A/N: Well, not that I want to be associated with dealing any kind of "drug" - but here's your next fix!

This starts a bit of fluff for our BDHs, but there will be some continued angst before it's through.

Many thanks again to Leiasky - especially for all the encouragement to not only finish this first installment, but for helping me get through the second .... and now the third!

Enjoy - AND REVIEW!

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A NEW LIFE, ch. 22: Lost Time

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After a bit more clamoring and a whole lot more ruckus, the ship was again settled. Inara had agreed that Mal could sleep in her shuttle, much to the captain’s delight, freeing up his bunk for Millie. Zoe, whose bunk still had the biggest bed on board, gladly offered it to Walt and Marie, content to sleep down in the common room on the couch. Secretly, she was glad as she would be closer to the children and to Ellie as she felt they needed someone close right now – and for an unexplainable reason, she wanted it to be her.

Simon and Kaylee were allowed to take over shuttle two, and with Inara’s help managed to convert it into a pretty comfortable respite. The couch in Inara’s shuttle folded out into a bed, which the couple was only too happy for and there was plenty of room for Daniel’s things. This left Kaylee’s bunk available for River, and apparently Cadie, who refused to leave the young girl’s side, while the other children could now have free run of the passenger dorms. With Cleo, Tristan and Ellie in one, Elijah in his own, due to his coughing fits, Milo in his own due to his size and Ben and Isaac in the last, everybody was settled.

The first few nights of the trip to Harvest were spent in sound slumber. Kaylee and Simon, while still wrapped up in again being together, could not begin to muster the energy to do more than kiss as the demands of the past few months and the demands of a newborn caught up with them every night. Truthfully, while Simon was anxious to resume a more physical relationship with Kaylee, he found himself feeling surprisingly content to wake up every morning lying next to her.

But finally, as the first week of their trip drew to a close, Simon sought out both Mal and Inara and put a plan he’d been forming into motion. Both friends had agreed to help, although Mal had done so only after giving Simon a few leering looks that even Jayne would have been hard pressed to match. However, a sharp poke in the ribs from Inara ended all of that.

The morning of their six day en route, Simon and Kaylee awoke as usual. Kaylee fed baby Daniel, then the new parents played with their son for a bit, before he got tired enough for his first nap. Taking him in her arms, Kaylee kissed Simon soundly and headed with the sleeping infant to the engine room, content to spend another day working on her ship with her son at her side.

As soon as the shuttle door shut behind her, Simon sprang into action. Locking the door securely to avoid any unwanted interruptions, he pulled out the chest of things Inara had given him. It took him most of the afternoon to set around the candles and draperies. Standing back, he surveyed his work with a critical eye, not at all certain the space really looked better than before. Shrugging slightly he realized, it was the best he could do and he also knew Kaylee wouldn’t care. She would just as soon spend time with him in the middle of the desert, as he would with her. The point of this whole night was for them to have some time alone.

Around dinner Simon emerged, bringing the things Kaylee’d need to feed Daniel down to the galley, dropping off an overnight bag in Inara’s shuttle on the way. If he could just contain his giddy excitement for an hour or so more, this would work. The anticipation almost forced him to spill the beans to Kaylee as he greeted her at the table with a long kiss, but thinking of how happy she’d be at the surprise, Simon managed to swallow the words.

Taking his son from her, Simon held the boy as Kaylee ate, watching his eyes open and close, his little hands waving around wildly. Kaylee engaged the others in conversation, but would find her eyes drifting over her shoulder to watch Simon and his son interacting. It warmed her heart in ways she had never expected to see them together. The older Daniel got, even just in these first few months, the more she saw the bond between her two men growing, deepening. She was so grateful for the time she’d had with him, but her heart felt ready to burst at the thought of Simon having the chance to be a father. He was so good at it, Kaylee again thanked whatever God in the heavens had brought him back to her.

A little over an hour later, once Kaylee and Simon had switched off and he’d managed to choke down some food, dinner was finally winding down. The kids and other adults cleared the table, starting to slowly drift away to whatever after dinner amusements they could find. Eventually, it just left Mal, Inara and River at the table, with Simon, Kaylee and little Daniel. It was time.

Rising, Simon took Daniel from Kaylee’s embrace and she watched with mild confusion as he brought his son’s sleepy form to Inara. Smiling at him warmly, Inara took the baby, and looked across the table to Kaylee. “You’re off duty tonight, mei mei,” she told her friend. Gazing back down into Daniel’s peaceful face, she said, “Enjoy it.”

More puzzled then before, Kaylee looked to Simon as he circled the table back to her and reached out his hand. Taking it with a questioning look on her face, Simon pulled her to her feet and led her out of the room. On their way out, they passed a leering Jayne. “Where’re you two goin’?”

Throwing him an annoyed look, Simon said, “None of your business,” which instantly caused Kaylee’s cheeks to flush as she caught on.

Chuckling, Jayne waved them away, even as River rose and tugged on his hand. “All right, then, doc. No need to get tetchy.”

Watching as they walked away, River gave Jayne a light kiss, before heading to the bridge. “Oh, they’re’ll be plenty of touching,” she whispered against his cheek, causing him to suppress a groan as she skipped away. Looking back to Mal and Inara who both had quizzical looks on their faces, Jayne smiled sheepishly before following the girl out of the room.

In the cargo bay, as Simon and Kaylee ascended the stairs to the shuttle’s level, Kaylee finally asked, “What exactly is goin’ on, Simon?”

Turning to her, Simon stopped mid-stair and pulled her to him. Pressing a kiss to her lips, he smiled even wider when he pulled away and noticed she was flushed with excitement. “It’s a surprise,” he whispered in her ear, placing another peck against her cheek before he started back up the stairs. Grinning devilishly herself, Kaylee did not have another care in the world as Simon brought them back to their shuttle. She knew she’d like this surprise.

Feeling suddenly nervous as he reached for the shuttle’s latch, he was about to pull the door open, when he turned back to look into Kaylee’s expectant eyes. Taking her hand in his, he rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb and whispered, “I love you, Kaylee.”

Smiling at him, and fighting back sudden tears, Kaylee leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss. Resting her hand against his cheek, she whispered back, “I love you.”

Pulling her in front of him, Simon placed one hand over her eyes, while he slid back the shuttle’s door. Guiding her inside carefully, trying to make sure he didn’t steer her into the path of anything, Simon again shut and locked the door. Kaylee licked her lips in anticipation, wondering what surprise could be so huge that Simon would be so secretive.

Finally, Simon leaned in, his hand still over her eyes, and wrapped his other arm around her waist, pulling her against him. Whispering in her ear, his breath warm against her cheek, he dropped his hand and said, “Open your eyes.”

“Oh!” Kaylee’s little exclamation was completely drowned out as her hand flew to her mouth. She had never thought in a million years a shuttle could look like this. Simon had obviously worked very hard. There were lit candles on every surface imaginable, the glow of them giving the room a nice, buttery feeling, while red and blue drapes adorned each surface, blocking out as much of the gray ship as possible. On the bed, Kaylee noticed a new afghan, one that looked rich and fluffy, making her instantly want to wrap herself up in it.

Of course, only if someone else was wrapped up with her. Spinning in Simon’s embrace, Kaylee dropped her arms around his neck and brought their mouths within an inch of each other. “It’s beautiful, Simon,” she whispered. Smiling at her, Simon reached a hand up and cupped the back of her head drawing her face closer to his and bringing their lips together. It was a gentle kiss at first, full of the love and caring they each felt for one another, but it deepened quickly, full of need and desire and pent-up emotion at having been separated for so long.

As Kaylee ran her hands through Simon’s hair, she felt him pull her tighter to him, could feel his well-muscled chest and his strong arms around her. The very feel of him rekindled a desire in her, bringing back passionate memories of their past together. These memories, that desire was something that only Simon had ever caused to flutter through her and she almost cried and laughed from the joy of it. There was only one way she could think for them to be physically closer at that moment, and with renewed passion, she kissed him, pulling at his shirt, even as he worked at her coveralls.

With barely a thought, they made it to the bed, both of them almost fully undressed by the time they reached the soft surface. Pressing Kaylee back, Simon heard her moan with content, felt her shudder in anticipation and he felt his desire for her intensify. Pulling back from her slightly, he looked again into those deep green eyes, eyes he had gotten lost in many days and nights before.

Reaching up a hand to rest on his face, as he stared at her Kaylee smiled at him, that brilliant smile that had first won his heart, and whispered, “You okay?”

Blushing with embarrassment, Simon trailed a finger down her cheek, along her neck and past her breasts until his warm hand came to rest on her stomach. Sudden guilt welled in his heart at the thought of her belly, swollen, with his child. And he had missed it; all of it. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” he murmured, reaching down to press light kisses to her neck, finding the spot that always made her crazy, delighting in the low mewling sound she made as he found it.

“Here now, Simon,” she murmured, her eyes closed tight as she reveled in the waves of wanting and desire that were beginning to course through her more intensely.

Continuing to work at that soft skin, Kaylee pulled him towards her, feeling every inch of him against her. Her body ached for him, in a way she had tried to forget in the past year. But like a favorite song, it was a melody that came back to her with ease, and she found herself wanting to hear that same tune play over and over again every day of her life. “Simon, please,” she whispered to him, hardly able to contain her passion for him.

Pressing another kiss to her mouth, Simon ran his hands over her supple skin, reveling in the way she shivered and groaned with excitement. And then, with a renewed passion, they both set to spending the night convincing each other that their love was stronger than any obstacle that had ever been placed in their path.

***

Mal sat with Inara on her bed, watching as she gazed down into little Daniel’s sleeping face. Mal hadn’t been too thrilled with the idea of watching the kid for the whole night, but he understood the doc’s need to have some alone time with Kaylee. Not that he wanted to understand, but he could at least appreciate the other man’s dilemma.

Lost in thought, he didn’t notice as Inara turned her gaze from the baby’s face to Mal’s. Noticing his far off look, she touched a hand to his face and whispered, “Mal, honey, are you all right?”

Startled slightly, he shook his head to bring his mind back to the present and turned those bright, mischievous blue eyes on her. Smiling despite her concern, Inara asked again, “Is everything okay?”

He nodded once, pulling her closer to him. Reaching out, he jiggled one of Daniel’s balled fists with his finger. The baby did not awaken, just stirred slightly, rolling his head further into Inara before settling back into a deep sleep. “Amazing,” Mal finally murmured, his gaze still locked on the baby’s face.

In that moment Inara felt something awaken in her. She had known since she’d seen Kaylee with Daniel, seen the way her friend was with her baby, that she wanted to be a mother. But until this moment, she had wavered over whether or not Mal would or should be the father. She loved him, fiercely, there was no denying that, but at the same time, his life was one of danger and mystery and while the past year that they had been together had been wonderful, she had secretly wondered if they would last; if they could.

She had wanted to believe before that they could, but now she needed to know it. Needed to know, because she knew she wanted him to be the father of her children. Throwing caution to the wind, which was still pretty new for her, Inara reached out and grabbed Mal’s hand in her own. Surprised by her sudden movement, he again turned his eyes to her, immediately curious over her intense expression. “Bao bei, what is it?”

He reached out and stroked her cheek lightly and Inara sighed against the touch. Opening her eyes again, she held his gaze for one more moment and then whispered, “Marry me.”

His eyes widening slightly, Mal kept his gaze locked on her face. Reading her expression for a moment more, he realized she was serious. She seriously wanted to be his wife. Was she crazy?

“Inara, I would be a terrible husband,” he started to say, surprised by the lump that rose in his throat. Tears Inara had been trying to stifle started to fall at his statement and he quickly spoke, trying to rid her of them. “You know that. I love you with every fiber of my being, but I can’t ask you to live your life like this. Out here,” he said, gesturing with a vague hand to their surroundings. “That ain’t fair. Not for a woman as beautiful and fine as you.”

Inara was still crying and Mal hated to see that. Reaching up, he gently brushed her tears away with his thumb and watched as she closed her eyes against more of them. Looking back into Daniel’s peaceful face, Inara’s internal turmoil threatened to overwhelm her. She now felt not only a deep love for the idiot sitting beside her, but an intense anger over his dismissal. He couldn’t just say no like that. She knew, down past her pride and ego, that his words were meant to protect her, he was trying to prevent her from making what he viewed as a giant mistake. But that wasn’t how she saw it, why couldn’t he believe that?

“’Nara, please,” Mal whispered, placing a gentle kiss to her lips, even as she refused to look at him. “Please, don’t cry. You deserve a much better life than one I can give you.”

“But that isn’t a life, Mal,” she said brokenly, swallowing past more tears and willing her eyes to dry. “It doesn’t matter where I go or what I do, my life is here on Serenity.” Looking back to him finally, she saw moisture beginning to cloud his gaze. “My life is with you.”

Any additional reservations flew from his mind. All Mal could focus on at that moment was Inara, her beautiful face, those deep brown eyes, her rich full lips – there was nothing else in the ‘verse at this moment than her. Leaning in closer, Mal placed his mouth over hers, kissing her slowly and passionately. She returned his passion and more and Mal realized that saying no to a woman like Inara was the biggest kind of stupid there was.

Pulling away slightly, they rested their foreheads together. After a few moments of silence, Mal pressed a light kiss to her forehead and then drew her tighter to his side. “I ain’t sayin’ no,” he whispered, feeling her relax in his embrace at his words. “But I ain’t sayin’ yes neither. ‘Cause I’m the one that’s gotta ask you.”

Inara smiled at his chivalry. “Mal, don’t be ridiculous,” she started to say, but was silenced by a quick, “Shush now, woman.” Obeying his command, she waited for him to explain and felt her grin grow wider as he murmured, “Of course, how I’m gonna surprise you now is beyond me.”

***

Simon found Walt, Marie and Millie sharing a late night cup of coffee at the dining room table. They all looked up at his entrance and Simon found himself smiling sheepishly as they grinned at him. It had been a little over two weeks since they’d blasted off of Beaumonde and while Simon, River and basically everyone on board had thanked them for their sacrifice, the three adults simply nodded and smiled, saying they were only happy that everyone was safe.

As Simon moved to the galley to get a cup of tea, he wondered by what good fortune he and his family kept falling in with good people. First, he’d taken a chance on Serenity, many moons ago, trusting his life and that of his sister’s to a band of criminals and now, first Kaylee and his son, and then the rest of the crew had found allies and friends in more good folk who had no way to profit from helping others. It baffled Simon’s mind that he could have been so lucky twice in his life, but he was thankful for it nonetheless.

Fixing his drink, he came back to the table and took a seat, the whispered conversation ceasing as soon as he sat. Sipping at his hot tea gingerly, he waited for one of them to say something. When a few uncomfortable moments of silence passed, Simon finally cleared his throat and spoke. “I know that I’ve already said thank you –“

“Ya have, son,” Walt interrupted, wagging a finger in his direction. “And if’n you say it again, I might have to wash your tongue with soap.”

They all smiled at the threatened punishment, but Simon refused to be deterred. Sitting forward and cradling his warm mug in his hands, Simon looked back to the three of them and said, “Well, I think I’ve got something more to give you than words right now.”

This peaked their interest, although they all tried to hide their curiosity. Simon thought for a moment, wondering how they would take this news. He knew that they were proud folk who had made it by on barely anything in the past and would do so again. But Simon couldn’t let that happen, not after everything they had done, all they had sacrificed.

“Well, whatda ya got, doc,” Marie prompted, trying to get a read off the younger man. “Some hard labor? ‘Cause lord knows we’ll need all the help we can get to rebuild.”

Nodding his agreement, Simon asked, “I was wondering about that. What will you use to rebuild?”

Walt looked to his wife and sister-in-law and then shrugged before answering. “We managed to get our funds out of Beaumonde ‘fore we took off. It ain’t a lot, but it should help lessen the load.”

“I’d like to help,” Simon added quietly, feeling ashamed at the ridiculous sum of money he had sitting up in the shuttle, money he’d managed to earn in just a few short months. More money than any of the others had probably ever seen in their entire lives.

“Well, you will, son, don’t worry none,” Millie informed him. “We ain’t gonna just let you sit ‘round and supervise.”

Simon smiled at her and finally mustered up enough courage to say what he’d really come to find them for. “Before we left Beaumonde, I was able to withdraw some funds as well,” he told them quietly, meeting each of their kind gazes in turn. He knew they were just thrilled that he and Kaylee were happy again, a perfect little family. But he had them to thank for that and it deserved so much more than anything he had yet done to repay it.

“I had quite a bit of money saved from working at the hospital,” he continued. “And while Kaylee and I will need some of it, as will my sister and the crew, I’d like to give you as much of it as I can. To help you rebuild, to care for the children, to set you up so you won’t need to worry about work or money again.”

Simon watched their faces drain of color and he feared he had just said something insulting. He knew that money was always a touchy subject, especially with fiercely proud people, which he knew the Everetts and Millie were. But he couldn’t, in good conscience, keep all that money stored away. Sure, eventually, he knew he and Kaylee and Daniel and the rest of their family on board would need it and of course, he would keep as much as he could rightly justify to be sure that his family was well cared for, but there was a difference between necessity and gluttony. Besides, Simon didn’t need all that money anymore, he had learned to live without it and while that bare life was sometimes difficult, it was so much more rewarding then he had ever dreamed.

Deciding that the silence was going to kill him, Simon quickly started to backpedal, wondering at what point exactly he had said the wrong thing. “I don’t mean to imply of course, that you can’t or won’t be able to …. All I’m saying is ….” He couldn’t think of the right thing to say and the dour expressions staring back at him did nothing to calm his nerves. Finally, he sighed heavily and said what was in his heart. “You saved me and my family from a fate worse than death. You cared for Kaylee and our son when you had nothing to gain and you’ve given up everything to continue to keep us safe. This is the least I can do.”

Again silence. Downing the rest of his tea, Simon sat and waited for one of them to say something. Finally, it was Marie, with a quiet voice who said, “Son, that’s the nicest, most generous thing anyone’s every offered us.” Raising her eyes from the tabletop, Simon could read a few tears there. “But I don’t think any o’ us’d feel right taking money from ya.”

Simon shook his head quickly, “Trust me, I was ridiculously overpaid.” That brought a slight smile to their lips and forged ahead. “We can afford to spare it, whatever you’ll need.” Looking to Millie, he said, “Think of the kids and Elijah, they’ll need new clothes, books, toys, medicine –“

Millie held up a hand to stop him and when she turned her gaze to him he was relieved to find a giant smile on her face. “Oh, don’t worry, son, I ain’t turnin’ ya down.” That elicited a chuckle from each of them except Walt.

“It’s a right fine offer,” the older man finally said. Looking to Simon, he told him, “Let me and ‘Rie think on it a bit, dong ma?”

Simon nodded, knowing now was not the time to push. He knew that by the time they started to rebuild he’d be able to convince them to take the credits, and even if he couldn’t, he could still give the money to the builders and the rest of the crew, knowing that with the cash they would spare no expense as the rebuilding took place. But still, it was right and honorable to allow Walt to make that decision for himself.

Nodding one more time, Simon rose and rinsed out his cup, leaving the room without another word. As he headed back to his and Kaylee’s shuttle, he let a grin dance across his features. He had not yet even shared the good news with Kaylee that they were marginally wealthy. Not that she would rightly care, Kaylee was very seldom enamored of anything having to do with money, but he suspected that once he told her she could have the biggest, most lavish wedding Harvest had ever seen, he would once again be faced with her gigantic grin.

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Remember, now, nice shiny comments go below - oh, and the next chapter should be posted on Friday night, unless of course ya'll neglect to leave those comments like I asked! :o)