The Wish Part One Author:JJ Subject: Rayne, Saylee, Mara Rating: NC-17 Disclaimer: Ain't hers, to make coin off of. These here characters (like yours truly) belong solely to Joss and the hwoon dahn's at 20 century fox, dong ma? (Thank you, Jayne!) Summary: Post BDM. Rayne, Saylee, Mara. Takes place one year after The Need. As Simon and Kaylee are having troubles. River and Jayne deepen their relationship. Author's Note: I just couldn't let go of the crew of Serenity just yet ( or actually they wouldn't let me go yet especially after the epilogue LOL Simon and Kaylee was not happy with the way I left things off) I hope you enjoy this one as much as you did the last.

Prologue-- Red-Headed Stepchild

"She's not staying on this ship Mal!" Inara yelled.

"But 'Nara, it's not like I want her here either, but she's pregnant, I can't just turn my back on her," Mal said.

"It's Saffron, Mal, you've turned your bare ass on her once," Inara yelled then stormed off the bridge. Mal followed her.

"She needs medical attention, bao bei. If Zoe and Jayne hadn't stopped that shiong-muh duh duang-ren* from kicking her, her innocent new born baby would be dead now," Mal explained to Inara.

Zoe, Jayne, and Mal had went to Athens to see if their was a buyer for some extra supplies they had salvaged from an Alliance cruiser. Instead they found a beaten and very pregnant Saffron being sold into slavery and the man who purchased her was already beating on her before he paid.

"It's not that I don't understand why you saved her, " Inara touched Mal's shirt. "I'm glad you saved her, but she doesn't belong on Serenity. She should be dropped off at the nearest medical facility on the nearest moon."

"She doesn't want to go, she has a lot of warrants out for her and if she gets pinned they're gonna take her baby," Mal said looking at her through the infirmary's window. Simon was stitching up a bad cut as Saffron lovingly touched her belly.

Inara sighed, "As soon as that child's born Mal--"

"She's off our boat," Mal nodded and Inara walked away. Saffron on Serenity or around Mal was never a good thing.

*violent lunatic

Chapter 1-- The Crying Game

"I just made and observation as a doctor!" Simon sighed as he watched a sleepy eyed River, Jayne, Mal and Inara come out of their respective bunks in the middle of the night for the third time that week.

"What did you say now, genius?" Jayne asked Simon.

"I just said that maybe she isn't getting pregnant because of the fumes she's inhaling in all day long, I mean she is a mechanic," Simon responded like it was nothing and Inara growled.

"Ye Soo, do you not learn anything in the last two days? The last thing she wants to here from you is accusations," Inara grabbed his shoulders.

"I told you he was a boob," River yawned.

"She already thinks that you blame her," Inara began.

"And she already feels as if it's her fault," Zoe said behind them. They all turned and waved at Zoe tiredly.

"Look I'm just trying to find a solution, I'm a doctor, it's what I do!" Simon said.

"Stop being a doctor and be her man, she needs you right now to tell her that it's okay, that you'll keep trying, and that you love her no matter what. She doesn't need to be diagnosed, she needs to be loved," Inara said and River slapped him upside the head.

"Boob."

"I just want her to stop hurting," Simon said downcast, rubbing his head.

"Then go in there beg her for your forgiveness so we can all go back to sleep," Mal yawned and Simon went to the hatch of their bunk and a wrench came flying out of nowhere, Simon barely ducked it.

"I guess he'll be sleeping in the common area tonight," Jayne laughed and River poked him in the side.

That's exactly where they found him the next morning sleeping on the floor with just his robe covering him.

"That is so damn sad," Mal said as he stepped over his doctor.

"He could have slept in the infirmary," Zoe said, mixing her son some milk and cereal.

"Simon would've work all night if he was in the infirmary," River bent down to wake her brother. She shook him gently, but he just yawned.

"Wake up doc!" Jayne yelled and kicked him square in the hind parts and Simon jumped up.

"Da da," Walker said when he saw Jayne and held his hands out. Jayne smiled and shook his head. Zoe rolled her eyes.

"He is convinced that your his Da da," Zoe shook her head.

"I can feel Wash spinning as we speak," Mal joked.

"You're just sore he don't call you, Da da," Jayne picked up little Walk and took the bottle from Zoe and fed him.

"If you did more things like that he would," Zoe said to Mal and Walk gurgled happily in Jayne's arms.

"Hey I'm happy being the uncle that visits, gives the kids gifts, and then retires to my bunk," He said.

Kaylee walked into the room just as Simon was standing up, Kaylee turned to leave, but Simon stopped her.

"It's okay you can stay, I'm going," he said and he walked pasted her. Kaylee went to the table and sat down with a sad sigh. Everyone was quiet at the table until Inara spoke.

"Kaylee, would you like to talk later," she asked and Kaylee nodded.

"Yes, I would like that a lot" she said.

"Hey I got somethin to say and I ain't waitin to pow wow later," Jayne handed little Walker back to Zoe and sat down next to Kaylee.

"Look, Kaylee, cut Simon a break, you're probably the first girl he ever been this serious with, and men say stupid things, why do you think it took you two so long to hook up in the first place?" he said touching her back. " 'Sides I learned whatever you go through, sometimes it's best if you go through it together."

Everybody except for River looked at Jayne shocked and Kaylee threw herself into his arms and gave him a hug.

"Pansy," Mal said to Jayne.

"Yeah, yeah," he said.

Simon went down to Jayne's old bunk where Saffron was staying to check on her. She was still very bruised on her face, but the swelling had gone down. When Mal first rescued her she could barely talk, she had laryngitis from screaming. The entire left side of her face was swollen and she had huge bruises all over her body. She was covered in old scars, a very obvious suicide attempt, marred her wrists. And she was very pregnant, possibly eight months she was pretty underweight so he could actually tell for sure.

"Go away," she said when she heard the hatch open.

"As your Doctor, I can't,"Simon touched her hand. "Don't you want me to check on your baby," he asked and she nodded. "Have you been having any abdominal pains?"

"No, just kicking," she said, Simon checked her face.

"Well, your face is healing nicely," he said.

"Thanks to you," she smiled and then winced. Simon smiled. She grabbed his hand.

"Thank you so much for taking care of me, I know I don't deserve it," Saffron looked up at him with tearful eyes, and Simon sighed.

"I would do it for anyone in your condition, I'm a doctor and it's my job, dong ma?" he said.

"But I don't deserve it, not after the things I did to your crew, the things I did to Mal," she cried, softly.

"That was the past, if Mal hated you, you wouldn't be on Serenity," he said and she shook her head.

"Mal didn't want me here, Zoe is the one who actually felt sorry for me, she talked Mal into taking me in.," she sniffed.

"Mal is the Captain, he wouldn't agree to take you in, if he didn't see the good in doing so," he explained.

"I'm going to be a terrible mother," she sobbed.

"Every new mother thinks that, Saffron, you'll work out just fine," Simon smiled and she hugged him.

Zoe was bringing Saffron some food when she walked in on Saffron hugging Simon. Her eyes darkened for a second. What game was Saff trying to play now, she thought.

"I brought you some food, hash browns, real eggs and even fruit," Zoe said with a forced smile as Simon pulled himself away from Saffron with some difficulty since she was holding him so tight.

"I will check on you later, Saffron, enjoy your meal," Simon left the two women alone. As soon as he left Saffron reached for the food, but Zoe held it from her reach.

"Whatever you're conjuring up to do in your twisted little mind, stop," Zoe said and Saffron sighed innocently.

"What are you talking about?"

"Leave him alone, Saffron, he's got a woman," Zoe said, her intuition ringing alarms in her head.

"Simon is just my doctor and the only one on this boat who I can talk to," she said, wiping away a tear.

"Yeah well, you need someone to talk to you talk to me. I talked Mal into giving you a chance to stay here and have your baby in a safe place because I felt for you, as one mother to another," Zoe handed her the tray of food. "Don't make me regret my decision. I catch you wrapping your arms around Simon again, and you'll be off this boat so fast your head will spin, dong ma?"

Saffron nodded as she began eating her breakfast. Zoe left her alone believing she got her point across. Saffron sat in her bunk and smiled as the baby kicked.

"Shh, it's okay, Mama's working on getting you a core bred Daddy," she smiled.