toxic_corn | Firefly Fic: The Present (River/Jayne), R: Epilogue

Series: The Present
Title: Epilogue (11/11)
Author:

toxic_corn
Rating: R
Pairing: River/Jayne
Disclaimer: Firefly belongs to Joss Whedon. I own nothing and earn no money from this.
Summary: A mysterious package from Jayne's past will change the course of his future.
Notes: Another AU. This time, I didn't kill the crew. :D Everything is pretty much the same except River and Simon aren't on board the ship. At least, not right away.

Catch up on the earlier chapters at the organizational post.

EPILOGUE

River stood on the ottoman as Ma Cobb and Kaylee made some finishing touches to the hemline of her dress. She wanted nothing more than to sway and make bell noises but the last time she'd done that, she'd earned a swat on her behind from Ma, telling her to stand still or she could just go down the aisle in the altogether. Her remark that Jayne wouldn't mind that at all had made Ma laugh however, so River knew her soon to be mother in law was not angry with her.

Just when River felt like she was going to scream if she couldn't move, Kaylee sat back on her heels with a satisfied sigh. "You look so pretty, River," she said wistfully. "Like you was made out o' ice cream or something."

"River always looks pretty," Ma said, putting the needles and thread back into her sewing kit. "Always has, always will."

"Yeah," Kaylee agreed, tilting her head to the side. "But there's just somethin' about wedding dresses. Makes the pretty all the prettier."

"I know what ya mean, honey," Ma said, kindly. "Well, shuck it off, River. Time to hang it up and go meet yer man."

River turned obediently so Ma could undo the little buttons running down the back. She smiled at Kaylee's excited face and said, "Maybe you and Simon will be next."

Kaylee grinned. "Maybe. If I can loosen him up a little more 'n convince 'im that I don't think he's a dirty old man."

"He's a boob," River said with a little sigh. "He will take much more work." She stepped out of her wedding dress and accepted her pink sundress back with a grateful smile to Ma.

Just then the front door opened and heavy footsteps came their way. "Ma? Ya'll through yet?"

"Yes, Jayne!" River called back, happily.

"River, you're in yer underpants," Ma scolded her.

River blinked at her. "He's seen me in less."

Kaylee giggled into her sleeve as Ma's jaw dropped. Jayne entered the room and froze to see his intended on display. He looked shocked until a grin slowly spread across his face.

"Well now, apple blossom. This is a fine welcome home." His eyes roved over her body and River felt warm under his gaze. "Could get used ta this."

"It wasn't intended as such," River said, honestly. She pulled her dress on over her head and giggled a little at the disappointed look on his face. "I was just removing my wedding dress. It's bad luck for the groom to see it. Superstition, but Ma takes it seriously and I don't wish to worry her."

Ma patted her hand. "Thank you for that, darlin'. I have some sample cakes about ready to take out o' the oven once you two are ready for some tastin'."

"That's why I hurried home." Jayne grinned. "We got the chapel booked for week after next."

"Good boy." Ma motioned to Kaylee as she walked out of the room. "Gimmie a hand in the kitchen, Kaylee girl."

"Comin', Ma." Kaylee followed after her, giving a sly look to the couple on her way out.

Jayne went to River immediately and touched her face in wonder. "You like your dress?"

"Yes," River whispered, turning her head to nuzzle his palm. "It's very pretty. I wish I could show you."

"I'll see it soon enough." An excited grin made his face light up and he looked for all the world like the boy she'd grown up with.

Giggling, River traced his cheek with her finger. His smile went deep, down into his skull. Maybe even further. "Soon I will be Apple Blossom Cobb."

"Changin' your first name too?" Jayne teased her.

"No." River shook her head. "Only you get to call me apple blossom. Wouldn't be the same if others did it, too."

"It sure wouldn't," Jayne agreed. He gently gripped her by the waist and lifted her down onto the floor next to him. "How 'bout we go try some o' that cake Ma's been nice enough to bake for us."

"Yum," River said. "Let's eat it before the others get back from the market."

Jayne laughed hard, from the belly. "Looks like I've been a bad influence on you."

She shook her head again. "No, I've always been bratty."

"Ain't that the truth," Jayne said, winking. Then he raised his eyebrows at her irritated expression and took off, running and hooting as she chased after him.

Kaylee glanced out the kitchen window to see Jayne and River go sprinting across the back yard and sent a surprised look Ma's way. But the old woman didn't so much as look up from the cake batter she was stirring.

"They were always carryin' on 'bout somethin' or other. They'll sort it out in a mo."

Sure enough, River leaped on Jayne, knocking him to the ground with the surprise attack. A smile spread across Kaylee's face as she watched Jayne roll to his back and push the hair in River's face behind her ears before giving her a sweet kiss.

"Whoda thunk it," she said to herself and went back to icing River and Jayne's sample wedding cake.

THE END

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And here ends another tale. Thanks for sticking with this one, guys. Even when it was weird, too sweet, too angsty, or too... weird. *is lame* Special love to

sandwch__zombie and

nutmeg610 for encouraging me with this back when I first suggested the idea back in December. You guys rule! My next trip on the Rayne train won't be for awhile since I have other weird projects but hopefully you'll still want to read my stuff when I come back. Thanks again!

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