River giggled to herself as she flew Serenity. She had a secret! And what a big one it was!!! But, then, she usually had several secrets floating around her head. But, still, this was a big secret! Of course, Simon had a rather large secret, too, hidden in his pocket. But, this one was Simon and Kaylee's secret! And, it was in Kaylee right now! Growing, by the hour gaining size to it. She couldn't tell what it was yet. That was only a few days off. She languidly flew Serenity toward Persephone. It hung in front of her, a majestic jewel in the vasty nothingness that was most of the 'verse. Mal had been waved by Badger, who finally had a job for them. HAH!!! Probably had been screwing up his courage to ask for the "Great Hero's" and the "Evil Liars" that they were known as, depending on who you believed. Namely, the Parliament or the average Joe who had heard the Miranida wave. Well, it was an offer he couldn't refuse. It was the first job they had had since Chang. And Ptah. And Billy... NO!!!! She couldn't let her thoughts stray to that! If she did, her grief would overwhelm her. Instead, she focoused on the two events that were of intrest to her. One was Cassandra, going into her room. Where her and Kaylee's little 'gift' for that hwoon-danh. Nothing much, just a little oil from a busted line, set off by a pressure tap on the ladder. She grinned to herself. Okay, a lot of oil! The other was Mal. Knocking on Inara's shuttle door. He didn't intend for it to happen. But nothing ever goes according to plan!!! *** She heard a knock on her shuttle door, and said, "come in!" out of habit. Nothing strange about that, it was probably Kaylee come to speak about some new conquest with Simon. Or, on the other end of the spectrum, her nefarious revenge on Cassandra. So, when Mal came in and just stood there, staring at her...was that...shyly!!! Yes, it was. So, mister confidence his own self was feeling a mite shy around her. Well, this was new! "Um, Mal. Please, come in." He definately was nervous around her now. Wonders! "Uh, 'Nara, hi, I was...uh, jus' wonderin' on lil' Kaylee. Y'know... her'n Cassandra. Seems they're a mite...tetchy, 'round eachother. Jus' wonderin' if I should brace for shootin' from one of 'em." Inara sighed. As always, Mal was oblivious to matters of the heart. Maybe, thats why it took so long for him to own up to his feelings for her. "They're fine, Mal. They had a little...talk. They had had an argument over Simon. Now, it seems to be all cleared up between them. But...I respectfully suggest that you leave Cassandra on Persephone. It would probably be for the best." Mal looked nervously around for a moment, then relaxed. "Yeah, your right. I don't owe her nothin' no more. And it don't help that shes been tearing my mechanic in two. Yeah, your right, 'Nara, s'probably for the best. I, uh...I..." "Yes, Mal?" she asked innocently. She didn't know who started it, just that she didn't want it to stop. He was across the room in a heart beat, kissing her passionately on the lips, hands running through her hair. She put her hands on his shoulders, gripping them tightly. She didn't want him to stop, but she so wanted him to take it further. She felt more than heard the crash, but she did hear the scream. DAMN! And just when things had started to get moving, too! Mal stepped back from her, mumbling something incomprehensible, probably about going to see about the crash and scream. He bowed himself out. Inara sighed, then followed him out. She could just smell Kaylee and River behind all this! *** Everything was ready. Just a few more seconds... Bitch had it coming, she did! Simon was in the Dining Room, trying desperately not to pace. She and River had planned another thing...but Simon's little announcement fit in perfectly with their plans! He had asked Kaylee to come to the Dining Room at Seven, for some reason or other. She sauntered over to him, and sat herself down. Right in his lap. He didn't seem too surprised, as she had done much more than sit in his lap! If he had wanted to say anything, it was lost when she kissed him passionately on the lips, plundering him of his breath. He sank into it, his carefully laid plans in ruins. Three... Two... One... Boom. And out comes lil' miss gol'digger herself (River had filled her in on the details of her and Cassandra's little "talk"), hair a mess of oil, clothes ruined by the oil that adhered to it. There were streaks of oil running down her pretty face. Weren't pretty no more! Kaylee smiled into Simon's mouth. Ah, revenge was sweet! Jayne came out, Vera strapped on, followed by Zoe, then Mal, and, finally, Inara. They all looked at Cassandra, who was greasy and wild-eyed. Jayne took a look, smiled, then said, "I'll be in my bunk." Zoe put a hand to her face to hide her smile. Mal and Inara looked from Cassandra to Kaylee, then back again. Mal said nothing. Inara followed suit. Simon stopped his smooching long enough to whisper to Kaylee, "Remind me never to get on your bad side." Kaylee grinned evily. "Yeah, hun, well, me'n River both. Just don't ever meet up with any more folks like her." "Oh, never, xin gan. Kaylee, meili, bao bei, I have to ask-" Rivers voice crackled over the comm, "We are nearing the landing zone, Mal." The ship lurched as she hit atmo, and Mal grabbed onto Inara to help her keep her balance. He kept his hand on her waist for a long minute as the grav-drive adjusted itself to the new enviornment. Mal turned to the oil soaked girl. "Cassandra, you'd best take a shower. I'm afraid that you're findin' your berth here." Kaylee piped up, "No good, Cap'n. The showers broke, I need to buy the part in Persephone." Mal looked at her, and Inara giggled a bit. Simon whispered to her, "Now that was a stroke of genius." Kaylee giggled. "Naw, that'n was River's idea" Simon smiled, but his heart fell. He may have to take a few more weeks to screw up his courage to ask her again. Still, at least he had a good reason not to ask. He smiled into her shoulder, not looking at the girl who had suffered his lovers wrath. Now, he would have to wait to ask her to become so much more. This had seemed the best time, afterall. He had had it since Ptah, but grief and madness had stopped him from asking. He had had the ring since Boros. Seen it in a pawn shop, just laying there. A saphire set in gold, a ring to bind them together forever. Ah, well. All will happen in time. *** The door to the 'bay opened up, revealing Badger and two goons. He was smiling. "Ah, Mal, glad you could come! What 'is, 'en?" He said in his London cabby-mans accent, watching as Cassandra, still streaked in oil, came down the ramp, holding a suit case filled with money and dirty clothes. River watched her from the balcony, making her go a mite faster than usual. Badger looked at her for a long moment before turning back to Mal. "Well, c'mon, we musn't dilly-dally, lads. Lets go, an' let me tell you about this here job." He and Mal had agreed about this over the wave. He would speak his piece in Mals ship. This meant that he trusted Mal enough to risk his life in his territory. Badger stepped up, followed by his two goons, who placed their weapons on the floor of the 'bay. They followed Mal into the Dining Room. *** River was throwing a fit. Simon tried to calm her, but it was hard to do it alone. Everyone else was at the meeting, even Kaylee. River ran around the infirmary, knocking over Simon's doo-dads and thing-bobs (as Mal called the hospital stuff). Finally, he had to sedate her. After he had given her a smoother, he sat back against the wall. He knew that he could never ask Kaylee's hand in marriage without messing it up. So, he had long ago written a note, and it was hidden in the box that hid the ring. Wait...why should he wait? He wouldn't live forever, an dneither would Kaylee. And, though he didn't plan to die anytime soon, why should he not grab what happiness he could? Steeling his resolve, he got up. It would only take a few minutes, River would be fine! He walked slowly toward his destiny and doom. *** "Right, so 'ere's 'ow 'tis. I need you, Mal, to take you'n your ship to Whitefall, get a cargo from Patcience. This seem allright to you?" Mal smiled. Yes, this may just turn out fine. "Yes, Badger, I believe that this could-" "STOP! YOU ARE ALL BOUND BY LAW!!!" Badgers two goons pulled out concealed guns, pistols, very small. Pointing them at Mal and the crew, who, as a mild oversight on Mal's part, were all unarmed, including hisownself. Yes, a mild oversight. The feds looked real menacing, or tried to, with their itty-bity guns. Nothin' like Vera, but, then, Mal was pretty sure that Jayne was compensating for something... Ah, no matter, anyway. The feds, who once had posed as Badgers goons, waved their tiny pistols around. Mal guessed that they each held seven shots, give or take. Kaylee looked a mite scared, as the last time a fed had been waving a gun around, she had been shot. Jayne looked at their lil' guns all dismissive like. Yup, nothin' like Vera. Zoe and Inara looked for openings to hurt the men who had so rudely interupted their little talks. Badger nervously fingered the edge of his bowler hat. Suddenly, Simon stepped out from the hall, a hand drawing something out of his pocket. "Kaylee, would you come with-" The fed didn't wait. Threat, he was pulling a gun on them. Casultys were acceptable. He turned, and emptyed five bullets into the doctor. Simon gaped at him for a moment, still drawing his 'gun'. The fed emptyed the rest of his clip, two shots, into Simon. The young doctor fell to his knees, blood bubbling up out of his mouth. He fell, backwards, still clutching the little black box. Kaylee screamed. Zoe reached back and pulled a knife from the rack next to her. She threw it into the neck of the fed who hadn't emptied his clip into Simon. He gurgled, then slumped against the wall. The remaining fed took one look at him, then ran off. Zoe and Jayne went off after him. Kaylee knelt next to Simon, tears streaming down her face. She had just gotten him back from the shadow of death, would she have to lose himnow? Weakly, he made a motion with his right hand, the one that still clutched the box. Kaylee understood, and took it. She opened it. Inside was a note. And, under the note, a ring. With a little saphire set in a golden band. With shaking hands, she opened the note, and read it aloud. "My dearest Kaylee, I am afraid that I could find no way to find the courage to ask you this, as I know that I would somehow mess up the question, the most important question I will ever ask you. I had hoped to ask you in some grand way, to tell you how I love you. I have learned, though, that if you ever want to know how much I love you, you need only look into my eyes, and see the love there. My only real regret, besides not finding the words with my voice, is having no way to give you what you richly deserve, and I fear that all I have to give is myself. I can only hope that that will be enough. So, before I meander on some more, I will ask you. Kaywinnit Lee Frye, will you Marry me?" Kaylee felt someones arms around her. It didn't matter. Inara was the one who was hugging her. "Shh, shh, mei-mei. It'll be alright. We'll make him better, you'll see. He's strong, he'll pull through." Kaylee continued to sob. "Oh, 'Nara, its not okay. I had meant to tell him on the way, but now its too late!!! Inara...I'm pregnant. I'm bearing Simon's child!"

TBC