Lucky for you all, or not - really, here is the next part so soon.

For those of you who read Chapter 8 last night, you've read some of this already. Some has changed, mostly little additions here and there, but nothing substantial has been taken away.

Sorry for the mistake! It was late, I was tired. And I shouldn't be posting at night anymore! I'm hoping to have the whole story done and posted by next week.

There are 12 chapters all together. . .

Chapter 8 can be found http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=15959>; Here

Thanks to Tamsibling and Mal4Prez for the beta.

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Chapter 9

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Kaylee stood with her head on Simon’s shoulder, face buried in his neck, arms wrapped around his torso. Her voice was muffled as she murmured, “Please hurry back.”

Simon held her tightly, as he’d done at every available moment over the last week while they’d traveled toward their destination. It was time for Kaylee, Inara and Madeline to leave and, as he suspected, it was proving difficult to get Kaylee into the shuttle.

So, instead, he stood in the middle of the bunk they’d shared for the last few months and simply held her, willing himself not to wonder if he’d ever see her, or their baby, again. He’d monitored her closely and there had been no further labor pains, but he still prepared a medical kit, even though they would only be en route for a few hours.

“I’m sorry for bein’ such a fei fei de pi yan. I just –“

Simon tilted his head and kissed her quickly; the rest of whatever she was going to say died on her lips. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll be okay.”

She stared up at him with such wide, open and trusting eyes that he wanted to look away before they burned a hole through his heart.

“Promise me, Simon.”

He swallowed hard and cupped the back of her head in the palm of his hand. Meeting her intense gaze, he held it for a long while, saying nothing, until he dropped his forehead to hers and exhaled gently.

Before they had a ch