River's eyes snapped open. She'd dreamed of pain and unshed tears. Even in her dreams, Jayne's grief seeped through strongly, overpowering the other voices she heard on Serenity. She sat up. Her sheet feel to her waist exposing her naked body from the waist up.

Jayne was stirring, the Captain was keeping a close eye on the navigation read out, Zoe was feeding the twins, Inara slept, and Kaylee and Simon were greeting the morning with love. She threw her sheet aside and walked to her closet naked. She didn't care for sleeping in the itchy and sensible nightgowns Simon bought her. If she did sleep in clothes, she'd much prefer to sleep in something Inara wore.

But sleeping naked was fine for her. It was the most logical thing to do, after all. When one slept, it was best to be comfortable. She of course knew when to sleep in a gown if Simon were to check on her at night. He checked on her every night at 11:33 pm and again at 7:23 am, he was so predictable. After he left, she'd shed her long nightgown. She smirked at the thought of what Simon would think if he knew his little mei-mei slept in the buff.

Today was not going to be a good day. At least not for Jayne. She pulled out her dark blue dress. She never wore it because it still reminded her of the Reavers anger. Yet... she knew Jayne had secretly thought it made her look almost woman like, instead of like a little girl dressed in too big hand me downs. Mal and Simon would not like seeing her in it again. In fact, she knew that both of them thought she'd thrown it out. She pulled it over her head and pulled on a pair of white sensible panties.

That was her, sensible and logical River. At least that's what she was before... no don't think about it! Needles, lights in the eyes, beep beep went the machines...

“Mei-mei? Are you dressed?” It was Simon. The clock on her bedside table read 7:23 right on the dot. She took a deep breath to steady herself.

“Yes, Simon,” she said finally.

“Are you all right? You sound a little out of breath?” He'd opened the door and froze when he saw what she was wearing.

“I didn't throw it out.”

“River... why... are you sure you want to wear... that?”

She fingered the hem of her dress. “It was one of your favorites before...” Simon sighed. “If you want to wear it, go ahead. I'm going to make some breakfast. Do you want some protein pancakes?”

“Sure.”

Simon was nearly done making breakfast when she entered the galley. Inara was holding Dina while Zoe was rocking little Rex. She gave them a half smile. The twins were a perfect conglomeration of Wash and Zoe. Dina had curly reddish blonde hair and cafe au lait skin tone. Rex had dark curly hair and was as freckly as Wash had been. She'd never seen their eyes, but from what she gleamed off of Zoe and Inara, they both had his eyes... the laughing blue eyes that would forever console and haunt Zoe.

“Are you feeling any better this morning, River? Simon told us you had a slight... relapse last night,” Inara asked concerned.

River shrugged and said nothing. The look that past between Zoe and Inara did not go unnoticed. Simon cleared his throat.

“The Captain had requested you join him once you've finished eating, River,” he told her and placed a plate of mushy looking pancakes in front of her.

River grimaced. Simon tried so hard to take care of her, even if his food was almost as bad as Jayne's. She grimaced again, she'd been able to tune out his thoughts slightly because of the others proximity, but now... He was awake and doing sit-ups. It was part of his morning routine, but this was different. It was as if he was preparing himself for battle.

Knowing he'd be up to the mess soon, she took a couple of bites of the mush and two gulps of tea before jumping up.

“That's all you're eating?” Simon asked.

“I'm not really hungry, Simon. Besides, the Captain is about to lose his patience,” she explained.

Sure enough, not two seconds later, Mal called out over the com. “River, get your skinny pi gu up here!”

River rolled her eyes and obeyed.

“I was on my way in, Captain.” She took a seat in the co-pilots chair and tapped a few keys.

“We're about half an hour away from Jiangyin and then another fifteen to Jayne's moon,” he ignored her sass.

“I hope that's not what's it called,” Simon had followed River into the cockpit.

“It has no official name. It's known as AFMJ-3.” River answered flipping a switch and correcting the trajectory. That should cut their trip down some ten minutes.

The ship shuddered a little. “What'd you do there, little albatross?”

“Your trajectory was off by three point two-seven degrees. I've corrected your error and should cut ten minutes off our flight,” she answered.

“Right... okay then. Good job...there...” Mal said nonplussed.

“Why is the moon given an numeration rather than a proper name?” Simon asked.

“Alliance don't much like the name it was given by its inhabitants. Tried to rename it but the settlers refused to say it. So the Alliance classified it AFMJ-3 or Alliance Farming Moon Jiangyin, the dash and number indicates it's the third moon orbitin',” Mal explained.

“It's a farming community? I always figured Jayne was from a much larger and more dodgy type planet like Boros or Beaumonde,” Simon frowned. He just couldn't picture Jayne growing up around quiet and simple farming folk. Well maybe he simple part.

“Ain't from no big ass world, Doc. I'm Rim born and bred,” Jayne announced as he entered the cockpit. “How much longer?”

“Fifeen minutes and thirty-eight seconds give or take five seconds,” River announced.

“I don't understand...” Simon said suddenly.

“Suspect there's a lot you don't understand about being from the Rim,” Jayne grunted.

Simon gave him a dirty look. “No... what I mean is... we were on Jiangyin a bit more than a year ago, if you remember?”

“How could I forget? I thought you and Crazy girl there were gone for good. Best gorram day of my life,” Jayne smiled.

This time River sent him a look. Jayne shuffled uncomfortably. He was sill feeling guilty about what had happened.

“Jayne.” Mal warned.

“Yes I suppose it was,” Simon pursed his lips. “What I meant was, if we were so close to your home, why didn't you visit?”

Jayne arched a brow. “Cause they weren't there.”

Simon scowled. “I thought you were born and bred there, so how is it that—”

“My brother Mattie was graduatin' from school. They were off to see him. Couldn't very well go visit the pigs now could I?” Jayne said snidely.

“I didn't know your brother was at school. I thought he was the sickly type?” Mal asked.

“He is, but he really wanted to go and he was real careful when he was gone. Course he came back with my folks and got sick almost right away, the dumb ass forgot to get innocked 'fore he got planetside,” Jayne shook his head.

“How is it that your parents sent your younger brother to be educated but somehow you turned out... like you?” Simon scoffed.

Jayne stood up and looked ready to pounce him.

“We should be arriving in five minutes, Jayne,” River reminded him.

Jayne sent Simon one more scowl before leaving the bridge. River turned around and snarled at her brother. “Why do you have to be such an idiot? Can't you see his pain is hard enough as it is?”

“River...”

“Girl's right, doc. Jayne don't need any extra hardships as it is. And if you want to know what the name of the moon is, well let's just say the Alliance don't take too kindly to calling one of it's territories after the rebels it defeated,” Mal said cryptically.

“Shamu?”

“Independence. He comes from the brown but denied it and stayed away from the purple. He took to the black where it was in between,” River said just as cryptically.

Mal and Simon stared at her, expecting to explain her strange outburst. But she only adjusted a knob absentmindedly. “About to descend into Independence, Captain.”

“Right...”

“I'll be in the infirmary prepping my bag,” Simon announced.

“What for? I don't think there's much you can do for his ma.”

“Maybe not. But I can at least make her as comfortable as possible.” Simon answered.

Mal stared at the door long after Simon had left.

“You shouldn't be so surprised. He's a doctor, he swore to do no harm to help all those he can. Even someone that raised a man like Jayne,” River said quietly.

“What did I—”

“I wasn't announcing your thoughts. I was merely advising you. Entering atmo and prepping for landing, Captain,” she added as they entered Independence's atmo.

“Copy that,” Mal flipped a few switches.

Jayne threw a few clothes into a satchel and slipped Vera over his shoulder. He wouldn't stay long after his ma were gone, he'd only need the essentials. Taking one last look around he snatched the small box sitting on top of his side table and climbed out of his bunk.

To his surprise, everyone was waiting for him in the cargo bay. Even Zoe carrying one of her kids while Inara rocked the other one. Jayne hadn't hit on her since she'd announced she was going to be a mother. It didn't feel right to think of Zoe in that way when she had a little life growing inside of her. And now seeing her very domestic-like didn't remove the feeling either. He almost felt like he was in the presence of his own ma.

“What are ya'll doin' down here? Come to throw a party cause I'm leavin'?” he snarked.

“No ya big dumb lunk. We come to say good luck and we hope ya come back,” Kaylee smacked him on his arm.

He gave her a leer. “I'll come back as soon as I can if you promise some more smackin'.”

She rolled her eyes. Inara scoffed. “I see you're still as lecherous as ever.”

“If that means my John Thomas is still at attention, then yeah. There ain't no power in the 'verse that can stop me,” he sneered.

“Except maybe River,” Mal quipped.

“I thought you said you was never goin' to mention that again,” he muttered referring to the time River had literally handed him his balls.

“I've landed about a mile out. I didn't want to startle your family since they don't have a cortex to let them know your coming,” River told him.

Jayne blinked at her forward thinking. “Right. Thanks.”

“The doc and I will be droppin' you off. We'll be grounded here for a week, you wave us if you need more time,” Mal told him as Simon exited the infirmary.

Jayne eyed Simon warily. “You goin'?”

“Yes. I know there might not be much I can do for your mother, but at least I can make her as comfortable as possible,” he said kindly.

“Appreciate it doc,” he said gruffly.

He threw his duffle bag into the mule and climbed in next to Mal.

“We'll be back as soon as the doc does all he can,” Mal informed Zoe. “Ship is yours.”

“Yes, sir. Good luck, Jayne,” Zoe gave him a rare smile and jiggled the baby a bit.

“uh... yeah. Thanks, Zoe...ma'am,” he tipped his hat to her awkwardly.

Simon rolled his eyes at him from behind him, while Mal scoffed and drove away.

“Jayne sure has changed lots since... well since you know...” Kaylee gave Zoe a side glance.

“Since Miranda, you mean,” Zoe finished for her.

“River where are you going?” Inara asked her.

“We're going to have guests soon. Need to move to the empty bunk. We're going to need the rooms in the passenger dorms empty,” she explained and continued on her way.

“Now why is it that I don't think Cap'n's going to be in a good mood when he comes back?” Kaylee asked them.