A/N: I'm trying to pace myself and post every other day. I hope I can hold out!

Thanks to all for the great comments. Whether you think Kaylee acted correctly or not, I hope you can sympathize with the unenviable position she's in. And keep those comments coming - they keep my honest!

And thanks again to Leiasky - she is currently working her tail off to do all of us Browncoats attending Flan a HUGE favor and she's still finding time to read my stuff ... AMAZING!

***

Best Intentions, ch. 5

***

Mal found Inara around midday, in a corner of her family’s property, surrounded by more roses. Frowning slightly as he watched her prune the bushes meticulously, he moved up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

She gasped a bit at the sudden contact and then relaxed against him, saying, “You know how you’re always telling me not to sneak up on you when you’re cleaning your guns?” she asked, tilting her head to the side a bit so Mal could place a kiss to her neck.

“Yeah,” he said quietly, moving his lips up to her jaw.

“Well, the same thing goes for surprising someone holding pruning shears,” Inara admonished him, turning in his embrace and brandishing the deadly looking clippers.

“Whoa, easy there, darlin’. Those things look like they could snip more than them flowers.” He teased her easily, glad to see that despite the revelations of the previous night she was smiling. Her eyes even held a bit of their old sparkle, and Mal felt a weight lift off his shoulders he hadn’t even been cognizant of.

Laughing at his joke, Inara turned back to her work, the sound of the scissors snapping through the thick stems the only noise for a few moments as Mal again watched her. Out here, surrounded by beautiful things, Inara only looked more precious. She was finer than any of these flowers, more colorful and delicate than they could ever hope to be. Mal wondered for a moment if the petals ever got jealous, knowing that there was a beauty in the world they could never hope to emulate.

Sighing, he moved towards her again, and took her hand gently in his. Pulling her away from her work, he took the shears from her hand, setting them on the ground, before cradling her face in his hands and gazing at her for a few uninterrupted moments. Inara held his look, staring right back, her breath catching in her throat as she read Mal’s emotions in his blue eyes. He felt everything more deeply than most, sometimes even more deeply than Kaylee. Inara knew it was one of the many things that had first attracted her to him; just like her, Mal had made a life out of burying his true emotions and only showing the world what he wanted them to see.

Caressing her cheeks softly with his thumbs, Mal tilted her mouth up to his and pressed his lips against hers. It was a gentle kiss at first, tender and loving, and then it turned more passionate. Mal’s hands fisted into Inara’s hair as her arms wound around his neck, and they deepened the kiss, their mouths opening almost simultaneously, their tongues meeting as they both explored each other. Pressing her body tighter to his, Inara felt her limbs and muscles light with desire for him, as they had many times before and she sighed against his mouth, as his lips again worked over hers.

Having to part for air, Inara rested her cheek against his, panting a bit and trying to collect herself. “Mal, you are a good kisser,” she breathed, smiling when he chuckled lightly, the deep sound reverberating from his chest and into hers.

“You ain’t so bad yerself, darlin’,” he told her, pulling her to him again and holding her in a fierce embrace.

She held him back, knowing that this show of affection was also Mal’s way of ensuring she was all right. Inara knew that despite his reassurances, she had scared him last night. And she knew that he felt protective now, as if he had some responsibility to keep her safe, to make up for the wrongs that had been done to her in the past. But with a slight sadness, Inara knew that if Mal ever tried to atone for her past pains, he would never let her out of his sight.

“I’m okay, Mal,” she said, her voice muffled as her head rested against his shoulder. “I am, really.”

Leaning back a bit, he kept his arms around her as he flashed her a skeptical look. “You sure? ‘Cause I’m thinkin’ it’d be okay if ya weren’t?”

With a sigh, Inara told him, “It was a long time ago, and honestly, there are days, weeks, months at a time when I don’t think about Jeremiah or my baby.” Blinking quickly to dislodge the tightness in her eyes, Inara swallowed hard and said, “I honestly think that everything was just too close last night. It seemed that everywhere I turned there was a reminder.” Subconsciously, Inara’s eyes drifted to a white rose bush on the far side of the garden. Staring at the blooms, she continued, “I’m sorry if it bothered you or if you were worried about me. I will be fine.”

Placing his hand under her chin, Mal forced her to meet his steady gaze. “You don’t gotta be sorry for nothin’. And if’n I’m gonna worry ‘bout you, then you’ll just have to deal.” Kissing her lightly, he again pulled her to him and said, “I just hate that it eats at ya so. I wish I had known before.”

“There would have been nothing you could have done,” Inara reminded him, still holding him. “And there’s nothing you can do now, Mal. I just have to work through it.”

Frowning again, he pulled back and wrapped an arm around her shoulders drawing her back to the house. “How ‘bout you let me decide what I can and cannot do?”

Nodding once, Inara smiled, keeping her arm around his waist. “All right, then. What can you do?”

Cocking an eyebrow at her, Mal asked, “Is that a challenge?”

Noting the gleam in his eye, Inara smiled back devilishly and pinched his backside. “Maybe.”

***

By the time Kaylee and Lili returned to the estate, just before dinner, Kaylee was numb. She had managed to make it through the rest of the day without shedding further tears, but only by locking away any and all of her emotions. She had basically shut down, speaking only when spoken to, never raising her eyes from the ground. It had been a horrible afternoon. And she still didn’t have a dress.

Glancing to the sullen girl, and smirking slightly at the effect she was having on her already, Lili immediately softened her features and said, “Now, Kaylee, dear, why don’t you go get changed for supper?”

Looking to her, Kaylee’s eyes were wide and lifeless as she said haltingly, “Actually, Lili, I’m not feelin’ so good. Would it be terribly rude of me if I just turned in?”

Smiling to her sadly, Lili lifted the back of her hand to Kaylee’s forehead. “Well, of course not, dear. Not if you don’t feel well.” Dropping her hand, she said, “You don’t seem to have a fever though. Maybe you just need a good rest. We had quite a busy day.”

Nodding sullenly, Kaylee turned to head for the stairs. “Thanks for takin’ me,” she added, turning back to the woman and trying to remember her manners. “I appreciate it.”

Smiling wide, Lili said, “Of course.”

Once Kaylee had gone up the stairs, Lili summoned her attendant and dropped her packages into the girl’s hands. “Be sure that dinner is ready promptly at six,” she ordered, moving towards the sitting room to continue her preparations. “We’ll all need to eat as soon as my husband returns.” She couldn’t give Simon the chance to go see Kaylee before dinner, and Lili knew if he and Edward walked in the door and dinner was ready, the boy would not be so rude as to keep the rest of them waiting.

With a smug feeling of satisfaction, Lili realized that Simon was almost going to do her work for her, just by being himself.

***

Kaylee entered the room she was sharing with Simon with a heavy sigh. Closing the door, she leaned against it for a moment, her eyes taking in the room as the sun set out the big windows. Someone had come in during the day and cleaned: the bed was made, the curtains straightened, the bathroom gleaming.

Slowly, Kaylee pushed herself away from the wall and wandered aimlessly towards the bed. She was tired, that was true, but it was more than that; she was miserable. Not only because of the very painful realization that she did not fit in, but also because she knew Simon did. Longingly, she ran a hand over the bed beneath her, bringing her fingers up to rest on his pillow. Closing her eyes for a moment, Kaylee remembered all the passionate nights they had spent together since Miranda. It had been an amazing six months, even better than Kaylee could have imagined. Why did she have to lose him?

She knew that Simon was not a liar; that when he made love to her, when he told her he cared, he was being honest. But neither of them had actually said those three little words that seemed to make folks all bibbledy and Kaylee had to wonder if it wasn’t because Simon had always been holding out hope that someone better, someone “not-Kaylee” would come along. Someone like those fine girls she had met today.

Feeling more tears welling her eyes, Kaylee blinked them back and glanced up quickly, her eyes catching sight of the big, porcelain tub in the bathroom. Deciding that a nice, hot bath would make everything seem at least a bit better, Kaylee stood and walked towards the dresser, pulling out her nightclothes. Walking back towards the huge bathroom, she realized she’d forgotten her brush, and she started to run the water, letting it get good and hot as she went back to search.

Rifling through her bag, Kaylee came up empty-handed and with a sigh, she reached for Simon’s, pulling it open and leafing through the contents, trying not to inhale the scent of him on his belongings; it would only hurt more. Finding her brush, Kaylee reached in to pull it out, her hand also closing around a slim book. Both items came out of the bag, the book dropping to the floor and falling open and Kaylee glanced to it, realizing what it was quickly.

Why Simon would have brought one of his medical journals she did not know, but she recognized this one as he had been filling it just a few days before they’d gotten ready to visit the Serras. Reaching down to put it back, Kaylee stopped short as her eyes glanced over his neat handwriting on the page. Gasping, she picked it up with a shaky hand, her eyes roving over the words again and again hoping that she was just seeing them wrong. But as they finally registered, Kaylee knew that all her fears from last night and today, as well as from a few weeks ago, had been well founded.

She stood frozen for several minutes and only the sound of the rushing water in the bathroom reached her. Clutching the still open book to her chest, Kaylee walked slowly towards the bathroom, disrobing and sliding into the warm water, wishing she could just soak in it forever.

***

Simon and Edward returned to the estate just moments before dinner would be ready, talking easily and even laughing with each other. As they entered the drawing room to join Mal, Inara and Lili, all eyes turned to regard them. While Mal and Inara’s eyebrows shot up at this odd turn of events, Lili could only smile smugly. Perfect.

“Well, it appears you had a good day,” she commented with a wide smile, tilting her cheek to allow her husband to brush a kiss against it as he passed her to fix a drink.

“Yes, it was a lovely day, thank you,” Simon said, immediately tempering his excitement. Glancing to his friends, he gave them a polite nod and then his brow furrowed. “Where’s Kaylee?”

With a slight sigh, Lili told him, “Oh, we had a very big day, dear. She mentioned being a bit tired when we got home, so she went up for a nap.” As Simon turned to leave, Josie entered the room and announced, “Dinner is served.”

Torn between going to get his girlfriend and not being rude, Simon made a decision. Turning back to the group, he said, “I apologize, but I’m going to check on Kaylee. Please, don’t hold dinner for us.”

Hiding the scowl she felt ready to grace her features, Lili asked, “Are you sure?”

Smiling again, Simon backed out of the room and nodded. “Yes, Lili, I am. If we’re hungry later, we’ll find something.”

Lili watched him go, greatly disappointed that she’d been unable to corner him. But glancing back to her daughter and the captain, she realized she could easily improvise.

***

Simon took the stairs almost two at a time, eager to see Kaylee and even more excited to share the news of his day. Not only had the doctors offered him a job, a very lucrative job that would again have him making embarrassingly large stacks of money, but he’d been able to observe a surgery involving the laser extractor. It’d been incredible.

But it had also only served to remind Simon of a life that was not his anymore. While his day at the hospital had only reaffirmed for him what he knew to be true – that he could go back to the Core and pick up his old life where he’d left off – it had also driven home the fact that without Kaylee, that life would be meaningless. All he’d been able to think about today was what she would say or think of any of the things he’d experienced. And that was the reaction he was anxious to see now as well.

Pushing open the door to their room, he was surprised to not find her napping. Glancing about, he saw the door to the bathroom closed and he approached it, knocking softly. “Kaylee?”

He heard the sound of splashing water and then, “Yeah?”

Frowning at the dull sound to her voice and hoping that it was caused by the wooden barrier between them, Simon asked, “Are you all right?”

With a sigh, Kaylee wiped at her face. She’d been soaking for a little over an hour and while her skin had long ago wrinkled, she’d been unable to heave herself out of the comforting water. Sitting up slightly, she reached for a towel, her hand again brushing over the open journal she’d found. Biting her lip to keep more tears in, she answered him. “I’m fine, Simon. Be out in a minute.” Rising out of the water and toweling off she called, “How was your day?” It had to be better than mine.

“Unbelievable,” Simon said, leaning against the wall by the door and waiting for her. “The hospital is state-of-the-art, it even puts the one on Osiris to shame. And I was able to observe a tumor extraction. I haven’t seen something that delicate in –“

He cut off abruptly as the door opened and Kaylee stepped out, fixing him with a smile that did nothing but turn up her lips. It did not bring the normal light to her eyes or glow to her face, and as Simon studied her more closely, he noticed that her eyes were puffy and red; she’d been crying.

Stepping forward instantly, Simon cupped her face in his hands and questioned softly, “Bao bei, are you all right?”

Shrugging, Kaylee pressed the open journal to his chest, forcing him to take it as she said sullenly, “Shiny,” before moving away from him to stare out one of the room’s windows.

Simon watched her go, confused and concerned, and then he looked down to the book in his hands. It was one of his and as he tilted it back to read the page it had been opened to, his breath hitched in his throat. Angry that she’d found it and fearful of her reaction, Simon turned to regard her back as he asked quietly, “Where did you find this?”

She did not turn to meet his gaze, choosing instead to wrap her arms around herself. Despite the warmth of the bath she’d just taken and the robe she’d donned, she was suddenly chilled to the bone. “I found it in your bag, when I was lookin’ for somethin’.”

“But I didn’t …” Simon trailed off, realizing the details were inconsequential now. He hadn’t packed it, he knew that for sure. He would never have brought this within two hundred feet of Kaylee knowing she would misinterpret the list he’d made. His mind searching for an answer, Simon sighed heavily as he remembered his sister’s warning from a few weeks ago. ‘Can’t lie, Simon,’ she’d told him. ‘Have to be honest.’ Of course, she would meddle.

Realizing that the damage was done, Simon said quietly, “Kaylee, it’s not what you think.”

Turning back to him now, he saw the sadness in her features and his heart immediately fell to his feet. He’d only seen Kaylee this distraught a handful of times before and each time he’d been able to fix it; he wasn’t so sure he could now. “It ain’t?” she asked, her eyes filling with tears. Pointing to the book he held, she said, “’Cause I’m thinkin’ I’m the only reason you ain’t goin’ home.”

Simon glanced down and had to admit that was true. Under his ‘Cons’ list, Kaylee was the only thing written. “It’s because I don’t want to leave you,” he explained, rounding the bed to step closer to her. She backed up imperceptibly and Simon halted, unaccustomed to that reaction from her. “I can’t leave you, Kaylee,” he breathed, wishing she would believe him; wishing the tears he’d watched fill her eyes would stop falling down her perfect face.

Kaylee swallowed thickly and held his gaze, trying to hold it together and knowing she was failing miserably. So her fears were true: Simon was staying on Serenity because of her. And there was only one reason she could think of that he hadn’t asked her to leave with him.

Feeling her knees weaken, Kaylee stepped past him and headed for the bed, sitting down gingerly before her legs gave out. Crying steadily now, she stared at nothing as she asked quietly, “Then why ain’t you asked me to come?” As Simon struggled to find the answer that would make sense to her, Kaylee hung her head and cried some more. “I knew it. You’re ashamed o’ me.”

Her eyes now burning with a bit of anger, she raised her gaze to meet his dumbfounded expression and barreled ahead. “It’s ‘cause we only work out in the black, ain’t it? ‘Cause you know, once you’re goin’ to all these fancy parties an’ meeting fancy girls I ain’t gonna look so right an’ shiny? Ain’t that it, Simon?” Lowering her voice, she added, “I was just somethin’ to pass the time.”

Unable to believe that she could think so little of him and of herself, Simon fought for something to say, something that would make this better and not worse. His track record of reassuring her was poor at best and Simon knew if he said the wrong thing now, he could lose her for good; and that was something he could not handle.

Going to her, Simon kneeled in front of her, taking her hands in his even as she tried to pull away. “Kaylee, that’s not it at all.” At his words, she relented and met his gaze, seeing what she thought to be love and biting her lip against another sob. “I don’t know how you can say that. After all we’ve been through, all we’ve done.” Swallowing thickly, Simon realized that while they had experienced quite a bit, he had never actually told her he loved her and maybe that was part of the problem. If he’d never said the words, then how could she know for certain how he felt?

Before he could say any more, Kaylee pulled her hands away and rose, stepping past him again. She needed to get distance from him, needed to not feel the warmth of his body or see the concern in his gaze; it would only serve to undo her more. “All that don’t matter, Simon,” she told him bitterly. “You was trapped on a ship at the end o’ the ‘verse. Who else were you gonna sleep with?”

Swallowing hard, Simon decided he was actually offended now. How could Kaylee think he would be so casual about something like that? He didn’t think he’d ever given her cause to believe so, but maybe he had. It wouldn’t have been the first time he’d done something ridiculously foolish inadvertently. But regardless, he would not let her malign him, or herself, this way.

Going to her, Simon took her by the arm and turned her to face him, placing his hands on her shoulders. Holding her shining green eyes in his gaze, he said firmly, “Kaylee, I want you to listen to me. I haven’t been sleeping with you these past six months because I needed something to do.” She dropped her eyes, her cheeks flushing at the statement, having known when she’d accused him of it how untrue it was. “You are more important to me than anything or anyone else in this ‘verse,” he admitted glad when his statement again brought her eyes to his face. As more of her tears fell, Simon cradled her cheeks in his hands and drew their faces close. “I love you.”

Kaylee inhaled sharply at his confession, closing her eyes as more tears came. Simon caressed her cheeks lightly, before dipping his head down and pressing his mouth to hers, tasting the saltiness of her tears on her lips and wanting nothing more than to kiss them away. Pulling Kaylee tightly to him, he wrapped his arms around her back, and sighed with content as she did the same.

It was a long, languorous kiss and only once Kaylee sobbed against his mouth, did they finally break the contact. He tried to pull back to again read her features, but Kaylee only buried her face in his chest, her body shaking with sobs.

Rubbing his hands along her back, he whispered against her ear, “Kaylee, what is it?” He had a panicked moment of thinking she did not love him in return, but dismissing that thought quickly, he knew there was more to her melancholy.

Kaylee cried some more knowing that none of their problems had been solved. Regardless of whether or not Simon loved her, the fact of the matter was, he was still unhappy on Serenity and he still didn’t want to bring her home. And Kaylee still wasn’t sure that she’d be able to keep him once he was again surrounded by all those fancy Core girls.

Pulling back from him, Kaylee wiped her cheeks with the palms of her hands and backed out of his embrace. His arms fell slackly to his sides, having nothing to hold anymore and Simon didn’t like the emptiness he felt.

Shaking her head, Kaylee took a deep breath and told him, “It don’t matter, Simon. It don’t matter if you love me or I love you. I don’t belong here,” she said, glancing around the fancy room. “You know it as well as me. I ain’t fancy enough or pretty enough to fit into this world an’ someone like you …” She trailed off unable to believe she was actually going to say this, knowing it would kill her in the process. Dropping her gaze to the patterned carpet, she finished quietly, “Someone like you deserves one o’ them fancy girls, with proper manners an’ the right family an’ I ain’t her. I ain’t good enough for a man like you.”

Simon’s eyes widened in shock his mind reeling from what she’d just said. Never mind the fact that she had just admitted she loved him, she was denouncing herself, painting him as a shallow man who only cared about appearances and that just wasn’t true. He had hoped she would have known that by now. Stepping towards her again, he stopped when she backed away. Feeling more sadness well in his chest, he asked quietly, “Is that really what you think?”

Raising her eyes to his face, Kaylee felt another sob rise in her throat and she was powerless to stop it. Unable to speak, she could only nod and then she turned away from him, walking across the room and leaning her forehead against the wall as she cried some more. Simon watched her for a moment, trying to determine what he could say, what he could do to convince her otherwise. It was obvious to him that coming here had been a truly bad and misguided idea, but it was also obvious to him that he had failed her. Failed in making her believe how special and important she was, not only to him, but in general. There was no one like Kaylee in this ‘verse and Simon knew that giving her up would be the stupidest thing he could ever do.

Staying where he was, he called quietly, “Kaylee, look at me.”

Inhaling a shaky breath, she straightened, but did not turn. Knowing how stubborn she could be, Simon held his ground. “Kaylee. Look at me.”

With a resigned sigh, she turned slowly to face him, her eyes still to the floor. Deciding it was probably the best he was going to get, he asked quietly, “Do you love me?”

“What?” It was a breathed question and served to bring her eyes to his face.

Smiling slightly, he took one step forward and then stopped, asking again, “Do you love me?”

Swallowing hard, Kaylee thought about lying and knew there was no point in it. Of course she did. “Yes.”

“And do you believe that I love you?” He took another step towards her, glad that she wasn’t backing away.

Kaylee’s eyes were still on his, but they were again filling with tears. Shaking her head, she told him, “It don’t matter what I believe, Simon. Once you go back to Osiris an’ see all them fancy girls, you ain’t gonna love me no more.”

He had reached her finally and taking her face in his hands, Simon asked, “Do you really think so little of me?” When she couldn’t answer him, he went on. “Have I ever given you any reason to believe that I want anyone else but you?”

“It’s not like you had a choice,” she muttered, again dropping her eyes to the floor.

Simon sighed and said honestly, “Yes, Kaylee, I did.” As she looked to him with a fearful gaze, he hastened to explain. “I had a choice, back when I lived on Osiris, before I got River out. There were quite a few fancy girls, as you call them, who were very interested in me. And they were nice, beautiful, very well-mannered, but …” Simon trailed off remembering with a shiver the vapidity of those girls’ conversations, the shallowness of their concerns. “But I never wanted that kind of woman. A woman who couldn’t or who refused to think for herself; a woman more concerned with her appearance than the real problems of the ‘verse; a woman with a brain the size of a pea.” Holding Kaylee’s gaze, Simon told her, “I didn’t leave some great love behind when I decided to get River out of the Academy.” Swallowing thickly, Simon lowered his voice and told her honestly, “I’ve never been in love before Kaylee. And I’m in love with you.” Pausing for a moment to study her face, to burn it into his memory, he added, “And those girls can’t hold a candle to you.”

Kaylee felt her breath hitch in her throat at his words. She knew, deep down, that he meant them, because she knew that Simon rarely, if ever, said things he didn’t mean. He wasn’t a big talker and so when he spoke, his words were normally well-thought out and true. Feeling more tears fall, Kaylee whispered, “Then why ain’t you asked me if I wanna go with you to Osiris?”

Simon sighed heavily and lowered his gaze. Looking back to her, he asked, “The truth?” When she nodded, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and drew her over to one of the room’s plush window seats. Sitting with her, he turned to face her and took her hands. “There’s a couple reasons Kaylee and only one of them has anything to do with you.” Pausing, he swallowed hard and said, “Honestly, I don’t know if I want to go back. I know I don’t want to go back to Osiris.” He shuddered at the thought, having no desire to see his parents, ever again, if it could be arranged. “Maybe settling somewhere like Sihnon wouldn’t be so bad, but Kaylee, this life, it’s not mine anymore.”

Reaching up she placed a hand to his face and said softly, “But it could be. You were born for it.”

Shaking his head, Simon said, “No, I was born into it. There’s a difference, trust me.” She nodded, and held his gaze, swallowing hard, before she asked, “An’ the other reason?”

Simon smiled at her, and Kaylee felt her body tremble at that swai grin. Ai ya, if it didn’t get her every time. Placing his hand over the one she held to his face, he said, “I haven’t asked, because I know how much you love Serenity, how happy you are there. I could never ask you to choose. That wouldn’t be right.”

Kaylee’s eyes welled with more tears; so he really was thinking of her. “Really?” she asked, her voice broken by the tears she felt. “It ain’t ‘cause you’re ashamed o’ me?”

Smiling slightly, Simon leaned forward and ran his hand through her hair and down her cheek, bringing it to rest on her shoulder. “Kaylee, if we decided to settle somewhere, anywhere, I know that would be a difficult transition for you. And I don’t want you making that choice now for all the wrong reasons.” Taking her face in his hands, he said firmly, “I do not want to be the reason that you’re miserable. I want to be the reason that you are unbelievably happy.” Smiling sheepishly, he wiped a trail of her tears away with his thumb and added wryly, “And apparently I have yet to get that right.”

Kaylee actually grinned, her usual, bright smile at his comment and Simon felt a weight lift off of him at the sight. Edging closer to her, Simon kissed her, long and deep, her lips parting easily as he ran his tongue along them, allowing him entrance. Kaylee sighed against his embrace, falling into his strong arms and winding her hands around his neck and up into his hair. She fingered the silky strands as he fisted his hands into her hair, cupping the back of her head to deepen the kiss.

As he continued to work his lips over her mouth and then trail a line of kisses to her ear, he whispered against her skin, “I do love you, Kaylee.”

Shivering at his words and the feel of his hot breath against her cheek, Kaylee wiggled her way into his lap and whispered back, “Show me.”

Grinning, Simon wrapped her legs around him and lifted her easily, their lips staying fastened to one another as they made their way to the bed. Having just bathed, Kaylee’s robe was the only thing between Simon and her smooth skin and as he set her on her feet at the edge of the bed, he ran a hand up and under the silky material, running his fingers along her inner thigh to ghost over her already wet center. Smiling as Kaylee dropped her head back at his touch and moaned slightly, Simon allowed his fingers to probe her gently, finding that most sensitive bundle of nerves and pressing against them, causing another moan to fall from her lips.

Bringing her hands off of his shoulders, Kaylee undid the tie of her robe, letting the material slide off her and pool at her feet. She smiled wickedly as Simon’s eyes widened at her bare form and then she stepped up to him, rubbing their hips together and feeling his burgeoning arousal through his pants. Pressing her naked body against his fully clothed one, Kaylee kissed him fiercely, pushing her tongue into his mouth and nipping at his lips so sharply she almost drew blood. Working her hands down his rib cage, she felt for his shirt and pulled at the material, yanking it from his pants. Undoing the buttons slowly, Kaylee placed wet kisses to each bit of skin she exposed, smiling against him as he groaned at her touch.

Parting the now open material slowly, Kaylee let her hands linger over his pecs as she pushed the shirt off his shoulders and exposed his well-muscled chest to her impassioned gaze. Sliding her hands over him, she stopped to tease one nipple, pinching it first lightly with her fingers, before bringing her lips around it and laving it with her tongue. Simon’s hands, which had fallen to her waist, grabbed her tightly and pulled her to him and Kaylee gasped a bit as she felt him straining through his trousers. Looking back up to his desire-filled eyes, she smiled and said, “I think those need to come off,” as she dropped her hands to his waist and worked at his belt and pants, making sure to brush her fingers against his growing arousal and getting another feral groan to escape his lips.

Panting a bit as she worked ever so slowly, Simon looked back to her and smirked. “You’re drawing this out on purpose, aren’t you?”

Smiling at him devilishly, Kaylee said, “Maybe.”

And with that, Simon decided he would take control. Holding her by the hips, he pushed her gently to the bed, stepping out of his pants and unders all at once as she scooted to the center of the soft mattress. Joining her, Simon met her bright eyes with a smile, and brought his lips back to hers, kissing her deeply, as his hands ran down and cupped her breast, the flesh fitting snugly into his palm, his fingers grazing her nipple and causing her body to respond, her hips arching into him. Smiling against her mouth, Simon murmured, “Believe me yet?”

Grinning back, Kaylee trailed her hand down his muscled torso and wrapped her fingers around him, pulling slowly. “Maybe.”

As he dropped his head to her neck while she continued her ministrations, Simon brought his lips to that one sensitive point that always made her whimper in delight. It worked again, and he alternated his tongue and teeth against the pulse point, delighting in the way she panted in his ear. Stopping abruptly as he knew he was close to his release and he’d done nothing for her yet, Simon reached down and pulled her hand from him, wrapping their fingers together, pulling both of her hands over her head. She looked to him with shining eyes as he gently placed a knee between hers, and she parted her legs easily, more than ready for him to join them. As he lowered his mouth to hers again and kissed her deeply, Simon slid into her and Kaylee met his first thrust with one of her own, her hips unable to stay still as he filled her completely. Whimpering against his mouth at the pleasure of the contact, Kaylee pulled her hands free, needing to feel his warm skin under her fingers.

Running them along his back, Kaylee moved with him, pushing and pulling them both, heightening their passion. She squeezed her eyes shut at the sensation, a few tears falling out as she realized that she did love Simon and should he ever leave her, she didn’t know what she’d do. Simon gazed up to her face, having realized she’d fallen particularly silent and saw her tears there. Pausing for a moment, concern again clouding his features, he ran a hand along her cheek and asked, “Kaylee? Bao bei? Are you all right?”

Nodding once, Kaylee forced her eyes open and rested a hand against his cheek. “I love you,” she breathed, unable to form any other words.

Simon smiled at her, and kissed her again, tenderly this time, and murmured, “I love you too, Kaylee. I’m sorry it took so long for me to tell you.” The love and adoration in his eyes combined with the exquisite feel of him inside her caused a shiver to race down her spine. He kissed her again, slowly drawing the breath from her lungs. “I love you,” he repeated. “Never forget that.”

“I won’t,” she whispered to him, as they again began to move in tandem. “I won’t,” she repeated, her voice turning to a heavy pant as she came so close.

Sensing her nearness, Simon reached down to where they were joined and pressed lightly against her, bringing about her release just seconds before his own. With a cry of his name, Kaylee threw her head back on the soft pillow as Simon groaned above her. He rolled to his side, bringing her with him and holding her close. Fitting snugly into his embrace, Kaylee pressed a kiss to his sweaty chest and then leaned up to press another one to the corner of his mouth. “That was good,” she murmured, getting a smile from him even as he tried to catch his breath.

“I’ll say,” he murmured back, his arm around her shoulders tightening. They lay in silence for a few more minutes, both of their heart rates returning to normal, and then Simon asked, “Are you going to tell me what happened today?”

Her eyes widening slightly at his question, Kaylee looked to him and asked, “Whatda ya mean?”

Frowning at her, Simon rolled onto his side, his softening length sliding from her and Kaylee pouted at the empty sensation. Resting his hand against her cheek, he said, “I know something happened. More than just finding my journal.”

Shaking her head, Kaylee scooted as close to him as possible, sighing with content as his arms again wrapped around her. Burying her head into the crook of his neck, she murmured, “As long as you love me like that, it don’t matter.” Pulling back slightly to look at him, she added, “As long as you love me.”

Kissing her deeply, when they parted Simon touched their foreheads, one of his hands running along her cheek soothingly. “I do, Kaylee. Don’t ever doubt that.”

As she kissed him again and felt deliciously tired from their sexin’, Kaylee again curled into him and said, “I won’t. I promise.”

With a sigh of relief and unabashed content, Simon pulled her tight and whispered into her hair, “Good.”

***

As the servants took away their salad plates and brought the main course, Inara decided the stony silence from her mother was enough. Raising her eyes across the table, she affected her best smile and asked, “So, mother, what did you and Kaylee do today?”

Returning her daughter’s fake grin with one of her own, Lili answered, “Just ran some errands. I didn’t want the girl moping around here all day and since you were no where to be found …” She let the statement die, knowing Inara would sense her anger at her rudeness.

Taking a sip of her wine, Inara answered, “I’m sure Kaylee could have found a myriad of ways to amuse herself, but thank you for looking to her.”

Lili nodded, but didn’t answer. Instead she took a few bites of her food, noting the determined way Inara’s captain was studying his plate. Smiling again, the older woman decided to try a different tactic. “Did you appreciate the flowers in your room, dear?” As both Mal’s and Inara’s eyes snapped to her face, Lili continued to smile warmly. “Before they ended up in a soggy mess on the floor?”

If Inara felt shame for destroying the very expensive crystal it didn’t show, however Malcolm’s expression was an open book. With a set firmness to his jaw, he studied first Lili and then Inara with those blue eyes and her mother watched as the anger he obviously felt towards her faded into concern for her daughter. This was going to be much harder than she had originally anticipated.

“Yes, they were beautiful.” Inara’s answer was succinct and guarded and Lili only nodded once before returning to her plate full of food.

The rest of meal was eaten in silence and it was Edward who finally said, “I certainly hope Simon and Kaylee are all right.”

Sharing a knowing grin and guessing that their friends were more than all right, Inara and Mal simply looked to each other, before his daughter answered, “I’m sure they’re fine, father. They were very anxious to spend some time together. Their six month anniversary is in a few days.”

“Oh, how quaint,” Lili said mockingly, getting a glare from Inara and an uncomfortable throat clear from Mal. “And how many months have the two of you been together?”

Her eyes coloring with anger at her tone and her implication, Inara reached for Mal’s hand and squeezed it as she said harshly, “I don’t see how that’s any of your business.” Looking between her parents, she let her eyes rest back on her mother as she said pointedly, “Besides mother, you should know, the quantity of time doesn’t necessarily indicate the quality of the love.”

Refusing to bristle under the implication, Lili simply sat back and remarked, “So, less than six months then?”

“Four, ma’am,” Mal answered quickly, beating Inara to the punch. As Lili allowed her eyes to roam to Mal, he added, “It took me a while to come clean with Inara on my feelings.” Turning his face to meet her eyes, he smiled at her and said, “Best four months of my life though.”

Inara smiled at him and leaning toward him kissed him softly. As Lili and Edward watched the show of affection, her eyes darted to her husband, indicating that he had better get on with it. Clearing his throat as the young couple parted, he said, “Malcolm, I wonder if we might have a chat after dinner.”

Shifting in his seat uncomfortably, Mal asked, “About?”

Smiling to him, Edward said, “Actually, a job.”

Inara inhaled at this remark and looked to her father quickly. “Father, who could you possibly know that would need Mal for a job?”

Looking offended, Mal turned to her with his best hurt expression and asked, “Hey?”

Smiling sheepishly to him, Inara murmured, “Sorry.”

“It just so happens Inara that an acquaintance of mine has some goods he needs shipped off world and quickly. From what you and Malcolm have told me about Serenity, I think the ship would fit the bill.” Looking to the captain again, he lowered his voice and added, “And the payment would be more than sufficient.”

Mal’s eyes lit at the prospect. Their last job, the one that had brought them to the Core had paid handsomely as well, and Mal liked the idea of having more than enough coin in his pockets; especially now that he’d seen where and how Inara was accustomed to living. Apparently, he had a lot of work to do on his dingy boat if he had any hope of keeping her.

“Well, then, why don’t we discuss the particulars?” Mal stated, pushing away from the table and rising as Edward did the same. Leaning down to press a kiss to Inara’s cheek as he left, he whispered to her, “Play nice.”

Smiling tightly at him, she watched him go and then turned back to regard her mother. The woman’s smug expression, so familiar to her, chilled her blood. Crossing her arms and resting them on the table, Inara asked coldly, “What are you playing at, mother?”

Trying to feign ignorance, Lili asked, “What do you mean, dear?”

Frowning at her, Inara said, “I can guess that you and Kaylee did not have a good day. She wouldn’t be so rude as to miss a meal otherwise.” Glancing over her shoulder, her eyes followed the path Mal and her father had taken. “And I know you don’t approve of Mal. So why is father setting him up with work?”

Returning her hard glare, Lili sat forward and asked, “Inara, did it ever occur to you that your father and I are actually trying?”

Inara blinked rapidly at this statement, jerking back a bit. It hadn’t occurred to her actually; was it possible? Crossing her arms over her chest, she narrowed her gaze and asked, “Really?”

Smiling to her, this time the expression was genuinely warm. “Really, Inara.” Rising, Lili circled the table and sat in the chair beside her daughter. Placing a light hand to her arm, she continued. “I know that I can be a little mean, especially to people I don’t understand. And unfortunately, I’m having a very hard time understanding how you can be friends with a girl like Kaylee and in love with a man like Malcolm Reynolds.”

“Mother, Kaylee is a very sweet, very loving, very intelligent girl,” Inara tried to explain. Letting out a heavy sigh, she added, “I wish you could just give her a chance.”

“Why do you think I spent my whole day with her?” Lili questioned, again getting Inara to meet her gaze. “And you’re right, she is very sweet. As for Malcolm …”

“Why don’t we agree to disagree on the topic of my dui xiang?” Inara interjected, stopping the older woman before she could say something truly hurtful.

Smiling lightly, Lili nodded once, “All right, fine. But Inara, you could have any man. Why him?”

With another sigh, Inara ran a hand over her eyes and tried to think of the best way to explain it. Her mother wouldn’t, couldn’t understand; Liliana Serra had never made the ‘wrong’ choice in her entire life, even her marriage had been arranged. But Inara had had any man, almost literally, and none of them had even come close to making her feel as Mal did. “Mother, I know this is difficult for you to do, but you’re just going to have to trust me.” Turning her eyes back to her mother’s confused face, she added, “I love Mal and he loves me. That’s why.”

Sighing herself, Lili sat back in her chair and regarded her daughter for a moment more. This was going to be much more difficult than she had initially anticipated. Oh well, if she couldn’t get Inara and Simon together, she knew her husband would get rid of Malcolm. At least one problem would be solved.

“All right,” Lili repeated, rising and offering a hand to Inara which she took. “Then let’s go see what the love of your life is discussing.” Leaning into Inara she said, “We’ll need to make sure your father isn’t going to get him into trouble.”

“Oh, Mal can do that all on his own,” Inara muttered, wishing she could believe this truce with her mother was the real thing. But she had been burnt too many times before and she couldn’t trust it; in fact, trust was one of her main weaknesses. She trusted Mal, she trusted the crew of Serenity, but her mother? Not a chance.

***

Translation: Dui Xiang - Boyfriend

A/N 2: I must tip my hat to the Jerry Bock & Sheldon Harnick for their song "Do You Love Me?" from Fiddler on the Roof ... there are parts of Simon and Kaylee's conversation that mirror the song exactly.