Standard disclaimers apply. Firefly, Serenity, and the original characters are not mine. This was written for fun, not profit. Two new characters are mine, but Joss can have them if he wants because they really want to come out and play.

Archiving: Just let me know where.

Rating: NC17 for adult situations and language.

Pairings: Kaylee and Simon

Chinese Translations:

juh jen sh guh kwai luh duh jean-jan – this is a happy development.

Liúmáng – bastard

wuh de tyen, ah – dear God in heaven

ENGINE ROOM

LATE EVENING

MAL: (Under his breath, a little stunned, but recovering) Oh, juh jen sh guh kwai luh duh jean-jan (Aloud, trying not to look at them) Eh hem, engine room's a bit public. There are several perfectly good bunks on this boat. May I suggest you find one?

Simon half-hears Mal, his eyes open over Kaylee's shoulder, and he sees him standing in the door. Simon looks, for a moment, like a small animal caught in a trap. Before he has time to let go of Kaylee, or even move his hands, he registers Mal’s words and the look on his face - which is discomfort rather than anger. His look of panic is replaced with comprehension. He realizes Mal is serious, and isn’t planning to stop them.

SIMON: (Blank surprise) Yes, right. We’ll do that.

Kaylee buries her head in Simon’s shoulder and giggles.

Mal turns and heads back down the hall, where he runs into Wash and Jenny, who are carrying cups of tea and a plate of horrible-looking cookies.

HALL BETWEEN ENGINE ROOM AND DINING ROOM

WASH: (Concerned) Is she all right? We brought cookies.

JENNY: (Guilty) I feel like this is all my fault.

MAL: (Bemused, turning them around to face back toward the dining room) I suggest we all just head on back. Kaylee is just...

KAYLEE: (Off camera) Lets out a small laugh of delight that ends with a gasp

SIMON: (Off camera, but clearly audible) So I should stop that then?

KAYLEE: (Off camera, pleading) Oh no, please don't.

WASH: Oh.

JENNY: (Amused) I see she's in good hands.