"I ain't goin' out there," Jayne grumbled. "No way, no how."

"Please?" River asked, batting her eyes. "If you're good, later we can try my costume."

"That ain't fair."

"All's fair in love and war," River smiled. "You're going to make a little girl's Christmas."

Jayne sighed in resignation. "Li'l hellion what painted my face with lipstick," he muttered, eyeing the white beard and wig.

"She loves her Uncle Jayne and you know it." River smirked. "Come on, they're waiting."

~*~

Jayne made a very tall, slightly menacing St. Nick. Even with a pillow stuffed into his costume - Kate had decided not to spend the extra coin on ths stuffing after all - he was broad and muscular and just not fat. Hannah couldn't have cared less. He had the red suit, the white beard and wig, the hat, the whole shebang. As far as she was concerned, he was Santa. She didn't even notice Uncle Jayne's absence.

"Ho, ho, ho," Jayne said unenthusiastically, earning a sharp glare from each of the women on the ship, and Mal, if he wasn't mistaken. "Merry Christmas, li'l Hannah. What can Santa bring ya this year?"

Hannah began to list off the words she knew for the things she could see around her. "Kitten," she finished. "Hannah want kitten."

"Er..." Jayne hesitated. "I'll uh... Santa... will... see what he can do?" He looked at Wash pleadingly.

"Santa may not be able to get a kitten in through the airlock, sweetie," Wash told her.

"Hannah want kitten," she told him. "Kitten."

Wash looked helpless. "I... Hannah..."

"Santa's gonna get you that kitten," Mal said, finally. "Don't you fret none, munchkin. Wash, we're on schedule for Persephone, yes?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"I gotta see a man about a cat." He left the common area, probably to avoid comment.

"Okay, honey, Santa has a lot of other little boys and girls to visit before the big night, right Santa?" Kate prompted, allowing Jayne an escape.

"Right," Jayne answered. Hannah was getting very excited, and was bouncing in his lap. "Ho, ho - ow! Liou coe shua