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Author's Note: The following was written for fic challenge #11.

Comfortable
by Tara LJC O'Shea

Kaylee was surprised to find Simon in the passenger lounge, his long legs stretched out in front of him, resting on the low table, engrossed in a small leather bound book. It was almost "morning" by ship-time, and the only reason she was up was because the port stabilizer was acting up, and she wanted to set it to rights before they landed on Persephone in a few hours.

"Hey," she said softly and he looked up, startled. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."

She waited for an answering smile, and when there wasn't one, she sat on the edge of the table, resting her bare feet on the cushion next to him. "What is it?"

"Nothing. I just—it's nothing."

"Is River okay?"

"She's fine," he assured her quickly. "She had a good day. I was just... Never mind. Really, it's nothing."

"It ain't nothing, if it's keeping you up this late," she observed, and waited.

"Am I... Do I seem different, to you?" he finally asked.

She frowned. "How do you mean?"

"I read over some of my journal entries, and it just felt like they'd been written by a stranger—even the notes on River's condition. I know they're in my handwriting. I remembered writing them. But it just seems like..."

"Like you've changed?"

He nodded.

"Changed, you know—for the better, like?"

"I can't tell. I was so focused—there's tw