Title: What Zoe Hears

Author: GoddessofBirth

Pairings: Rayne, Zoe/Wash, implied Sylee, Minara

Rating: PG-13 for slight Zoe/Wash naughtiness

A/N: Follows 'What Mal Knows' in the Transmutations-verse

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The day cycle begins again. 'Come on, Lambkins, you have to eat.'

You roll out of the bed you used to share with Wash. You sit for a moment, trying to grab the last remnants of your dream, but all you can recall is chasing after a dinosaur wielding baby with cornrows flowing down to his shoulders. And then, that too is gone. Sighing, you stand and walk to the mirror.

Since Miranda, three emotions have cycled repetitively through you. First, despair whenever you think on Wash's death, second, an unreasonable anger at Wash for dying and leaving you alone, and finally to round things out, crushing guilt for blaming him for what couldn't be prevented. For a while there, you had tried on hating River as well, but your ingrained sense of fair play refused to let you believe anything other than the truth – wasn't no one to blame except the Alliance.

You pull the sink down and splash water on your face. You stare at your reflection, doing your best to remember why you should head to the mess instead of crawling back into bed.

'You need to keep up those curves I like so much, Wifey.'

Oh. Right. You dress and stride down the corridor, Wash ambling along beside you.

'Are we doing Crime today? Of course, if Simon's cooking, then crime has already been done.'

You walk past Kaylee, barely noticing her cheery 'Mornin' Zo!'

'Uh, Wifey, we like Kaylee, remember?'

You continue down the corridor and suddenly Inara rounds the corner and slams straight into you. The cup she has in her hands flips completely horizontal and you think it's a good thing it's already empty.

Inara straightens back up. 'Oh, Zoe! I wasn't looking were I was going.' That seemed a bit out of character for the always graceful former companion. You