Jayne's Gift
I don't know what it is, but I can't stop cranking out these silly little fics! This one is a companion piece to my Father's Day Fic... I love the fact that Mother's Day and Father's Day are so close to each other! I told y'all there was a story about Jayne and that rocking chair... so here it is:
Title: Jayne's Gift
Author: Paige (Paiger1218)
Series: Takes place in the Firefly Sushi!Verse
Rating: PG
Pairing: Mal/Inara with a bun in the oven; Simon/Kaylee implied
Word Count:1,618
Timeline: About a month or so before "Fatherhood"
Summary: The crew throws Inara a baby shower; guest appearances by the people of Avery
Disclaimer: They ain't mine. I'm just playing :)
It was Kaylee’s idea originally to throw a baby shower for Inara on Mother’s Day. Zoë and River giggled mischievously as they started talking about plans for it, and soon they dragged the rest of the crew, including Mal, into the affair. They’d stopped on Avery and headed into Paraiso to buy all the things they’d need, and Abigail had set up a room in hers’ and Abel’s house to have the gathering.
Jayne disappeared into his bunk for a long time, showing up at meals to fill his plate and go back to his room without a word to the crew.
“He’s up to something,” Simon said to Kaylee at dinner one night. The captain and Inara stayed in their bunk most meals lately, since Inara was so far along and had become very tired as of late.
Kaylee nodded at Simon, “I saw him on the cortex the other day, I think he was orderin’ somethin’” she replied.
“Probably for the shower,” Zoë said as she refilled her cup.
“Whaddya think he’d get for Inara? I mean, it ain’t exactly like Jayne’s got experience with babies or nothing,” Kaylee wondered out loud.
“Well, if his history is anything to gleam from, let’s all hope he isn’t ordering Alley’s first arsenal,” Simon said, taking a drink from his cup.
“Wouldn’t put it past him,” Zoë replied dryly.
“Speakin’ of gifts, what’d you get them, Zoë?” Kaylee asked curiously.
“No offense, little one, but I’m keepin’ that a secret for now,” Zoë replied gently.
Kaylee smiled as Simon took her hand.
River walked in then, humming a lullaby and wearing a smile on her face as she sat down to eat.
“Where have you been?” Simon asked inquisitively.
“Baby things,” River replied quietly, giving Simon a knowing smile.
“But River, we already bought her gifts today,” Simon said, confused.
“I know. Just been lookin’ in on Jayne’s baby things,” she replied happily.
“Oooh, River, what’s he got? Is it guns? Baby sized guns?” Kaylee asked, intrigued.
“It’s a surprise,” River admonished, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl and biting into it.
Zoë smiled, cutting her own apple as Simon and Kaylee cleared their dishes, disappointed at the lack of information.
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The next morning, the crew headed to the Stoddard’s house to help prepare for Inara’s party. Mal was having a hell of a time keeping Inara pre-occupied, so they knew they’d have little time before Mal would eventually give in and bring Inara to see the Stoddards.
The only person who hadn’t shown up yet was Jayne.
River, Kaylee, Simon, and Zoë had all placed their gifts in the Stoddard’s living room while Abigail was busy in the kitchen finishing up her meal and various foods that made everyone’s mouths water.
River had just started helping Abigail bring various things out to the kitchen table when Jayne walked in, carrying a rather large package in his hands. He looked different to everyone, almost like a kid in a candy store as he walked in and nodded to the Stoddards, placing his gift next to the others and joining the rest of the crew in the living room.
Zoë and Kaylee stopped hanging pink bunnies everywhere to look at Jayne’s gift. They looked at each other then and each woman shrugged, not knowing what to make of it.
“Definitely not guns,” River said quietly as she placed a cherry pie on the kitchen table in the adjoining room.
Jayne smiled then. “When’re they s’posed to get here?” he asked the others gruffly.
Simon, who was still staring at the awkwardly wrapped package, saw movement out of the corner of his eye and turned to look out the bay window to see Mal with a blindfolded Inara.
“They’re here,” he said.
“Okay, everybody take a seat and stay quiet ‘til Mal pulls that blindfold off his wife,” Abigail said excitedly.
Abel, who was sitting outside, signaled Mal to go on in the house. Mal smiled at him then, a happy gleam in his eye.
“Mal, really, this is getting absurd,” Inara said breathlessly as Mal opened the door and walked in.
“Okay, just a few more steps…there,” Mal said as he sat Inara on a big armchair in the middle of the living room, pulling her blindfold off.
The room simultaneously erupted in yells of “Surprise!” and Inara couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
“Oh, of course,” she said out loud as Kaylee immediately handed her a gift.
“Happy Mother’s Day, ‘Nara,” Mal said, gingerly kissing his wife’s forehead.
Inara had tears in her eyes. “This is so sweet, everyone,” she said.
“I don’t know what to say,” she added, emotion overcoming her.
Kaylee sat on the floor near Inara and took a hand in hers.
“Well? Open your gifts, ‘Nara, after all, this is your baby shower!” she squealed, happily.
“This was your idea, mei mei?” Inara asked, kissing Kaylee’s head.
Kaylee nodded happily.
“That it was, and she got the whole crew involved,” Mal said, looking at his wife knowingly.
“Well, thank you all,” Inara said quietly.
“’Nough of that…” Jayne suddenly said gruffly. Everyone stopped and looked at him.
Jayne paused, looking at everyone and broke into an impatient grin. “Open them presents, ‘Nara!” he said pointing at the pile of gifts.
Everyone let out a chuckle at that and Inara tended to the gift Kaylee had placed in her lap.
“That one’s from me,” Kaylee said softly as Inara opened the present.
Inside was an assortment of toys; a pink stuffed wind up lamb that played “Mary Had A Little Lamb” when you wound it; a plastic wrench to which Kaylee said “Girl’s gotta have her toys,”; a pink coverall; a pink gingham dress with a matching bow; and a baby carrier that Kaylee said Simon picked out.
“Thank you, Kaylee,” Inara said as she handed the box to Mal.
River handed Inara her gift which contained alphabet blocks, teething rings, and some baby bathtub toys which she said Sushi and Sashimi helped her to pick out. Inara smiled at River and thanked her for the thoughtful gifts.
Next was Simon’s gift which contained a number of bottles, safety locks, and a book about baby first aid.
Simon smiled sheepishly as he said “You just never know with babies,” as Mal looked the first aid book over.
“I knew you were our doctor for a reason,” Mal quipped.
Zoë handed Inara her gift and their eyes met, Inara giving Zoë an uncertain smile and Zoë returning with a knowing nod.
Inside the box were two blankets, with the name “Alleyne Washburn Reynolds” engraved on both. One was yellow; the other was a quilt with Hawaiian patches. The crew instantly recognized some of Wash’s more notorious patterns within the quilt.
Mal and Inara looked at Zoë as they held the quilt, their eyes going wide.
“That one’s from Wash,” she said quietly.
Inara let the tears come and got up to hug Zoë.
“Thank you,” she said tearfully.
“No,” Zoë said, “thank you.”
Mal swallowed at the sight and folded the blankets up carefully as he too gave Zoë a hug.
The next gift was from the Stoddard family. It was a beautiful rosewood crib already made up for the baby, containing toys and various items of clothing. Inara graciously thanked Abel and Abigail, as the rest of the crew passed around the items inside the crib.
Finally, Inara and Mal came to the last gift, the one everyone had been waiting for.
Before Inara could un-wrap the gift, however, Jayne handed her a small box. She opened it to find a tiny green Blue Sun tee and she let out a laugh as she held it up for everyone to see.
“Jayne, it’s so cute!” Kaylee said, looking at him and smiling. Jayne just smiled in return.
Mal nodded to Jayne as Inara moved on to the bigger gift. She un-wrapped it to reveal a hand-carved rocking chair and she gasped at the sight.
“Jayne!” she said, surprised.
Mal looked at the chair and then at Jayne.
“It’s amazing,” Simon said. “I had no idea…” he added.
“Weren’t nothin’” Jayne said, and everyone could swear he was blushing just a little.
“Been workin’ on it since you told us you were carryin’ a li’l one,” Jayne said, looking at the floor.
“Oh Jayne, it’s so beautiful,” Inara replied, running a hand over the smooth wood.
“He loves babies,” River said suddenly, smiling. “Got a soft spot for them,” she added, as Jayne looked away, definitely blushing now.
“Why Jayne, you big bad mercenary, I never knew,” Mal chuckled.
Jayne just grinned. “She’s right. I mean, they don’ discriminate or nothin’ and they’re little and helpless and this way you’ll get ‘er to quiet down easy,” he said to a stunned group.
“You… you actually know something about babies?” Simon asked shaking a little.
“Well, yeah. I practically raised my baby sis,” Jayne replied, looking at Simon seriously.
Simon nodded, at a loss for words and Kaylee just smiled at Simon, taking him in her arms as if to soothe his discomfort at Jayne’s ability with babies.
“I had no idea…” Mal said softly, Inara taking his hand in hers.
“This baby’s certainly bringing out some interesting sides of the crew,” she replied.
“Okay then, well, let’s eat,” Jayne said, standing to break the awkward revelation and causing everyone else to move along with him. He looked back and smiled at Inara as she sat in the chair he made and started rocking.
Inara looked at Jayne and mouthed “Thank you” to him. He simply nodded and followed everyone else to the kitchen table.
Title: Jayne's Gift
Author: Paige (Paiger1218)
Series: Takes place in the Firefly Sushi!Verse
Rating: PG
Pairing: Mal/Inara with a bun in the oven; Simon/Kaylee implied
Word Count:1,618
Timeline: About a month or so before "Fatherhood"
Summary: The crew throws Inara a baby shower; guest appearances by the people of Avery
Disclaimer: They ain't mine. I'm just playing :)
It was Kaylee’s idea originally to throw a baby shower for Inara on Mother’s Day. Zoë and River giggled mischievously as they started talking about plans for it, and soon they dragged the rest of the crew, including Mal, into the affair. They’d stopped on Avery and headed into Paraiso to buy all the things they’d need, and Abigail had set up a room in hers’ and Abel’s house to have the gathering.
Jayne disappeared into his bunk for a long time, showing up at meals to fill his plate and go back to his room without a word to the crew.
“He’s up to something,” Simon said to Kaylee at dinner one night. The captain and Inara stayed in their bunk most meals lately, since Inara was so far along and had become very tired as of late.
Kaylee nodded at Simon, “I saw him on the cortex the other day, I think he was orderin’ somethin’” she replied.
“Probably for the shower,” Zoë said as she refilled her cup.
“Whaddya think he’d get for Inara? I mean, it ain’t exactly like Jayne’s got experience with babies or nothing,” Kaylee wondered out loud.
“Well, if his history is anything to gleam from, let’s all hope he isn’t ordering Alley’s first arsenal,” Simon said, taking a drink from his cup.
“Wouldn’t put it past him,” Zoë replied dryly.
“Speakin’ of gifts, what’d you get them, Zoë?” Kaylee asked curiously.
“No offense, little one, but I’m keepin’ that a secret for now,” Zoë replied gently.
Kaylee smiled as Simon took her hand.
River walked in then, humming a lullaby and wearing a smile on her face as she sat down to eat.
“Where have you been?” Simon asked inquisitively.
“Baby things,” River replied quietly, giving Simon a knowing smile.
“But River, we already bought her gifts today,” Simon said, confused.
“I know. Just been lookin’ in on Jayne’s baby things,” she replied happily.
“Oooh, River, what’s he got? Is it guns? Baby sized guns?” Kaylee asked, intrigued.
“It’s a surprise,” River admonished, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl and biting into it.
Zoë smiled, cutting her own apple as Simon and Kaylee cleared their dishes, disappointed at the lack of information.
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The next morning, the crew headed to the Stoddard’s house to help prepare for Inara’s party. Mal was having a hell of a time keeping Inara pre-occupied, so they knew they’d have little time before Mal would eventually give in and bring Inara to see the Stoddards.
The only person who hadn’t shown up yet was Jayne.
River, Kaylee, Simon, and Zoë had all placed their gifts in the Stoddard’s living room while Abigail was busy in the kitchen finishing up her meal and various foods that made everyone’s mouths water.
River had just started helping Abigail bring various things out to the kitchen table when Jayne walked in, carrying a rather large package in his hands. He looked different to everyone, almost like a kid in a candy store as he walked in and nodded to the Stoddards, placing his gift next to the others and joining the rest of the crew in the living room.
Zoë and Kaylee stopped hanging pink bunnies everywhere to look at Jayne’s gift. They looked at each other then and each woman shrugged, not knowing what to make of it.
“Definitely not guns,” River said quietly as she placed a cherry pie on the kitchen table in the adjoining room.
Jayne smiled then. “When’re they s’posed to get here?” he asked the others gruffly.
Simon, who was still staring at the awkwardly wrapped package, saw movement out of the corner of his eye and turned to look out the bay window to see Mal with a blindfolded Inara.
“They’re here,” he said.
“Okay, everybody take a seat and stay quiet ‘til Mal pulls that blindfold off his wife,” Abigail said excitedly.
Abel, who was sitting outside, signaled Mal to go on in the house. Mal smiled at him then, a happy gleam in his eye.
“Mal, really, this is getting absurd,” Inara said breathlessly as Mal opened the door and walked in.
“Okay, just a few more steps…there,” Mal said as he sat Inara on a big armchair in the middle of the living room, pulling her blindfold off.
The room simultaneously erupted in yells of “Surprise!” and Inara couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
“Oh, of course,” she said out loud as Kaylee immediately handed her a gift.
“Happy Mother’s Day, ‘Nara,” Mal said, gingerly kissing his wife’s forehead.
Inara had tears in her eyes. “This is so sweet, everyone,” she said.
“I don’t know what to say,” she added, emotion overcoming her.
Kaylee sat on the floor near Inara and took a hand in hers.
“Well? Open your gifts, ‘Nara, after all, this is your baby shower!” she squealed, happily.
“This was your idea, mei mei?” Inara asked, kissing Kaylee’s head.
Kaylee nodded happily.
“That it was, and she got the whole crew involved,” Mal said, looking at his wife knowingly.
“Well, thank you all,” Inara said quietly.
“’Nough of that…” Jayne suddenly said gruffly. Everyone stopped and looked at him.
Jayne paused, looking at everyone and broke into an impatient grin. “Open them presents, ‘Nara!” he said pointing at the pile of gifts.
Everyone let out a chuckle at that and Inara tended to the gift Kaylee had placed in her lap.
“That one’s from me,” Kaylee said softly as Inara opened the present.
Inside was an assortment of toys; a pink stuffed wind up lamb that played “Mary Had A Little Lamb” when you wound it; a plastic wrench to which Kaylee said “Girl’s gotta have her toys,”; a pink coverall; a pink gingham dress with a matching bow; and a baby carrier that Kaylee said Simon picked out.
“Thank you, Kaylee,” Inara said as she handed the box to Mal.
River handed Inara her gift which contained alphabet blocks, teething rings, and some baby bathtub toys which she said Sushi and Sashimi helped her to pick out. Inara smiled at River and thanked her for the thoughtful gifts.
Next was Simon’s gift which contained a number of bottles, safety locks, and a book about baby first aid.
Simon smiled sheepishly as he said “You just never know with babies,” as Mal looked the first aid book over.
“I knew you were our doctor for a reason,” Mal quipped.
Zoë handed Inara her gift and their eyes met, Inara giving Zoë an uncertain smile and Zoë returning with a knowing nod.
Inside the box were two blankets, with the name “Alleyne Washburn Reynolds” engraved on both. One was yellow; the other was a quilt with Hawaiian patches. The crew instantly recognized some of Wash’s more notorious patterns within the quilt.
Mal and Inara looked at Zoë as they held the quilt, their eyes going wide.
“That one’s from Wash,” she said quietly.
Inara let the tears come and got up to hug Zoë.
“Thank you,” she said tearfully.
“No,” Zoë said, “thank you.”
Mal swallowed at the sight and folded the blankets up carefully as he too gave Zoë a hug.
The next gift was from the Stoddard family. It was a beautiful rosewood crib already made up for the baby, containing toys and various items of clothing. Inara graciously thanked Abel and Abigail, as the rest of the crew passed around the items inside the crib.
Finally, Inara and Mal came to the last gift, the one everyone had been waiting for.
Before Inara could un-wrap the gift, however, Jayne handed her a small box. She opened it to find a tiny green Blue Sun tee and she let out a laugh as she held it up for everyone to see.
“Jayne, it’s so cute!” Kaylee said, looking at him and smiling. Jayne just smiled in return.
Mal nodded to Jayne as Inara moved on to the bigger gift. She un-wrapped it to reveal a hand-carved rocking chair and she gasped at the sight.
“Jayne!” she said, surprised.
Mal looked at the chair and then at Jayne.
“It’s amazing,” Simon said. “I had no idea…” he added.
“Weren’t nothin’” Jayne said, and everyone could swear he was blushing just a little.
“Been workin’ on it since you told us you were carryin’ a li’l one,” Jayne said, looking at the floor.
“Oh Jayne, it’s so beautiful,” Inara replied, running a hand over the smooth wood.
“He loves babies,” River said suddenly, smiling. “Got a soft spot for them,” she added, as Jayne looked away, definitely blushing now.
“Why Jayne, you big bad mercenary, I never knew,” Mal chuckled.
Jayne just grinned. “She’s right. I mean, they don’ discriminate or nothin’ and they’re little and helpless and this way you’ll get ‘er to quiet down easy,” he said to a stunned group.
“You… you actually know something about babies?” Simon asked shaking a little.
“Well, yeah. I practically raised my baby sis,” Jayne replied, looking at Simon seriously.
Simon nodded, at a loss for words and Kaylee just smiled at Simon, taking him in her arms as if to soothe his discomfort at Jayne’s ability with babies.
“I had no idea…” Mal said softly, Inara taking his hand in hers.
“This baby’s certainly bringing out some interesting sides of the crew,” she replied.
“Okay then, well, let’s eat,” Jayne said, standing to break the awkward revelation and causing everyone else to move along with him. He looked back and smiled at Inara as she sat in the chair he made and started rocking.
Inara looked at Jayne and mouthed “Thank you” to him. He simply nodded and followed everyone else to the kitchen table.