She was so beautiful when she slept. She was beautiful all the time. Still beautiful when she slept.

Kaylee was curled up on ‘er side, her back ta Jayne’s gun rack. Jayne was on his side, facin’ her. He hadn’t slept. They’d stayed up until the little hours—not doin’ anythin’, really, ‘cept talkin’ an’ kissin’. Jayne reckoned he’d really been missin’ out on all that kissin’ over the years an’ Kaylee seemed real happy ta oblige.

Kaylee eventually fell asleep. Jayne tried, but he kept openin’ his eyes every five minutes ta look at ‘er. Gave up, eventually.

Her eyelids flickered. She smiled.

“You watchin’ me sleep?”

Jayne smiled. “No.”

She opened her eyes. “Liar.”

She stretched her arms over her head like a cat. Kinda took Jayne’s breath away.

She scooted toward ‘im. He opened his arms for ‘er an’ she slipped right between ‘em ta cuddle up against ‘is chest.

She let out a little sigh. “I missed you.”

Jayne closed ‘is eyes an’ rested his chin on top of her head. “Mm?”

“While I was sleepin’.” She slipped ‘er arm around his waist an’ slid her hand up his shirt in the back. Slid her hand along his spine. “Kept dreamin’ about you, but it wasn’t good enough.”

Jayne smiled again. Kaylee pulled away a little ta look up at ‘im. He opened his eyes.

She was smilin’. He tipped his head down’ an’ kissed ‘er, real soft. Funny, how it still made his heart jump like the first time.

She made a happy little noise an’ smiled at ‘im again when he pulled away.

Jayne rolled onta his back, pullin’ Kaylee with ‘im. She was so little against ‘im. Hardly seemed ta weigh anythin’. She sighed again an’ put her head in the curve of his neck.

“This is nice.”

Jayne slid his hand up an’ down her back an’ closed his eyes again. He was sleepy now. Happy-sleepy. Well-fed-puppy-sleepy. “Glad you think so.”

She was quiet, just layin’ there against ‘im. Felt real comfortable ta have her there. Felt… right.

Jayne started driftin’ off ta sleep.

“Jayne?”

“Mm?”

K