A/N: Here is the "Coda" to A NEW DAY, A NEW REASON. It is a five parter that chronicles the 16 months following Jayne's death. I really hope you like it!

Thanks to Leiasky for the beta, as always.

And thanks to all the readers who stuck by me during this "A NEW" saga and let me know what you were thinking. It's hugely gratifying as a writer to have others validate your work, whether good or bad!

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A NEW REASON, 1/5

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14 Months After Jayne’s Death – The Present

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River walked up and down the Frye’s porch murmuring sweet nothings and holding her daughter’s dark-haired form to her chest. She was almost to sleep and River knew, even though her own muscles and bones ached for rest, if she could just hold out a few minutes longer she’d be able to put Maddy down for the night and go to bed.

River watched in fascination as her daughter’s eyes fluttered shut, small lids covering the bright blue orbs that always looked to her with wonder and understanding. Smoothing her hand over the baby’s mound of dark curls, River sighed a bit, leaning her cheek against the soft hair and then slowly eased herself into a rocking chair, where she could look up at the stairs.

It wasn’t quite like being on Serenity, looking up at the night sky, but it was close. As River sat and rocked, she found her thoughts drifting, as they often did – thoughts were so difficult to pin down – and she was soon lost in memories, memories of her childhood, memories of her life on the run, but mostly memories of Jayne. With a newfound zest, she rocked a bit harder in the chair, cuddling her child just a bit tighter. Her child, Jayne’s child, just eight months old now, and already more of an amazement to River than anything she had ever seen or would see again.

And a miracle. River knew even the Shepherd’s symbol could not dispute that claim. Madeleine should not exist, it was a fact, but she did, against all odds, against all obstacles, and that made her all the more precious to Ri