Disclaimer: I no way, shape, or form am I connected to Joss's lovely creation.

Authors Notes: Once again I have to give a shout out to Reginaroadie. After struggling for hours trying to come up with Simon's vows, he put me out of my misery and wrote the most incredibly romantic thing I've ever read in my life. So remember when you're reaching for the box of tissues that it was his romantic genius that came up with that, not mine. Thanks Reginaroadie!

Past, Present, & Future By KaySky Part Nine

The day before the wedding was chaos. Danielle had transformed into a sergeant, barking orders at her regime.

“Jayne, I know you’ve been shot and all, but that was days ago.” Danielle said very calmly. “I NEED YOU TO FOCUS!” She said not so calmly. “I could have hired a chimp to set up the chairs, but I thought you could handle it.” She pulled the chair out of Jayne’s hands. “Clearly I was wrong.”

“Everybody always yells at me.” Jayne grumbled.

“That’s because you usually deserve a good yellin’ at.” Mal had walked up behind Jayne. “I think the bride-to-be needs to see you.” He told Danielle.

“Mal, do you think you can manage the task of setting up chairs in an actual line instead of scattering them about wherever you please?” Danielle smiled at Mal, but her eyes focused on Jayne. “Obviously, the task calls for someone of great intelligence.”

“My, my, Danielle Blake, I never pegged you for quite the…”

Jayne wanted nothing more than to finish Mal’s sentence. Danielle didn’t let him. “Jayne Cobb if you want to live to see the sunset you better keep that trap of yours shut.”

“I’ll handle things.” Mal assured her. “Go see to Kaylee.”

Danielle stormed off towards the Frye house, making sure to bump hard into Jayne as she passed by him.

* * * *

Simon was sitting in the small office of the Frye home thinking of his vows. He tore another piece of paper out of his notebook, crumpled it up, and tossed it in the trashcan.

“Feelings don’t come from the mind.” River stood in the doorway of the office. “They come from the heart.” She walked into the room and draped her arms over her big brother’s shoulders.

“River, it seems like I’ve barely seen you these last couple of days.” He hugged her arms. “Where have you been hiding out?”

“Here, there, and everywhere.”

“I’m sorry if I’m being ignoring you recently.”

“No need for apologizes. I am fine. I like it here.” River smiled.

“Kaylee does have a nice family.”

“Just nice?” Now it was Mac who was standing in the doorway. “I figured we’d at least rank as very nice.” He joked.

“Now you’ll know what its like to have a big brother.” River kissed Simon’s cheek and skipped passed Mac. “They are highly overrated.” Giggles followed River out the door.

“So River and you are close?” Mac chuckled.

“Yeah, I guess so. She’s been through a lot recently.” Simon paused. He’d been so busy dealing with the aftermath of Niska and the wedding that he hadn’t even thought about River’s treatments. “I’ve been trying to help her.”

“Sometimes you can’t help them.”

“What do you mean?” He hadn’t really helped her these last few days and she seemed better than ever. The medication must still be going strong. She’s improving. No nightmares, no panic attacks, nothing.

“Simon, take my advice. I’ve had three little sisters and each one was the same. You teach them how to ride a bike, help them with homework, scare off any boys that come around, but the day comes when you can’t help them anymore. They grow up and suddenly are more independent than ever before.”

“I don’t think River is quite at that level.”

“I didn’t think Kaylee was either. Emma was easy. She met Andrew and after a few long talks with him, I knew it was okay to step back. She had grownup. The day I thought of Laney as grown up was two summers ago. Our dad had a heart attack while me and my brothers were out of town on a camping trip. Emma and Andrew were in the hospital already. Little Trent was making his way into the world. Mom was hysterical and Kaylee was off on Serenity, pretty much unreachable at the moment. Laney stepped up to the plate. She didn’t cry and get scared like I would have thought. She was remarkable. She held it together. She was the rock the family needed at that moment.”

“And Kaylee?”

“Kaylee is where I went wrong. I never saw her as being grown up. Maybe I never wanted to see her that way. She was a brat, but she was my baby sister. Before I knew it she was takin’ a job aboard some ship.” He paused, reflecting on the day she left. “I always thought she felt like she had to leave for anyone to ever think she was grown up.”

“There’s a lesson to your story, isn’t there?”

“From what I hear you’re a smart guy. I’m sure you don’t need me to spell it out for you.” Mac’s voice took a serious tone. “Just don’t hang on so much that the only way she feels like she can break free is by doing something radical.”

“Thank you, Mac.”

“Just keep my sister happy. That’s all the thanks I need.” He headed towards the door, but before he exited the room he left Simon with one final remark. “The ‘verse is full of people, but there’s only one Kaylee. No one else even comes close.”

* * * *

Kaylee was pacing back and forth across her room. She was panicking.

*knock, knock*

“Did you need me Kaylee?” Danielle asked as she walked into Kaylee’s room.

“I need blue.” Kaylee exclaimed.

“Who is blue?” Danielle asked, confused.

“My something old is my barrette I used to wear as a little girl. ‘Nara was going to put it in my hair. My something new is this bracelet Molly and Ruby gave me. My something borrowed is this locket that Emma wore on her wedding day, but I don’t have anything blue.”

“Okay, don’t panic.” Danielle thought for a minute. “Let me do my thing. I promise you that by the end of the night you will have your something blue.”

* * * *

Shooter was walking around the backyard trying to get a feel of where everything was going to be set up and which locations would make the best backgrounds for the monologues with Kaylee’s family and friends.

“Need any help?” Wash was always a fan of making videos. He tried to convince Zoe to star in one of their own, but he needed to do a little more convincing on that one.

“Do you know how to work a camera?” Shooter didn’t bother to look up at Wash. He was too busy looking through the viewfinder of his camera, making sure all the settings were precise.

“I think I can handle it.” Wash stretched out his arms, creating a box with his hands, peering through it.

Shooter looked over towards Wash. “What in the gorram hell are you doing?”

“Seeing the scene.”

“Amateurs.” Shooter muttered as he reached into his bag. “This is Beth. Treat her nice.” He handed Wash one of his cameras.

“She’s a sexy little thing. All them buttons.” Wash joked. Shooter didn’t look amused.

“Is this a joke to you? I’m trying to capture the beauty in Kaylee’s wedding. I’m not going to let you screw it up.” He was frustrated. “Now go stand over there. Your job will be to keep the camera on the bride.”

Jayne was passing through, trying to find a place to hide from Danielle. He was convinced she was going to kill him.

“You, come here.” Shooter yelled at Jayne. “You do what he does, only at the opposite angle. Your job will be to focus on the groom.” He pulled out another camera from his bag. “Got all that? Good. This is Carrie.” He handed Jayne the camera. “Treat her right.” Shooter headed down the aisle, not giving Jayne a chance to respond to anything. “And try not to shake them so much!” He yelled back at the guys. “This is art, not crap.”

“What the hell is he talking about?” Jayne turned to Wash, more confused than ever. He was second guessing leaving Danielle. She yelled, but at least she was pretty.

“Just do what I do.” Wash said with confidence. “Not everything I do though. I don’t think Zoe would like you neckin’ on her too much.”

* * * *

Danielle had Kaylee’s brother-in-law and all her sister-in-laws lined up against the side of the house.

“Okay, as the sibling-in-laws you will be required to perform a variety of tasks. First, Andrew as the only male here, I will need you to be an usher. Find Wash and Kaylee’s cousin, Bo, and tell them they are ushers, too.” She stared at him for a minute. “If you have no questions, you are dismissed.”

“Find Wash and Bo, I can do that.” Andrew repeated before quickly leaving the others. Danielle was definitely a drill sergeant.

“Molly and Ruby, I need the both of you to be in charge of catering.” The girl’s faces looked shocked, as if it was an impossible task. “I’ve already spoke to Mrs. Frye about a menu and she thinks it can be done with the right help. You two ladies and whoever else you can find are the help.” She stared at the girls for a minute. Their faces were blank. “Well, if there are no questions, get to work!”

“Let’s go find, mom.” Molly took Ruby’s hand and led her into the Frye house.

“I didn’t know you were so demanding?”

That voice made her soften. For the first time in the past two days she felt unwound. “Mac, I didn’t hear you walk up.”

“It’s hard to hear when you’re bossin’ others around.”

She blushed, embarrassed for a minute, but soon became angered. “If you’re going to insult me…”

“No, no…” Mac took a few steps closer to her. “I like an aggressive woman. She knows what she wants and she goes after it.”

Her frown was quickly turned around and she was blushing again. “Well there’s something that I want, but I’m not sure if I can have it.”

“Why don’t you just try taking it?”

“Just like that? I shouldn’t think about the consequences?”

“Funny, you struck me as an action taker, not a thinker.”

She stopped thinking. She took action. Her lips found their way to his.

Minutes later Mac pulled his lips away. “See if you’d never have tried taking it, you never would have known how sweet the reward was.”

“We think highly of ourselves.” Danielle said playfully.

“The Frye’s are an egotistical bunch.” He kissed her again. This time more aggressively and passionately than their first. “You’d fit right in.”

* * * *

Kaylee had stepped outside to get some fresh air when she was bombarded by Wash.

“I’ve got the perfect wedding present for you.” Wash was grinning from ear to ear.

“Aww, Wash, you don’t have to get me anything. Just being here is enough.” Kaylee said sweetly.

“I don’t think you want this, Kaylee.” Zoe wrapped her arm around her husband’s waist.

“Don’t want what?” Kaylee was curious.

“Let me show you.” Wash said as he stepped a few feet back from Zoe, giving himself ample room to perform. He cleared his throat and began to sing. “I could stay awake just to hear you breathing/ Watch you smile while you are sleeping/ While you’re far away dreaming/ I could spend my life in this sweet surrender/ I could stay lost in this moment forever/ Every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure”

“HUSBAND!” Zoe yelled. “I think she’s heard enough.”

“What did you think Kaylee?” Wash was all smiles. “I’d like to sing it at your wedding.”

Kaylee didn’t know what to say. She loved Wash like a brother. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings. She hated lying, but the truth was nails on a chalk board might have sounded better. “Wash, that was…”

“Wow, you have a very unique singing voice Wash.” Danielle had come running over when she heard the singing. It was all too familiar. Many of her past clients had family members who thought it would be a wonderful gesture to sing at their relatives wedding. She’d become very good at persuading them otherwise.

“There you are.” Shooter had heard the singing and walked over to find out what it was about.

“Lucas…” Kaylee wanted to say something, anything to get the topic of conversation off of Wash’s singing.

“Wash didn’t I ask you to get a few things set up for me?” Shooter interrupted her.

“He doesn’t have time to set things up for you. He is working for me.” Danielle said assertively.

“Whatever, ma’am, he’s mine.”

“Who are you calling ma’am?” Danielle was flustered. “I am the wedding planner. That means I am in charge. You are a mere worker bee who I can choose to fire.”

“And you’ll find another videographer where?” He joked.

“You’re actually friends with this guy?” Danielle asked Kaylee.

“He’s very nice. He’s just a bit edgy.” Kaylee replied.

“I don’t deal with edgy.” Danielle pointed her finger in Shooter’s face. “You want, Wash, fine, but don’t be interfering with anymore of the wedding plans. If anything goes wrong I will have your head.” Normally, that tone of voice would have made anybody squirm.

However, Shooter wasn’t normal or just anybody. “You’d like my head, wouldn’t you darling?”

“Agh!” Danielle screamed as she walked off, pushing Shooter out of her way.

* * * *

The sun was setting. The long day was finally over. Well almost. Danielle knocked on the door to Kaylee’s room.

“Come in.” Kaylee shouted, giggling in the background.

“I told you I’d find your something blue by sunset.” Danielle held up the baby blue colored, lace teddy.

“Wow.” Simon said as he stepped out of the closet, eying the lingerie.

“Do I want to know why Simon was in the closet?” Danielle asked Kaylee.

“I thought you might be Mac.” Kaylee laughed.

“With any luck your brother will be coming to my room.” Danielle grinned.

“Dani!” Kaylee squealed. “What happened between you and Mac?”

“I’d rather discuss the question of what’s going to happen between me and Mac, but I don’t have enough time to tell the story, take a cold shower, and get some sleep in before tomorrow.”

“So you’ve been kissin’ him?”

“That obvious?” Danielle laughed.

“If this is going to be one of those girl conversations…” Simon was beginning to feel awkward.

“I was just leaving.” Danielle smiled. “Now, as much fun as it may seem, Kaylee Frye you are not allowed to wear that until tomorrow. And you Mr. Tam, you need to make sure to be out of this room by six and stay away from Kaylee until the magical moment, dong ma?”

* * * *

It was an hour before the wedding. Kaylee was sitting in her room. Inara was styling her hair and doing her makeup. Katie and Emma were both teary eyed.

“If you cry you’re just going to make me cry.” Kaylee whined. “I don’t want puffy eyes before I get married.”

“Sorry, Kaylee.” Emma handed her mom a tissue. “It’s just that my little sister is getting married today.”

“And my baby girl.” Katie added.

“Gettin’ married ain’t going to change nothin’. I’ll still be a sister and a daughter.”

Emma was thinking back to her wedding day. Kaylee had gotten upset with her because she’d be moving out and leaving her all alone in the house with Laney. After realizing what it was like to have her own room once Emma moved out, Kaylee was no longer upset. “Well, I guess I don’t need to give you the big sister sex talk.” Emma smiled. “Besides, from what I can tell you and Simon don’t have any problems in the area other than picking proper locations.”

“Emma!” Kaylee squealed.

“Proper locations?” Katie questioned with a motherly tone.

Kaylee turned red in embarrassment. Emma and Inara laughed.

* * * *

Simon was in his room getting ready. He was wearing a jet black suit, white button up shirt, a lavender vest, and a lavender tie. Danielle had insisted his vest and tie color match the colors of the wedding. But why purple, he asked himself as he struggled with tying the tie.

“Nervous?” Mal figured tying a tie was second nature to Simon. If he was having problems with that, he definitely had a lot on his mind. He walked over towards Simon and began tying it himself.

“Thanks, Mal.” Simon felt another one of those heartfelt moments coming on. “Thanks for being my best man, for letting me stay on Serenity, and for putting up with me and my sister all this time.”

This time Mal wasn’t going to break the moment so quickly. He had something he wanted to say to Simon. “Thank you.” He wasn’t big on words.

“Why are you thanking me?” Simon looked puzzled.

“Kaylee is the type of girl who deserves the very best. Now I ain’t always thought the very best meant Simon Tam, but you surprised me.” Mal’s tone was very sincere. “I’m glad you’re one of the crew. Pain in the ass, and all, you’ve added something to us.” He finished tying the tie and took a step back, his hand on Simon’s shoulder. “Kaylee’s family to me. You marrying Kaylee makes you family.” He hated these moments. “What I’m tryin’ to say is you are family to me.” And he quickly put an end to the moment. “You’re the gorram smartass little brother I never wanted.”

*knock, knock*

“Hey, Simon.” Mac said as he walked into the room followed by his brothers.

“As Kaylee’s brothers there’s something we wanted to say.” Ryan said.

“While, I’ve made it clear if you ever hurt her you will be punished.” Mac said. “We wanted to make it clear that as far as some guy taking our little sister away…”

“Technically, she’s been away. Mal took her.” Sam pointed out.

“Yeah, but that was different.” Ryan responded.

“How?” Sam argued back.

“What my brothers and I are trying to say is, if Kaylee can’t be here with us, there ain’t no place we’d rather have her be than with you.” Mac said.

“Welcome to the family.” Ryan said pulling Simon into a hug. Mac, Sam, and Mal took the more masculine route and just gave Simon a good, old-fashioned pat on the back.

* * * *

Kaylee was exiting her room when Mal grabbed her arm. “Meimei, got a second.”

“Always for my Captain.” She smiled.

“You know your Captain isn’t big on heartfelt moments, but I wanted to say something.” He paused, thinking of how he wanted to word things. “You’re the little sister I never had. A part of me feels like I’m losing you today.”

“Aww, Cap’n…”

“Let me finish Kaylee.” He said softly. “Just ‘cause you’re marrying Simon doesn’t mean I’m going to stop acting like your big brother. I’m always going to look out for you. I’m always going to protect you. I love you, meimei.”

“I love you, too, Cap’n.” Today was going to be an emotional day for Kaylee. Mal was responsible for striking the first tear. “Ain’t going nowhere. Just found someone to hang out with while stayin’ put.” She wrapped her arms around Mal, squeezing him tight.

* * * *

The guests were in their seats. Shepherd Book was standing underneath an archway of roses. Simon was standing, filled with anticipation, to his left. Katie Frye was sitting in the front row. The ceremony hadn’t even begun, but she already had a hand full of tissues. The music began to play.

The guests turned around in their seats to see the beginning of the wedding march. First down the aisle came the flower girls. Becca and Ruthy looked adorable in their little white dresses. The lavender ribbon that wrapped around the waist of the dresses added a simple touch of elegance. The girls tossed orchid petals out of their little straw baskets, also accented with a lavender ribbon, as they began the parade down the pearl colored carpet.

The next to come strolling down the walkway was the best man and the maid of honor.

“You’ve dreamed about walking down the aisle with me, haven’t you?” Mal whispered, grinning.

“Perhaps, you’re the one that’s been dreaming.” Inara’s magnificent smile shined as her and Mal strolled down the carpet together.

“If all women looked as beautiful as you in my dreams, I’d never wake up.”

Inara had no response. She just continued walking down the pearl colored carpet, arm in arm with Mal, bouquet in hand, and blushing all the way.

The groomsmen and the bridesmaids were the next to follow. The men where wearing black suits, white shirts, and lavender ties. The women were in lavender gowns.

“It feels like not so long ago I was strolling down the aisle with Kaylee on my arms at your wedding.” Mac whispered to Emma as they made their way, arm in arm, down the aisle.

“We’ve started a poll.” Emma said sweetly.

“A poll?” Mac asked curiously.

“Kaylee and I think you’ll be the next, but Sam and Ryan seem to think Laney will marry before you.”

As they headed towards the altar, they walked passed Danielle. Mac smiled. His sister’s words were lingering in his mind.

“Sammy, who taught you how to walk? You’re doing it all wrong.” Laney quietly complained to her brother.

“I walk just fine. I think you’re the one who can’t walk.” Sam muttered back at her without losing his smile.

“I plan on getting married in comfortable shoes. Not these excruciating things Kaylee picked out.”

“Before you start picking out shoes you might want to start picking out a man. That might take awhile.” Sam smirked.

Very subtly, Laney elbowed her brother in the stomach.

“You look very beautiful, River.” Ryan said to her as they made their way together down the walkway.

“No one’s shinning as bright as Kaylee and Simon.” River was happy. Seeing her brother so happy made her feel happy. Things were going to be how they should be—happy.

“They’re good together, aren’t they?” Ryan whispered.

“Like PB&J.”

“Good analogy. They’re definitely like peanut butter and strawberry jelly.”

“I think that Simon’s more like extra chunky,” opined River.

Ryan looked at Simon standing at the end of the aisle. "He doesn't look that chunky to me. For all I know, he doesn't have a single ounce of body fat on him."

"I meant in the head, not in the gut." River giggled as they continued down the aisle together.

Little four year-old Colton marched down the aisle wearing a pearl white suit with a lavender tie. He carried the velvet lavender pillow down the aisle very cautiously. His older brother Sammy had spent the past ten minutes telling him he’d ruin the whole ceremony if he tripped. Boys would be boys and brothers would always be brothers.

Finally it was the bride’s turn. The bridal march began. Kaylee Frye made her appearance on the carpet.

“You look beautiful, honey.” The last time Cole Frye felt this happy was when he walked his daughter Emma down the aisle.

“Thanks, daddy.” Kaylee was absolutely breathtaking. Inara had put her hair up in curls. A single orchid was placed in her hair and could be seen through her veil. The dress looked even more beautiful than it did in Sandi’s shop. Kaywinnit Lee Frye looked and felt like a princess.

“Simon’s a lucky man.”

“Not as lucky as me.” Kaylee was beaming. Today was the happiest day of her life. She was Cinderella. Simon was Prince Charming and Danielle had thrown them the most magnificent ball.

The look in Simon’s eyes was indescribable. He was happy. He fit in with the top three percent of the happiest men ever to have lived in the ‘verse. As Kaylee took her final steps and stood just a foot away with him, all felt right in the world. He lifted her veil above her face.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to unite…” Shepherd Book began the ceremony.

Soon it was time for the vows. “Simon, do you have something you would like to say to Kaylee?” Book asked.

“I do.” He took a deep breath before reciting his vows. Even though he had a history of saying the wrong thing, this time he knew it would be right. He didn’t think. He just recited what was in his heart. “When I was eight years old, my science teacher told me about what is referred to as the thermo-dynamic miracle. Essentially, these are events in which the odds of them happening are so astronomical they’re effectively impossible. Like oxygen spontaneously becoming gold. Ever since then, I always wanted to see one happen. To experience something that by all intents and purposes shouldn’t begin to exist. For the longest time, I thought that the only place I could find it was in my work. In probing the complex, chaotic improbability that is the human body. I never once thought I’d find it in the simple touch of skin, a look into another’s eyes, a smile that shines in darkest place imaginable, and all in one person, no less. Kaylee, the odds of us meeting up in a different way are staggering. The odds of us developing a bright relationship in the recesses of darkness and despair are incomprehensible. And the odds of that relationship transforming from friendship into deepest kind of love is astronomical. But we did it. You did it. Kaylee, you are my thermo-dynamic miracle. And I vow now in front of our family and friends to keep the thermo-dynamic miracle of our love alive as long as humanly possible.”

After listening to Simon’s vow, Kaylee’s eyes were joyful; Watery, but blissful. She smiled at him before reciting her vow. “Simon Tam, you’ve grown so much since we first met on Persephone. You grew to be someone who knows when properness isn’t necessary, but you still do it anyways. You grew to be someone who relaxes and has fun. You grew to be part of a family that is made up of more oddballs than most. Mostly, I like that while you’ve grown, I’ve been growing with you. We’ve grown into an ‘us’ and that ‘us’ is so new and has a lifetime to grow. It is my promise to you that in our lifetime together, my love for you, my love for us, will always grow.”

“Now that you have both shared your vows with each other, it is time for the ring ceremony. The rings symbolize your love for each other. I ask you to repeat after me, starting with Simon.” Book paused for a minute as the couple took their rings. “I, Simon Tam, take the Kaylee to by my wife.”

The words were said, the rings were exchanged and Shepherd Book pronounced Simon and Kaylee, husband and wife.

To be continued... (There's one more chapter left to this story.)

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