TITLE: "BEST INTENTIONS"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: Simon/Kaylee.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: Sequel to "FAMILY VALUES".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

WEBSITE: None. All Firefly stories archived at Fireflyfans.net

SUMMARY: "After the briefest stop on Carousel to drop off some

of his crew, Mal instructs River to take them to White Sands."

The usual disclaimers apply. The characters and 'Firefly'

are the property and gift of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.

No infringement of copyright is intended.

"BEST INTENTIONS"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

"You made me a promise, Malcolm Reynolds. That you would always come back."

Hearing her use his full name made the hair stir on the back of his neck, not that he had any intention of letting the creepiness it gave him show. "I ever break it?"

Her eyes said 'not yet'.

"Just a simple job, Zoe. Fetch 'n carry. A milk run."

She just stared, watching him like a hawk. It was a mite unsettling, truth be told.

"Hardly pays but..."

"A milk run." Zoe repeated, tight lipped.

The Captain nodded knowing she didn't believe it but was stopping just short of calling him a liar. Things being what they were he would take what small mercies he could get. Now that conversation was cycling in a loop through his brain pan. Always knew those words would come back to haunt him, just hadn't expected it to be quite so soon.

* * * * *

Carousel. If ever a world represented Home it was this one. Not just because most every Frye ever born had been sired here but because the roots were still there, driven deep by all the traditional family values and bonds of love and loyalty that would always stand the test of time. Just thinking about it was enough to make Kaylee misty eyed and imagining seeing her folks again was a rollercoaster of all the