CHAPTER 16

MONTH LATER

River smiles feeling a gentle kiss to her forehead and opens her eyes to see Jayne watching her.

"Didn't mean to wake you."

"It's OK." River smiles her hand going to his cheek. "I like when you wake me. Don't like waking to find you gone."

Jayne kisses her gently

River deepens the kiss

"River girl" Jayne reluctantly breaks the kiss with a groan "much as I want to stay in bed... can't." He reluctantly pulls away and sits up.

River smiles at the frustration in his mind and watches as he dresses. She lies there running her hand over her almost six month's pregnant belly. "Have you been where we're going?" She asks curiously.

Jayne shrugs, "Brief stop over years back for a job." Jayne answers as he sits on the bed pulling his boots on tying them. "Ain't much of an area but Mal said the pays good... all I care about right now." He looks at River and brushes her hair back "Go back to sleep." He kisses her temple pulling the covers up before standing.

River watches as he climbs the stairs out of the bunk. 'He'll be back.'

NEXT MORNING

"So who are we meetin?" Zoë asks

"Badger. Has a job for us" Mal replies

"Badger? He's nothin but trouble."

"Transferrin what?" Jayne asks curiously.

"Didn't give many answers." Mal shrugs "Shouldn't take long."

"You do realize whenever that is said bad things happen." Book muses

"Ehh don't go jinxin us Book." Mal says quickly

"Just pointing out the facts." Book states

"Jinxes aren't real. Odds are." River muses from the couch where she is reading.

"So what are the odds of this goin bad?" Mal asks

River looks at him, "Don't know enough information to give decent odds. There are many ways to go." She looks back at the book in her hands.

"Give a hint." Mal pleads

"Can't." River shrugs "More information needed before odds can be determined." She continues reading.

"Since we ain't sure what's goin on... lets keep an eye out." Mal suggests

"Weapons?" Jayne asks

"Lim