Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. I’m just playing. No money being made.

This story is set fifteen years into the future from the story I have written called “Big Blue”

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AN: This is it folks. Getting to the end here. The next chapter will close out this particular arc

It's mostly family fluff but after the last few chapters, it was needed. I also plan more “Allanverse” stories. Some will “'fill in the gaps” between Big Blue and Heritage and perhaps later on, some will explore things down the road in the Bryant families future.

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Thanks to my Beta, Chris

Cast of characters:

Parents: Malcolm Reynolds 52 Inara Serra-Reynolds 45 Allan Bryant 68 Zoë Bryant 48 Simon Tam 44 Kaylee Tam 41 Jayne Cobb 52 River Cobb 36 Kids: Jefferson (Jeff) Reynolds 16 Emma Reynolds 11 Sara Bryant 15 Rebecca Tam 16 John (Jack) Tam 11 Rachel Cobb 9 Jesse Cobb 6

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Heritage-Chapter Twenty Four

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“Daddy! You're home!”

Allan awoke with a start. He hadn't intended to doze off. He tried to move and found that he couldn't. Something about the beautiful chocolate skinned Amazon wrapped around him with a sexy smile on her face, might have something to do with that.

A goofy grin spread across Allan's face as Sara wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Hey Princess.”

“What am I? Chopped liver?” Zoë teased.

The kiss Allan gave his wife quelled any further protests on Zoë's part.

Sara rolled her eyes and vaulted over the back of the sofa, plopping herself next to her father.

“Ahem,” Sara said, “You two need to get a room.”

Allan chuckled, breaking the kiss just for a moment, “Got a room already,” he replied, still staring into Zoë's eyes.

“I don't know what's worse. Watching you two make out or knowing that if me and Jeff were apart for over three months, we'd be doing the same thing...”

That got Allan's attention.

Pulling reluctantly away from Zoë's lips, Allan looked over his shoulder at his daughter.

Sara just smiled at her father, “Got ya!”

Allan reached over and tousled Sara's lengthening hair, “Missed you Kiddo even if you are a brat.”

“Missed you too Daddy,” Sara smiled. Turning serious she looked her father up and down.

“No holes?”

“No holes,” Allan assured her.

“Uncle Jayne?”

“Same.”

“The men who took me and Bridgett?”

Allan looked his daughter in the eye, “Dead.”

“Good.”

Allan glanced at Zoë and saw the look on her face. She nodded. Knowing Sara was strong enough to know the truth.

“If you want to know what happened...” Allan trailed off.

“Maybe later Daddy,” Sara replied, “This is a happy time. You're home.”

“That I am, and I feel the need to make breakfast for my girls. Particularly since a certain teenager has to go to school.”

“Not today,” Sara replied.

“And why is that, little girl?” Zoë asked.

“Snow day... no school. I checked the cortex before I came down,” Sara grinned.

Allan smiled and took Zoë and Sara's hands in his, “Come on It's time to be a family again," Leaping to his feet, Allan dragged his wife and daughter towards the kitchen.

He came to a sudden halt as his eyes alighted on the room.

“What the hell have you two done to my kitchen?”

Zoë and Sara giggled. There were two rooms in the house that were Allan's domain. His study and the kitchen.

“Merry Christmas Baby,” Zoë purred next to him.

“It's... It's...

“All new,” Zoë finished. While Allan had been away, she had the kitchen completely remodeled.

Sara giggled at the expression on her fathers face, “The new range kicks pi-gu,” she stated.

Allan pulled his family into a hug, “Thank you.”

“It's even got an automatic fire suppression system for when Mom cooks... Ow!” Sara finished, rubbing the back of her head where her mother had lightly cuffed her.

Allan laughed until tears ran down his face. God, it was good to be home.

XXXXXXXXXX

After a hearty family breakfast that seemed to erase the last six months stress, Allan donned his coat and boots and stepped outside onto the porch.

In the morning light, Serenity Acres had seemingly come to life. Across the compound, Allan could see Jeff shoveling snow from the walk in front of he and his parent's home.

Likewise, the entire Tam family was doing the same, however the snowball fight between Simon and Kaylee slowed things down a bit. The sound of an engine signified that Mal was using the old tractor Inara had bought for him a few years back to plow the snow.

There was no sign of life from the Cobb homestead as of yet. Allan knew that wouldn't last as soon as the Rachel and Jessie saw the snow.

Likewise, Oso and Fred had not emerged from the guest house yet. Allan realized that probably the Reynolds and Tam's didn't know that he and Jayne had returned.

Allan heard the door close behind him and turned to see Sara step outside wearing her jacket and a gaudy pink and orange knit winter hat. It looked suspiciously like the one Jayne wore.

“Where did you get that hat?” Allan asked.

“Nana Vera sent it,” Sara replied.

Allan chuckled. Well into her eighties, Vera Cobb was still knitting gifts for her children as well as the rest of the Serenity crew and families. A moment later, Zoë stepped outside as well, dressed in her uniform. Despite the weather, she still had to go to work.

Allan pulled her close and gave Zoë a long kiss, “Off to work I see,” He said as they parted.

Zoë nodded and sighed, “Crime never sleeps. Lucy just called. Seems someone used the cover of the storm to break in and do a little after hours Christmas shopping at the Mall last night. Hit the electronics store pretty hard.”

“Okay Baby. Go catch the bad guys and be safe.”

“Bye Momma,” Sara called as Zoë headed down the steps towards the big garage near the landing pad where they all kept their ground vehicles.

“Care to help me clear the walks?” Allan asked Sara.

“I suppose...” Sara replied. Punctuated by a giggle.

After about twenty minutes of shoveling, Allan was suddenly hit by a well placed snowball.

“Hey!” he yelled turning around.

“Allan!” Kaylee squealed while nearly tackling Allan with her hug.

“Hey Mei-mei,” Allan smiled, returning the hug.

“Welcome home Allan,” Simon said as he shook the older man's hand.

“Thanks Simon,” Allan replied, “It's good to be home... Ow! Kaylee... what was that for?” Allan finished as he rubbed the spot where Kaylee had smacked his arm.

“That was fer not tellin us you were home,” Kaylee replied indignantly. The smile in her eyes robbed the retort of it's sting.

“I wanted to spend some time with Sara and Zoë before I made the rounds this morning.”

“Well I can't fault ya' fer that,” Kaylee replied with a grin.

“Uncle Allan!” Becca yelled as she ran up, almost knocking Allan off his feet. Like mother, like daughter he thought.

“Hey shorty,” Allan grinned.

“Where's Jayne?” Simon asked.

“Reuniting with River I'd imagine,” Allan chuckled.

“Daddy?” Sara asked.

“Yeah Princess?”

“Where's my ship?” she asked, looking to where Serenity stood in the snow, just visible over the trees.

“At the port. Weather was too bad to try to get in here last night.”

“Just as long as you didn't ding my boat.”

“Ain't yours yet little girl,” Allan teased.

“Got my name on it,” Sara stated.

“She's got a point Allan,” Simon chuckled.

“Fine, I know when I'm outnumbered.

XXXXXXXXXX

Allan stepped into the barn, his nostrils hit by the heady smells. Hay, manure and what Mal called eau-de-horse. It smelled like home. Raised on a farm, The smells didn't bother him in the least.

Mal stepped out of the tack room and spied Allan where he was patting the nose of Lightning. The mare that Allan usually rode when the mood struck him to actually ride.

“I think she missed you,” Mal said as he approached his friend.

“I think you're right,” he replied as the horse nuzzled Allan's hand.

Mal looked the older man in the eye, “You get em'?”

“We did.”

“Make em' pay?”

“Audra beat the crap out of them then tied them to the seats in their ship. I had Heracles lift it about twenty miles up and cut the cables.”

Mal's eyes hardened a bit. Remembering how the Wings had nearly killed Sara and Bridgett.

“Seems fittin.”

“I thought so.”

“Sara know?”

I didn't tell her the details yet. I will when she asks though.”

“For the best I think.”

“Yup... so, care to fill me in on what's been happening between your son and my daughter?”

“Got about an hour?” Mal chuckled.

XXXXXXXXXX

As Allan strolled back towards his house he came across something that made him do a double take.

The sight of his six foot eight, three hundred plus pound chief of security building a snowman, while being supervised by his nine year old niece made Allan chuckle. As Oso lifted the final huge snowball into place he looked over at Rachel for her approval.

“That the right spot?”

“Perfect Uncle Oso,” The girl beamed.

Little Jesse Cobb was content to just dig a hole in the snow.

Shaking his head, Allan walked past, shooting Oso a warm smile. The big man would make a great dad. He was getting plenty of practice with Jayne and River's kids.

“Allan, want some coco?” Kaylee called from her front door.

“Sure Kaylee,” he replied. Stepping onto the porch, Allan knocked the snow from his boots.

Inside the Tam's warm house Allan was handed a cup of steaming hot coco by Inara, “Welcome home Allan,” the former companion said, kissing Allan on the cheek.

“Thanks 'Nara,” Allan replied.

“Hey Boss,” Fred said from her seat at the table.

“You're on vacation Fred. I'm not your boss for the moment.”

“Got a point there Allan,” Fred replied.

“You tell the girls the news yet?”

“What news?” Kaylee asked.

“Going to be an aunt again,” River said quietly, grinning into her hot chocolate.

“Huh?” Kaylee and Inara said in unison.

“I'm pregnant,” Fred said smiling.

Kaylee squealed and wrapped Fred in a hug. She then shot Allan a venomous stare.

“You let Fred go on a combat mission in her condition?”

Allan gulped, he looked to Fred for some backup as he withered under the glares coming from both Kaylee and Inara.

“Conception occurred enroute. Unknown until return.” River said.

Fred glanced at her sister-in-law and chuckled, “What River said.”

“Well, in that case...” Kaylee trailed off.

At that moment, the front door opened and the kids trooped in. Becca carrying Jesse, while Sara had Rachel on her shoulders. Jeff had his little sister Emma on his back while Jack, ever the proper young man walked in on his own. All the childrens cheeks were flushed from the cold.

As the older kids deposited their charges back on the floor, Kaylee admonished them all to not make a mess.

Sara bounced over and planted a kiss on her fathers cheek before sitting on the sofa, very close to Jeff and holding hands. Allan shot the young man a glare which caused Jeff to gulp before Allan shook his head an grinned. Jeff visibly relaxed while Sara scowled at her father.

“Don't look at me in that tone of voice young lady,” Allan grinned.

After about an hour, everyone began drifting back to their own homes. Allan retrieved the hover truck from the garage. Grabbing Sara along with Oso and Fred.

“Where are we going?” Oso asked.

“You guys need some time alone. I figured you could use a dinner out tonight so I'm letting you use the truck.”

“Thanks, Allan. But why are you and Sara going?”

“Need you to drop us off at the port. I need my co-pilot so I can get Sara Jane back to the Acres.”

Beside Allan in the passenger seat, Sara grinned. Her father had called her his co-pilot.

XXXXXXXXXX

The sun was breaking through the clouds as the quartet arrived in town. The City of New Edmonton looked a bit like a post card with all the snow. Allan nodded to the security guard in the shack guarding the entrance to the port. Trudging through the melting slush, Allan and Sara made their way past the other ships to where Sara Jane sat covered in snow.

Allan grabbed a port ground crewman and requested that the ship be refueled and deiced.

“Come on Sara, We need to go into the port office.”

“Why is that?”

“You're going to file your flight plan.”

“Flight plan? We're only going to the house.”

“No, we're flying to Capital City first. Got a few pickups to be made.”

“Shopping?” Sara asked hopefully.

“Some,” Allan conceded.

XXXXXXXXXX

Sara carefully landed her namesake at the crowded docks in Capital City.

“Great job Princess,” Allan smiled at his daughter as she went through the shutdown sequence. Sara had flown the entire fifteen hundred mile trip from New Edmonton.

“Thanks Daddy,” she beamed.

“Come on, it's lunch time here and I'm hungry.”

After a casual lunch at a diner near the docks, father and daughter strolled along the storefronts, window shopping. They stopped at a few stores, just spending time together. Allan bought a few small Christmas gifts for Zoë and their friends while Sara found what she thought was the perfect present for Jeff.

Allan glanced at his watch, “Ready to head back?”

“I guess so,” Sara replied.

“We still need to make dinner tonight you know.”

“Okay.”

Arm in arm, they strolled back to the port. Passing an alley, they heard a voice call out.

“Little young for you ain't she?”

“Excuse me?” Allan replied.

“Uhh, Daddy?” Sara said quietly as four men emerged from the alley blocking their path.

“Old man looks like some kinda child molester with that filly on his arm,” the leader guffawed. His companions laughed as well

“She's my daughter,” Allan said darkly, “Best you gentlemen go on your merry.”

“Not likely, old man.”

Allan glanced at Sara, he didn't see fear, only annoyance.

“Now hand over all your money and maybe we won't take the rest out in trade from yer' daught...” The man's voice cut off as Sara's booted right foot struck the man in his temple. He dropped as if he'd been boned.

Before the other three men could do so much as move, they were staring down the barrels of two pistols. One held by a very pissed off CEO and the other by an equally angry teenage girl.

“Best you collect your friend and skedaddle. Before my daughter takes offense to your implied assault on her virtue.”

“Huh?” one of the men said, staring cross eyed down the barrel of Sara's pistol.

“He meant Git!” Sara growled.

Collecting their comrade, they got.

As soon as the men were out of sight, Allan pulled Sara into a hug, “You okay princess?”

“I'm fine, Daddy. No one is ever taking me again,” Sara replied, breaking the hug and smiling at her father.

“That's my girl,” Allan replied. He felt himself relax. Sara could take care of herself and she had just proved it. “Aunt River teach you that move?”

“Yup,” Sara grinned, “And the gun was a present from Uncle Mal.”

“I didn't even know you were carrying it,” Allan admitted.

“I'm sneaky that way.”

“Come on Daughter o' mine. Let's head back to where the crooks are too scared of your Mother and Uncle Jayne to show their faces in the daylight.”

“Good idea Daddy.”

XXXXXXXXXX

Entering the port area, Allan spotted the real reason for the trip to Capital City waiting in font of Sara Jane. He spotted the familiar dark skinned face and shock of red hair a few hundred feet away.

Being shorter, Sara didn't see the people waiting for them until they had nearly reached the ship.

When Sara's eyes alighted on them, She cried out and ran.

“Aun 'Lisha! Unc' Reggie!”

“Oh Sara!” Alisha cried as she pulled her niece into a fierce hug, tears streaming down her face. She hadn't seen Sara since two nights before the teens kidnapping. Almost six months previous.

“Hey squirt,” Reggie smiled as he got a hug as well.

“Got someone we want you to meet,” Alisha smiled.

“Huh?” Sara said, suddenly noticing the blanket covered combination carrier and car seat in Reggie's hand.

Pulling the blankets aside, Sara's eyes fell upon her cousin for the first time.

“Oh my...”

“Meet Michael,” Alisha said quietly, trying not to wake her sleeping son.

“He's so adorable,” Sara whispered.

“Looks a lot like you did at that age,” Allan said smiling, “Come on and lets get inside out of the cold.”

Allan lowered the ramp and the family entered the ship. Sara couldn't take her eyes off little Michael.

“Looks like I'll be flying us back,” Allan commented.

“Not on your life Daddy. That is, as long as Aunt Alisha brings Michael to the bridge.”

“I think that can be arranged,” Reggie said grinning as he hit the ramp closure button.

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TBC