“You sure you’re warm enough?” Jayne asked, watching as River wrapped Caleb in his blanket and picked him up.

“I'm fine.”

“Only there’s this here coat I think maybe you should be putting on.” He held out something that looked like one of Kaylee’s hand-me-downs.

“I don’t need a coat.”

He looked her up and down, wearing one of her floaty dresses that wouldn’t keep out a breeze. “Then how about a sweater? I figure your bro has enough to spare one.”

“Only because I gave birth before you could unravel them all.”

“I can go grab one and you –“

“Jayne. I am warm enough. I’ve got my boots and underwear on. I don’t need anything else to wear.” She shook her head. “Stop worrying.” Who knew this husband of hers would turn out to be so anxious?

“Ya had Caleb a week ago. Just don’t want you catchin’ cold,” he explained, the tips of his ears pink.

“I won’t. The weather isn’t going to infect me.” She looked down at the little bundle in her arms. “Is it?” she said, the tip of her little finger touching her son’s lips.

“Guess.” Jayne watched, his blue eyes softer than they’d ever been. He’d watched that morning, too, when she’d fed their son. Couldn’t take those eyes off the sight of that slip of a girl who could rip his private parts off with one hand if she chose, just holding their son, letting him take his fill from her. Made his blood run south, too, just a bit, but he knew he couldn’t do a thing about it. Wouldn’t anyway, not to hurt her. He loved her with such a passion, and now to have something made out of the pair of them, something so small, needing him –

“We both need you,” River said softly.

“Ya know I feel the same, don’t you?” he asked, wrapping them both in his arms. “If’n anything ever happened to you, to either of you … I’d as like to –“

“Shh.” She touched his lips with the same finger that had touched Caleb’s. “You keep me safe. As sane as I will ever be.”

“That ain't saying much,” he joked, trying to make light of expressing his feelings, somethi