A/N: This is short, but it's supposed to be, it's an epilogue. This concludes my "Pursued" series, but there is another *big* one on the way.

Thanks again to Leiasky for being a constant source of giggles and fun and for making my writing sound so flippin' cool!

ENJOY!

***

Simon nervously rolled the end of his shirt between his thumb and forefinger, unable to hold still. He and River had been standing just a few feet away from the engine room for the past ten minutes and even though he had attempted to enter the room several times, his feet had yet to move him in that direction.

Working his mouth, he tried to get rid of the dryness there and thought fleetingly of going to get a glass of water and coming back. Reading his urge to flee, River rolled her eyes at him, and getting behind him, started to physically push him down the hall. “Boob,” she muttered, as she propelled him forward.

“Brat,” he answered in kind, turning to face her, forcing her to stop her ministrations. He met her eyes and she could see genuine fear there and her heart went out to him. Poor Simon, talking to girls just wasn’t his strong suit.

“You’re sure this is going to work,” he asked her for the hundredth time, again playing with the ends of his shirt.

Giving him an exasperated look, she crossed her arms over her chest and asked him, “Which one of us is psychic?”

Simon looked back to her and had to smile. “Good point,” he said. Turning to face the door to the engine room, he could hear Kaylee inside, tinkering with something and humming to herself. She always hummed to herself and he loved it.

“Would you just go in there already,” River asked, giving him one more good-natured shove in the direction of the door.

Simon took the hand she had placed on his arm and pulled her into a tight embrace. Pressing a light kiss to her cheek, he whispered, “Thank you, mei mei.”

Pulling back from him with happy tears in her eyes, she placed a hand over his heart and said, “Just say what’s in here. You’ll be fine.”

Simon smiled at her once more before she turned and walked away. “Love you,” he called after her.

“Love you,” her delicate voice floated back to him and then he was alone.

Turning to face the opening to the engine room, Simon willed his hands to stay at his sides, and took a deep breath. After his fifth one, he finally felt his heart slow to a normal rate and felt calm enough to enter the room.

Kaylee was around the side of the engine, her back to him as she leaned forward and tightened some bolt or some such – it was all still a mystery to him.

Clearing his throat got her attention and when she turned to look at him, his breath caught in his chest. Even with grease stains smudging her cheeks and the barest sheen of sweat along her skin, she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

“Oh, hey you,” she said, turning back to finish her work. After another minute, she had finished and walked around the engine, dropping her tool onto her work bench, picking up a rag to wipe her face and hands. “I thought I heard you out there.” Looking back to him, she must have finally noticed his pale expression, because her eyes turned concerned. “Everything okay?”

Simon nodded once, not certain he could actually form words at the moment. Moving around to meet her, Simon slid a hand into his pocket, his fingers closing over the engagement ring that had been sent in the box from his mother. It had been hers and while there hadn’t been any note to tell them, River had insisted that he give to Kaylee. And he was determined to do just that.

Concerned by his silence, Kaylee stepped forward and took his other hand, squeezing it gently. “Sweetie, you sure you’re okay,” she asked again, her eyes searching his face for answers. “You seem kinda pale.”

Simon finally let a wide grin overwhelm his features, as he realized, sheepishly, his inability to talk to girls was about to ruin his proposal. Taking a deep breath, Simon pulled the ring out of his pocket, keeping his fist firmly around it so it would remain out of sight. “No, bao bei,” he told her, taking a step closer to her. “I’m fine.”

“Actually,” he said, looking into her eyes as he dropped to one knee. “There’s something I’ve got to ask you.”

***

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