Author's Notes:

Yeah, there's more than nine. More like eleven, and the epilogue. Ah well.

You know the drill. Feedback at kaylee@kikiroxxorz.com is appreciated. Also, for timeline purposes, I am George Lucas. I worked backwards. This takes place immediately preceding the first part. So, I suppose, you should read them:

2, 3, 4, 5, 1, 6, 7, 8, 9 if you're new to the series.

A somewhat happy ending. Weird? I think so.

Warnings, etc:

Warnings from the previous La Cienega Just Smiled stories:

Read with caution. There's some topical matter, namely who's paired with whom, that might be offensive. Any problems can be directed to my dear and fluffy muse, Ryan Adams. He sings, I write.

"Now I hold you close in the back of my mind, feels so good, but damn, it makes me hurt

I’m too scared to know how I feel about you now

La cienega just smiles and says “I’ll see you ‘round.”

Now I hold you close in the back of my mind

Raise my glass cause either way I’m dead

Neither of you really help me to sleep anymore

One breaks my body and the other breaks my soul

La cienega just smiles and waves goodbye."

~Ryan Adams, La Cienega Just Smiled

***

There’s a long road ahead. There’s tears and laughter, misunderstandings and harsh words, kisses and cuddles and vows exchanged in a field, and in the end, a Tempest. There’s a long road ahead, but in the end, it will all turn out good.

***

“So, li’l one, your brother’s comin’ back, is he?” River regards Mal, considering how best to answer. “The long and winding road will lead him back to her heart,” she replies, an affirmative. Mal shakes his head. “Ready to fly, there, li’l one?” “Are you?” “Ready as I’ll ever be, I ‘spect.” “Then we should probably tell Wash that now is not the greatest or most convenient time to decide to try and make little Washes, and that he should get his lazy ass to the cockpit.” Under normal circumstances, Mal would be repulsed by what his resident psychic genius just told him, but he’s so happy to have some semblance of normalcy returning to his ship that he doesn’t even notice.

***

I never imagined I would be so impatient to return to a dirty ship full of crooks. I have had my things packed for three days, since I received the wave from River, asking me to come home. Since then, I have spoken to Kaylee. She explained to me how she felt—about not being good enough, about having to try too hard—and I explained to her that I loved her for who she was—Kaylee, and unafraid to be such. I told her that I would take it slow, that we would talk things through, take life one step at a time, and never let our lives become as complicated as they were again. When Mal finally dragged her away, she told me that she loved me, but was gone before I could respond.

***

River is sittin’ cross-legged on my bed, watchin’ me clean my bunk. “Ten days,” she reminds me. “I want everythin’ to be perfect, is all,” I tell her. She grabs my wrist. “No, Kaylee.” I look at her, confuse. “Whadda ya mean, no?” “Don’t you remember? Trying to be perfect is what hurt you last time. Simon is willing to give you a second chance. Be Kaylee, it’s easier on everyone.” I kiss her forehead. “You’re right,” I tell her. “Simon really don’t care if my room’s a little messy.” “He’s going to throw your clothes on the floor anyway,” she replies. I laugh. “I’m gonna miss ya, River.” “Not going anywhere.” “I know, but…” “Nothing’s changing.” “Nothin’s changin’.” She’s quiet after that, and I lean back with her head in my lap, wonderin’ how I ended up feelin’ so bad for such a little girl. “I felt bad for you,” she whispers.