Simon rolled away from his father once they reached the bottom of the stairs. He stood up and straightened his clothes. Then he reached down and picked a very stunned Thomas Tam up by the collar of his thousand credits suit.

"Simon, think about what you're doing," Thomas pleaded.

"That's rich! Think about what I'm doing? Did you even think about what they were doing to River? Did you ever wonder how many times they were cutting into her brain? The conditioning? The pain and suffering?"

"Simon!"

He tore his murderous glare from his father to River who was standing in the middle of the staircase with Kaylee by her side.

River came toward him, muttering, "They don't understand, never will. They've been bought by the system. They're shells. Get what you came for and let's go." She headed for the front door.

Simon released his grip on Thomas' collar. "She's right. You're nothing but a gorram fraud."

Rose stepped behind her husband. "You ungrateful whelp," growled Thomas. "I did everything I could to keep you from going down that road. Now look at you. You used to be a brilliant doctor who could have anything and now you're a medic for a bunch of thieves and it seems you can only attract worthless whores."

Simon punched his father and knocked him to the ground again. Simon looked over at Kaylee who looked at him with pride.

"You two get out of here, I want what I came for."

Kaylee and River left the Tam residence.

"There is nothing here for you," Thomas snarled.

Simon rounded on his mother and father. "Grandma's ring. She said it was mine. I want it."

Rose looked stricken but nodded slowly. She headed for the stairs. "No, Rose. Stay here and watch him, I'll get it."

Simon watched his father trudge up the stairs.

"It didn't have to be like this," Simon said to his mother.

She lowered her head and stared at the floor. Simon sighed and waited for Thomas to return.

Thomas Tam returned with a velvet box. Simon opened it to reveal his grandmother's ring. He closed the box and turned around and left.

Jayne stirred when he felt movement on his stomach. His eyes fluttered open and he came face to face with Lily's big blue eyes.

"Jay!" she called.

"Hi, little one." He smiled.

There was a shuffle of movement from his right. He slowly turned to see the entire ship crew staring at him with wide grins. Jayne turned back to Lily. "Now see what you've done, you little twerp."

Lily stood up on his broad thighs, her tiny hands were pressed against his chest and her nose was just inches from his. She boldly reached up and snatched his hat from his head.

"Hat!" she cried triumphantly.

Jayne stood up taking the toddler with him. He tucked her under his arm and walked over to Zoe. "I believe this is yours," he grumbled.

Zoe took Lily from him. "Mama." Lily wrapped her arms around her mother's neck and Zoe smiled.

Jayne pushed through the crowd who did not hide their snickers and giggles from him. He grumbled all the way to the mess.

Everyone moseyed toward the kitchen too. It was dinner time.

There seemed to be an uncomfortable silence that filled the air that night. Inara was sitting on the far side of the table from Mal. Kaylee, River and Simon were all quiet. Jayne was eating like a starved man. Zoe and Lily were chatting while Lily made a mess of her high chair and face with her protein meal.

Once dinner was over and the kitchen was cleaned everyone went their own directions.

"Hey, doc, is everything okay?" Mal asked falling into step with him. "That's quite a shiner."

Simon smirked, "You should see the other guy."

"Was that a joke? I'm impressed, doc," Mal smirked.

"This is from falling down the stairs when I tackled my father on the staircase."

"So things went well then?"

"He did it. He sent River to them knowing or at least having an idea of what they were going to do to her."

Mal cursed under his breath in Chinese.

"He told our mother we were dead and then he called Kaylee a whore. Needless to say, I hit him."

"I'm surprised you didn't kill him."

"Then I would be a murdering fugitive, that's the last thing Serenity needs."

Mal nodded, "I appreciate you thinkin' of us."

"Family comes first." Simon opened the doors to the infirmary. "I'm glad I went though. At least I know the truth and can let go of any guilt I might've had. I just wish River…" he trailed off.

Mal stopped in the doorway. "Now she knows how lucky she is to have a big brother like you." He turned and walked away.

Simon got an ice pack out for his fist and eye and sat down on the table in the center of the room. His thought drifted to the afternoon and his hands unconsciously clenched into fists.

"Simon?"

He looked up to find Kaylee standing in the doorway. "Hey," he greeted warmly.

The tension drained away from her and she stepped inside. "Are you okay?" she asked stroking his overly long hair from his eyes.

"I'll live." He reached out and rested his hand on her waist. "Are you okay?"

"I'm shiny. I didn't just beat the crap out of my father." She leaned into his touch.

"I'm sorry you had to see that," he murmured.

She rested her head against his. "I'm not. Just proves how lucky I got."

"Kaylee, no one is luckier than I am." He turned and tilted his head and kissed her lips.

After a moment Simon pulled away. "Let me show you the whole reason I wanted to go there in the first place." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the small velvet box his father had retrieved for him.

Kaylee sucked in a surprised breath. "What's that?"

"It's for you, if you want it." He plopped the weightless box in her hand.

"Simon?" Kaylee questioned.

"Just open i…"

"You are the most arrogant, self-righteous, moronic, narcissistic…"

"I'm ain't narcissistic," Mal argued.

"Egotistical, self-important, bigheaded, louse I've ever met," Inara finished.

"Most of them words mean the same thing," he replied.

Inara's eyes narrowed. "What were you doing following me and my friend…"

"Friend? You were draped all over him!"

"In polite society men escort the women; of course no one can expect you to understand what 'polite' means," she huffed.

"Woman, I understand more than you…"

Kaylee gasped, "Oh my god!"

Simon, Inara and Mal turned to look at her. Mal were surprised to find they had an audience.

"Kaylee, you okay?" Mal asked stepping toward the infirmary.

"Simon, what is this?"

"It was my grandmother's wedding ring. She was a wonderful woman and when I had my first break up she showed me that ring and told me the girl wasn't good enough and when I found a woman that I loved with all my heart, whom I would give up anything for, I should give it to her and ask her to be my wife."

Kaylee's eyes were filled with tears. Simon took the ring out of the box and tossed the box aside. He reached for Kaylee's left hand.

"Will you marry me, Kaylee Frye?"

She nodded fervently and watched as he slid the ring on her finger.

Simon glanced over at Mal and Inara. She was teary eyed as well and Mal had a genuine smile. River, Zoe and Jayne stood behind them looking happy.

"Mal! Mal! Mal!" Lily was standing between his legs looking up at him.

The Captain picked up the little girl and cradled her on his hip. "Congratulations, you two."

Everyone filtered into the infirmary hugging and shaking hands with the newly engaged couple. Soon they were left Lily's distancing yells, "No, mama, want Mal!"

"I would've planned out some perfect moment but I figured I'd just mess it up."

Kaylee grinned leaning in toward him. "It was perfect."

Mal paced back and forth in front of Inara's shuttle. He wanted to talk to her but at the same time he was so tired of fighting with her, except when it led to sex. Finally he stopped and pounded on her door.

She opened it with an exasperated look. "What, Mal? I'm tired."

"I know, I am too. I just don't want to go to bed mad."

"Come in, I'd like to avoid an audience if possible."

He entered her seduction trap of a shuttle and sat down on the satin red sofa. She sat next to him. Silence filled the room.

"Don't tell me we can only argue when there is an audience," Inara sighed.

"I'm sorry I went all..."

"Caveman?" Inara imputed.

He ignored her. "I over reacted but I can't seem to get a straight thought out when it comes to you. I saw you with what-his-guts and…"

"You went crazy. I was actually there for that one. You have to trust me, Mal, or we're just wasting our…"

"I do trust you!" He stood up.

"No, you don't or you wouldn't be following me around a planet."

He rolled his eyes. "I don't trust them, I trust you just fine."

"I have friends, Mal. Men and women."

"Friends or clients?" Mal cursed under his breath.

Inara's eyes flashed with deadly anger. "You are dreading on dangerous grounds, Mal."

"That isn't how I meant it." He ran his fingers through his hair.

"Mal, we've spent a lot of time fighting, especially lately. It took us nearly six months to sleep together for the first time because you wouldn't believe me that I wasn't a companion anymore. We've been on and off so often I can't even remember which is which. Maybe this isn't working."

He took a step closer to her. "Don't say that."

"Then what, Mal? You're never going to trust that I'm finished being a comp…"

"It's not about you ever bein' a companion, Inara!" he barked.

"Then what?" she repeated.

"I didn't want to mess it up!" he yelled. "But apparently it's all I can seem to do." He stormed out of her shuttle.

River sat in her chair on the bridge. It was loud in Serenity. Mal and Inara were fighting. Simon and Kaylee were doing something else she preferred not to think about her brother doing. Zoe and Jayne were playing cards in the kitchen with Lily running around. Apparently Jayne had let Lily sleep to late and now she would be up half the night, his punishment was staying up with them until Lily grew tired.

She stared out the window into the void sky. Her thoughts turned to her parents. It occurred to her suddenly that maybe it had been her own thoughts that were too loud tonight.

She had gone to the Tam to see if Simon's opinion of their parents were true; if they had really just deserted them. It had been worse than even Simon thought. Her father had been responsible for sending her to that place, where they…

She physically shuddered against the memories of it all.

Slowly, River felt a quiet rage fill her. Her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles were white and her nails bit into her palm drawing blood.

"Hey, you alright?" Jayne's voice interrupted her tortured thoughts.

River looked over at him but did not answer.

"Didn't think so. I won't bother you none." He turned and walked away.

"Ask your question," she replied.

Jayne hesitated, but finally gave in. "Why you fightin' with me yesterday?"

River turned in her chair and faced him. "You don't treat poor little River like a child. I was frustrated, you're an easy target."

"I ain't an easy target; I'd be long dead now."

"I just mean, needed a friend to fight with, someone who wouldn't want to talk or baby me. Just spar with a friend."

Jayne crossed his arms over his chest. "We're friends now?"

River leaned closer to him like they were sharing a confidence. "It's okay; we don't have to tell the others."

Kaylee was bouncing around the kitchen making breakfast for everyone. She hadn't felt so good in months. Of course being proposed to and having hours of luxuriatin' sex helped quite a bit.

She glanced down at her hand where the diamond glimmered a wink at her.

"You're a might happy this morning," Mal grumbled as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

Kaylee bounced over and kissed her Captain on the cheek. "Bein' in love is just wonderful, ain't it?" she chirped.

"Grand," he muttered sitting down at the table.

"Cap'n?" she called.

"Yes, Kaylee, love is wonderful," he returned.

There was an alarming clatter of metal against metal. Mal turned around and saw the plates littering the floor. "Kaylee?" He jumped to his feet and hurried behind the counter. She was lying unconscious, her limbs sprawled out. "Kaylee?" he called again with more urgency.

She did not stir.

To Be Continued...