“Wow,” Anne began. “Wow, well I...” She paused, eyeing Carl warily. “Why don’t we all come in and sit down?” she suggested, reaching for her husband’s arm.

A blank expression on his face, Carl nodded.

“Come in, everyone,” Anne invited. “I’ll get everyone something to drink.” She glanced at each of the seven visitors, counting cups, and turned to Kent. “Show everyone into the den and grab your sisters.”

“I can take them to the den,” Kaylee suggested, her face burning red. *He’s my fiancee. We came home so we could get married.* She groaned inwardly. *What a moron.* So nervous was she about introducing Simon that it had popped out before she even realized what she was saying. *Daddy’s gonna kill all of us...*

As they moved toward the den, Kent could be heard in the other end of the small house, near the kitchen. “Betsy! Jessie! Kaylee’s home, an’ she brought her new fiancee!” Kaylee could feel her ears warming even further and her heart fluttering as she winced. Her eyes moved briefly to her father, whose jaw tightened although he said nothing.

Swallowing thickly, Kaylee gestured silently to the sparse seating arrangements. There was a sofa, a love seat, and two wicker chairs present. Gabriel and River immediately moved to a wall and sat on the floor. Shrugging, Mal, Zoe, and Inara moved to the couch. Carl Fry grabbed the back of one of the wicker chairs, turned it slightly, and sank silently onto the wood.

Kaylee turned as her older sisters, clothed in baggy sweaters and skirts, burst into the room. “Kaylee!” they both exclaimed rushing to group-hug the youngest girl. There was a babble of greetings and questions, and then Betsy turned to Simon.

“Is this the fancy doctor we heard so much about?” The eldest sister inquired, hugging him. Simon stiffened noticeably, clueless as to a proper response.

“My, he *is* a cute one,” Jessie purred, winking at Simon. “Better keep ‘im on a short leash.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Kaylee witnessed both Mal and Zoe pretend to wipe their faces in unison as th