Rayne Fic: Reborn - Question

[fairandbright]

Title: Question
Series: Reborn
Author: nutmeg610
Rating: PG - 13
Summary: Jayne's ma has a question for him, and he has one for River.
Notes: This series deals with River and Jayne living by themselves off the ship. So I guess you could call that AU if you want. If you don't like that sort of thing, feel free to skip on by. :)

Round Up Post






It was a sunny, cool day on the ranch, and Jayne was standing at the fence, watching the cattle graze in the distance. He and River had been there for about a month, living in the house his Uncle Jonas had built for Jayne's cousin, who had run off with her husband to the Core.

For Jayne, it was a good, simple life, and he was truly content for the first time in a long time. River was happy too, mostly because he was happy. She'd bounce around like she had springs on her feet, giggling and dancing around their house. A house that didn't have too much in the way of furnishings at the moment, but they had the necessities. A kitchen table with two chairs, a couch and floor lamp in the living room, and a bed and dresser upstairs.

Jayne was wondering if his uncle could maybe show him how to make a coffee table or end table when his mother came up beside him, shielding her eyes from the sun.

"Shiny day." she murmured, looking out at their livelihood.

"Sure is." he replied, his cowboy hat keeping the bright sun out of his eyes.

There was a pause, then she leaned her arms down against the top rung of the fence. "You an' River have settled in well."

"Yup." he replied warily. There was a hint of something in her voice, so he knew a discussion was coming.

"An' yer still sleepin' in the same bed an' ev'rythin'?" she began cautiously.

He let out a sigh and mimicked her pose beside her. "Yeah, Ma. I done told ya, the nightmares--"

"I know, I know. Poor girl." He gave a short nod and she suddenly straightened up. "So when ya gonna stop bein' a fool an' ask that sweet thing ta marry ya?"

Jayne's mouth dropped open and he stood up straight too. "Marry me? Why ya bringin' that up fer?"

She scowled and crossed her arms. "Honestly, I thought I brought you boys up better 'n that! If ya love a girl, ya marry her! Ya don't live with her unmarried. People 'round here look down on it; think yer livin' in sin an' all that."

Pushing his hat back to press a hand against his forehead, Jayne answered, "We ain't livin' in sin, Ma, c'mon."

"Oh no?" she replied, eyebrow raised. "You sayin' you two live together, sleep together, love each other, an' nuthin' else happens?"

"Ma," he whined, "I ain't talkin' 'bout that stuff with you!"

"So you admit it does goes on!"

"No! I mean--"

"Don't you lie to yer mother." she said, poking him in the chest. He sighed. His mother always managed to trap him in a corner of truth.

"She's still innocent." he answered finally. "An' that's all I'm gonna say 'bout it."

"So what are ya waitin' fer?" she pressed. "She's still innocent, you say. Why's that?"

Jayne resisted rolling his eyes. His mother didn't stand for eyerolling. "'Cause she ain't, ya know -- ready yet." He had a feeling this conversation was long from over, though he wished desperately he could fast forward to its conclusion.

"Not ready." she said, emphasisizing each word carefully. "An' why do ya think that is? Think maybe she's waitin' fer a proposal?"

This time Jayne had to turn away so he could roll his eyes. He just couldn't hold it back any longer. "That ain't it."

"How you know fer sure?"

"'Cause she's honest with me." he replied. "Iffen she wanted ta git hitched, she woulda jus' said."

"Oh, my poor Jayney-boy." Mrs. Cobb said with a sad shake of her head.

"What?"

"Some women are modest, boy! They ain't gonna push if it ain't what they think ya want. River does ev'rythin' she can ta make ya happy, so she ain't gonna bring up marriage if she thinks ya don't want to. She's jus' gonna sit an' hope you'll ask her."

Jayne snorted and shook his head. "There's jus' one problem with yer theory, Ma."

"Oh, is there?"

"Yer forgettin' my girl's a mind reader. She'd know whether I'd wanna git hitched 'er not."

"Well, do ya?" she asked, resting her hand on his arm to garner his full attention.

"Ain't no reason to. She's my only girl. Same thing."

"OOO, men!" she huffed, reaching up on her tiptoes and smacking him gently on the back of the head, causing his hat to flip down over his eyes and nose.

"Ma!" he yelled, readjusting his hat. "Why'd ya do that fer?"

"Because yer a, a... what's River say? A boob! My eldest son is gonna live the rest of his life in sin with an innocent young girl who's prob'ly cryin' herself ta sleep at night--"

"She ain't cry--"

"Don't interrupt yer mother when she's making a point!" she yelled, giving him another quick smack on the head.

"Ok, ok! Make yer point! Jus' stop hittin' me!"

She took a deep breath. "Alright." she murmured. "Know I only did that to try an' knock some sense into yer fool head. Ya know if Mattie had a girl he'd marry her good an' proper--"

"Don't bring him into this." Jayne said quickly, shaking his head. "Ya always compare the two 'a us an' he's always the better son."

"That ain't so!" she said with a gasp. "I love ya both equally, I jus'--"

"Ya what?"

"I jus'..." she paused and sighed, looking off into the distance. She had a serious expression on her face, as if she was looking deep within herself. "Ya know yer Grandpap, my Pa, died when he was jus' forty-five?"

"Yeah, he didn't last long after Gran died." Jayne answered. He resisted asking what that had to do with anything.

"Yer almost forty-one, son. At yer age, my Pa was a grandfather already, an' you, you ain't even married."

"So that's what this is all 'bout?" Jayne asked in disbelief. "Yer tellin' me I should be a grandpa by now?"

"No," she sighed. "It's jus', I dunno... I ain't always gonna be 'round, an' I wanna make sure you an' Mattie are settled an' happy with families o' yer own."

"We will," Jayne assured, "but it'll happen when it happens. Ya can't push it to."

"You an' River gonna have kids someday?" she asked out of the blue.

Jayne's mouth dropped open for the second time that afternoon. "I-I dunno yet. It's too soon."

"Think 'bout it, son." She turned and looked at him seriously. "Ya want that girl ta be the mother of yer children? If the answer's yes then ya gotta marry her. Ya don't want yer kids growin' up bein' picked on in school, bein' called 'bastards' ev'ryday, do ya?"

His eyes darkened and he firmly shook his head no.

"Good," she said, looking away again, finally satisfied. "I weren't gonna let them folk say that 'bout you, so I sure as all don't want them sayin'--"

"Wait... 'bout me?" Jayne stared at her, confused, until he saw her eyes widen and he finally understood. "That's why you an' Pa didn't have a big weddin'." he said with resolve. "You had ta git married 'cause 'a me."

She turned slowly towards him, muttering a Mandarin curse under her breath. She never swore.

"You said I was early, but that ain't true." Jayne continued. "You got in the family way with me 'fore yer weddin'. 'S why ya had ta git married, weren't it?"

Mrs. Cobb shook her head. "We was gonna git marry anyways. I mean, we'd talked 'bout it, but we jus' couldn't wait ta... an' I wasn't gonna have ya grow up with folk whisperin' behind yer back. People are old-fashioned here. It ain't right ta have a child an' not be married." She paused and Jayne scowled, looking away. "'S why I'm worried 'bout you, Jayne." she continued.

"Worried?"

"I know ya love River, an' I know ya better 'n ya know yerself sometimes. Ya wanna have a family someday, an' I jus' wanna make sure yer on yer way there 'fore my time's up, whenever that may be."

"So," Jayne said, leaning down on the fence again. "Lemme git this straight. Ya wanna make sure I don't git River in the family way by accident 'fore we git married, so our kid ain't called a bastard, even though I done told ya we ain't done any 'a that yet. An' ta top it off, I'm technically a bastard myself, which you weren't ever gonna tell me 'cept ya let it slip."

"No," she said firmly, wrapping her arms around his, "that ain't what you are. Yer my firstborn, and it don't matter ta me that I got in the family way with ya before the weddin', 'cause you was conceived outta love an' that's all that should matter. The people 'round here, well they think different. I jus' don't want you an' River ta have ta worry 'bout it like yer Pa an' I did."

"So that's the real reason you was preachin' the whole 'no sleeping in the same bed' thing when we got here, huh?"

Looking a bit sheepish, his mother nodded. "Sounds silly now, I know, 'specially since I know yer doin' right by her. But ya never know what's gonna happen down the road. And when it comes down to it, when all's said 'n done... ya love a girl, ya marry her. That's all. All ya need ta do is love each other ta make yer lives whole, an' marriage makes ya understand that love even more clearly. Jus' promise me you'll consider it."

"I will." he answered, considering it right there on the spot. Hell, it was really that simple, wasn't it? He loved her; she loved him. They should just get married already. He had pretended he was her husband for about a year and that hadn't been bad at all. A slow smile crept onto his face as he made his decision. "Though if I think on it too much, she'll know, then how'm I supposed ta pop the question an' surprise her?"

His ma's eyes searched his face, before a smile broke across her own. "That sounds like a decision ta me."

He chuckled. "Ya wear me down, Ma. All I gotta worry 'bout now is her sayin' 'no'."

"You an' me both know that ain't gonna happen. Though," she suddenly reached into her pocket and took out a small box, "if ya can't surprise her with the question itself, maybe this will shock her." She opened the box to reveal a diamond engagement ring.

"Ma," Jayne started softly, a bit overwhelmed.

"Ya know this has been passed down through the generations in my family. Now it's River's. C'mon, take it."

He carefully took the open box and cradled it in his large hands. It wasn't an outrageously large diamond, but it wasn't a diamond chip either. It was just the right size. Seeing the ring, holding it in his hands, made him realize that he didn't want to wait to ask River. He wanted to do it right then and there. Wanted to see the ring sparkle and shine on her finger.

Closing the box, he smiled and slipped it into his jacket pocket. "I best git goin'. I got a question ta pop."

Now it was Mrs. Cobb's turn to let her mouth drop open. "Yer gonna do it right now? Ain't ya gonna think 'bout what yer gonna say first?"

"Nah, she might hear me. Best ta do it in the spur 'a the moment. 'Sides, she might already know." He bent down and pressed a kiss to his mother's cheek. "Thanks, Ma."

Tears formed in her eyes. "You're welcome, son. Now go make me proud."

"Will do." he answered, turning around and heading off towards his house. Mrs. Cobb clasped her hands in front of herself excitedly, then wondered if River would be able to hear her thoughts. She quickly headed for her own house, reciting a recipe for pot roast in her head just to be safe.

*****************************************

It was a challenge to not think about the question while he was walking home, but Jayne filled his mind with a list of his guns, in ascending order, smallest to largest, and that helped him until he walked through the back door into the kitchen to see River sitting at the table, staring off into space. She held a pen in her hand, and a half-written letter to Erin was sitting out on the table in front of her.

"Ya ok?" he asked, coming to her side and placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you?" she replied, before she lifted her eyes to his. "I felt... you were confused, and irritated, and upset, then happy. I heard whispers but I tried not to pry. I was hoping you'd tell me what was wrong."

He shook his head, relieved she didn't already know. "Nah, ev'rythin's fine now. In fact, wanna talk ta you 'bout sumthin'. How long 'til dinner?"

She looked at the oven. "Mmm, forty-five minutes?"

"It ok ta leave it alone fer a bit, so's we can walk outside?"

"Yes." She set the pen down and stood up, curious as to what he wanted to say. He led her outside, up to where the fence came close to their house. She stepped up on the bottom rung, her thighs pressed against the top rung, like she always did. It brought her up to Jayne's height, and she liked that. It made it easier to kiss him, which she did, twisting around to do so.

He smiled and pulled back, running his fingertips down through her hair. "So, I had a talk with Ma, an' she made me think on some things I shoulda been thinkin' 'bout fer awhile now."

"Like what?" River replied, head tilted with curiousity.

"Like..." he paused. Maybe he should have rehearsed something beforehand. He took a deep breath. "I love ya."

She smiled happily, albeit a little confused. "And I love you."

"Right. Good. Well," he paused again, "I-I wanted to, uh..." He sighed. He was really bad at this. River was looking at him with concern, so he decided to just jump ahead and pray he landed on his feet.

"We started out kinda as enemies, ya know? Way back when. An' if not enemies, then, well, we sure didn't like each other too much."

She blushed slightly and nodded, ducking her head down. He quickly brushed her hair behind her ear so he could see her.

"But then, we was crew, an' after that, after that whole 'gettin' the signal out' thing, we was family."

She nodded again. "Yes, a family, forever."

"Right. An' after that, you an' me became friends, takin' care 'a each other. But then we became even more. We got together, an' became--" He stopped, trying to find the right words. Boyfriend and girlfriend? People who were dating?

"Lovers?" River offered.

"Yeah!" he said excitedly. He cleared his throat and tried to calm down, sticking his hand in his pocket and wrapping it around the box. "So, now, I think there's only one more place we can move to together, an' once we're there, it's for a good long time. So," he pulled the box out of his pocket. "Will you marry me?" he opened the box to reveal the ring to her.

Her eyes widened and she looked from his face to the ring, then back to his face again. "Y-You want... with me... to bind yourself... eternity...i-in matrimonial bliss...w-with me?"

He wasn't sure if her inability to form a proper sentence was a good sign or not, so he just nodded. If he spoke, he'd probably blurt out that it was a stupid idea and of course she wouldn't want to marry him.

She reached a shaking hand out towards the box in disbelief. "You want me... to be yours, officially?" Her eyes met his as he nodded again. "And you'll be mine, only mine, forever?"

Jayne shifted awkwardly. Maybe he hadn't said enough to make her understand. "Yeah." he murmured. "That's what I want. I wanna be yers and I want ya to be mine. I wanna grow old together an' have kids an' grandkids an' all that good stuff."

If it was possible, her eyes widened even more. "You want me to be the mother of your children?" she whispered. They had never talked about the far off future before, so she'd had no idea he felt that way. She had always wanted to be a mother, but after her mind was damaged, she'd lost hope that she could do so successfully. Being on the Cobb Ranch changed things. There, they had family who would be there to support her as a mother, but as she hadn't known Jayne would want to be a father, she hadn't seriously considered the possibility. It took her breath away.

"Of course, I mean iffen ya want to... with me." he answered. "But I ain't gonna be havin' 'em with nobody else." Sure, he'd wanted to be a father when he was younger, and a damn good one too. He knew he'd be a damn sight better at it than his father had been. It was life as a merc that changed his thoughts on parenthood. He figured he'd never get married anyways, so having a kid was out of the question too. But now that he was back home, living a simple, honest life, all it had taken was one question from his mother to bring back those desires he'd had long ago.

River hadn't realized that tears had been forming until they spilled down her cheeks. With a sob, she nodded and threw her arms around him, slipping off the fence and into his arms.

"Yes!" she exclaimed, pressing kisses across his face and neck.

Jayne held on tightly to her in shock, his heart pounding against his ribcage. "Y-Yes you'll marry me?" He had to confirm it because he wanted to be sure he wasn't imagining it.

She pulled back, her hands resting on either side of his face as he effortlessly held her up. "Yes, I will marry you." She kissed him on the lips and felt his smile before he kissed her harder and chuckled into her open mouth. Then she slid her arms around his neck and kissed him with everything she had. Her fiance. Her soon-to-be husband. And it would be for real this time. No more playing pretend.

He set her down on the ground and pulled his arm back to reveal the box. "Don't wanna lose this." he said, slipping the ring onto her finger. It was a little big, but she had large knuckles so it only slid around on the bottom part of her finger while her knuckle kept it from slipping off.

She looked down at her outstretched hand, admiring it. "Perfect." she whispered. Then she threw her arms around his neck again. "The circle symbolizes eternity. Yours forever." she said, kissing him eagerly. He couldn't help but pick her up again, but this time, she wrapped her legs around his waist.

Jayne pulled back from the kiss first. "Think we can hold off on dinner fer a bit?" he asked breathlessly, waggling an eyebrow.

A blush stained her cheeks. "You wish to celebrate our engagement with oral intimacy."

"Damn straight." he answered with a smirk.

"I can lower the temperature on the oven." came her coy suggestion.

"See," Jayne answered, shifting her in his arms as he carried her back towards the house, "that's why I gotta marry ya, 'fore someone else snatches you up, with yer genius mind an' all."

River giggled and hugged herself tightly to him, whispering in his ear, "No one could have snatched me up but you, my zhang fu to be."

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There's only two more parts after this one! *sniffles* It's almost over!