Thank you to Joss for his ‘verse, and to Jane Espenson for some of her words and great idea for “Shindig” ~~~~~~~~~~

Clank!

Why couldn’t she be pretty? Just once would she love to dress up nice and fancy and all. Just once.

Clank!

Kaylee let one tear fall as she thought of her plain self, all greasy from Serenity’s innards. And she set to her job. Each thought of the Cap’n caused the monkey wrench to bang louder as she tightened a bolt. After all she did—fixin’ every thing that went wrong on this damn ship—all she asked for was some respect!

Clank!

Her blood boiled and bubbled when she thought on that humiliating morning. Cap’n put his whole leg in his mouth, right down into his stomach.

It didn’t hurt that he was a tightwad, as he really didn’t have much money to dole to the crew—it was WHY he said what he said. Cap’n always had a sweet spot for her; boy, had she wheedled some stuff outa him! She knew how to live without lots of stuff; she’d been without all her life. A little bit of tightwad never hurt her none.

No, Kaylee was hurt because Cap’n lashed out at her—when he was feeling down on account of his humble ways. His sullen mood that morning was because Inara was on a date with some mucky-muck. He had spoiled her cheery mood and –oh!—could she spit!!

Clank!

Kaylee heard half the story from Inara, just as Inara was leaving to see her new sex client—and Kaylee knew somethin’ was up since Cap’n didn’t joke with nobody on such a sunny day. She wished those two would crumble and burn out that friction in some hot sex. Make HER world a better place!

A dab of grease fell on her cheek, and she wiped at it, smearing it down the side of her face. Who cared if she got dirty? She was stuck in the engine room the rest of her life.

Clank!

Ever since comin’ on Serenity, Kaylee had never felt 2nd-rate on account of her simple ways. She wasn’t ashamed. No, she’d never gone to parties; no, she didn’t have much schoolin’; no, she didn’t know go-se about books or history—but she knew the workin’s of machines. Set her next to some wires and parts and she felt like the knowingest girl in the Black!

But bring one cute, stuffy doctor on board, and she found herself sounding foolish even to her own ears—why did she bother thinkin’ on him so much if she was rim planet luh-suh? And then Cap’n—HER Cap’n, her biggest ally—comes and calls her a sheep walkin’ on its hind legs! Kaylee didn’t think she could feel so comfy in her skin after that. All because he didn’t have the balls to admit he wished he had Inara all to hisself!

Clank!

“Kaylee.” She didn’t even turn to acknowledge him.

“I’m not speaking to you, Captain.” She set down the wrench, picked up a drill and went on with her work.

“Got no need to speak. . . c’mon.”

When she didn’t answer, he replied firmly. “Got a job for you.” And she heard his boots as he stomped away from the engine room. Sounded like he was going to the galley.

Kaylee sighed and rolled her eyes. But he was the Cap’n. And she had orders. She put the drill down.

She wiped her hands on a drop cloth and made her way to the galley. What could be so important—

She gasped. Pink! Beautiful ruffles an’ lace an’ satin! Shiny new! Then she saw the Cap’n standing next to the dress, which was hanging from a hook on one of the columns of the kitchenette-- she changed her surprise to a poker face. Cap’n looked ‘pologetic, but she wasn’t about to give him a chance just yet.

Kaylee folded her arms and glared at him.

“What’s all this?” she asked moodily.

“Looks like a dress.”

She couldn’t imagine how much it had cost him. No matter how bad he felt about wrongin’ her, Kaylee knew he wouldn’t buy the dress unless it had a purpose.

“What’s the catch?”

Cap’n looked sheepish then. “I can’t just get you a dress?”

“What would you rather do—buy me this dress as a half-ass apology just because you feel guilty for a stupid outburst? OR have a reason for payin’ all that money and have some use for me and the dress?”

“I was hopin’ both.”

Cap’n looked at her. He was sorry, she knew. Despite his flaws, she just couldn’t refuse him; deep down, she knew he would give his life for her, and that loyalty was all she needed. Kaylee’s anger ebbed. She reached out and fingered the smooth satin and noticed the purse hanging on a hook next to it, and – no way—shoes!

“You’re just lucky I happen to have a pink ribbon that would match perfect,” she said pointedly. And with that, Kaylee took the outfit to her room.

A bit later, all dolled up, Kaylee emerged from her quarters. She barely fit up the hatch but made it somehow. The gown looked pretty on another girl, but it proved to have a hoop skirt that was difficult to pull through the hatch. After smoothing herself out, Kaylee suppressed a giggle. She felt clean and—yes, pretty even.

Then she remembered her sour mood earlier. With remorse, Kaylee paused and patted Serenity as an apology for damning her. “Sorry, girl, you’re not to blame for anythin’.”

Wash whistled when she walked slowly down the metal steps to the cargo bay. She smiled at him and he grinned back. Zoe smiled warmly at her. “Have fun, princess.”

It was a lot to express—for Zoe—and Kaylee would appreciate that comment forever.

“Ya, and keep Mal in line. He might get into a duel fending off all those adoring rich men when they see you.” Wash chuckled, and Kaylee laughed lightly, just as a lady would, she imagined. Zoe leaned toward Wash and lightly slapped him on the arm. He feigned being wounded.

“Let’s get going,” Cap’n said and he slammed his hand down on the button to open Serenity’s front door. Cramming all his sarcasm into his voice, he continued, “We don’t want to keep the ladies and gentlemen in all their SHINY attire waitin’”

He walked ahead of her down the ramp. Kaylee hesitated, and Cap’n stopped. He slowly came back and, kinda awkwardly, offered his hand. Touched, she took it and beamed as her Cap’n led her into the night air.

After all—though he only needed a date to the ball so he could get some cows from a guy—she knew his soft spot had bought the dress for HER. He wanted to be a gentleman lead HER from Serenity—under no pretense. She pecked him on the cheek.

“Sheh-sheh, Cap’n.”

He smirked at this little affection. “Come along, Xiao Mei-mei.”

Kaylee looked toward the bright lights of Persephone and sighed. She leaned her head on Cap’n’s shoulder for a moment.

She could be pretty this one time. This one night.