Holiday Chores 3: Serenity Carnival

By

KMS

kmspider@aol.com

http://hometown.aol.com/kmspider/myhomepage/index.html

Summary: The day that celebrates freedom

Others in this series:

Holiday Chores 1: In Stitches

Holiday Chores 2: Pooka Madness

* * * * * * *

“Sorry, Doc. There’s worlds aplenty where you and your sis might find a high time, but the only thing this here world’s got aplenty is Alliance all about. Ain’t no way you and little sis can go to the Festival.”

“My apologies, Captain. I had to ask.”

Mal didn’t miss the resigned disappointment in the boy’s eyes, or the sad little twist of lips that might have passed for a smile ghosting over the boy’s face like a shadow cloud as he began to turn away.

He glanced up to see Inara watching the exchange, her dark eyes flicking to his own, their intent not to be ignored. He knew that look from her, and didn’t like it much. ‘You’re the Captain, do something about this!’ it near screamed.

Mal sighed, knowing that there wasn’t much he could do, and turned with the young doctor, slinging an arm over the boy’s shoulders as he walked out of the cargo bay, pointedly ignoring the surprised and wary look THAT garnered him. Simon didn’t expect kindness out of him. Kind of made Mal twitch if he thought on it too hard.

“Maybe Shepherd Book and Kaylee can pick you up something. Carmel apples, cotton candy, balloons, or the like. Maybe a stuffed toy for River.”

A tiny smile crept over Simon’s face, as he stopped and faced Mal. “Thank you, Captain. That would be most kind. I’ll go speak to them about it now.”

Mal let him go, ignoring the fact that the smile seemed forced, and kind of painful, than glanced at Inara’s disapproving stare. “What?”

******

Simon knew better than to speak to Kaylee about picking anything up for River and himself at the festival. He had no doubt that she would, all too willingly. He also knew it would spoil it for her. She’d spend so much time worrying about them she’d probably rush back to