Jayne grunted as felt movement, and the warm soft thing beside him suddenly was gone. Groggily, he opened his eyes and tried to make sense out of the scene before him. River was heading towards the stairs.

“Where ya goin, baby girl?” he asked and River smiled. He didn’t even realize what he had called her.

“Shh, sleep now,” she said softly. “Gotta get back to my bunk before Simon wakes. Wouldn’t want the annoying big brother to know I was with the big ape man.” Jayne grunted.

“Eh, no name callin!” he said, unhappy with how cold his bunk was now. River smiled again, then climbed the ladder as gracefully as if she were dancing on the ground. He heard the hatch open, then close again, then an uncomfortable silence. He rolled over in the bed, tryin to get warm again. Didn’t realize how warm the gorram moonbrain was. Didn’t know why he had took her to his bunk in the first place. Girl had no right to ask him to stay with her. He ain’t no gorram babysitter. Couldn’t watch out fer the crazy psychic alliance-weapon girl...ain’t like it was his job. He rolled back over and instantly inhaled her scent. Curious, he sniffed the pillow and was surprised that it wasn’t the smell of some sorta perfume. It smelled like…her…her body. He frowned. Ain’t never lain with a girl who didn’t have on loads of smell-goods. Didn’t know girl’s had their own smells. Hell, he ain’t never lain with a girl and not sexin her neither. He inhaled once more, pleased by the scent. It seemed familiar, like a place he knew. Smelled…like metal…cept it t’weren’t…smelled like a gun and flowers and metal and hair all rolled into one. His eyes widened when he finally realized...the girl smelled like Serenity.

~~~~~~~~~~

Captain Malcolm Reynolds stepped onto the bridge of his ship and stood gazing in awe for a moment at the sight in front of him. Inara, wearing one of her fancy dresses, was sittin in the pilot’s seat flippin the necessary buttons that made Serenity obey. She turned and stood up when he entered.

“T