Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. (Except for Allan and the kids. they're mine) I’m just playing. No money being made.

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This story takes place nine years after Serenity (BDM) and has the established couples of Simon/Kaylee, Mal/Inara, Zoë/Allan and Jayne/River. Takes place five years post “The Bash”

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A/N: New story arc. Set five years after “The Bash”

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Thanks again to Woonsocket and Chris for the Beta work

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Relics

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Chapter Five

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“Simon, I'm fine!” River said in an exasperated tone.

“Mei-mei, I know, but I want to ensure that there will be no problems with your pregnancy...” the young doctor trailed off as his sister hit him with a withering glare.

“Simon...”

“Okay, okay. I'll back off. A little, anyway. But I want you to take these vitamin supplements. And I want to examine you every few weeks.”

“Fine,” River groused as she took a bottle of pills from her brother.

“I'm guessing you have a very good idea as to when you conceived,” Simon asked.

“Thirty-nine days, seven hours, twenty-two minutes, fifteen...”

“Close enough, Mei-mei,” Simon said with a chuckle, “I don't even know why I bother keeping pregnancy tests around here. I should just ask you.”

River grinned at her brother, “I did know about Sara, Jack, and Emma.”

“Why didn't you know about Jeff and Becca?”

“Who said I didn't?” River giggled before dancing out of the infirmary.

“Brat!” Simon called after her.

“What did your sister do now?” Allan asked as he approached the infirmary.

“Just being her normal, bratty self. It's amazing how much she has changed. When I first found out what they had done to her, I despaired ever being able to really make her whole again. I hate to say it, but over these last nine years, River has finally become the young woman she was supposed to be... and a royal pain in the ass.”

Allan smiled knowingly, “Uh, Simon? You have any burn cream?”

Simon switched gears back to doctor mode from big brother mode in an instant, “What's wrong?”