Chapter 24

Simon knocked on Maggie’s door, he had gotten the results back from the test he had started the other day. The last thing he expected was for Jayne to answer the door. “I.. I.. need.. to talk to Maggie, is she OK?” he managed to get out, not sure why Jayne still intimidated him. “Of course she’s alright, why wouldn’t she be?” Jayne looked confused, Simon often put him in that state “What do you need to see her about? She’s kinda tired, late night and all.” Jayne smirked when Simon blushed. “It’s private, may I see her?” Simon for once stood his ground. “Sure, come on in, I’ll go see if she’s dressed.” He opened the bedroom door, blocking Simon’s view with his body “Baby, Simon’s here to see you, you ready to get up?” This was a tone Simon had never heard come from Jayne, almost civil. Closing the door behind him Jayne came back into the front room “She’s getting dressed” He sat down and stared at Simon “What’s this about?” he asked again. “I’m sure Maggie will tell you when she wants to” Simon sat in one of the other chairs, his little red bag on his knee. “Good morning Simon, what can I do for you?” Maggie sat on Jayne’s lap, not caring about the look on Simon’s face. “I got the results back for the test I ran and I would like to go over them with you, alone.” He looked at Jayne when he said the last part. “Simon, anything you tell me, I will in turn tell Jayne. What is it?” “Well… you are a little anemic, not enough iron in your blood. Normally that’s not that important, but…. your pregnant.” “She’s what?” Jayne was more then a little confused “Thought you were giving me shots so that wouldn’t happen?” Jayne glared at Simon, then realized that Maggie had a stunned look on her face. “You.. you.. don’t want children?” She asked him quietly “But you were so good with Tibbi’s kids” Maggie stood up and walked away from him. “It’s just kind of a shock, Baby.” Standing up he took her in his arms “Just not something I was planning on. What happened Simon?” He glared at Simon over Maggie head. “Well, that shot should of lasted six months, remember we… I… calculated how many times a month and figured out a good safety margin.” By the dumbfounded look on Jayne’s face Simon realized he didn’t remember anything. “All I remember is you said I was good till next month.” He tried hard not to let Maggie see how pissed he was at Simon. “Well… we.. I.. calculated at one to two times a week. Five to ten times a month. Thirty to sixty times in six month. Did you exceed that calculation?” Simon was sure he was safe as long as Maggie was there. “Hell, Simon, what are you asking?” Jayne was having a hard time controlling his voice. “How often a week do you two….. you know…. Make love?” Simon was bright red and stuttering. “A week? I don’t know. Two times a day, three on good days.” Jayne smiled at Maggie as she looked up at him, putting his arms around her and pulling her back in close so he could glare at Simon. “Two or three times a day! God Jayne you would of gone thru that shot after the first week.” He stared at the two of them, wondering when they found the time, or the energy. “Doesn’t matter how it happened, Jayne.” Maggie took a step back and looked at him “It only matters what happens now. Simon could you give a few moments please, we’ll come to the infirmary in a bit” She opened the door and showed Simon out “Jayne, is this going to be a problem? I know it’s kind of sudden, but you must of known sooner or later I was going to want children.” She walked back to him and put her arms around him “Nothing should change much, there will just be a little you running around that you can teach things to.” Jayne just looked at her, they had just gotten their lives back together and he wasn’t ready for children, But she was right, he loved to play with Matty’s kids “Not sure I would be a good father” He held her close “Hell Maggie, I’m not even a good husband. What can I teach our kid, I don’t know anything worth sharing.” “Jayne, it’s not like the baby is going to pop out next week, you have months to become a good husband and then learn to be a good father. Please be happy for us?” She kissed him and ran his hands down to her stomach “A little boy or girl to teach to shoot and track. I’ll take care of regular schooling and you can teach them the fun stuff.” By now his hands are roaming up and down her body, he picked her up and went back into the bedroom. *** An hour later Jayne and Maggie came looking for Simon, they found him in the commons with Kaylee and River. “Simon you still want to meet?” Maggie asked as she came into the room. River walked up to Maggie and knelt down and put her face to her belly “Who’s in there?” Simon got up and tried to pull River away, but it was too late, Mal had seen her. “Who’s in where?” He looked at River, Simon, Maggie, Jayne and let lose with a string of Chinese that even made Jayne blink “What the hell, Maggie you pregnant?” He stared at the two of them. “Yes, I am” She held Jayne’s hand and waited for the yelling to begin. “Great, that’s just great.” He looked at the two of them “Well, we will be on Persephone in three days, you can get off there.” With that he turned and left them there. “Mal, what are you talking about.” Maggie marched after him “I’m part owner of this ship and we’re not getting off.” It was bad enough that she had to convince Jayne that the baby was a good thing, she was damn well not going to let Mal ruin things. “Ship ain’t no place for a baby. You are getting off, Jayne can stay if he wants.” He continued his march to the bridge. Maggie looked at Jayne, half worried that he would stay “Jayne, are you staying?” “Hell, Maggie” He walked up to her and took her into his arms “I’m staying with you, we can always work something out.” *** Mal stormed on to the bridge, cursing to himself “You’re not going to believe this, Maggie is pregnant, damn it. Wash head for Persephone, we’ll drop them off at Sir Warwick and he can worry about them.” “Sir? You leaving them on Persephone? Why?” Zoë asked, more then a little afraid of the answer. “Ship’s no place for a baby, told Jayne he could stay, but I don’t think he will.” “Captain, you might want to reconsider that order, you’re going to need Jayne.” Zoë stood up and walked over to Wash and took his hand. “Why Zoë? Jayne has been more trouble then he is worth.” Mal looked at the two of them and didn’t like the way they were looking at each other. “Sir, I’m pregnant.” Zoë looked him in right in the eyes “What, thought we were going to discuss this?” Mal looked at the two of them, ready to smack the grin off Wash's face. “I did discuss it, with my husband.” Zoë replied. “How long were you planning to keep this from me?” Mal asked her, more then a little hurt that she would do this to him now. “Just waiting for the right moment, Sir.” “Right, and now was the right time. Damn it Zoë you should of asked me, before you went and got pregnant.” “Asked you Captain? It wasn’t your decision Sir, it was ours.” “And what did you plan on doing with this baby while you were working. Was Wash going to hold it on his lap while he flew the ship?” The Captain was livid, he had two crew members that were pregnant, one he can’t throw off because she owns half the ship and the other he would never ask to leave. “Well, Sir, we planned on asking Maggie to watching the baby.” Zoë answered, Wash was unusually quite, he knew how hard this was for Zoë, she had waited as long as she could before she told Mal anything and only then because she was forced. “Wish you had told me this before I told Maggie she had to leave.” Mal started pacing “You really want to raise a baby on a ship?” “Little late to be asking that Sir.” Zoë smiled at Wash.