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[crazyspacegirl]

River always did love to dance. And even though she still wasn't really convinced that she was the best person to teach others how to do anything, she did love her dance classes. She worked really hard, and most of her students did try to keep up with her even if she didn't always remember that it might not be as easy for them as it was for her

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[crazyspacegirl]

River put on her favorite Swan Lake after the class was over, and flitted amongst the students remaining after class as she set the studio back in order. After Serenity, it really was her favorite place on the island most days even when she knew she ought to be getting home in case Zoe was getting to be too much for Mal. River could tell that they liked each other pretty well, and seemed to get along, but Zoe was rapidly approaching her second birthday and beginning to find ways to become a trial to her parents. River thought Mal deserved a little more time to get used to the idea of her at all before he had to be challenged like that all on his own.

Still, she lingered, twirling in front of the mirror to let her skirt and her hair fly out around her in the manner she'd enjoyed since she was not much bigger than her own little daughter, an idea that she still couldn't quite get her head around when she thought of it that way. It was easier to pretend she was free just to dance.

[mademighty]

He's spent the morning with Zoe. Bit by bit, they're learning each other, figuring each other out. Right not, she's fitted onto his hip like she belongs there and, together, they're watching her momma dance.

"Looking good, little bird," he says, and, not for the first time, he finds himself at the centre of a real complicated storm.

[crazyspacegirl]

River stopped her turn when she was facing them, and dropped a little curtsey in their direction. Zoe clapped, and River grinned at the both of them. It pleased her to see the two of them looking comfortable together, even if she only got to share a connection with Mal through Zoe now. It was better then nothing, and she was trying to learn to be happy with what she had.

"I'm just playing," she said. "You missed all the real dancing."

[mademighty]

"Probably for the best," he says, wryly, setting Zoe down on the ground so that she could run to River. "I doubt I could've carried it off real graceful."

[crazyspacegirl]

"You don't have to be graceful to dance with me," River said. Then she felt her face get hotter and was glad that she was already a bit flushed from all the dancing, because that was exactly the sort of thing she tried not to say to Mal now, when they were both already muddled up enough about what they were supposed to be in relation to each other.

She scooped up Zoe and spun her around to make her laugh.

[mademighty]

"I'm quite a fine dancer," says Mal, with a crooked smile before he catches on to the many ways in which this conversation ought to be off limits to both of them, giving how much of a mess everything is.

"But only if I know the steps."

[crazyspacegirl]

"You are," River agreed, steadfastly not looking at him. She set Zoe on her feet and held her hands so they could dance a very different sort of dance than the one this oblique conversation put River in mind of.

"I could teach you."

That wasn't how it had gone for them before, but that was a different time, a different life, and this time maybe she really did just mean dancing.

[mademighty]

"Conjure I wouldn't say no to that," he says, walking a little closer and, when Zoe slips her hand free of River's to offer it, Mal takes it without hesitation.

"Seems I'm supposed to be learning all manner of things I didn't know before."

[crazyspacegirl]

River did hesitate, just for a moment, before taking Mal's other hand in the now-free one of her own. She knew exactly what game Zoe would want now, and she didn't have it in her to deny that even if holding hands was not something she thought she ought to be doing with him when touching him still confused her heart so much.

"Ring rosey all fall down!" sang Zoe, in a rush that was almost just one long word. She dropped to the floor in a heap of giggles, tugging her parents' hands down with her. River obediently lowered herself gracefully beside her.

[mademighty]

Her hand slips into his and Mal hesitates for a moment before he holds it Somehow, it feels like everything's which-way and turned around and he never knows how to ask before.

And he's always been sure. He's always had a certain heart.

And Zoe says down, so Mal drops.

[crazyspacegirl]

River felt Mal's fingers tighten around hers and it sent a wave of loneliness through her, reminding her how much she had missed that simple sort of contact. She was glad it was Mal's lap Zoe crawled into, laughing and wrapping her little arms around his neck. It gave her a moment to breathe and recover her smile.

"Again!" demanded Zoe.

River rose and held both her hands out. "She said 'again', so I think we have to do it again."

[mademighty]

"Who died and made you Captain, little one?" he asks, but he's grinning as he gets to his feet. "I guess we can give it another shot."

[crazyspacegirl]

"Cap'n Zoe!" Zoe crowed. She grabbed at their hands and lifted her feet off the floor to swing between them.

River smiled at her, and that smile lingered when she looked over at Mal. "We took turns being Captain, when we didn't have a real one. Maybe she misses it, now that you're back."

[mademighty]

"Well, I don't see why you can't be Captain too," says Mal, swinging her again. "Means I could have a rest. Put my feet up. Enjoy my old age."

[crazyspacegirl]

River couldn't help herself. She rolled her eyes at him. "You're not so old. You're even younger than you were before, and I didn't think you were too old then." She didn't point out that she herself was older, and the age difference he'd thought so important, once upon a time, was even more irrelevant now. Now, they had other issues.

"But you can train her in captaining, for when you do get old, in case she wants to take over. She might want to be something else, though. She can be anything she wants."

[mademighty]

"Of course she can."

He holds that to be true. Seems his whole life had been sort of narrow; not so much choices as one inevitability after another. It bought him to a happy place, but there was a lot of fussin' on the way.

"Make a fine Captain, though."