Title: Pregnant Lady Shopping
Series: Slayers in Space
Author: Sevangel
Disclaimer: Not mine, everything belongs to Joss Whedon and co
Rating: PG-12
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"That's a little….big, Kay." Faith comments, wrinkling her nose.
Kaylee spins around to face Faith. "It's supposed to be, Faith." She explains. "I'm pregnant, remember?"
"Being pregnant doesn't mean you gotta dress in a tent." Faith replies. "You can still sex it up; just gotta find the right clothes."
"Got no reason to sex it up." Kaylee points out.
"Feeling attractive should be for yourself, not somebody else." River says, walking over to Kaylee with an armful of clothing. "Here, try these."
Kaylee nervously takes the clothes and goes back into the dressing room. She takes off the tent size dress she'd been wearing and pulls on the skirt River gave her. It rests in the middle of her slight bulge and ends a few inches above her knees. It's a pale pink color and feels silky around her knees. And because it has an elastic waist, she knows it's something she can wear even after the baby's born. Then she pulls on a pink tank top and smoothes the fabric around her body. It is a little loose, but nowhere near tent size. And she knows that by the time she's bout to give birth, it'll be tight but not too gorram tight.
"Kay, you gonna come out and show us?" Faith asks.
Kaylee slowly opens the dressing room door and steps out into the store.
"That's more like it." Faith declares.
"Yeah, I like em." Kaylee agrees.
"There are some shorts and loose pants in the pile also." River says.
"Thanks, River." Kaylee says gratefully. "Think they'll let me wear these outa here?"
"Don't see why not." Faith replies. "Just takes the tags off and give em to the cashier kid."
"That looks nice, Kaylee." Zoe says.
River turns around and raises an eyebrow at the soldier's empty arms. "You didn't find anything?"
Zoe shakes her head. "Nothin' here that I'd wear."
River circles the soldier once and then walks across the maternity section.
"Don't look at me." Faith says. "Got no clue what she's up to."
Kaylee walks back into the dressing room and gathers up the clothes River picked out for her and the clothes she wore into the store. She steps out right as River walks up, a few small packages in her hand.
"What are these?" Zoe asks, raising an eyebrow at the packages River just handed her.
"Patches." River replies. "If you do not find anything to your liking in this store and if you don't mind permanently ruining a few pair of pants, these patches can be used."
Zoe studies the patches and then looks back at River, still slightly confused.
"You remove the front section of your pants, including the zipper and buttons, and then sew the patch over the section that was removed. The patch is an elastic type of fabric so it will stretch as you grow." River clarifies.
"There's a slight problem with that." Zoe replies. "I don't know how to sew that well."
"I could do it for you." River offers.
"Hell, then you could just pick up some men's large shirts and not have to change nothin' bout how you dress." Faith adds.
Zoe looks back down at the packages and then up to River. "You don't mind, River?"
"Not at all." River replies.
"Thanks." Zoe says gratefully. "Now, I just gotta go find some shirts."
"I'll go with you." Kaylee offers, dumping her pile of clothes into the cart Faith is currently leaning on.
"Me and R are gonna go get a few things." Faith says. "We'll meet you at the checkout."
Kaylee nods and starts pushing the cart towards the men's section and away from the two slayers.
"C'mon, R, let's go get them underwear we was talking about earlier." Faith says.
River follows Faith across the department store to the small lingerie section. She flips lazily through a rack of panties and looks up to Faith for guidance.
"Try some white, lacey ones." Faith advises. "And some black ones though I don't understand why you need them. You just bought an assload last time we went shopping."
"And Jayne has ripped half of them off." River replies. "He is very impatient."
"That's why you don't wear none." Faith grins.
"Jayne doesn't like that." River says. "Besides, it is fun to torture him with pretty panties."
Faith laughs and helps the genius pick out ten pairs of skimpy, lacey, and barely there panties and two bras.
"I don't need bras." River points out.
"Trust me, these'll drive him just as nuts." Faith assures her.
River studies the bras but doesn't put them back.
"Okay, I'm done." Faith says, adding a couple pairs of black panties to River's pile. "We can go now."
"Two more things." River walks across the aisle way to the children's section. It doesn't take her but a few seconds to pick out what she needs.
Faith raises an eyebrow. "You know?"
"Yes." River replies. "And if they desire to know, I will give these to them."
"Works for me." Faith follows River to the checkout area, glancing around to make sure Zoe and Kaylee aren't around.
"Will you please gift wrap those?" River requests, indicating to the two things she picked up in the children's section.
"Yes, ma'am." The teenage boy replies, sneaking covert glances at her randomly.
Faith nudges River with a grin. "He's checkin' you out."
River looks over at Faith and then back at the teenage boy. He is probably around her age, 17 or 18, but she feels so much older than him.
"Are you ladies visiting or do you live on Persephone?"
"Well, Tim, is it?" Faith replies.
"Yes, ma'am." Tim agrees.
"Whoa, you gotta stop with the ma'am thing." Faith says. "I'm not but a couple years older than you and she's probably the same age."
"Okay." Tim agrees as he finishes wrapping the small packages.
"And to answer your questions, we're just visiting." Faith says.
"How long are you going to be here?" Tim questions, grabbing the first article of clothing off the pile they sat down on the counter. He takes on look at the fabric in his hand and blushes.
"Only for a few more hours." River answers, smiling at his blush.
"Oh." Tim grabs another item, looking rather disappointed at the announcement.
"Why?" Faith asks.
"No reason." Tim replies. "Just thought maybe if you were still in town, you might want to go get something to eat with…"
"That is very sweet." River interrupts, elbowing Faith when she laughs. "But I'm afraid that would not be safe; not for you."
"I don't understand." Tim finishes ringing up their purchases and looks up at River confusedly.
"Let's just say there's a 6 foot plus, 250 lbs, thirty something merc with a collection of weapons large enough to take down a small army who wouldn't be at all happy with that idea." Faith explains with a grin.
"Your father?" Tim questions.
"My boyfriend." River corrects.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Tim apologizes. "I didn't know."
"It's okay." River assures him.
"What's okay?"
River turns around to see Kaylee standing behind her.
"Oh, it's okay that Tim here just asked R on a date." Faith explains with a grin.
"You ain't gonna go, are you?" Kaylee whispers. "I thought you and Jayne was so happy; I didn't think you'd…."
"No, Kaylee, I'm not going to go." River interrupts. "Tim just felt bad because he didn't realize I was taken; I was assuring him that it was okay."
"Oh, that's good." Kaylee breathes a sigh of relief. "So, what'd ya guys buy? Oh, are those presents?"
"Under things and yes those are presents." River replies. "And no, you may not know what's inside."
"Fine." Kaylee pouts as she empties her purchases onto the counter. "Just be that way."
Zoe shakes her head and adds her things to the pile Kaylee set down. "How long have we been here?"
"Bout two hours, I think." Faith replies. "That about right, R?"
"Two hours, twenty-three minutes, and twelve seconds." River clarifies.
Faith rolls her eyes. "Showoff."
Tim quickly rings up everything, sneaking looks at the one called R as often as he can. She's the most beautiful girl he's ever seen. Her hair is long and a rich brown, reaching down to the middle of her back. She's wearing a pretty red dress that's tight on top and flows down her body, ending about mid-thigh. She's got one of those open faces, plump lips wide with a smile and the largest, prettiest brown eyes he's ever seen.
"Son, I'd get your mind right off where it is." Faith advises.
Tim jerks his eyes off the dark-haired beauty in front of him and turns his head to tell the two pregnant women their totals.
"So, we goin' back to the boat?" Kaylee asks, smiling as Tim fumbles to hand River her bags.
"I'm hungry." Faith says.
"You're always hungry." Kaylee replies.
"Yep." Faith agrees. "I think we should get something to eat before we head home."
"Don't know if'n the captain'll like that." Kaylee says.
Faith snorts. "And?"
"He ain't gonna like it." Kaylee repeats.
"Still not getting your point." Faith replies.
"She's trying to say that you should not purposefully make Mal upset or angry." River explains.
"Why not?" Faith says. "It's funny as hell; hell, it's the same reason why you're going to tell Jayne about Tim here when we get home. You love to see him go all growly and possessive."
"Yes." River agrees, turning her head when Tim gasps. "Don't worry, I will wait until we are off planet so that he doesn't come back here and kill you."
Tim's eyes widen and he turns to look at his next customer with a nervous smile and shaking hands.
"Way to go, R." Faith laughs. "Scaring the hell out of some kid; you should be ashamed of yourself."
-
"One of these days, I'm gonna kill Badger." Mal complains. "In fact, it shoulda been today. Why didn't you let me kill him?"
"Didn't know I was stoppin' you." Jayne replies. "Gorramit, why didn't you tell me we was 'loud to kill Badger?"
"We weren't." Mal says. "It's an executive decision I just made."
"Don't we get half our jobs from Badger?" Wash questions curiously.
"Way to rain on my parade, Wash." Mal glares at him. "Here I was, havin' all kinds of fun imagin' the different ways I could kill that rodent and you had to go and ruin it. Thanks."
Wash rolls his eyes and presses in the code to unlock Serenity. The three men of Serenity walk into the boat and come to a complete stop at the sight in front of them.
"You never changed the code." Simon Tam says, standing up from the crate he was sitting on. "I know I was supposed to wait five hours but I couldn't wait any longer."
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't have your ass hauled in for breaking and entering?" Mal asks angrily.
Simon reaches into his pocket, pulls out a small bag, and tosses it to Mal. "That's my fare for the next 6 months." Simon announces. "And hopefully by the end of that time, you'll trust me enough to want me back as your medic. Until then, I will work for free."
Mal stuffs the bag into his pocket without opening it and looks at Simon with crossed arms. "I'm listenin'."
"I want to come back." Simon says.
"For how long?" Mal asks. "A month, 6 months, a year; or until something else happens that you can't handle and you run again?"
"I deserved that." Simon says. "And you're right; you have no reason to trust me and I'm not asking you to. All I'm asking for is a chance."
"A chance to what?" Jayne asks quietly. "Break both Kaylee and River's hearts again cause that's what you done did before."
"And Kaylee's finally starting to come back to herself." Mal adds. "Don't want you comin' in and ruinin' it all."
"I won't." Simon promises.
"And why should I believe that?" Mal asks. "Give me one good reason."
Simon starts to answer when he hears somebody say his name. "Yes."
"Dr. Tam, we finished installing everything." A tall, young man wearing a delivery suit announces. "If you could just sign these forms, we'll be on our way."
Simon takes the 'pen' the man holds out to him and signs the small screen being presented to him.
"Thank you for your business, Dr. Tam." The man hands him a small piece of plastic containing a disc. "The instructions and the warranty information are on that disk. Please contact us if you have any problems."
Simon nods to the man and pockets the disc.
"Tam, you wanna explain who the ruttin' hell all them men were?" Mal says. "And what the hell they was installin' in my boat without my permission?"
"It would actually be easier to show you and I want to make sure they got everything anyways." Simon replies. "Follow me."
"It seems you been gone long nuf to forget I don't take orders on my boat." Mal says although he does follow Simon out of the bay and towards the infirmary.
"I guess I forgot." Simon replies. He stops outside of the infirmary door and slides it open. "Here's your reason."
Mal steps into his infirmary and his jaw drops open in shock. This isn't his infirmary; this is an infirmary you'd find on some luxury liner. Every bit of equipment, shelves, counter space, everything has been has taken out and replaced with shiny, new things. Hell, there's stuff in here that Mal ain't ever seen before.
"It's all state-of-the-art, top of the line equipment." Simon explains. "With a 10 year warranty on every piece of equipment. It is stocked as well as any emergency room and since I am no longer a fugitive, I can obtain more medicine without having to pay those enormous smuggling charges that we used to pay."
Jayne looks around the infirmary and reaches a hand out to touch one of the shiny, new toys the doc done bought.
"Don't!" Simon shouts, pushing Jayne's hand away from the mender that the merc is about to touch. "So help me Jayne, if you break something in here, not even being my sister's boyfriend is going to save you."
Jayne pulls his hand back and turns to stare at Simon in shock. They doc never said anything to him but Jayne knew he didn't approve of him bein' with River. So, he's a bit shocked at Simon addressin' him as her boyfriend.
"Is this you tryin' to buy your way back in?" Mal bluntly asks.
"No." Simon replies. "When I brought River here, it was just supposed to be a layover until I could find someplace permanent. And then we stayed but even then, I always assumed we would leave; I always planned to leave. So I went back home and went straight to work. And I worked almost every single day since I left here because it was the only way to forget. Then I realized I don't want to forget; this is my home as much as it is yours. All this equipment, this is me moving in permanently because frankly, I know it will be needed."
Mal studies Simon for a few moments before sighing dramatically. "Fine, you can stay on as a passenger for now." He agrees. "But only if Kaylee and River want you to. They don't want you here and you're off, dong ma?"
"I know." Simon replies. "Their welfare comes before my own; I always knew they would be the deciding factor if I got to stay or go."
"Then why'd you do all this?" Mal questions.
"Because if something happens to one of you, and even if I'm not here, I want you to have every thing that might be needed."
"Must have cost a small fortune." Mal comments.
"Actually, it almost cleaned me out." Simon says. "I had to sell my apartment and empty out every account the Alliance unfroze plus sell all the stock I owned in my father's company. The only money I have left is what I made in the four months I was gone."
Mal raises an eyebrow, suitably impressed by Simon's monetary sacrifice.
"Am I right in assuming they're not here?" Simon questions Mal.
"Yep." Mal replies. "River knows you're stoppin' by but Kaylee don't; they all went shoppin'."
"Even Zoe?" Simon question.
"Yeah, well, we thought she'd be able to keep your sister and Faith outa trouble." Mal replies.
Wash snorts. "Those two could find trouble in a church."
"Yeah." Jayne and Mal agree.
Mal walks out of the infirmary and back towards the bay where he left the com; it's time to call the girls back. Needless to say, he's a little shocked to see them walking up the ramp. "I didn't call you back."
"Don't even start that, Mal." Faith replies. "Zoe got to feeling a bit sick and we thought it was best to bring her back."
"I said I felt dizzy." Zoe glares at Faith. "Not sick, dizzy."
"Same diff." Faith replies.
"You're just as bad as the cap'n." Kaylee rolls her eyes, a small smile crossing her lips. "He'd a done the same gorram….." Kaylee's sentence trails off as she sees who's behind Jayne. "Simon." She whispers and then she feels like all the air's bein' sucked out of the room and that all the lights are goin' out. The peanut butter shake she'd been drinkin' hits the ground right as her legs give out.
Faith drops the numerous bags in her arms and catches Kay just before she hits the ground. She swings the mechanic up into her arms and wordlessly follows Simon as he runs towards the infirmary.
"Set her down there." Simon orders, hands steady as he reaches out to grab various instruments. "She's about 6 months along, correct?"
"Yeah." Faith agrees, leaning back against Mal's chest with a worried expression. "She gonna be okay, doc?"
Simon doesn't answer. He just continues to examine Kaylee.
"I'm okay." Kaylee whispers, opening her eyes slowly. "Simon, I'm okay."
"Just let me finish." Simon replies evenly, gently pushing on her shoulder so that she'll lie back down. "Have you been taking prenatal vitamins?"
"No." Kaylee replies quietly.
"She didn't find out until a few days ago, Simon." River explains, leaning back against Jayne's chest with the same worried expression Faith is wearing.
"Hmm." Simon turns around and pulls open one of the new cabinets. He pushes a button and dispenses out two large, brown pills. "Here, Kaylee, you need to take this." He hands her one pill. "And you too, Zoe."
Zoe takes the pill, looking at Simon questionably.
"You're pregnant too, correct?" Simon asks.
"Yeah." Zoe agrees.
"Then you need to take prenatal vitamins also." Simon hands them both small paper cups of water and watches while they both swallow their pill. He takes the cups back and drops them in the trashcan. "Okay then." Then he falls sideways in a dead faint, hitting the ground with a loud thud.
"Huh." Mal comments, toeing Simon's body with his boot. "Didn't see that one comin'."
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