Title: Mei-Mei

Rating: G and fluuuuuuuffy

Characters: Most of the crew, plus the Pirate Children and Alistair Caramia (the latter are mine, the rest are Joss's)

Pairings: Canon pairings. I will openly admit that I heavily, heavily favor Mal and Inara and the Reynolds Family. And I'm not going to even kid you that there's some S/K or Z/W in this one... There's just not enough time in my little two parter. The M/I's not even that heavy.

Summary: Yet another Pirate Children story.S et 8 years post-BDM, AU. Serenity's youngest baby girl is about to make her entrance into this 'verse. And this somehow became mostly from Ally's point-of-view...

Author's Note: Thanks for the great response! Look for more PC to come.

Part 2

Ally hides her yawn behind the back of her hand, encouraging the boy in her lap to continue to read aloud. She checks the watch on her wrist and wonders why this little one is still awake.

“One more page, Abe, and I’ll take over.

River pads silently into the room, dropping cross-legged onto the floor beside them in the common room off the dining area.

“How is she?” Ally asks while Abe reads on.

“The Mei-Mei will be here soon,” River says airily, plucking the data reader from Abe’s hand with a light smile and beginning to read where he left off.

They’re still a day out from the nearest planet, which means the baby will be born out here in the Black. But River seems very calm, and Ally has learned that her serenity is always a good sign.

River finishes the story as Ally starts to nod off, exhausted by a day of not only teaching the trouble-attracting trio, but also watching an increasingly agitated Abram Reynolds.

“Danel. Children’s literature from the exodus from Earth-That-Was,” River whispers, rising to her feet. “He’s asleep.”

Ally jolts awake, noticing the snoring boy in her arms. “Finally. Thank God.”

“I’ll get him,” River tells the younger woman, lifting Abe. “Sleep.”

Abe and River disappear down the hall towards Abe’s room. Ally stands, stretching out s