence struck them like a blow to the gut, knocking the wind from them with a fierceness no one had been expecting. Gabriel and Regan reached for each other simultaneously, their hands clutched together to anchor them to reality. With wide eyes, they both looked to their daughter who had not moved from her position at her brother’s feet. Her eyes were open now and they stared far away.

As she continued to ignore them, it was finally Gabriel who breathed, “I don’t believe that. I won’t.” His tone was growing harsher by the moment. With eyes that were again angry, he looked to his son and accused, “How could you even think something like that, let alone say it?”

Rubbing his face, Simon let out a sigh, and looked to Kaylee as she tightened her arm around his waist. He was so lucky. “I say it becaue it’s true, father,” Simon said tiredly, the blue eyes that now regarded both parents showing an age that was well beyond his years. “Because I’ve seen it.”

“No,” Regan said softly, her voice breaking as she struggled to hold in tears of fear and disbelief. Looking to River, she recoiled visibly and whispered, “No, it can’t be true.”

“Ninety-seven.” River’s voice was quiet, stilling them all as they struggled to listen. With another weary sigh, Simon rested a hand to her shoulder; he knew what that number meant and he wished with every fiber of his being that it wasn’t so high; that it didn’t even exist at all. Blinking, River pulled her gaze from that far-off place and looked her mother square in the eye. “I’ve been a weapon ninety-seven times.”

Her hand flying to her mouth to stifle a gasp, Regan’s eyes only widened further, her pupils shrinking in fear. Shaking her head slowly from side to side, she muttered something that none of them could understand. Watching his wife carefully, Gabriel finally turned his attention back to River and asked her, “What do you mean, dear?”

With an unwavering gaze, River turned to her father and said, “It was bullets first, and then a hard punch to the solar plexus. Then it was knives.” River’s voice trailed off into a whisper as she raised her hands in front of her, curving them in a pattern that Simon and Kaylee both recognized; it was a mimic of the dance she’d done to save them from the Reavers; the fight sequence she’d so artfully executed. “Knives require more effort from the wielder,” she continued, her voice detached, her eyes focused on her hands as they moved back and forth. “More strength, more precision.” Lifting her eyes back to her father’s now horrified expression she said tonelessly, “Takes more time to die, too.”

“Enough,” Gabriel said abruptly, rising and stalking away from the group. His movement caused River to come back to herself and with a start she began crying again, silent tears down her cheeks. She turned to look to Simon and Kaylee and they both embraced her wordlessly, Kaylee’s hand running through the girl’s hair soothingly, while Simon whispered his love for her.

Gabriel watched the scene his level of disgust on the rise. This was impossible; his daughter, his beautiful River could not be a killer. He refused to believe it.

As if hearing him, River turned from her family and said softly, “Then you refuse to believe the truth.”

Simon’s blue eyes raised then to study Gabriel intensely. His voice no more than a rasp he asked coldly, “What do you want, father? A demonstration?”

His face contorting with more disgust, Gabriel turned from them. He had wanted to make things better with his children, truly. But if Simon and River both insisted on embellishing the truth, insisted on creating scenarios that were only more unbelievable than the last, how could he? He had almost believed his daughter when she talked about her time at the Academy. Almost believed Simon when he discussed the damage that had been done to her; but this he could not believe. He could not give credence to this assertion or it would destroy him.

Looking back to his wife, Gabriel’s heart broke for her. Regan was frozen, sitting and staring at the three young people as they continued to comfort each other. Moving back to her side, Gabriel placed a light hand to her back and got her attention, wishing in the next instant that he hadn’t. The haunted look she fixed him with only served to chill his blood further.

He sat beside her again and she rested her head on his shoulder. Apparently, this was too much for her as well.

It was several moments before anyone spoke again and when words finally did fill the space between them they came from a most unlikely source.

“Why can’t ya believe ‘em?” Kaylee’s voice was inquisitive, curious and the tone caused Gabriel to focus on the young woman despite himself. She was a beautiful girl, her open face shining in the light from the moon. She still had an arm wrapped his son, while the other rested against River’s head where it laid in her lap. When she noticed his eyes on her, she asked again, “Why don’t ya believe ‘em?”

“Kaylee,” Simon said softly, his voice holding just a hint of warning. He didn’t want her to get into the middle of this; hell, he hadn’t even wanted her to meet them.

Undeterred, Kaylee continued to address the elder Tam. “I know you love ‘em, you wouldn’ta come all this way if’n that weren’t the case.” Glancing down to River and then over to Simon, she let the faintest of smiles grace her mouth as she added, “And how could ya not? They’re pretty lovable.”

Simon returned her smile, but before he could thank her for her words, she turned those big green eyes back to Gabriel and now, Regan, who had sat up and was listening intently. “I can ‘magine this is pretty hard for ya’ll,” she admitted, swallowing thickly past the lump in her throat. “But if’n you really wanna make things right, you’re gonna have to trust ‘em.” Her eyes again drifting to Gabriel’s face, she said quietly, “They’re your kids.”

Dumbfounded, Gabriel could only stare at the young woman, open-mouthed, watching as she rested her head against Simon’s shoulder, her fingers still running through River’s hair, calming the girl. Simon turned towards her as she leaned into him, and brushed a kiss to her forehead and Gabriel could only watch in amazement. His son and his daughter and now this new young woman were more of a family then they had ever been and he felt shame and relief all at once: shame that he had obviously failed so royally at being parent and relief that his children were now surrounded by unconditional love.

“You’re right, Kaylee,” Gabriel said quietly, drawing startled looks from them all. “I do love them, very much.” Looking to Simon’s wide-eyed gaze and then to River’s, he felt the corners of his mouth turn up into a smile. “But what you’re telling us, it’s more than just unsettling.” Taking Regan’s hand and kissing it lightly, he looked back to them and admitted, “If we believe you, it will destroy everything we’ve ever worked for.”

“You think that didn’t happen to us?” Simon asked, his eyes searching for answers. “You don’t think River and I felt our world shattered the minute we ended up on Serenity?” Turning to Kaylee, he gave her an apologetic grin, hoping she wouldn’t take offense. When she smiled to him, he again looked to his father. “All of those things, that life you worked for, it was ours once too, but we managed to make new lives for ourselves, good lives.” Looking again to Kaylee, Simon stared at her for a moment and then whispered, “Better lives.”

Leaning forward Simon kissed Kaylee softly, not caring that the overt show of affection would more than likely make his parents uncomfortable. He had learned, over the past few years that when his gut told him to do something, he should do it; and his gut had just screamed at him to kiss his beautiful bride-to-be. As they parted, Kaylee smiled wide at him and pulled her eyes away to again address his parents. “It’s gonna take some time, I’m sure. But you gotta start somewhere.”

With a heavy sigh, Regan straightened and spoke, her voice a bit shaky, but steadier than she had expected. Reaching across the space between them, she took Kaylee’s hand and said quietly, “You’re absolutely right, dear.” Looking back to her son, she encouraged him. “Tell us what happened after you took passage on Serenity.”

As she settled back at her husband’s side and waited for her son to continue, Regan could only stare at her daughter, the girl’s wide and unblinking eyes again focused on a far-off point. This still didn’t make much sense, but Regan hoped fiercely that once she had all the facts it would.

***