“Throw a bit a woo at her, see what sticks.” –Dale from King of the Hill

Chapter Two-

Kaylee was on top of the ship. Since Mal had promised them a few quiet days on Whitefall, she had decided to take advantage of having atmosphere and poke around the outside of Serenity to see if maybe her phantom problem rested out there somewhere. Also, it was a beautiful cool sunny day and she wanted to look at the clouds awhile and smell the air.

The mechanic wasn’t up top for very long before the hatch fell back with a clang and a cautious head rose into view. Kaylee looked up from her work with a quizzical frown.

“There you are,” Simon said with a warm smile, “I’ve been looking all over for you.”

“For me?”

He nodded and took another step up. Kaylee stood and made her careful way

over Serenity’s skin to help Simon out of the hole. She held her hand out to him to but instead of offering her his own hand, he presented her with a bouquet of small blue wildflowers.

Kaylee accepted them with a brilliant smile. “Thank-you, Simon!” She pressed her face to the blossoms and breathed deeply, “They’re so shway.” She said in a soft voice.

“I picked them myself, out on the hill. River and I went for a little walk and these reminded me of you.”

“Me? Why?” She asked, sounding surprised.

Simon ducked his head, embarrassed. “Well, they’re pretty and they smell good. . .”

Kaylee felt the blush to the tips of her fingers. “I know the perfect place for them.” She confessed, looking down at the bouquet in her hand.

“Where?”

“On top of my tool stand in the engine room.” Kaylee always felt that Serenity enjoyed a bit of pretty too and she felt closest to the spirit of the ship in the engine room.

Simon was looking at her strangely.

“What?” She asked.

His expression smoothed itself out, “I was just wondering what you were working on up here.” He sat down and motioned for her to join him.

“Oh, I was just. . .” The mechanic launched into a ten minute explanation of how Serenity’s thick skin was attached