The usual site I translate off of is down... so hopefully this other site worked.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

River, was up bright and early.

Her brother usually set her clothes out for her, however she sensed he was in a very deep sleep, and so was Kaylee. They weren’t getting up anytime soon as she noiselessly ghosted out of her room and began to wander the ship. She found her way to the cargo bay, and lithely circled Stang who’s wiring and panels had been stripped. River fixated on every object, every little bolt, washer, piece. After spending several minutes with it, she went up to the second level, and walked into the kitchen to find Mal and Zoe already up and dressed for the day. The pair was conversing over a hot cup of coffee, the first mate looking a bit sour yet she avoided the subject of her fight with Wash as she and Mal talked about Inara leaving.

Malcolm scowled at his friend. "Ai-ya tian-a. Why's everyone yappin' over this? Ru said the same thing last night."

"Well Sir, I don't mean to delve into your personal life, but you two do have... something. And it's obvious to the crew apparently."

"Apparently." He scoffed, taking a drink of his coffee. They looked up as they finally realized someone else was in the room. “Well good mornin’.” Mal told the nightgown clad River as she prowled about. “Where’s your brother? He’s usually fussin’ over you ‘n the morning.”

“Simon doesn’t worry because he pleasantly dreams along side her.” The girl distantly explained.

Captain and first mate both gave one another the same look as they hadn’t been aware of that situation. Yes, he knew they were courtin’, and neckin’, but Malcolm knew that Simon was one of the guys who preferred a more gentlemanly technique. “Really, ‘n who does he pleasantly dream alongside?” he quizzed, although he would put good money on one name.

“The other genius, silly.” Her eyes brightened up when Gambit came out of his bunk. He too was down to his pajamas, which, were just his buckskin pants and nothing else. “Hao zhao ye di-xiong.”

He walked over to her and gave one of his seldom smiles as he was usually the stoic one. “Hao zhao shao ming xin yi.” Gambit gave her a sideways hug and placed his large hand on the top of her head. “Ready to spend the day with me?”

River poked him in the ribs after reading what he had planned. “You’ll lose.”

He poked her back to produce a sunshine of a giggle. “Quit reading me.”

“Playing sitter?” Zoe probed, amused that River could bring out the light side in Gambit. Those two actually understood one another to a point, he spoke a good deal of River’s language when the rest of the crew often didn’t.

Gambit nodded his head as he walked over to the kitchen to fetch himself a mug of milk. “Simon wants to take Kaylee out to the winter festival, so I get to watch River for the day.” He pulled the cap off of the glass milk bottle and poured himself some. “Which means I will be losing in Tall Card, Poker, Chinese Checkers, Chess and Scrabble.”

“Why cannot they go to the celebration of the seasonal near artic temperature brought on by the position of the planet’s rotation?” River asked as she headed towards the pantry to scrounge around for food.

“Because the last thing Simon needs is for us to be trailing him on his date.” Gambit explained to the girl without missing a beat while the other two were clueless to her dialog. “Besides, I don’t tend too do well in crowds. Too much stimuli.” He leaned against the counter and took a sip. “Therefore, we stay here and they go out.”

“I don’t like them goin’ without a gunhand.” Malcolm sighed, rubbing his sinuses.

“They have the right to some privacy, Sir.” Zoe acknowledged.

“I know, but I don’t want my only mechanic and medic to be in a position where something of the negative sort happens.”

“Give Simon a pistol, that way they're armed.” She suggested. “Sir, I highly doubt anything will happen. It’s a festival.”

“Where is that box of waffles?” River asked in frustration. “It turned to water… didn’t it… along with the soap.”

“There is no box, darlin’.” Malcolm got up and headed towards the kitchen. “You gotta make ‘um… and I do believe Kaylee fixed the waffle iron…” He began to get everything out to make breakfast. “The waffle iron we’ve used once in the four years we’ve had it…”

“Step away from the waffle iron,” Ru told him as she came out in some flannel night pants and a camisole. Ruffling her shoulder length hair out with her fingers as she gave a sleepy smile. "G'Morning."

“You in your night fineries too?” He noticed with one brow quirked upward.

“Hell I’m on vacation. I don’t gotta git dressed and report to a captain.” She announced with a smirk, plucking a wooden mixing spoon out of his fingers. “And I appreciate the dinner ya fixed last night, but I will gladly step in and make waffles. No need ta strain your cookin’ abilities.”

Zoe chuckled. “Yes, we wouldn’t want to tempt fate.”

Malcolm frowned. “You’re lucky I ain’t your captain right now.”

“Good mornin’ to you too.” Ru gave him a sisterly kiss on the cheek. “Enjoy a week of not barkin’ at all us. Git some rest, read a book, practice on that fabulous singin’ voice.” She said sarcastically while getting the rest of the ingredients. “Just don’t be the captain.” As Zoe continued to chuckle over her quip, the auburn haired one turned to the not entirely sane seventeen year old. “You think you can help?”

“The ape sleeps with his pleasurable company, unaware she watches and waits. Like a tiger… stripes… orange… orange hair… tigress. Tigress kills the male, takes upon another mate…” River told her in a hushed fashion. “Tigress stalks and sets the trap for the prey… the ape will be the bait.”

Ru nodded her head just once in a confused fashion as even Gambit was perplexed. “I’ll take that as a no?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Simon woke up in his bunk with Kaylee in his arms.

He smiled as she stretched, and then snuggled into his chest. “Good mornin'.” Simon kissed the back of her head. “Sleep good?”

“I haven’t slept that good in a looong time.” She yawned and put her hand on his, which were on her flat tummy that was hidden under her pajamas.

“I agree, I needed that extra rest.” Simon gave her another kiss before getting up. “I need to check on River.” Rubbing her shoulder, he got up, slipped a shirt on and left the room.

Kaylee got up and smoothed her hair out, watching him in his pajama bottoms and white undershirt. Padding out of the room she looked in and saw River was gone.

“I guess she’s up already?” He suggested.

“Let’s get some breakfast, she’s probably eatin’ already.”

“I need to get dressed first and get her medication.” Simon began to move towards his room, however Kaylee took his wrist and pulled him back.

“We’re on vacation silly, we don’t gotta go to breakfast all ready fer the day.” She pulled him along.

“But it’s not…”

“Etiquette?” She cracked a smile. “Simon, it’s vacation! Besides, they’ve seen you in your jammies. Remember the couch?”

Simon pursed his lips and made a face like he was going to be firm in his ways.

Kaylee leaned in, hooked her arms around his waist and gave him a very persuasive kiss. And in turn, they both got swept up in the moment. He followed his instincts and put his hands on her back, pulling her closer to deepen the kiss as his fingers went up and tangled in her hair. Kaylee, hadn’t been expecting such a response as she moaned and gripped his arms.

Simon snapped out of it as he knew what was starting to occur to his own body and jerked back. He nearly let go, but caught her so she wouldn’t go flying backwards into something.

The green gaze looked up at him, saw his sheepish face as he was breathing quick, and gave him a disappointed look. “Simon….”

“I’m so sorry.” He shut his eyes and exhaled noisily as his hands gently released her. “It’s just… going a little too fast…”

“Simon, there’s nothin’ wrong with fast.” Her naturally sweet voice hinted frustration.

“Yes, there is.” Taking a step in he reached out and took one of her hands, which was tiny compared to his own. “There’s…”

“Honey. Ya don’t gotta be all proper n’ puritanical with me.” She told him softly. “We’re both adults. You like me, I like you, we’re courtin’, sleepin’ in the same bed and we’ve been takin’ our time…”

“Kaylee, I’ve only been courting you for a few weeks. I don’t want to jump into things..”

“Why? Besides your manners.” The mechanic told him firmly, folding her arms across her chest and waiting for a good answer.

“Because I want to enjoy everything leading up to the moment. And yes, I’m… old fashioned and I have…” He sighed, pursing his lips together and furrowing his brow as he fought with his own words. “I honestly don’t think I’ve ever been in a relationship where we’ve jumped into the sex that didn’t die out fast. I’m trying to avoid that… be the nice… gentlemanly boyfriend who respects you and your body. I don’t want it to be about the sex, I care about you too much, I want it to be about the actual relationship between you and I. Ok?” He made a wincing face, as the doctor didn’t quite know if he his little speech was bad or good.

Kaylee immediately broke the tension with a giggle. “You look like I’m gonna hit you with a shoe.”

Simon let out the breath he had been holding. “Are you?”

“Nah.” Stepping in she gave him a peck on the lips. “What you said was sweet, you didn’t stutter ‘r say nothin’ stupid. It came from in here.” Kaylee lightly patted his chest. “And I think it’s shiny you care about what’s goin’ on between us so much…” She stared into his blazingly blue eyes for a moment. “I guess I’ll keep ya.”

He chuckled at the joke, glad that for once, the words actually came out right. “You guess?”

“Yeah… just don’t repeat that speech ta the rest of the crew, the Cap’n ‘n Jayne’ll never stop teasin’ ya.” She warned him, knowing that the ‘macho’ men would never get tired of picking on Simon. Particularly Jayne, who would bed any woman who looked at him the right way, would never understand the meaning of her beau’s actions.

“I know.” Simon let out a dramatic sigh as he pulled her in for a hug. “The sensitive guy always gets picked on.”

“You gonna go up there in your jammies or do ya needa cold shower?” She hugged back.

“I’ll be ok, managed to… suppress… that certain feeling.” Pressing his lips against her head he let go and offered her his hand to escort her. “Shall we make our grand, pajama clad entrance?”

Kaylee took his hand with a smile. “We shall, dui-xang.”

“What did you call me?” He beamed.

“Oh nothin’, just tryin’ it out.”

*****

*****

***** Translation

*ai-ya tian-a: merciless hell

*Hao zhao ye di-xiong: Good morning wild brother.

*Hao zhao shao ming xin yi: Good Morning little bright minded one.

*dui-xang: boyfriend.