Chapter One

Jayne rolled over in his sleep, or rather, he tried to roll over. There was something soft and warm in his way. He took a deep breath and smiled. That was a girl beside him. Couldn't remember who she was, but she felt good curled in at his side, so he let her stay there. Must've been some party last night, he mused, as dreams reached up to claim him once more.

Down the other end of Serenity, just around the corner from her infirmary lay another unconscious couple. Legs tangled, disheveled clothing, hands resting wherever sleep had dropped them.

Slowly Simon managed to rouse himself. His first thoughts were as always, for his sister. Had she slept all right? Had the nightmares come back? Had she been calling for him and he hadn't heard her? Simon listened keenly for the slightest whisper from outside his room. His other senses came alive and he became aware of a weight draped over him… and the smell of strawberries.

A slight frown creased Simon's face and he looked down. Kaylee was sprawled on top of him, her strawberry scented hair a fan across his chest. Panic reared its ugly head. His heart speed up, his breath caught in his throat. Simon's mind went blank trying to figure out exactly how she'd ended up there.

He looked around to confirm that they were in his room. They were both dressed, well mostly dressed. What had happened last night? As with the only other time he'd woken up with Kaylee in his arms, there had been drinking… a lot of drinking. That time they had woken up still in the bar and then Simon had promptly put his foot in it. If he could help it, that wouldn't happen again. He desperately needed to gather his wits before she woke up too.

Unfortunately thinking was not exactly Simon's forte when Kaylee was around, especially a half naked, sweet smelling, soft Kaylee who was lying on him. He stifled a groan. Allowing his thoughts to linger on her was a sure way to lose whatever brain cells he had left. He immediately tensed. If he wanted her to stay asleep till he could formulate a coherent sentence, Simon couldn't afford to make a sound… or even breathe for that matter.

But it was too late. Kaylee's mop of hair moved, her face burrowing deeper into the warmth of his chest. Simon looked down in terror as she took a deep breath and pulled heavily lidded eyes up to greet his.

"Mornin'," Her husky voice called softy to him.

Simon thought it was a Siren's song, the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard. He was momentarily stunned speechless, but Kaylee's gentle prodding brought him back to himself.

"Ain't ya gonna say good mornin' to me?" she teased.

"Of course, good morning." Simon blushed, slipping into manners born and bred of the aristocratic upper class. "Did you sleep well?"

Kaylee's grin widened. "Oh I slept fine. I'm sure you're gonna have a few bumps and bruises though." At Simon's bewildered expression she laughed. "Don't you remember nothin' from last night?"

"I remember drinking…" Simon said tentatively. He didn't want to insult her if they'd done something he should be remembering.

Kaylee giggled again, deciding to take pity on him. "Well there was a fair amount of that done by everyone. New Athens has a fine drink in Ambrosia. How's your head?"

Furrowing his brow, Simon realized that given the amount of alcohol he had consumed last night he should be feeling like death warmed up, but he didn't even have a headache.

"Ambrosia don't have any unpleasant side effects, but its so potent Alliance don't let it be exported off planet," she explained.

Simon smiled sheepishly. "Well at least I didn't fall asleep in my cups again."

"Yeah you waited till you got back on the boat to do that." Kaylee's effervescent grin was back.

"I passed out?"

"Yup. Had to get the Sheppard to help me drag you back to your bunk."

"Oh," Simon said. He didn't remember that at all, so hopefully he hadn't made too big of an ass out of himself in his inebriated state. "That was very kind of you."

"Told the Sheppard I'd take care of you, but I guess I passed out before I got very far," her smile had turned sheepish now.

Relief flooded Simon's mind. He hadn't done anything that might embarrass either of them.

Unfortunately Kaylee saw the emotions seep through to his expression. "Don't worry. You ain't done nothin' to be ashamed for." She snapped. Every time they got the teensiest bit closer he came along and pushed her away. Sometimes she didn't know why she bothered. Likely there were a whole lot of other men out there who might take some interest in her. It was just that none of them were as shiny as her starched Doctor from the Core.

She got up to leave. She couldn't face giving up on him right now, but she couldn't face his rejection either.

"Kaylee wait!" Simon's arm shot out to stop her, hanging onto her wrist like a lifeline. Say something good. Say something she'll want to hear, he urged himself. "It's just that… if anything happened between us… I'd like to be able to remember it."

Kaylee's eyes softened at once. Her knees got so weak she had to sit on the edge of the bed. That was exactly the sort of thing she needed to hear. But then, Simon always did that. He'd swallow his foot whole and when she was good and mad he'd say the most amazing thing to make her forget her anger with him.

"What sort of things would you want to remember?" she asked, her voice going all breathless, her eyes pleading with him not to chicken out this time.

"Well I-" Simon's eyes fell on her beautiful lower lip. She was biting it like she was nervous, as though his answer meant the 'verse to her. It meant just as much to him. He found himself rubbing a thumb over that full, luscious lip, his palm cupping her jaw. How had his hand gotten up there? "Kaylee," he murmured her name and felt himself draw her in for a kiss.

It wasn't so much the conscious thought that he wanted to hiss her, that was always there, rather it was the letting go of all the reasons why he shouldn't kiss her. That was what Kaylee did. The light that constantly shone from her burned away all thoughts of reason and propriety. His mouth settled tentatively over hers, drawing in with exquisite care what his thumb had stroked only moments ago. "Kaylee" he breathed against her lips.

She stiffened slightly in his arms. "Don't speak Simon. Don't say a gorram word," she begged, afraid that he would ruin the incredible moment they were having. She slid her arms around him. She didn't think she could bear it if he pulled away this time. His hands tangled into her hair and she felt him relax into her. Kaylee almost breathed a sigh of relief. This was finally it!

Simon lowered his mouth to her neck, inhaling the scent of strawberries and engine oil, a smell that was uniquely Kaylee's own. He feathered kisses down the line of her jaw, all the while his head buzzing with the knowledge that this was exactly where he wanted to be. He wasn't going to let anyone screw it up, least of all himself. "Don't worry Kaylee, I won't say a word."

Jayne became aware of a tapping on his chest. Not so much a tapping, more like a flicking, he thought. A satisfied grin stole over his features. That's right, he'd taken one of them village girls into his bed. He opened his eyes. He was fully prepared to give her another dose of what she'd gotten last night if that's what her game was.

Her face was turned away from him, looking down his body, but he would bet she was a beauty. She had long brown hair and a fine looking figure, if a little on the skinny side. And from what he could tell she was still pretty damn naked.

"Enjoying yourself?" he growled, wanting her to know he was awake.

The girl slowly turned her head, eyes coming up to meet his and a goofy grin plastered on her face. Jayne's heart almost stopped. His good mood evaporated in an instant.

"Good morning zhang fu."

Jayne was staring down into the moonbrained face of River "stick you with a knife" Tam.

Translations
Zhang fu - Husband