**please excuse any typos--typed fast. Jayne's comments are PG-13.**

SIMON AND STRAWBERRIES

"No, no, don't go," Simon says, half asleep, pulling me tight gainst him. "There...Night."

I smile, tickled by his breath. "Simon, hon, I really gotta--"

"Stay."

"But River..."

"Won't care. She's asleep."

"But right in the next room."

"Stay," he says.

"Ok. G'night."

"Don't let the space bugs bite."

I laugh. "You ain't ever gonna let me live that down. I sounded like a retard."

"No worse than my 'You're pretty pretty' on Canton."

"I thought that was kinda sweet."

"At least one person did."

I snuggle down, liking the feel of his arms round me. He really does got great arms--muscles you'd never guess were so -there- cause he's bout my size and more apt to get puched in the face than fight back. I like the "sissy boy" appeal. It's nice after living with grunts like Mal and Jayne for so long. Wash ain't in no sissy or grunt category--he's just'n himself...Strange and "full of piss n vinegar."

I wait till Simon's asleep fore I wriggle out on his arms and scootch onto the floor. He really is so kawai when he sleeps....I kiss where his hair falls forward fore I wrap the top-sheet into one of them toga-dress thingies Simon showed me in the history program. -Much- easier than actual clothes puttin on and he won't guess I've been gone.

In the mess hall, I got a special box marked "kaylee's". It's under lock n key. I keep my fresh strawberries there and never share. I love strawberries like I love Simon but kinda different. He's sweet on the inside just like them with sometimes a little tartness. He's never smarted off at me--just Jayne mostly and once or twice Mal. He can't help it. He's super smart and has more book learning than all of us put together.

I take down my key from its secret spot and open the box, savoring the sweetness of the first strawberry and licking the juice off my fingers.

"Well, look who we have up at all hours," Mal jokes, coming in an