PART 10 – Starting to Heal

Genny smiled as she took Emily by the hand and led her down the hall, explaining the time-honored, super-secret gathering that only Serenity’s women were a part of. Jamie must have said something to Emily, else she’d be putting up a hissy fit about being far from her Papa, but Genny had found her by the snack machines alone, and took that as invitation. She wasn’t sure she was allowed to bring Emily into the meetings, but this was an emergency.

“Normally, I’d wait until you’re a woman to tell you these things, but we’re all going to our own worlds soon, and it’s important that I tell you in person,” Genny explained as they entered River’s and Zoë’s room. “We are the women of Serenity, and it’s vital that we stick together because sometimes men do stupid things and when they do, you need your girls to be there for you.”

Emily swelled with pride and belonging, but it clouded pretty quickly. “What if there’s nothing you can do to help?”

“It’s not about doing,” River said, standing by the window, looking out. It was she who had called them all with the S.O.S. – man trouble. Sometimes these meeting involved complaining or crying or hair pulling. Sometimes they involved wine and pedicures, because not every trouble could be spoken out loud.

“All you need to do is listen and care,” Inara explained. She and Kaylee were standing by Zoë’s bed.

“Zoë’s fading on us,” Kaylee said. “River, can we skip to the good news?”

“Since when does an S.O.S include good news?” Inara asked.

“I can explain,” River said, taking a deep breath. She leaned against the wall and looked at the group of them gathered. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her mouth twitched like she couldn’t decide how she felt. “I might be a little … free-spirited for awhile, because I won’t be on meds, because … I’m pregnant.”

Inara gasped and covered her mouth. “I thought –”

“So did everyone,” Kaylee said with a cheery smile. She’d known for hours already.

Zoë clapped her hands and smiled so tigh