fic post

[rivendellrose]

Fandom: Firefly
Characters: Wash, Zoe, Mal, and a little stranger.
Notes: AU for all things post-Serenity - no spoilers in text, but there are spoilers in the comments - please be careful, if you haven't seen the movie. This is what came of my finding a reference on IMDB to Gina Torres being a classically trained mezzo-soprano. What I wouldn't give to hear that woman sing...
Prompt: 048 from the 100_women table: "Sing."
Title: "Lullaby"



At first, he thought he was imagining things - dreaming of home and times long since past, and wouldn’t that be a funny thing to happen now they had their own little bundle of trouble-to-be? Funny thing, imagining he heard a lullaby. Maybe Kaylee’d left one of those fancy dance tunes she liked so much turned up a little too loud. Didn’t sound much like one of those songs, though. Too much voice, not enough background... no background at all, come to think of it. Wash tilted his head, listening. Long way for sound to carry, anyway, all the way from the engine room, especially as hushed as the voice sounded.

He double-checked the autopilot and walked down to the dining hall, expecting by the time he got there to see Inara up making a late cup of late tea, or maybe even River - she sang, too, sometimes, strange tunes that he didn’t recognize, often in languages he couldn’t understand, or folksy ballads he could’ve sworn he’d heard before, but couldn’t quite remember them being that creepy on anybody else's tongue. This wasn’t creepy. This was...

Zoe. Wash froze in the doorway to the galley. His wife, of late the mother of his child, rested in her customary chair at the big wooden table, rocking their baby and singing a soft tune.

His jaw hung open like the cargo bay door. Up to that moment, he’d had no idea his wife sang - could sing, ever had sung, and certainly not in a sweet, rich voice the likes of which he was hearing now. Sure, it wasn’t quite the sort of singing heard most often on the Cortex, being hushed and simple, without the sort of enhancements and accompaniment the Core worlds layered over voices. But it was Zoe.

“Now, ain’t that a thing to hear.”

Wash flinched at the low voice by his ear. Mal was probably the last person in the ‘verse he wanted to share this moment with, aside maybe from Jayne. “I suppose you knew about this, and now I’m gonna hear some touching story of her singing in a trench on some gorram moon."

“Nope. I’m as shocked as you. Woke up hearing something, didn’t think for a minute it’d be...”

“Good.”

“You two done talkin’ about me?” Zoe didn’t raise her voice, didn’t so much as lift her head from rocking little Emmaline, but both men shifted uncomfortably.

“I’ll just...” Mal trailed off awkwardly, and Wash felt a moment’s guilt for what he’d thought earlier. It wasn’t Mal’s fault any more than Zoe’s that they had history. He’d known that when he and Zoe got married, and it wasn’t fair to bring it up every time something happened. At least the captain thought to give them their space - that alone was something to be grateful for, on a ship the size of Serenity. “’Night, you two. Zoe, make sure you get some sleep.”

“Much as she’ll let me, sir.”

Wash waited until he’d heard Mal’s boots descend all the way down into his bunk, and the hatch close behind, and then moved to his wife’s side. “Didn’t know you sang.”

“I haven’t really, since I was a girl. My mama used to sing, when I was little. Guess this reminded me.” Emmaline, finally sleeping, didn’t so much as twitch when Zoe brushed her fingers over the silk of her cheek.

“S’a good thing to be reminded of. Gave me a hell of a surprise, though. And makes me feel a little bad for the kind of singing she puts up with from her daddy,” Wash added. He kissed Zoe’s forehead, then bent over to do the same to his daughter.

Zoe chuckled. “Don’t think it’s anything to be sorry for, at least until she’s a teenager...”

“Don’t say that word!” Wash covered Emma’s tiny ears.

“She won’t become one just by hearin’ it, Husband.”

“Yeah, but... I just don’t want to think about that. It’s bad enough thinking what we’ll do when she starts walking.” Every time he looked around the ship, now, all he could seem to see was sharp corners, choking hazards, and spots for an adventursome toddler to get herself into all manner of life-threatening danger. “I mean... we had a hard enough time keeping River out of trouble for the first year she was on board. How are we going to manage with a baby?”

“Everyone’ll be watching out for her.” Zoe leaned her head back against Wash’s stomach, and he sighed, wrapping an arm obligingly around her shoulder. “Give it a few weeks, then we’ll talk to Kaylee about doing some retrofitting, fix things up a bit. We’ve got plenty of time.”

It was tempting to argue, but Emma looked peaceful as a miniature Buddha, for the moment, and Zoe looked so relaxed, and so tired that Wash decided it was a minor miracle she hadn’t already dropped off right there in her chair. “Come on - let’s go to bed. You give me the munchkin... Next time she wakes up, I’ll take her for a bit.”

Zoe handed off their daughter, then yawned and took the opportunity for a luxuriant, panther-like stretch, popping all the cramped joints and pinched muscles that had developed while she soothed the baby back to sleep. “You gonna sing to her?”

“Not to get her to sleep, no. But I’ll tell her all about the stars.”

Comments

[zinjadu.livejournal.com]

Awwwwwwwwwww... lurve~

This was so cute, and I really like how Mal had no idea (yay for Mal actually not knowing everything about Zoe) that she sang and he made the effort to not intrude. What a guy.

But yay for baby schmoop, Wash-the-overprotective-daddy, and calm-mommy-Zoe. Well done.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

I figure... when the hell would he have heard her sing? In the flashbacks, she doesn't seem at all the type to've done it in the war. And he really is a good guy... he wants them to be happy. He's just a scowly bastard about it, that's all, when it's inconvenient for him. ;)

Wash would totally be the overprotective one. Zoe's been through too much to get neurotic about parenting. *g* Glad you liked it!!!

[shoeless-girl.livejournal.com]

Awww, that's gorgeous! :D
I love your characterisation.

Gina Torres sings too? Dude, is there any way this woman can get hotter?

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Eeeeee, thank you! I'm so glad you liked it! :D

Nope. I think she's pretty much got all possible avenues of hotness covered. *Sighs*

[narsilion.livejournal.com]

Oh. MY. GOD! ohmigodohmigodohmigod!!!!!!!!!!
This is my favorite yet!! It is so wonderful. Zoe would be the calm one, and Wash would totally be the crazy overprotective one.
It makes me so sad to think that in canon, Wash would never actually get the chance to tell his baby about the stars. It's so unbelieveably perfect that you closed the story with that line, because he so would do just that.
Beautiful, beautiful story.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

So glad you liked it!!!

I get a total kick out of picturing Wash being neurotic and insane about the pregnancy and everything after, and Zoe just kind of going along and occasionally grabbing him by the shoulders with a stern "Everything is going to be fine." Hell, Mal would be more freaked out than she would by the whole ordeal.

...Come to think of it, he'd be really freaked out. *Ponders this*

[coralia13.livejournal.com]

This is very sweet. I love the interaction between all of them.

Seriously, and this might be the only time I go against canon like this, but I do not buy Wash dying. Joss even said in the commentary that it wasn't in the early drafts of the film, and was only added so that the audience would think that everyone was going to die. As far as I'm concerned, fics that feature a living Wash post-Serenity are only AU in the strictest sense of the word.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

...It wasn't in the early drafts of the film, and was only added so that the audience would think that everyone was going to die.

I'm torn on the subject. On the one hand... damn did it ever work. I was upset about Book (I got spoiled ahead of time on his death, so by the time I went to see the movie I was pretty much resigned), but Wash blew me completely out of the water. I was pretty much in literal shock - I distinctly remember that the first thought that went through my mind was "how the hell are they going to get him out of that?" It didn't even connect for the first few seconds that no, they weren't, and that he was actually gone. And after that... I was stunned. I do very much remember thinking "well, fuck it - if he'll kill Wash, anybody and everybody could die from here on out, with exception of Mal or River."

...So yeah. Masterful storytelling, there, in that he manipulated me into exactly the reaction he wanted. But I firmly believe that killing Wash took something very vital and very very important away - even if, by some miracle, we get our sequels, it won't be the same. We'll never get back those happy, family-like days of Firefly. That's what I fell in love with - I liked Serenity, but I'm furious as hell with Fox for taking away the opportunity to see Firefly develop to that point slowly, rather than all of a sudden in one big rush of trauma. Losing Wash is a loss of innocence, in a big way, and in terms of the continuing story, I don't know if it can really be something we recover from.

So yeah... I believe in writing with the 'reality' (learning to live in Serenity, if you want to put it that way), but I spend as much time as I can in a 'verse where the family hasn't been destroyed.

[jadethe2nd.livejournal.com]

That was absolutely beautiful, thanks for sharing :)

What I wouldn't give to hear Gina sing...

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I just spent a few minutes staring at your icon, so I feel like I should be thanking you!

I know. We can only hope she'll eventually be cast in something that'll call for it....

[vandonovan.livejournal.com]

Man. I don't like kids. I don't even really like the idea of Zoe and Wash having kids because, you know, then you have to deal with baby!angst, etc. But, seriously, this just turned me into a puddle. A little cooing puddle of happy. You win.

*bows down*

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

I'm not a fan of kids either, in general, but I can't resist the occasional traipse into what good parents they'd have been, and how wonderful it would've been to see the whole crew reacting to the new 'family member.' I'm flattered beyond belief that you liked it!

[jugglesgeese.livejournal.com]

...oh.....*mush*

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

*g* Glad you enjoyed!

[thegranddewru.livejournal.com]

Aww, I totally love that. Funny in places and so sweet. :)

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm so glad you liked it!

[roysbrat.livejournal.com]

I loved the whole thing. The ending was especially great, where Wash said he would tell her about the stars. *sigh*

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Thanks - I didn't really know what I was doing with the end, but Wash figured it out on his own. ;) Glad you enjoyed it.

[faith-less-one.livejournal.com]

I'd just like to tell you how much I love you for calling Zoe and Wash's baby Emmaline!! (It's my name!!! - albeit I spell it Emmeline).

That was super cute!!!! I’ll tell her all about the stars. Oh, Wash!! So in character, and so perfectly lovely.

I'm all melty now. Well done.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

*Laughs* Yay! I'm not sure why, but the name seemed completely right when I saw it.

Glad to've made you happy and melty. ;)

[fragglebo.livejournal.com]

Awwww! Such a cute, sweet fic. I love it muchly and would also like to hear Gina sing! I bet she has a really beautiful voice. ;)

[fragglebo.livejournal.com]

I hope you don't mind that I just friended your journal. Don't feel you have to friend back I'm just really interested in reading your stuff. ;)

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

awwwwwwww...

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

*g* Thanks!

[musesfool.livejournal.com]

Aw, that's adorable.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[kivrin.livejournal.com]

(here via the_cortex)

What a sweet moment. I like the name "Emmaline" for their baby, and how Wash is already so worried about keeping her safe once she starts walking.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I can't really blame Wash for worrying - Serenity doesn't look very toddler-friendly!

[narsilion.livejournal.com]

If it's possible, I's love to read a step backwards and find out how Zoe's labor and delivery go. I know that Zoe would handle it with the same amount of courage and humor that she does everything else, but, I'm curious how EVERYONE else would do with it. So if a plot bunny should happen to attack in this general vicinity, I would be so thrilled.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Funny you should mention that.... I'm working a bit on a 'prequel' of sorts to this one. Less with the labor and delivery, at the moment, and more with how Mal deals with her initially announcing that she's pregnant, and bits with other folks, too. So we'll definitely be seeing more of this little side-'verse, I think. *Crosses fingers*

[frodolyn.livejournal.com]

This is so cute *squees* even made me teary. I'm not big on baby fics cause I cant ever imagine them naming thier children things like "Mal junior" lol, but I love the name you chose, and your characterization was lovely. Kudos.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the "Mal Jr" thing kind of tweaks me, as well - I just can't see that going over well, particularly not with Wash. And much as Zoe respects and is fond of Mal... I just don't think so, for myself.

I'm glad you liked Emma, and very glad that the characterization worked for you!

[bluerosefairy.livejournal.com]

Count me amongst the few people who usually can't stand babyfics. This, however, I loved. Everyone's reactions were perfect - especially Wash and the 'teenager' freakout. And yes, I adore Mal and Zoe's relationship, but it's not like they know everything there could possibly be to know about each other.

And oh man, the puddle of squee I would be in if I heard Gina Torres sing.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

*g* Seems to be a trend going, here - hopefully I won't break my trend of avoiding the hated cliches, since my muse seems to be working on a bit more of this. Poor Wash... nobody wants to think of their baby as a teenager, especially not that early on!

Exactly. I think I would just melt into the floorboards. Hopefully we'll get to test that theory, someday...

[apostrophet.livejournal.com]

Aw, I knew from reading just the first line that I was going to love this. Very sweet, and all the characterizations were perfect--Zoe and Wash as parents, particularly. Lovely job. :)

Oh, and I wandered here from the the_cortex.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Awww, thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! (And thanks for the confirmation on that first line - I kept fussing over whether or not it was too long, so I'm grateful it came across well!)

[rivertammuvielu.livejournal.com]

I loved your story.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Wow, I apologize for the belated reply. Thank you! I'm very glad you liked it.

[fourseat.livejournal.com]

okay, so here's my story.

I just stumbled across this patch of gorgeousness reading Strawberries nominees. I don't know if you'll see this comment, but I had to tell you how much I loved it.

The last line of this fic made my throat close up entirely... except for the squeak it made as it closed up.

*loves on story and its author, who seems an utterly cool person from my perusal of your recent entries*

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Awww, thank you so much! It makes me so happy to know that somebody is still even looking at that fic, let alone liking it enough to write such a sweet comment. It was kind of a silly-whim sort of fic, but it made me happy, and I'm glad it made you happy, too.