Author’s note: As a personal challenge to myself, I set up prompts for various pairings/character situations based on songs by Ryan Adams. I posted them all together as some of them are too short to be considered real stories. The pairings are as follows:

Mal/Inara

Simon/Kaylee

&

Jayne/Kaylee

If any of the aforementioned pairings “bothers” you, I would suggest not reading them. Anyhow, I’m a feedback whore, so comments as to what you liked/didn’t like/figured could use improvement are always appreciated. Some of these are extremely sad, be forewarned. Also, there’s a chance I can do an elaboration on one if anyone wants one in particular to be elaborated on. Some don’t have much back-story, but some have a whole novel of back-story waiting to happen. *Crazy grin*

01—Sweet Illusions

Let me go, I’m only letting you down

I’ve got nothing to say to you now

Lose the feelings that are weighing me down when I’m safe

It’s turning morning all the birds are singing

I’m not complicating anything

I’ll have another then I’ll go to bed but I’ll dream of you

Cause it’s almost over

And it’s almost gone

But I can feel the sweet illusion coming

Sweet confusion honey

Sweet illusion coming down

I ain’t got nothing but love for you now

The lack of resentment shocked him.

There had been so many feelings, chief of them being resentment, and now there was nothing left except for pure, sweet, nearly painful love.

And the hurt.

They’d spent the previous night together, clinging and needful and desperate at first, then languorous and peaceful when the first waves of passion died down. “Love you,” she’d whispered, breathless and panting. “Love you, oh God, how I love you.”

“So why don’t you stay?” he’d replied, kissing her breastbone.

In hindsight, it had been the stupidest thing he could’ve possibly said. At the time, however, he’d meant it to express his equal love and devotion. But she’d cried when he said it, held her hand against his heartbeat, then kissed it and rested her head th