Kaylee had prepared the plates.

Simon had gone off to retrieve the rest of his suit, then went to the cockpit because he had something planned for them in there. Eager, she dished out portions, then balanced the plates as she barefooted down the corridor.

Simon stood at the door, swooping in to take the plates as she absorbed the surroundings.

Kaylee gasped.

Before work that morning, he had taken a sheet of plywood and a couple of crates up to the cockpit. Now, one crate and the plywood piece were the table, elegantly conceiled under a tablecloth, and the other crates served as the chairs. It was all positioned at the very nose of the ship, the ceiling the windshield and the blanket of stars in full view. He ahd also lit a small candle in the center, two glasses with the wine bottle chilling in an ice filled Blue Sun coffee can, a platter of chocolate dipped strawberries, and had tried to set up a cheese and bread plate, yet the bread was mangled on account of the Hero of Canton. He set the plates down, and went back to retrieve his awestruck bao-bei. With chivalry that came from the finest cotillions and debutantes, the took her hand and kissed it, bowing deeply. "Miss Frye, may I escort you to your table?"

The mechanic, who had never been addressed in such a manner, felt the threat to melt into a puddle, or, jump her date's bones. Composing herself the best she could, she noticed the twinkle in his eye and merely nodded her head.

Simon held onto the hand, but placed his other on the small of her back to properly walk her over in Core high class custom.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inara helped her onto the couch.

Her demeanor could only be classified by the ex-companion as a panic attack. The reader was cold sweating, hands trembling, eyes shut as she let out a crackled cry of pain.

"Sweet heart, we're on Shadow..." Inara gently gathered the smaller hands, as River had balled herself up. Her own worry began to grow at a rapid pace, River's last sentence sent her into a downward spi