A/N: As promised, here is the conclusion to part 2 that sets up the third and final installment - A NEW DAY.

A NEW DAY will focus heavily on River and Jayne while also staying very close to Simon, Kaylee, Daniel, Rylee and the new babies, as well as Mal, Inara and Mimi. It also holds the return of two familiar characters from an earlier installment and the very real threat that things will irrevocably change for our BDHs.

Thanks to all who have stuck with this story and I hope you will follow me on to the third part - A NEW DAY. Thanks also to Leiasky for way too many things to list here.

Enjoy and continue to read and respond - please!

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A NEW BEGINNING, ch. 28: Knowledge is Power

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River awoke a few nights later while it was pitch black outside, the new moon invisible overhead. The room was dark, but like a beacon, she could feel Cadie’s pain and confusion radiating out to her. Lifting her head from Jayne’s chest, River glanced towards the bed and watched as the girl thrashed about, obviously in the grip of a horrific nightmare. Getting up, she crawled towards the bed, and placed her hand against her cheek lightly.

“Cadie, baby, wake up,” River whispered to her, running her fingers through her hair lightly.

In an instant, Cadie’s eyes snapped open and she met River’s concerned gaze with a fearful one of her own. Breathing heavily, she blinked a few times to clear the tears that had formed and murmured, “Mama, it was bad.”

Smiling slightly at her, River continued to run her fingers through her hair soothingly as she said, “I know.” Laying her head down on the bed, River and Cadie stared at each other for a few minutes, neither of them saying anything and neither of them really having to. Their ability to communicate with one another had long ago transcended speech and truthfully, they only used words now in order to not unnerve Jayne.

With a sigh, River continued to stare at the beautiful little girl as her eyes again drifted closed. “I