Based on: "Because you loved me" by Celine Dion

Summary: The thoughts of a woman in love.

One day, he was there, I was there, no one else was there, and he looked at me with those blue eyes and that smile that makes him look so much younger than he is. We started talking and laughing and before I knew it, I was in love.

Love is a new thing for me. I love Simon, but that's a different kind of love. This is a passion, a fiery passion that burns me from within. I can't get enough! Like a moth to a flame. His light guides me home. His warmth, now that is something spectacular. I feel it all over, literally and figuratively. Especially when he's holding me like he is right now while he sleeps.

What I love about him…what don't I love about him? I can't think of anything. He's always there to stand beside me in my darkest hours. He made me see that I'm whole. I'm not a broken toy left forgotten in the corner of an abandoned home. I'm an actual person, real and whole, as he put it once. I see myself through his eyes. I can't be as great as he thinks I am. There is no way. Now he's just as wonderful as I think he is, if not more so. He argues that he isn't, but he is.

He brought me this happiness that I had long since forgotten I could feel. After the horrors I've seen and been through, I had no reason to believe in it. Now, just the mention of his name makes me blissfully inebriated. He's my savoir, he really is.

When everything is wrong, he's there. He makes it all better. Sometimes he just has to be there and it all falls back into place. He makes it all alright, he makes me alright. He has never let me fall. Never. He saw me through it all. The Maidenhead. Miranda. Mr. Universe's moon. He has always been there, whether he knows it or not.

I love how his chest goes up…and down…up…and down with each breath he takes. I sometimes sit up at night and watch him sleep, like he's done over the years. His presence gives me strength. Strength I didn't know that I had. I love him so completely and I know he feels the same. He's even been finishing my sentences. He can read me now, not like I can read him. He can look at me and just know what I'm thinking by the look in my eyes or the way I smile. He knows what all of my smiles mean. He knows me more than anyone else. More than Simon, even. He knows my dark and haunted past, but he doesn't see that. He sees the best in me. I'd say that I see the best in him, but to me all of him is the best.

He's softly snoring now. I like it when he does that. He looks so adorable when he sleeps. Sometimes he gets a little smile on his face. It takes everything in me to avoid kissing him. I don't want to mess with his sleep. I don't need much of it really.

I look at him, and I just crumble. He melts my heart. Mal is so different than all of the boys I used to know on Osiris. He's real. I believe in him so much and he believes in me. I'm everything I am right now because he loves me.

He said once, "Love keeps her flyin' when she oughta fall down." It's true. He keeps me going, flying is a more appropriate word for it. If love is the first rule of flying, then I should have wings. He makes me so much better. When he says things like, "No stars are outta reach. Just tell me which ones you want and I'll get 'em for you" I swear I forget how to breathe. He's such a romantic. He tries to be tough, but I see right through him.

It's amazing that only Zoe knows about us. I mean, the man is always making excuses to see me and wrapping his arms around me. I'm not complaining or anything. I'm grateful for every second I have with him. I'm truly blessed to be with a guy as great as he is, but this secret has to come out sooner or later. It kills me to act like nothing is going on between us. I'm waiting until Simon is in a very docile mood before I tell him…and Mal's out on a job so he won't do anything crazy. I don't think that Kaylee will mind. She'll be happy about it. Jayne won't care, so I might as well tell them. Not until Simon knows first though. He's my brother, he deserves that much. And he chose this ship. He's the reason I know Mal. I wouldn't change that for anything, ever.

He's stirring. Dreaming. It's a good dream. He's smirking too. I hate to leave every morning. I hate watching him leave worse. That's why I usually go to his bunk. His face falls when I have to go. It kills us both. That's why this has to come out! Then I can stay. Nothing could ever make me leave.

He's always here for me, and hopefully I'm always there for him. He seems to think so. I wish that he could hear my thoughts like I can hear his. Then he could see how much I love him. He was the wind that carried me through the past few years, even before these three months we've been together. The light in my darkness, my inspiration, my truth in the sea of lies. I want to be as strong as he is, as whole. He tends to think I am, but I'm not convinced.

No, it's that time. I have to leave every morning before anyone wakes up. Only until this comes out though. After that I can stay in his arms all night, morning, and day. I always wake him up the same way. I kiss him on the cheek by the ear and I say good morning. He's not a morning person. It's fun to watch him grumble and sleepily open his beautiful eyes. He's sitting up right now, cursing. Ha-ha. He said that I'm going to be the death of him if I keep waking him up so early. In his mind I see that he is just upset because that means I have to leave. If only he knew how badly it hurts me too.

I love his kisses more than anything else. The one we just had made me go weak in the knees. It was a good thing that I was sitting down. I'm trying to get out of bed, but he's holding on tightly. I can't fight his strength, so I'm trying to wiggle out but he's bringing me to his chest and kissing my neck. I love him so much, even if he's tickling me to no end like he is right now.

Okay, now I'm blushing. He's thinking about me like I'm some perfect goddess and I'm not. He's always finding the best in me. I wouldn't be this sane or this happy if it wasn't for him. I owe it all to him. I love you, Malcolm Reynolds. I have faith in you, in this.

I'm everything I am because you loved me.

The end

Thanks for reading! The next one shot is a continuation of this one, only it switches songs and to Mal's POV. HH