Happy Development
by Whedonist
After the Dust Settles
[reviews]
A/N: Primarily it's just a bunch of THANK YOU's to those of you that read and reviewed.
Also to my Beta for being the rockin' guy that he is. The story would have totally sucked had it not been for you.
And last and in no particular order: Valyssia, Neo, Jay, and Thumper
Chapter 20 — After the Dust Settles
"You sure you like that there?" Mal asked as he placed the last of his things under the bed. After they returned, the crew stopped for a time on a rebuilt Haven to try and settle back into the swing of things. Mal had also wanted to give himself and his crew some time to grieve for the girl who had burrowed into a heart he felt didn't work anymore. But then again, here he was with Inara in their bunk, rearranging things and seeing to it that the woman he had wanted for as long as he had known her was happy with the new sleeping arrangements.
Inara looked to the curtain that she had hung and then back at Mal, "You don't like it there?"
"No, no it's fine really. Just lookin' to make sure you're all settled." Mal smiled reassuringly.
Inara nodded and then took a seat on the bed. She patted the spot right next to her and motioned for Mal to sit down. "It's fine really." As her lover sat down next to her, she took in the sight of her new living quarters. Mal had swapped with Zo' to get the bigger bunk so that he and Inara could have more space. Zo' seemed more than happy for the move and Inara noted that as Zo' carried the last of her stuff out of the room there was a bittersweet smile to her features that had become more common since Wash's death.
Now she and Mal occupied the space that seemed to carry the ghost of the love Zo' and Wash had shared and Inara was determined to do her best to honor the memory. She had even conceded to keeping a small set of dinosaurs that Wash had glued down on one of the dressers.
"Come back to me bao bei." Mal's soft voice cut through her reverie.
"Sorry. I was just..."
"Thinkin' 'bout Wash and this place." Mal plucked at the bedspread and sighed, "Don't rightly know if we did the right thing." he finished.
"Zo' insisted. She practically kicked us out of your bunk and shoved us in here. What were we to do?" She smiled up at the captain and then rested her head on his shoulder.
"That'd be it. Don't know what I'm gonna do with her yet."
"Because you can do anything with Zo' ? She's more stubborn than you Mal."
The captain ran his fingers through his hair and shrugged, "She's not been right for awhile. Worries me somethin' fierce. There...seems to be a lot of change. Too much for me right now. Taking out of the equation Wash, Shepherd and the others. The weakening of the Alliance's hold on the 'Verse. Nothin' seems to hurt as much as River. I...no way for me to wrap my head around what the girl went and did."
Inara leaned back on the bed and pulled Mal down with her so that his head rested on her shoulder. Her voice was quiet and hushed as she thought out loud, "River knew Mal. She knew what she was doing and she was right in making the decision she did. What were we going to do stay there? All of us? Leave who behind?"
She felt Mal shrug again and then heard the smile in his voice, "Coulda left Jayne."
"And leave our friends with that monkey's go se? I think not."
"Suppose your right, but Simon ain't been right since."
"None of us have been right. We have lost an integral member of our group. River was important in one way or another to all of us. The only thing that is going to heal a wound like that is time." Inara's voice was resigned as she spoke. An air of sadness crept into her speech and infected her body as she slumped further into the bed.
Mal twirled a strand of Inara's hair between his fingers, breathed her calming scent and silently agreed. The ache inside spread to places he didn't think he could hurt anymore, but River proved him wrong...again. Time heals he thought, but sometimes time takes too damn long.
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Kaylee ran her fingers through her husband's soft hair as they lay naked on the engine room floor. Her overalls were bunched beneath them making a crude blanket and cushioning against the hard steel grating that made up the floor. She knew by the sound of his breathing that not only was he awake, but he was thinking of his sister. It had become common practice in the two weeks that they were home to talk about River. It always seemed to take place after they had made love and Kaylee idly wondered what about the sex made him slip into a deep brood.
"Si, where are you?" She whispered not wanting to startle him.
She felt the wry half smile form on her bare skin as he answered, "I was thinking..."
"About River."
"Surprisingly no. I was thinking about you and well, yes, about River too, but it was good memory or at least a very embarrassing one. It was about the first time we made love here in the engine room."
The mechanic giggled and covered her mouth trying to suppress the embarrassment. River had ended up walking in on them and even though the mechanic was usually unflappable in regards to sex, that day she turned an obscene shade of red as River looked at them like you would animals in a zoo. Seemed to Kaylee all her best memories seemed to find her flat on her back in this room. "She's fine you know."
"I know, but it doesn't matter if I know. She's not here."
Kaylee frowned at the tone of her husband's voice and moved so that she could look him in the eye. "Simon. We miss her. Hell we all seem to have lost a piece of us, just like we did when Wash died, just like we did when Shepherd died, but River ain't dead. She's safe at least. She seemed to be happy there."
Simon took the hand that cradled his cheek and brought it up to his mouth placing a light kiss on the upturned palm. "I know that. I just...she should have said goodbye differently. She..."
"She should'ave what?"
"She shouldn't have left. We could have found another way back."
Unsure of how to answer, Kaylee's head softly hit the floor and she sighed out, "Maybe you're right, but I don't think it could've gone any other way. You've been different since she left and you got the right to, but Simon for me; don't let a ghost destroy you. It t'ain't fair to you or to me. Be happy that at least she's out of the way of the Alliance."
Simon thought about what his wife had said. Was he letting River haunt him? It was becoming an obsession, the way of her departure. He stopped his mind and took in the sullen features of his wife. She was right. River haunted him. He needed to stop and focus on the things that were in his control. He had succeeded in what he set out to do. River was safe. He knew she was happy. He knew that the Alliance would never get their hands on his sister again. Acquiescing to his wife's wishes, he leaned up and placed a soft kiss on her lips then moved to the tip of her nose.
"As you wish. She is safe and we are too."
"I love you Si."
"Love you too Kaylee Tam." He smiled the best smile he could muster and began moving his way lazily down her body.
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"What you think we're gonna get fer some of this fei wu?" Jayne asked Zo' as the two of them were finishing off inventorying their purchases and stowing them away.
Zo' smiled over to Jayne, "'Nough that we might not have to worry about nothin' for a while. Inara seems to have a few contacts left that are willing to pay top coin for some of what we got. We'll all get our share."
"Good. Maybe then I can retire and get my pretty pi gu off this heap." Jayne's mouth clamped down on the cigar he held between his lips as he hoisted a crate and took it behind a set of steps.
"You gonna leave us Jayne Cobb?" Zo' turned to the man a look of disbelief on her face.
He shrugged in her direction, "Thought about it if the coin's good enough. 'Course I might die of boredom before I reach a ripe old age."
"Or someone may come lookin' to settle a score and you might die anyhow."
Jayne grinned wide at the First Mate, "That'd also be a good bet." He stopped his movements and turned his attention fully to Zo'. "I think about it ya know. Leavin', but can't seem to do it. Had a few opportunities that didn't feel right. I suspect I belong here. Bunch a misfits runnin' around in the Black stickin' it to the Alliance. Got a good fit to it."
Zo' nodded, "It does doesn't it?" Her smile was genuine as she turned from the gunman and thought about the future. Giving it an honest thought this time. Not worrying about trying to make it from one day to the next. She thought maybe, just maybe, her motley crew of a family had a shot. Time would tell that much she was certain of. "Thinkin' maybe you should stick around Jayne. Interesting may have only just begun."
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Faith looked around the new room and smiled. She was never one to care about décor. In fact, she used to be happy if the room she was staying in had four walls, a good solid door, and a not so leaky roof. Those had been her concerns growing up. Now she seemed to be worrying if she was giving the other girl enough space and if the room had the right feel. As an example her room a few days ago had consisted of a bed, a dresser, and a desk with a small stereo and a laptop.
Her new room had two dressers two desks and a couch. It had been decorated this time by River. They had gone together and Faith had let River pick out whatever she had thought would look good in their shared living quarters. The younger girl had gone for a deep red and black theme that had an Eastern feel to it. As Faith lay down on the bed next to River, she had to admit the silk comforter felt damn nice under her body.
Faith scooted over and rested her head against River's shoulder. What could only be considered a purr nearly escaped the slayer's parted lips as River's nails lightly grazed her scalp as the other girl ran her fingers through Faith's dark locks. The slayer let the sensations wash over her and knew it was time for some questions to be answered. Maybe they had a shot at a future together, Faith thought as long as she could keep her shit together. Maybe they had a chance of being happy. The chance was enough for the new Faith to take the next leap.
"Riv, you decide..." Faith stopped, her voice uncertain, "We had a talk a while back, I just wanted to know if you thought about it at all?"
An unseen lazy smile spread over River's features and she nodded, "It seems that I want a lot of things right now Faith and we did talk about a lot."
"We did, but I was..."
"You were asking about us." River finished.
"That'd be it." Her body tensed as River didn't answer right away. When River did finally speak, Faith felt like taking the question back.
"Us. It has a nice ring to it. It's what I want. It's part of the reason staying seemed so easy. I'm safer here than anywhere else. Everyone is nice and if I get a little crazy, they give me space. Here is good."
"So that means you've figured out where we're headed then, 'cuz for the life of me I can't seem to get a hold on it."
River pulled Faith up so that their eyes met. She reached out and smoothed her friend's wrinkled, worried brow and her eye's shone with promise, "I told you, with you, here, is the only place I know where I'm needed." She removed her hand and placed it over Faith's heart. "We can teach each other a lot Faith. I want to learn with you. New is weird and scary and I can't think of anyone else I'm willing to take those first steps with." With that she leaned down and captured Faith's lips with her own.
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Buffy pushed her lover towards her third climax as her fingers moved inside and around Willow's body. Sweat poured from them both, but it only added to the need Buffy felt. Making love to Willow was by far the most intense experience of her short yet very full life. She added a fourth finger to the wet channel of Willow's core and was rewarded by the nails of Willow's left hand raking down the soft skin of her back. Buffy arched into the pleasure the pain of the action had caused.
She thrust down on Willow's own hand buried between her thighs and rolled her hips as her climax neared. The blonde looked down into hooded emerald eyes and couldn't resist the need to lick the sweat from her witch's upper lip. She leaned down and let her tongue snake out to capture the moisture then she turned her attention to expectant lips. Her tongue pushed forward and was met with the mate of her own.
The tempo became fevered as they pushed each other. Willow's thumb moved deftly to the engorged nerve bundle of Buffy's center and she stroked it lightly as her other fingers delved deeper inside the blonde. Her own climax began to crest and Willow did the only thing she could think to get Buffy to cum with her. She moved her mouth to Buffy's neck and sucked at her pulse point, nipping the tender sweat slicked flesh with her teeth she whispered, "Cum for me Buffy." The command did its job and both girls found release almost in time with each other.
Buffy's breath came in short hard gasps as she collapsed on top of Willow. Her body hummed with the after effects of their love making and she latched herself onto Willow's body. She positioned her head on Willow's chest and wrapped her legs around her lover's, reveling in the feel of the way they fit together. Buffy snuggled in deeper as she felt Willow's arms encircle her small form.
They lay that way for a while enjoying the afterglow, neither of them wanting to move. As their skin cooled, Buffy reached down and brought Willow's comforter up to cover their exposed skin; however, she didn't move from her spot on top of the witch which garnered a small chuckle for the redhead.
"What?" Buffy asked innocently.
"Nothing. I just didn't think you were part octopus." Willow joked.
"Ah. It's cuz it's a huge family secret. Can't go telling everyone now can I?"
"Bigger than the slayer gig?" Willow teased running her finger's through Buffy's hair.
"Way more big. It's a deep dark secret that no one shall speak of. My second great grand something was an octopus. I should warn you though. The traits only express themselves when around gorgeous redheads who happen to be magically inclined."
Willow cocked her head to the side and began to tease, "Well let's see then, that means I need to keep you away from a few of the other girls in the house then."
Buffy shook her head no, "Sorry, no can do. I forgot to mention. Their names have to start and end with W. Otherwise their just no good to me."
A bright smile infected Willow's features and her grin caused the tip of her tongue to poke out between her teeth and lips. "In that case, you're safe."
Buffy nodded into Willow's chest. Taking a moment to find the words, she cleared her throat and began, "Wills."
"Hmm" Willow's sleepy voice drifted down to the blonde's ears.
"Thank you."
Willow's voce picked up as she queried, "For?"
"I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I heard what you said to Dawnie."
"Ah...you mad?"
"No. The opposite in fact. It was really sweet."
"I meant it. I don't." Willow stopped and tried to gather her thoughts before continuing. "Losing you seems impossible to me."
"Same here Wills. Same here."
"So what then?"
Buffy seemed to be caught off guard by the question, "What then what?"
"We had this talk in New Mexico. About the future about what we were gonna do with ourselves."
"Ah that." Buffy shrugged then answered, "Long as you're there. I could join the circus."
The response earned a giggle from her witch and Buffy couldn't help the silly grin that came over her.
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Xander balanced the pencil on his right index finger as he sat with his feet propped up on the control panel of the Comm Center. His first Friday night shift started an hour ago and he was bored out of his mind. The patrols had all returned at 1 am and nothing had been brewing in their neck of the woods. He kicked himself for agreeing to take over Kimmie's Friday shift for the month.
His attention snapped to the door as it swung open and the pencil he had been carefully balancing on his finger clattered to the floor along with his feet. He looked up with his good eye to see Kimmie in the doorway holding a basket that looked suspiciously like a picnic basket and a pizza box. Xander licked his lips as he smelled the doughy goodness that the wide flat box emitted.
Kimmie smiled brightly as she sauntered over to Xander, "Couldn't just leave you all alone here. It gets way too boring. That and Guilt. Been eatin' me up since we made the bet. So I figured, I could make amends with an impromptu indoor faux picnic."
Kimmie's grin was infectious and Xander returned the smile ten fold, "All is forgiven if I can have a slice of that pizza you have in your hands."
Taking the hint, the slayer moved a few chairs out of the way and began to set up the area. Once she had situated the blanket, pizza, and basket she motioned for Xander to sit down. As they settled in, she reached into the basket and produced two chilled beers. Xander's eye lit up and he gently took one of the offered bottles.
"So," the blonde started, "River's gonna be staying with us then?" Kimmie handed the man a plate with two slices of pizza on it.
Xander took what was offered and brought the pizza up to his nose. Licking his lips, he raised a slice in a toasting fashion and nodded. Thinking a minute before he answered the slayer's question, he said around a mouthful of pizza, "Yep. She's pretty handy. We were talking and she wants to train like a slayer. Faith wanted to take point and train her."
Kimmie nodded, "Well with Faith teaching her she should be up to speed in no time." The innuendo was obvious and Xander just shook his head in mock ignorance. "Oh, come on. Between River and Faith then Buffy and Willow, which by the way all of the girls are happy about, maybe Slayer Prime and The Witch can both loosen up a bit. We're startin' to think you lot are putting Insta-Gay in our drinking water."
"Nope, none of that. At least I don't think. I'll have to check with Wills tho'. What about you?"
"Me?" Kimmie swallowed, "Me, I'm uh...I work too much." She gave the man a half smile and winked hoping he would take the hint.
The light danced in the girl's eyes and Xander took the opportunity. He leaned over and pressed their lips together. It was soft and warm and everything that he had been missing for quite some time. He pulled back and smiled wiping away some errant pizza grease that transferred onto her chin. After rubbing it away with the pad of his thumb, he leaned back as he drawled out, "Ya know, used to be a girl had to show up naked in my room for me to get that she liked me."
"Now?" Kimmie grinned back leaning into the touch of his hand against her cheek and lips.
"Seems like all it takes is pizza, a good beer and the talk of insta-gay in the drinking water." His mouth quirked in a smile and he shied away from the playful smack Kimmie gave.