On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree

Kaylee had been thinkin’ on Christmas for a while now. She always got real homesick at Christmas time, remembering the good times with her family; and this year was worse than ever. She thought everyone, even the captain needed a bit of lift right now. They were still tense from the disaster with Early and she at least was missin’ ‘Nara.

So when they hit planet side she approached Mal ‘bout it. He was, as usual uncooperative. “We really don’t need a celebration do we?” he asked

He always thought that Christmas or any other celebrations were more trouble than they were worth. But he could see that Kaylee had her heart set on some sort of fun. She was lookin’ at him with sad eyes, lips trembling, all set to start beggin’. He couldn’t stand the beggin’ and the tears that followed.

The crew could probably do with a bit of a break he decided. “Alright mei mei, but you’ve only got three hours. Then we gotta get going. Jayne’s got my list; you’d best go with him.” He grinned at her and ruffled her hair. “Don’t be spending too much money.”

“I won’t Captain.” Great, she knew the beggin’ look would get him. Kaylee stood on tiptoe kissed him on the cheek and sped away to find Jayne before he could change his mind.

“Hey Jayne” Mal heard her call “Captain says I can come shoppin’ with you.”

Kaylee didn’t mind going shoppin’ with Jayne she reflected as they walked through the markets. Aside from Inara, who weren’t with them anymore, he was the one she’d choose to shop with. Wash was fun, but hopeless with the shopkeepers. Zoë weren’t that interested in siftin’ through all the pretties. She felt that Simon was always lookin’ down at things. When River came, ya spent so much time watchin’ her that no shoppin’ got done. Mal was just plain impatient.

Jayne was more indulgent than the captain. He didn’t mind goin’ into dress shops with her. ‘Cause the girls in the shops always ogled him and he liked that. He’d stand round for hour