Midday Moon, Midnight Sun

Chapter Three: The First Clue.

"You haven't the first idea how unforgiving this universe has become and I will not

allow you to learn at my expense."

--Tyr Anasazi

A/N hey all I finally have chappie three cause Ive written it in between doing stuff at work. I hope you all enjoy it!

Dedication: To Manda because she reads my fanfiction! and because I love her.

OOOOOO

She hadn't seen him since what she had come to term as the infamous breakfast. That was two weeks ago. She had waited for him every night since and by the end of the two week mark exhaustion claimed her and she rested her head on the heavy wooden table and was asleep within minutes. That was how Mal found her.

OOOOOOO

Mal was getting clausterphobic from spending sleepless nights in his cabin and decided that he had had enough of avoiding the rest of his crew. He ignored the part of his brain that said he was tired of avoiding a certain genius mechanic and prepared to drink said genius mechanic out of his head when he walked in the dining area and saw her sleeping, her head pillowed on her arms and her golden brown hair partially obscuring his face.

A little piece of his soul was lost to her at the sight, and he walked over and sat down next to her, contemplating what, if anything, he should do next. She chose that moment to open her eyes.

He started. "Hey." He said lamely.

Surprise flickered briefly before a sleepy (though no less warm) smile spread across her face.

"Heya Cap'n."

"What are you doing here Little Kaylee?" She winced at the sound of the usually welcome endearment and hoped he didn't notice.

"Couldn't sleep," she replied out of habit. He cocked an eyebrow at her.

"Seems to me you were sleepin just fine."

She ducked her head to hide her blush.

Kaylee blushing? Mal felt a chuckle rise in his throat but refrained from letting it escape. Captains did not chuckle. Especially in front of their cute mechanics.

"Cap'n?" her voice seemed hesitant.

"Yeah?" Caution.

"You stormed off mighty quick the other day at breakfast. Me and everyone were just wonderin if you're okay. You haven't been yourself."

He stiffened visibly and Kaylee brushed aside the hurt that accompanied his gesture.

"Don't go worryin your head over it Little Kaylee. Just had some stuff to work through."

Didn't do one bit of good either. He thought bitterly.

"And, did you work through it?" She didn't know what had prompted her to ask such a forward question and regretted it the moment it came out of her mouth, especially when he looked her dead in the eyes with a look she'd never seen before.

"Yes" he said and crushed his lips to hers and a kiss that shook them both.

OOOOOOO

On separate parts of the ship two people awoke at the same time, breathing shallow and hearts beating as though they'd run a marathon.