Title: Dirt-Kisser

Rating: PG. So there is kissin'.

Characters: The crew, the PCs. Kao Helena and Kao Wen

Pairings: M/I, Z/W, S/K by nature of the 'verse, but nothing overt.

Summary: 20ish years post-BDM. Serenity takes on passengers, Serra undergoes a rite of passage. (3/3) Fluffy, fluffy, fluffy.

Disclaimer: Most of the characters (sans the PCs and the Kaos) aren't mine, but the situation is.

For newbies: New Leaf, Brother, Shadow, Mei-Mei, Mischief, Forty, Pirate Children, Mistletoe, Hell-Raising, Delinquent, Dirt-Kisser, Barriers, Tough, Echo, Civilized, Breathing

Author's Note: Sorry, sorry, sorry, SORRY! :) Merry Christmas to any PC readers who are still out there. I'm so very sorry. I make no promises of future PC, but I'm trying. You deserve a long, better ending, but most especially, you deserve an ending to this story, and I knew I'd never get any more PC out if I didn't finish this one.

Kacey Washburn, 19.5 (offship)

Lolly Tam, 18.5

Abe Reynolds, 17

Serra Reynolds, 12

Previously in Dirt-Kisser, Abe and Lolly thought 12-year-old Serra was too chicken to kiss their passenger, 13-year-old Kao Wen. Merciless teasing ensued.

Part 3

When Serra arrives at the breakfast table, Abe and Lolly resume their clucking.

“Bi zui,” Serra snaps, grabbing a bowl of protein off the table and stomping out of the room.

“What have you done to her?” Inara asks.

“Found a limit to her bottomless courage,” Abe smiles, sharing a conspiratorial look with Lolly as he enjoys his breakfast.

“You shouldn’t tease your sister,” Inara admonishes, though not very seriously.

“Oh, because she’s so sweet to us all the time,” Lolly says, sarcastically.

“We’re just giving her a dose of her own medicine,” Abe notes.

“I’m sure Dad would agree with our prescription,” Lolly agrees.

Inara rolls her eyes and sips her tea.

“Just don’t be cruel.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Abe grins.

***

Serra huffs down the stairs, seeking the solitude of the cargo hold, or at the least the comf