(thanks to andraste_tree for the lovely banners, too).

***

"Hey Ma." Jayne came to stand next to them, taking the cloth out of the woman's hand. "Why don't you go sit down? Kaylee'n me'll finish up here."

Kaylee smiled down into the sink. He'd given her time, gave her space all the way through dinner without making it obvious. Maybe the twins had gotten good since she was gone. Or maybe it was something he'd figured out for himself.

He took the next plate from her hand without blinking.

"I wanted to ask you somethin' before." He started and she breathed in to steady herself. "But now I don't."

The air went out of her lungs and she couldn't help herself from looking up at him, trying to figure out what he was gonna say from his eyes alone. They weren't much help.

"I got things to say, Kaylee, an I want you to listen to 'em, but I don't want nothin' back. Okay? I don't want nothin' from you, 'cept for you not to laugh."

"Jayne." She plunged her hand back in the water. "I wouldn't..."

"But people do. I ain't smart, I know it, don't ever pretend to be, but it seems whenever I try and be serious 'bout stuff, there's people laughin' at me for it. The captain, Wash, Zoe." He paused. "