A/N: This story takes place immediately following chapter 29 of A NEW LIFE.

If you haven't read the series, you might want to - click here to start with the Prologue: A NEW LIFE, prologue: Nothing Lasts

I don't normally write smut, but what can I say - it's a honeymoon - Light NC-17, you have been warned.

Thanks again goes to Leiasky for the beta and to all the readers for taking an interest.

Comments are the best!

***

A NEW LIFE: Newlyweds, part 1 of 2 ***

Simon wondered vaguely, in his sex-induced euphoria, why he had ever thought he and Kaylee would need more than a bed and some privacy for their honeymoon. Not that he regretted his decision to take her away, bring her to a fancy resort, like this one on Santo, but as they had already been planet side for four days and had yet to step out of their suite, he couldn’t help but think of all the things they were missing.

Of course, hearing her moan contentedly in her sleep as she wrapped an arm around his waist and snuggled her warm, naked body next to him pushed any of those thoughts from his mind. Smiling lightly, he brushed a kiss against her forehead and soon found himself falling into an exhausted but peaceful sleep, realizing that he had never been happier in his whole life.

***

When Kaylee awoke a few hours later, she felt warm and whole and found herself grinning inexplicably from ear to ear. Rising her head from Simon’s chest, she looked up to catch him gazing at her in silence. “Hey you,” she murmured, leaning forward to press a kiss to his mouth.

Simon slid his hand around the back of her neck and returned her kiss and then some. She sighed against his mouth, loving the feel of his tongue working against hers, loving the feel of his other hand sliding down her bare back to squeeze her bottom.

Parting for air, Kaylee gave him devilish grin that he had long ago learned meant he was in for a treat, and hissed slightly as she worked her own hand down his muscled chest, over his stomach and along the length of him. She smiled even bigger when his eyes rolled into the back of his head at her touch and she delighted in knowing the kind of power she had over him – it was only fair after all, considering that he could drive her to a point of unbridled ecstasy just as quickly.

Keeping her gentle hold on him, Kaylee pressed her lips to his warm skin, working her mouth over his upper body even as she increased the pressure of her hand around him. With a groan that made her giggle, Kaylee knew she’d gotten him good. Again looking to him and smiling at the desire she saw gazing back at her, she was about to really drive him crazy, when he suddenly flipped her over, pinning both her hands over her head. Settling down on top of her, she felt his firmness poised right at her middle and she inhaled sharply with desire and need.

Leaning in for a kiss, Simon pulled her lips into his mouth sucking gently as he entered her in one smooth motion. Kaylee inhaled against his mouth, reveling in the feel of him inside her, filling her, and she pulled her hands out of his grasp as he focused his attentions on nipping at her skin. She ran her now free hands down his back, pressing her palms firmly against him and driving him deeper, causing a groan to escape his lips as well.

They stayed like that for a moment, each gazing into the other’s eyes. Kaylee bit her lip as she felt her desire rising, knowing that as soon as they started to move, as one, she would be deliciously close to another release. His blue eyes held her gaze for a minute more, and then dropping his head to her shoulder, he pulled and nipped at her supple skin there, kissing and sucking at all the points that drove her crazy. She fisted her hands through his hair, eliciting another feral moan even as he whispered against her skin, “God, Kaylee I love you.”

Pulling back on his hair a bit, she forced his eyes to meet hers. Rising her head off the pillow, she captured his mouth with a passionate kiss that could have easily swallowed them whole. When they had no choice but to part for air, she finally breathed against his cheek, “Show me.”

Without another word or thought, they began to move, together, pushing and pulling each other into a state of pleasure that neither of them had ever thought possible.

***

While they were more than content to stay in bed all hours of the day or night, it was after their fourth day on the Santo that Simon and Kaylee decided venturing out of their suite would probably be a good idea. Besides the soreness they both felt, although neither one of them would be complaining, they wanted to see some of the beautiful sights and sounds on this planet. Kaylee doubted she would ever be back and so she wanted to savor it.

Walking hand in hand along a small thoroughfare a short distance from their resort, Simon and Kaylee were completely wrapped up in one another. They smiled at every person they met, often passing by other couples with similarly dreamy looks gracing their faces. Each time they did, Kaylee would simply lean over to Simon and place a light kiss to his cheek, thanking him again for doing this for them, for her.

Passing a few specialty shops that Kaylee had no interest in she paused abruptly in front of another window. Simon, who had gone to grab ice creams from a vendor down the street found her, standing and gaping. Hurrying to her side, he followed her gaze and saw what had her so enraptured. It was a baby store by the looks of the exquisite clothes, toys and furnishings dotting the window.

Remembering their discussion just before leaving, Simon was not surprised to see tears welling in Kaylee’s eyes as she turned to him and took her strawberry ice cream without a word. Moving to leave, Simon grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him. Even as she stabbed her food with her spoon, Simon could see the pout forming on her lips and he desperately wanted to kiss it away. Pushing that thought from his mind, he said, “Kaylee, it’s okay to miss him. I miss him too.”

Looking up to him, her eyes glimmering with gratitude at his admission, she blinked back tears as she said, “Ya think he’s all right?”

Simon smiled at her and placed a light kiss to her lips. “I’m sure he’s fine. But why don’t we call your folks when we get back to the hotel. Just to be sure.”

Kaylee squealed with delight at the prospect and threw her arms around his neck. Carefully balancing his ice cream away from his wife, Simon held her back.

“Thank you, Simon,” she murmured. “You’re the best husband ever.”

Simon smiled wider and murmured back, “Well, that is what you said last night.”

Pulling away to give him her own playful look, Simon had to resist the urge to take her, right now, in the street. Instead he pressed another kiss to her lips and said, “Come on, let’s go in and get him something.”

Another wide grin playing across her features, Kaylee took her husband’s hand and pulled him inside the bright and beautiful baby boutique.

***

A few days later, Simon and Kaylee again begrudgingly rolled out of bed, showered and dressed and headed to one of the resort’s famed restaurants for dinner. They had been subsisting quite nicely on the selection of room service that the hotel offered, but they both knew that a little time out and about would help to increase their already burning desire for another. Something about absence making the heart grow fonder …

So, the next morning, when they were again wrapped in each other’s sweaty arms, Kaylee was surprised as her stomach started to lurch unexpectedly. Trying to ignore the uncomfortable feeling and go back to sleep, she was swallowing past the sudden rise of bile in her throat, when she bolted from the bed, running, naked to their bathroom and making it to the toilet just in time to dump the contents of her stomach.

Concerned, Simon followed her, bringing her a robe, and placing it over her shoulders even as she laid her now flushed cheek against the edge of the cold porcelain. Reaching out, he laid a gentle hand against her forehead, relieved that she did not feel feverish. “Bao bei,” he whispered, kneeling beside her and pushing some of her damp hair off her face. “You okay?”

She nodded weakly, just before she threw up again. She hated retching in front of him, knowing that it was not particularly attractive or endearing. Turning her face away from him, she rubbed a hand over her belly, trying to quell her nausea. “Must have been somethin’ I ate,” she mumbled, not at all sure she would be leaving the bathroom anytime soon.

Before she realized what was happening, Simon had gone and brought her a glass of water. Stroking a light hand along her arm, she turned a watery gaze back to him and smiled weakly. He held out the glass and she sipped it gratefully, glad to wash down the burning sensation that had pooled at the back of her throat. Simon watched her with those big concerned eyes, as he always did when she was hurting, and she loved him for it.

Caressing her cheek lightly, he said, “If it’s food poisoning, it’ll just run its course,” he assured her, noting that her eyes, which had been filling with tears, now overran with them. “What is it,” he asked softly.

“I ruined our honeymoon,” she wailed, her voice coming out shakier than even she had anticipated.

Smiling at her broadly, Simon leaned down and scooped her up into his arms, carrying her back to bed. She was tired, more so than she had been in days, and she rested her head against him, really liking the idea of having someone to care for her when she didn’t feel well – that was new for Kaylee.

Laying her back down, Simon pulled the covers back around them both and cradled her to his chest. “You haven’t ruined anything,” he whispered into her hair. She was too tired to argue and still not feeling very well. So instead, she simply nuzzled closer to him and placed a light kiss on his cheek.

“Love you, Simon,” she murmured once more before sleep claimed her.

“I love you,” he whispered back, soon joining her in slumber.

***

A few hours later, Kaylee awoke feeling a hundred percent better and a hundred percent horny. Rising Simon from sleep was not difficult, with a few well-placed kisses and touches and soon they were again entangled in sweaty limbs. Kaylee was sore, it was true and she suspected Simon was as well, although she knew he’d never complain. If he wasn’t going to admit defeat, she’d be damned if she was.

As the sun set outside their windows, Simon rose and pulled her from the bed, leading her out to their very secluded balcony. It was one of the reasons Simon had selected this hotel – each room had its own veranda that was well screened from any prying eyes. Settling with Kaylee leaning against him into one of the plush lounge chairs, he wrapped his arms around her and held her naked form to his as they watched the sun set. The night air was crisp and cool around them, but Simon didn’t mind. And he knew Kaylee didn’t either, she simply, wrapped her arms around his and snuggled closer, staying warm in his embrace.

He had no idea how long they were out there, sitting in silence, reveling in the feel of each other, but it was finally Kaylee who disrupted their quiet. “Are you okay, being back on Serentiy?”

Surprised that she would be the one to ask such a question, Simon pressed a kiss to her temple and answered, “Of course.” Craning his neck to read her features, he asked, “Why wouldn’t I be?”

She shrugged slightly and didn’t answer him for several moments. “I guess I was just thinkin’, you been living on Osiris for close to a year, and then we were grounded on Harvest for a bit.” She paused again, and then said, “I guess I’m just starting to catch on that Serenity ain’t that big and if’n our family keeps growing and ‘Nara and the cap’n start one and then your sister an’ Jayne-“

“Stop right there,” Simon told her, again kissing her cheek. “I don’t know if I can handle you finishing that statement right now,” he whispered against her cheek, running his lips and teeth along her jaw line.

Even as she sighed contentedly at his touch, she continued her thought, refusing to be deterred, “I’m just sayin’, now that we been off the ship so long, I wanted to be sure you’re okay going back?”

Pulling her around slightly, Simon saw that she had tears pooling her eyes. Reaching up and running a gentle hand down her cheek, he kissed her and then said, “Kaylee, Serenity is my home, our home. Have I ever given you cause to think any different?”

She shrugged again and then returned her gaze to the now dark sky. The stars had finally come out and she gazed up at them with shining eyes. She didn’t know what was wrong with her. She knew that Simon was right, she knew he would never take her away from Serenity or want them to settle somewhere unless it was a decision they could both arrive at. But for some reason, she felt an overwhelming sense of anxiety that was coloring her emotions.

“I guess now that I’m a missus, I jus’ wanna be sure my mister is happy, is all,” she told him, trying to quell the feeling of unease growing in her gut.

“Kaylee.” His voice was soft, but commanding, and Kaylee had no choice but to turn and look at him. Resting a light hand against her cheek, he held her gaze with his deep blue eyes and told her, “I have never been happier before, I told you that. And it’s still true. I don’t care where we live, as long as I’m with you.” Leaning forward, he pressed a gentle kiss to her mouth and Kaylee felt her body tingle at the contact. Breaking apart he leaned his forehead to hers and whispered, “You are my home.”

Stifling a sob, Kaylee knew it was true, and it made her feel all the more grateful that they had been given a second chance. Nuzzling her face against his cheek, she bit back tears as she murmured, “I never thought we’d be here. Sometimes, I just …” She let the statement die, uncertain if she should finish it. But as she felt Simon’s warm hand trail down her back, she knew she had to. “Sometimes, I just get scared it’s all a dream.”

“Well, then I’m going to have to do something to convince you this is real,” Simon murmured, running his lips down her neck and along her shoulder. She shuddered at his touch and felt her body again light with a fierce desire for him. “I’m real, Kaylee,” he whispered against her skin, his breath hot along her neck.

She moaned, inaudibly, allowing her head to roll back against his shoulder as he continued to touch her, his gentle hands running along the smooth skin of her breasts and stomach.

Kaylee finally turned in his embrace, unable to stand not kissing him herself, and pressed her mouth to his even as he pulled her tighter. Despite the coolness of the air around them, Kaylee felt her cheeks flush and her body burn with intensity as his arousal twitched to life against her. She knew that despite any lingering pain, there was no way she was going to stop this union.

Swinging her legs all the way around, Kaylee sat up farther in his lap, feeling his hardness against her thighs and delighting in the rush of excitement it shot through her. Teasing him with light kisses along his chest and neck, Kaylee was quickly leaning over him, having pushed him back into the chair with a light hand. She hovered there for a moment, again whimpering in pleasure as Simon continued to work his hands over her, his strong fingers toying with her breasts and running around her sides to knead the flesh of her bottom.

Gazing into his blue eyes again, Kaylee saw all the intensity and fire she felt reflected back and it brought her even closer to an impassioned pitch. With one knee on either side of his hips, Kaylee decided she wanted to be in control, at least for now. Placing her hands on top of his, she guided them to her waist, kissing him fiercely in the process and then slowly, ignoring the good ache she felt, lowered herself onto him.

Simon gasped sharply as she settled herself there, his eyes scrunching up in ecstasy as she began to move on him, causing his arousal to pulse and swell, bringing them both to a heightened sense of pleasure. She dropped her head to his shoulder, feeling her body start to tense in the way she knew would bring them both to their fall. Pressing her lips to every part of him she could find, Kaylee murmured his name into his skin, unable to form any other words.

Simon managed to wrap his arms around her and sit them up more, not dislodging his hold in her and the different position made Kaylee’s eyes water with delight. She knew she was close and judging by Simon’s increased ministrations he was too. Smiling slightly to herself, she could think of only him and their passion play as the night continued.

Moaning with joy and ecstasy, and increasing her own efforts to make her new husband respond in kind, the newlyweds were both very glad for the privacy their little bungalow afforded them as they continued to love each other under the stars.

***

The next morning, they awoke in a tangle of limbs on the lounge chair. Kaylee came to first, her body lying against Simon’s strong form. Smiling at the feel of his firm chest under her cheek and his strong arms around her shoulders, she snuggled in closer, ready to fall back into a blissful slumber when the cool dampness of the early morning air sent a chill down and through her.

Shaking noticeably, it was enough to raise Simon from his sleep. Gazing down at her, he saw as her teeth started to chatter just a bit and smiled sleepily at her, even as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Cold,” he murmured, himself feeling a tad chilly.

She murmured a “yes” and then whimpered a bit when he tried to move. Sighing heavily, he helped her sit up, placing one arm behind her shoulders and the other under her legs. Smiling at her, he whispered as he hoisted her into his arms, “We can’t get warm if we stay out here.”

She nodded once, and rubbed her cheek into his chest as he carried her back to the warm and inviting bed. Laying her down and then coming to join her, Kaylee opened her eyes again to find herself staring out the open door to the veranda, the horizon and its first sliver of orange sunrise just visible. Simon wrapped her to him from behind, spooning her into his warm form and covering them both with the fluffy blankets. They lay there like that, watching the sun as it started to creep up and over the distant hills.

Kaylee watched the beauty of it and felt a few tears prick her eyes. Blinking them away, she rested her arm over the one Simon had curled around her waist and absentmindedly trailed her fingers along his skin. Sighing at her touch, he leaned forward a bit to press a kiss just behind her ear and noticed her tears.

“What is it?” he asked quietly, resting his chin on her shoulder.

She tilted her head towards him and smiled a bright smile, reassuring him. “Oh, it’s nothin’. I’m shiny.”

Pressing a few soft kisses to her shoulder, Simon heard her sigh a bit and knew that it wasn’t nothing. Taking a guess he asked, “Are you worried about Daniel?”

She was, that was true; she should have known he would guess. “A little I guess,” she finally said, willing her tears away.

Simon hated that she was so sad. He knew she hadn’t been the whole time, but he’d watched her as her eyes sometimes drifted away from him and he knew she was thinking of her son, their son, and the fact that she had left him with his grandparents when he was only six months old. It didn’t matter that it was just for a couple of weeks or that it was to go on their honeymoon. All Kaylee knew was that she had left him behind and that guilt still weighed on her.

Kissing her again on the shoulder, Simon rested his head in the crook of her neck and squeezed her to him, just a bit tighter. “Are you sorry we came?” he asked softly, fearing the answer she’d give him.

Shaking her head, Kaylee shifted a bit in his arms, so she could face him and convince him that she did not regret a minute of this first week they’d shared as husband and wife. “No, Simon, I ain’t, I don’t wantcha to think that,” she told him firmly, resting a light hand against his cheek. “I miss him, yeah, that’s true, but this week has been amazin’,” she finished, her voice devolving into a breathy whisper. Gently caressing his cheek and getting him to lower his mouth to hers, she whispered against his lips, “You’re amazin’,” before his kiss silenced her. With renewed but contained passion, Kaylee worked her lips over his, sucking gently on his lower lip, even as Simon moved his own hands up to cradler her face. Deepening the kiss, she traced the edge of his captured lip with her tongue and delighted in the feel of his coming to join her, their passion growing as they caressed each other’s mouths, trying to bring the other to a point of pleasure.

When they had to break the contact and take a few gulps of air, Simon gazed into her beautiful green eyes, before trailing a few light, airy kisses down her cheek and neck and over her shoulder. Kaylee moaned a bit in content, loving the feel of his hands as they rubbed against the flesh of her stomach, the feel of his mouth as he grazed his lips along her skin, the feel of his tongue as it swirled against her arm. Working her hands up and into his hair, she pulled on it gently, bringing his face back up to hers. They held the gaze for a moment and then Simon whispered, “I love you,” before again kissing her, lightly this time, almost chastely. Kaylee sighed as their lips parted and he again held her close. She returned her gaze to the now brightening sky and thought about the sunrises on Beaumonde, they had been beautiful too.

“We used to watch the sunrise together.” She said it suddenly, not even aware the statement was on the way.

Drawing a puzzled gaze from Simon, he rested his head against hers and asked, “Who? We never watched any …”

“No, me and Daniel,” she corrected him, smiling at the memory. When Simon nuzzled against the skin of her shoulder, she decided to continue. Running her hand down his arm that was again at her waist, Kaylee intertwined her fingers with his as she remembered. “He was always up early, real early, for his mornin’ feedin’.” Kaylee thought on those first few months, before Simon had come back, when she’d gotten Daniel from his crib at the first cry he’d made and shushed him a bit before feeding him from her breast.

“Then, I started getting up, kinda regular like, you know? I guess I was gettin’ used to his schedule or somethin’. So, I’d get him out of his crib and take him down to Millie’s porch, she had a nice porch, you ‘member?” He nodded once, his chin bobbing lightly against her shoulder and then she continued. “And then we’d jus’ sit there, he and I watching as the sun rose. It was real pretty,” she finished quietly, a few more tears coming to her eyes. She had always loved those mornings, those mornings when she had pretended that Simon was simply asleep inside and she was just taking a few minutes of peace with her boy. They had been some of the only times in the past few months when she’d felt any normalcy in her life at all.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there.” Simon’s soft voice was muffled as he placed a few kisses to the back of her neck and her shoulder blade.

She shrugged slightly and then turned back to face him, feeling sleepy once again. “S’okay,” she murmured, even as her eyes started to close. “You’re here now.”

He nodded once and pressed her to him, watching as she curled into him and quickly fell asleep. Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he murmured, “I’m here, Kaylee.”

Holding her close, it was a long while before Simon managed to fall asleep himself.

***

It was the tenth day they had been on Santo and having decided that the soreness they felt was not going to go away if they continued to aggravate it – despite how much fun it was – Simon and Kaylee again ventured out of their suite, this time, heading down into the resort’s high-rolling casino. Part of Simon’s surprise for the honeymoon had been a closet full of clothes for his new bride, although she’d barely had an occasion to wear any of them. But as they had decided to enter into this world of high society, however temporarily, she had selected an emerald green dress that lit her eyes with a brightness even Simon had never seen before.

He knew that Kaylee was beautiful, he had known it from the minute he saw her twirling that umbrella over two years ago, but now, as he was able to spend every minute of every day with her, seeing the beauty of not only her body and her face, but her entire being, he continued to feel his love grow and he found himself praying to God, Buddha and the Shepherd more than once a day for giving her to him.

He had paused to stare at her as they entered the restaurant for dinner, and Kaylee looked back to him, a slight frown creasing her face. “Sweetie, you okay?”

Simon shook his head to bring his thoughts back to the present and took her arm in his. Pressing a kiss to her cheek, he murmured, “Just mesmerized by you is all.”

She giggled at his distraction, feeling for all the world like a princess. She had never been treated this way before. Simon had always told her that he would, if he could, show her how a woman, especially a woman he loved should be cared for. Of course, Kaylee had always been content just to have him, to know that he loved her, especially after the months that had spent apart. But she had to admit, a small part of her liked this life, the life of fancy dresses and formal dances, of exquisite food and meaningful glances. It was kind of fun.

As Simon held her chair for her, Kaylee kissed him lightly and then watched with a knowing grin as he circled around the table and took his own seat – his suit very clearly hung on him in all the right places, and Kaylee wet her lips in anticipation of taking it off of him later that night.

Catching her thinly veiled gaze, Simon cocked an eyebrow and whispered, “Are you going to make it through dinner?”

Not at all liking the implication that she was the only one struggling to contain herself, Kaylee knocked off one of her shoes and ran her foot up his leg and into his groin, pushing gently there. He hissed lightly and gave her another look full of desire this time, and Kaylee simply smiled sweetly. “Are you?” she asked, delighting in the barely contained desire that danced across his features.

Placing one hand under the table and around her foot, he gently removed it and Kaylee took it back, fishing her shoe back on. Grabbing her hand across the table, Simon said, “We agreed. We both need a break, even if just for our bodies to rest.”

Pouting, Kaylee knew he was right. She was sore, but that didn’t mean she had no desire. Nodding once, she again grinned to him and said, “S’okay, I can think of a ton o’ other ways to drive you crazy.”

Simon sighed slightly, knowing this would either be the most uncomfortable meal of his life or the most fun. Squeezing her hand, he told her, “Control yourself.”

Grinning wickedly, she gave him an expression of mock innocence and said, “Who me?”

The waiter came to interrupt their interplay and secretly Simon was glad. Surely, Kaylee would not try – Having to bite his lip, he realized that she had again managed to get her shoe off and he was having a hard time listening to what the attendant was saying as she ran her toes over his groin.

Looking to her sharply, Simon silently cursed her. She wasn’t even making a face, she was simply looking to the waiter demurely, nodding as if she was hearing every word, when Simon knew that was not the case. Thankfully, the man noticed he was in some discomfort and after taking their drink orders left the young couple.

Responding to Simon’s aroused look, Kaylee simply shrugged her shoulders, smiled to him again, and asked, “What?”

Not waiting another minute, Simon stood, grabbing her hand. Kaylee simply grabbed her shoe and hopped to get it on as they rushed back to their room, dinner completely forgotten.

***

Kaylee awoke again, early the next morning lying beside her husband in a state of euphoria … which was quickly disrupted when she again felt the need to empty any and everything in her stomach. Silently cursing, as she rushed from the bed, Kaylee made it to the toilet just in time, having the presence of mind to shut the door to the bathroom before she kneeled over the basin.

What in the nine levels of hell was wrong with her? She hadn’t thrown up more than twice since her first bout with whatever this was and now it was starting to annoy her. Leaning back on her heels, she dropped her head in her hands and waited as she felt her stomach churning violently one more time. Squeezing past sudden tears, she again vomited and then, sank to the blessedly cold floor of the bathroom, quickly falling asleep.

When Simon awoke, very cold and lonely, he instantly became concerned. “Kaylee,” he called, wondering where she could have gone. Noticing the closed bathroom door, he scooted off the bed and rapped against it lightly. “Kaylee, bao bei, are you in there?”

Getting no answer and increasing his anxiety, Simon pushed open the door and rushed to her side. She had obviously not been feeling well, and now Kaylee was curled up into a ball on the floor before him, sleeping restlessly.

As Simon approached her, he quickly flushed the remains of what they’d eaten last night down the toilet, his doctor-ly concern quickly growing for her. Kneeling to her side, he reached out a gentle hand to wake her and was quite surprised when, before he’d even touched her, she jumped in her sleep, crying out his name.

Not at all liking the pained sound in her voice, Simon finally placed a light hand on her bare and cold shoulder, and whispered, “Kaylee, bao bei, wake up. You’re dreaming.”

Unable to wake her with just this slight plea, Simon scooted a bit closer hissing as his bare legs hit the cold floor. Kaylee continued to toss and turn, and again called out for him. “Simon! Come back! Daniel!”

Pulling her to his chest, Simon whispered into her hair, “I’m here, Kaylee. I’m here. Wake up.”

He felt the jolt run through her as she came back to consciousness and held her firmly as she cried a bit from the residual emotions of her dreams. Taking a few deep breaths, she finally pulled back to look at him, and cupped his face in her hands. “Simon?” she asked breathlessly.

He nodded once, and pushed her sweat-soaked hair off her face. “Yes, Kaylee. It’s me, I’m here.”

“Daniel, where is he?” Her eyes were frantic, her face contorted with fear as she searched the room for their baby.

“He’s with your parents, Kaylee on Harvest. He’s safe. We’re all safe,” Simon reassured her, again holding her tight.

She sighed heavily, her relief evident as her entire body, one moment tense, relaxed now in his embrace. He rocked her for a few more minutes and then, feeling her shiver, carried her back into the bedroom. Once he had laid her down and gotten her under covers again, he pulled on a pair of sweatpants and went to his suitcase. As a doctor, and a trauma surgeon, he never traveled anywhere without his medical bag, and their honeymoon was no different.

Pulling the familiar red bag out, he padded back to the bed and watched as Kaylee looked at him through sleepy and tired eyes. As he moved to pull out a syringe and vial to capture some of her blood, she grabbed his hand and held it. “I’m sorry,” she murmured.

He smiled at her and kissed her lightly, before reassuring her. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. I just want to draw some blood so we can find out what’s wrong.”

Kaylee again stilled his hand, and when he met her gaze, he saw more tears there. Blinking them away and wondering why she was suddenly so sad, she told him, “I think I know what’s wrong.”

Furrowing his brow, Simon moved his medical supplies to the floor at his feet and inched closer to her. Placing a light hand against her cheek, he asked, “Are you going to tell me?”

She nodded once and bit her lip. She had figured it out last night as sleep had again claimed her on the bathroom floor. She’d been so wrapped up in the wedding plans and then their honeymoon, that Kaylee had completely missed the signs. Of course, why she felt such dread, she did not understand, but she did all the same and she was fairly certain it was the unexpectedness of it, coupled with remaining fears from her first pregnancy that had caused her nightmare.

“It’s okay, Kaylee,” Simon whispered to her, running a gentle hand along her brow. “Whatever it is, it’ll be okay.”

She smiled at him through her tears; this was one part of motherhood she was not looking forward to reliving. She had been ridiculously weepy when she’d been carrying Daniel and she suspected the second time around it would be worse.

Moving to sit up, Kaylee took both of his hands in hers and held his gaze. She feared Simon’s reaction only because they had not discussed having more children or when and now it appeared the decision had been made for them. But Kaylee would not apologize for loving him, especially not when she had thought she’d never be able to again.

Resting her own hand against his cheek, she held his blue-eyed gaze and whispered, “I’m pregnant.”

She had to give him credit, Simon did not blink, did not faint, did not even widen his eyes. Instead, he wrapped a hand around the back of her neck and kissed her fiercely. At first startled by his reaction, but quickly getting over it, Kaylee leaned into his kiss, bringing her arms up and around his neck. When they parted, Simon held her tight to him.

“You’re okay with this?” she asked him, so glad he was holding her close.

“Are you kidding?” he asked breathlessly, finally pulling back to look in her face. He could see her apprehension, of what he’d say, of what he’d do and Simon hurried to reassure her. Cupping her face in his hands, he said, “Kaylee, I love being a father. I love Daniel. He’s a constant reminder of what you mean to me-"

“And what you mean to me,” she told him, biting back tears.

Nodding, Simon smiled again, that swai grin and Kaylee felt her insides turn to jelly. “And I love you. Sure, we may not have planned to be parents again so soon, but how could we deny ourselves the joy of a new life?”

It was Kaylee’s turn to kiss him with reckless abandon. She was still a little worried, worried about raising a baby on Serenity, two babies actually as Daniel would be barely over a year old by the time she had his brother or sister. But she knew that Simon was back now, he was with her, forever, and she wouldn’t have to go through it alone – not again.

Her tears again ran down her cheeks and Simon pulled back slightly as he felt the saltiness hit his lips. Wiping her face gently with his thumbs, he whispered, “What is it, Kaylee?” Swallowing hard past a sudden lump in his throat, he asked quietly, “Don’t you want to have another baby?”

As she struggled to put her fears into words, Simon instantly felt shame. He was a doctor, a fairly good one, and he should have taken more precautions to ensure they didn’t have a surprise like this; not again, not so soon. “I’m sorry, Kaylee,” he finally said, getting a shocked look from her and instantly regretting the words. “For not being more careful,” he hastened to add, noticing that if anything he was seemingly making it worse. “I’m a doctor, I should have paid better attention.”

Horrified that he could even think she would blame him, Kaylee said, “No, don’t be silly. We’re both grown people. Besides, I want to have more babies with you. It’s just …” She trailed off, hating that her fear was ruining this moment for them both. But she couldn’t shake the dread away – the dread of knowing that the last time she’d been carrying Simon’s child, she’d thought he was dead. And even though she knew that it wasn’t going to happen again, that neither of them would let it, she still could not move past the fear that gripped her heart. The fear of having to go through that again. She knew that if push came to shove, she wouldn’t be able to and it scared her.

Simon still held her fearful gaze and he tried to run through all the things that could have her so upset. And then, suddenly, realization dawned. Holding her face in his hands, he met her teary gaze and he whispered, “I will be here this time. I will go through all of it with you. I promise.”

He knew that was the one fear that had to have Kaylee so bothered. When she sobbed and wrapped her arms around him tightly, Simon knew he’d been right. Holding her back, he didn’t know what he could say that would make this any better. He could reassure her that everything would be all right, that he would never leave her again, but he had made her those promises before and still been unable to keep them. He feared that as much as he wanted to just erase her pain, nothing would heal what was broken in Kaylee except time.

“You were having that dream about me again,” he said, knowing that’s why she’d been so upset when he’d awoken her before. “The same one from the first night I was back.”

She nodded once, and just buried her face further into his neck. She sobbed loudly and she hated it. She should be happy, they should both be happy. Why couldn’t she just forget that terrible year?

“I’m sorry, Simon, really,” she told him, pulling away and wiping at her face. “This is so silly. I’m just missin’ Daniel and worryin’ ‘bout an’ all. I’m sure it’s just hormones, or somethin’.” She tried to brush it off, tried to make light of the worry that had gripped her heart. But she couldn’t and Simon knew it.

“Kaylee, there’s nothing I can say to make this better,” he admitted, reaching forward and pressing light kisses to her cheeks, her eyes, her forehead, her lips. “I wish there was, but you’re just going to have to trust me, trust us, trust the ‘verse that what you went through before, won’t happen again.”

Kaylee nodded once, and looked into his own wet eyes. She wanted to believe him, wanted to dismiss this hesitation and again embrace the joy of knowing she would be a mother. But it was going to take time and patience had never been one of Kaylee’s strengths.

Placing another light kiss to his lips, Kaylee again circled her arms back around him and murmured into his chest, “Hold me, Simon. Please.”

Amazed she thought she had to ask, Simon just held her.

***

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