Title: The quest had pitfalls and numerous perils – Part 1

Series: Code of Honor (8/?)

Author: Gwenfrewi72

Rating: AO

Fandom: Firefly

Spoilers: None

Summary: The countdown to River's 18th birthday begins. Jayne gets hit and threatened.

Length: according to Word 892

Disclaimer: The great, almighty and powerful Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, etc. own the universe and characters. I'm just playing with them. Please don’t’ take away my shiny toys Captain.

Author's Note: For miss_strawberry & obsidianagirl for encouraging my writing.

Copyright (c) February 2006 Patricia Flynn

Thanks to Obsidianagirl for beta-ing this for me. She’s the best in the ‘verse next to Mal, of course!

As always, feedback is shiny!

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Thirteen Days ‘til River’s 18th Birthday

I planned to keep things goin’ pretty much the way they’d been. Now’t we’d gotten Simon’s okay, I figured I could start in on the kissin’ real soon.

My lil’ albatross apparently had other plans. Breakfast that mornin’ was a might easier as I didn’t have to worry about playin’ the gentleman with Zoe and Kaylee anymore. I’d noticed given Zoe some of my undivided attention had helped so Ill try an’ make more of an effort to spend some time with her.

So when we were sittin’, her by my side as was my want when I’d escorted a lady in, I was surprised when I felt her hand and fingers twine into mine as it sat on the table. I glanced swiftly at Simon. He hadn’t noticed us, so wrapped was he in Kaylee as he was, so I quickly slipped our joined hands down into my lap.

Zoe caught my eye; her body tense, ready to move at a moments notice. Her eyes flickered to Simon and then back to me, a question in her eyes. I gave her an imperceptible nod and she visibly relaxed. One eyebrow rose in amusement before she returned her attention back to her breakfast.

But apparently that wasn’t enough for River, what she did later, well it even shocked the gorram hell out o’ me for a moment.

Sometimes I feel like I’m adrift wit