(no subject)

[flybywash]

The whole time they're performing their final descent to Muir, Wash keeps expecting something to go wrong.

It's not just the typical 'this is Serenity, of course something's going to go wrong' paranoia, either. It's been six months since their stay at Southdown; six months of waves back and forth, of grudging explanations why work isn't taking them out toward the Athens system. He's gotten used to disappointment. It's having things go in his favor that's such a weird and unexpected experience.

It's a good thing the docks outside Dunbar don't have any quirks to their docking protocol, because with the way Wash rushes through the landing and shutdown checklist, he'd completely miss it and get them shot out of the sky.

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[flybywash]

Three figures stand near the general loading area, shielding their eyes against the glare.

Keane's the first to spot the Firefly.

He points, elbowing the others in his excitement, and takes off at a hobbling jog toward the fifth landing spot from the right.

[flybywash]

Serenity's engines spin down from a whining hum, her cooling metal tink-ing in the spring air.

Nothing happens, for nearly five minutes.

Then there's a clank as the cargo bay ramp starts to lower, and on the other side, Wash's heart is thudding hard enough to hurt, mouth dry and both hands pressed against the handrest of his cane. He doesn't know whether he wants this to go faster or just stop right where it is and --

and --




Oh.

Oh, God.

There they are. Just beyond the docking registrar.

His throat tightens painfully.

There they are.

[flybywash]

Neither party moves at first.

Eventually, Wash makes his way down the ramp of the cargo bay, just as Anneliese breaks away from Keane and Phoebe; they stop within yards of each other. Blinking hastily to stop a sudden rush of tears, Wash meets her eyes and cracks a wobbly grin.

Annie chooses a different route.

She stomps forward the last few feet and socks him in the arm, hard.

"Ow!" he yelps, recoiling.

"You idiot," she says, but it's rather muffled on account of suddenly having her face buried against his shoulder and both arms flung tight around him. "Oh my God. Hoban. You moron."

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe follows down the ramp, slowly and carefully, coming to a stop next to Wash.

The grin that spreads across her face as Anneliese hugs her brother is still in place as Zoe glances towards Keane and Phoebe.

"Well. Nĭ hăo."

[flybywash]

Wash is laughing rather helplessly as he hugs Annie back; there's no mistaking the brightness in his eyes, and when he pulls away, it's with obvious reluctance.

Annie deals him another, softer punch on the other arm before turning her attention to Zoe.

"You're next," she says, and pulls her into a far gentler hug, mindful of the baby belly. "Nĭ hăo, Zoe."

Meanwhile, Phoebe gives Wash a firm kiss on the cheek, smiling and teary herself. "Oh, sweetheart," she whispers as she hugs him.

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe hugs back, as well as she can with the bulge in between them. "Hey, you."

[flybywash]

"Wŏ de mā, look at you, when is this kid due again?" asks Annie with a laugh as she moves back to look at Zoe's stomach.

"Another week," Wash answers over Phoebe's shoulder, a little thickly. He kisses her forehead. "God, it's good to see you guys again."

"Oh, sure, understate it a little more, why don't ya." That's Keane, clamping a friendly hand on Wash's shoulder. "Come on, gimme a hug too."

And so it goes, each Washburne hugging their son and daughter-in-law in turn; when it ends, Wash surreptitiously tries to wipe his eyes and says, "And, uh, contrary to appearences, flying that boat is not a one-man one-woman operation. Th rest of the crew's...."

A gesture toward the cargo bay.

[badinlatin]

"...right behind ya, Wash," Mal grins.

No holster today, and that should probably say more to Wash than his family, really. It's too hot for his browncoat, and the purple suspenders are hidden away somewhere. No need to scare the Washburnes on their first day with the crew.

"Hi. I'm Mal Reynolds."

[flybywash]

"You're the one!" Mal finds his hand grabbed in an enthusiastic shake. "You and me need to talk stables while you're here. Hoban won't listen -- "

"'Cause it's boring," Wash interjects, teasing.

Over her shoulder, just as good-natured: "Quiet, you."

[badinlatin]

Mal is just as enthusiastic, Wash's comment completely ignored.

"Absolutely. It'll be nice to be able to talk to someone who didn't grow up with the same riding and tack that I did, learn somethin' new in the process. Do you use braided reins, 'cause I always found..."

What follows is most likely entirely comprehensible to Anneliese, but is quickly worded and probably gibberish to most of the others around.

[flybywash]

Annie's reply is just as animated and just as nonsensical to almost everyone else. Wash rolls his eyes and slips an arm around Zoe.

"And when you two are done," he says to Mal when Annie pauses for breath, "this is my mom and dad, and I think they want to say hi in a language the rest of us can understand."

Keane offers a hand to Mal. "Keane Washburne.

[badinlatin]

Mal is still grinning - something about styles of pommels - when he takes Keane's hand.

"Mr. Washburne," Mal replies, before turning to Wash's mother, who does a very good job of encircling Mal in a hug and catching Mal unawares.

"Ouf...Hello."

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe leans into the curve of Wash's arm, still beaming, and casts a brief glance over his shoulder towards the ship.

"Rest o' th' crew's about somewhere--reckon you'll meet 'em if we hang around long enough."

Which they certainly aren't in a hurry to do anything else, her expression says.

[river_meimei]

River's head appears around the edge of the doorway. Her attention wanders, caught by half a dozen things, as is usually the case in a new place; it's not too long, though, before she settles for peering at the Washburnes. (At Keane's mustache, in particular.)

[flybywash]

Keane, who's been watching the ramp expectantly, notices. His grin fades.

Catching sight of what's causing the problem, Wash hurriedly leans in and beckons to his family.

"That's River," he says in an undertone. "Her brother Simon's on board, too -- he's our doctor. And yes, it's that River and Simon, and do I even have to add the please-don't-talk-about-it clause to the end?"

The Washburnes exchange glances: uncertain, to begin. Anneliese sneaks a look at River over her shoulder. But it quickly clears into resolved nods from all three; Phoebe even adds, "Not a word."

"Shiny. Xiexie."

That settled, Keane straightens and gives her a friendly wave.

[river_meimei]

River says something to him -- in his direction, anyway, so it's probably to him. It's solemn; it's also inaudible from this distance.

Her eyes cut to Anneliese, and back, and fix on Wash.

Then she slips out from the doorway and takes the first step down the ramp. (Wearing boots. Simon insisted.) She's smiling, just a little.

[simon_doctor]

Simon's not far behind her, casting a quick glance around before his gaze settles on the Washburnes.

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe looks back towards where he Tams stand, broad smile still in place.

"You two gonna come be sociable?"

And the unspoken message there is they're safe, because Zoe wouldn't be trying to cajole the Tams out of Serenity if they weren't.

[river_meimei]

"I'm trying to avoid stepping on the minnows," River informs Zoe placidly, and continues to drift down the ramp towards the group.

[flybywash]

Cue the blank looks from three-quarters of the Washburnes.

Phoebe, ever the rare voice of tact, musters up a polite and gentle smile as she says, "You don't have to worry. We don't keep any minnows around here."

[gonna_live]

Simon is hanging back a little behind River.

And Kaylee is hanging back a little behind Simon. Only she's not wary, or distracted; her smile is warm.

Because: Wash's folks. And if they produced Wash...it's got to be all right.

[flybywash]

" -- and that," Wash says with an obvious note of pride, nodding in her direction, "is Kaylee."

"The mechanic?" asks Keane.

"The mechanic."

Which, from their faces, says it all, really. Anneliese beams and waves. "Nĭ hăo!"

[gonna_live]

"Hey," says Kaylee, laughing a little. "Gaoxing jiandao ni -- and I don't think I got to tell you how shiny it is workin' with Wash, but I figure I ought to tell you that it's plain as day he comes from good folks. And -- it's an honor."

The good humor barely keeps it from being a speech.

[flybywash]

"See?" Keane elbows Wash in the side. "We're good folks. You gotta treat us right."

"But I can still mock you, right?"

Instantly: "Dāngrán." And to Kaylee, "The honor's all ours, Kaylee. We've heard plenty of good about you."

[gonna_live]

Which makes her blush, a little. "Well. Xiexie ni. And -- thanks for havin' us. It's real good to be here, finally."

[flybywash]

Wash ducks his head in agreement, his grin broadening even further.

And if he's getting misty-eyed again, well. He's got every reason to be.

Phoebe speaks up. "We're putting together a little 'welcome back' dinner at our house, if any of you want to join us."

"By 'little,' she means the exact opposite," Annie interjects cheerfully. "You don't want to know how much planning she's -- "

"Hush, you. Let me have my secrets." Phoebe gives her a light swat on the arm before continuing to the crew, "Any takers?"

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe grins, one arm loosely around Wash's waist.

"Oh, I think we might be able t' find a few."

The slight background hum of nervousness and tension that she's resigned herself to living with until Naomi's born is still there. But it's already hard to believe she was ever nervous about meeting these people.

And there's an evening ahead of family, and food, and probably as many embarrassing childhood anecdotes as Wash will put up with.

But most of all, family.

It is, as a certain old friend might have said, very well.