A/N: This is the last chapter of the story, however, there is the epilogue (which is very short) and then a five-part postscript called A NEW REASON. I also have a one-off written with some of these same characters that takes place about twelve years after the fact.

And, just to put everyone's mind at rest, your questions WILL be answered ... trust me.

Thanks to Leiasky for everything!

***

A NEW DAY, ch. 33: Look to the Rainbow

***

Simon still could not sleep. Even though he did feel better after having let out his emotions, his heart was heavy and his mind tired as he tried to come to terms with all that had happened.

With a sigh, he rolled out of bed, careful not to wake Kaylee, and pulling on a t-shirt, padded down the hall to Daniel’s room. He was getting better, slowly, although his ears were still bothering him more than Simon liked. Entering his room, he sat gingerly on the edge of his son’s bed, looking down into his peaceful face, flushed from sleep.

Jayne’s death had also rekindled something in Simon, something he hadn’t expected – regret. Regret that he had not been able to spend every minute of his son’s life with him. Those first few months, they were precious, just as every minute was, and Simon’s guilt over not being there for the birth, over not being there for Kaylee had resurfaced with a vengeance in the past few days.

He had tried to dismiss it, as he had tried every day for the past five years. There was nothing he could do to get that time back, no magic spell, no wish that would give him back those two months or the nine that Kaylee had been pregnant. But he still wanted them, stubbornly. Was still mad he couldn’t have them.

With another heavy sigh, Simon leaned down to kiss his son goodnight, knowing he should at least try to sleep. Rising, he was almost out the door, when Daniel’s voice called to him. “Dad?”

Turning back to him, Simon sat beside him again and whispered, “I’m sorry, buddy. I didn’t mean to wake you up.” He brushed a light hand across his son’s forehead, grateful that his fever seemed to be dropping.

“You didn’t,” Daniel mumbled, rolling onto his side. Blinking his eyes open, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

Frowning at him, Simon asked, “What do you mean?”

“Something happened,” Daniel told him. “I know it, but I don’t know what, ‘cause I’ve been asleep for a while.”

His eyes immediately tearing, Simon realized that his son did not yet know about Jayne’s death. He had been sleeping, a lot, as his body continued to fight off his infection. Pressing another kiss to his forehead, Simon told him, “How about you go to sleep and we can talk about it in the morning?”

“No,” Daniel said, his face conveying a look of stubbornness he could have only gotten from Kaylee. “Tell me now.”

With a heavy sigh, Simon opened his arms and Daniel climbed into his lap, his head resting against his father’s shoulder. Bringing his arms around his son, Simon dropped his lips to his scalp and whispered, “You know that a lot of people were very sick when you were?”

Daniel nodded once and Simon went on. “Well, Uncle Jayne got very, very sick. His body was weak because of the surgeries I gave him for his shoulder.”

“But Uncle Jayne’s tough,” Daniel said innocently, leaning back to look in his father’s face, blue eyes meeting blue. “That’s what he always says.”

Smiling sadly at him, Simon agreed. “Yes, Uncle Jayne was very tough, but sometimes, no matter how hard a person tries or how much medicine we give them, they can’t fight.”

Blinking rapidly, Daniel swallowed the lump that had risen unexpectedly in his throat. He was mature beyond his five years, and he could recognize the signs of his father’s growing distress. “He’s going to be okay, right?” he squeaked, his voice quiet.

Shaking his head, Simon swallowed thickly a few times trying to find the words. Finally, he sighed and said, “No buddy, he’s not. Uncle Jayne died a few days ago.”

His eyes immediately pooled with tears, and Simon’s heart went out to his son. The boy curled up into his lap and started to cry and Simon could do nothing but hold him. Just as he had no words of comfort for River, he had none for his son or his daughter or his wife. He only had the knowledge that he had failed to save a member of his family and the weight of that guilt.

After what seemed forever, Simon felt Daniel’s breathing slow and he knew the boy had again fallen to sleep, the drugs in his system causing him to nod off quickly. Placing him back beneath the covers and kissing him again, Simon made it back to Kaylee’s side.

Sliding in next to her, he rolled onto his side and wrapped a strong arm around her waist, burying his head into her hair and allowing himself to be consumed by her heady scent.

Stirring, she murmured, “You okay?”

Kissing her behind her ear, Simon answered, “Yes, bao bei. Just go back to sleep.”

Unable to argue with him, Kaylee rolled over in his arms and snuggled against him and with a heavy sigh, Simon held her, unable to take his own advice and drift off.

***

River tended to Jayne’s grave with all the love and care as she had ever shown anything or anyone. The ceremony had been small and private, happening just a few days ago, on a patch of land near the stream that ran in the woods by Simon and Kaylee’s new house. The widow had spent everyday there since, from morning until night, planting flowers, tending to the headstone, talking to her dead husband.

Kaylee and Inara had tried to go with her occasionally, both women a bit concerned that she was spending so much time on her own. But after a day or so of watching as she moved with her usual ease and deliberateness, it had become obvious to them both that as with most things in her life, River dealt with her grief in her own way.

So, River was out there alone again. She traced Jayne’s name, carved deep into the stone with one, pale finger, and talked with him. “Everyone’s really sorry you’re gone,” she whispered, her voice low. “Even Simon, although I know you don’t believe me.” She smiled slightly at the thought, the memory of her brother’s and her husband’s love-hate relationship rising in her mind.

“But I’m still scared, Jayne,” she confided, edging closer to the stone, so she could lean her head against it. “I’m scared about the baby. It shouldn’t be possible. What am I going to do if I can’t protect it again?”

Looking over to the headstone, she asked, “Have you seen our little girl? And the Shepherd? I’ll bet the Shepherd was waiting with a cigar and an embrace when you got there. And Wash, he was probably grinning from ear to ear, wanting to know how in the world you ever convinced me to marry you.” River felt a few tears falling down her face, and she did not wipe them away; more would only come after them. “Tell them I said hi. Tell them I miss them. Tell them to take care of you. Ask them to take care of this new little one.”

With another sigh, River stood slowly, her hand lingering along the cold stone. “I know, I know, I have to take care of this baby too. And I will. I promise you.” Leaning down, she pressed a kiss to the stone and then wandered back towards the house in search of her brother.

***

Inara was sitting in bed, staring out the window when Mal found her the next morning. The baby had already been fed, Inara had been in the process of breast-feeding her when he had gone down for breakfast, so he stood in the doorway a bit puzzled now. His wife did not often get lost in thought, it just really wasn’t part of her nature, but something had been bothering her for days now, ever since the birth of their daughter and Mal supposed he had let her try and hide it long enough.

“Hey darlin’,” he said quietly, entering the room and rounding the bed to sit beside her. She smiled at him, wiping away a few tears, and with a concerned look creasing his brow he reached a hand to her forehead. “You feelin’ okay?”

“Oh, yes, Mal, I’m fine.” It wasn’t a convincing statement and judging by the way she quickly averted her gaze, she knew it. Frowning at her, Mal asked, “I don’t think so. When are you gonna tell me what’s goin’ on?”

With a few more tears falling, Inara shook her head slightly, her fingers twitching nervously in her lap. Reaching out and covering them with his hand, Mal whispered, “C’mon, ‘Nara. You know it ain’t fair to worry me so. My manly sensibilities can’t take the anxiety.”

Inara smiled at their inside joke and with a heavy sigh, she murmured, “I was just thinking about the baby.”

“Who still needs a name, by the way,” Mal interjected. “What about her? Is she okay?”

Nodding once, Inara raised her tear-filled eyes to him and whispered, “She’s perfect, Mal. That’s what’s wrong.”

“What,” he asked, certain he had just missed something in translation.

“We should have stayed on Harvest, for the birth,” Inara elaborated, sighing heavily. “There was no reason for us to come here. Millie was more than qualified. But because of my selfishness, Simon, he had too much to do and-“

“And you think Jayne passed, ‘cause Simon was here, birthin’ our kid,” Mal finished, rubbing a hand over his eyes. “Is that it?”

“It’s true, isn’t it,” Inara asked him, more tears falling as her guilt continued to well in her chest. “It was a distraction, Mal. I was a distraction, and now, Jayne …” Inara trailed off as her voice broke and Mal sat closer, taking both of her hands in his.

Wiping a hand down her face and taking away some of her tears, he said quietly, “’Nara, come on, you know that ain’t true. Things happened the way they were meant to.”

Shaking her head fiercely, Inara told him, “You don’t know that, Mal. And you can’t convince me otherwise.” Crossing her arms over her chest, Inara averted her eyes from him again, even as her tears continued to fall.

Sighing, Mal watched her for a moment, noting the set look of her profile. Her stubbornness could rival his own on a good day, but he would not let her get away with this – it just wasn’t right. “So, what’re you gonna do, ‘Nara,” he asked quietly. “Feel guilty for the rest o ‘your life?”

Shrugging lightly, Inara could not answer him. She wanted to, because she already did – feel guilty. Her selfishness, her weakness to want to come and see Kaylee and Simon had caused River her husband; how could she possibly ever forgive herself for that? And even if she did, that wouldn’t make it right.

“You think River blames you?” Mal asked, his tone still low. Again reaching for her hands, he said, “You know she never could. Sometimes things just happen, as you are so fond of remindin’ me.”

Turning an incredulous look on him, Inara frowned at his assessment and Mal frowned right back. “You know it’s true. What ‘bout after Wash and the Shepherd died? You remember what you tol’ me then?”

Inara swallowed hard past another lump in her throat. Of course she remembered, how could he even think she’d forgotten? It had been months after Miranda, and as the two of them had fallen back into their pattern of bitter and bite, she had grown weary of it quickly. Confronting him on it one night, Mal had admitted, begrudgingly, that a lot of his actions were driven by his guilt over the hurt he felt he’d inflicted upon his crew, and that despite his feelings for her, he would never allow himself to be with her, knowing what his own emotion had caused him in the past.

And so, as usual, Inara had told him to get over himself, to wake up and realize that the ‘verse did not revolve around him, although he wanted to believe it did and that sometimes bad things just happened. With a sigh, she finally admitted, “I remember.”

“And what did you say?” Mal asked, wanting her to repeat the words, wanting her to actually say them in a hope that they would register.

Clearing her throat, it took Inara a while to find her voice. Finally, she said, “That carrying around the guilt for their deaths would not bring them back. That feeling responsible for what had happened would only serve to end your life in the process, and that there would be nothing sadder than seeing another member of the crew, especially the captain, crippled by pride and remorse.”

“Exactly,” Mal told her. Taking her face in his hands, he lifted her teary gaze to his face and said, “Now, them’s a lot o’ fancy words for sayin’ this – it ain’t your fault, and thinkin’ it is ain’t gonna bring Jayne back or take away River’s pain. The only thing we can do is live an’ love. That’s all we got.”

Inara’s tears had again started to fall steadily and she leaned forward, wrapping her arms tight around his neck. With a sigh, Mal held her back, feeling her body shake a bit as she cried. Pressing a kiss to her cheek, he murmured, “And we gotta name that new one. We can’t just keep callin’ her baby.”

After a moment, when Inara had managed to collect herself, she pulled back and told him, “I’ve actually been thinking about that. You know we were talking about Sophia-“

“Sophie,” Mal amended, not really liking the proper name.

Smiling, Inara said, “Yes, Sophie. What about Jane for her middle name?”

Sitting back, Mal thought on it, whispering, “Sophia, Sophie, Jane Reynolds.” Smiling to her, he said, “I like it, but maybe we oughta ask River?”

Nodding, Inara said, “I was. Especially since Jayne was always so adamant that he wasn’t a girl. I’d hate to insult his manliness.”

Giving her a knowing look, Mal said, “Oh yes, that would be a shame.” Leaning in, he pressed his lips to hers, tasting the saltiness of her tears and wishing that he could know this was the last heartache they would have to endure for a while. He didn’t like seeing her in so much pain, and it bothered him that he did not have the control to protect her from it.

Pulling back and resting their foreheads together, Mal ran a hand up and rested it on her shoulder. “Ai ya, I love you,” he murmured.

Kissing him again, Inara murmured, “I love you.” Waiting until they had again parted, she added, “And thank you. For reminding me of what’s most important.”

Smiling at her, Mal pulled her back into his arms as he said, “Always, darlin’. Always.”

***

Kaylee looked out the window to where Rylee and Mimi were playing and sighed contentedly. In the week since Jayne had been gone there had been little laughter and even less happiness around her home, but watching her daughter and her niece playing now gave her a feeling of joy she had been missing.

Glancing to them for a moment more, Kaylee allowed a small smile to turn up her lips before focusing back on her task at hand. Preparing meals for and cleaning up after so many people was a bit overwhelming, but Kaylee didn’t mind. She would much rather have a full house than an empty one. Continuing to scrub at the dishes, she didn’t hear River peek her head into the room until the young woman called, “Simon?”

Turning at the sound, Kaylee gave her a wide grin and greeted her. “Hey, sweetie. How are you?”

Smiling slightly at her, River stepped fully into the room, and went to her side. Shrugging in way of an answer, she said, “Have you seen Simon?”

Turning off the water and wiping her hands, Kaylee told her, “Yeah, sweetie, he’s in the clinic. Trying to get things straight.” Resting a light hand to River’s shoulder she asked, “Are you doin’ okay?”

Shrugging again, River didn’t have an answer for the woman. She knew what Kaylee wanted her to say, knew she wanted her to smile big and laugh off her concern, but she couldn’t. Even with the pain of Jayne’s absence slowly receding, there was still her baby to think about, and the thought that her child may not survive, filled her with a new level of anxiety. “I’m doing as well as I can, but I need to see Simon,” she finally said. Looking out the door and knowing she had to go to Simon, knowing she would need his help, River felt her resolve waver for just a moment. Reaching back for Kaylee’s hand, she asked, “Come with me, please?”

Nodding once, Kaylee gripped River’s hand tighter and allowed the younger woman to lead her from the room. As they stepped into Simon’s clinic, they both watched him for a moment as he moved about, his motions so deliberate, so sure. His outward appearance was a direct contrast to what River felt welling inside of him, his uncertainty, his guilt, his sadness. Trying to bury his feelings away, as they would only add to her own, River cleared her throat and said, “Simon?”

Turning abruptly at the unexpected sound, Simon’s eyes widened and then narrowed as he took in both River and Kaylee’s forms. Moving towards them, he pressed a kiss to his wife’s cheek, before giving one to River as well. Keeping his hands on her shoulders, he said, “Mei mei, are you all right?”

She held his gaze for a long while, her brown eyes locking with his blue. She tried to keep her tears in, tried not to let the sadness and fear she felt control her, but she couldn’t do it, she couldn’t be that strong, not right now. Covering Simon’s hands with her own, River finally whispered, “I need your help.”

Noting her distress, Simon’s eyes burned with sadness for her, and he guided her across the room to the couch, Kaylee following them. Once they were sitting, with her brother and sister flanking her on either side, Simon turned to River and brushed some of her hair back from her face. Resting his hand against her cheek, he asked, “What is it mei mei? Anything you need, just tell me.”

Swallowing hard, River felt their support, their concern and their love for her. It was almost too much; considering all they had been through, all they had survived, River knew she was lucky to still have their love. She didn’t deserve it. But Jayne’s death had given her a perspective she had not expected; it had allowed her to reexamine some of her actions from the past few years and River had realized with shame and a bit of anger, how selfish and callous she had been, to both of them. And yet, despite of all of it, they still loved her, wanted the best for her; it only served as a reminder to River of their deep capacity for love.

Grabbing for Kaylee’s hand and for Simon’s, River told them quietly, “I’ve already asked so much from you both, and you’ve already given me so much, I hate to ask for this too, but I have to.” She broke off abruptly as a few tears fell, and Simon edged closer to her, running his hand through her hair, trying to soothe her.

“It’s okay, mei mei,” he reminded her.

“Yeah, honey, we love you, you don’t gotta thank us for that,” Kaylee reminded her, her hand rubbing along River’s back comfortingly.

Smiling to her slightly, River knew it would be useless to argue, so instead she swallowed back the lump in her throat and looked to her brother. “I know you can help me,” she told him quietly, a small smile forming despite her tears. “I know it, because you’re the best doctor in the ‘verse.”

Simon blushed at her compliment, not agreeing, given the circumstances, but nodded once for her to continue. Clearing her throat she said, “I need you to help me and my baby.”

Kaylee’s eyes immediately met Simon’s as River uttered her last statement. Her green orbs went wide with shock and concern and as she met Simon’s equally big blue eyes, she saw her own reaction reflected there. Watching as her husband struggled to form a thought, Kaylee asked, “River, honey? What baby? Didn’t you an’ Jayne decide to be careful ‘bout that?”

Shrugging lightly, River turned to her and smiled. “We were, but things happen. It could have been my medication from when I was shot or it could have just been a random accident.” Looking back to her brother, she said, “But it doesn’t change the fact that I’m pregnant.”

Simon met her gaze and felt his eyes burning again uncomfortably. This couldn’t be happening. He could not be responsible for her husband’s and her unborn child’s deaths within the span of a few months; he just couldn’t. Rising, he paced a small path away from them, his hand running through his hair in agitation. Finally, when again brought his eyes to his sister, he breathed, “River, there’s nothing I can do.”

She rose to meet him and placed her hands on his shoulders, a fierce determination burning in her gaze. “Don’t say that,” she told him. “Don’t. There has to be something, Simon. Please.” Her eyes implored him with a love and desperation he had rarely seen from her before, making Simon’s despair at his inability to do anything even more profound.

“River, nothing has changed for you,” he told her, wishing she could see reason. “You still cannot carry a child to term. You shouldn’t even-“ He stopped before he said it, knowing it would hurt her; she would never agree to terminate the pregnancy even if it was in her best medical interest.

But River didn’t need him to say it. Pulling it from his mind, she backed out of his grasp, her eyes overflowing with tears of sadness and rage. Instinctively her hands cradled her stomach and when she again brought her eyes to him, they were full of anger. “How dare you,” she breathed, her voice heavy with emotion, but still strong. “How dare you even think of killing my child!”

It was Kaylee’s turn to interject. Rising quickly, she was at her husband’s side in a moment, one hand on his shoulder, the other on River’s. “Sweetie, Simon’s just thinkin’ o’ you an’ your health. You almost didn’t make it last time.”

“It doesn’t matter,” River told her. “It doesn’t. You can save my baby, Simon, please.” Looking back to him with pure anguish on her face, she murmured, “I can’t lose Jayne twice.”

Kaylee stifled a sob at this last comment, turning her head away from her sister-in-law. Simon could only hold River’s gaze, noting her conviction and her desire. She was still hurting he knew, but there was also a light in her eyes that he had not seen for a long while – a light of hope. Why did he have to be the one to take it away?

“River, I-" Simon stopped as he realized he didn’t know what to say. Gazing back at her, noting her anguish and the tears in her eyes, Simon felt his own heart break for her again as he watched her continue to grieve. “River,” he finally murmured, taking her face in his hands. “I’m sorry.”

Shaking her head fiercely, River’s tears continued to fall as she fisted her hands in the front of his shirt. “Simon, please,” she wailed, her sobs beginning to shake her small form. “Please, help me. Please save my baby. Even if you can’t save me, you have to save my baby.”

Pulling her tight to him, Simon held her and whispered determinedly, “Don’t say that, ever. I will not lose you, do you understand me? I won’t.”

She nodded against him, and just held him tight. Kaylee joined their embrace as well, her own tears for her sister’s anguish falling down her face. River closed her eyes, trying to shut out the fear she could feel from them both.

She knew that Simon’s concerns were valid, the rational, intellectual side of her brain knew that. But her heart felt differently. Her heart could only feel the hope and joy of this new life, could only remember the excitement and anticipation with which she and Jayne had talked of being parents. And she still could not shake the feeling that everything would be okay, somehow, someway, it would all be all right.

After a few more minutes of crying, River had managed to control her tears, and she pulled back from her brother. Noting his still furrowed brow, she rested a hand to his cheek and told him, “Not your fault, none of it. Just help me. Do all you can and I know it’ll work out.” Pressing a kiss to his cheek, she whispered, “I just know it.”

Wishing he could share her conviction, Simon kissed her once more and than asked, “How far along are you?”

Shrugging, she said, “Two months, I think.”

With a sigh, he turned to prepare some instruments. “Well, we’d better find out.”

River kissed Kaylee’s cheek as well. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Frowning at her, Kaylee wiped at her eyes and said, “For what? Blubberin’ at ya?”

“For supporting me,” she told her, moving to the exam table and hopping onto it easily. “For always supporting me, even when you think I’m wrong.”

Smiling at her, Kaylee squeezed her hand and said, “Yeah, well, I ain’t as smart as the two o’ you, so I guess you gotta account for some missteps along the way.”

“No, not missteps,” River told her, keeping a hold of her hand. “Just unconditional love. I never thought I’d get that from anybody except Simon,” she added, smiling to her brother as he turned back, ready to begin the exam. “And Jayne,” she murmured, blinking back a few fresh tears.

“Ai ya, even I din’t think you’d ever get it from Jayne,” Kaylee confided, giving her sister a smile that helped to ease the tension in the room. Looking between the two siblings, she told them, “Listen, you two be quick an’ then get up to the house. I got plenty o’ supper left, and you,” she said, turning back to River with a firm look, “Need to be eatin’. No more of this two bites at dinner. You’ll be cleanin’ your plate, if’n I got anythin’ to say about it.”

Smiling at her, River could only kiss her again and say, “Thank you,” as Kaylee kissed her husband and then moved from the room.

Once they were alone, Simon told his sister, “River, I really want to be happy for you, but—“

“One day at a time, Simon,” she told him, lying back on the table. “One day at a time.”

***

It was again late when Simon crawled into bed beside his wife. Kaylee had waited for him, knowing she needed to speak with him, knowing that he would need to talk, and so as soon as she felt him lift up the sheet, she turned around to face him, bringing her eyes to his.

“Well, hello,” he murmured, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to her mouth. “Waiting up for me?”

“Of course,” she told him, resting a hand to his cheek. Kissing him again, she said, “I don’t like sleepin’ when you ain’t here.”

Pulling her tight to him with an arm around her waist, Simon told her, “Well, then time for sleep.”

Kaylee smiled, watching as he closed his eyes, and tried to feign contentment. She knew that it was the farthest thing from his mind right now that with all that was going on. And she knew that he would more than likely wait until she drifted off and then toss and turn all night, unable to calm his mind enough to get any rest. Running a light hand through his hair, she brought her lips within an inch of his and whispered, “Who do you think you’re foolin’?”

Popping open first one eye and then the other, Simon dropped his chin to his chest and moaned softly. “I suppose if I try and act ignorant, you’ll just pinch me or something?” he asked quietly, bringing a sheepish gaze back to her face.

Cocking an eyebrow at him, she said, “I might.” Studying his blue eyes for a minute more, she asked, “Why do ya gotta hide it from me, Simon? I know you ain’t been sleepin’.”

Sighing heavily, Simon told her, “Kaylee, you have been so wonderful over these past few … ever,” Simon said, getting a smile and a small giggle from her. “I don’t want to keep weighing you down with all of my problems. It’s a hard time for all of us and eventually, it’ll pass.”

Frowning at him, Kaylee ran her hand down his cheek and told him, “Well, sweetie, that’s nice o’ ya to say, but sometimes things don’t just pass. Sometimes you gotta keep talkin’ ‘bout ‘em, even if you don’t wanna, even if you think there’s nothin’ more to say.” Studying him for a moment, she asked, “Like River, for example. Tell me.”

With an even heavier sigh, Simon closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He didn’t want to talk about River and her pregnancy, only because no good could come of it. There was nothing that he could do for her. He had confirmed today that she was indeed expecting, and she was actually closer to three months than two. But even her desire, her insistence to have that child would not be enough to fight off the virus that the Academy had injected her with. And he was terrified that in two and a half months, he would again be performing a surgery on his sister to remove her dead baby.

Not opening his eyes, he muttered, “Kaylee, there’s nothing to say. River’s pregnant. And I have two and a half months to look for a solution that doesn’t exist.”

“And what you’re not sayin’ is,” Kaylee began, waiting until Simon had again opened his eyes to her. “That in two and a half months, you’re gonna fail your sister again an’ that’s what’s you can’t take.”

He nodded once, unable to form the words. After taking a deep breath, he said, “I just don’t want to see her in any more pain. She’s survived enough, we all have. It isn’t right.” Frustrated, Simon turned away from her and onto his back, staring at the ceiling.

Kaylee watched his profile for a minute, watched as the muscle in his jaw, clenched and unclenched, conveying his anger. She wanted to fix this, so badly. She wished she could. But Kaylee did not have that kind of power. She could only love him, love him and their children and River, through thick and thin. And Kaylee could only pray that it was enough.

“I’d agree to it now,” Simon murmured, his voice barely audible.

Propping herself up on one elbow, Kaylee looked down at him and asked, “What?”

Looking to her, Simon caressed one cheek and repeated, “The surrogacy. I’d agree to it now, just to take away her pain, but it’s too late.”

Smiling slightly at him, Kaylee leaned down and kissed him softly, gently. After a moment, she whispered, “That’s all that matters, honey. That you wanna help, that you want her to be better, to be happy. That’s all she needs.”

Still gazing into her eyes, Simon whispered, “How in the ‘verse did I ever get so lucky as to marry you?”

Sighing, Kaylee rested her head against his shoulder, as he brought his arms around her and held her tight. “Oh, well, that’s easy,” she teased. “I was stubborn an’ wouldn’t give up on ya, no matter how often you insulted me.”

Simon actually laughed at that statement, and Kaylee’s heart warmed at the sound as it echoed from his chest and into her ear. Kissing her hair, he said, “You know, none of it was deliberate.”

Rolling her eyes at him, Kaylee lifted her head back up and said, “Well, I done know that, or I woulda had to hurt ya.” Leaning towards him, she kissed him again, and whispered, “Plus, I was pretty sure that once ya sexed me, you’d be a goner.”

Raising his eyebrows at her, Simon asked, “Oh really?”

Smiling big, she said, “Yup. And I was right.”

Taking her face in his hands, Simon brought his mouth to hers and kissed her long and deep, his lips working over hers, his tongue running along her lips until hers parted and he could plunder her mouth, increasing the passion of the kiss.

Kaylee pressed herself against him, feeling his need and his love for her in that kiss, as he worked his hands down her back and pressed her to him, as she worked her hands up his chest and into his hair. When they finally parted for air, Kaylee stared at him a moment, having to catch her breath and said, “See, a goner.”

Laughing at her, Simon kissed her again and the two of them were soon lost in each other.

***

TBC in A NEW DAY, epilogue.