Oh, there are 17 chapters. 18 if I decide to include an Epilogue.

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Chapter 8

She woke to a pitiful whining sound coming from the vicinity of the floor. Kaylee yawned and rolled over, careful to keep Simon’s arm wrapped tightly around her waist. She smiled sleepily when she felt him snuggle against her from behind, dropping a kiss to her neck.

But as she cuddled back against his chest, she heard it again, that whining, and forced open her eyes. She yawned and stretched, giggling as Simon mumbled incoherently behind her. She heard a little tick tick on the floor and leaned over the edge of the bed – and came nose to nose with a tiny little labrador puppy.

“Oh!” Kaylee gasped, waking Simon with her surprised gasp.

The puppy below wagged its tail excitedly as Kaylee slipped out of bed, quickly pulled on her clothes, and lifted it into her arms. “Well, hello little one. How’d you get in here?”

“Mal is going to have a fit,” Simon yawned and watched Kaylee snuggle and kiss the puppy.

“He’s so cute!”

Simon arched his head, squinted and chuckled. “She.”

Kaylee turned the pup over and giggled. “Oh. I should kinda know the difference, huh?” her eyes danced as they swept over his body.

“I certainly hope so.” Simon laughed as he slid out of bed and pulled on some pants. He scratched his fingers under the puppy’s chin and kissed Kaylee’s cheek as he walked over to the sink in the corner of the room to wash his face.

“Guess I have to find out which cage you got out of, hmm? Cap’n gonna be mighty upset if there’s lots of you runnin’ around this mornin’”

“I’d almost pay to see the look on his face,” Simon said as he dried his face and hands on a towel.

As if on cue, the ship wide com crackled and the Captain’s very irritated voice ordered everyone to the galley.

“Ah, well, perhaps I won’t need to pay after all.” He finished dressing and swept the puppy out of her arms. “Get dressed, I’ll take this little guy to –“

Kaylee pouted and snatched the little pup awa