Chapter 3

“All she wanted tonight was a dance. For you to look at her and see –“

His eyes left hers as he searched Kaylee out of the crowd. Not proper when dancing with a lady, but he knew Inara would understand. He couldn’t even remember what she was wearing. River had dominated his attention from the moment she’d launched herself off the cargo bay stairs and into his arms.

Inara saw the worry and the humiliation flicker in his eyes and felt sorry for him. She knew he and Kaylee had been growing closer; albeit painfully slowly for the eager mechanic. She leaned closer to him and whispered the mechanic’s general location and the color of her dress.

They continued to dance, missing not one step as their eyes searched for different people within the crowd.

Inara was pleased to see Mal sitting with River, trying in vain to engage her in a normal conversation. So, she felt, rather than saw, when Simon had finally found Kaylee. His sharp intake of breath and the tension in his body were just two immediate indications that he was pleased with what he saw.

“She’s – she’s beautiful.”

“Yes, she is.” Inara tore her eyes from Mal and followed Simon’s. “She was so proud to look like a lady for you tonight.”

Inara felt hum gulp nervously and then look away as the dance steps dictated they change direction. “She doesn’t need to –“

“Simon,” Inara squeezed his hand. “When it comes to you, she wants to be perfect.”

“Ai ya, Inara.” Simon shook his head, exhaling deeply. “She is. She – already is.” He always wondered why it was so much easier to talk to anyone else about Kaylee but couldn’t manage to tell her how he felt.

There was hope for him yet, and Inara’s heart swelled at the thought. It was time for a more direct approach. Kaylee could hurt her later. “Then perhaps you should tell her that. Because if I have to listen to her cry her eyes out over you one more night, I might just convince the Captain to kick you out the airlock after all.”

Simon’s eyes twitched as he caught the all-to-serious look in Inara’s. He understood suddenly that she was not joking.

They smiled at Kaylee, as they twirled yet again in her direction.

Inara chuckled when the mechanic bit into yet another strawberry when she noticed them looking at her. “She’s as nervous as you are.” Under her breath, she muttered, “Ai ya, you two.”

“I doubt that,” Simon confessed with a genuinely nervous smile.

“You two have danced around each other for long enough. Even I’m getting frustrated,” Inara admitted with an exasperated sigh. “Time to dance together for a change.” The music trailed away on a low, romantic note. “I will distract River for the next dance.”

Simon swallowed nervously as he stepped away and bowed over her hand.

When River noticed them walking toward her, she stood, an excited look on her face. “Dance again?” her eyes were so hopeful that it pained Simon to tell her no.

“Mal is going to dance with you, sweetie.” Inara took her hand and stood over Mal, who stared into his glass in hopes that he wouldn’t have to dance with the moonbrained girl. He hardly knew the steps himself.

“A dance, Daddy?” River smiled happily at Mal who appeared aghast at her use of the term. His mouth moved in an inaudible exclamation and Inara chuckled lightly. She shooed Simon away, watching with intense curiosity as he hesitantly approached Kaylee.

“Kaylee –“ Simon glanced toward the musicians as they began a slow, mood-setting waltz. Couples filed out onto the dance floor, leaving Simon very much alone with the suddenly shy mechanic. He extended his hand. “Would – you dance with me?”

Kaylee nervously twisted her fingers and declined. “I don’ know the steps, S-Brandon. I’d jus make ya look like –“

He stepped closer and rested a gentle hand on her wrist. “Please?”

She glanced at him through wary eyes and was taken aback when a much larger man stopped beside Simon and addressed her. “This gentleman bothering you, my lady?”

Simon stared at the older man, aghast as laughter bubbled up from Kaylee’s lips for the first time that evening.

“I was just asking the lovely lady for a dance, Sir,” Simon answered a little sharper than he should have. When he possessively dropped his hand atop Kaylee’s, she met his gaze and was astonished at the warmth radiating from his eyes.

“Ah – no. We’re goin’ ta dance.” From then on, Kaylee’s eyes never strayed from Simon.

He led her onto the dance floor as elegantly he had with River and Inara, and bowed a little stiffly over her hand. But as he took her hands, he held her differently than he had his previous partners. They danced closer and one hand closed around her fingers, betraying his more intimate interest in this lady. His other hand rested at the small of her back, a little lower than was truly proper, balancing their weight equally as they twirled in and around the other couples.

Kaylee’s eyes fluttered nervously but he quietly instructed her to match his steps, feel the movement of his body and simply follow. He counted the beats to the music and after a few awkward moments, Kaylee understood and followed him without hesitation. A smile spread across her face and her eyes lit when he looked at her as if she were the only woman in the world. The feel of his hand on her back, his warm breath on her cheek and his bottomless blue eyes gazing at her as if she was the only woman in the world, were enough to make her knees weak.

Inara watched with a pleased look on her face, smiling as she watched Kaylee’s whole body light up with pleasure of finally being held in Simon’s arms. Silently, she hoped he didn’t blow this opportunity. Kaylee’s emotions were already fragile this evening. She didn’t want to see her friend reduced to tears yet again. They’d danced around one another long enough. The whole crew could see it; were amused and annoyed by it.

But as the dance hit its last high point and then the couples came to a stop, Simon bowed over Kaylee’s hand and then lifted it to his lips. His eyes searched hers as he drew her closer and pressed a kiss to her cheek before leading her off the dance floor and toward where they had left Inara, Mal and River.

Much to Simon’s dismay, they only found Inara and as he opened his mouth to inquire about River an older lady, richly attired with jewels dripping like dewdrops against her skin, approached. She extended her hand to Simon, who took it with experienced ease and bowed, offering her a kind smile.

“Excuse me, young man. I would like to steal you away for a dance, if I may.”

Simon’s eyes widened and Inara covered her laugh behind a cough and a delicate hand. The man was getting no rest this evening at all. She could tell he was a breath away from declining, but he was familiar that etiquette dictated he not turn down the lady’s request.

Simon remembered enough of high-society functions to know that when a lady such as this approached, that it would be social suicide to decline. Not that he cared about social standing any longer, but, they had come to this event to find jobs, and so far, all he’d done was dance. The Captain already thought him mostly useless, he needed to prove that he was not.

“It would be an honor –“ Simon began, hesitating in the right place so that the lady could introduce herself.

“Alexandra Bai.” The lady’s eyes sparkled as she smiled at her handsome partner. Out of the corner of her eyes she could see Kaylee gaping a little unladylike. She turned to the younger woman. “Don’t worry, dear. I will return him to your side in no time.”

Kaylee looked away, embarrassed as Simon recognized the name and hastily sought to take her attention from the mechanic.

“Alexandra.” Simon smiled politely and laced her arm through his. “This is a wonderful home you have.” And they were gone, waltzing into the reel as easily and smoothly as he had completed every dance.

Inara and Kaylee stared at his back as Mal and River returned with a plateful of sweets. River pouted prettily at Simon. Now she’d missed two dances.

“Very pretty lady you have.” Alexandra’s eyes twinkled as they danced and she laughed lightly as Simon blushed.

“I – ah – thank you.”

“Other than my desire to meet the most handsome, capable dancer here this evening, I do have an ulterior motive for dragging you away from your lovely lady.”

Simon remained silent, the manners ground into him by his parents coming to the forefront of his mind as they danced. Even with the distracting thought of hearing another call Kaylee ‘his’, he maintained the proper distance and executed the steps to perfection.

“You’re Core-bred.” “I – ah – was raised on the Central Planets, yes.” Simon met her eyes with difficulty.

“It’s a very subtle difference,” she arched her neck, indicating the occupants of the large ballroom, “but its there.”

“I – uh, thank you – I think.”

Alexandra chuckled at his discomfort. “Do you mind if I ask where you –“

“I do.”

Alexandra’s mouth twitched but she said no more. After changing partners along their dance line, she met his eyes. “I have a job for you and your – lady.”

Simon tried not to act surprised. “Oh?”

“Yes, I hear you fly with Malcom Reynolds. He has a good reputation for getting his cargo where it needs to be in a timely fashion.”

Simon fought down the rising panic that accompanied this revelation. Alexandra had clearly done her homework. “Indeed he does.”

“In that case –” As the dance came to an end and Simon bowed over her hand, she slipped a chip into his palm. “Your cargo will be waiting for you in this room. Please do not leave until morning. There will be further instructions awaiting you then.”

“I –“

“You and your – wife,” she glanced at Kaylee as Simon led her back to where Kaylee and River waited. Inara could be seen joining the newest dance with Mal. “ – will leave tomorrow morning with my cargo disguised as your lavish purchases. You will be compensated for your trouble, and the delay in your ship’s departure. Further instructions will be waiting for you tomorrow.”

“I – ah –” Simon bowed over her hand once more before she departed his company with a smile and a wink. “Thank you.”

“Well that was – odd,” Simon said as he took a seat beside Kaylee and slipped the chip into his pocket.

But River was on her feet the moment he’d returned, begging him for another dance.

Kaylee smiled and slipped her hand into his, meeting his eyes with a smile that sent sharp pangs of longing through his heart. “Your cousin wants to dance. Go dance with her.”

Encouraged, he squeezed Kaylee’s hand gently and brought it to his lips. Their eyes locked for a moment before River succeeded in breaking the contact. Simon nodded and took his sister’s hand, twirling her into his arms before they even reached the dance floor.

As the evening came to a close and the last dance was announced, Simon allowed River one last twirl around the floor with an old acquaintance of Mal’s. Simon pulled Kaylee, who was still surrounded by a plate full of strawberries, to her feet and held out his hand, favoring her with his warmest smile. Here, in his social element, he felt like himself, and could treat Kaylee as he wanted to treat her every day. He was nervous, yes, but it was different now.

Soon, they were joined by Mal and Inara, smiling and enjoying themselves for the first time in – well, ever.

Zoe had left with Wash and Jayne, insisting that they needed to be present for the delivery of their cargo; none of them truly comfortable with the lavish surroundings despite how they enjoyed the ogling.

Simon’s determination to keep an eye on his sister was forgotten the moment Kaylee stepped into his arms. The dance was, yet again, a waltz, with odd twisting of the arms Simon called ‘windows’ and though it confused Kaylee terribly, she found it easier to learn the moves while Simon whispered instructions in her ear and held her tightly against his chest.

After the song had ended, Simon kissed River goodnight, assured that she would be safe in Mal and Inara’s company as they returned to the ship.

Simon pulled the chip Alexandra had given to him out of his pocket and took a deep breath. It was a key to one of the most luxurious hotels on the planet; the one that was attached to this very building.

With a nervous smile, he extended his arm to Kaylee, who took it with wide, bright eyes. He’d already filled everyone in on the mysterious cargo, so they wouldn’t wonder why he and Kaylee did not return until morning. Now, he just needed to figure out what he was going to do with his suddenly very Kaylee-filled evening.

TBC

Notes: Anyone familiar with historical dancing might want to know that the last dance of the evening was meant to be The Congress of Vienna, a very intimate waltz.