Waterloo Bridge: Part 1
Title: First Meeting
Series Title: Waterloo Bridge
Author: jayneswoman
Rating: PG13
Fandom: Characters from Firefly
Word Count: 2530
Summary: Jayne and River meet in War-Torn London of the 1940’s
Warning: Full of Rayne goodness. Beware if you don’t enjoy this non-canon pairing in a non-Firefly setting.
Disclaimer: Joss is Boss. I’m just borrowing his characters for fun!!
Thanks to bookaddict43 for beta-ing!
The other chapters can be found here.
Author’s Note: I was inspired to write this by the wonderful lady_cleo2001 ’s Bound series, making River and Jayne as soul mates through the generations, still finding each other and loving one another in different time periods. I recommend her Lessons in Latin, and Fluffy Pink Things series in particular. This piece is not directly connected to lady_cleo2001’s, but I wanted to acknowledge her inspiration.
I was also inspired by “Waterloo Road”, a wonderful romantic weepy film, made in 1940 and starring Robert Taylor and Vivien Leigh. But don’t worry, the ending will be positively happy compared to the angst-driven ending of this wonderful film.
It’s a drama set in the war-torn Britain of the 1940’s, with River and Jayne (or River and Drew as I call them here) meeting and falling in love. I hope you enjoy it!
I have included a glossary of British war-time slang at the end of the story. (Please let me know if there are other words that you don't understand, and I will amend the entry to include those too.) There are also mouse roll-over quick definitions.
Thank you guinny_hamilton for making me this lovely banner!
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London: during the Blitz (Autumn 1942)
River Tam hurried home after a hard day of rehearsals. She knew that she should be grateful for the work and the income it provided. So many people were struggling to clothe and feed themselves in this time of war. Rationing was taking its toll, and if you lived in the city, and couldn’t grow vegetables or keep chickens to supplement your rations, then you just had to ‘make do’. But ‘making do’ didn’t keep the wolf from the door, and the wolf was most definitely knocking for River. She was dog tired and hungry.
Her stomach rumbled loudly. She bitterly regretted leaving the theatre in a hurry without having a bite to eat. Her exhausting day had taken its toll.
She was crossing Waterloo Bridge when the air raid siren sounded. “Damn and blast!” she swore, “and I was nearly home.”
She ran towards the nearest tube station, but fell when her heel got caught in a crack between the paving stones.
“Can I help ya, Miss?” a deep voice asked, hands slipping under her arms to pull her safely to her feet.
River sucked in a breath as the pain stabbed sharply.
Her rescuer bent down to check her ankle causing River’s breath to catch in her throat. The gentle pressure of firm fingers against the smooth skin of her ankle. She wished she had put on some stockings, but in wartime they were hard to find.
“Does it hurt?” the man asked, looking up at her.
Lord, he has such blue eyes, she thought. “A little,” she whispered.
He stood up, his arms reaching round her waist to support her. “Lemme help ya get somewhere safe…”
“Thank you, Sir,” River answered politely as colour rose to her cheeks. He was at least 6 foot tall, and with those piercing blue eyes…
The stranger smiled, dimples softening his features. “Miss, let’s get ya somewhere safe…” he repeated, looking around, unsure where to go.
“My shoe,” she whispered.
He bent back down to retrieve it. “I’m afraid the heel is broken,” he apologised.
“Never mind,” she murmured, slipping off the other shoe. “The nearest tube station is just over there,” she pointed across the street, “and the name is River. River Tam.”
The stranger picked up her other shoe and helped her across the road to the temporary air raid shelter.
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River gasped in pain as they slowly made their way down the steps.
“This is ridiculous,” he groaned in exasperation.
Great, thought River, he’s going to leave me to get down these stairs myself. It will take me forever…
The stranger took her by surprise, leaning down and as if she weighed no more than a feather, scooped her up in his arms. When they got to the bottom of the stairs, River was disappointed to be set back on her feet again, but was glad that he kept an arm round her to stop her from falling.
The tunnels in the tube station were tightly packed and the stranger kept her close; shielding her body with his own. Accustomed to the crush, River made her way over to a wall. She pressed her back against it, sighing in relief. At least it gave the impression that she had more space.
“Thank ya, Miss Tam,” said the stranger, “I’m new to this city and didn’t know where ta go…”
“No, thank you, Mr…?”
He smiled. She wanted to know his name.
“Lieutenant Jayne. Ma’am. Andrew Jayne, but my friends call me Drew.”
“Not Jayne?” she teased.
“Not unless they want a thick ear,” he growled.
River smirked as she commented, “I’ve touched a raw nerve.”
“Years of teasin’,” he admitted.
“I understand,” she rested her hand on his arm in sympathy. Looking up into his eyes she explained, “River isn’t exactly a common name.”
“What did you get called?” he asked.
“Anything to do with water: drip or drippy was common, but trickle stuck. You know, like treacle, because I had a sweet tooth…”
“Had a sweet tooth?” he asked, eyebrows raised, challenging her to be honest with him.
“Have,” she admitted.
“Kids can be cruel.”
She nodded in agreement. She was cold, and was making an effort not to let it show. “You’re not from around here?”
“Can ya tell?” he grinned.
“American?”
“United States Army Air Force*, Ma’am,” he saluted her.
She smiled up at him. “Over paid, over sexed and over here?” she teased, quoting the popular saying which expressed the resentment of British Men to these damn Yanks coming over and stealing our women.
It was his turn to blush.
“You don’t have to answer that,” she was quick to take back the comment after realizing how rude it had sounded. “We’re all very glad that you’ve come over to join in the war effort.”
“I hope to start active duty soon,” he sighed, obviously eager to attack the enemy.
“Good luck,” she whispered, standing on tip toes to kiss him on the cheek.
One of his hands rested in the small of her back just as she stepped away.
River gasped again, as she unexpectedly put her weight on the injured ankle. Drew stepped closer, bringing his arm round her waist.
“Steady there,” he joked, looking into her face. She had suddenly gone very pale. “I think ya need to sit down, Miss Tam.”
“I think you’re right,” she answered with a weak smile, “and I told you already, call me River.”
“But we only just met…”
Both were keenly aware of how close together they were standing. River rested her hand on his chest to steady herself and Drew noticed she was shivering. Quickly he took his coat off and slipped it round River’s shoulders, hoping it would shield her from the cold of the tube station.
Heavens, he fills that uniform right out, she thought with a blush, watching the muscles stretch the fabric of his jacket.
He helped her sit down and sat down beside her. She let her head rest against his shoulder. Hmmm, he makes a comfy pillow, she thought. Reaching over Drew brought both her feet to rest on his knee eliciting a gasp from River as his firm fingers assessed her injury once more.
“Miss Tam?”
She looked up with a smile. “I told you, call me River.”
“Then ya’ll have to call me Drew,” he flirted back. “I’m pretty sure you’ve sprained ya ankle.”
“What will Madame say?” she whispered.
Drew reached into his pocket, pulled out a clean handkerchief and began to bind her ankle. “Ya’ll have ta put somethin’ cold on this when ya get home, ta take down the swellin’.”
“I’ve got bandages at home to bind it tightly.”
“And make sure ya put yer ankle up like this, and rest it as much as ya can. It’ll heal quicker that way.”
Looking down into her face, he was glad to see that some colour was returning to her cheeks. “River,” he said with a smile, “Have ya had anything to eat?”
She shook her head. “Not since this morning,” she admitted.
“No wonder yer faint. And we have no idea when it will be safe to leave.”
“I wanted to hurry home, so I left without eating,” River tried to explain.
“Lemme see, I have some chocolate here somewhere…” he looked through his pockets.
“Chocolate?” River asked, eyes wide, “I love chocolate, and I haven’t had any in such a long time…”
“Diet?” Drew asked.
“No, rationing.”
“Oh, I forgot…”
“It’s alright.”
River’s eyes widened when he handed her the bar. Gingerly she opened the wrapper, exploring its dark contents. Breaking off a tiny piece, she popped one bit into her mouth and turned to pop the other in Drew’s.
His eyes sparkled as he opened his mouth. She suddenly realised what an intimate gesture it was to feed a man by hand, but the chocolate tasted so good. She closed her eyes and groaned in pleasure as it melted in her mouth
“Good?” he grinned at her reaction. Would she make that sound if he kissed her?, he wondered.
“Heavenly!” she purred.
“Have some more,” he suggested.
“I couldn’t…”
“I insist.”
“Well, alright,” she said, breaking off another piece. She handed Drew his piece and he looked disappointed.
“Yer not gonna feed me this time?”
“You’re big enough to feed yourself,” she teased.
“Ya fed me before…” he teased.
River blushed.
“Has anyone ever told ya how pretty ya look when ya blush?”
River blushed even more. “Stop,” she whispered, burying her face in his shoulder.
“Ya want me ta stop the compliments or just mentioning yer blushing?” Drew lifted his hand to gently stroke her hair. “Shhh now,” he soothed, “I never meant ta make ya uncomfortable. Jus’ rest ya head and close yer eyes. Ya look plain worn out.”
“I am,” she breathed out, and relaxed against him.
He moved an arm around her shoulders and she snuggled closer, resting her head against his chest. Lord, she thought, I’m just so comfortable and warm here, curled up in his arms, so strong and yet so protective. River’s breathing became slow and regular as she drifted off to sleep.
Drew rested his head against the wall and sighed. This is bound to be a long night… and maybe I don’t mind, with this angel in my arms.
A lady opposite smiled at him. “You make a handsome couple,” she commented.
“But we’re not… We only just met,” he smiled back.
“From what I’ve seen, maybe you should be.”
Drew smiled as he gazed down at the sleeping woman in his arms. He gently kissed her hair, knowing he had no right to, but enjoying having her there so close.
The air raid siren started again, indicating that it was safe to go home.
River started awake and Drew looked at the woman across questioningly.
“Time to take her home,” she told him.
“Can ya stand up?” he asked.
River nodded. Drew helped her up and kept a hold of her to steady her. “Thank you, Lieutenant.”
He smiled. “I told ya, call me Drew.”
“Drew,” she whispered.
He loved the sound of his name on her lips. “Lemme walk ya home.”
“I live just up the road,” River explained
“No excuses, now,” he teased. “Don’t feel right ta let a lady walk home alone.”
As they approached the stairs, Drew scooped her up and carried her, regretting having to let her go once they reached the top.
“Thank you.” She lost herself in his clear blue eyes.
“Ya welcome.” Drew slowly led her across the street. “Anyway, ya still have ma coat,” he teased.
“Oh!” River exclaimed, and began to take it off.
“No, take it off when ya get home.”
“Thank you.”
“Are all you British so polite?”
“It’s the one thing that’s never been rationed,” she joked.
They stopped outside a red front door. “This is my house.”
“Well, goodnight River, and thank you for a very lovely evening,” he teased, his eyes sparkling.
“You Yanks!” she laughed.
“I’ll have ya know I’m from the great state of New Mexico.” He was clearly put out.
“What’s that got to do with the price of eggs?” She frowned, plainly confused.
“I’m no Yankee,” he explained.
“Oh, we call all Americans Yanks here, not matter what part of the US you’re from.”
“Well, we only call people from the Northern States Yankees.”
“Separated by a common language,” River sighed, shrugging his coat off and handing it to him.
He took her shoes out of his pockets. “These belong to ya, I think.”
“Not quite your size,” she joked.
Drew was reluctant to leave her. “Can I see you again?” he asked.
“But you’ll be leaving to fight soon.”
Drew tucked his finger under her chin, lifting her face so he could look into her eyes. “So let’s make the most of the time I have left in London,” his whispered with a smile.
“I don’t know,” she hesitated, “Madame doesn’t allow us to date.”
“Come on, take a risk. I wanna get ta know ya better. I wanna have a girl ta write to.”
“Alright,” she answered so quietly he could hardly hear.
“Is that a yes?”
River nodded and he hugged her tight, lifting her up in his arms and spinning her round, whooping in delight.
When he put her back on her feet, she pressed a finger to his lips. “Shhhh! You’ll wake people up.”
Drew looked up and saw curtain moving in the house where she lived. “Nosey neighbors?”
“Colleagues and friends,” she explained. “Someone might mention you to Madame, and I could lose my job.”
“We don’t want that,” he teased, “So say you’ll meet me after work tomorrow.”
“I already have a dinner engagement.”
“Steady beau?”
She shook her head, “My brother.”
Drew grinned in relief. “So let me meet him.”
“I’ll have to ask…,” River hesitated.
Unlocking the door she stepped inside the house. Turning, she said, “Meet me at the Rose and Crown, Leicester Square. Anyone will give you directions.”
Drew grinned as River shut the door behind her. He was going to enjoy getting to know this beautiful woman.
He slipped his coat back on. He was surrounded by her scent, he realised with a grin. He breathed deep on the collar where her perfume was strongest.
Drew stopped suddenly. Then he realised that he didn’t know the first thing about her. Sure he knew her name, and where she lived, but he didn’t know her job or anythin’ else, except how lovely she looked when she blushed, and that she smelled heavenly. He also knew she wore size 5 shoes and that he could listen to her talk fer hours. She had an amazin’ accent…
But who exactly was this boss she called Madame? And why did it matter so much to River to please her? Guess this job was pretty important to her.
Still, one step at a time. He had managed to get a dinner date with this beauty, albeit with her brother…
He whistled as he began to walk back across Waterloo Bridge to his lodgings.
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River grinned as she shut the door behind her. He is so handsome, and I want to get to know him better. But her face fell as she thought, but in my heart of hearts I know that he will probably get killed soon. He is in the USAF, probably flying bombing missions over Germany. Many of those brave men never made it back to Blighty.
How was she going to explain him to Simon? They had planned this late supper weeks ago. It was regular appointment, and this new man in her life would raise all kinds of questions of suitability, and about the kinds of choices she made.
She sighed deeply. One hurdle at a time; first there were the stairs to be climbed. Then she needed to explain this handsome airman to the girls she shared this house with. And then there was Madame Olenskaya herself to keep this a secret from…
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To be continued…
Next Chapter: Second Thoughts
Glossary of British War-time slang
*blitz = slang for the Nazi bombing raids on London, causing widespread death and destruction
*tube = slang name for the underground train network in London
*Blighty = slang for the country of Great Britain
*USAAF =United States Army Air Force (formally existed from 1941 to 1947 - precursor to the modern day USAF (founded in 1947)
*rationing = system of giving everyone an equal share of certain hard to get items.
Before the Second world war Britain was receiving much of its foodstuffs from abroad, items such as bananas which couldn't be grown in Britain, and many other foods.
During the war the ships were needed for the war supplies, and absolute essentials, so basic foods were rationed, and many luxury foods were simply unavailable.
Not just food was rationed, but also fuel, clothing, and furniture.
On 8th January 1940, bacon, butter and sugar began to be rationed. Every person was issued with a ration book. This continued until July 1954.
Other foods were added to the food ration list during the war:
Meat (Mar 1940); Jam (Mar 1941); Biscuits ( Aug 1942); Fish, tea, breakfast cereals, cheese (May 1941); Eggs (June 1941); Milk, tinned tomatoes (Feb 1942); Peas (Feb 1942); Dried fruit (Jan 1942); and Rice (Jan 1942).
Allowances per week:
Adults were allowed: Butter: 50g (2oz); Bacon and ham: 100g (4oz); Margarine: 100g (4oz); Sugar: 225g (8oz ); Meat: To the value of 1s.2d (one shilling and sixpence per week.); Milk: 3 pints(1800ml) occasionally dropping to 2 pints (1200ml); Cheese: 2oz (50g); Eggs: 1 fresh egg a week; Tea: 50g (2oz); Jam: 450g (1lb) every two months; Dried eggs 1 packet every four weeks; and Sweets: 350g(12oz) every four weeks.
An extra 16 points per month was allowed, to use on what ever food items they wished.
See www.rationbook.co.uk for more information.