"We gather here today..."
When River first realized that Jayne had disappeared, her first reaction was anger. Anger at the island for taking Serenity's crew, and for making her cry over Jayne gorram Cobb yet again, which was not at all the same thing as Jayne Cobb making her cry. She didn't like either, really, but given a choice she would certainly choose big, dumb,
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"Some people spend so much time planning and worrying over their weddings, they don't even enjoy them," she said, remembering all those ridiculous magazines and how they had tried to make it seem as though it was only the appearance of perfection that mattered. "I'm glad we skipped all that silliness. This is exactly what I want. Just us, and the people who love us even if they're not all here in the flesh; we're thinking of them and that's what matters."
She pressed her face against his arm briefly and then smiled up at him. "Do you think everyone can tell how happy we are just by looking at us? I feel like it must be impossible not to see how much I love you, when I must be glowing with it. Like that star right there." She gestured up at the darkening sky, where the first bright star was making itself known.
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"This here's perfect as far as I can tell." Lookin' out at the guests, all laughin' n' drinkin' n' 'njoyin' themselves, there weren't no way anyone could argue this weren't the best they could've done.
"Oh, I think they can tell," Mal said, smilin' down at her. "'n if'n they can't, they surely must be blind." Followin' her gesture, Mal looked up. The star bloomed e'er bright, 'lmost like it was showin' how much it 'pproved o' the day's festivities.
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"I'm glad it's obvious. Explaining it would be tiresome, and I don't have time for that. I'm busy figuring out how to be married, though it's not so hard so far. I think I could get used to being your wife. As soon as saying the word 'wife' stops making me laugh," she added with a small giggle. "It just seems weird, when I don't really feel like anything has changed. And I don't really want anything to change. Nothing has, I don't think, except now I have something to call you when people are nosy. Everyone understands 'husband'."
And that made her laugh, too. They were just words, and not silly ones in themselves, but applying them to herself and Mal just struck her as kind of ridiculous, even now that they were officially wed.
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"Jus' 'cause we got more titles now don't mean we're diff'rent on the inside," he reasoned. "Nothin'll change if'n we don't let it." This today was likely the biggest sort o' change he could deal with for some time.
Releasin' his grip on her hand, Mal settled his arm 'round her shoulders n' pulled her close so's they could be closer t'gether as they eyed that bright star.
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She slipped her arm around his waist and rested her head against his shoulder, watching that star like it was another old friend, come to celebrate with them.
"Titles," she said after a moment's pondering, with another little laugh. "Am I Mrs. Captain now, or still just your albatross?"
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She was so close now that he could feel her warmth, 'specially so when he pressed his cheek 'gainst her crown.
"We could combine 'em," he suggested. "Mrs. Cap'n Albatross River Tam Reynolds 'r somesuch."
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She turned her head to look at him, and couldn't stop herself from kissing him, now that no one could say it wasn't proper ever again, when they were married and blessed by a shepherd and everything.
"How about you just call me whatever you want and everyone else just goes on calling me River? That's worked out all right so far. And I'll always be your albatross, no matter what my name is."
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There'd been a time when Mal would've not dared kiss River out in public like that, but seein' as how they had the Shepherd's blessin's n' e'erythin', that didn't matter. When River pulled back some, Mal tipped his head closer t' hers. "That sounds like a damned good plan, darlin'."
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"That's my favorite name. Darlin'." She rested her forehead against his and her smile felt permanently attached to her face. "I like being your darlin'. I'm glad I get to be so forever."
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Her eyes were big n' bright, so close he could see e'ery nuance in the color o' 'em. "Fore'er n' a day, e'en," he offered, reachin' a hand up t' light his fingers 'gainst her chin for a moment.
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She raised her hand up to his, fingers tracing his hand as he touched her before moving on to map the line of his jaw.
"We forgot to plan a honeymoon. Rob offered us a place out on the beach, but I wouldn't mind just staying home. As long as we're together."
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"How 'bout this: we stay home 'til it strikes our fancy t' do somethin' n' get 'way from most folk for a time?" he murmured.
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"How long until nobody misses us, do you think?" It wasn't really a big party, and once the dinner was done people had started wandering off, taking a little bit of the love and happiness they had shared, River hoped. "Getting away from folks for a little while sounds appealing to me already."
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After he'd seen 'nough o' thin's, Mal turned his gaze back t' River. "I reckon we ought t' be able t' slip 'way soon."
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She kissed Mal chastely on the cheek and smiled at him in an overly innocent manner.
"You know, you could change your name, if you wanted to. I wouldn't mind, for example, saying 'I love you, Mr. Albatross.' I could get used to that."
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Pretendin' t' consider River's suggestion carefully, Mal nodded slow-like, an 'xpression o' contemplatin' takin' o'er his features. "Well, why don't y' try it out for a few days n' see how it sticks 'fore I make any rash decisions."
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