DISCLAIMER: Don't own it, never did, just having fun playing.

A/N: This is primarily a Mal/Simon story, although some short stories that deal with minor plot points that involve other characters will be written as companion pieces. There are a couple of NC-17 chapters, but most of the story is PG-13.

A huge thanks to kispexi2 for betaing this, my first multi-chapter effort! Wouldn't want to do it without you!

For translations of the Chinese hover the mouse over the word or phrase, and the meaning should appear. If it doesn't, please let me know so I can try to fix it.

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Family--Part 1, Chapter 1 Sex, sex, and more sex; oh, yes, and the beginnings of a plot.

Simon woke, as he had so many times in the last eight years, to the tantalizing caresses of Mal's hands on his body. He tried to pretend he was still sleeping--he could enjoy those hands forever--but Mal knew he was awake, just like always. When Mal rolled him onto his back, he opened his eyes and looked up sleepily at his husband. "Good morning, love," he smiled and reached up to bring Mal down for a long, sweet kiss.

"Good mornin', yourself," Mal smiled back when they broke their kiss. His hands were still caressing Simon's body, becoming more and more insistent. He leaned in and began kissing Simon in earnest. Kissing, biting, caressing, never maintaining a pattern, he brought Simon to full wakefulness--and to full arousal. Tiān xiăo de, he loved starting his mornings with this man! Listening to Simon moan and whimper incited him to deeper kisses and more insistent caresses. He moved slowly down Simon's torso, heading for more interesting territory, teasing him all the way.

Simon arched into Mal's loving caresses, trying for a time to return them wherever he could reach. Before long, though, he gave up. Lord knows, he tried not to, but Mal's mouth always turned him into a quivering mass with no ability for coherent thought, let alone muscle co-ordination. By the time Mal reached his hips all he could do was hope for release soon. Instead, Mal continued lower. Wā cào! He felt Mal nip his thighs, trail his tongue behind his knees, run his hands down his calves. Āi yā, he didn't know how much longer he could last! "Please, Mal!"

"Not yet, lover. I'm not finished down here, still got to get to your feet, you know."

"My feet!?!"

"Yup."

"Oh, God…"

"Nope, just me, your ever lovin' husband. Grab the sheets, and hang on." With that Mal began his depredations on Simon's feet--licking, kissing, caressing and nipping his way around each foot in turn. When he took one big toe into his mouth and sucked, he thought Simon was going to go through the ceiling of the bunk he jumped so high.

"Ye su, Mal! I can't …. I need …. Please….," Simon was babbling incoherently by this time.

Mal loved it when Simon came unglued like this, and couldn't quite believe he was still the one who could make it happen after all these years. "What do you need, xīn ài?"

"You. In me. Now!"

"Comin' right up," Mal smirked as he quickly grabbed the tube of lube from the floor, and prepped himself. Lifting Simon's legs onto his shoulders as he moved back up the bed, he started to use his fingers to open Simon up, but…

"No! Can't… wait… Just… need… you… Please…"

"Okay, xīn ài, hang on…," and Mal slid slowly into Simon's welcoming body. Simon moaned deep in his throat as Mal began slowly moving, out then back in, thrusting faster and deeper each time. Mal reached between them, took hold of Simon's balls and squeezed gently, before wrapping his hand around Simon's diăo, following the same rhythm with his hand that he was using with his hips. Before long, Simon came with a shout that could probably be heard in the engine room. A couple more thrusts, and Mal climaxed as well, his seed pumping deeply into Simon. He collapsed on top of Simon, lying there for just a moment before rolling to his side, and taking Simon with him.

Simon returned to awareness, and the feeling of Mal's fingers running through his hair. "Wow," he smiled as he looked at the beloved face in front of him.

"Yeah, wow. Happy Anniversary," Mal smiled back.

"You remembered!"

"Hey! When have I ever forgotten!" Mal mock punched Simon's arm.

"Never, actually," admitted Simon with a penitent smile and a quick kiss.

"Not likely to, either. Best thing I ever did in my life was make an honest man of you five years ago." He kissed Simon's forehead. "Got a present for you, too, but thought you might like to wait a bit before I get out of bed to fetch it."

"I've got a little something for you, too, but you're right. I don't think I'll be able to move for a while. Think you broke me, or at least melted my bones--again," Simon smiled as he caressed Mal's cheek. "I'll return the favor later."

"I'll hold you to that."

They lay there in perfect harmony, drifting just on the edge of sleep. Content to hold and be held, not wanting to get up and face the day, but knowing they'd have to eventually. Finally, Mal got up and went to the sink for a warm washcloth to clean up Simon. A shower would have been nice, but since they didn't have one in their bunk, they'd just have to wait 'til later. In the meantime, stealing kisses while he washed his husband was always fun.

As they finished dressing, Mal reached under the bed and pulled out a brightly wrapped package. At the same time, Simon pulled a gaily wrapped package from the bottom of his sock drawer. Turning to each other, they exchanged their gifts with a quiet "Happy Anniversary" and a long, tender kiss.

Chapter 2