Author's Notes:

Epilogue...either later this morning or this afternoon. Promise.

You know the drill. Feedback at kaylee@kikiroxxorz.com is appreciated. Also, for timeline purposes, I am George Lucas. I worked backwards.

2, 3, 4, 5, 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 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

***

I wake hours before anyone else. We’re not even going to get Simon until ten thirty, but Kaylee is dreaming and her dreams are better than mine. I sit, guiltlessly, for two hours, twelve minutes and seventeen seconds, absorbing all of Kaylee’s happiness, until Mal comes, sleepy and contented, from Inara’s shuttle. “No shipboard relationships,” I remind him chirpily. “Wassat, li’l one?” “Never mind.” I grin at him. “Thank you for remembering to put your pants back on,” I say, enjoying the look of horror spreading across his face.

***

There’s only one thing that Mal is worried about. He’s worried that, no matter how nice the doc is bein’ now, he’ll come back to Serenity and break Kaylee’s heart. He’s getting used to the lights in her eyes and he ain’t too keen on the idea of losin’ them ‘gain. Inara comes up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Everything will be fine,” she murmurs, as if she can read his mind.

*** I have been pacing the docks for nearly an hour. Patience is rarely my strong suit, and now is no exception. I have politely rejected several offers of passage, and I have settled for perusing the bordering shops. I am studying some interesting ancient medical textbooks when I hear a familiar voice. “Oh, look at the colours!” Smiling, I abandon the books and creep up behind her, shushing River. “Boo,” I whisper in her ear. She squeals in delight, a sound I had almost forgotten I adored. “Hey, you,” I say fondly, dropping a kiss on her forehead. “Hey, you,” she says back. I address the rest of the crew and we start back to Serenity, with Kaylee chirping in my ear and River tagging along behind us. “Kaylee,” I say, interrupting her in mid-sentence. “I’ve got a present for you.” From my pocket I produce one of the gifts I bought for her: a green and pink angel on a silver chain. She runs ahead to show Inara and I turn, offering my hand to River. “Thanks, mei-mei,” I say softly. She doesn’t respond, just walks up beside smiles. It strikes me that this is one of the first real smiles I’ve seen from her in months.

***

It’s after supper now. We’re all in the common area, just like old times. Jayne even brung out his guitar an’ he’s playin’ it. I’m on the couch, leanin’ against Simon, with his arms ‘round me. River’s got her head in my lap, an’ I’m startin’ to think that this is where I’m really meant to be, ‘cause it sure do make me happy.