Chapter 4

River carefully disconnected the septic vac-line from Serenity. She had forced herself to go slow and avoid another blowout, even though she was bristling with anticipation. Inside Serenity she knew Kaylee and Inara were working hard so they would have time to help River get ready for her date.

Her date, that thought sounded strange after all she had been through. River found her own excitement strange as well. She had spent plenty of time with Aleksander on Serenity why should going with him off the ship be a big deal? The only thing she could think of was that it was milestone for her, a point in her life she would always remember, her first date.

This was also important to her Serenity family as well. It was River growing up and beginning to live her life as a complete person, as a girl. She understood she would never be normal, or really healed, but she was in control for the most part. This was because of them. The crew had given so much for her and now they were getting to see the results of all their sacrifice.

“River honey, are you almost done with your work?” Inara asked from the catwalk as the young girl re-entered the ship.

“Almost,” River responded. She could feel Inara’s joy at the prospect of helping River get ready.

A few minor chores later and River was in Inara’s shuttle letting the Companion run a brush through her hair.

“How do you want it done, mei mei ?” Inara asked with a smile.

“I think you should put it up,” Kaylee said with a smile laying on Inara’s bed with her hand propping up her head

River ignored both of them as her looked down studying her hands. They looked hard and bony at this moment. Her knuckles had been toughened from training she did not remember. She wondered how her touch felt. Could she still be soft? She tried to remember a time she had been, she couldn’t. Too young for anything like that before…before the academy.

“River,” Inara said calling her back.

“Sorry…I was…”

“Excited about tonight,” Kaylee stated.

“Solicitous