Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me, just writing for fun.

A/N It would be best to first read First, Folks, and then this fic. This takes place before the crew lands on Kaylee’s home world. Next time there will be more. I know I’m a tease, but it’s coming along. Hope to post more soon, hope you like it and please comment!!!

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Simon waited for the laughter to die down a bit before getting up from the table and leaving the kitchen with all the composure he could collect. The cackling followed him down the hall. He quickly turned the corner to the staircase, trying to avoid Kaylee, who was animatedly talking to her mother on the bridge's vid screen. When he hit the catwalk, Simon decided that he should probably hide out for a little while, until he felt more comfortable with the situation. Unfortunately he wasn’t paying attention and knocked into Inara. “Oh, I’m so sorry.” Inara took in his anxious face and asked,” Simon, what’s wrong?” The concern in her voice stirred Simon out of his own thoughts. “Oh, nothing.” “Simon?” Inara raised her eyebrow as she tilted her head to left, not moving so she could get the real story out of him. “What did you say?” “I didn’t say anything.” “What didn’t you say?” “Nothing,” Simon responded, " I didn't do or not do anything, I swear!" "Then what is bothering you?" "Well... we're, that is ... we will be heading for Aberdeen, for a job." "Oh?" Inara knew that was Kaylee's home planet but she wanted to let Simon squirm a moment more. "That's where Kaylee's from and we'll be-" "Going for a visit to her family?" Simon looked relieved that she said it and not him, "Yes." Inara just smiled at him. “It’s not that I don’t want to meet them. It’s just, it’s so soon, and we really don’t know if we’re still fugitives. I mean, our warrants are no longer on the cortex and they haven’t been-” “Simon, slow down.” Inara rested her hand on his shoulder while Simon took a breath. “I just don’t know what to say to them. Hi, I’m the man that has been sleeping with your daughter for the past few months with no promise of marriage and I still might be wanted by the law. It’s a pleasure to meet you?” “Simon, you’re a very articulate man, I am sure you will think of something. Kaylee adores you and from what she’s told me , they adore her-” “And it’ll all be very adorable,” Mal interrupted. Simon and Inara glanced up at the top of the stairs to see him gloating at Simon’s discomfort. ________________________________________________________________

Through out dinner Kaylee talked nonstop about how wonderful it was going to be seeing her family. The wave to her mother ensured that they were all invited to dinner. Their arrival time would be around eight-thirty that night, and they needed to be in Fortiscue bright and early the next morning. Simon’s relief that it would only be a couple of hours calmed his nerves some. It still didn’t squash his reservations, he just came to the realization that his torture would be limited. “Simon, what’s goin‘ on in that head a yours?” Kaylee was getting ready for bed when she noticed that Simon had come into their room but had just stood in the middle of it, looking befuddled. She hated it when he got all quiet, stupid things seemed to come out of his mouth when he was thinking. “Kaylee, I’ve been thinking..” Here we go-Kaylee thought to herself. “..and I believe I should not be in the same room with you. Tonight, that is.” “Huh?” “Well, I’m going to be seeing your parents and I just don’t think I can face them after doing.. you know.. what we do ...at night... sometimes more than-” “Simon, that’s just plain silly. They don’t know that, unless ya blurt it out and I sur-” “But I’ll know.” Taken back by his ridiculous sense of propriety, Kaylee let a small smile stretch across her face. “Well, ain’t that all noble.” Kaylee reached up and pushed some of his hair back off his forehead. Placing a soft kiss on his lips, she then pulled back and turned him around. “Best get goin’ ‘fore I think that all this nobility ain’t cute anymore and work on breakin’ down your resolve.” As Simon left he thought that that actually went well. He didn’t know if that was a good sign or if he had just jinxed himself.