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

Here you go, misskitten. Kaylee, Simon, and her parents deal with the baby situation. Hope everybody likes it and please comment!!!!! ________________________________________________________________

It took a minute for Kaylee and her mother to compose themselves. Simon sat quietly, eyes darting between the two women and Kaylee's father. Suddenly John Frye got up from the table and walked into the kitchen. Excellent-Simon thought-He's going to get his gun to shoot me. "Oh Simon," Kaylee sighed and then left her mother to go to him. He looked so lost. Grace Frye got up from the dinner table and headed for the kitchen as well. Perfect, she's going to go help him look for the bullets- Simon was then jolted by Kaylee leaning down to kiss him as he still sat shell-shocked. It was soft and comforting. He pulled her into his lap as she pulled back, cupping his face in her hands. "Simon, everything's gonna be fine." She kissed him quickly again. "Your father doesn't keep his gun in the kitchen, does he?" She giggled a bit and then shook her head. "No, the shotgun's in the bedroom."

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John Frye was searching through the kitchen cabinets with no luck. "John, what're ya lookin' for?" He didn't answer but just kept searching. Moments later he triumphantly pulled out a bottle of amber liquid in a decanter from a cupboard. "Whiskey, John?" Grace had leaned back on the counter top, crossing her arms and waiting for a response from her husband. "Boy needs it. Think I do too." Grace just smiled at her husband the way she always did when he surprised her. After twenty three years of marriage she knew him well. He liked Simon, otherwise he would've already thrown the boy over the balcony for touching his little girl. Not that he thought she was completely innocent. He just liked to think she would stay the eight year old girl he always remembered; running around his shop covered in grease, fixing things no one else could, and handing out brilliantly shining smiles to whomever she met. She was thrilled. It had always been heartbreaking to Grace that her and John could never have more children. Though Kaylee was their sun and moon, she had always hoped for a brother or sister for her. Having a grandbaby was even more exciting. "My baby's havin' a baby." "Yep." Grace sniffled, holding back joyful tears as John came over to hold her hand. He then began to move them towards the door back to dinner table when she held him firm. "Let's give'em some time."

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“Kaylee, I... I mean, when we get back I’ll run some tests, just to confirm, I guess ... because River was , well...-” “That’s fine, but I‘m pretty sure she‘s right.” He looked at her with all the exasperation that had built up during the last ten minutes of his life. “How did she get drunk?” “I think we were all distracted tonight.” “I just cannot believe that it...that she just blurted it out like that .” “Must be a family trait, gettin’ all honest when you’re drunk.” Simon blushed as he remembered the first time he ever told Kaylee she was pretty. He was definitely inebriated that night. “Honesty has it’s place.” She looked at Simon with all the love she hadn’t been brave enough to say aloud and whispered, ”We’re gonna have a baby.” He touched her face lightly and then smiled. “I know.” ________________________________________________________________

Simon couldn’t believe how well the Frye’s were taking the news of their daughter being unwed and pregnant. Not only that, the man who impregnated her was sitting right next to her father, and he hadn’t even knocked him out. John Frye had poured Simon a large whiskey, and he himself one as they sat outside on the balcony looking at the lights that were sprinkled across the little town. “Sir, I just want to assure you that-” “You’ll take care a her. Keep her and the baby safe?” “Yes, sir.” “You gonna marry her?” “If she will have me.” “Guess there ain’t much more to say.” With that, John Frye took a long sip of his drink and leaned back. Simon looked over, unsure of himself, and drank along with him.

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“Well, this certainly has been a night ta remember.” Grace was packing all the left over food for Simon and Kaylee to bring back to Serenity. Kaylee was eating a piece of the strawberry pie River helped to save from only an hour or so ago. “Think Simon’s had ‘nough torture yet?” “Poor thing. I think Daddy being so quiet is makin’ him even more nervous.” “He’s a good boy. Already told your daddy all ‘bout him. Guess if John had a problem, Simon’d be laid out on the floor by now.” “How ‘bout you, Mama?” Grace looked up to see the eyes of her only child full of fear and hope. She put down the spoon she had been using and leaned over to kiss Kaylee’s forehead. “I’m so happy I’m ‘bout ready ta burst.” “And ya ain’t mad, me not bein’ married ta Simon?” “Honey, you were ‘bout two months from being born when your daddy married me.” Kaylee covered her mouth, pie almost falling out at her mother’s disclosure. “Mama!” “Well, that’s why I ain’t mad. And your daddy too, I s‘pose. ‘Sides, babies ain‘t nothin‘ ta be mad about.”

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The walk back to the ship was a quiet one. Simon was laden with all the food he could carry and Kaylee had a pie in one hand and a bag of cookies her mother had recently made in the other. They stole glances at each other but didn’t have the courage to speak their minds. Simon’s world had become infinitely more complicated, he felt unprepared and intimidated, but there was a joy creeping into him too. He was surprised, yet every time he looked over at Kaylee his stomach settled a bit. She had a glorious smile that seemed to have no intention of leaving her face any time soon. As they rounded the corner, they could both make out the tall figure standing against the cargo bay door smoking a cigar. “That pie y'all got there?”