Tuesday's Child

River Tam had been born on a Tuesday and as the cake, which marked the eighteenth year of her birth, was lit the crew sang 'Happy Birthday.' She couldn't help but smile. Antiquated earth rituals, people clinging to a measure of time that was immaterial, if they truly wished to celebrate her real birthday- they would make this her first or her hundreth. For they were the ages that she truly felt. She felt it was her first, for after Miranda she now feels as if she is awake, shiny like a new-baby. Even is she still thinks of herself in the third person. Or a hundred because all of the things she had seen and all of the tasks she'd undertaken had aged her view of the world.

After dinner Simon watched his sister dance, she and the Captain were spinning around the floor, and suprisingly the Captain was doing a wonderful job of keeping up. He allowed himself a rare moment to marvel at his sister. Her ease with which she did everything made himself seem like a piece of iron- stiff and immovable, while she seemed to be as fluid as her namesake- River, his beautiful, wise, graceful sister.

Kaylee saw the almost-tears in Simon's eyes and approaching him softly she slid an arm through his and fixed him with a large smile. "Well Dr. Tam, iff'n it's appropriate, may I have the pleasure of this dance?"