Simon wandered alone through the marketplace. Not even River liked him at the moment—she'd called him a boob. She was right. Every time he and Kaylee spent any amount of time alone together, he said something stupid and Kaylee would disappear in a huff.
His eye was caught by a stall in the corner. Maybe a present would help smooth things over...
Simon cautiously approached the engine room. He heard a voice, a male voice, drifting down the corridor. He stopped just outside the door and saw Kaylee lying in a hammock, listening to the recording Zoe had found in the dead guy's hand.
He took a deep breath. "Kaylee," he called softly.
She turned her head slightly and shot him a glare.
"I know, I've got some nerve showing up here. I just wanted to say I'm sorry." He sighed and shook his head. He spoke again, looking intently at the ground. "I get nervous when I'm with you. I try so hard not to sound like an idiot that I always wind up saying something insulting." He paused and looked up at her. "The truth is you're a beautiful woman. You're sweet and cheerful and optimistic and I'd choose you over every other girl in the world, no matter how many of them there are."
Kaylee's face softened and she eventually smiled at him. "See, it ain't all that hard to say something nice."
Simon smiled back with a half-hearted chuckle. "You have no idea." He stepped closer to the hammock and handed her a small box.
Kaylee looked up at him in wonder. "You got me a present?"
"I did."
Kaylee set aside the recording device and opened the box. Her face lit up. "Strawberries!"