BLUE SUN ROOM FAN FICTION - GENERAL

BYTEMITE

The Gift
Monday, December 17, 2012

They don't have much. But they have each other. (Just a little holiday story from the Firefly verse. Belongs to Joss)


CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 3643    RATING: 10    SERIES: FIREFLY

The dreams of Serenity often lingered into the morning. Sometimes they snarled from the corners, sometimes they glittered like snowflakes. River followed the orchestra and looked out from a grand and gleaming balcony.

She saw all of them celebrating together. The ghosts of the past, the present, and the future mingling with the day's fancies. Her brother and Kaylee, dressed like they were attending the finest winter ball on Osiris. Wash spinning his laughing daughter in the air, little ballet shoes danging under his arms. Zoe looked on nearby with a tenderness she shared only with them. The Shepherd clapped along, and even the captain danced a turn. He clasped hands with Inara, a dulled metal band on his finger, sunlight shining from a stone on hers.

They're the most fortunate souls in the verse, and the most ill-fated. She knew it well - too much. River's luck was the cruelest of them all. She has been freed from the first and only disappointment she'd ever experience in her life, with only a scrambled mindful of fear and noise for her trouble.

"Too dangerous," she announced.

She knew why Simon was seeking her, the sorrow in his eyes because he would have to tell her that they couldn't go to the Sabacc Theatre House on Paquin. Too much heat, hounded from the same spree that paid for the tickets. Instead they'd spend the night here, with family. She explained to him, in her own way, and her brother felt so inadequate and ashamed, wincing in his eyes even as he smiled at her understanding. "Yes River. I'm sorry, we can't go."

Hers was genuine. "It's okay, Simon," she said. "The ballet is better from here. Best seats in the house." She didn't mind, because Simon was so smart. He already had an idea, hurried back up the stairs and enlisted help to give his sister the performance he'd promised. Scenes from the Nutcracker, with cortex music tinny over the intercom, and none of them knew the steps. They never did. But they'd play their parts. Even Jayne would mock and disrupt and play the Mouse King.

Every gift was hard-earned and bittersweet. Painful. Forever grateful. They hurt, and were made whole. This was the last time she'd see them all together, and for one night, River wanted to keep dreaming. And that was everything to her.

COMMENTS

Monday, December 17, 2012 12:23 PM

EBFIDDLER


Love the little family scene with Wash swinging his daughter, Zoe with the tender look reserved just for them -- absolutely delightful. Simon's improvised entertainment is right on the mark. "None of them knew the steps. They never did." -- lol, 'cause that's Serenity, isn't it? Also, Jayne as the Mouse King. And may I be permitted to squee over Mal's metal band and Inara's shiny rock?

Monday, December 17, 2012 12:30 PM

BYTEMITE


Kinda nice to be able to put Wash and his daughter in a scene together. Only through River.

Jayne is bad and eats the gingerbread men. Even in River's dream she can't make him fit into the pretty.

>And may I be permitted to squee over Mal's metal band and Inara's shiny rock?

Heh. That vision must be from the VERY distant future...

Tuesday, December 18, 2012 4:49 PM

PLATONIST


As Sugarplum Fairies danced in her head… gods, I love River.

Is she dreaming or foreseeing, or is it left up to the reader?

Tuesday, December 18, 2012 4:55 PM

BYTEMITE


Up to you. I kinda think both. Maybe there's an AU verse where Wash will live to see his daughter, or Joss will come up with a way to bring Wash back. and a future where Mal and Inara are married. :)


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