Big Blue Chapter 15

Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. (Except for Allan. He's mine) I’m just playing. No money being made.

This story takes place three years after Serenity (BDM) and has the established couples of Simon/Kaylee, Mal/Inara, Zoë/Allan and Jayne/River. Follows immediately after Out to the Blue.

A/N:

Thanks again Chris for the Beta.

Big Blue

Chapter Fifteen – Memories

Allan and John waled up the path to the Frye's back porch. Mal and Zoë sat in a couple of chairs. “What have you two troublemakers been up to?” Zoë asked.

“Not much,” Allan replied as he kissed Zoë's forehead.

“Will you two knock that off already,” Mal groused.

“When we're old and gray sir.”

“Allan's already headin that way,” Mal chuckled.

“Hey! I resemble that remark,” Allan replied grinning, “Just for that, you don't get to help pick out the movie tonight.”

“Movie?” Mal asked.

“Seems John here got called to pick up a piece of equipment that fell into a farmers field a while back.”

“What was it?” Zoë asked.

“Free Bird's computer core.”

“Huh?” Mal muttered.

“Told you I was a good designer. It was a bit scorched and dented but I was able to recover all the data. I've got ten memory sticks full. Everything from the flight data recorder to my movie collection.”

“Quite a haul.” Mal commented.

“Yep. I thought I had lost it all. Even has most of my personal files. Things like digital copies of my birth certificate and all the photo's I scanned in over the years,” Allan finished with a grin.

“Naked baby pictures?” Kaylee chirped from the doorway.

Zoë shot her a look then laughed.

“Even naked baby pictures,” Allan chuckled.

XXXXXXXXXX

After dinner that night Allan set up a link to the Frye's cortex screen and his laptop. Soon Allan was showing a slide show of his life on earth. Allan had photos from his grandfather's time in the Marines, his father's civilian flying career and his mother's Air Force reserve time. To placate Kaylee, Allan bore the brunt of the jokes about his baby pictures. As the show progressed it showed Allan's life growing up. Working on the farm as a child, graduating from high school at age fifteen. Getting his pilots license at age sixteen, Going to Sara's prom...

Zoë squeezed his hand in support when Allan got to the photo's of his high school and college sweetheart. Next came Allan's first patent. The founding of his first company which later became Blue Sun.

Allan also had photos taken all over Earth. Vacations and business trips to London, Hawaii, Bermuda, Alaska, Moscow,. The opening of Blue Sun's headquarters in Boston, the building of the factory at the old Pease Air Force base in New Hampshire. Blue Sun's first orbital shuttle... The photo's went on and on.

Everyone sat in rapt attention. Learning about the world that they only knew about from history lessons. They learned about earth through the eyes and memories of a man who had lived there.

The last series of photos showed the construction of the huge exodus ships, Earth from orbit, Free Bird sitting in the back yard of the Bryant family farm, A smiling Allan behind the controls of Free Bird... Then that was it. Allan didn't have any more photos.

“That's it... my life on earth,” Allan said sadly.

“I never knew that earth was so varied,” Inara said.

“It was, Inara. Where I lived most of my life was very much like it is here on Kelly. Other parts, a tropical paradise. In other's arctic tundra. Huge oceans and small ponds. From what I've seen, they terriformed the worlds here to be as much like the earth as they could but most everyone who did the terriforming had never walked on the earth. That's what I wanted to bring originally. The perspective of someone who had walked on both worlds.”

“It's getting late,” Mal said, “Don't want to impose on Beth and John.”

“Nonsense Mal,” Beth Frye replied, “You all ain't imposing. Family don't impose.”

Mal smiled, “Point taken, Beth. Still, I think me an Inara's gonna turn in.”

With that, the various couples of Serenity began to head for bed. Kaylee and Simon were staying in Kaylee's old room in the house. Gabriel and Reagan were sleeping in the Frye's guest room.

Allan watched out of the corner of his eye as Reggie and Alisha headed for Serenity arm in arm. Simon had removed the officer's cast that morning.

“Oso's sleeping in the spare crew bunk. Seems that Reggie's gonna be by his lonesome down in the dorms tonight,” Allan chuckled as he picked up his equipment.

“I seriously doubt that dear,” Zoë smiled back.

“You ain't gonna shoot my bodyguard for sleeping with your sister are you?”

“Only if he hurts her, baby,” Zoë replied.

“Reg is a good man.”

“For a fed,” Zoë finished.

Allan chuckled, “Did you see the way Jayne's Sister was falling all over Oso back on Deadwood?”

“I did,” Zoë replied with a smile, “Fred had him all flustered.”

“Young love,” Allan chuckled.

“That said, best you be picking up your gear. I'm feelin a might lacking in that department my own self.”

“I think I can fix that...”

XXXXXXXXXX

Jayne, Mal and Robert, Kaylee's brother spent the next few days plotting over Simon's bachelor party. It seemed that a couple of young ladies two towns over advertised their services as exotic dancers. Jayne and Mal thought that it would be hilarious to get Simon drunk and then present him with a pair of strippers. The uptight doctor might actually bust something, Jayne thought.

Allan stayed out of the planning as much as he could. Knowing that he faced a similar situation when it came time for his bachelor party. He knew Kaylee would be fine with strippers at Simon's party. Allan also knew that Zoë most likely would not be happy with him in the same situation.

Johnathan Frye had given permission to use the barn for Simon's party. The girls were going out to a bar in town for Kaylee's party.

At around six that night, Simon was walking to the Frye house from Serenity when River intercepted him.

“Ready for your party ge-ge?”

“As ready as I can be for drinking booze in a barn with Jayne, Mal and Kaylee's father and brothers.”

“Just remember... No touching.” River admonished before skipping away to change for Kaylee's party.

“No... what? River!” Simon called out.

Allan had decided to skip the festivities along with Gabriel. Reagan and Beth were ostensibly the chaperons for the girls party in town.

Reggie and Oso joined the two older men on the Frye's back porch.

“Beer gentleman?” Gabriel asked.

“We're on duty tonight, Mr. Tam,” Oso replied.

“Up for a game of shoe's then?” Allan asked.

“That works,” Reggie said smiling.

XXXXXXXXXX

“Why Beth, I don't see you in here much,” The barkeep said to Elizabeth Frye as she led the procession into the bar.

“Special occasion Stan,” She replied, “My youngest's Bachelorette party.”

“Lil Kaylee's getting hitched?”

Kaylee stepped around her mother, “That I am Stan,” She smiled.

Well girl, first drink is on the house for the whole group,” Stan said as he saw the group of women filter in, “You can grab them three back tables and I'll be over in a second for your orders.”

“Thanks Stan,” Beth replied.

The women gathered around the table. Zoë and River taking seats where they could watch the doors. Soon the barkeep came over for the drink orders.

“What will you ladies have?”

“Virgin Strawberry daiquiri fer me Stan,” Kaylee said.

“Virgin? Don't tell me...”

“Kaylee's got my first grandbaby on the way,” Beth cut in.

“Well congratulations. What about the rest of you ladies?”

“I'll have the same as Kaylee,” Inara said.

“Just bring some glasses and a bottle of your best whiskey and a pitcher of beer for the rest o' us Stan,” Beth ordered.

“You got it.”

XXXXXXXXXX

Two hours later, The women who were drinking had a nice buzz on. The bar filled up with a group of the locals and a few spacers in town while their ships were in port.

The women were trading stories and laughing. Mostly at Simon's ineptitude with women. The funniest story was the episode with dead Bessie on the skyplex.

A couple of spacers, well into their cups noticed the group of women and decided that it was their lucky night.

“So 'Lisha... Reggie get lucky the other night?” Kaylee giggled.

“I don't kiss and tell,” Alisha replied.

“So there was kissin?” Zoë snickered. Well into her third drink.

“Maybe...”

“Evening ladies,” the first spacer said to the group.

“Go away,” River snarled.

“Now that ain't rightly hospitable,” The second said.

“Too bad... Get used to it,” River replied. The man put his hand on River's shoulder.

“I wouldn't be doin that iffin I were you,” Kaylee warned.

“What's a little thing like this gonna do about it...”

“This,” River said.

“Before the two men knew what hit them, they were both on the floor. River standing over them, a grin on her face.

Across the bar, the mens four shipmates stood up.

“Uh,oh,” Kaylee whispered.

“We got it,” Zoë said as she rose to stand beside River.

Reagan looked frightened, Inara reassured her, “I wouldn't get worried until it was at least five to one.”

“Why don't you gentlemen head back to your table,” Zoë warned the men approaching.

“Shut up whore,” the leader growled.

“What did you call me?” Zoë snarled.

“Whor...” The man's words were bitten off by Zoë's fist.

Then it was on. Zoë and River worked in tandem. Zoë's power accented by River's speed and grace. In seconds it was all over and four men lay on the floor next to their comrades.

As the dust settled, the two women were met with a round of applause from every woman in the bar and most of the men. Those men not clapping looked to be trying to hide.

A few minutes later, the sheriff arrived to haul the six drunks away, leaving the women free to continue the bachelorette party.

A little after midnight the girls made it back to the Frye house. Beth and Reagan were quite inebriated while Zoë, Alisha and River had a buzz. Kaylee and Inara escorted the two older women into the house with Gabriel following, a smile on his face after seeing the state his wife was in.

Allan sat on the back porch waiting for the girls to return.

“How was the party?” Allan asked Kaylee.

“It was fine... specially after River and Zoë beat up on them fellers that hit on River.”

“Again?”

“I am always underestimated Allan,” River said as she stepped onto the porch, swaying a bit.

“Did they underestimate Zoë?”

“Nah, they just called me a whore,” Zoë snickered.

“Ouch.”

“That's what they said.”

“Come on Zoë... lets get you to bed.”

“Sounds like a plan baby.”

Allan entered the common area on Serenity to get some smoothers to alleviate Zoë's pending hangover. Upon seeing Simon out cold on the sofa, a g-string around his neck, which hopefully belonged to one of the strippers made him laugh out loud. Even funnier was Jayne passed out on the floor with a lacy bra on his head.

Still shaking his head, Allan climbed the stairs heading for his and Zoë's bunk.

XXXXXXXXXX

The crew of Serenity spent the morning getting the Frye's barn ready for the reception. Kaylee and Simon wanted a sunset wedding so there was ample time for the final preparations. Simon spent several hours in the head regretting all the alcohol he drank the night before. As usual, Jayne woke up without a hangover and looking for breakfast.

Despite her hangover, Alisha began cooking as soon as the sun was up, assisted by Reagan and Beth Frye. About three in the afternoon, Allan got the coals going for the grills. It seemed barbecue chicken was a theme meal for the Serenity weddings.

As the sun began to settle towards the horizon, Wedding guests began to arrive. Soon all the chairs were full and many more people stood in the back of the yard. The Frye's were a well known family on this part of Kelly and everyone turned out to congratulate the new couple.

Soon all was at the ready. The music started and the wedding procession began. Allan stood off to the side with a capture unit. Recording everything for posterity.

First down the aisle came Kaylee's cousin's, five year old daughter. She was spreading flower petals. Behind her came Inara on the arm of Kaylee's brother Robert. Next came Sara Frye and Kaylee's oldest brother Jack.

Next in Line was River, escorted by Mal. The captain taking his place next to Simon at the front of the assembly.

The music changed and Kaylee appeared on the back porch, A beaming Johnathan on her arm. Simon's eyes nearly popped out of his head at the sight of Kaylee. Dressed in an antique strapless gown. Intricate bead work adorned the bodice. A long flowing train behind. A sheer veil covered her face.

A huge smile on her face, Kaylee walked down the aisle on her father's arm. Upon reaching Simon she giggled at the look on his face.

Clearing his throat, the Shepherd began, “Dearly beloved...”

As soon as the I do's were said, the newlywed couple kissed and then made their way to the barn for the reception.

The party lasted long into the night. When Kaylee tossed her bouquet, Alisha caught it much to the delight of Zoë and the chagrin of Reggie. Particularly since he also caught Kaylee's garter.

There was a rather nice hotel in town and Allan sprang for a suite for Simon and Kaylee's wedding night. Just after midnight, the new couple were driven to the hotel by Oso in Serenity's hover truck. I was a night to remember on Kelly.

Just after the Kaylee and Simon left, Zoë found Allan sitting outside, looking at the stars.

“Copper for em',” Zoë said.

“They're different.”

“What is?”

“The constellations. On Earth, I could tell which direction was north just by looking at the sky. Out here I'm a bit lost.”

Zoë sat next to Allan, “You ain't lost... You got all of us.”

Allan smiled at her, “I do, don't I.”

“What's wrong baby?”

“Just thinking on the future a bit.”

“Like what?”

“Us... We need to set a date Zoë.”

“You're right... we do.”

“Big or small?”

“The weddin?”

“Yeah.”

“Small works for me,” Zoë said thoughtfully.

Me too... I have an idea. Lets have Mal marry us on Serenity.”

“What?”

“Can't captains marry folks?”

“Yes, they can. But why Mal?”

“I'm not really religious... and Serenity is my home. And all of you are my family. I don't need anything beyond that.”

“Got a point.”

“We can do it once we're back in space, We need to head back to the core anyway to get Gabe and Reagan back to Osiris. We can do it on the way.”

“Inara did mention she wanted her and Mal to get hitched at the training house on Shinon.”

“Good spot I guess.”

Allan kissed Zoë. Breaking the kiss, he grinned, “We'll lay in all the party supplies here on Kelly and then head for Osiris, figure it's a two week trip. We can do it about a week out.”

“Works for me baby. We'll tell everyone in the morning.”

“We will. Now I think it's bed time. These old bones are getting sore sitting on the grass.”

TBC