"I'll leave you two alone to discuss this." Zoe was smiling again.

Simon blinked at her back, as she left. He was unsure of himself, and turned to Kaylee. "River just told me that, uhm..." he trailed off.

"Yes. Yes I am."

Simon pursed his lips in thought, and nodded. Now he had a handle on the situation, a way to proceed. “Naturally, I want you to see a specialist, which I am not, but we can start with a checkup-“

“I’m fine, Simon!” Kaylee said, flustered. “My mother had five kids, and my older sister has four already!”

“Do I tell you how to maintain the engines?”

“No. I mean, ‘Yes, Dr. Tam!’” She mumbled, 'Tyrant," under her breath.

“Very good.” He reached out and traced a tear-streak with his fingertip. "Then lets go down to the infirmary for that exam."

They walked, side by side. Simon put his hand out for hers, then dropped it back to his side.

“Technically, River and I are still fugitives, bound by law.”

“I know.”

“What’s that phrase you used, about our adventures with Reavers? 'Scared spitless?' Yeah, that would be me, right about now.”

“Because…” Kaylee held her breath, and stopped on the stairs.

“Shall I make a list?” Simon smiled. He took her hand and tugged her gently along. They continued down the stairs, which, along with a catwalk, wrapped around the modular, after-market, infirmary. His domain, to Kaylee's engine room.

“Are you scared, ah, spitless, of becoming a dad?” They entered the infirmary.

“Yes. Yes I am." Kaylee nodded.

Simon patted the examination chair that tilted, at need, into an operating table, and helped her up. He thought back to the first time he'd had her on his operating table, when both River and his lives hung on the balance of his skill, and a little luck. He also remembered the last time he'd had her on the operating table, in another way, and he blushed. Kaylee saw, and chuckled.

"Wanna play doctor, Doctor?"

"Stop," he said, then leaned over, completely unprofessionally, and kissed her. "Later. As our cap