The Dance

Since she usually woke to the sound of her own screaming, this was a welcome surprise. She slipped out of her bed and almost made to to the door without waking Simon.

"River? Are you allright?", he inquired sleepily.

"Back to sleep Simon, I'm going to the dance".

She couldn't hear the words, but she followed the melody in her bones.

She was halfway to the carbo bay before he caught up with her.

"River, mei-mei, it's sleep cycle, you shouldn't be..." River eluded his grasp easily and ran towards the music. She stopped abruptly at the foot of the stairs, her eyes wide with surprise. There in the cargo bay were Wash and Zoe, dancing slowly, oblivious to anyone or anything but each other. 

Looking back on the memory of
The dance we shared 'neath the stars
For a moment all the world was right
How could I have known.... 

Zoe raised her head from Wash's shoulder and smiled benignly at River. "You're up late, little one".

"I felt the music". She also smelled the apple wine and sandalwood incense. "I want to dance".

"River, I told you..." Simon's mouth snapped shut as he took in the scene. "I apologize, Zoe, Wash, this was obviously intended to be a private celebration".

Wash smiled at River and Simon. "Well, strictly speaking, the private celebration will be later..."

Zoe chuckled and kissed Wash thoroughly. "Hush, bao bei", she mumured against his neck.

Simon took River's elbow, "Again, I apologize. River and l will be leaving now".

River planted her feet firmly. "No, Simon, I want to dance. Just one dance". River tried to imitate the sad puppy dog eye trick that Kaylee used on Simon.

Simon sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Allright, mei-mei. One dance." 

Holding you I held everything
For a moment wasn't I a king
But if I'd only known
how the king would fall...

Zoe and Wash turned as one and and held out their hands "Come on and join us".

River needed no further invitation. She skipped over to Zoe and clasped her hands.

Zoe laughed softly, a sound that River hade never heard from her before. "I think this will work better if you dance with my mister and I dance with your brother".

River leaned closer to Zoe, and whispered "Your Mister will step on my toes".

"You should've worn your boots", Zoe whispered back and gave her a gentle nudge towards Wash.

And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end
The way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance 
I would've missed the pain
But I'd have had to miss the dance.

Translations:
bao bei~sweetheart
mei mei~little sister