Disclaimer: All the people and places contained in this story are owned by Mutant Enemy and The Joss-inator.

*Song parodied: Across the Universe*

"Tears like diamonds sparkle on an otherworldy perfect face...

Drifting down like morning rain, shine away...

Take away the pain...

Forget tomorrow, live today, there really is no other way,

To keep things all shi-ny...

Wo de tien ah, xie-xie...

Nothin's gonna change my stars...

Nothin's gonna change my stars...

Nothin's gonna change my stars...

Nothin's gonna change my stars...

Wo xiang mei er, mei xin, bian shitou...

Then I will not hear them...

Take away the pain...

I will close my ears and heart and I will be-come a stone...

Someday, kindly I will find, they...

Take away the pain...

Wo de tien ah, xie-xie...

Nothin's gonna change my stars...

Nothin's gonna change my stars...

Nothin's gonna change my stars...

Nothin's gonna change my stars...

Quietly lovers dance, out here deep in-to the black...

Whispering sweet no-things...

Sadness cannot pervade that which we here have made...

Our joy goes on and on...

Takes away the pain...

Wo de tien ah, xie-xie...

Nothin's gonna change my stars...

Nothin's gonna change my stars...

Nothin's gonna change my stars...

Nothin's gonna change my stars...

Wo de tien ah, Wo de tien ah,

Wo de tien ah, Wo de tien ah,

Wo de tien ah, Wo de tien ah,

Wo de tien ah, Wo de tien ah..."

River finished her song, the song Simon had used to sing to her when she couldn't sleep.

Looking down through the railing of the catwalk to the cargo bay where she was sitting, dangling her legs, she noticed that the entire crew had gathered there. They had listened to her sing her song.

Kaylee was crying, and Inara was sniffling. Wash was holding tight to Zoe, and Book had his hand resting on Mal's shoulder. Simon stood next to Kaylee, looking up at River, while Jayne stood some ways away from the group.

"That was right perty, River." Kaylee said, whiping her eyes and looking up at her. "Never heard a son