Here it is the sequel to Driftwood (read that and the first story Scattered to the Wind first so you have a clue what's happening)

Disclaimer: I own nothing. I just play in the 'verse for my own (and hopefully other's) amusement.

Its a happy fic this time (mostly), no real angst. Can I only write angst? Are Mal and Inara ever going to get it on? What happened to the rest of the jam?

Please review

Summary: How come one night can't go according to the gorram plan?

Set nine months after Driftwood.

Aces High

Simon shifts his body carefully, trying not to wake the girl asleep against his chest, her hair spread across him in a tangled mess. But she murmurs something unintelligible and looks up at him with sleepy eyes that make him want to be kissing her.

"Morning," she says sleepily, her hair all in her face.

He leans his head down to kiss her. "Good morning Kaylee."

She lays her head back against his chest. "Hope you're not going to lead Jayne astray tonight."

"Me?" Simon pretends to look aghast. "This may be my turf but I am not letting him get into trouble. He is marrying my sister day after tomorrow remember?" He shudders. "Not that I want to think about that."

Two months before hand River had asked Jayne to marry her. And he'd agreed much to Simon's horror. He had only just got used to them being together in the first place.

Kaylee just grins. "So long as my man behaves."

"Oh I will." He dips his head to kiss her again. "Later."

Zoë stretches lazily in the empty bed, Wash having gone to sort out their landing on Icarus Skyplex in the Osiris system. And there was no small child jumping on her to get up. As much as she loved Mal, he was a handful. In order to fully enjoy what was promising to be an entertaining night out, they had made sure some friends of theirs could look after him before the wedding. She rolls over into Wash's space and wiggles deeper into the covers. She could sleep just a little while longer.

Mal wakes up in a tangle of sheets in his room alone and remembers last night's screaming row with Inara. She had been absolutely livid with him and he can't really remember why now. He really shouldn't have called her a whore again though. He sighs and grabs his shirt. Another day, another job.

Jayne looks down at the girl fast asleep in his bunk and thinks about how the next time she'll be there, will be when she is his wife. He never thought he'd live long enough to find a wife, never thought he'd want one anyway. Womenfolk were just for scratching an itch when he needed to. Now he had one more night out of freedom, he thinks studying the way her eyelashes are resting on her cheeks. Maybe I'll get some trim one last time.

"Don't you dare," River says from the bed without opening her eyes.

That evening Simon stands casually in the cargo bay, half leaning against a stake of crates. He is wearing a smart black suit with a black vest, black shirt and silver tie. In his hands he plays absently with a black trilby hat. He hears the other three men before they come through the door.

"Do you hate us?" Mal says looking argumentative. He is wearing a dark grey suit similar to Simon's with a dark blue shirt and tie, and he does not look happy about it. The hat on his head is at a rakish angle.

"This is my corner of the Black captain. I know what goes here."

Wash saunters over looking quite pleased with his appearance. He has on a brown suit, bright orange shirt and brown bow tie. His hat is tilted far back on his head. "I think we look spiffy."

Mal shoots him a look.

Jayne fidgets with his dark navy suit. He pulls at the navy tie. "How am I supposed to make any sort of play in this?"

Simon gives him his best big brother glare. "Remember it's my sister you're marrying."

Jayne winces and shoves his hat forcibly onto his head. "Remind me to get him so drunk he passes out," he mutters to Mal.

Mal looks at the doctor. "You sure you'll be alright in this system?"

"Feds ain't looking for me anymore." Simon flicks his hat into his head with practised ease, looking far too cool to be their doc. "Trust me."

"Because you're a doctor?" Wash quips.

"Still wish we could have our guns," Jayne is still grumbling.

"You know Icarus has all those gun scanner things. It's respectable." Mal says pulling a face at the last word.

A moment later there is the faint sound of four sets of high heels on grating. The women of Serenity sweep down the stairs in a mass of colour and laughter.

"Oooo look at our boys!" Kaylee squeals. "Ain't they handsome?"

She twirls happily on the spot, and Simon leans back to admire her outfit, a sea green floaty knee length tea-dress with staggeringly high matching colour shoes. She catches his gaze and grins widely.

Wash whistles softly at Zoë who is wearing a tight slinky gold pencil skirt and low cut matching top. Her leather necklace is still round her neck. "Oooo slinky," he says happily.

"Don't they pretty up well?" she says with a kiss for her husband.

"Don't they just?" Inara says smiling softly, but sweeping her eyes over Mal briefly without comment.

She is wearing a scarlet dress similar in style to Kaylee's, low cut and covered in small white polka dots. Mal knows it's a frivolous dress for Inara and wonders exactly what they have planned for tonight.

"You all look lovely ladies," Simon says warmly.

"Yeah yeah, can we get gone?" Jayne growls, fed up with the giggling girls.

River teeters up to him in her high heels, wearing a dark pink, very short dress which make his eyes pop out slightly. "Now Jayne baby behave." She plants a kiss on his nose.

He gives her a hard look that says she will pay for saying that. "Have a good time. See you later." He kisses her firmly, and then pushes her back towards Inara. "Take care of my girl," he says gruffly to the Companion.

"We're only going out for a quiet dinner then we'll come back here. Don't wake us up when you return," Inara says calmly.

Simon kisses Kaylee, whispers something in her ear that makes her giggle, and calls out, "Have a fun time," as the men leave.

Kaylee turns on Inara aghast. "Dinner?"

"Yes dinner." She grins at the disappointment in Kaylee's face. "Then we'll paint this skyplex red don't you think?"

"Can't let them have all the fun," River says linking her arm through Kaylee's.