Author's Note: A little more talking, a little more peeling away at the layers.

The first thing I really noticed ‘bout it was that it didn’t hurt.

After the whole thing with Simon, after fightin’ uselessly just to convince myself that it was worth a couple’a tears to be with the man I’d pursued for so long, it seemed almost unnatural that it was so easy to be with the man I’d never considered to be much more than my big brother. How easy it was to stop thinkin’ of him as my ge ge. “You’re a bad girl, Kaylee girl,” he’d tease. “Can’t believe the things you’re talkin’ bout doin’ with your ge ge.” Not that you wanted to hear that, but that’s what he said. That’s what he always said.

“You’re so bad, Kaylee,” he whispered, pressing his tongue against the hollow of her throat. “Such a bad girl.” He grinned down at her. “I love it, though.”

She ran her hands across his chest, exploring the patches of hair and the scars. “Do you love me?”

“Mmm.”

“Say it.”

“Love you.”

“Love who?”

“Love you, Kaylee doll.”

She melted, and had to close her eyes and lean heavily against him to support her weight. “Love you, Jayne.”

He grinned down at her again, bit her earlobe, and started pulling her toward the bunk.

We’d been married for six months when we found out. We never discussed babies before that. That was the one hard part ‘bout the whole thing—babies. I knew well ‘n good that he didn’t want any, but I always wanted a baby. A real human baby to hold an’ rock an’ feed an’ teach ‘bout engines. I’d half-resigned myself ta Serenity bein’ my only baby, then Simon showed us those test results.

He’d never admit it, but he was so excited ‘bout the whole thing. Always bringin’ me presents back from jobs, talkin’ bout the future…he’d get so animated. He could lay his head on my tummy for hours an’ just talk. Weren’t somethin’ either of us’d tell the rest o’the crew, but it’s somethin’ I think you deserve to take with ya.

“Are ya mad?” she asked tentatively, touching his shoulder.

“Nah.” But he d