Title: Welcome Back Characters: Mal, Kaylee Prompt: Rain For: lj user xsoulquakex Rating: PG Summary: Its been a long time since Kaylee left Disclaimer: I do not own Warning: Future fic sort of. Takes place a few years after BDM Word Count: 591

Author’s Note: this is not betaed, any mistakes are mine.

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How long had she been gone? It was longer than Mal would have liked. He’d hired another mechanic to take her place, but it wasn’t the same. Jared didn’t know half as much about machines as Kaylee did. He’d nearly crashed them once or twice too. Mal was just glad to have his mechanic coming back. As soon as he received Kaylee’s wave he had given Jared his two week notice.

When Serenity’s ramp lowered he saw her standing there in the pouring rain, holding her little babe to her. Andrew Michael Frye. He was a cute kid too, Mal’d seen him on enough waves to know that. “Cap’n!” Kaylee practically squealed, running up the ramp into Serenity. She set Andrew on the metal grate and wrapped her arms around Mal’s neck. The captain accepted the hug, embracing her right back. He pulled back and looked down at the little boy.

“You two are soaked to the bone,” Mal commented, looking them over. Kaylee laughed and shrugged.

“Ain’t rained here in awhile, didn’t mind getting a little wet, did we Drew?” Kaylee asked, turning and looking at her son.

“Wain!” Andrew yelled, clapping his hands excitedly.

“It’s been awhile, Kaylee. You look good,” he said. She did look good, a little skinner than normal, but she looked happy.

“Things have been good. Working on and off but I’ve missed Serenity. Ain’t been in the black for a long while. Didn’t think I’d miss it so much,” she said, breathing out and smiling up at Mal.

“We sure did miss you,” Mal smiled.

“Didn’t know if I would come back, “ Kaylee said honestly. “This boat was family t’me but I’ve been away so long…”

“This boat will always be family. Just happy t’have you back,” Mal grinned. “Been going on three years without you.”

“I wanted t’come back sooner, but I just didn’t know. With Andrew’s daddy gone…well I’m still not sure ‘bout this whole situation,” Kaylee said, looking over at Andrew who was busy examining the cargo bay. The mechanic crossed her arms over her chest and looked between him and Mal. “Been real hesitant ‘bout exposing him t’this life.”

“I can understand that,” Mal nodded.

“Gotta make this clear now. Drew’s gonna come first in my life. Before the crew, before Serenity, before anyone,” Kaylee said.

“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” Mal said. “So this mean you’re gonna be my mechanic again?”

“Think so. Drew, come here, baby,” Kaylee called to her son. Drew ran over to her, lifting his hand up at her to be picked up. She leaned down and lifted him into her arms. “Andrew, this is uncle Cap’n Mal. And this,” she said motioning to the cargo bay, “is Serenity.”

“Welcome to Serenity, little guy,” Mal grinned. He shook his head, boy looked just like his dad. Man would have been proud to see his son grow up to be such a cute kid.

“T'ank you,” Drew said graciously.

“He’s learned his please and thank yous real well,” Kaylee beamed.

“You’ve done a good job with him, Kaylee,” Mal smiled. “Jayne’d be proud.” The smile on Kaylee’s lips faltered for a moment. Jayne was the real reason she hadn’t come back. Sure Kaylee liked to say she didn’t want to expose Andrew to the life of living in the black, but Mal knew that wasn’t it. Boat reminded her too much of that gorram mercenary who had to go and play hero one day.

“Thanks, Mal,” Kaylee said softly. “I know he would be too.”