Thanks to everyone that hasreviewed!
Maggie M. and Nutluck - Thanks for the info about his mothers name. It was Regan. I feel like such a bad fan for not knowing…shame on me. (Also Nutluck – here's to longer, may I not get of track to badly!)
Ka-mia2286 – Thanks, I know what you mean. I just don't think there are as many of us for the Firefly stories, so I try to review as much as possible.
LittleFreda – It was completely my pleasure.
Here's the next part, enjoy.
--
FAVORS: WASH AND BOOK
Within days a wave arrived for Mal, and when Mal told Wash to bounce it down to his room and call Simon and tell him to go on down, instead of Wash hittin' the appropriate switches, he just stared.
"I don't want you mentionin' this to anyone, not your wife nor anyone."
"Is there something goin' on that-"
"Ain't my place to say; just do as I said and forget you seen it."
"Seen what?" he said turning back to his buttons and switches and sending the message down. He then picked up the comm that would send his voice through the ship, "Hey Simon, could you come up here fore a sec…I, uh, got a cut?"
"Wash!" Mal shouted from down the hallway.
"Diverting suspicion Mal!" he shouted back. Mal disappeared into his room as Zoe climbed up the steps at the nose of Serenity.
"You bleeding husband?" she asked looking him over. He pushed his seat back and offered his lap to her for a seat, which she took, and then wrapped an arm around his neck.
"Nope, I lied." He smiled up at her.
"What for?"
He would have told her that he wasn't sure why, but Simon chose that minute to come through the door with his little red doctors bag. When he saw the couple before him he went sort'a stiff, and then slacked back like he'd walked into some uncomfortableness. "Oh, um, I thought you, you said…" he took a moment to compose himself, "What's going on?"
"Captain wants to see you in his quarters."
His brows knitted in confusion, "Oh?" but then the beginnings of a smile crept on to Simon's face, "Oh." And then became full blown, "That means…" he started to back out of the room, "Um, don't, don't go anywhere. Either of you." And just like that he was down the hall and the ladder to Mal's room. The couple just looked on after him.
"Don't reckon they've just suddenly turned sly on us, do you?" Wash asked.
"No." was Zoë's immediate reply. "It'd be a…sad thing. Kaylee'd be real upset."
"Inara too." Zoë raised her eyebrows and gave a quick tilt of the head as her sign of agreement, and then snuggled closer to Wash.
--
There Simon was face to screen to face with Kaylee's parents. He could see where Kaylee got her looks from. Her hair and facial features from her mother, but her eyes were distinctly her father's; not only in color, but they both had that gleam, that pure energy for life behind their eyes. More importantly both her parents were smiling at him.
"She talks 'bout ya every wave, she's real keen on ya. Honest though, I didn't 'spect you to go an ask permission of us, if'n ya meant what ya said." Mr. Frye told Simon.
"I did, all of it."
"Well then, 'course you got our blessin's." there were smiles all around, even on Mal who stood in the shadows just under that hatch. "Our little's getting hitched Hannah!"
"I can't wait to get ya'll here and we can see ya whole an' in the flesh, you and your sister! Always so much fun gettin' new folk in the family."
Simon was a bit taken aback at the mention of River and he wondered what exactly they knew about him.
"By way," Mr. Frye said, "I like your idea son, you tell us when and where and I'll get the whole lot of there."
Simon looked over to Mal, who nodded and pressed down on the comm to call the bridge, "Wash, how long you figure it be for you to get us to that rock we got Kaylee from?"
"Umm…three days hard burn, 'bout five goin' normal speed."
"Well set course, keep quiet and stay put." He joined Simon in front of the screen, even knowing Kaylee as long as he had, he was sorry to say this was the first time he'd seen 'em too. "'Bout three days time we'll be in your sky. We'll send you another wave soon as we hit orbit as to the where and when of things."
The foursome talked for a few more minutes before issuing out their final "congratulations", and "can't wait to meet ya's" before the transmission was ended.
Dierks and Hannah leaned back onto their floral patterned couch and smiled to each other. Just to the left of them was the dark haired Jason, older than Kaylee by a year or five, sitting with his arms crossed. He was married his self with a little'un on the way and shared his Pa's business, which sometimes wasn't much, so he also had him one of the bars in town (which crazily enough is where he found most their clients). Hannah looked over at her son and said, "Now, don't you go spoilin' this for your sister."
"Ain't gonna spoil nothing, but he sure is a cleanly fella for that rusty old ship Kaylee took up on. Just something don't seem right is all."
Dierks stood up and pulling his hat back on, "You just got it in you head to be protective of her s'all. Now, we talked to him and he seems the decent type, and he is a doctor after all, ain't they supposed to be cleanly?" He put his thumbs into his suspender straps and rested his hands by his hips, "We got us some things and folk to get together Jason, you gonna be of help in that?"
"Yes Sir." He stood up.
"Hannah sweetie, you go on and start getting a hold'a folk, we're going to market." He kissed his wife goodbye and was followed out of the house by his son. Three days time he'd get to see his sweet baby girl again and some new folk would be joinin' the family. It looked to be a good month.
--
"What?" Wash asked, "Is she…well you know." He laid one hand on top of the other and from mid-torso to waist made an arch with his arms, and was promptly elbowed by his wife. The three people in the room with him just stared.
"Why do people keep asking me that? No, she isn't. That's not, you don't think that's the only reason I'd marry her do you?" Simon asked them all.
"Course not, he meant to say congratulations." Zoë said, and Wash nodded and pointed to her. Simon filled in two more crew on why they needed to go to Kaylee's home-world, and why it needed to be secret, and more importantly why he wanted precise timing; then he went into greater detail about what he thought she'd like for the actual ceremony, and what her parents were willing to set up, of course she could change whatever she wanted if that were the case, he didn't want her to feel she had no say in anything. "Wash, honey, how come our wedding wasn't so romantic?"
He sputtered a bit, "What? I, well, Mal didn't….you like flowers?" he joked. Zoë smiled at him, she knew that he, like Simon, would give her anything she wanted if he could, but she hadn't needed, nor wanted a big wedding. She just liked to seem him flustered, he was real cute then.
She looked back at Simon, "So who else knows?"
"Uh, well, I'm going to talk to Shepherd Book, and then…just Inara and Jayne." He looked at Mal, "But, uh, you can tell her, if you want."
"Now why look at me when you say that?"
"Or, or I'll just tell her." Wash and Zoë couldn't hide the smiles on their faces, the doctor was treading on dangerous grounds, and he seemed to know it seein' as he changed the subject right quick. "Um, Wash? I was wondering; if she says yes, would you…" he felt awkward asking this in front of everyone, but he might as well do it while he was here, "… be my best man?"
"What? Really, me?" the pilot smiled, "Yeah of course. It'll be fun, we'll have a big bachelor party with-" he looked at Zoë for a second, "no girls, 'cause they're bad, very, very bad."
"What's bad?" came Jayne's voice as he lumbered through the door towards them. They were all silent.
"I'm going to ask Kaylee to marry me."
Jayne grunted, "That ain't bad; it's horrendous."
Since arriving on Serenity Simon had experimented with a variety of ways in which to react to Jayne's comments and actions. One was just to be the bigger person, the other, which he quite enjoyed doing, was pretending Jayne hadn't said anything at all. "You're invited too." He clapped him on the shoulder as he walked past and out into the ship to locate Shepherd Book.
Mal couldn't hide the small smile from his face, Simon had definitely been hangin' around the raggedy edge of the 'verse for awhile now, and it was starting to show.
"That mean I gotta dress nice?"
--
Shepherd Derrial Book was doing what he usually did when the crew wasn't running some scam, and even then, rarely did he change his ways. He'd work out with Jayne when asked, hold conversations, do his best not to preach to Mal and watch River prance about, or read his Bible.
His hair was tied back in a tight little bun as he sat on the couch in the common area, across from the infirmary. River sat nearby, glancing at him occasionally and then turning back to the paper before her. He wasn't positive, but he was quite sure she was sketching him. He supposed it might turn into some reminder to be weary of his hair, should it someday turn on him. He smiled to himself and turned the page of his Bible.
Now, something Shepherd Book could do that, well, probably no other Shepherd could do, is sense eyes on him. It was part of the training he underwent in that other lifetime. Current he couldn't two sets, River's and, he looked up, ah, Inara.
The stately woman, who coincidentally had been incorrectly introduced to him as an Ambassador and was actually a Companion, never failed to be stunning. Her dark hair curled slightly about her shoulders and she was dressed in one of many silk dresses that she owned.
"Hello."
He lowered his Bible, "Good evening. How are you?"
She smiled at him; she was a real beauty, "Fine thank you. I was just going to make some tea, would you care to join me?"
"I think I just might." He smiled back and stood up, and River's arm stretched out, pointing at him. "Oh, I'm sorry River, have you finished."
"I can see you in my mind." She said, clearly she knew what she was drawling and no longer needed him to model.
"Then why-" and he knew, right then as Simon's voice came echoing down the metal stairs toward River; asking if she'd seen the Shepherd anywhere. His physical body followed his voice moments later.
"Ah, thanks River." He looked down at his sister affectionately, then at Book and Inara, "You're both here, that's good. I have some news. River, do you know where Kaylee is?"
"Imagining. She dreams, there are flowers in her mind. Lately she dreams of flowers, white." Simon took that to mean she was sleeping, which meant he was free to speak openly in the area.
He done this so many times now that he didn't even need to think of how he was going to tell them, he just said it. "I'm going to ask Kaylee to marry me." And they, like most of the crew smiled brightly.
"That's wonderful!" Inara said as she hugged him lightly.
Book replied with a more solemn, yet happy, "Congratulations." And a hand shake where he also clasped Simon's elbow. And now everybody knew what was going to happen.
"When?" Inara asked.
"Soon." Was his reply as he took a seat; wordlessly followed by his two friends. "I've already spoken to her parents, and Mal" he smiled a bit, "Wash has agreed to be best man, now all I need to do is ask one more favor." He looked at Book, "I'd like you to perform the ceremony. I know she'd love you to, I'd like for you to do it."
Book leaned back into his seat. He had to admit, he was flattered, but he'd never actually preformed a marriage before. But he wouldn't turn down such an honor, he wouldn't hurt Simon and Kaylee simply because he didn't know the ceremony; it was something he could find out, and something he would. "It would be my honor."
Now, for what seemed like the millionth time, Simon let his idea unfurl, and judging by their reactions, they too thought it would be fantastic.
Inara didn't want to, but she couldn't help herself, "Have you already gotten a ring?"
He smiled, but it was different smile than what he'd been showing off all day, it was happy, but with just a tint of sadness at the corners. "Yes, and…it has a story, but I want Kaylee to hear it first, if you don't-"
"Not at all." Inara cut him off, Kaylee should hear it first; it was going to be her ring. Once when Inara had been small, before she'd been sent to the training house; she'd dreamed of a wedding day. What child didn't? Now the dream of a wedding all her own had turned to questions and restrictions. If she ever wanted to marry now she'd have to retire from the life she knew. And the only man she'd do that for rather enjoyed calling her a whore.
Book said, "We were just going to have tea, perhaps we could, quietly, celebrate?"
"Oh, I don't, I don't know…"
"Come on Simon. It isn't everyday we have such good news on Serenity." Inara said.
"Well…alright." He stood along with them and walked to the kitchen. Everything was going to work out all right.
--
In the cockpit Wash sat with Mal, staring out into the vast black of space.
"So…" he drawled, "You ain't gonna order Kaylee not to get hitched are ya? Cause it's not everyday I get asked to best man."
"What are-" Mal started, and then he'd remembered how back when he and Wash had been caught by a nasty fella, who goes by the name Niska, that he'd said he'd ordered Zoë not to marry Wash. "Nope. I must admit, the doc's good to have in a crunch, and if him and Kaylee is what makes each other happy, well, should be good all around."
Wash opened his mouth to reply with some smart comment when a console beeped. He sent the man a glare and looked down. "Wuo duh MA, Mal. I just got a wave for Simon." He looked at the Captain, all joking gone, "from Osiris."
Mal thought quickly, chances could be it was a trick of the Alliance's or some such. Could be nothing, either way, when it was played, just in case there was a live person and not a recording on the other end, Simon couldn't be there when it was opened. So he did what he thought best, he had Wash play it, and the two of them listened.
A blonde haired woman came on the small screen in the cockpit, her face bore the look of hope, and in that face they could see faint traces of two crew members; a doctor, and a slightly unstable teen.
"Simon? If, if you get this before your – wedding, I want you to know that I love you, and River. So does your father, no matter what he may say or do." She looked down into her lap, clearly she felt guilty for deeds long since past, "I'm sorry. For not believing you, or helping you." When her head raised back up there were tears building up in her eyes, and when they grew heavy with remorse, they fell; rolling down her smooth cheeks, "For…for letting your father abandon you, and doing it myself. For leaving River to that, that place. Miranda has changed so many things…your name isn't mentioned, nor your sisters, but we know you where there. You've done, become so much more than either your father or I could imagine, and I'm proud of you. There is nothing more in the world I want but to see the two of you, and…if you'll have us, to be at your wedding. I promise this is no trick, there's no one watching. If you'll only speak to us Simon." She was silent a long moment before she spoke again, pain and sadness tearing at her already fragile sounding voice, "You're my son. Just remember that we love you, and you know where home is."
"That's Simon and River's mom, huh?"
Mal didn't say anything; he just rubbed his hand over his face and plopped back into the co-pilot's seat. He knew Simon's story, and it had always angered him to know that those so well off couldn't care less what happened to their own kin, so long as it didn't affect their public standings. But to have actually seen the face of a parent who would do that…he had half a mind to wave back and tell them to that Simon and River was his kin now and they ain't to be talkin' to them, ever.
He shook his head as his eyes refocused on Wash's hand waving back and forth in front of his face, "What?"
"I said, should I go get Simon?"
"No, and don't get to tellin' him 'bout it either, I got some talkin' I want to do."
"What are you gonna do?" Wash asked, he knew Mal was protective of crew, and if'n Simon's own folk were going to try and set him up, Mal'd be the first with his gun out. Wash just wanted to know he wasn't going to do anything to drastic and run the risk of ruinin' things for Simon and Kaylee.
"Just some talkin' Wash, if you want you can put your two cents in, we'll send them a message right now." Wash looked at Mal as though he'd suddenly sprouted a second head, "Well?"
Sometimes Wash wondered why he'd decided to go with Mal and Serenity, Lord knows he could die any day on this ship. But of course the same answer always came back: Zoë. "Yeah, this is going to be fun…"
--
Ok, folks. Here's how it is…I have to finish reading a book, write a paper on it by Friday as well as study for a Psych test…so, the next part may not be here for a few days; maybe Friday night, or sometime Saturday. I'll try to do some work on it when I have extra time, so I guess it's possible it could be before that.
Oh, and does Simon sound OOC? There was like one spot I thought he might, but that was in like, chapter one. Well….
Until then, R and R please!