Well, that was interesting. Simon had just learned something: If Kaylee ever had six kids, she would be almost exactly the spitting image of her mother. They were so alike in appearence that, if not for a few wrinkles or the slight thickening of her midriff, he wouldn't have been able to tell Kaylee and her Ma apart. Also, she shared her daughters generous smile and general enthusiasm. Two Kaylee's... oh, Simon was in for it now. Kaylee was fine on her feet now, thanks to some drugs and her remarkebly fast recovery rate. She still had a few days to go before she could do anything... strenuous. Oh, she wasn't gonna like that much. When he finally told her. As of now, best not to burst her bubble. Almost immediately after getting out of the huge embrace the two women shared, they immediately started to chat on a speedier version of what Simon would call english. Not that he was complaining, mind. Kaylee deserved some time with her family. When they had arrived, Kaylee's Ma had been sweeping up the porch. Now, the broom lay nearby, forgotten. Soon, a largeish man came out, wearing a plaid jacket. He went over to Mal, shaking hands, and enveloped Zoe in a bone crushing hug, which the Amazon gave right back. Traditions. Jayne, River, and Simon stayed away from the rest, and Inara was next to Mal. When he got his hand back, she immediately put it back into hers. He smiled at her. Sooner than expected, they were all led inside by an exuberant Rose Frye. "Oh, oh, my lil' Kaylee's come home again. Oh, this is a cause for some celebratin'! But first, some dinner. Y'all must be starvin'! Mal, what you been feedin' my little Kaywinnit, huh? Not much, I 'spect!" It was amazing how she could switch from cheery to threatening in the blink of an eye. Likely a practiced skill, most like. The house that the two Frye's lived in was one of country splendor. It was as near to spotless as one could ask, and there were some delicious smells coming from the kitchen. Mrs. Frye bustled off there, and they all took seats around the table. Jayne had to sit on the couch, cuza there being no room. Simon sat next to Kaylee, as did Mal with Inara. He leaned in towards her, a smile on his face. "Now I see where you learned to be such a good cook from." Kaylee gave him an indulgent smile. "Oh, naw, I ain't that good. But you ain't lived 'til you've tried out my Mama's cookin'!" Simon took her for her word. When Mrs. Frye came out again, she carried a rather large pot of stew with her. As she dished out the stuff into bowls with a ladle, she talked. It seemed that she had made a pasttime of multi-tasking that way. "Y'all are real lucky that you showed up when ya did! We was plannin' on savin' this stew for the party in a few days!" Kaylee stopped sniffing in the delightful aroma of the stew to look up for a second, asking, "What party, Mama?" "Oh, I musta forgot ta tell you! Y'see, its Isabel, she's havin' a baby! Oh, I been so excited these past few days!" Kaylee nearly jumped outof her seat. "WHAT!!! My big sis is havin' a baby?!?!?!!? I don' believe it!!! Who's the daddy?" "This nice boy she married a ways back, name o' Jimmy Keates. Real nice boy, was all polite about it all, marryin' her. Couldn't a asked for a better man for my lil' girl." Mal immediately stood up and shook hands with Jack. "Congrats, Jack, looks like your a grandpa now!" The older man snorted. "Huh. I still got enough fight in me ta whip the tar off anya ya." Mal smiled. "I'll bet!" Simon stuck his spoon absently into the delicious smelling stew, filled with carrots and beef and potatoes and the like. "Well, this is all very excitng. Lets all sit and have some stew." And with that, he stuck the spoon of the steaming concoction into his mouth. He then artfully burned it on the steam and the very, very hot stew. Amid gales of laughter at the doctors expense, (and Jayne yelling out, "Hey, Mister top 3 percent, the steam meant that its HOT!!!"), Kaylee sat down beside him, smothering a grin. She sighed. "No, silly, don'tcha know how to eat stew? See, you gotta blow on it first, let it cool down a bit, see?" She spared him the embaressment of acting it out for him. Simon sighed. Yes, he was good at doing stupid things. He plastered on a smile. "Yeah, if theres one thing I'm good at, its being clumsy." Kaylee smiled silkenly. "Oh, you ain't clumsy all the time!" The members of Serenity rolled there eyes, and Jayne jeered out, "C'mon, Kaylee, it ain't your bed here, though that ain't never stopped ya..." Mal elbowed him in the ribs for that. Jayne just winced at that. Rose pulled her daughter to one side. "Say, who's he?" She made suggestive eyes towards Simon, who now was eyeing his stew like it was capable of shooting him if he turned his back on it. "Who, Simon? Hes the ship medic, been so for about nine months now. He came with his sister, River, and-" "-And, hes your lover." Kaylkee gaped at her for a moment before grinning. "How'd ya guess?" Rose smiled mischevously. "I didn't. You just tol' me!" Kaylee started to laugh. *** He lay on his back on the couch that night, gazing at nothing in particular. "Now, my little flower, you shall shoot him!" "I... I can't..." "Come now, my little flower, you musn't play these games." Simon sighed as the fan overhead spinned lazily, cascading down wind and cool upon his brow. All he could remember was the utter helplessness of it all, how he couldn't do anything, until- Niska moved in, and placed his hand on the gun, slowly moving it towards Simon, where he lay, powerless and week, hands unbound now. There was no need. His chest was traced with seven scars. Kaylee struggled against Niska, crying out as she started to lose the battle. She was weak too. He was hurting her. You can't hurt her. I wont let you. I WONT!!! He shivered a little, but not from the cold. If he hadn't done anything, he would have died. But Kaylee wouldn't have been shot. NO!!!!!!!!!" He lunged forward at the old man, calling on some last inner strength to hurl himself forward. He placed both hands on the cold metal of the barrel. He tried to turn it away from himself... Niska pulled the trigger. His heart stopped. "Simon?" The crew burst in, scattering bullets into the guards and Niska, not hitting the two who lay on the flooralready. Simon's arms slipped around Kaylee, holding her close. She coughed up a little blood as he tried vainly to stem the flow. "Simon... Simon, don't let me go..." He kissed her brow. "Never, Kaylee. Never again." With those thoughts buzzing around his mind, he slipped into a fitful sleep on the couch. He would let Kaylee sleep without him for tonight. She was probably better off.