Kaylee sighed as Simon rolled off her and stretched out on his back. Cool air hit her bare skin, but he was pulling her close before she could start to shiver.

"Mmm...love you." He murmured into her hair.

"Love you." Kaylee whispered back, laying on her side and giving him a tired smile. "Always."

Simon reached out and gently ran his fingers through her soft hair, then let his hand drift down her body, lingering over her breast before sliding down, tracing over her skin. He caressed her hip for a moment, then stroked her abdomen and started moving back up. Then he felt the scar and froze, closing his eyes against the image of Kaylee lying on the cargo bay floor at his feet, bleeding and frightened.

"Hey." She caressed his cheek. "Simon, look at me." He opened his eyes, and she leaned in to kiss him softly. "Weren't your fault, baobei. Weren't anybody's fault but that hundan fed, and he got his."

"I bargained with your life." Simon reminded her.

"You weren't going to let me die." Kaylee scoffed. "I know that. Besides, you couldn't have done nothin' for me if you'd been getting hauled away in handcuffs. You did what you had to do, and it all worked out."

"Never thought of that." Simon admitted, rather sheepishly. "No, I guess the feds probably wouldn't have felt like waiting while I performed surgery. Still, every time I see that scar..."

Kaylee lightly traced his scar, in almost the same spot as hers, but fresher, redder. "I get it. This still scares me a little when I see it. But I know that you're okay."

Simon took her hand and brought it up to his lips. "Getting better every day I wake up with you." Sliding one arm around her waist, he turned them over. "And hey, now we match. That's..." He paused, thought for a moment. "...romantic?"

"Matching gunshot scars?" Kaylee burst out laughing, shaking under him. "Sure, why not? Nice job finding the bright side. I really am rubbing off on you, ain't I?"

"Hmm?" Simon was focused on the feel of her moving against him and the taste of the soft, smooth skin of her neck under his tongue. "Yeah, I guess you are."

"'Course, if my scar really bothers you," Kaylee continued, "I guess you could always kiss it better..." Simon took the hint and started moving lower, making her giggle and then gasp as his lips brushed against the scar but didn't linger, instead sliding a little lower. "Oh...that works, too..." _________________

Translations:

baobei: Precious, darling. hundan: Bastard.