“Freya?” River called down the hatch.

“Come down, mei-mei .”

The girl stepped down the ladder, stopping at the bottom as she saw Freya feeding Ethan. “Oh, I didn’t mean to –”

“It’s okay,” Freya said. “He’s hungry. Again.”

“He’s happy.”

Freya smiled. “I know.” She eased her son at her breast a little. “I’m just kinda not used to being a continual source of food as yet.”

“Kaylee managed it.”

“Kaylee understands a great deal more than any of us might give her credit for.” She laughed. “Did you want something, or have you just come to visit?”

“Can I … would you mind if I …”

Freya was surprised. River was never lost for words. They might not make sense, but she never had problems finding them. “What is it, sweetheart?”

“Contraception.”

Freya tried not to laugh. “River, honey, do you think I’m the right person to be talking to this about? Considering I am currently breast-feeding my first born?”

“I need your help,” she said simply.

The older woman closed her mouth. “Right.” She patted the bed next to her. “I think you’d better sit down.”

River nodded and sat down, pulling her legs up under her.

“Is it Jayne?” Freya asked softly. “River, mei-mei , I know you care about Jayne. I know you care a lot about Jayne. And I know you do the things you do because you think it’s the only way to show him how you feel. “ River dropped her head, her hair hiding her eyes, picking up a pillow and hugging it to her. “It isn’t,” Freya went on. “The only way, that is. Talk to the man. If he doesn’t run screaming from the room then –”

“Not yet,” River interrupted.

“But it’s going to be?”

“Not yet.”

“I don’t understand, River.”

“I don’t want Jayne yet.”

Freya sighed. “Now, I know you can tell me exactly what that means. And I’d be obliged if you would.”

River smiled suddenly. “There’s someone else first.”

“Someone … on the ship?” Freya’s mind flew through the options. Mal – well, the girl had always had something of a crush