Title: Mei-Mei

Rating: G and fluuuuuuuffy

Characters: Most of the crew, plus the Pirate Children and Alistair Caramia (the latter are mine, the rest are Joss's)

Pairings: Canon pairings. I will openly admit that I heavily, heavily favor Mal and Inara and the Reynolds Family. And I'm not going to even kid you that there's some S/K or Z/W in this one... There's just not enough time in my little two parter. The M/I's not even that heavy.

Summary: Yet another Pirate Children story.S et 8 years post-BDM, AU. Serenity's youngest baby girl is about to make her entrance into this 'verse. And this somehow became mostly from Ally's point-of-view...

Author's Note: Thanks for the great response! Look for more PC to come.

Part 2

Ally hides her yawn behind the back of her hand, encouraging the boy in her lap to continue to read aloud. She checks the watch on her wrist and wonders why this little one is still awake. “One more page, Abe, and I’ll take over. River pads silently into the room, dropping cross-legged onto the floor beside them in the common room off the dining area. “How is she?” Ally asks while Abe reads on. “The Mei-Mei will be here soon,” River says airily, plucking the data reader from Abe’s hand with a light smile and beginning to read where he left off. They’re still a day out from the nearest planet, which means the baby will be born out here in the Black. But River seems very calm, and Ally has learned that her serenity is always a good sign. River finishes the story as Ally starts to nod off, exhausted by a day of not only teaching the trouble-attracting trio, but also watching an increasingly agitated Abram Reynolds. “Danel. Children’s literature from the exodus from Earth-That-Was,” River whispers, rising to her feet. “He’s asleep.” Ally jolts awake, noticing the snoring boy in her arms. “Finally. Thank God.” “I’ll get him,” River tells the younger woman, lifting Abe. “Sleep.” Abe and River disappear down the hall towards Abe’s room. Ally stands, stretching out sore muscles and regaining her surroundings. Yawning again, she moves down to her room in the passenger dorms. After climbing down the ladder, River lays Abe on his lower bunk, careful not to wake a snoring Kacey. She exudes as much calm as she can for his sensitive, worried mind to soak up. “No worries, Abey. Your Mei-Mei will be here in the morning. Safe and sound. Noisy, too.”

***

“I’m going to kill you.” Judging by the pain in his hand at this moment, Mal’s pretty sure that’s a definite possibility. “Now, darlin’, let’s not be hasty… No killin’ ‘til we get to see that beautiful little girl, dong ma?” River gives him a “you’ve done this before; you should know not to talk” look and leans down to soothe Inara better than he currently is. “Just a few pushes left, Inara,” Simon says gently, “You’re doing great.” “An’ this is goin’ even quicker than Abe,” Mal says, trying to reassure her. The deadly glare he gets in return tells him that he’s not doing his job well. “Captain, no talking,” River says shortly. Mal does as he’s told: shuts his mouth and kisses his wife’s temple, letting her crush his fingers. ***

“Can’t sleep either, Miss Ally?” the usually gruff mercenary asks as Ally comes back up into the kitchen, collapsing into the chair. The young woman yawns again and tries to smile. “I wish I could, but things are a little crazy down there, with the labor and everything.” “Yeah. I usually try to be off ship for these things. Don’t got much of a choice, though, do I?” “Not this time, no,” Ally smiles genuinely this time. Jayne looks back down at his coffee cup. Ally looks down at the watch on her wrist. “It’s already five in the morning, and I can’t remember the last time I slept.” “Chasin’ the littlest brat?” “You know, calling them brats doesn’t hide your affection for them from me.” Jayne ignores her, standing. “Get ya some coffee, Miss Ally?” “Yes, thank you.” He pours her a mug and sets it in front of her.

***

“She’s beautiful,” Mal whispers as Simon places the newborn in Inara’s arms. “Just like her mama.”

***

“They ever tell you how lil’ Cobb got his name?” “No, I don’t think I’ve heard that story yet.” “Well, Wash an’ me were on a drop. Don’t remember why it was Wash an’ not the cap’n, but that’s how it worked out. Job went south.” “As I hear it often does,” Ally comments, sipping at the sludge. “More back then. Guys started shootin’ ‘fore we even got a couple feet from the shuttle. Wash got pinned down, surrounded. I picked all my guys off, then killed his right ‘fore they shot ‘im. Weren’t nothin’, you know? ‘Swhat I get paid for. ‘Sides, he had a little one on the way, an’ I sure as hell wa’n’t playin’ daddy. Turns out that little one was more’n halfway here by the time we got back. Drugs must’ve still been playin’ with Zoe’s head, ‘cause she insisted on namin’ the brat after me.” Ally grins at him, though he can’t see it, engrossed as he is in his coffee mug. Their first encounter had been awkward, Jayne being Jayne, but then the captain had laid down the law of “Hands off or I’ll cut ‘em off” about the young new tutor, and the mercenary is still unsure of just how to interact with her. “Well, that’s quite a story,” Ally says, finishing her coffee and trying not to make a face. “Ally, wake up Abey,” comes Kaylee’s voice through the intercom, her smile evident in her tone. “He’s got a baby sister.” Ally quickly rises from her chair, smile in place. “Another screamin’ brat,” Jayne says, not even trying to hide his affection. Ally hurries towards the crew quarters, slipping down the boys’ ladder and kneeling by Abe’s bedside. “Abe, buddy, wake up,” she whispers, shaking his side. He snuffles in his sleep but doesn’t wake. “Come on, time to get up. You have a sister.” His eyes open slowly, and he pouts a little, looking around confused. “Alright, Abe, we’re going to go see your new sister. And Mama and Daddy.” Abe’s brow wrinkles, but he extends his arms to Ally. “I’ll carry you after we get up the ladder, okay, Abe? I can’t carry you up.” Hand on his shoulder, she beckons him out of his bed and guides him over the ladder, going up behind him so he doesn’t fall. Once they’re up top, he yawns again and reaches up. She smiles and puts him on her hip, noticing that he still has Bó clutched in his fist. “The Mei-Mei’s here?” he finally asks when they’re halfway down to the infirmary, lifting his head off of her shoulder. “Yeah, Abe, she is. Are you ready to see her?” Mal meets them at the bottom of the stairs. Mal gives them a tired, stupid smile, probably the biggest Ally has ever seen on his face. “’Mornin’, Bubba. I’ve got a surprise for you.” Mal takes Abe from Ally and takes him into the infirmary. “Hey, Mama,” Abe smiles as the boys enter. Mal puts him down, and Abe hurries over to the bed, standing on his tiptoes to try and get a look at the bundle in his mother’s arms. Mal slides the chair over for him, lets him climb up and lean over. “This is Mei-Mei? She’s kinda small.” Mal chuckles, tousling his son’s hair. “Babies tend to be that way, Bubba. How big were you expectin’ her?” The boy shrugs, brow furrowed in concentration as he studies the newborn’s face, closed eyes, wrinkly skin. “She’s red.” “That’ll wear off,” Mal laughs again. “You were red, too.” “No way.” “Yes way,” Inara smiles at her son. He bites his lip, contemplating. “You can touch her, Bubba,” Mal encourages him. Abe reaches out a tentative finger as the newborn stretches out an arm and yawns. “Gently, Bubba,” Inara says softly. Abe touches his new sister’s tiny palm, which instinctively curls around the outstretched finger. “Whoa.” His eyes go wide, and his smile spreads like wildfire across his face. “She moves.” “Yeah, she moves,” Mal laughs, “She’s a person.” “Hi, Mei-Mei,” Abe grins, feeling her fingers curl around his forefinger. “I’m your brother.” “She has a name,” Mal tells him. “’Course she does,” Abe wrinkles his nose, tearing his eyes away from his sister to look at his father. “Mei-Mei.” “No, Abe, a real name,” Mal grins. “Well, alright, what is it?” Mal meets his wife’s eyes over their two children. “Serra.” “I like Mei-Mei better.”

***

“Wash is gonna set us down just long enough to refuel, sir. Then we’re inbound to Persephone again,” Zoe says, coming up behind the captain and his almost one-day-old daughter in the common room outside the infirmary. Mal is walking the length of the room, murmuring little secrets to his daughter while Inara sleeps. “Hmm?” Mal asks, looking up reluctantly. “Nothin’, sir,” Zoe grins. “You know, besides Mei-Mei, I ain’t heard a name for this little one yet.” “Abe prefers Mei-Mei. I have a feelin’ it’s gonna stick for awhile,” Mal says, his voice a mix of exhaustion, adrenaline, joy, and awe. “Heard you can’t get the boy away from his baby sister for more than a few minutes at a time… So, Mei-Mei?” Mal laughs. “No, no. Serra…” He meets Zoe’s eyes. “Serra Alleyne Reynolds.” Zoe gives only a slight show of surprise, her lips spreading slowly to a wide smile. “Well, that’s a mighty pretty name.” “Thought’ve it myself,” Mal grins cockily. “Serra after, well, her mama, obviously. And the other one, I just heard on the street somewhere you know. Found it kinda nice like.” “Don’t ruin this, sir,” Zoe continues to smile. She holds out her arms. “May I?” “Sure,” Mal says, though a little reluctant to let his precious baby girl out of his arms. He gently lays Serra in Zoe’s waiting arms. “There you are, Serra. This is Aunt Zoe. She’s a badass; don’t forget it.” “’Nara know you’re cursin’ in front of the newborn?” “Lesson number two, Serra: don’t tell Mama all the bad words Daddy says.” “Great way to start out life, sir,” Zoe says, cradling the baby against her chest. “She’s a mite small.” “That’s my girl,” Mal laughs. “Too impatient to get full-grown before she pops out.” “Ain’t no poppin’ involved.” “’Cept my fingers. Anyway, Doc said her size’s healthy, just on the smallish side of things. Nothin’ dangerous.” “No, she looks like a fighter, sir.” “How can you tell that? She’s been sleepin’ the whole time you’ve held her.” “Just can. It’s in her genes anyway. You know, if’n she got Inara’s side of things.” “All these womenfolk on my boat, giving me lip.” “She is awful pretty, though.” “Well, that’s definitely her mother’s side.” “I dunno, sir. You’re downright pretty if the light hits ya right and you’re wearin’ one of your fine cotton dresses.” “Thank you, Zoe. I think.” “Not a problem, sir.” She pauses, looks down at the sleeping little girl in her arms. Serra Alleyne Reynolds. “And thank you. Mal.” Mal nods. “Want her to be named after strong women. ‘Nara, you, my ma.” “Careful, sir, I think you’re getting soft on us.” That’s definitely a tease. Getting soft? He’s been pretty soft for over five years now. “I’m just hopin’ she grows up smart like her mama, badass like Aunt Zoe…” “I think that can be arranged. One thing, though; she does have three last names.” “Well, according to her brother, she only has one name: Mei-Mei.” “Not the worst as far as nicknames go.” “Nope. Not bad at all.”

el fin