Because I'm a mean, evil person, this story has been split into 3 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short for dramatic effect.

Many thanks to TamSibling for her wonderful content suggestions.

Thanks to everyone who has continued to read even through the disturbing topics. This story effectively ends this arc in the series, though there will be more to come as not everything will be resolved by the end of this story.

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Chapter 3

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“I don’t believe it!” Sanchez stood at the top of Serenity’s ramp with his arms outstretched and his jaw hanging open with a wide, if not a little nervous, smile. “You lived! And brought my ship back in one piece!”

As Mal strode up the ramp, unholstering his gun as he walked and loosing off one shot which struck Sanchez in the leg. The man went down with an audible cry, hands fumbling for his own gun strapped to his hip.

Jayne and Zoe marched behind Mal and took out the two men who waited in the shadows, killing them dead with precision shots to vital organs. River hurried up the ramp and made her way to the cockpit, knowing they would be taking off quickly as soon as they deposited their – cargo in the dust.

Mal knelt beside his old friend, wincing as his bruised body resisted the movement, and grabbed a fist full of the man’s shirt. “Why’d you do it?”

Sanchez shook his head, his mouth moving but no words coming out as he stared at Mal. Obviously shocked that his friend had shot him.

“Why’d you sell us out to Niska?” he growled, tightening his grip on Sanchez’ shirt.

Sanchez’ eyes widened and he suddenly found his voice. “Didn’t! I swear!”

“So do I,” Jayne scowled down at him. ”Every gorram day.”

“You’re not helping, Jayne.” Zoe glanced around the cargo bay, half expecting to see a few more men with guns trained at their backs. Obviously, Sanchez hadn’t really expected them to come back.

“Who else knew then?” Mal was dangerously close to breaking the man’s neck.

“Are you going to kill him?” Simon asked as he knelt on the other side of Sanchez and met Mal’s eyes. “Because if you’re not, I’d like to at least bind his wound so he doesn’t bleed to death.”

“Fine time ta get all noble on us, doc,” Jayne muttered as he kept watch around the cargo bay for more armed men.

Simon ignored Jayne and swallowed the lump that formed in his throat as he remembered the part he’d had in Niska’s death. The insistent muttering and pleading in front of him drew him away from his remorseful thoughts.

Mal glanced down at Sanchez. “I dunno. All depends on iffin’ he’s gonna give me a name.”

Simon glanced down at Sanchez. “I’d give him a name if I were you.”

Sanchez gulped nervously. “The cargo?”

Mal raised an amused eyebrow. “Do you think that we actually finished your deal for you? No, the cargo was blown to bits right along with Niska’s little hideout.”

Sanchez’ eyes went wide. “I don’t deal with Niska! I never told him you were makin’ my run!”

“Then who’d you deal with?”

Sanchez swallowed thickly knowing if he had any hope to get out of this alive, he’d better tell the truth. “Badger waved me. Wanted me ta ask ya to take this run. Told me it’d be real profitable!”

“I’m gonna enjoy ripping that qing wa cao de liu mang to little pieces,” Jayne seethed.

“You’d better be saving a piece for me,” Zoe said calmly, her tone firm and steady as she continued to watch for unwelcome company.

Mal made a disgusted face and released Sanchez. “You knew he sold us out.”

Sanchez shrugged. “Money’s money, Mal.”

Mal stood and stepped away, his hand hovering over his holstered gun. “Get off my ship before I kill you.”

“You’re lettin’ him go?” Jayne gawked and leveled Vera at Sanchez as the wounded man pushed himself to his feet.

“Been enough killin’ today.”

Sanchez hobbled down the ramp, but as he reached the bottom, he turned toward Mal. “Niska really dead?”

“Than a door nail,” Mal answered.

Sanchez hobbled away quickly before they changed their minds and shot him again. He noticed his undamaged ship waiting not too far in the distance and moved as fast as he could toward it.

“Why’d ya go an do that, Mal?” Jayne grumbled as he and Zoe dragged the bodies of the men they’d killed off the ship.

“Told ya. Been enough killin’ today.”

Mal hit the controls to raise the ramp and then hit the com. “River, take us up.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Now if you’ll all join me on the bridge. Imagine there’ll be a light show momentarily.”

“Better hurry, Captain,” River’s voice floated around their heads. Mal rolled his eyes. Sometimes, the girl was just too damn creepy.

Simon exchanged a confused look with Jayne, but followed, along with Zoe.

“Almost missed it.” River glanced away from the sky in front of her to scowl at everyone as they walked up the steps.

“Missed what, Crazy?”

“Wait for it.”

“River – “ Simon began, not really in the mood for one of her little games.

“Down there.” River pointed to the Khonsu as the gun sitting atop it swiveled toward Serenity.

“Whoa! Mal! He’s gonna fire at us!” Jayne’s eyes widened. “Get ta flyin’, Crazy!”

Simon glanced nervously down at the ship and Zoe’s hand tightened on her own gun, knowing it would be ineffective even if she could shoot down at the Khonsu.

“Knew he would.” River’s unconcerned voice answered.

Before the large guns could fire, the ship shook and then exploded in an amazing array of sound and color, blown apart as it was, from the inside.

Simon relaxed instantly tense muscles and exhaled a loud sigh of relief. Zoe nodded in appreciation and Jayne grunted approvingly.

“You tampered with the guns.”

River simply smiled, neither confirming nor denying Jayne’s question.

Mal rested his hand on River’s bony shoulder. “Get us home, lil’ Albatross.”

~*~

River pushed Serenity hard, eager to return to Paquin. When everyone was asleep, or in Mal’s case, confined to the infirmary for the night so Simon could monitor his injuries, she flipped on the Cortex and was not at all surprised to find several messages waiting for them beseeching them to return to Paquin as soon as possible.

When she returned the message, Inara was very secretive but she had a smile on her face that River had not seen in a very long time. Not since the attack nearly eight months ago.

When River went through the motions, asking about Kaylee even though seeing Inara had given her all the information she needed at the moment. Inara said that the young mechanic was currently sleeping and inquired after Mal, whom River said had been confined to the infirmary for the night. At Inara’s instantly frightened look, the pilot immediately dismissed her concern telling the pregnant woman that Simon was just being cautious.

When Inara waved again the next day, both Mal and Simon were summoned to the bridge. Yet again, Inara insisted Kaylee was sleeping which only made Simon more anxious. But Inara assured him that Kaylee wanted to speak with him very badly when he arrived, which gave him some measure of hope that their weeks apart, and the help she’d received from the House counselors, had done some good.

The days it took to reach Paquin were the longest of his life. And in turn, his anxiety made it the longest days of the lives of everyone on Serenity. He had too much time to think, about what had happened, about the hand he’d had in Niska’s death. He wasn’t a cold-blooded killer, and he knew what he’d done would haunt him for the rest of his life. But that thought, coupled with the knowledge of what had been done to Kaylee, somewhat tempered his guilt.

“You did the right thing,” River said, coming up to her brother as he sat staring at his open data pad.

“Then why do I feel so wrong?" Simon's voice was weary and River knew he'd been awake contemplating his part in their revenge. "Why do I feel like I don't know the man I've become, the man I've changed into?”

“Because you have changed,” River confirmed.

Simon looked up at his sister in shock that she would so quickly agree, the pain and the guilt evident in his eyes.

“You’ve grown up.”

He laughed bitterly and River did not like the sound coming from his lips. "Great, I've grown into a killer."

“No.” River took his hands and settled onto the couch beside him. “Life isn’t always black and white. Right and wrong.”

“What I did was wrong.”

The pain and regret in his voice caused River to bite her lip. It shouldn’t have been him. The brother who had studied long and hard to save lives, even those of killers and murderers. Whoever had been brought to him in the hospital, he had worked diligently to save. His heart was good. It was pure. And now it was tainted with the blood of a man who had caused countless others substantial pain and suffering. Niska had deserved everything he’d gotten but her brother shouldn’t have to go through the doubt and guilt associated with the man’s demise.

River shook her head and squeezed his hands. “Not wrong. Necessary.”

“For whom?”

River stared into his eyes and gave him a look that left no room for disagreement. “Everyone.”

When Serenity finally docked, Inara met them on the docking pad, her delicate hands resting atop her large, protruding belly. She accepted Mal’s hug and kiss with a breath of relief before turning toward Simon and the rest of the weary crew.

Simon and Mal exchanged worried looks when Kaylee was not beside her friend.

“Kaylee?” Simon asked, his heart in his throat.

Inara nodded to him. “This way.”

A smiling River trailed behind everyone as Inara led the way into the House. When she opened the door to a room and extended her hand for Simon to precede her, he slowly did so, disappearing around the hanging curtain as Inara halted the rest of the crew where they stood.

“Give him a few minutes” Inara rested a hand on Mal’s arm. “He’s going to need it.”

A knowing grin spread across Zoe’s face when she understood exactly what Inara had not said. “She had the baby.”

Mal and Jayne glanced at her with raised eyebrows. She wasn’t due for another month at least.

Inara inclined her head with a smile, but it was River who spoke.

“Looks just like his daddy too.”

Inara wasn’t sure who inhaled more loudly, Mal, Zoe or Jayne but it brought a smile to her face just the same when Mal turned wide, unblinking eyes on her.

She laced an arm into his and led them to a plushly furnished waiting room, secretly wondering who would ask first. To his credit, Mal actually waited until they reached the waiting room.

“You just say what I think you said?” Mal asked River, not quite believing what he’d heard.

But the girl didn’t answer, simply went to sit on the bench beneath the window, losing herself in the large, lush fertile world that was her own thoughts.

Mal turned back to Inara. “How –“ he couldn’t find any other words.

Inara laughed daintily. “I’m sure you know the methods of human reproduction, Mal.”

“But –“

Inara didn’t want to talk about it. Not right now. She wanted to hear if they succeeded. “Niska?” she asked quietly.

She noticed Mal’s jaw set and his lips purse. “It’s done.”

“He’s done good and dead, is what he is,” Jayne said, interrupting the moment of silence that had fallen between the couple.

“Jayne.” Zoe’s voice held a warning tone that stopped any further words waiting on his lips.

“Tell me,” Inara asked, her eyes boring into Mal’s.

“We done what we set out to do. Nothing more to tell.”

Inara nodded, knowing by his tense stance and his set jaw that he was done with this topic. She let it slide. He would tell her later in his own time. Instead, she took his hands and placed them on her stomach.

When he smiled warmly down at her, her heart fluttered in her chest and she gasped when the baby placed a hard, sound kick beneath Mal’s hand.

Mal’s eyes widened and he drew her into his arms, embracing her wordlessly. They were home. And they were together.

~*~

“Kaylee?” Simon approached the bed slowly, his mouth slightly ajar as his eyes immediately fell on the tiny babe in her arms.

Kaylee’s eyes filled with tears when she looked up from the suckling babe to see her husband hovering nervously a few feet away. Her heart nearly burst through her chest with anticipation. When Inara said they were on their way, she didn’t realize they were so close.

Fear that she’d never see him again collided with the fact that he was now standing in front of her and she sobbed gratefully to whatever God had brought him back to her. She held out her hand and reached for him, wordlessly beckoning him to her side.

Simon couldn’t speak as he slid his hand into hers and sat on the stool beside the bed. He tried not to look at the baby but the mass of dark hair drew his gaze.

Kaylee smiled brightly and adjusted her hold on her son as much as he would allow with his mouth firmly attached to her breast.

She giggled and Simon thought he had never heard such a beautiful sound.

“Takes after his daddy.” The tears slipped down her cheeks as Simon’s eyes darted toward hers. “He don’t like to let go when he’s got his mouth wrapped around ‘em either.”

Simon’s heart thudded painfully in his chest and his mouth suddenly went dry. He couldn’t think. He couldn’t voice the question on the tip of his tongue. Instead, all that came out of his mouth was a whispered, “he?”

Kaylee nodded and squeezed the hand that still rested in hers. “Was early ‘cause I was so stressed over everythin’. But they say he’ll be just fine. He’s nice an strong.” The little boy was nearly asleep now, his mouth slightly open.

Simon swallowed nervously. He didn’t quite understand – or believe – what she was saying. “He’s –“

“– yours, Simon.” Kaylee couldn’t wait to tell him. She knew he’d be too scared, too surprised, to ask. “Even if they hadn’t done a test. Soon as I seen ‘em, I knew. He has such pretty blue eyes an he’s all pale like you.”

A short laugh burst from Simon’s lips as he exhaled a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Kaylee had been so sure and so had he. He didn’t stop to contemplate how it had been possible. His mind could only hold so much, and right now he was sure the smile on his face could rival even Kaylee’s on her best day.

Kaylee tugged at his hand and he carefully slipped onto the bed beside her and pulled her into his arms. With a gentle touch she had so very much missed over the last few weeks, he tilted her chin and pressed his lips to hers.

Kaylee leaned heavily against him, relieved and comforted to be held by the man she loved. She had been so afraid she would never feel his arms around her again. Thought she’d never be able to tell him how much she loved him. She returned his gentle kiss, closing her eyes and letting herself simply enjoy the feel of him.

Simon wrapped one arm around her shoulders and cupped the other atop his son’s head, cradling it tenderly. “What tian xiao de I ever did to deserve you? God, I love you, Kaylee.” He pressed his lips to hers once again and then bent to kiss the downy head of his sleeping son.

“Love you too, Simon.” Kaylee leaned against his chest, happy tears sliding down her cheeks.

“You’re okay?” Simon finally asked after a few moments of silence.

“Shiny.”

When Simon said nothing more, Kaylee lifted her eyes to his, and smiled when she found him gazing with wonder on the little baby in her arms.

He smiled sheepishly, knowing he shouldn’t be embarrassed at being caught staring at the little boy, and pressed a kiss to her temple.

“S’okay. I been starin’ at ‘em for near a week now.”

“He’s –“ Simon couldn’t find the words as his voice cracked. He hadn’t been expecting this. Hadn’t expected to come back and find that Kaylee had already given birth or even to find out that the baby was his. “He’s beautiful, Kaylee.” His eyes welled with tears as he brushed his fingers over the mass of dark downy hair. “And so tiny.”

“That’s cause he’s early. But they said he’s all healthy an he’s got all his fingers an all his toes.” She beamed proudly at her little boy, her heart nearly bursting through her chest.

When Kaylee lifted her eyes to Simon’s the tears finally fell. Not of sadness, or of heartache, but of relief. Kaylee leaned up and pressed her lips to his cheek, kissing away the tear, and then more, as others joined it.

“I –“

“No need to say nothin’, Simon. Just hold me. Hold us.”

Simon tightened his arms around his little family and closed his eyes. “Always, ai ren. Always.”

They lay there content for a long while until Inara poked her head into the room, reluctant to disturb the new family but knowing the rest of the crew wanted to see Kaylee and the baby.

With Kaylee slumbering against his chest, Simon waved her in with the most genuine smile she had seen on his face since his wedding.

The rest of the crew followed the pregnant former Companion, stopping to stand around one side of the bed to look down at the new family. River strolled to the other side and flattened her hand over Simon’s where it sill rested atop the sleeping babe’s head.

River’s eyes shown with unshed tears as she looked at her brother. “Pretty, like you.”

Jayne laughed. He never tired of someone calling the still-too-stuffy-for-his-own-good doc, pretty. Those words coming out of his own sister’s mouth made it all the more sweet.

“Ain’t he?” Kaylee smiled sleepily and placed her hand over River’s.

“Yes, thank you, brat.” Simon rolled his eyes. Nothing would ruin this day. Nothing.

“So what’re ya gonna name ‘em?” Jayne asked, still not too terribly excited to have to share his living space with a baby. “Jayne’s a mighty fine name, ya know.”

“Not if it was the last name in the ‘verse, Jayne.”

River tilted her head and gave him a knowing smile. “Jayne is a girl’s name.”

Jayne pursed his lips and scowled at River. “Well, Jayne ain’t a girl, ya crazy moonbrain!”

Simon pressed a kiss to Kaylee’s temple. “I’ve heard this before. It was just as funny then, too.”

Kaylee nodded. She’d heard the story too. All those events seemed so long ago now.

Inara tried to laugh but it only came out as a startled gasp as she clutched her stomach and inhaled sharply.

Mal’s arm was around her back in a second, supporting her as her legs gave out and she collapsed against him.

River smiled happily at Inara as her water broke. “Might be a little Jayne in there, though.”

END

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Chinese Translations:

Qing wa cao de liu mang - frog humping son of a bitch

Tian xiao de - in the name of all that's sacred

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What'd you like? What didn't you like? Leave a comment and maybe I'll post the next chapter tomorrow.

Just rate it and don't leave a comment and - well, you'll have to wait a few days to read the next chapter.

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Coming up: The Epilogue to this story :)

What, did you think I was going to give you a hint as to what it would be?