Part three
Summary:
It's a wedding no one will ever forget…
****
Chapter 1-
The wedding
Summary:
The title says it all
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Simon fidgeted nervously with the buttons on his vest.
"Relax, son. She might take awhile," Shepherd said warmly as he walked towards the altar.
They had been on Kerry for a few days. The Nimitz's were kind enough to help out with meals and the like while they still stayed on their ship.
What little money they had saved up went to the church they were using for the ceremony and the one night away for Simon and Kaylee.
Everyone except Inara, Kaylee, and Mal were in the chapel. Jayne was seated on a pew all by himself and Wash and Zoe were on one on the other side.
River walked over to Simon. "Simon," she began softly.
"What is it, mei mei?"
"You look nice."
He smiled. "You look beautiful too."
"I never said that you looked beautiful."
He laughed. "Brat."
She looked down at her fidgeting hands before returning her eyes to her brother. "I know you've been feeling rejected lately like you aren't wanted or needed. But you are. You'll always be because you're my brother. I'm getting older and the kind of comfort and love I need is different from the kind you provide."
"I know that. It's a little…difficult for me. Since I took you away from there, I've been the one to be there for you. But since you've been with him," he sighed.
"You don't approve, I know."
"He's done a lot for us, you in particular. For that I'll never be able to thank him, but you're my little sister. No one will ever be good enough for you."
"Like the time you threw Thomas out of the house by the collar because you caught him kissing me."
"You were ten and he was fifteen!"
"I like older men."
"Apparently."
She playfully punched him. "You're the brat."
"Not as bratty as you are."
She stuck her tongue out and then gave him a quick hug. "I love you, Simon."
"I love you too."
River knew that Kaylee and Inara would be a bit longer, so she wandered over to the blonde and his wife.
"May I sit?" she inquired politely.
"Of course," Wash grinned.
She sat beside him. He was busy feeling their baby kick. She watched the light in his eyes flicker every time she did.
"Would you like to?" Zoe offered.
"Really?"
"Yeah really."
She cautiously set her hand on Zoe's belly. A second later she felt the baby. "Whoa…"
"Neat isn't it?" Wash asked.
"Yes."
"You know this reminds me of my wedding," he added.
"How? Our weddin' was the two of us and a justice of the peace named Rocco."
"Well…it's a wedding…"
River giggled. Zoe smirked and shook her head.
"I never said that my association was good, I just said that it reminded of our wedding!" he defended.
"It's almost time," River announced as she gracefully stood and joined Simon.
The heavy doors creaked as they opened. Inara, looking as stunning as ever, made her way towards Simon.
They couldn't afford any music, so they'd just have to walk down the aisle without it.
She hugged him and then stood across from River. Mal and Kaylee walked down next.
Kaylee looked amazing—she actually washed her face—in her dress with her hair brushed out, cascading down her shoulders prettily.
Mal looked uncomfortable. River bit back a laugh at the look on his face. He was in that awful tux he wore whenever he had to schmooze with rich people.
He walked Kaylee up and then gave her a hug before nodding to Simon. He joined Jayne with a little smile and a wink in River's direction. She smiled back with fireflies dancing around in her stomach.
"Dearly beloved we are gathered her today to join these two in holy matrimony. We are here to witness a vow of eternal love exchanged between Simon Tam and Kaywinnit Lee Frye."
He turned to Simon. "Do you, Simon Tam, take Kaywinnit Lee Frye to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"Do you Kaywinnit Lee Frye-"
"Yes! I mean I do!"
"Do you have the rings?"
"Yes," River gave them to Simon.
"These rings symbolize your commitment to one another."
Kaylee practically broke his hand off when she slid the ring onto his finger. She was just a mite excited.
"If anyone objects to this holy union, speak now or forever hold your peace."
Kaylee glared at everyone as if to say, "Object and I'll kill you."
"By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you-"
She grabbed Simon and kissed him before Shepherd could even finish.
"Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter to the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now you will feel no loneliness, for each of you will be a companion to the other. Now you are two bodies, but there is only one life before you. Now, you may kiss the bride."
She smiled sheepishly and they kissed again.
Inara hugged Kaylee first and then River hugged her as well.
"We're sisters now," she whispered.
"I know! It's sooo shiny!"
Kaylee hugged Shepherd and then hugged Mal and even Jayne. Jayne's hand hung awkwardly over her back.
"Er, congrats I guess…" he muttered uncomfortably.
Wash got up and hugged her next before moving to Simon to talk to him about married life.
"Welcome to the sacred circle of married men," he began with a rough thump on the back. "Have you ever won an argument before?"
"Yes what does-"
"Remember what that feels like, 'cause it isn't ever going to happen again. Say 'yes dear' a lot, they like that. Oh and don't mess up."
"Mess what up?"
"Anything. Ever. She'll blame you for everything already, so a real mess up is just ammo she doesn't need."
Mal laughed. "You're givin' him tips?"
"I might as well."
"I got one. Make sure your wife don't knock you out with lipstick and then attempt to steal your ship 'n kill you in the process."
Simon smiled. "Thank you, Captain. I'll keep that one in mind."
"Oh and be prepared to tick her off. Don't believe her if she says that she isn't mad, 'cause trust me they are."
"Wash…doc…" Zoe called.
"I'm just giving him some pointers, dear!"
"It ain't that, husband. I think that I just went into labor."
Everyone stopped talking at once. Wash and Simon darted to her side. Mal also walked over to the pew.
"Are you sure?" Simon asked.
"Let me see, little bouts of pain are showin' up every few minutes and I'm pretty sure that my water just broke, so yeah I'm sure!"
"But ain't she just seven months along?" Mal asked.
"She is…" Simon quickly checked. "And she's also in labor."
"Gantian heng mu de fo qizhong kuo zhu-xingshi tian shangbian er!" Wash cried.
"Remain calm. I've done this before. We need to get her back to the ship," Simon said evenly. Wash took one arm and he took the other.
Mal moved in front of them to get the door. When he opened it, a line of at least ten men was outside waiting for them. They raised their guns and Mal swiftly shut and locked the door.
"What the hell? Mal! What are you doing? My wife is in labor!" Wash shouted.
"We can't go that way. Let's try the back door," he responded. He looked at River. She nodded, seeing the situation in his mind, and checked the back door.
She opened the doors to another line of men. They were surrounded and pinned down in the small church. She returned to the front, shaking her head grimly.
"What is goin' on, Sir?" Zoe panted as another contraction hit.
"We're sorta-"
"We're surrounded by men," River finished for him.
"A lot of armed men," Mal continued.
"We need to get out of here, Captain…" Simon gritted out. The situation was bad already. She was in premature labor and he didn't even have a med kit.
Mal peeked out through one of the stained glass windows. He saw none other than Dylan in a wheel chair talking to his men with another fifteen or so arriving.
"We're so humped..."
(Gantian heng mu de fo qizhong kuo zhu-xingshi tian shangbian er- Sweet fat mother of Buddha in the pig-sexing heaven above!)
