A/N - It's slash. Don't read if you don't like.

The grass was a soft blanket under Simon's head. His eyes were closed, his body utterly relaxed. A small smile tugged at the corners of his pale lips. A smile of peace and happiness, the kind of smile that rarely visited his lovely face.

He had been here for hours now, just lying on the emerald grass, relishing it, basking in the vast open space, the cool, spring wind, the velvety black sky. Stars were beginning to be lit – one by one. He did not need to see each yellow light come to life - he could feel them. His hair was damp from the dew, as was his white shirt, but he did not care. For once, the young doctor was totally and completely at peace.

He heard footsteps, but did not open his eyes. A few moments later, a hand was lowered onto his shoulder. A gentle hand, calloused from hard labour and weapons.

'You've been here for so long,' Mal's quiet voice caressed Simon's ears like silk. The Captain lowered himself to sit next to Simon.

'It's so quiet...' Simon breathed. 'Just feel it. Can you feel the silence?'

'You're an awful romantic, Doc. Your clothes are wet and ants are crawling up your hand.'

'Mal!' Simon sat up, smiling.

'What?'

'You just have to go and ruin it all, don't you? I was enjoying peace, for once. It isn't like there's loads of it to be found on 'Serenity.''

'True... Ain't a person for peace and quiet, me. I like my adventure, ruckus and chaos.'

'That explains a lot,' Simon said, quietly. He leant forwards, burying his face in the Captain's black shirt.

Mal's hands went around the younger man's slender waist, almost reverently. He sighed, inhaling the sweet scent of herbs and mint and apple shampoo. No matter how much Mal loved Simon, he could not help but feel old when he was with the Doctor. Simon was full of youth and, despite all he'd been through, light and joy - and he was incredibly, unbelievably beautiful. Mal could not understand what Simon, a creature of such infinite grace, saw in a not-so-attra