FIC SERIES TITLE = Pivotal Moments

This four-part story is the result of collaboration with my dear friend and soon to be roommate, Mike. The writing game is not new to Mike. It is to me. We’ve both been into Firefly for nearly a year now and both are huge fans of the fanfic. Mike doesn’t have an LJ account (yet), but has read over my shoulder for a long time. Anyway, this is a result of mutual brainstorming and rewrite sessions. We hope you enjoy.

Dedicated to Squish. Thanks for bugging me to write until I actually did it. Thanks also for your great beta work and the inspiration your own writing is. It’s been a treat working on this with you.

Jaylee. Set approximately three and a half years post BDM.

Background: After Miranda, Kaylee and Simon were involved seriously for approximately eighteen months. Their relationship, though not horrible, had been unable to live up to the build-up they had both given it in their minds. They parted peacefully and had remained very good friends. Nine months prior to this story, Kaylee’s long-time friendship with Jayne had taken a very sudden romantic turn. They fell quickly and easily into a relationship that has been humming along since….

Chapter Four: Homecomings

It’s the middle of the night on Serenity. The door to shuttle two hisses open. Zoe, standing ready just inside the door, takes a deep breath and a step forward. Her posture is perfect and her gaze is fixed dead ahead. She’s so focused on her goal that she nearly misses Mal coming from the side.

“Welcome home, Zoe. How’d it go?” Mal’s tone is casual, normal almost.

“Same as last year, Sir.” Zoe nods a polite reply and glances in the direction she was headed. She looks back at Mal. She’s about to make an excuse to leave but he speaks first.

“It’s gonna be fine. I talked to Jayne.” Mal looks Zoe in the eye for emphasis.

“Wasn’t Jayne I was ever worried about.” Zoe nods again and this time is gone before he can speak.

****

Kaylee had spen