Disclaimer: I do not own Firefly/Serenity.

Title: Throwing Pearls to Swine
Chapter: One - RSVP
Characters/Pairing: Rayne, feat. Gabriel and Regan Tam
Prompt: "You said what?!"
Rating: this chapter, PG
Summary: River wants Jayne to meet her parents. He's less than thrilled at the prospect
Date: 3 September 2008

-A/N: This is a six part fic about an established Rayne relationship, and Jayne meeting River's parents. I didn't take the time to come up with any backstory for the Tams finding Simon and River, so... suffice it to say that the younger Tams decided it was time to make amends and let themselves be found. Enjoy! And don't forget to review, please! This is a new sort of venture for me and I'd really appreciate feedback.

One: RSVP

"You said what?!"

"Yes, Jayne. I said yes." She threw another pair of his cargo pants into a duffel bag.

"Why the hell'd you wanna do a gorram stupid thing like that for?" He sat down on his bed, wringing his cunning hat between his hands.

River rolled her eyes, but didn't look over at him. "Mending bridges. Cannot have chromosome donors in ignorance of upcoming nuptials." He was in a snit, and he had no problem letting her know it.

"But... Riv, I done told you I ain't even in favor o' marryin'. 'M doin' it for you. But do I gotta meet your folks?"

"Will not dignify that with response." The elder Tams had managed to find Simon after a great deal of searching, and - though they were still getting used to River - the bonds between parents and children were slowly sewing themselves back together. Honoring those bonds was something that had to be done.

And when Simon had casually mentioned to their parents that River was planning to unite herself with some unknown, Rim-bred mercenary, a hasty invitation had been issued so that they could meet - and, of course, heartily disapprove of - their future son-in-law.

The only feasible thing to do was accept.

Jayne sank down onto the floor beside her, rubbing circles on the tops of her shoulders. "We don't gotta go. We c'n just... go away for a day or two. Say we went..."

"You are not getting out of this, Jayne. Accept as fate." She rubbed her cheek gently against the back of his hand. "Would make her so very happy. So very, very happy." She turned to look at him, boring into him with big, brown eyes. "What do you say?"

He was silent for a moment, his brow puckered in consternation. One big paw reached out and ran a finger down her check. "Fine. You win, y'gorram pixie-girl. I'll go." He kissed her forehead gently.

She grinned and grabbed the back of his neck, one little hand already working its way down his pants. "Thank you, my Jayne. Knew you'd say yes."

Feedback and reviews - always appreciated.