Simon’s mind kept wondering back to Kaylee and what had been said between the two. ‘I just wish that I would have been more open with my feelings before. Why did I have to wait so long to tell her?’ These questions kept playing in his head when he reached the cargo bay he stopped when he heard some giggling that sounded like his sister. River and Inara were playing cards on some of the cargo create down blow.

“You haven’t told her your true feelings yet.” River said not even taken her eyes off her cards. Inara glanced at River because she didn’t understand what she was saying. Then out of the corner of her eyes she spotted Simon on the catwalk.

“What mei mei?” Simon asked.

“You haven’t told Kaylee that you love her.” River finished the game in a matter of seconds then looked up to meet her brother’s eyes. “If you tell her she won’t give you an out.”

Inara was a little surprised by what River had said about Simon loving her mei mei. She then decided that she would listen a little bit longer to what Simon would say then get some info from Kaylee about the whole out business.

Simon let out a heavy sigh then started to walk towards his sister. “I don’t know anymore. River. Maybe Kaylee decided she was done waiting for me.”

Inara rolled her eyes and thought ‘Like that would ever happen.’

River giggled at that. “Kaylee loves you too. She wants to be with you. She just doesn’t think that you meant what you said before.” She walked over to her brother. “You helped me get better. Now it’s time for you to get what you want. To get what will make you feel better.”

Simon smiled down at his sister then kissed her forehead. “I love you mei mei.”

River just looked at him and said. “You’re such a boob.” Then she went back to the cards and started to shuffle. Inara walked up to Simon. She had enough of the pieces of what happened and wanted to find out more.

“What happened earlier?”

“Me being me. I guess Kaylee was thinking that what I said to her when the reavers attacked was only said because we were in a position that we could have died. She decided that she was just going give me an out instead. Which I can see why she would do it. I haven’t given her any reason to believe that I want her or loved her until then.”

“But you do? I mean love her?”

Simon looked directly into Inara’s eyes. “With all my heart.” His eyes showed all the love and truth behind that statement. Inara smiled at him.

“I believe that you do. Well I guess it’s time to get what you want. I have an idea on how to get her and make her believe that you don’t want an out.”

Simon and Inara walked back over to where River was sitting and talked out a plan. A short time later Mal’s voice came over the comm.

“Everybody report to the cargo bay.”

A few minutes later Mal was walking down the catwalk towards the three people already there. By the time Mal reached the three, the remaining crew showed their presents. “Ok everybody.” Mal started placing a hand on Kaylee’s shoulder as he continued. “Kaylee here finished the last of the repairs to get Serenity back in the black. But before we leave this planet we need to say goodbye.”

TBC

Translations: mei mei- little sister