A/N: this is NC-17, because it is a nightmare. ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~

Mal was in deep sleep when he heard her yell. Rising he grabbed his gun just in time for his hatch to open and a flying form to tackle him.

~~~~~

Inara was in the kitchen fixing tea and entertaining Rill while Kaylee was in her shuttle entertaining Jayne, Book, and Wash. Her body glistened in sweat and secretions, taking first one man then the others individually, in pairs and all three at once; then starting over again, the combinations seemed endless. *

Simon awoke crying, he looked down at his beautiful Kaylee and wiped his tears away, just a nightmare he told himself. His stirring had roused his wife; she looked up at him with the most beautiful, loving eyes in the ‘verse.

“Simon, you Ok?”

“Just a nightmare Kay’.”

“You cried!” She said cupping his face in her hand.

“I’m Ok bao bei.”

“Don’t like weakness.” She said digging her thumbnail into his eye.

The shock was nothing compared to the strength that threw him to the floor and pummeled him with fist of iron. *

Simon was having the best sex of his life. “Kaylee, I love you!” He gasped.

“If that’s what you want to call me, Ok sweetie.”

“Simon…” he hears Kaylee barely say from the door, before she flees.

With horror he looks down at the writhing form of Inara. *

Simon wakes up in his infirmary, a soft hand on his shoulder.

“Sleepy boy, chair for sitting.”

“River what…?” his computer interrupts with a loud bing – test results are analyzed. “Just a sec River.” The results please him. “River, Kaylee’s pregnant” He says hugging his sister.

“Not Kaylee’s test.”

“What?” He reads the name on the test – River Cobb. *

Simon is looking for Kaylee and finds her in the Captain’s bed; laughing with him about her weak husband. *

Simon stares at Jayne, wondering at the lack of pain he felt from the knife Jayne had eviscerated him with, *

He follows River’s laughter into the hold. Taking a turn around some crates he sees her, naked, teaching the Captain a new ‘position’ – the reverse wheelbarrow. *

Simon is floating in space, a thin spacesuit between him and nothingness. *

Kaylee is suckling Rill when Simon enters the room.

“This is a beautiful sight.”

She beams up at Simon, “What?”

“My wife and daughter.” He smiles with pride.

“Simon… She’s not yours.”

“Wha…”

”She’s mine!” Jayne roars, grabbing Simon from behind and throwing him across the Common Area. *

Simon was starving; the steak he just ate left him feeling unfulfilled. Where was Kaylee?

Oh yes, here she is. Dragging her onto the table he spreads his naked wife’s legs. “Lets see…”He thinks, “The inner thigh is the tenderest.” And he takes a bite. *

Simon wakes up and Kisses Kaylee’s shoulder, she doesn’t move. He shakes he, she still doesn’t move. Simon notices that she’s cold and stiff with dead eyes staring up.

A shaken Simon moves to pick up a motionless Rill…

~~~~~~

“That should do it Kaylee.”

“Thanks Inara, “ Kaylee said looking ay her thrashing husband slowly settle down. “How did you know he needed a smoother?”

“I didn’t. I was making tea when I heard a disturbance towards the bridge.”

“What happened?”

“River was scared and tackled Mal in his room.”

“Is he alright?”

“Just a bump on his head. He was holding her trying to calm her down, so I came to get her a smoother.”

“You’d better hurry back to Mal.”

“Don’t bother.” Mal said coming up behind them. “She dropped off a couple of minutes ago.”

Inara and Kaylee exchange glances and look at Simon.

“Do you think?”

“Could it be?”

“What?” Mal asks.

“Simon, “ Inara begins, “was having a violent nightmare…”

“Shouting and moaning and he wouldn’t wake up.”

“So I gave him the smoother I had gotten for River.”

“So,” Mal figures, “she was reading Simon?”

“Apparently.” Inara concludes. “Would you like some tea Mal?”

“Might as well, “ Mal, yawns, “I don’t have a bunk.” Kaylee and Inara exchange grins.

“Aw come on you two, River don’t weigh much but shifting her about ain’t easy.”

Inara takes Mal by the arm, “Come on Captain Daddy, we’ll have some tea and find you a bed for the night.” Giving a smiling Kaylee a wink.

Kaylee continues smiling until they’re out of sight. Turning to look at Simon her smile shifts into an angry scowl. Squatting beside him she tenderly brushes his hair back. “Tomorrow my love, no more nice Kaylee, you are coming home!” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: Sorry for the wait on this chapter, but it went through major revisions daily up until when I push the Submit This Fanfic button in a few seconds. I went way out of my comfort zone to write Simon's nightmares.

Also, i'm still looking for a beta...