"Hello Simon."

Simon looked behind him to see that River hadn't moved closer. Mal was over at the intercom. He called all crew to the cargo bay. Simon turned back as he saw them file in.

"Your mother and I have missed you."

"Now that were not wanted right Father."

"Now, Simon, we are family. We can work this out I know we can."

Simon felt Kaylee come up to his left side. "There is nothing to work out. You left us to the wolves without a backward glance."

"That's not true Simon. You and your sister..."

"So you do remember her. I thought perhaps you had forgotten the child you abandoned to get butchered by some Alliance scientists. Isn't that sweet that you remember her."

"Don't you talk to me that way."

"I will talk to you anyway I want. This is Kaylee by the way." He pointed to each crew member in turn, "That's our captain Malcolm Reynolds. That's Jayne. That's Zoe and her husband Wash. That's our cook Jia comforting your daughter, and next to them is Shepherd Book." He turned back to his father. "They have shown us more loyalty and love than you ever did. They are our family now."

"Are you sure you speak for your sister?"

Simon glanced behind to see River burrow deeper into Jia's embrace. "I'm sure. Get out of here. You're not welcome."

Simon turned to leave. His father went to grab Simon's shoulder when Kaylee punched him in the face. He went down.

Behind them Mal nudged Jayne, "That's my girl."

Simon put his arm around Kaylee and led her back onto Serenity. Mr. Tam got up and saw Mal shrug his shoulders as he closed the door.

Simon went straight to his sister. She let go of Jia and hugged her brother fiercely. Simon hugged his sister with one hand and Kaylee with the other. The crew faded back to the rest of the ship and left those three alone. They stood there for a long time before letting go and walking to outside the infirmary where they sat in silence for another long time.

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Business went back to usual for two days, or at least as normal as it got when they didn't have a job. They were still on Persephone. Mal was getting increasingly grouchy with each day that passed.

Kaylee was in the engine room whistling when Simon entered. This wasn't unusual, but his demeanor was. He was nervous. She stopped what she was doing and went to stand in front of him.

"What's up?"

"I don't exactly know how to say this."

"Just say it Simon you don't have to say anything just right."

"This I might. I love you Kaylee, and I always thought that if I found someone I loved ...this isn;t exactly the ideal location...or time...or circumstances...but I think...I know...I just can't...I mean..."

"Are you tryin to say what I think you are sayin?"

Simon closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He opened his eyes and looked into hers. "Will you marry me Kaylee Fry?"

Kaylee was silent for a moment . Then she squealed and jumped on Simon. He was ready for it so he didn't fall this time. HE put her back on her feet.

"I have to hear the words."

Kaylee got her best serious face on, "Simon Tam, I will."

He took a small box from his pocket, "They haven't unfroze my accounts yet so it's not much."

It was a beautiful, but small diamond. Kaylee started to cry. Simon had come to think of that as a good sign. He put the ring on her finger. She grabbed him and kissed him.

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"River why are we all gathered here?"

River had gathered the entire crew in the galley and shut the door leading to the engine room.

"You will see."

The door was thrown open and Kaylee burst in and screamed, "We're gettin hitched!"

Half the room burst in congratulations. Zoe Wash, Book, Jia and River all congratulated the couple. Jayne and Mal sat there.

Jayne said to Mal, "That it?"

"Looks like."

Jia was right next to Mal. She leaned down and put her hand on Mal's arm, "Would it kill you to be happy for them for a second?"

"It might. Better not chance it."

She gave him a glare that gave no quarter to his joke. He smiled at her in his most endearing way. She tightened her grip on his arm for a second. "Be nice."

He sighed and got up. He went over to Kaylee and gave her a hug. He shook Simon's hand while offering his congratulations. He went back over to Jia, "Happy now?"

"Ecstatic."

"Good, I got work to do." He left.

Jia turned her gaze to Jayne.

He pointed at her, "Ain't no way you gonna get me to ..."

"You wanna eat without wondering what's on your food?"

Jayne shot up from his chair and went over and gave solemn congrats to the happy but now confused couple. Everyone else gave Jayne a confused look except Jia who smiled. He left the galley mumbling something about his bunk. Jia went back to the celebration.

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Kaylee sat in the galley sitting room surrounded by her three girl friends.

"It's a beautiful ring Kaylee." Zoe beamed. She was so proud of the girl she had come to love as a good friend.

"It's the shiniest thing I've ever seen." Kaylee was beaming even more than usual.

"I hope you two are very happy sweetie." Jia smiled at the younger woman.

"We will be I know it."

River hadn't said a word since she had told them congratulations yesterday. She just smiled sweetly and watched. Kaylee didn't know what to think of River's silence. She didn't know if River was happy for them or upset in some way. She knew Simon had talked to his sister before proposing because she had asked him last night. Kaylee wanted to wait until they were alone to ask her, but River only seemed to be visible when she was with other people.

"I would love to sit here with you but the guys seem to get whiny if the food is late , so I got to get back to work." Jia got up and turned the corner to her kitchen.

Zoe laughed, "They used to be self sufficient, but you have spoiled them. They would starve if'n you got sick now."

Jia scoffed, "Wouldn't doubt it."

Wash's voice could be heard coming from the bridge, "Zoe, can you come here a second?"

Zoe sighed, "Coming dearest."In a side to Kaylee she said, "You sure you wanna get married?"

Kaylee laughed, "You love it and you know it."

Zoe walked out to see what her beloved husband wanted. Now alone, Kaylee leaned over to talk to her future sister-in-law. "You ok with this River?"

River looked up with a confused expression on her face, "Of course, she loves Kaylee. Wants her happiness, as well as brothers."

"It's just you seem quiet."

"Wondering about future. Presence of former paternal figure has confused path. Waited for this forever. Simon needs you."

"I want you to be in this all the way that's all. Don't want you to think I'm keepin him from you."

River smiled, "She would be thrilled if you would keep him from me. He needs a life beyond the past, beyond me."

"I love ya River, you know that right?"

"She knows."

At that moment Jayne walked in, "I'm getting sick of bein' on this planet. All the trim is the same. My John Thomas needs some variety."

Jia was upset "Jayne! How many times do I have to tell you I don't wanna know anything about what goes in or comes out of your pants?"

He had the courtesy to look ashamed. "Sorry, forgot."

"Forgot nothing. This is a kitchen not a bar. Please try to be a little more considerate."

Jayne scoffed, 'You ain't my mother."

"That's right, I'm not. If I was I woulda disowned you long ago and you would definitely be more polite."

Jayne made a face and sat down in his usual spot. He said under his breath, "Maybe it's you who needs to get..."

Jayne was hit in the back of the head by a rag. He swung around to be confronted by an angry chef. "You got something to say to me boy?"

"Maybe I do."

Mal walked in with Zoe and Wash. "And maybe you don't."

"Mal she hit me."

Wash covered his laugh by coughing.

Mal stared at his huge mercenary, "You have to be kidding me."

"She did."

Wash spoke up, "You know the good thing about you Jayne is you have the ability to laugh at yourself."

Jia was back to work. "And the sad thing is he has no choice."

Mal roared, "Enough!" He then thought about it and swallowed a laugh of his own.

Jayne wasn't pleased, "I ain't..."

"Relax Jayne. We should be getting a job soon. We'll be out of here. We got an offer from Badger. The problem is he wants to talk to Jia first."

Jia looked up, "Why?"

"How should I know what that moron wants?"

Jia put down what she was doing and headed towards the bridge. "I'll find out what he wants."

She moved to the vid screen and connected to the number he had given her. It connected immediately. "I knew you couldn't wait to see me again."

"What's up Badger?"

"I hear you're in need of a job. Just a nice coincidence I have one for you."

"Why did you need to talk to me for that?"

"There's a price, love."

Now she was not happy, "What price?"

"Just a nice dinner with yours truly. You and me. Alone."

"You have a sick mind Beaver. I ain't that kinda girl."

"Just dinner love. Nothing indecent."

"Everything about you is indecent."

"Now don't be hurting my feelings. You need a job, I got one. Why can't we just have a nice dinner?"

"Why didn't you just ask me?"

"Would you have said yes?"

"No. But I need to think about this Badger. I'll wave you back."

She shut off the screen before he could respond. She wasn't going to go, but she wanted him to sweat it for a while. She returned to the galley.

Mal looked up, "What did Weasel want?"

"He has a job for us but said I have to go on a date with him."

Mal was upset, "What did you tell him?"

"I said I'd think about it."

"Well, you're not going."

"Who asked you?"

"You ain't whoring yourself for this ship."

"I didn't say anything about that. Just dinner."

"You really aren't stupid enough to think that's all he has in mind."

"No I'm not. And don't you dare call me stupid."

"I wouldn't if'n you listen to what I say."

"I'll do what I damn well please and you can't say a thing about it."

The crew watched the exchange with growing concern. Mal was unintentionally forcing Jia's temper to make her do something it was clear to all of them she wasn't going to do in the first place. River sat in the corner and smiled. They watched as Jia stormed out of the room and to the bridge. They listened as she agreed to Badger's arrangement. They watched as Mal stormed to the bridge and listened as the two had yet another argument. Zoe got up and shut the door between them and the bridge.

Jayne muttered under his breath. "Idiots."

River whispered, "It continues."