Despite the pillows, Jayne’s back ached from the hours of sitting leaned up against the head-board that cut off just below his shoulder blades. The soft pulse of Serenity’s engine throbbed through his veins like an external head-ache, but he didn’t want to move. Sky nestled against his thigh, one trembling arm thrown across his lap, eyes pressed shut, trapped in that place between numbness and sleep that came with her meds. The jokingly dubbed ‘Maternity Suite’ had long since lost its novelty, and was becoming more of a prison to them. River walked slow circles around the perimeter, talking to baby Emily as she nursed a bottle. Had River not proven herself trustworthy with Serenity’s other children, Jayne wouldn’t have let her close. As it stood, the baby was healthy and he had the rest of his life to hold her. He handed the baby off whenever possible, and held on to Sky, because it was her he was afraid of losing.

The prenatal surgery that had saved both Sky and Emily had resulted in post-birth complications. Sky couldn’t sit up to breast feed; she couldn’t sit up at all without serious meds. It irritated Jayne the way Simon kept kicking himself like it was his fault. Little Zoë took it hardest of all of them, because it was in rescuing her that Sky got injured. Jayne had teased her about it once – only once. It was the wrong thing to do.

Jayne’s fingers danced lazily through Sky’s blonde hair. Her fist clenched and she groaned softly, her toes pointing as she stretched. It was as peaceful as he’d seen her wake in forever. Sky smiled lightly as her blue eyes opened and she purred against Jayne’s thigh, sending shivers through his skin and making him squirm.

“What time is it?” Sky asked, clearing her throat, and not lifting her head. She was always cautious about moving. “Is she sleeping?”

“River’s got her,” Jayne said, stroking Sky’s face, but keeping his eye on River and the baby. “You wanna hold her?”

Sky turned her head just enough to see River and the baby, then drooped despondently onto Jayne