Jayne knelt on the hard floor of the infirmary, looking up at Kaylee as she dabbed at the cut on his brow, “Should have Simon look at this, I’m not certain it don’t need stitches.”

He just kept gazing at her, watching the worry knit her brow, the tip of her tongue poking out of the corner of her mouth as she concentrated, doing her best not to hurt him, like he hadn’t been through twenty times worse than the little cut. She kept on a steady stream of chatter aimed at distracting him from the pain, and it made Jayne feel a little guilty for havin’ her fawnin’ over just a bitty lil’ cut

Not guilty enough to stop her, though.

He liked having her standin’ close enough to smell, her little body radiating heat and that bright smile o’ hers aimed at him. Even if it was more of a worried frown than a smile. Didn’t make no difference really, she still glowed bright enough to light a room.

Jayne was a selfish man, which was why he did what he did next, before Kaylee went and realized what Jayne knew all along…. Girl was too damn everything for the likes of him.

“Marry me.”

Kaylee froze, her hand in mid-air between them, the dollop of antibiotic cream slipping from her fingers to land on the floor with a plop. “Sha-mu?”

He cleared his throat, “Marry Me."

“Oh, Jayne…” she shook her head, suddenly breathless. “Cap’n wouldn’t ever let us.”

His expression darkened, “I ain’t askin’ the Captain. I’m askin’ you.”

“Ya don’t gotta ask,” she whispered, ducking her head to brush her mouth over his and went right back to tending his wound. Ever the practical one, his Kaylee. His.

Weren’t nothin’ that could knock the stupid grin off his face. “You just leave the Captain to me.”

~

Kaylee had her wedding in the cargo bay, floating just outside the Beijuanese quadrant. River and Inara had draped with catwalk with wisps of white fabric, to camouflage the unforgiving metal and collected flowers at their last stop to weave through her hair. Wash stood up beside Jayne in his best hawaiian shirt, shooting his wife gleeful looks as he waited for his part of the ceremony, Kaylee’s ring clutched tightly in his hand.

Inara stood with Kaylee, wearing her most formal and ornate dress, and still didn't manage to outshine the bride standing radiant before Shepherd Book. River and Simon stood side by side, in the cargo bay, petals clutched in River's hands, ready to shower over the happy couple the moment the were pronounced man and wife. For his part, Simon wore what he usually did, his expression fluctuating between amusement and horror, and if it wasn't his very nicest vest, no one thought to mention it.

Zoe stood halfway between Simon and Mal in full Independence uniform (such as it was), shoulders squared and back straight, honoring the couple the best she knew how. And despite the military formality, she grinned for all she was worth, her brown eyes drifting from Wash to Jayne to Kaylee, memories of her own strikingly familiar wedding day pouring through her mind.

Kaylee seemed to vibrate where she stood across from Jayne. The dress she wore was a gift from Wash and Zoe, pure white and trimmed with pink ribbon. Inara had styled her hair, threading fresh flowers throughout, the scent of them surrounding her. Both her hands clasped his one as Book read over their vows, and even the weapon in Jayne’s other hand, pointed steadily into the cargo bay couldn’t diminish her smile.

Book’s voice echoed through the cargo bay, “If there are any here who believe these two should not be joined together speak now, or forever hold your peace.”

Eight pairs of eyes turned and landed on Mal who stood stock still, a mutinous look on his face. He opened his mouth and the sound of Jayne’s gun being cocked echoed through Serenity. He stared down the chamber, scowling.

The mercenary just smiled down at his bride, “Think that’s a no, Preacher.”