my mama taught me well.

[abetzie]

When Maya Washburne goes to bed, it’s after a long job that nabbed the entire crew good coin. Of course, it wasn’t without some gunfire, but what’s a little firefight between trades? Clad in a white tank top and shorts, she face plants on her pillow, but not before putting a gun underneath. Some things she learned from her uncle Jayne are just common sense. Sure, they probably won’t be boarded in the middle of the night, but she’s heard the story about Jubal Early plenty enough. She’s so tired she forgets to take off her necklace, the one her mother has the identical copy of - the leaf. There’s a tattoo on her shoulder to match, that her mother hadn’t been so fond of. Because it was something inked on her skin. But Maya’d wanted it, and it meant something.

The next morning, she’s still face down in a pillow. Warm and very, very comfortable. Eyes still closed, she knows that any minute now her alarm will go off. She’s always up before it, but she waits and only hears the very faint sound of a footstep - too close and light to be any one on the crew outside of her bunk. Except for River, maybe, but she’s flying.

Up before she can think about it, Maya has a gun pointed at whoever is in her bunk, even still a little groggy. “Who the hell?!” Then she looks around a little. WHAT the hell??”


Wash had woken up in the middle of the night, and after a trip to the bathroom had gone to the bassinet to check on Maya. He knew she was most likely asleep - thankfully, she begun sleeping longer at night - but he couldn’t help just checking on her, gently brushing her cheek before going back to bed. At least that was the aim, until he found a gun pointed in his face, and he wheeled backwards, his eyes wide. “Shen sheng de gao wan!” he exclaimed, it still dark, so he couldn’t see much of who was in their room. “Who the hell are you?”

“You’re in my bunk, you tell me!”

But then, she pauses, narrowing her eyes. Reaching for a light, she keeps her gun on him, hand skirting the wall. Then, a switch is flipped and she has to blink to see. She stares though, and her gun immediately lowers. “O we de shangdi...”

Wash stared at the woman in front of him, young, hair wild like Zoe’s, but he was more concerned with the gun. “Zoe...” he called out, hoping that his wife would have at least some of the answers. But he realized something. “What have you done with my daughter?” There was no sign of the bassinet, or his daughter, and he fought back a wave of panic.

The tone in Wash’s voice gets Zoe up with a gun in hand, and she makes her way into the room. The girl though, stands there, blinking at Wash, looking for all the world like she’s going to fall over. But then she sees Zoe, and she looks...different. Younger and...different.

Zoe doesn’t point the gun at her, not right away.

Maya opens her mouth. “...What...” She trails off though, actually taking a step back a little. “What’s going on?”

“I... I dunno,” Wash said, taking a step closer to Zoe, but not looking away from the girl. “But you ain’t answering my question. Where’s Maya?”

She looks at him. “I am Maya.”

Zoe reaches out, and her fingers wrap around Wash’s wrist.

Wash’s mouth dropped open, and he glanced at Zoe, trying to make sense of what this... person was saying. He ran his fingers through his hair, trying to look for the words to say, failing and blowing out a breath. “I... what?”

“You...you’re...” She sits heavily on the bed, trying to think, to understand. Then, Maya looks back up at Wash, voice quiet and a little shaky. “You’re...” But she can’t quite get it out.

“Prove it,” Zoe says, not as sharply as she could, but still wary.

Maya looks up, a lopsided but still confused smile on her face as her hand goes to her neck. “Leaf on the wind.”

Wash took in a sharp intake of breath as she said the words that only Zoe and Mal would ever know about, taking a step back in shock. “Wha... how?” He was still trying to process the fact that his less than three month old daughter was standing in front of him, grown up.

Zoe steps forward though, putting the gun on the dresser. “Maya?”

The girl nods. “This is...I said goodnight to you, we...had dinner together in the galley and I said goodnight, and this is weird. This is so...” But her focus shifts to Wash, and she just stares at him.

“You’re supposed to be twelve weeks old,” Wash said, leaning against the dresser to help support him. “Not...?” He trailed off, shaking his head, trying to make sense of it and failing.

Maya can’t stop looking at him, this man she’s heard about her entire life. “Twenty-one,” she says of his unasked question about her age. “You...you’re my dad. You’re...” She stands up, walking closer, slowly.

And that’s when it truly hits Wash. The fact that Zoe has to bring up their daughter on her own, that she will grow up never knowing him, other than the stories that Zoe, and the other crew members will tell her, because of one stupid accident. Living proof is somehow right here, right now. He can’t do anything but stare at her right now, unsure what the hell he should be feeling.

Zoe’s watching this, her husband and their grown up daughter - something she didn’t think she’d ever see. Even with the village, she never thought she’d be here long enough for Maya to be a full grown adult. But she’s silent, not wanting to do or say anything just yet.

Maya points to the leaf on her shoulder. “Mom flipped out, but I told her you’d think it was awesome. Tell me I was right.”

He reached out for the dresser behind him, using it to sit down on the floor. He had to sit before he fell down. He looked up at the girl - no, woman, who now he really looked, could see the resemblance to Zoe, his eyes suddenly filled with tears. “I... yeah, it’s awesome,” he nodded, agreeing with her. He’d had no idea that his stupid mantra would have such an effect on his family.

“I’ve wanted to meet you my entire life,” Maya says quietly, and she sinks to the ground with him, looking right at him. Her own eyes are shining with tears. “Pictures and stories are everything. But I just want to hug you. I’ve always wanted a hug from my dad.”

Wash glanced up at Zoe, unsure what the hell was going on, but he shuffled over to Maya, tentatively touching her on the shoulder, before pulling her into a hug.

It doesn’t take much more than the hug for Maya to cry. It’s overwhelming, it’s...it’s her dad, and she holds onto him tightly, pressing her face down against his shoulder. She doesn’t even know what to say, she just holds on.

Zoe swallows around a lump in her throat, still unmoving as she watches, trying to process everything that’s happening.

“Hey,” Wash murmured quietly as she burst into tears. One thing he certainly wasn’t used to was girls crying on his shoulder. It was something Zoe so rarely did. He stroked Maya’s hair, trying to soothe her.

Pulling back just enough to look at him again, her hands move over his face, and over his ears. “Mom always says I have your ears,” she says with a watery laugh. “And your smile. I have your smile.” Finally, she turns and stands, then goes to Zoe and they hug, Zoe looking at Wash over Maya’s shoulder.

Wash smiled at Maya in return. “Can’t say I’ve ever paid much attention to my ears,” he admitted. They were just kind of there.

He stood up, shrugging at Zoe, unsure of what to say, or even what to do now. Everything had changed in an instant, and he was floundering a little. “Zoe?”

Zoe finally pulls back from Maya, and the two of them are standing side by side - same crazy hair, almost the same height. Same skin tone, same eyes. But Zoe has no idea what to do either. “We just went from havin’ an infant to an adult daughter. Don’t really know...what to do.” Crazy, gorram village. “Wash you wanna make coffee or...somethin’.”

Wash nodded, looking between the two women, before going back and throwing on a t-shirt (thankfully, he had at least been wearing pajama pants), then going through to the kitchen to start making coffee. He leant heavily against the counter, both hands on it, trying to work out just what the ruttin’ hell the village was doing this time.

Zoe asks Maya to give them a minute before heading to the kitchen. She stands next to Wash, clearing her throat. “She doesn’t remember the village. But she has pictures. Of you and her. She just...can’t remember.”

Wash didn’t turn, just stared at the counter. “She got something to take back,” he said, fighting back the emotion he felt. Relief was a large part of it, but also sadness that he would miss out on seeing his daughter grow up. But it was obvious that Zoe and the others had talked about him, so at least he wasn’t forgotten. “We’ve got an adult daughter. How the hell did that happen?”

Zoe opens her mouth, then closes it again before putting a hand on Wash’s shoulder, making him turn to her. “You okay, bao bei?” she asks softly, knowing he’s not. At least not as much as he wants her to think.

“I dunno,” he admitted as he turned to look at Zoe. “I mean...I’m kinda stuck on how right now, without thinking too much about what she’s dealin’ with. To suddenly have me around, after twenty one years. Twenty one! It’s... what if I’m not the dad she thinks I am?”

“You don’t think she’s just...Wash, I think she’s just glad to see you,” Zoe says gently. I think whatever happened, it’s for you. Both of you. And it’s good. Whatever it is, she needs it. So do you.”

Wash closed his eyes, then reached out for Zoe, pulling her into a hug. “I’m scared by it,” he admitted quietly. “But... glad for it as well, if that makes sense?”

Maya’s standing in the hallway, watching this, watching her mother reassure her father. And she can’t describe, can’t even...as River would say, quantify it. Her mother never so much as looked at anyone, so to see her with him was something. Clearing her throat a little, she wets her lips. “What if I ain’t the kind of daughter you’d think I’ll be?”

Wash looked up at her, keeping an arm around Zoe, shaking his head. “You can be whoever you want to be, an’ you’ll still be my daughter,” he said. “I dunno what you’ve been told about me, after all.”

Maya grins, and it is so much like Wash that Zoe can’t help but shake her head in wonder. “What I’ve been told, let’s see. Love at first frisk? Oh, and mom not talking to you for a year. I hope I can keep my standards that high.” She walks in a little further and sits on the table. “Crazy Ivans. I’m going to learn that one, just to make you proud. You were the best pilot in the ‘verse. Everyone knew it. I’ve always known it.”

She tilts her head to the side. “I have more dinosaur stuff than I know what to do with. They all make sure I have dinosaur stuff.”

Wash laughed at the mention of love at first frisk, giving Zoe a fond look. “Stay away from smart-ass pilots with mustaches,” he said, pouring the coffee, handing Zoe a cup, and then Maya one, and pulling out a chair and sitting down. “Everyone got you so much dinosaur stuff when you were born here,” he said with a fond smile.

Zoe sits on one side of Maya so that they can both look at her from where she’s sitting up on the table. “I’m pretty sure that’ll be your first word.”

Smiling again, Zoe looks at the two of them and just shakes her head. “This is so crazy. I just...we went on a run today. Or...yesterday. Whatever. People talk. Because between us and uncle Jayne and all of our guns we probably look certifiable. No one’s messed with us in a long time. And the Feds....they just don’t. Not after Miranda.” She’s been told the story, made Mal tell her over a bottle of something one night.

Wash gave Zoe a long look, then turned back to Maya. “Gun totin’ daughter, huh? Not surprised, given who your mom is,” he said with a small laugh. “You still runnin’ the same kind of life?” he asked.

“Ummm, yeah, I think? Livin’ on the boat, mom and Mal are in charge. Tradin’ things and such, but we stay planet side longer. That’s somethin’ mom always says.” She feels weird talking about Zoe like that when she’s in the room. “Sorry...you always say. Sometimes for weeks at a time.”

Wash raised his eyebrows. “Zoe don’t cope so well stuck planet side for any length of time. I don’t either, not normally.”

Maya just shrugs. “Don’t know what to tell you. It’s always been like that. Little Mal and Aliyah make it so we stop a little more, on account of ‘Nara wantin’ them to go to some kind of schoolin’ every so often.”

Zoe chokes on her coffee. “You say Little Mal?”

“Wait. Seriously?” Wash said, putting his coffee down to stare at Maya. “Mal and Inara?” He looked at Zoe and burst out laughing. They’d finally got their act together?

“So...they weren’t always together?” Maya asks, guessing by their reactions.

“Uh. No,” Wash said, shaking his head. “When... well, Inara left Serenity, an’ hadn’t come back properly when... Miranda happened.” And he’d died, but he wasn’t going to say that. Not now.

“Huh,” Maya says, nodding a little. “Well, it’s Mal, ‘Nara, and their two kids. Me and Mom. Jayne, River, and Simon and Kaylee. River pilots. I’m learning. Well, I’ve learned. Just someone, not saying who, takes issue with me not bein’ on a gun when we already have a pilot.”

Wash couldn’t help smiling at that, glancing at Zoe. He suspects it’s Mal, but Zoe would object to not having her daughter close. Not when she could keep a close eye on her. “Always thought you might like to learn how to fly,” he said wistfully.

“I love it. I love the freedom and the way she feels, the way she responds? It’s...freeing.” And she knows he knows what she’s talking about which makes this even better.

That turned Wash’s smile into a proud one. It was what had drawn him to flying in the first place and the reason he loved being on Serenity was how she responded to him. “Ain’t nothing better,” he agreed.

“Y’know. This is weird as hell but... I’m getting used to it, sweetie,” he said turning slightly to address Zoe.

Zoe nods, a hand reaching over and going to Wash’s knee. “Well. Don’t gotta worry about terrible twos,” she smirks.

Maya watches, completely transfixed on the pair of them. “This is...all I wanted as a kid.”

Wash looked at her, frowning. “What, bao bei?” he asked, wanting to know just what she wanted.

She goes quiet for a second, not sure if she should say anything, or if she should tell him in private. Her hands wrap around her mug and she takes a sip, buying time.

“Mom,” she gestures. “Happy. Really happy. You...Kaylee used to tell me to make a wish on my birthday? I think I wished for you until I was ten.”

Wash was silent for a long moment, before standing up, putting his hand on her shoulder to try and reassure her. “I... I’m sorry you never got to know me,” he said quietly, forgetting for a moment to try to be a father, and just being one. Naturally. “An’ that your mom never had me with her. I’m proud of her. Proud of both of you.”

Leaning forward, Maya hugs him again, closing her eyes tightly. She doesn’t want to let go, she just...wants to remember this. Never forget it.

Zoe finds herself choked up again, and she bites on the inside of her cheek, trying not to cry.

“I’ve always wanted to say this,” Maya says as she pulls away just enough to look at him. And she smiles, almost shy. “Wo ai ni, daddy.”

Wash gave her a small smile, fighting not to cry at this. It wasn’t manly, or something like that, to be crying, but it was hard. He leaned in, kissing the top of her forehead. “Love you, Maya.”

Zoe looks at the pair of them, then sighs a little, shaking her head. “It’s late. And I wish I could say I’m wide awake, but until an hour ago, I had an infant to take care of,” she smirks.

“I was only goin’ to the bathroom,” Wash said with a wry smile. “I just stopped by, checking on Maya. An’ look what happened.” He looked at his coffee. “At least I can sleep after drinkin’ coffee.”

“And lucky me, just got a full night’s sleep,” Maya says wryly. “It’s okay, you two go. I’ll occupy myself somehow.”

Wash looked at her, fighting back a yawn. “Television, books, all kinds of things. Just need a few more hours sleep.” He looked at Zoe. “Come on, wife. Bedtime.”

Zoe stands and leans against Wash. “Night, Maya,” she says, marveling at her daughter for a second before following Wash.

Maya finds a couple of books and reads for an hour or two. Then, quietly, she creeps to her parent’s room and pushes open the door carefully. Her mom’s curled up against her dad, and they look like they’re wrapped up in each other. She just stares, something between a frown and sheer happiness on her features before she finally turns away, disappearing to her room again and closing the door.

(ooc: pre-fabbed due to being all busy and stuff. Maya will have a post for canon mates tomorrow!)