(Written Fall 2003 as gift-fic for two special people. Set a year or so after "Lessons.")

Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction. No infringement is intended on the rights of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, or 20th Century Fox TV.

No archiving, please. Feedback welcome.

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"There Is a Season"

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You remember Christmas.

It used to seem so long between the ones you can remember, always so far away, like birthdays. This year it's not so bad. You turned seven and Cap'n decided you were big enough to go out on some jobs. You helped him scam a slave trader. If you go shopping for supplies with 'Nara or Kaylee in clothes you've outgrown, they get better bargains. When you help clean the infirmary Doc teaches you about triage, and Grampa's showing you how to cook.

You're helping out more than ever and what would they all do without you?

Momma takes you aside like every year and asks what's the one thing you'd like for a present more than anything. Daddy does the same and you're supposed to give him a different answer. That way you always get at least two gifts, 'cause they'd never let you go without even if times are tough. Maybe not always exactly what you asked for, but always something special.

(When you were five you wished for a brother or a sister or even a cousin. That was the only time you gave Momma and Daddy the same answer. They both frowned, in different ways. Momma talked about complications. Daddy talked about choices. They each warned you not to go pestering Kaylee or 'Nara about the cousin thing. You learned not to make such a request again.)

When times are good you get presents from everybody and those are the best Christmases, even though Grampa says that's a little greedy. But he smiles when he says it, because in the good times everyone gets lots of presents and it's so much fun to watch the unwrapping and see all the surprises. You and River save all the pretty paper to fold into flowers and cranes and shapes without nam