Here it is. The very very very last chapter of the series. Its been a journey and thank you for taking it with me. I'm very sad to let these versions of the characters lie, but their time has come.

Thank you for all the reviews, and i hope that you will continue to read and review my future stuff. (I have a Mal / River story coming soon if people wanna know!)

Italics are as usual flashbacks.

Chapter 12: Beautiful World

Simon puts his hand to his ribs and it comes away red. He feels swoopingly sick. He's seen blood before, and he's been shot before. But right now he thinks he might pass out. He can't breathe properly. Oh god I can't breathe. He tries to think sensibly as he darts round another corner and presses himself against the wall of an alley. He hears the security hovercraft race past the entrance of the alley and he sighs in relief. I got shot, oh god I got shot. Where is River? Is she ok? Simon pushes himself off the wall and heads back towards the docks. Towards Serenity. He stumbles for the infirmary and pulls off his jacket, then lifts his shirt. He could call for Kaylee but he won't. He can't make her see this. Simon won't put blood on her hands, even if it is his. He grabs a pair of tweezers from a tray and probes the wound feeling for the bullet. It isn't in there, probably bounced off his rib. Which is broken. Which explains why he can't breathe. His fingers are slick with sweat now and he feels shaky all over. He throws the tweezers down and bites off a length of cotton to stitch it up with. Simon prepares just enough local anaesthetic to numb his side so he can stitch it. He knows it isn't a good enough job to last. He'll sort it out later when the others get back. He pulls his shirt back down and washes his hands. Then he hears the yelling as the others return but right now he has never felt more alone.

Simon walks slowly up the church steps and pushes open the wooden doors with a smile on his face.

"Hello Simon."

He jumps. River and Jayne are stood just inside the doors smiling at him.

"I…err…" Simon doesn't know what to say to them. Then he notes their clothes. Jayne has on a clean blue shirt albeit with the sleeves rolled up in the heat and River has a silky green dress stretched over her bump. He sighs.

"Did Kaylee tell you?"

"Nope," Jayne claps him on the shoulder with a smile. "Your sister had a hunch, and it looks to be right."

River smiles sweetly at her brother's exasperated look and kisses him on the cheek. "I always knew you'd ask her." She looks at her husband. "Pay up."

Jayne grumblingly put his hand in his pocket and hands her a five platinum coin. Simon rolls his eyes. River looks up at him. "Congratulations je je."

He leans over and kisses her forehead. "Thank you mei mei."

Jayne looks down the aisle then back at Simon. "Better get down there then." He gives Simon a little push. "Don't chicken out."

Inara finds Kaylee sat on her bed dressed in her flowery dress staring at her hairbrush, nearly in tears.

"What's wrong sweetie?" Inara asks concerned sitting next to her.

"I can't get my hair right Inara! It has to go right!"

"Why?" Inara says gently.

Kaylee bites her lip then looks at Inara all wide eyed. "I'm getting married," she whispers. "Simon asked me."

Inara stares at her. "That's wonderful!"

Kaylee shakes her head. "We're getting married today. He asked me after the funeral and we wanted to do it quietly. 'Nara, I can't get my hair right!"

Inara stands and pulls Kaylee to her feet. "We'll fix your hair sweetie. Let's find you something to wear."

"No."

Inara looks at her.

"I want to wear this," she gestures to her dress. "I want it to be me. Plus I want some flowers. And great hair."

Inara laughs. "Of course. We'll have you looking like the belle of the ball."

Wash grins at his new wife and continues to beat on the poor piano in the bar in which they are.

"You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain
Too much love drives a man insane," he sings badly.

She rolls her eyes and smiles at him, sipping her drink.

"You broke my will, oh what a thrill
Goodness gracious great balls of fire!"

"Come sit down Wash," Zoë calls setting her glass back on the table in front of her. She smoothes her hands down her long slinky dress and crosses her legs.

Wash grins over his shoulder. "Why my dusky goddess?"

"So I can tell you how the captain is going to kick you in the pigu when he finds out what you've done."

"What I've done?! Sugar lips you're in this just as deep! Running off to marry the pilot is just so romantic."

Zoë rolls her eyes again and drains her glass. Mal is going to kill both of them stone cold dead. He'd made it very very very clear what his feelings were about shipboard romances. They were in so much trouble. Wash has started singing off key again. Luckily the bar is fairly empty.

"Hey Wash you big stud!"

"That's me honey," he calls at her, looking over his shoulder with a jokey grin.

"Take me to bed or lose me forever."

"Show me the way to Serenity darling…preferably one where Mal ain't waiting."

Zoë grins and walks over to his side. Wash looks at her with a dirty grin. She raises an eyebrow. He grabs her with one hand round the waist and pulls her in front of him, pinning her against the piano. He kisses her deeply.

"You know what you've lost?" he asks.

"Don't even think about pulling that lovin' feeling luh suh," she says warningly.

He pouts. "Got me in your bed once didn't it? First time if I recall rightly."

Zoë swats his arm but grins. "You're gonna be the death of me Hoban Washburn."

He smiles at her, with such love shining in his eyes that she swallows. "And you Mrs Zoë Washburn are gonna be my life."

"Don't hold them so tight, they'll wilt before you get down the aisle!" Inara admonishes gently.

Kaylee looks round and grins but releases her death grip on her small posy of wild flowers that they had quickly gathered.

"I'm so glad I told you 'Nara," Kaylee says turning to her friend as they approach the steps.

Inara smiles at her. "I'm glad you told me too. I wouldn't want to miss this. Why weren't you telling anyone?"

Kaylee shrugs. "Didn't seem the time. It didn't matter. We just wanted to be married."

Inara loops her arms around Kaylee and hugs her, mindful of crushing the flowers. "Well you will be soon Kaylee. I'm so pleased for you. Oh hang on."

Inara starts to fuss with the back of Kaylee's dress.

Kaylee reaches out to push open the church door without looking at it. Instead of solid wood her hand meets something far softer.

She and Inara both look up at the same moment. Mal stands in front of the door his arms folded, a serious look on his face.

"Wanna tell me what's going on?"

Kaylee's eyes go wide. "I…err…umm…Captain that is…I…we…"

Inara doesn't know what to say either. "Mal, Kaylee…"

"You're getting married and you didn't tell me."

"Captain I…"

He raises a hand to silence her protest. Inara looks wary.

Mal can't it up any longer. He smiles suddenly and holds out his arm to Kaylee. "You'll need someone to give you away."

Wash sits and stares at the wall of his bunk…his and Zoë's bunk…until his eyes blur with tears. He swipes angrily at his face. He might be happy for Kaylee and Simon but he can't go and see them get married. Can he? No he can't. How can I sit there and watch that when all I'll do is think about Zoë. It won't be fair to Kaylee. But he thinks about her gorram face as he said he wasn't gonna go. She'd stared at him in that wide-eyed way she has that makes all the men on Serenity do her bidding. Even he would succumb to that look, even if it meant taking the mule four miles out of their way to go buy spare parts. He can't not see her get married. It might be hard but he'll regret it if he doesn't go. Sure as night is day. But seeing her so happy is going to shatter his heart again and he isn't sure he is strong enough to let that happen again. To willingly put himself through that. He pushes his knuckles into his eyes.

"Zoë…" he groans softly. "Baby what am I gonna do?"

"You look beautiful."

Kaylee takes his hand and gives Mal a last smile as he slips into the front pew next to Inara.

"Hope you don't mind," she says nodding her head back towards Mal and Inara.

"Found my own two didn't I?" Simon smiles. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Luke smiles at them and starts the ceremony. "Simon Tam and Kaywinnet Lee Frye have come before God to bless their marriage and to start their lives together as man and wife."

Kaylee's got the giggles and Simon squeezes her hand tightly as he turns to look at her.

"You understand that marriage is a binding agreement before God to remain faithful to each other forever and ever as long as you both shall live?"

They nod.

"Simon if you would like to say your vows."

Simon swallows. "Kaylee most people never get a second chance. So I don't know what I've done to deserve you and all the chances you've given me. I love you so much and swear that I am going to spend the rest of my life making you as happy as you make me."

Kaylee looks like she might cry.

Luke looks to her. "Your turn."

"Simon," she says trying to keep her voice steady. "Well…I…I love you. You and me we're like stabilizers on an engine…" she sees the confused look Simon is giving her. "We're meant to fit together. And we fit Simon; we always have, despite the ups and downs. And I promise that I will not tinker with this engine too much."

"Simon and Kaylee have said their vows to each other before God. Does anyone here have a reason before God why these two should not be joined together in Holy Matrimony?"

The church door suddenly bangs open. Simon and Kaylee turn round and stare down the aisle. Jayne and Mal both reach for the guns they aren't wearing.

Standing silhouetted in the doorway against the bright sun is the shape of a man. He walks half way up the aisle, dressed in a blue Hawaiian shirt.

"Sorry I'm late Kaylee."

"Wash!" Kaylee cries grinning. She gestures to Simon and Luke Cobb to wait a moment, and goes running to the pilot. She hugs him tightly. "Knew you'd come," she whispers in his ear.

"No you didn't," he says but is smiling. "She'd want me to be here. Now get back up there!" Wash gives her a little push.

Kaylee scampers up to the altar.

"You know you picked the worst possible moment," River tells Wash as he drops into the pew just behind her.

"I know," he whispers, his attention on the couple at the front of the church, an uncertain look in his eyes. River squeezes his hand quickly then looks back at her brother.

"Simon do you take Kaywinnet Lee Frye as your lawful wedded wife?" Luke asks him.

"I do."

"And do you Kaylee take Simon Tam as your lawful wedded husband?"

"I do," Kaylee beams.

"Does anyone have the rings?"

Simon and Kaylee stare at each other for a moment.

"We…uh…" Simon starts. "We don't…"

River appears by his side, and holds out her palm with two thin gold rings laying on it. "Our wedding present. Hope they fit. No time to have them sized."

"I love you mei mei," Simon kisses her forehead and takes the rings.

"I know," she grins and hurries back to her seat.

"Repeat after me," Luke says. Simon repeats his vows with a look of deep concentration on his face.

"Kaylee I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honour you. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, with this ring, I thee wed."

He pushes the ring onto her finger on the second try.

"Kaylee if you would repeat after me,"

Kaylee's voice is steady and strong. "Simon, I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honour you. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, with this ring, I thee wed." she pushes the ring onto his finger, and smiles up at him widely. The rings are a perfect fit. River knows them too well.

"I now proclaim you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Simon leans forward and kisses Kaylee softly to the clapping of the rest of the crew.

"Wash?"

The pilot turns from watching Simon and Kaylee dance on the ramp of the cargo bay to some of Kaylee's piped music.

"Yeah?" he looks wary as Mal leans on the railing beside him.

Mal takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry."

"What?" Wash stares at him eyes wide.

"I said I'm sorry," Mal repeats.

"You what?" Wash is still staring at him in disbelief. "Say that again?"

Mal gives him a look. "No. You heard me alright?" he looks awkward. "Don't leave."

Wash gives him a small strained smile. "Was never gonna."

"Good," Mal straightens up all business.

He nods to Wash who nods back. It isn't going to be easy. They both know that. There are going to be many more conversations before they can resolve everything. But today is not that day.

Inara steps up beside them both at that moment. "Doesn't she look happy?" she says nodding towards Kaylee.

"Yeah," Mal says smiling and slips his hand into Inara's.

Epilogue: Three years later.

"Jayne! Would you get this kid out from under my feet?"

"Yeah yeah," Jayne scoops his daughter into his arms, from the floor of the bridge. "She's as crazy as her ruttin' mother."

"I heard that!" River's voice comes from down the corridor.

Jayne rolls his eyes. From his arms Amber Cobb stares at Mal with wide eyes. "Is Cap Mally mad?"

Jayne smiles at his little girl. "Not at you mêilì. Now bed time I think."

Mal stares at his suddenly gooey mercenary. "You seen Kaylee?"

"Engine room."

"Engine room?! I told her not to set foot in there until she…" Mal stops and rubs his eyes. "How can she even reach the engine past that bump? She lets her waters break all over that engine and there will be hell to pay!"

Mal stomps down the stairs to the corridor where he catches Simon. "Get your wife away from my engine Doc."

"Not again!" Simon groans and heads to find his wayward wife, who despite being ready to give birth at any moment is still trying to fix things.

Mal continues into the dining room to find Wash and little Mal, who at nearly seven isn't so little anymore, fighting dinosaurs across the kitchen work surfaces.

"Uncle Mal!"

"Ah ha!" cries Wash, taking unfair advantage of his son's momentarily distraction and making his t-rex devour Mal's stegosaurus. "Yum yum stego meat!"

"Ben shuiniu tunbu!" the boy snaps, looking annoyed.

Wash raises an eyebrow. "Where did you learn that language?"

Little Mal points at Big Mal, who pulls a 'who me?' face.

"Must have been Jayne," he says and quickly retreats from the room.

Mal heads slowly towards his room and drops down the ladder. Her soft arms encircle him before he can turn round.

"Hey," she says softly.

"Hey," Mal replies.

He turns and eyes Inara, who is wearing only one of his shirts, the sleeves rolled up to keep them off her hands, and her legs long and naked below the hem. Her hair is tied back in a loose ponytail. No more expensive gowns now that she has retired from the Guild. He never asked her to. One day she just said, "I've left the Guild. What can I do to help?" She never said it was for him, and he never asked why.

"Hard day?" she asks raising an eyebrow suggestively.

Mal grins and works a crick out of his neck. "Yeah, sometimes I feel like I'm running a crèche. And that's just Wash and Jayne."

Inara grabs hold of his belt buckle and drags him towards the bed. "Wanna have a go at adding to that crèche?"

Mal's grin widens. "Yeah. Since I love you an' all."

Inara swats him gently. "Yeah since you love me and all Captain." She grabs his arms and pulls him down to the bed. "Now come here!"

The End

Translation Notes (for whole story)

Hundan – son of a bitch

Mei mei – little sister

Dong ma? – Understand?

Kwan Yin - Goddess of mercy

Shen sheng diyu - holy hell

Wode tìan! - Oh God! (Literally Oh sky!)

Swai – cute

Tyen-sah duh uh-muo. - Goddamn monsters.

Hao yun – Good luck

Je je – big brother

Pigu - ass

Luh suh – crap

Mêilì – beautiful

Ben shuiniu tunbu – stupid buffalo butt