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toxic_cornSeries: Songs From a Firefly
Title: Send Me A Song (10/12)
Author: Toxic Corn
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Firefly and all its lovely characters belong to Joss. The kids are all that belong to me.
Notes: Earlier chapters can be found here.
Send Me A Song
Jamey is 18, Nettie is 14
The war was on and Jamey found David and Vee watching it unfold with morbid fascination from the safety of the doorway.
“Son of a- After all we talked about, she still went ‘n did it anyway, didn’t she?!” Jamey exclaimed. When David and Vee shushed him, he lowered his voice. “How long has this been goin’ on?”
“About forty-five minutes,” David whispered, not taking his eyes off the combatants. “We’ve seen eye batting, pouting, tears, and bargaining.”
“We’re now on to-” Vee didn’t make it far before-
“You are being so unfair!!”
“Screaming,” Vee and David said together.
Jamey groaned and held his head in his hands. “She’s brain damaged, that’s what she is.”
“Nettie, we’ve said no, the subject is closed!”
“It’s the money, isn’t it? I can get in on a scholarship, I’ve said this a million times!”
“It ain’t the money, as we’ve said a billion times!”
“Oh, don’t even talk to me, you… you backstabber!”
“Backstabber??”
“You said you’d talk to her about this and now you’re on her side!”
“So now I’m the bad guy?”
“Jayne, I hope you aren’t implying that I’m a villain.”
“No, baby girl, I just mean-”
“That he was on my side before you brainwashed him!”
“Nettie-”
“No! Look, I don’t ask you for much. Why is that when I ask or this one thing you tell me no?!”
“Because you’re too young.”
“Lady gets to go to her dance school!”
“She’s older than you!”
“By four years! That’s NOTHING!”
“Nettie, stop screaming this instant!”
“I will once you stop being unfair!”
“Well, I guess we’re all humped then.”
“Jayne!”
“Little bit, you’re too young t’ go off to some fancy artsy school all by your lonesome. We want you here with yer family.”
“For how long?”
A silence fell. The voyeurs in the hall exchanged uneasy looks. They almost preferred Nettie’s shrill ranting over this weary, defeated tone she was now using.
“Net-”
“For how long, father?”
Jamey hissed. That formal title had to sting the man who cherished being called “Daddy.”
“For the rest of my life? You want me to stay on this rusting bucket until I die, don’t you?”
“Nettie-”
“Forget it, I’m done. I won’t bring this up again.”
“Come on, now…”
The eavesdroppers scuttled into the shadows as Nettie appeared in the mess hall door. Her face was blank and glistening with tear tracks as she passed them on her way out.
Jamey’s heart gave a painful twinge. If only she hadn’t gotten so impatient, they could’ve turned their parents around. Now his little sister’s dreams were shattered.
He took a deep breath and went for the door.
“What are you doing?” Vee hissed.
“I’m going in.”
“You’re crazy!” David squeaked.
Jamey nodded. “Must be.”
~*~
Jayne couldn’t have felt more like a horse’s ass even if that had been his goal in the first place. The little bit had been right, he’d promised to back her up on the school thing. But River had gotten so upset… A man shouldn’t have to choose between his two best girls.
He cast a look in River’s direction and saw she was hunched over her lap, staring at her hands. He had no idea what to say but he opened his mouth to say it anyway.
Jamey saved him by entering the room.
“That musta been some fight,” Jamey said, casually. “You got Vee and David out there absolutely entranced.”
From the direction of the door came an indignant squawk followed by a loud shush.
“I was on the cortex the other day,” Jamey continued, going to the cupboards to rummage for a snack. “I looked up that school Nettie wants to go to so bad.”
“Jamey,” Jayne said warningly, looking to River. She hadn’t moved.
“Didja know that half the Londinium Philharmonic attended classes there? Half. That’s impressive, dontcha think?” Jamey settled on some protein snaps and dropped into the chair next to River. “There’s even this ‘verse renowned guitar virtuoso who went there. Donates money every year and even has a whole wing named after ‘im.”
“Yeah, that’s nice,” Jayne said. “But-”
“Also of note,” Jamey said as if Jayne never spoke. His eyes were entirely on River. “No student ever went missing or reported abuse of any kind. It didn’t even make a blip with some of the underground characters I had investigate.”
Jayne’s jaw dropped and River finally looked up.
“But,” Jayne sputtered, “that don’t come cheap, son, how’d you-?”
“I owe a lot of people some favors,” Jamey said, still looking at River. “The school’s privately owned by a nice old man and it’s been in his family for generations. The Alliance has nothing to do with it.”
Jamey reached out a hand and placed it on his mother’s knee. “They won’t do ta her what got done to you when you went away to school, Ma. I promise. Lady’s gonna be in the same city at that dance school and she swore to wave me the second she can’t get in to visit Nettie. Please, Ma. She really wants this.”
River hung her head and Jayne knew Nettie was as good as enrolled. And while he was pleased for his daughter, he couldn’t help the stomach sinking feeling he got just thinking of her gone.
~*~
“Jamey! They said I can go!”
Jamey dropped his wrench and slid out from under the engine. He grinned at the flushed look of happiness on his sister’s face.
“That’s great! I wonder what changed their minds?”
Nettie rolled her eyes and dropped down on the floor next to him. “I know it was you, goofus. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. So what all do you gotta do now?”
“Uncle Simon has to send them my grades,” Nettie said, apprehension starting to creep into her tone. “Then I send them a demo disc of me singing, then I take the entrance exam. I have to apply for a scholarship, too, and that’ll be an essay I have to write.”
“I’m sure you’ll do fine,” Jamey said encouragingly.
“No, I won’t.” Nettie slumped against his side, head on his shoulder. “You know how I am about school stuff, I just can’t concentrate on it.” She sighed. “I was so excited about the singing part, I forgot all about the school part.”
Jamey wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I’ll help ya study, Nettie.”
She sat up immediately. “You will?!”
“Uh huh. We can start tomorrow if you want.”
Squealing, Nettie clapped her hands. “This is so shiny! I’m gonna go tell Nova and Vee!”
As she ran excitedly from the engine room, Jamey chuckled to himself. That girl was happy now, but she was gonna be singing a different tune soon enough.
~*~
In the months that followed, Nettie worked harder than she ever had before in her short life.
Uncle Simon gave her extra homework for practice, she spent an hour before dinner and an hour after dinner studying with Jamey each night, Mommy gave her extra lessons on the weekends, Nova randomly quizzed her every morning, Daddy was teaching her self defense (“You’re gonna be livin’ in the city without any of us ‘n a pretty li’l morsel like you’s gonna need to know how to fight off anyone who gets fresh.”), and in her free time, she spent every minute in the shower room recording her best songs.
Everyone was expecting her to crack under the heavy workload but she never so much as complained.
~*~
The day the test arrived, Simon set up a desk in the infirmary and served as proctor. He pretended not to notice everyone outside acting as if they had important business to attend to in the common room.
Simon looked at his watch. “And… go.”
Nettie broke the seal on the booklet and went to work.
~*~
“Money don’t just show up regular in my pocket every day, Kaylee,” Mal grumbled.
Kaylee sighed. “We need the part, Cap’n. Either you got less change janglin’ in your pocket or Serenity explodes the next time we try ta break atmo.”
Mal winced. “Okay, fine, buy it.”
Across the space station, the postmaster waved at him. “Mal! You got post!”
He and Kaylee froze. A few feet away, Mal saw River and Jayne had heard as well.
“Whaddya think?” Mal muttered as they made their way through the crush of humanity. “It’s been six weeks.”
“Seven, actually,” Kaylee said.
When they reached the postmaster, he handed Mal a white envelope. “It’s not actually for you, but one of the Cobb kids.”
Sure enough, the envelope was addressed to Ms. Serenity Cobb.
River and Jayne quickly found Nettie, who’d been admiring stuffed animals with Nova and Anna. The two sisters tagged along, curious what the letter would say.
Everyone held their breath as Mal handed Nettie the envelope. She tore the flap open and pulled out the sheet of paper, scanning its contents.
“Well?” Jayne said.
Nettie’s face crumbled and she ran away in tears.
“Oh no.” Kaylee pressed a hand to her mouth, eyes wide in horror.
Nova balled up her fists. “But she worked so hard!”
Without looking at one another, the whole group ran after Nettie.
~*~
“Come on, Pete,” Jamey said, wheedling. “Kaylee’ll be back with the money in just a few minutes. Cantcha just set the part aside until then?”
Pete shrugged. “Dunno, Jamey. What kind o’ businessman would I be if I had the chance to sell a product to a customer who has the money? I can’t wait around all day for Reynolds to pry open his wallet.”
Jamey sighed. “What do I have to do?”
A grin spread on Pete’s face. “My oldest girl’s taken a shine to ya, ‘n I was wonderin’ if-”
“I could take her out and show her a good time?”
“If ya can stay away from her,” Pete said, flatly.
“Deal.”
“JAMEY! JAMEY!!”
Before Jamey could turn around completely, Nettie launched herself at him, looking like a squirrel clinging to a tree. Her shoulders shook with the force of her sobbing.
“What is it?” Jamey exclaimed, stumbling under the added weight.
She shoved the paper crumpled in her fist into his face. “I’m in! They let me in!!
Jamey whooped and spun them around a few times. “That’s excellent!”
“I never could’ve done it without you!” she hiccupped. “I love you so much!!”
Just then, the others reached them, out of breath.
“Little bit,” Pop said, “we can try again next year, it’s-”
Jamey handed the paper to Pop. His lips moved as he read the letter. “But… she got in!”
“She got in!” Anna shouted, leaping into the air.
Everyone chattered in excitement and patted Nettie on the back. Even Pete offered up his congratulations.
Pop still looked confused. “She got in. Why’s she cryin’?”
~*~
“Wow, I bet it takes six years to clean this place,” Kaylee said, looking up at the gigantic building in front of them. A banner was strung over the double doors reading, WELCOME NEW STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO ORIENTATION DAY!
Excited butterflies fluttered in Nettie’s stomach at the sight. But then she dropped her gaze to the people she’d be leaving. Her family.
“I guess… this is goodbye,” Nettie said softly.
Vee stepped forward and lightly socked her in the arm. “You show those Core girls up, you hear?”
Nettie grinned. “I will.”
Next, Lady gave her shoulder a squeeze. “I’ll just be three blocks away if you ever need anything, Nettie.”
“I know.” Nettie nodded, glad of the fact.
Zoe gave her a big hug. “Be brave, little one.”
“I’ll try.”
Ben also gave her a hug and whispered, “I put Pointy in your bag.”
Nettie giggled and whispered, “Thanks,” back.
Inara hugged her tightly, trying hard not to cry. “I know you’ll do well, sweetheart. Good luck.”
“Thanks, ‘Nara. I’ll miss you.”
Anna was openly weeping when she hugged Nettie. “I don’t want ya ta go but I’m happy you’re happy.”
Nettie laughed and stroked her cousin’s strawberry blonde curls. “Well, thanks, little cousin. Be good, okay?”
“Be sure to sit in the same seat everyday so your teachers learn your name faster,” Uncle Simon said. “And take notes on everything, even if it doesn’t seem imp-”
She silenced him with a hug. “I’ll miss you too, Uncle Simon.”
Aunt Kaylee’s sad eyes nearly crumbled her brave act. “You be sure to write to us any chance you get, dong ma?”
It took Nettie an extra second to let her go. “Okay, Aunt Kaylee. I love you.”
Nova didn’t say anything, just cried and kissed her on both cheeks. Tears were already pricking at Nettie’s eyes and she found that she didn’t have any words for her best friend, so she kissed her back.
“Be careful out there, Nettie-bird,” Cap said, softly. “We mighta kept you a little too safe on the ship.”
Nettie squeezed the hand he offered her, not trusting herself to speak. She nodded at him and twined her fingers with his for a moment before letting him go.
Her tears finally fell when she stopped in front of Jamey. “I’ve never been away from you before,” she said, unable to look away from his face. “It hurts already.”
“Nettie…”
She stood up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Please change your mind and apply to school around here?” She wasn’t too hopeful and wasn’t surprised when he shook his head.
“Sing good, mei mei.”
“I will. I’ll send you a song every week.”
“I’d like that.”
They hugged tightly for several moments, neither of them willing to be the first to let go.
“My Nettie,” Mommy said, gently. “It’s time for us to go.”
Brother and sister clutched each other tightly in response but then reluctantly parted.
“Goodbye,” she said to the group at large, though she was looking at Jamey.
“’Bye,” they all said back.
Then walking between her parents, Nettie entered her new school for the first time.
END
Track Nine < When She Loved Me : Track Eleven > The Gentleman Who Fell
Title: Send Me A Song (10/12)
Author: Toxic Corn
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Firefly and all its lovely characters belong to Joss. The kids are all that belong to me.
Notes: Earlier chapters can be found here.
Send Me A Song
Jamey is 18, Nettie is 14
The war was on and Jamey found David and Vee watching it unfold with morbid fascination from the safety of the doorway.
“Son of a- After all we talked about, she still went ‘n did it anyway, didn’t she?!” Jamey exclaimed. When David and Vee shushed him, he lowered his voice. “How long has this been goin’ on?”
“About forty-five minutes,” David whispered, not taking his eyes off the combatants. “We’ve seen eye batting, pouting, tears, and bargaining.”
“We’re now on to-” Vee didn’t make it far before-
“You are being so unfair!!”
“Screaming,” Vee and David said together.
Jamey groaned and held his head in his hands. “She’s brain damaged, that’s what she is.”
“Nettie, we’ve said no, the subject is closed!”
“It’s the money, isn’t it? I can get in on a scholarship, I’ve said this a million times!”
“It ain’t the money, as we’ve said a billion times!”
“Oh, don’t even talk to me, you… you backstabber!”
“Backstabber??”
“You said you’d talk to her about this and now you’re on her side!”
“So now I’m the bad guy?”
“Jayne, I hope you aren’t implying that I’m a villain.”
“No, baby girl, I just mean-”
“That he was on my side before you brainwashed him!”
“Nettie-”
“No! Look, I don’t ask you for much. Why is that when I ask or this one thing you tell me no?!”
“Because you’re too young.”
“Lady gets to go to her dance school!”
“She’s older than you!”
“By four years! That’s NOTHING!”
“Nettie, stop screaming this instant!”
“I will once you stop being unfair!”
“Well, I guess we’re all humped then.”
“Jayne!”
“Little bit, you’re too young t’ go off to some fancy artsy school all by your lonesome. We want you here with yer family.”
“For how long?”
A silence fell. The voyeurs in the hall exchanged uneasy looks. They almost preferred Nettie’s shrill ranting over this weary, defeated tone she was now using.
“Net-”
“For how long, father?”
Jamey hissed. That formal title had to sting the man who cherished being called “Daddy.”
“For the rest of my life? You want me to stay on this rusting bucket until I die, don’t you?”
“Nettie-”
“Forget it, I’m done. I won’t bring this up again.”
“Come on, now…”
The eavesdroppers scuttled into the shadows as Nettie appeared in the mess hall door. Her face was blank and glistening with tear tracks as she passed them on her way out.
Jamey’s heart gave a painful twinge. If only she hadn’t gotten so impatient, they could’ve turned their parents around. Now his little sister’s dreams were shattered.
He took a deep breath and went for the door.
“What are you doing?” Vee hissed.
“I’m going in.”
“You’re crazy!” David squeaked.
Jamey nodded. “Must be.”
Jayne couldn’t have felt more like a horse’s ass even if that had been his goal in the first place. The little bit had been right, he’d promised to back her up on the school thing. But River had gotten so upset… A man shouldn’t have to choose between his two best girls.
He cast a look in River’s direction and saw she was hunched over her lap, staring at her hands. He had no idea what to say but he opened his mouth to say it anyway.
Jamey saved him by entering the room.
“That musta been some fight,” Jamey said, casually. “You got Vee and David out there absolutely entranced.”
From the direction of the door came an indignant squawk followed by a loud shush.
“I was on the cortex the other day,” Jamey continued, going to the cupboards to rummage for a snack. “I looked up that school Nettie wants to go to so bad.”
“Jamey,” Jayne said warningly, looking to River. She hadn’t moved.
“Didja know that half the Londinium Philharmonic attended classes there? Half. That’s impressive, dontcha think?” Jamey settled on some protein snaps and dropped into the chair next to River. “There’s even this ‘verse renowned guitar virtuoso who went there. Donates money every year and even has a whole wing named after ‘im.”
“Yeah, that’s nice,” Jayne said. “But-”
“Also of note,” Jamey said as if Jayne never spoke. His eyes were entirely on River. “No student ever went missing or reported abuse of any kind. It didn’t even make a blip with some of the underground characters I had investigate.”
Jayne’s jaw dropped and River finally looked up.
“But,” Jayne sputtered, “that don’t come cheap, son, how’d you-?”
“I owe a lot of people some favors,” Jamey said, still looking at River. “The school’s privately owned by a nice old man and it’s been in his family for generations. The Alliance has nothing to do with it.”
Jamey reached out a hand and placed it on his mother’s knee. “They won’t do ta her what got done to you when you went away to school, Ma. I promise. Lady’s gonna be in the same city at that dance school and she swore to wave me the second she can’t get in to visit Nettie. Please, Ma. She really wants this.”
River hung her head and Jayne knew Nettie was as good as enrolled. And while he was pleased for his daughter, he couldn’t help the stomach sinking feeling he got just thinking of her gone.
“Jamey! They said I can go!”
Jamey dropped his wrench and slid out from under the engine. He grinned at the flushed look of happiness on his sister’s face.
“That’s great! I wonder what changed their minds?”
Nettie rolled her eyes and dropped down on the floor next to him. “I know it was you, goofus. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. So what all do you gotta do now?”
“Uncle Simon has to send them my grades,” Nettie said, apprehension starting to creep into her tone. “Then I send them a demo disc of me singing, then I take the entrance exam. I have to apply for a scholarship, too, and that’ll be an essay I have to write.”
“I’m sure you’ll do fine,” Jamey said encouragingly.
“No, I won’t.” Nettie slumped against his side, head on his shoulder. “You know how I am about school stuff, I just can’t concentrate on it.” She sighed. “I was so excited about the singing part, I forgot all about the school part.”
Jamey wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I’ll help ya study, Nettie.”
She sat up immediately. “You will?!”
“Uh huh. We can start tomorrow if you want.”
Squealing, Nettie clapped her hands. “This is so shiny! I’m gonna go tell Nova and Vee!”
As she ran excitedly from the engine room, Jamey chuckled to himself. That girl was happy now, but she was gonna be singing a different tune soon enough.
In the months that followed, Nettie worked harder than she ever had before in her short life.
Uncle Simon gave her extra homework for practice, she spent an hour before dinner and an hour after dinner studying with Jamey each night, Mommy gave her extra lessons on the weekends, Nova randomly quizzed her every morning, Daddy was teaching her self defense (“You’re gonna be livin’ in the city without any of us ‘n a pretty li’l morsel like you’s gonna need to know how to fight off anyone who gets fresh.”), and in her free time, she spent every minute in the shower room recording her best songs.
Everyone was expecting her to crack under the heavy workload but she never so much as complained.
The day the test arrived, Simon set up a desk in the infirmary and served as proctor. He pretended not to notice everyone outside acting as if they had important business to attend to in the common room.
Simon looked at his watch. “And… go.”
Nettie broke the seal on the booklet and went to work.
“Money don’t just show up regular in my pocket every day, Kaylee,” Mal grumbled.
Kaylee sighed. “We need the part, Cap’n. Either you got less change janglin’ in your pocket or Serenity explodes the next time we try ta break atmo.”
Mal winced. “Okay, fine, buy it.”
Across the space station, the postmaster waved at him. “Mal! You got post!”
He and Kaylee froze. A few feet away, Mal saw River and Jayne had heard as well.
“Whaddya think?” Mal muttered as they made their way through the crush of humanity. “It’s been six weeks.”
“Seven, actually,” Kaylee said.
When they reached the postmaster, he handed Mal a white envelope. “It’s not actually for you, but one of the Cobb kids.”
Sure enough, the envelope was addressed to Ms. Serenity Cobb.
River and Jayne quickly found Nettie, who’d been admiring stuffed animals with Nova and Anna. The two sisters tagged along, curious what the letter would say.
Everyone held their breath as Mal handed Nettie the envelope. She tore the flap open and pulled out the sheet of paper, scanning its contents.
“Well?” Jayne said.
Nettie’s face crumbled and she ran away in tears.
“Oh no.” Kaylee pressed a hand to her mouth, eyes wide in horror.
Nova balled up her fists. “But she worked so hard!”
Without looking at one another, the whole group ran after Nettie.
“Come on, Pete,” Jamey said, wheedling. “Kaylee’ll be back with the money in just a few minutes. Cantcha just set the part aside until then?”
Pete shrugged. “Dunno, Jamey. What kind o’ businessman would I be if I had the chance to sell a product to a customer who has the money? I can’t wait around all day for Reynolds to pry open his wallet.”
Jamey sighed. “What do I have to do?”
A grin spread on Pete’s face. “My oldest girl’s taken a shine to ya, ‘n I was wonderin’ if-”
“I could take her out and show her a good time?”
“If ya can stay away from her,” Pete said, flatly.
“Deal.”
“JAMEY! JAMEY!!”
Before Jamey could turn around completely, Nettie launched herself at him, looking like a squirrel clinging to a tree. Her shoulders shook with the force of her sobbing.
“What is it?” Jamey exclaimed, stumbling under the added weight.
She shoved the paper crumpled in her fist into his face. “I’m in! They let me in!!
Jamey whooped and spun them around a few times. “That’s excellent!”
“I never could’ve done it without you!” she hiccupped. “I love you so much!!”
Just then, the others reached them, out of breath.
“Little bit,” Pop said, “we can try again next year, it’s-”
Jamey handed the paper to Pop. His lips moved as he read the letter. “But… she got in!”
“She got in!” Anna shouted, leaping into the air.
Everyone chattered in excitement and patted Nettie on the back. Even Pete offered up his congratulations.
Pop still looked confused. “She got in. Why’s she cryin’?”
“Wow, I bet it takes six years to clean this place,” Kaylee said, looking up at the gigantic building in front of them. A banner was strung over the double doors reading, WELCOME NEW STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO ORIENTATION DAY!
Excited butterflies fluttered in Nettie’s stomach at the sight. But then she dropped her gaze to the people she’d be leaving. Her family.
“I guess… this is goodbye,” Nettie said softly.
Vee stepped forward and lightly socked her in the arm. “You show those Core girls up, you hear?”
Nettie grinned. “I will.”
Next, Lady gave her shoulder a squeeze. “I’ll just be three blocks away if you ever need anything, Nettie.”
“I know.” Nettie nodded, glad of the fact.
Zoe gave her a big hug. “Be brave, little one.”
“I’ll try.”
Ben also gave her a hug and whispered, “I put Pointy in your bag.”
Nettie giggled and whispered, “Thanks,” back.
Inara hugged her tightly, trying hard not to cry. “I know you’ll do well, sweetheart. Good luck.”
“Thanks, ‘Nara. I’ll miss you.”
Anna was openly weeping when she hugged Nettie. “I don’t want ya ta go but I’m happy you’re happy.”
Nettie laughed and stroked her cousin’s strawberry blonde curls. “Well, thanks, little cousin. Be good, okay?”
“Be sure to sit in the same seat everyday so your teachers learn your name faster,” Uncle Simon said. “And take notes on everything, even if it doesn’t seem imp-”
She silenced him with a hug. “I’ll miss you too, Uncle Simon.”
Aunt Kaylee’s sad eyes nearly crumbled her brave act. “You be sure to write to us any chance you get, dong ma?”
It took Nettie an extra second to let her go. “Okay, Aunt Kaylee. I love you.”
Nova didn’t say anything, just cried and kissed her on both cheeks. Tears were already pricking at Nettie’s eyes and she found that she didn’t have any words for her best friend, so she kissed her back.
“Be careful out there, Nettie-bird,” Cap said, softly. “We mighta kept you a little too safe on the ship.”
Nettie squeezed the hand he offered her, not trusting herself to speak. She nodded at him and twined her fingers with his for a moment before letting him go.
Her tears finally fell when she stopped in front of Jamey. “I’ve never been away from you before,” she said, unable to look away from his face. “It hurts already.”
“Nettie…”
She stood up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Please change your mind and apply to school around here?” She wasn’t too hopeful and wasn’t surprised when he shook his head.
“Sing good, mei mei.”
“I will. I’ll send you a song every week.”
“I’d like that.”
They hugged tightly for several moments, neither of them willing to be the first to let go.
“My Nettie,” Mommy said, gently. “It’s time for us to go.”
Brother and sister clutched each other tightly in response but then reluctantly parted.
“Goodbye,” she said to the group at large, though she was looking at Jamey.
“’Bye,” they all said back.
Then walking between her parents, Nettie entered her new school for the first time.
END
Track Nine < When She Loved Me : Track Eleven > The Gentleman Who Fell
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-09-17 07:21 pm (UTC)Aww!! It's times like these I wish my big brothers really were my big brothers. *sigh* They hug really well, though. And give good kisses on the cheek. And get married and leave me...
Oh! Is Jamey going to get married? *please* That will totally make me cry. Most weddings don't make me cry at all... OH SHIT.
I'm going to miss Gabe and Bethany's wedding. That's my big brother and my big sister and I'm going to miss it.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-17 07:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-17 08:47 pm (UTC)“Be careful out there, Nettie-bird,” Cap said, softly. “We mighta kept you a little too safe on the ship.”
Nettie squeezed the hand he offered her, not trusting herself to speak. She nodded at him and twined her fingers with his for a moment before letting him go.
This was my favorite part though, I love the crush she has on Mal. Oh, and I would love to read how Jamey meets his future wife....and then his future wife meeting River and Jayne, that would be neat.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-18 04:19 am (UTC)My beta/best friend loves Mal/Nettie so much that she's roped me into writing fic about them. It's nuts but sort of fun in a way. (Nettie's much, much older in those fics of course.) Thanks for reading! :)
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Date: 2006-09-17 11:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-18 04:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-18 07:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-18 05:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-18 09:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-18 05:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-18 02:17 pm (UTC)I would read anything you wrote on this next generation you created. I want to read about Jamey and his futures wife.
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Date: 2006-09-18 05:54 pm (UTC)Well, I guess I'll have to write that Jamey fic then when I get other fic cleared out of the way. (And to think I had writer's block for years...)