Blue Blood – Chapter One

I own no rights to Firefly, and write only for my own pleasure.

--------------------

“Do I have to?”

“Yes, and no more whining!”

Jayne sighed as he gave in, and started dressing. River was behind a dressing screen, but he knew she’d know if he didn’t start getting ready.

“I don’t see why I have to go!” Jayne sulked, and River’s head popped out from behind the screen

“Because you love me,” she smiled sweetly.

“That ain’t fair,” Jayne groaned, attaching the suspenders to his suit pants. “You always use that to make me do things I don’t want to do!”

“Poor baby,” she teased, ducking back behind the screen. “You know how important this is to Mal. It isn’t often, these days, that he asks much of us. One simple dinner, with good manners and nice clothes, will not kill you, Sean.”

“Besides,” she continued, walking out from the screen, “it’s a chance for us to dance, and I thought I’d wear this.” Jayne looked up at her, and his mouth dropped open.

River was wearing the same green dress she’d worn the first night they’d gone out. She hadn’t worn it since. He was pleased to note that the dress still fit just right in all the right places.

“I was worried it wouldn’t still fit,” she was saying as his brain started working again, eyeing herself critically in the full length mirror.

Since they had yet to find another house, everyone was still living aboard ship. Ships, rather. Jayne and River now shared a cabin on the Companion, the newest ship in the Reynolds line.

“Wouldn’t fit?” Jayne asked. “Why wouldn’t it fit?” River shot him an appreciative glance.

“You always know just what to say,” she told him, walking over to where he stood and planting a kiss on his still open mouth. She drew back, finally, frowning.

“I’ve gained weight,” she pouted, and he laughed.

“So?”

“No woman likes to gain weight, Jayne,” she told him, eyes rolling. He grabbed her and drew her into his arms.

“I don’t care ‘bout your weight,” he growled softly in her ear, and she shivered. “You’re t