And now that Simon has calmed down…
Here is part two, because you all asked so nicely, and because I did kinda promise. Perhaps if I find the time somewhere in my increasingly busy schedule I will write I third chapter wherein the rest of the crew give their thoughts on the whole thing. No idea when that might be posted, though.
They lay curled together in her hammock, the engine thrumming quietly around them. Simon was silent now, for which Kaylee was grateful. She didn't think she'd ever seen him so mad.
"Maybe if you—" she started.
"If I start talking, I'll just get angry again, and I don't want to yell at you too."
"I don't mind none. You need to talk about it. I don't mind listenin'," she tried to assure him.
"Alright, but you've been warned." She smiled encouragingly. "It's just," he started, "that I grew up thinking that they loved us. They gave us everything we wanted; always encouraged us; and then, after River left, it was like she had never existed. I thought at first it was because they missed her so much that they didn't want to be reminded that she wasn't there, but then, after a few months Father started to get angry whenever I mentioned her name. It was as if I was enough. As if they had never wanted her and were glad she was gone. Father started to push me more and more after that. I suppose I hadn't really wanted to consider the reality until now. At first, I was just so concerned with getting her out, and then all I could think about was keeping her safe. I didn't have time to think about our parents, except to resent them for not helping. I've carried that anger for so long; once I started letting it out, I couldn't stop." He kissed her on the forehead. "I'm sorry you had to hear it."
"Ah, honey; no cause to be sorry. You didn't wrong me none. Was your father who wronged you."
"Perhaps, but I wasn't exactly the best son in the 'verse either. Maybe we just both failed at our jobs."
"Well, matters not now if you were a good son. You've been a great brother. What she would have done without you? If'n your folks didn't want her, than you did what you had to. You're all she has."
"When did you get so wise?" he asked.
"Been hangin' round you too much. Starting to sound like some Core girl."
"Well," said Simon with a laugh, "we can't have that. Never did like the Core girls very much. They never spoke their minds."
"Well then, don't see much of a problem here, now do ya?" She was laughing now too.
"No problem at all." He kissed her soundly on the mouth and Kaylee promptly forgot what she was going to say.
"Thank you, for listening," he whispered.
"Welcome." They'd just joined lips again when the comm system came on.
"Inara's shuttle just landed. We all ready to go, Kaylee? Like to get off this rock as quick as we can," Mal's voice cracked over the loudspeaker.
Sighing, Kaylee reached out with her foot in a practiced move to hit the reply button. "Yep, Capt'n, she's all ready."
A pause. "You all ready too?"
Kaylee took a look at Simon. He nodded at her.
"That's a yes too, Capt'n." She flicked the link off,
A minute later she felt the ship leave ground. It was good to be headed back out to the Black.
"Promise me something?" Simon asked,
"Anything."
"Promise me we will never come back here. Ever."
She smiled. "I'll be sure to tell the Capt'n that. Don't think he'll have much to argue with."
"Good." Simon let his eyes drift closed. Smiling, Kaylee curled up next to him once more.
"Love you," she whispered.
He smiled back. "I love you too."