Title: Final Goodbyes Series: Sweet Surrender Rating: PGish I suppose Characters: Kaylee/Jayne Disclaimer: I do not own Prompt: 18. Photograph (~lost you forever)

Author's note: Betaed by Squish_67

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sweet Surrender Organizational Post

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"What do you think he would have looked like?" Kaylee asked as she knelt slowly in the grass. Jayne took a seat by her, staring at the small, stone grave marker.

"If he had any luck he’d look like his pa," Jayne chuckled. Kaylee grinned faintly at the joke but the smile faded after a moment. "It’s alright baby girl," he said, reaching out and rubbing her back.

"I know," she whispered, afraid if her voice got any louder it might crack.

"You should be happy," Jayne murmured, leaning close and resting his forehead against her temple.

"I’m scared," she replied, her head turning so she could see his eyes. Kaylee could tell he didn’t know what to say to that, didn’t know how to comfort her. He tried his best, but this wasn’t something he could shoot down and beat up. It was a very real fear and there were no promises he could make to put her at ease. "It’s okay," she assured. She knew she had said the wrong thing when his eyes shut. He was trying to rein in his temper.

"It’s okay? You’re the one sitting here, scared out of your mind ‘bout one thing or another and there ain’t a thing I can do to help you. It ain’t rutting okay," Jayne growled and pulled back away from her.

"Not here, Jayne," Kaylee reprimanded, looking at him harshly.

"I can’t do nothin’ Kaylee and it’s killin’ me. I gotta just stand there and watch you…watch you be like this," Jayne said, standing up and rubbing a hand through his shortly cropped hair.

"I ain’t gonna try again," Kaylee promised, standing as well.

"And what happens if you lose this one? Simon said the hell you’ve put your body through, it’s a possibility. I can’t go through that again," Jayne shook his head. Kaylee looked down at her swollen stomach. She had made it past the second trimester but had nearly miscarried and put a scare in the entire crew. Simon had ordered her to bed rest unless there was something she absolutely needed to do in the engine room. Even this trip was more than the doctor had wanted her to do.

"I don’t know what to say," she said quietly. Jayne let out a sigh and stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her. He drew her close, resting her head on his chest.

"I hate that I can’t take care of you," he whispered.

"I’m sorry, Jayne," she whispered back, her eyes pulled away from his. He reached up and took her chin, pulling it to face him again. "What happened to the sunshiny Kaylee I used to know?"

"She’s here," Kaylee promised. "Scared is all. I want this baby more than I want to breath."

"That’s the part that scares me," Jayne shook his head. There was a long moment of silence before Jayne pulled Kaylee forward, dropping a kiss on her forehead. "We should head back."

"I need a minute," Kaylee replied. Jayne nodded and stepped away, heading back towards the ship.

Kaylee waited until he was far enough away before she knelt on the ground once again. Taking a deep breath, her hands ran over the stone marker. Jayne Cobb Jr. was inscribed along the smooth stone. "Been a long time. Didn’t think I’d be able t’go on after what happened. Thought miscarrying you would be the end of me. I lost you forever, baby boy." Her voice caught in her throat and for a long moment she couldn’t speak. Finally Kaylee reached into her pocket and pulled out a small picture.

"They got these cameras, take pictures of babies ‘fore they’re born. Wanted you to meet your little sister. She’s a pretty little thing." She smiled and set the photograph on the damp grass. "I gotta go, but I wanted you to know. Even though we didn’t meet properly, your mama loves ya and thinks ‘bout ya all the time. You’re daddy too, though he don’t let on. You take care of yourself." She pressed her hand to her lips and then pressed her fingers to the stone before she stood up. With one last glance at the grave site she headed back towards Serenity.