DR: Back again, with another chapter for all you lucky people. To contrast with the last couple, this is a more 'light hearted' chapter. A little Vega/Mir fluff, plus sne Kaylee centric...

Zeke: Enough already! On with the story!

Chapter 17: New Deals & Old Friends

Mal sighed as the cattle trundled out of his ship. The hold wasn't as bad as before, since the trip had been a lot shorter, and Mal had had thick plastic sheeting laid down beforehand. Still, he'd be glad to be rid of the cattle... and their droppings.

As he looked out to the temporary corral he caught sight of River tightening some rope with harsh movements. So she was still angry and upset. Mal didn't blame her one bit.

When Simon had returned from assisting Doctor Wulfran, he'd been white as a sheet and preoccupied. Kaylee had called him on it first, but he refused to talk about it to anyone but River.

She'd left the small cabin a few minutes later, long strings of Chinese curses leaving her lips as she yanked a suit from the locker before marching out the hatch. Mal had been going to stop her, but the black look on her face stopped him. She looked ready to kill somebody.

Everyone else had gathered together in the dining area to hear the story. Simon had eventually explained how he'd found out that the Alliance had harvested his sister ovaries, and were using her eggs and DNA in their twisted experiments. How one of the soldiers who had been part of the assault on Thunderchild had, in effect, been her son. Who knew how many others were out there.

Doctor Wulfran wanted her to visit his bay to determine just how much had been harvested, but so far she hadn't gone. She was too emotional for the time being. When she'd returned from wherever she'd been, she'd been in the suit, head bowed within the helmet. When Simon had removed it, her face had been revealed to be tear-stained. When she spoke, her voice had been croaky. Kaylee had all but dragged her to the bunk she had with Simon, and together they had comforted her.

She had emerged in time for their descent to the surface, but she'd still been withdrawn and sullen. Fortunately, she'd kept away from the cattle, for which Mal was grateful. He hated to seem cold, but he had to think of the job first, then his crew.

Pushing such thoughts to the back of his mind, Mal strode down the ramp and towards the corral... and the man that stood nearby, looking over the herd.

Unlike the last time, this fella was much more reputable. Smarter clothes under the grim, clean jaw, and an honest air.

"Morning. Would you be Mr Callowfield?"

"That's right captain." Callowfield turned to face him, a happy expression on his face. "I see you've got Sir Harrow's beef."

"Honestly paid for." Mal countered. 'Let the games begin...' He thought.

For the next few minutes the two of them bartered back and forth, both men finding the experience enjoyable this time. Indeed, they even continued to barter beyond the point they would normally have ended it.

Finally though, they had to warp it up. "Well, I think we have deal Mr Callowfield." Mal held out his hand.

"I do believe you're right Captain Reynolds." They shook, then watched as Callowfield's men began to herd the cattle away.

He was just handing Mal the cash, when Callowfield's eyes went over his shoulder. He grinned. "You weren't kidding about 'beautiful women..." he trailed off, eyes widening.

Mal tensed as he looked over his shoulder, but all there was were Inara and Kaylee walking back, baskets in their hands. The two of them had gone into town to pick up a few items.

Mal looked back at Callowfield, who was still looking at the women, in amazement Mal realised, not fear. "Kaylee?"

Kaylee looked up. Her eyes widened, then she smiled warmly. "Mr Callowfield!"

Mal watched with a mixture of amusement and confusion as she stepped over to give him a one armed hug. "I take it you know each other?"

Kaylee smiled up at him. "Mr Callowfields farm is right next to my ma's folks. I used to go over all the time, till I started helping my dad."

"Yes, and how you have grown." Callowfield made a show of looking her up and down. "I haven't seen you since you're a bouncing nine year old, now look at you!" Kaylee blushed at the praise, brushing some hair from her face. The motion caused light to glimmer off the ring on her finger.

"Married too? Well, I hope however he is, he takes good care of you."

Kaylee grinned, a saucy gleam in her eye. "Oh, he does." A far away look entered her eyes, and her smile faded a little.

Mal knew what she was thinking. "Why don't you help the others pack away the corral mei mei, then we'll all drop in on your folks."

The smile she turned on him was almost blindingly bright, and she trapped him in a hug that was crushing, even with just one arm. Over her head, Mal saw Inara smiling at him proudly.

X-X-X-X-X-X

Miranda smiled with contentment as she looked over the dry scrubland before her. The ball on Persephone had been a wonderful experience – well, until Atherton Wing butted in – but this was where she belonged. In her zoid's cockpit.

"Race you to the top of that ridge line!" Vega's call came across loud and clear. "We won't use the boosters to make it fair."

"Okay, on three. One... two three!" Miranda raced through the last two words, taking Vega by surprise and racing out ahead.

"Oh you little... " Vega's tone was playful however as the Fury broke into a run. Over the open channel she could hear the Fury roaring with laughter.

Chuckling herself, Miranda focused on the ground ahead. With this moon's sparse population, Achilles had decided it was safe to let the zoids land and stretch their legs. They had been directed to the wilderness areas, places untouched by the settlers. Only the odd prospector came out here.

Mal and his crew were wrapping up business before heading over to where Kaylee grew up, which happened to be the closest farm. Mir and Vega might join them later, depending on how Mal figured Kaylee's family would react to the two zoids.

Achilles had also allowed limited shore leave for his crew, and had sent a team down to open a dialogue with the local people. Thunderchild herself was sat in orbit above the planet, though not directly over the town. He didn't want to scare them.

Behind her, Vega smiled as he watched the Blade Raptors motions. It was young in zoid terms, having only been fully grown in it previous state for three years. For creatures that lived hundreds of years – or in the case of a select few, thousands – five years was little more than an eye blink.

None the less, the zoid moved with a fluid grace that was second only to more advanced zoids. The smaller forelimbs were tucked in close, while the tail was held out straight to balance the body. The head was thrust out, flattening the 'S' curve of the neck.

Through the controls, Vega could feel the Fury's own contentment. Yes, the zoid was a thrill seeker, but it had mellowed a bit over the last year, and after the long sleeps required for transit in the Thunderchild's hold, the Fury was happy to just do something.

They reached the ridge, Miranda barely ahead. The Blade Raptor leapt upwards, before snaring a hold using its claws. Nimbly it began to scale the rock face, claws meant to slice through thick armour digging deep into the soft rock.

The Fury, bigger and heavier, with the bulk of its strength in its hind legs and neck, had to attack the cliff differently. Spotting an area where the cliff had broken down into a pile of large boulders over a long slope, the Tyrannosaurus shaped zoid used the power of its massive legs to climb up, foot claws digging deep into the loose stuff on top before latching onto the larger, firmly placed boulders.

Pushing upwards, the Fury reached the flatter region above, but it was well down the cliff face from the Rev Raptor, which climbing the rock face straight up towards the goal. With a roar of playful challenge, The Fury ran for the top.

In a cloud of dust, the two zoids reached the target spot at the same moment, practically on top of each other. The two looked at each, snout to snout.

"Well, I guess we'll have to declare this a tie."

Miranda smirked. "Maybe. So what now?"

Vega smiled, triggering the Fury's canopy. Sensing his pilots wishes, the Fury ducked down to allow him to safely get out. Miranda followed suit, and was soon standing on the warm rocks by him. She was surprised to see him holding a small hamper.

"How about a picnic?" He asked, holding the hamper. "I, er..., borrowed a few items from the ship's galley."

"Borrowed." Miranda looked at him in amusement, an eyebrow raised slightly.

"Well... the chefs did cook what needed it before hand." Vega smiled as he set the hamper down atop a small rock.

There was chicken meat, done with a Colonial recipe meant for a similar creature, some hydroponically grown fruit, some Earth Origin bread – a big hit with the Colonials – and a modest sized bottle of liquid. Miranda's eyes widened at the sight of the label.

"Colonial Ambroisa?"

Vega nodded as he removed some foil wrapped kebab like objects before reaching in for the two plates inside. "When I mentioned that you'd be with me, the chef just slid that in and winked."

Miranda giggled. "You think he's been plotting with Starbuck?" Vega caught her reference to how the daredevil warrior had helped Apollo and Sheba get together.

Vega smiled as he set at removing the cork. "Cheers."

X-X-X-X-X-X

"Father! There's a ship landing in the paddock, right next to your own!"

Gregory Lee Frye frowned as he looked at his son who had just come running in through the door. Why on Earth would a ship come here, much less to this moon? There was barely anything worth anything here. He was about to press his son, wondering if he had fallen asleep, when he heard it too; the sound of a ships engines.

He shared a concerned glance with his wife, before stepping over to the sideboard and lifting down the old shotgun he kept there. The Alliance had not bothered him in years, so why come back now? He knew that they kept tabs on him in the past, due to his role in the War as an Independent fighter pilot.

But that was a long time ago. Hell, he'd not even got off the ground in the last two years, let alone into space. First couple years after the war he'd been running a successful shuttle trip around the local planets and moons for those willing to pay. It wasn't combat flying, but it sated his thirst for the freedom that only flying could give. But as the Alliance cracked down on small time operators in favour of large, government run carriers, he'd been slowly forced out of business. Now his ship sat rusting in the field, while he turned his hands to farming the land alongside his wife and son. Kaylee had been right to leave when she did; her mind was wasted on farm machinery, and only a couple of weeks after she left Gregory had to shut down his shuttle service

Stepping outside, he looked up into the sky, searching for the speck that would signal the incoming ship. Hearing footsteps behind him he glanced back to see his son stepping up with the rifle in his hands. Behind him was Gregory's wife along with his son's new bride. He had been disappointed at first when his son had shown a talent for farming, but he had done well with the land, and found himself a good woman.

Turning back to the sky, Gregory's eyes narrowed as he saw the ship swooping down. 'A Firefly? Who in the 'verse still uses those?' Even as he watched the old transport slow down to land, a memory prickled at the back of his mind.

'Kaylee said she'd gotten work on a Firefly…' He sighed out of reflex when he thought about his beautiful daughter. She had been a real genius when it came to machines. The girl had natural talent with anything mechanical. The letters they had received over the last couple of years had brought smiles to all the family. Just like her, her letters had been filled with sweetness and cheer. No matter what the world was throwing at him, her simple presence cheered him up.

Then the letters stopped, little over a year ago now.

Eyes tight, he walked over to the edge of the paddock as the firefly swooped down and settled besides the rusted bulk of his old long range shuttlecraft. Over the last couple of years he and his family had been forced to cannibalise it for parts to keep the farm equipment going.

The transport landed expertly, and Gregory slowly approached the front hatch. He hung back in case they used the ramp…

With a clunk and a whine the ramp began to lower down, and he tightened his grip on the shotgun a little.

Faces began to appear over the rim, and he looked over each one as they appeared. There was a lean faced large nosed man, a regal and sophisticated woman, a thuggish looking one…

His eye landed on the one face then, and he froze. Meanwhile the person he was looking at grinned brightly.

"Daddy!" Kaylee called before running forward, across the still lowering ramp. When she jumped towards him, Gregory had just enough presence of mind to drop his gun to catch her.

Her landing in his arms was almost enough to knock him over, but his mind unconsciously recalled how she used to do this in her youth, and how to prevent them both falling on the ground. As such he spun her around in his arms, a broad smile spreading across his face.

"Kaylee!" He cried, hugging her even tighter. His whole day brightened considerably now that she was back. He laid a fatherly kiss on her cheek before allowing her to drop back down onto her feet. He gazed down into her warm eyes. "I never thought I'd see you again…"

Kaylee smiled. "Oh daddy…" She looked to his side, and her smile brightened once more. "Sam!"

Samuel rushed over, grinning widely. "Hey little sis'!" Gregory released her in time to allow the siblings to embrace. Kaylee's laughter filled the air as the rest of the ships crew stepped down at a more sedate pace.

"Kaylee!" The air was filled with joy as Gregory's wife came running up, her silvered hair flying behind her. Before Sam could let go she had embraced both him and Kaylee in a tight hug, clutching her children to her in a family hug. "Oh I've been worried sick about you, Miss Frye! No letters for over a year! Have you been alright? Have you been eating properly…"

"I'm fine mum." Kaylee's answer was partly muffled by her mother's body.

Off to the side, Serenity's crew watched a little misty eyed at the Lee Frye reunion. Foremost of them Mal had a slight smile on his face as he looked over the family. Kaylee clearly took after her mother in terms of looks, though her father's hair, while greying, was a clear match for her own. Her brother was more like their father, with his strong jaw and wiry frame. The lean musculature showed that he worked hard.

Besides him he noticed Simon fidget. Mal shook his head slightly.

Gregory turned now to look at the crew. Almost instinctively his eyes came to rest on the man he reckoned was the captain. He noted that he was dressed in a tattered and worm Independents uniform. He held out his hand. "Welcome. I'm Gregory Lee Frye."

"Captain Malcolm Reynolds." Mal stepped forwards and shook his hand. "Your daughters a real genius. You should be proud."

"That I am." Gregory replied as Kaylee stepped back to join them, her mother just a step behind. Sam had stepped back to bring his wife into the family gathering.

Kaylee looked up at her father, a mixture of joy and… was that apprehension on her face? "Daddy, there's some people I want you to meet." She leaned forwards and took hold of Simon's wrist before pulling him to her side. Wrapping her left hand in his right, she faced her parents. "Mum, Dad… this is Simon." She paused for a moment. "My husband."

Mrs Frye gasped before clapping her hands to her face, while Sam Lee Frye gaped. Gregory frowned as he looked over Simon. Of decent height, thin faced with a 'cultured' air about him. He was dressed smartly in black pants, white shirt and a waistcoat. There was a flicker of concern in his eyes, but apart from that it was hard to get a read on him.

"When did this happen Kaylee?" He asked, his eyes never leaving Simons face.

"Nine months ago Daddy." Kaylee at least didn't seem phased by his question. "We would have invited you, but we were… cut off, at the time." Her eyes sparkled. "It was beautiful!"

"Uh huh… and who walked you up the aisle young lady, or did you not bother with one?"

"That would be me." Mal stepped forwards. "Kaylee asked me to act in your stead. And I assure you, it was a proper wedding, cake and everything. We captured the whole thing for you."

Gregory grunted, his eyes still on Simon. He watched how the man swallowed, but continued to meet his gaze. That scored points in Gregory's book. At last he addressed him. "Do you love my daughter?"

Simon answered simply but firmly. "Very much sir. I'd give anything to keep her safe."

River smiled broadly. She knew that he'd said the same thing regarding her several times.

Gregory slowly nodded, before looking at Kaylee. "I guess he'll do…"

Kaylee smiled warmly, dragging a smile onto his own face. "There's more daddy." She looked towards the crew, finding and meeting Rivers eyes. A slight nod, and River walked over. In each arm she held a bundle of cloth.

Relieving her of one, Kaylee turned to face her father. "This is George…" She said handing him the bundle, which he realised contained a sleeping infant. Even as he settled the child in his arms, he found that she was holding out the second. "…and this is Nathan. Your grandsons."

Gergory's jaw dropped as he looked down at the two infants sleeping in his arms. His wife had gasped once more, while Sam had gasped "Holy…", but he barely heard them. He found himself staring at the two boys.

"I'm a grandfather…" He whispered.

DR: Still un-beta'd, so be gentle...