"Y'know..." Kaylee whispered to Simon, drawing aimless patterns on his damp skin with one finger, "Exactly one year ago today, I wouldn'ta guessed that a proper, refined fella from the Core...would moan so loud."

"Hey." Simon said with mock indignation. "Well, I never would have imagined that a genius mechanic would squeak like that."

Kaylee grabbed her pillow and hit him gently with it, more of a tap, really. "Maybe you oughta grease me up better." She teased, winking and giggling.

Simon grabbed the pillow from her and slipped it under her back as he pinned her to the bed. "I didn't hear you complaining. But give me a few minutes, and I'm sure I can-"

"Oh, I got no complaints." Kaylee interrupted. She ran one hand through his hair and kissed him softly. "It seem funny to you, that we're back on Persephone, one year to the day after we picked you up here?"

"Actually, I don't think it's a coincidence." Simon admitted. "The captain knows how much this day means to us."

"Think you may be right about that." Kaylee agreed. "He's more of a softie than he lets on."

"Kaylee? Doc? I swear, you two don't get your lazy hides up to the dining area, I will drag you myself, and I don't care if you are bare as babes in there."

"I'm kind of in the middle of something, Captain." Simon replied evenly, as he and Kaylee exchanged annoyed looks. Maybe not as much of a 'softie' after all.

"Means he's in the middle of someone." Another voice snickered outside the door.

"Jayne!" Mal, Simon, and Kaylee all yelled at the same time, in similar annoyed tones.

"Pretending I didn't hear that, I need everyone upstairs to go over the plan for the day." Mal continued.

Kaylee frowned, then smiled as she got an idea. Pushing Simon off of her, she guided him onto his back and straddled him, pressing a finger to his lips to keep him quiet.

Then she opened her mouth. ________________________

"Simon! Oh, God! Oh, oh yes, right there!"

Hearing Kaylee's cries, Mal and Jayne looked at each other. Mal took a step back from the door, just as Jayne took a step forward.

"All right, well..." Mal called, clearing his throat. "You two just come on up when you're...yeah." He grabbed the mercenary by the back of his shirt. "No."

"Oh, come on, Mal." Jayne whined as Mal dragged him away from the door. ________________________

Kaylee giggled when she heard the voices and footsteps outside fading, and winked at Simon, who was blushing a little but laughing right along with her.

"So..." She leaned down to kiss him. "Where were we?" ________________________

By the time they wandered into the dining area half an hour later, only River and Jayne remained at the table, while Inara prepared a cup of tea at the counter.

"Good morning, you two." She said, smiling. She knew how much this day meant to both of them.

"This is a great morning." Simon replied. He pulled Kaylee's chair out for her and kissed her as she sat down.

Jayne made a disgusted face. "Could ya'll not do that while we're...ever?"

"Any activities other than chewing that involve saliva should not occur during mealtimes." River said, apparently addressing all three of them.

"Where's everyone else?" Kaylee asked.

"Loading up the Mule, getting prepped." Mal replied, entering the dining area. "Zoe, Jayne and I got some supplies to pick up, some contacts to meet with. Inara mentioned something about taking River shopping for a new dress."

Simon looked at the Companion. "That's very kind of you, Inara, but-"

"Don't mention it, it's my pleasure." Inara cut in. "Think of it as an anniversary present."

"Jayne, go get yourself ready to go." Mal told the mercenary. "And no grenades."

"Aw, but-"

"No." Mal interrupted. "You just about set, Lil' Albratross?"

"Ready." River said.

"Shoes?" Mal asked, pointing to the girl's feet. "They won't let you into stores barefoot."

River pouted a little, but hurried off to her room, grinning at Simon and Kaylee as she passed by them.

Kaylee turned to Mal. "What about me and Simon?"

"You two are staying with the ship." Mal replied. "Someone has to, and I'm sure you've both got stuff to do."

The young couple exchanged looks, then nodded quickly.

"Well, just make sure to...get plenty of rest and, you know, clean up after yourselves." Mal said uncomfortably. As he turned to go, he bumped into Inara. "Oh, excuse me."

"No, I'm sorry, I..." She stammered as they attempted to step around each other awkwardly. Finally, Mal got around her and headed back to the cargo bay.

"Inara?" Kaylee said sweetly. "You have something to do with this?"

"Maybe." The Companion replied. "Happy anniversary, you two."

"How did you get Mal to agree to this?" Simon asked.

Inara just kept smiling as she brushed by them. "Have a good day." _______________________

"Don't know how I let you talk me into this." Mal groused, offering a hand to Inara to help her into the Mule. "You have any idea how many spots on my ship those two are gonna defile?"

"Do you really think there are that many spots that they haven't?" She shot back.

Mal grimaced, but nodded. "Suppose you're right about that." _______________________

"Can't believe 'Nara talked the Cap'n into doing this for us." Kaylee was almost bouncing with excitement as Simon led her into the shuttle. "Got the whole ship to ourselves all day."

Simon grinned at her enthusiasm. "I know. I only asked her if we could use her shuttle."

"You did?" Kaylee asked.

"Well, not so much asked as 'stammered and babbled like a moonbrain until she guessed what I was getting at.'" Simon admitted.

"Yeah, that makes more sense." Kaylee giggled.

"I wanted to make this day special." Simon told her. He kissed her and swept her up into his arms.

"Being with you is special enough." Kaylee told him. But as he lay her down on the silk sheets, she sighed. "Not that I'm complaining 'bout this, mind you."

"Someday I'm going to be able to give you a life like this." Simon vowed, scattering gentle, reverent kisses over her face. "Silk sheets, jewelry, an old junker of a ship that you can fix up for yourself, anything you want."

"I don't need nice things." Kaylee whispered. "Nothin' in the 'verse could ever be as shiny as you, anyway."

Simon slowly dragged the zipper on her jumpsuit down. "I can't help it if I want to spoil you."

"You do." Kaylee insisted. She pulled her arms out of the sleeves and dragged her t-shirt over her head. Simon's hands immediately cupped her breasts lightly, raising goosebumps on the sensitive skin, before moving down to pull her jumpsuit down her legs.

He took hold of her right ankle and started placing soft kisses up her leg. When he reached her panties, he licked at the wetness that had seeped through the thin cotton, making her squirm and whimper. Then she made a frustrated little noise when he pulled back, until she felt his mouth near the waistband of her underpants. He carefully took hold of the garment between his teeth and dragged it down, using his hands to pull it off of her and toss it aside.

"Oh, Simon..." She whispered. She closed her eyes and gave herself over to him, letting out a long moan as his tongue brushed lightly against her clit, then lapped at her dripping entrance, darting inside a few times. His mouth on her was sheer torture, building her up slowly while she writhed and pushed herself closer to him, until he pushed his tongue as far into her as he could, then rolled it against her clit with just the right amount of pressure, and she cursed and cried out. He moved with her, drinking the slickness that came from her orgasm, then licked at her a few more times after she stopped thrashing, making her whimper and shake.

Moving back up her body, he drew her into his arms, kissing the tears of release that rolled down her face before covering her lips with his, sliding his tongue into her mouth to let her taste herself. She moaned and snapped her hips up against his. "God, I love you so much, Kaylee."

"I love you, too." Kaylee said. She pushed him onto his back and straddled him. He realized that he was still fully clothed, while Kaylee was squirming around on him completely naked, rubbing herself against his covered erection, so wet and hot for him that he could feel it through his pants and boxer shorts. Her hands worked quickly to divest him of his clothes. She pulled his pants and underwear down at the same time, licking his cock on the way back up. Instead of moving over him as he expected her to, she knelt with her back to him, bracing herself with one hand on the wall behind the bed, casting a sultry look over her shoulder at him.

Simon groaned softly and rose to his knees behind her, sliding his arms around her waist and kissing the side of her neck. She arched her back and moved her knees apart, then lowered herself onto his straining cock. When he was fully sheathed in her tight, slippery passage, she leaned into him, laying the back of her head on his shoulder. He fastened his lips to her exposed throat as he moved his hands to her hips and started moving her up and down on his shaft, sliding deeper with every stroke. When his left hand moved down to rub and pinch her clit, she came alive, rising and sinking down on her knees.

"Kaylee...oh, Kaylee." Simon moaned. In this position, his hands could explore the front of her body freely, sliding down over her breasts, pausing to tease her nipples and run his fingertips on the sensitive skin underneath. He thrust harder, knowing from experience that he wouldn't hurt her. Sure enough, she gasped with pleasure and pushed down onto him, whimpering his name.

"Don't stop." Kaylee sighed. She slid her hand down and stroked the base of his cock while he rubbed her clit, both of them working to bring each other off, taking pleasure as they gave it. He had the angle just right, his teeth scraping her neck and his fingers moving hard against her sex. For a moment, it was almost too much sensation, then everything fell into place and she came so hard she thought she might pass out, tightening around the thick, throbbing heat inside her until Simon tensed behind her and she felt his hot seed flowing inside her and dripping down her thighs.

They collapsed forward onto the pillows together, their bodies still joined and tangled together. Simon moved onto his side, keeping Kaylee spooned against him.

"I love you, Kaylee." He whispered into her soft hair. But she was already dozing peacefully in his arms. Smiling, he kissed the back of her head and closed his eyes, lulled by her slow breathing and steady heartbeat. ________________________

Kaylee was confused at first, feeling the unfamiliar softness under her bare skin. Then she felt the heat of Simon's body behind her and remembered, smiling and yawning softly. He was still inside her, and she gasped at the feeling.

"Hey." He murmured against her ear, stroking her hip.

"How long have I been asleep for?" She asked, instinctively pressing back against him.

"About half an hour." Simon replied. "If you need to rest more..."

"Only thing I need right now is..." Kaylee shifted her hips a few times and moaned softly when she felt him swell and stiffen within her. "Oh...that." She whimpered in surprise and annoyance when he pulled out of her. Then he gently turned her over onto her back, and the heated look in his eyes silenced her immediately.

"I need to watch you." He said huskily, parting her thighs and stretching over her. "I need to see your eyes when I..." He broke off into a low groan as he pressed into her.

Kaylee gasped, then sighed, feeling contentment and pleasure seep into her bones. He didn't move at first, he just kissed her and stroked her breasts, making her wetter and hotter, before he finally withdrew almost completely, then eased back in. The slow drag of his thick, pulsing length in and out of her sensitive core was making her crazy, and she loved every second of it.

"You are so beautiful." Simon whispered, dropping a tender kiss on her flushed brow. He slid his hands under her knees and pulled her legs up, hooking them over his shoulders. She mewled softly as the movement caused him to slide in further, and she felt the head of his cock hit so deep inside her she almost thought it should hurt. But there wasn't even a little discomfort as he started taking her a little faster, shoving in completely with every stroke, spreading and filling her perfectly. "So beautiful."

"You...ah...make me feel beautiful." Kaylee replied, soft gasps and moans punctuating every word. She looked down between them and watched his cock moving in and out of her, drenched with her juices. "Now that is beautiful." She sighed.

Simon smiled down at her and kissed her leg before following her gaze. The sight of their joined bodies made him groan and speed up his pace inside her. She met his thrusts as best she could. Pinned tightly under him, she couldn't really move, and it aroused her even more to know that he was in complete control, because she knew she could trust him. Her refined, proper Core doctor had the ability to completely lose himself in her. The ancient story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde floated into her mind, and she giggled breathlessly as it occured to her that Simon was finally learning how to unleash his inner beast with her, just the way she wanted him to.

Above her, Simon grunted softly and started pounding into her erractically, reaching between them to tease her clit until she screamed out his name, jerking against him and squeezing rhythmically around his shaft. He fell onto her, burying his face in the pillow next to her head to muffle his hoarse shout as he emptied himself deep in her wet, quivering core.

The only sound for a few minutes was their heavy, ragged breathing. Then Simon slid out of Kaylee and rolled onto his back, pulling her on top of him. She moaned softly at the movement, then relaxed against his chest, melting into him.

"Are you okay?" He asked, placing one hand under her chin and tilting her face up. Her eyes were wet, but she was smiling brightly.

"Shiny." Kaylee replied, kissing him. "Don't worry, I'm tougher than I look. I can take it a lot harder than you just gave it to me." She winked at him, and he blushed, which she found insanely cute after the way he'd just sexed her.

"I'll keep that in mind." Simon promised. He tightened his arms around her and closed his eyes. This time he didn't sleep, but he drifted off enough that he didn't notice Kaylee's absence until he was awakened by cool air on his bare chest where she had previously been curled up against him. _____________________