Summary: BtVS/Firefly. Will eventually be 100 drabbles/ficlets written for tth100. All of them Buffy/Mal.
Rating: Age 13 and Over
Categories: Crossovers
Characters: Buffy
Genres: Fluff, Romance, Angst, Drama, Drabble/Ficlet, Crossover
Warnings: Spoilers for Firefly Season 1, Spoilers for BtVS seasons 1-7
Challenges: None
Series: None
Published: 02/19/06
Updated: 07/25/06
Index
Chapter 1: Index
Chapter 2: Crew
Chapter 3: Determination Pays
Chapter 4: Sunlit Smiles
Chapter 5: Acceptance . . . Kinda
Chapter 6: Moonrise
Chapter 7: Good News?
Chapter 8: Careful! Your Inner Idiot is Showing!
Chapter 9: Sinking In
Chapter 10: Thinkin' On Things
Chapter 11: Not Normal
Chapter 12: May I Have Your Attention, Please?
Chapter 13: Coulda Been
Chapter 14: Can't Take the Sky
Chapter 15: Cuts Like a Knife
Chapter 16: Lucky Charm
Chapter 17: His Own Ghosts
Chapter 18: Something of a Break
Chapter 19: She's the One
Chapter 20: She Speaks in Riddles
Chapter 21: White Wedding
Chapter 1: Index
Index . . .Something will be here soon. Like, the prompt table or something.
For now, though:
1: Prompt 79, stumble.
2: Prompt 53, good.
3: Prompt 12, Sunlight
4: Prompt 58, Villain
Chapter 2: Crew
Title: CrewDisclaimer: I own nothing and seek no profit from this story.
Prompt 79: Stumble
Word Count: 461
"And remember, Patience tends to favor shooting me, so best we all be prepared for that."
Buffy stifled a giggle as she listened to Mal talk last minute business as they made their way to their current job. He was so matter-of-fact about it. Oh, by the way, I could get shot. It would have cracked her up if they weren't trying to be all sneaky.
They were walking toward the rendezvous spot, cargo half in tow. They'd hidden most of it, of course, but they had brought a sample along to help sweeten the sale. The dry, rough soil that was native to Whitefall crumbled beneath her feet, and Buffy frowned at the dust on her shoes. It was her first time on this particular moon, and so far she hadn't seen a single thing of interest.
She was about to ask the others what people did for fun on the tiny scrap of land, when a snake came out of no where, slithering out from under some brush and in between her feet. Buffy froze in mid-stride. Kinda. Realizing too late that she hadn't exactly come to a full stop, she over corrected as her feet shuffled for purchase on the loose ground below her. Mal was there in an instant, catching her arm as she started to fall, and easily supported her weight until she was steady on her feet once more.
"Just a sandwinder," he told her. "Nothing to worry over."
She nodded absently, staring off in the direction the snake had gone. He gazed at her in question. "You all right?"
"I don't like snakes."
He grinned. "I'll keep that in mind."
Buffy didn't like the sound of that, especially given the amount of teasing she already endured from Jayne for being such a 'girly warrior woman'. She couldn't help but grin back though, as they started walking again. Jayne and Zoe weren't waiting on them, Buffy noticed all of a sudden. She and Mal quickened their pace automatically. "Thanks."
"For what?"
"Not letting me fall."
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "You're on my crew, Buffy. I ain't gonna let you get hurt if I can stop it."
She managed to hide her smile, but just barely. She was part of the crew. His crew. She nodded. "Okay."
They didn't say anything else as they caught up with the others, but Buffy made up her mind as they were walking. She wasn't going to let the Captain get hurt, either. Not if she could help it. Glancing at the horizon, she narrowed her eyes. That Patience chick was going to have to get through her if she wanted to shoot Mal this trip.
And not much ever got through her.
Chapter 3: Determination Pays
Title: Determination PaysDisclaimer: I own nothing and seek no profit from this story.
Rated: Eh. FR13, I guess. It's kinda bloody.
Prompt 53: Good
Word Count: 1,066
Master List: here, even though it's not updated yet. :)
Author's Notes: No spoilers, but I had the episode The Message in mind when I wrote it. Feedback's always shiny.
***
The sun was setting. Both of them, actually. Buffy had not been aware that was an option, having two suns. Earth only had one sun; this planet had two. Something about that didn't sit right with her, but she could not for the life of her place what it was. The pain in her leg barely even a blip on her internal 'important things' radar, she squinted and tried to focus on the land in front of her instead of her strange sun-related thoughts. She had to hurry. Getting back to Serenity soon was very important. Mal was hurt, and with the . . . suns setting, it would get cold soon. They could not still be out when that happened. Getting back to Serenity was the only option Buffy was going to allow herself.
"God, Mal, do you have to be so freakin' tall all the time? How the hell am I supposed to throw you over my shoulder and run when either your feet or your head's practically dragging the ground every few feet?"
Her words were muttered in a mockery of anger. She was angry, sure, but not at Mal. She was more mad at herself for letting him get shot in the first place. Not being able to get him back to the ship fast enough was just icing on the proverbial, bloody cake. Still, she seemed to have stirred him up a little with her words. He was shifting around a bit and mumbling.
"What was that?" she asked as she trotted along.
"Said, it's not my fault you're so short."
Automatically, she swatted him on the butt. "Be nice or I'll dump you on your ass."
"Did you just spank me?"
His words were slurred and thick. Otherwise, she would have giggled or possibly even flirted a little bit. As it was, Mal's slight incoherence was making her worry more. Especially since she knew it was his blood soaking through her clothes. Or . . . mostly his blood. Smiling grimly, she replied, "Yep, I did. And if you hang on until I get you home, maybe I'll do it again sometime."
"Think I. . ." his voice trailed off.
Buffy forced herself to increase her pace once more. She ignored the burning, stinging, downright horrible pain in her leg, and the all over ache in her muscles. Her back protested when she sped up, but she ignored it, too. She could do this. Telling herself that, she focused on her goal: getting Mal home.
Mal!
She struggled to remember how much time had passed since he last tried to speak. She had to keep him talking. Awake. He had to stay awake. She couldn't remember how long it had been. Her breath was coming in shallow pants now, and she was beginning to get very dizzy. She knew she'd already carried him at least a mile. "Mal?"
He didn't respond.
"Hey! Mal! You still with me?"
"I'm here."
She sighed softly in relief and asked, "What were you saying? You think you what?"
"Huh?" he asked. "Oh. I think I might like that."
"Mal?"
"Yeah?"
"Why does this planet have two suns?"
"It don't." She felt him turn his head slightly, as if he was trying to look at her.
"It doesn't have two suns?"
"Ain't possible. Only one sun. Buffy, you okay?"
She was beginning to think that maybe she wasn't, but there wasn't anyway she'd be telling him that. Shaking off the small shot of worry working through her system, Buffy just grunted. "Yeah. I'm good. Just . . . just a little tired. You're not the lightest flower in the basket, you know."
"Lemme down. I can walk."
She knew he couldn't. His words still slurred, and his responses were getting slower and slower. She held on to him tighter as Serenity came into view. "You hang on. We're almost there."
Buffy forced herself to move even faster when he didn't respond. Her entire body felt like it was on fire by the time she stepped up onto Serenity's ramp, but she wasn't sure she cared. Falling to her knees, she hoisted the Captain off of her shoulder. He slid off with more speed than she anticipated, but she managed to cushion his head with her hands before he hit the floor. He was covered in blood. She didn't look down at her own body. There wasn't a need; he had bled all over her. She didn't need to look to see that. Prodding as gently as possible, she checked his wound. The bullet was still lodged in his side, and she heard a sort of sucking noise every time he took a breath. Gasping for breath of her own, Buffy saw the broken communications unit fall out of his hand.
Communication, right.
Gathering what little breath she could, Buffy shouted for Simon and the rest of the crew. She rested her head against the hull as the sound of footsteps reached her ear. Mal's head was in her lap, and she ran a finger down the side of his face. "We made it, Captain. We're home."
"Knew you could do it," he said weakly, opening his eyes. "Hey, you're bleeding."
"It's your blood."
"No, Buffy, you're--"
Zoe's concerned shout of "Sir!" interrupted him, and Mal never finished his sentence. Buffy fought off the urge to sleep as hard as she could. She managed to tell Simon that the Captain had been shot before her eyes seemed to close on their own. She heard Jayne ask someone if they thought she had carried Mal the entire mile and a half with a bullet in her leg, and tried to open her eyes. She wanted to tell them that she didn't remember getting shot, that she was just sore -- just tired. She just couldn't seem to open her mouth in order to get it said.
The first thing she saw when she woke up was Mal staring at her from the other bed across the infirmary. He looked as woozy as she felt, but managed a smile when she whispered hello. "Welcome back," he said quietly.
"You, too."
"You carried me."
"Had to."
Mal nodded. "You done good, Buffy."
She smiled softly. "You would have done the same. Probably would have made better time, too. Ya know, what with you having those abnormally long legs and all."
He grinned at her. "Probably. But still . . . thanks."
"Any time," she told him, meaning it.
After a minute, he glanced back over. "Buffy?"
"Yeah?"
"Does that offer still stand? The one with the spanking?"
She blinked rapidly for a second, and then grinned. "I think you could talk me into something."
A strangled cough echoed through the room then, just before Simon's voice announced. "And that is my cue to alert you to my presence."
Buffy's grin widened at the doctor's scandalized tone of voice. She and Mal shared a look, and he grinned back. "Alert you to my presence," the Captain said, laughing, in a perfectly prissy imitation of Simon's voice.
Buffy snorted with laughter, ignoring the slight pain laughing caused. Neither she nor Mal took Simon seriously when he said he would withhold their pain medication if they didn't cut it out. They just kept right on giggling like the drugged fools they were. They'd lived to get shot another day.
Life was already back to normal.
Chapter 4: Sunlit Smiles
Prompt 012, SunlightTitle: Sunlit Smiles
Disclaimer: I own them not. If I did, Buffy'd find her way to Serenity and work through all her Caleb issues. . . Joss owns 'em all.
Word count: 231
No spoilers beyond mentioning established characters.
Notes: This is unbeta'd.
She knew the day she saw him smiling in the sunshine. His eyes were shining and he was laughing, and he didn't do either of those things very often, really. He looked at her and his smile widened, and Buffy couldn't help but smile brightly in return. That was the beginning. She can look back and pinpoint it directly to that moment. That's when she fell in love with him. And eventually, over time, Mal started loving her back. They were happy. She was happy.
Walking onto the bridge, she smiled as she slipped into Mal's lap as he manned the controls. "Hey."
He kissed her temple. "Couldn't sleep?"
"Never can when you're not beside me. You get the problem with Badger all worked out?"
"Think so."
She sighed and snuggled closer as his arms closed around her. "Good."
"We're gonna be breaking atmo in about an hour. No time for me to sleep now. Thought I'd just stay here."
"Okay," she rested her head on his chest.
"You going back to bed?"
"Nope," Buffy told him. "I'm comfortable."
"I ain't no mattress, woman," he protested.
She could hear the smile in his voice. "I know. But you are comfortable."
Buffy grinned as his arms tightened around her. "The things I do for you. . ."
Her grin widened. "Love you."
He kissed the top of her head. "Love you, too."
Chapter 5: Acceptance . . . Kinda
Prompt 58, VillainTitle: Acceptance . . . Kinda
Disclaimer: Still don't own 'em. They're Joss Whedon's.
Word Count: 345
Notes: Again, unbeta'd.
She looked at the gun in her hand with a mixture of disgust and acceptance. She'd known it would come to this as soon as Mal started asking her to join them on jobs. In her mind, Buffy knew it was no different taking a human life with a gun than it was taking that same life with a knife. The problem was, she could close her eyes and still see the homicidal look in Warren's eyes as he waved his gun around her backyard. She could still feel the burning fire of the bullet as it ripped through her skin. And, even though she knew it was not true, she sometimes thought she could hear Willow scream as Tara was taken away from her.
Guns are bad.
That was just the way things were. Yet there she was, gun in hand, on her way into a job that could possibly end with her using the weapon. Buffy swallowed hard. It wasn't that she didn't have a choice in the matter. Quite the opposite, really. The choice was all hers. She had known what kind of life she would be leading on Serenity when she accepted the Captain's offer to stay on as a crew member, and he'd made sure she understood that she would be expected to use the weapon in her hand without hesitation if it came to it, as well.
Thing was, Buffy knew she would. If it came to it, taking the life of someone trying to kill her or the others would not be a hard choice to make. Nor would it be the first time she'd killed since the day she found herself in this strange little dimension. This was a kill or be killed world for the most part, and she had gradually gotten used to that.
Buffy's hang up was over the fact that, with the exception of a few heroic gestures every so often, she was a villain these days. A bad guy.
That was a hard pill for the Slayer inside of her to swallow.
Chapter 6: Moonrise
Title: MoonriseAuthor: Emmy
Fandoms: Firefly/BtVS
Pairing: Buffy/Mal
Rating: FR-15
Spoilers: Eh, general spoilers for the series. None for the movie.
Disclaimer: I own nothing and seek no profit from this story.
Word count: Around 693
Prompt: 66, Were-animal
Notes: Thanks to velvetwhip (Gabrielle) for reading over this for me. I've been doped up on pain meds for over a week, and I *know* there were tons of mistakes before she got her hands on it. Any remaining mistakes are mine alone.
Also, this was originally written back in November. . .
***
When she first saw what was happening, Buffy just stood there. She was embarrassed to admit that later, but it's true. The shock of it was just too much. Her brain refused to accept it for a minute, refused to believe that she was actually seeing what it was she was seeing. Her new world didn't have this sort of thing, after all. There were no vampires to slay, no demons to kill, and certainly no werewolves to dispose of. And yet there had been one. In Serenity's cargo bay, to be exact, about a month ago.
Kaylee had been screaming her head off . . . Buffy could still hear the fear in the sound when she closed her eyes. River was scared, too, backed up against a wall and whimpering. It was the rest of the crew, however, that had forced the Slayer into action. Watching Jayne fly over the boxes of cargo, tossed like he was a rag doll, had been enough for her to remember that her destiny was not well-played from the sidelines. Mal and Zoe had both gotten good shots off before the werewolf grabbed the Captain. Buffy hadn't had much time after that. She was still not sure how she managed to get Mal away from it, but she did. Everything after that remained a blur.
Later, everyone had their own version of what happened. Buffy was leaning toward believing Book's retelling of the events, though. It made the most sense to her. He said she'd fought the 'beast' hand-to-hand, all the while yelling that silver was the only thing that would kill it. Book told her that no one really knew what to make of her declarations until she'd screamed at Jayne, telling him that if he didn't get himself to his bunk and back with some silver bullets she was going to loose the thing on him again.
Buffy didn't remember saying that, but she was pretty sure she might have; Jayne had been extra nice with the sucking up since it happened, and he'd made several more offers than usual to show her his weapons. The point was, someone got the silver bullets loaded into a gun, and Buffy managed to keep the werewolf distracted until they could shoot it. Kaylee screamed even louder when the body reverted back into human form once it was dead, the face of the passenger they'd taken on in Siharan appearing once more.
And now . . . now she was waiting.
"You think anything'll happen?"
Looking up, all Buffy could do was shrug. "Don't know."
"We've been in atmo for over three hours now."
"Has the moon risen?"
"Buffy."
"Mal."
He was annoyed, and she knew it. In the month that had gone by, everyone else had returned to normal life. They didn't think of the werewolf that had sliced up three members of the crew, or what that could mean. She, however, did not have that option. She had to be sure that no one was going to turn into a werewolf before she could let her life return to normal. "We have to know," she told him.
"You keep saying that."
"I know. You don't seem to be listening."
"You're walking a thin line there with your tone, Miss Summers."
It took all her inner strength not to roll her eyes. "You remember how little that guy was? How puny? Looked like you could bend his arm back and snap it in half?"
"Yeah? What of it?"
Meeting his eyes, she held them. "When he changed, Mal, he threw Jayne across the cargo bay. He had you by the throat, dangling above the ground, over his head before I got to you. Can you imagine what could happen if someone as strong as you or Jayne changed into a werewolf? What could happen to River? To Kaylee?"
He was silent for a minute before sitting down at the table next to her. "So what do we do now? 'Cause waiting ain't something I'm good at."
Smiling weakly, she wondered how high the moon was before saying, "Yeah, but sometimes waiting is all a person can do."
End ficlet.
Chapter 7: Good News?
Prompt 41: DoctorWds: 293
Title: Good News?
Disclaimer: I own nothing and seek no profit from this story.
Notes: This is the first in a series of connected ficlets/drabbles. It'll have several sequels and I won't post any story not in the series before I finish posting these. That way, they're all in order in the end. :)
Buffy stared at Simon in shock. She blinked rapidly, trying to wrap her mind around what the doctor had just told her. "But, no. That's just not possible."
"I assure you, Buffy, it is. I ran the test twice just to be sure."
"Third time's the charm? The charm that says 'no' in really bright, bold letters?" she asked a bit desperately.
"Buffy. . ." Simon placed a hand on her arm. "I understand that you didn't plan for this, but it is happening. You are pregnant."
She wanted to deny it, to say it wasn't true and have that make it so. She knew it wasn't that simple though. This was very, very complicated. And things, all things -- relationships, jobs, responsibilities -- would get very, very complicated because of this. She looked up at Simon and didn't even try to hide the raw emotion in her eyes. He squeezed her arm automatically, and Buffy smiled softly. "I know, Simon. I know you're telling me the truth."
"I'm . . . should I apologize here? I don't really know what to say. My education didn't really cover beside manner for your friends."
"Well, if it helps, I don't know either. My mind's all jumbled up right now."
"That's normal."
She rolled her eyes. "Thanks, doc."
He smiled. "You gonna be okay?"
"I think so," she told him honestly. "Simon, you won't say anything, right? About this?"
"Of course not."
She nodded. "I knew that already, I just had to ask."
"I understand."
Nodding again, Buffy stood up and took a deep breath. She shook her head as Simon said something about discussing her options. "Later."
She was halfway out of the door when she murmured, "Right now, I've gotta go find Mal."
tbc
Chapter 8: Careful! Your Inner Idiot is Showing!
She was mad at him, and there was no getting around that. Not that he blamed her. He'd be mad at him too, if'n he was in her place.
"Tee wuh duh pee-goo!"
Mal's exclamation echoed through his bunk, and he was sure that anyone nearby had heard it as well. Not that it mattered. Everyone knew to leave him alone when he was like this. And the one person he wouldn't mind interrupting him wasn't going to be coming back any time soon. He'd seen to that. Chased her off all good and proper.
Buffy.
His eyes closed as he replayed their conversation in his head. She was pregnant. Pregnant. He'd been such an ass. He'd even gone so far as to accuse her of getting that way on purpose. He'd known how she would react as soon as the words left his mouth, and he had not been disappointed. Words of anger, white hot and focused solely on him, had flown from her mouth before she stormed to the ladder and climbed out of the room. He hadn't even tried to stop her.
Wouldn't have known what to say if he had.
A baby. There was going to be a baby. Her baby. His baby. Their baby. Together. A normal man would have been thrilled at the idea of Buffy Summers carrying his child. A normal man would have made sure she was all right, gotten her off her feet, and maybe even proposed marriage. A normal man damn sure wouldn't have yelled at her, wouldn't have let her leave angry.
But since when was he normal?
Chapter 9: Sinking In
Mal reacted badly. Very badly. She had done nothing wrong, of course. Well, except for getting pregnant. She supposed that could be considered something she had done wrong. In a way. She certainly had not wanted to get pregnant. Certainly had not planned it. No matter what Malcolm Reynolds wanted to think, she had not planned it.
At all.
Buffy's eyes narrowed when someone knocked on her door. "What?"
Her voice was harsh, and it should have been clear to anyone that she was pissed off and wanted to be alone. Mal was not just anyone, however. Hands clenching into fists as he walked right in without an invitation, Buffy glared at him. "I didn't say to come in."
"My ship."
"My room."
"My ship."
"Oh my God! Are you two?"
"I didn't come in here to fight."
"Then you should have waited until I told you to come in!"
"Buffy. . ."
"What?"
She hadn't even noticed that she'd gotten off her bed and walked across the room. Now standing right in front of Mal, she jumped a little when he reached out and grabbed her by the waist. "Settle down. Getting riled up like this ain't good for the baby."
"Riled up?" she pushed him, pressing him against the wall. "You think this is riled up? You accused me of planning this, you ass clown! You've never seen me as riled up as that one little statement made me! Lucky for you, I've calmed down a little bit."
"I'm beginnin' to get that."
"Yeah? Well, good!"
He stared at her, and Buffy pressed her lips together in a firm line. The look in his eyes . . . it wasn't anger. It was something she didn't quite recognize. "I'm still mad."
"I know."
She closed her eyes against the way he was looking at her. She wasn't going to let him win like this. Not this easily. Not yet. "I'm gonna stay mad."
"Okay."
She felt his hands on her once more and opened her eyes. He was holding her at the waist again, and he was looking at her. Looking at her . . . at her belly. "Stop it."
"Stop what?"
"Looking at me like that."
"You really havin' my baby?"
She exhaled slowly, loudly. "Simon says so."
"Doc's a smart man. Top three percent."
"Uh huh."
Mal tugged her toward him then, surprising her by wrapping his arms around her before she could protest. "You're having my baby."
"Uh huh."
"Buffy . . . we're having a baby."
"How many times are you planning on repeating that, Mal?"
"Many as it takes for it to sink in."
Slowly, very slowly, she wrapped her arms around him and let him hold her as tight as he wanted to. Resting her head on his shoulder, she resisted the urge to cry as she whispered, "I'm still mad."
Chapter 10: Thinkin' On Things
Buffy was sleeping. Mal wished he could do the same. Sleep, however, would not claim him. She was pregnant. Pregnant. Never, not once, in all his years had he imagined he'd actually be a father, or so he tried to tell himself. He'd thought about the possibility, sure. There'd even been a time when he was younger that the idea of being married and settled down on a farm somewhere with a few kids underfoot didn't seem so bad. He'd almost let himself want it a few times, even. Almost. But his life wasn't suited for children. Wasn't truly suited for a woman, either, but he hadn't been able to convince Buffy of that yet.
And now there was going to be a baby.
For the first time in a very long time, Malcolm Reynolds was scared. And this fear? This fear he was pretty sure he couldn't threaten with a gun. No, this fear was gonna come wrapped in a soft blanket, and would need more care than he could currently provide. And he wasn't rightly sure he was going to be able to pull it off, this . . . this job. Reaching out, he brushed a stray hair from Buffy's face. He did not want to fail her. Didn't want to fail them. The question remained, though.
Could he do this?
Chapter 11: Not Normal
"Oh God," Buffy was dying. "Oh God. I'm going to die."
"You're not going to die."
She looked up at Mal and tried her best to glare. "What the hell do you know about it? I've died twice before! I think I know when I'm dying. I mean, by now, I should!"
He had to gall to actually chuckle at that. Buffy's eyes narrowed. "Bastard."
"Ah now, don't you be like that. And I know that you ain't dying because I asked Simon about it this morning. He said this sort of thing is normal."
"Normal? There is nothing normal about this. I have never felt this sick before in my life, and a person just . . . I should not be able to throw up this much and still be alive, Mal. Seriously."
He sat down on the edge of the bed. "You'll be okay. Simon said it passes quickly."
He sounded so sure, and Buffy wanted to believe him. "What else did Simon say?"
Scooting a little closer, Mal reached out and ran a finger down the side of her face. "That he'd answer any questions we have, and to let him know if anything happens that seems out of the ordinary."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Out of the ordinary? Everything is out of the ordinary."
In fact, she couldn't think of a single thing that had happened since she found out that she was pregnant that was ordinary. She felt horrible. Tired, irritable, sick . . . her body was rebelling. It was that simple. Her body was finally taking revenge for all the hell she'd put herself through over the years. Being pregnant was hard already and she'd only known about the baby for two weeks.
"Mal?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you have somewhere else to be right now?"
"Not at the moment."
"Okay."
She was silent then, and he looked at her. "Buffy?"
"I don't feel good."
She heard his soft sigh as he stretched out on the bed beside her. "I know, darlin', I know."
Snuggling into his side, Buffy did her best to push aside all the thoughts that were plaguing her mind. She tried not to think of how difficult it would be bringing a baby into this new life of hers, or about how much she missed her friends back . . . home. She wrapped her arms around Mal and pressed her face into his side as he pulled her closer to him in turn. Breathing in his scent, feeling the strength in his arms, she let herself drift off to sleep.
Chapter 12: May I Have Your Attention, Please?
They were okay, she and Mal. They weren't perfect, of course. There were still a lot of things they needed to figure out. But, over the course of a month, they'd come to one very important understanding. They were having a baby. Or rather, Buffy thought as she rubbed the barely there bump on her stomach, they were having this baby. Soon. Or, soon-ish. In about five months.
"What'cha doing?"
She looked up as Kaylee walked into the galley and smiled. "Thinking."
"'Bout what?"
Buffy shrugged. "The future."
"Like dreams and stuff? Things you wanna get done?"
"Yep. Wondering about what life will bring and all that."
The other woman settled down in the chair next to her. "I do that a lot these days."
Buffy grinned. "I bet you do! You and Simon gonna be getting married soon, aren't you?"
"He ain't asked yet, not officially. But we've talked about it."
"He makes you happy?"
"Oh yeah, he does!" Kaylee exclaimed with a bright smile.
As her friend began to list the ways Simon made her happy, the reasons she loved him, and what she hoped happened in her future, Buffy couldn't help comparing their two relationships. Kaylee and Simon were obvious, more public with their feelings, where she and Mal were private.
Everyone knew, of course, that there was something between her and the Captain, but no one knew exactly how serious things had gotten. No one knew she was in love with him. And she was in love with him. He told her he felt the same, too . . . though not very often. Malcolm Reynolds was not very vocal with his affections. Buffy didn't mind though, not really. It made hearing him say things like I love you that much more special when he did say them.
"Buffy?" Kaylee's voice pulled her from her thoughts.
"Hmm?"
"Where'd you go?"
She glanced over at Kaylee and the words just tumbled out. "I'm pregnant."
The other woman's eyes widened drastically. "What?"
"I'm pregnant." Buffy repeated, still not really sure she was actually saying the words out loud.
Kaylee sputtered a few times, trying to figure out what to say, and then squealed. Loudly. Buffy cringed. She hadn't been thinking, telling Kaylee. She'd been better off keeping her mouth shut. Because, from the sound of it, everyone was headed to the galley to find out what had Kaylee shouting. Grabbing the mechanic's arm, Buffy whispered harshly, "No one knows. Just Mal, Simon, and you."
Kaylee was grinning at her though, and Buffy knew her words had gone in one ear and out the other. She let out a ragged breath as everyone started filing into the room, and her eyes instantly sought out Mal's as he followed Wash into the room. Kaylee had her hand in a death-tight grip, and Buffy was almost positive the woman's face was going to crack under the weight of her smile. Mal met her eyes, and Buffy forced herself not to look away. Forced herself to look right at him to see if he was mad, because there was no way he didn't know what was going on.
He smiled at her, and instantly Buffy relaxed. She heard someone asking what was going on, but she only had eyes for Mal and his smile. Then he was talking, still looking right at her. "I take it we're telling people now?"
She shrugged. "Well, Kaylee knows. Kinda slipped out."
"Kaylee knows what?" Wash asked, walking over to his wife.
"That Buffy and I are gonna have a baby."
The silence that followed Mal's announcement gave Buffy only a second more of the peace she found looking into Mal's eyes. Chaos descended after that, and it was only later in his room that Buffy had a chance to apologize to Mal for springing the announcement on him, on everyone.
"Don't matter none. Needed to tell 'em. And besides, it'll make things easier around here, them knowing."
She smiled. "Yeah."
"And it don't hurt that they're all happy for us."
"No," she agreed. "That doesn't hurt at all."
Chapter 13: Coulda Been
He had never wanted to torture someone before. Not really. Not this badly, anyway. He could taste it, this want -- this desire -- of his. Buffy was safe, though, and he knew it. He couldn't hurt the man who'd hurt her without living to regret it. Kill him, yes, and he would if he ever saw him again, but torture? Mal knew he couldn't do that and still be able to look himself in the mirror. Not when Buffy was safe and sound back on Serenity. Not when the baby was safe.
Simon assured him, repeatedly, that both Buffy and the baby were fine. Buffy's pregnancy would continue as it was supposed to, and life would get back to . . . normal. But Mal still wanted him to pay, that hun dan that had dared to touch what was his. And Buffy was Mal's. The baby certainly was. He wasn't going to be getting over this any time soon.
"Mal."
He didn't look up even as she climbed down the ladder into his room. He couldn't. He couldn't look up and see the bruises on her face or the cut above her eye. He couldn't look at the proof of his failure just yet. He stared at the wall as he asked, "You okay?"
"Uh huh."
Her voice was still a bit raw. He didn't want to think of the reasons for that. Didn't want to think of the way things could have gone. She wasn't even six months pregnant yet, and already he felt as if he'd failed both her and the baby. He hadn't been able to protect them.
"Mal."
Still, he didn't turn. "Yeah?"
He sighed softly as her arms slipped around his waist. She pressed her face into his back and squeezed him tight. "I'm okay."
"I know."
"Do you?"
"That man could have killed you."
"I know," her voice was soft.
His hands automatically reached out to cover hers where they rested on his waist. "Buffy--"
"Shut up."
He heard the tears in her voice then, and turned around instantly. Drawing her into his arms, he felt it the second her shoulders started to shake, and just held on. That's when it hit him, and he had no idea how he could have possibly missed it before.
Buffy was scared, too.
Chapter 14: Can't Take the Sky
Title: Can't Take the Sky
word count: 545
TtH 100 Prompt 78; Travel
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em. Joss does.
Things weren't going to change so much as adapt. That was what they kept telling each other, what they kept telling the rest of the crew. Thing was, with the announcement that Mal and Buffy were going to have a baby, things had started to change, even if no one really planned on it happening. Then, when one of their jobs went south and Buffy got caught in the middle . . . that had made things worse. Or better, depending how you looked at it.
Simon and Kaylee formally announced that they were planning on getting married, Zoe and Wash began honestly thinking about having a baby of their own, and not a one of them was truly surprised when Mal started looking for more legitimate work. Legal work meant steady pay, he told them all, and even Jayne couldn't argue with that (though he did grumble a bit).
He wouldn't be giving up the sky, though. No way, no how. Mal was very sure of that.
"Mal?"
He looked up. "You should be sleeping, ai ren."
Buffy smiled at him. "Probably. But you're here, and here's not either one of our beds, you know."
He held out his hand and pulled her to him when she got close enough. "Miss me?"
"Always," she kissed him softly. "You okay?"
"Just thinking."
"About what?"
"All the changes goin' on around here."
She slipped into his lap and rested her head on his shoulder. "Good changes or bad changes?"
"Good, I reckon."
"Hmm."
He could tell she was sleepy. Still though, he had something to say and she needed to hear it. "Buffy?"
"Yeah?"
"I ain't giving up the sky."
She looked up and blinked at him. "I wouldn't ask you to."
"You and the baby--"
"Me and the baby will be staying right here. Mal, Serenity is my home now. You made it my home. I can't imagine raising this child anywhere else but here."
"Moving around all the time ain't the kind of life--"
"There's nothing wrong with it, though. Not really. It'll be hard at times, but . . . neither one of us is used to having an easy life. We'd be kinda crazy to think our kid would be able to manage anything different. We're happy here, Mal. Our child will be, too."
There was something -- truth -- in her eyes, he could see it. Those weren't just pretty words she was saying. "You've given this some thought."
"Yeah, well. One of my biggest fears is that you'll decide me and our baby would be better off planet-side somewhere. Away from you."
"Never." And that was the truth. Being away from her hadn't crossed his mind . . . least not with him being the one doing the leaving.
She snuggled close once more. "Then what's with the not sleeping, huh? Come to bed."
"You really want a life like this for good? Never staying in one place for long, living job to job? That's enough for you?"
Buffy kissed him then, good and hard. "You're enough for me. Got me?"
He smiled. "Yeah. I got you."
And later, he thought as he lifted her sleeping form and carried her from the bridge, that maybe change was good.
end
Chapter 15: Cuts Like a Knife
Title: Cuts Like a KnifeWord Count: 337
TtH 100 Prompt 029: Heartache
Disclaimer: I don't own them. Joss does.
She missed them more than she would ever be able to express vocally. It wasn't that she hadn't accepted that she would never get to go back there, that she was stuck in this new world. It was simply that, no matter how home-like Serenity became, no matter how many friends she made, or how much she had grown to love Mal, this world would never be her home.
Her home was far, far away.
Buffy sighed softly as she rubbed her ever-expanding belly. "You know, little baby, everyone back there would love you. Probably just as much as I already do. Dawn, she's your aunt, she'd be so happy. They all would be, really, but Dawnie . . . she'd be, like, fanatically happy. We really don't have many family members . . . not since Mom."
She tried her best to blink away the tears that filled her eyes at that thought, but one escaped anyway. She just let it fall. It bothered her that Dawn was alone now, made her heart hurt. Dawn wasn't truly alone, of course; she had the scoobies, after all. But no family. Not anymore. Sure there were aunts and uncles and their father, but Dawn had never actually met any of them, and Buffy understood why her sister never seemed to want to actually meet them. It would be . . . weird.
"I miss them," she whispered.
And then he was there, wrapping his arms around her from behind and pulling her close. "Hey."
Buffy rested her head against his chest, closing her eyes. "Hey."
"You all right?"
"Yeah. Just . . . remembering."
He didn't say anything, just looked down and kissed her forehead. Buffy smiled softly. She was happy, really, and wouldn't trade her new life for the one she had before. But that didn't mean that she wouldn't jump at the chance to see her friends and Dawn again.
Because she'd move heaven and all the stars if she thought that was even a possibility.
end
Chapter 16: Lucky Charm
Title: Lucky CharmWord Count: 228
Prompt 034: Luck
"You did not just do that."
Mal grinned down at Buffy, his hand still on her stomach. Looking her in the eyes and knowing full well he was risking losing his arm, he did it again. "For luck."
Her eyes narrowed. "You're rubbing my stomach for luck."
"Uh huh."
"Like you would a Buddha?"
"Uh huh."
"You ass."
Leaning down, he kissed her softly, gently teasing the glare off her face with his lips and tongue. She relaxed slowly, and he deepened the kiss when her arms finally circled around him. They were running a bit late and he knew it, but Mal just couldn't walk away from her just yet. He'd rubbed her belly to lighten the mood a little, knowing that she was nervous about him going off on a job with only Jayne at his back. Zoe would stay with the ship, and Buffy couldn't go on jobs herself anymore. Not seven months pregnant. But . . .
"You are, you know, both of you," he whispered as they broke away from each other.
"What?" she asked.
"My luck. You and the baby."
Buffy blinked at him several times before rolling her eyes. "You turn into a sap on me and I'll shoot you."
He grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it, darlin' . . . you best never be forgettin' that I'm a mean old man."
end
Chapter 17: His Own Ghosts
Title: His Own GhostsWord Count: 364
Prompt 036: Past
Disclaimer: I think we know by now that I'm not Joss. But . . . legal issues are legal issues. I don't own Buffy or Mal. I just borrow them.
His past haunted him as much as Buffy's haunted her. Mal had not been transported five hundred years into the future, of course, but that didn't mean he didn't have demons to fight. Didn't mean there weren't nights he dreamt of things she couldn't see, couldn't truly understand. It was one of the things they had in common; each of them were complicated because life made them that way. Knowing that, however, did not make it any easier for Buffy to accept. She still wanted to make things better for him, to keep him happy all the time.
That just wasn't in the cards, though.
Nights like this, when he was quiet and lost in his thoughts, there was really only one thing she could do. Well, besides leave him alone, that is. She knocked once on his door out of politeness, and waited until she heard him call out a welcome before opening the hatch and easing her way down the ladder. Buffy smiled softly when he moved automatically to help her down. His hand supporting her back as she descended. It was getting harder and harder for her to navigate the ladder, and both of them knew it.
"Hey."
He smiled down at her, and she could tell it was a little forced. "Hi."
"You didn't have to get up."
"I know."
She reached out and took his hand, slowly leading him back to the bed. "You wanna talk about it?"
"No."
"Okay."
She didn't push, but she didn't ask him if he wanted her to leave either. She just settled herself down on the bed and waited. He didn't say anything else, just slid in behind her and wrapped an arm around her body as he spooned against her back. One of his hands instantly went to her stomach, and he rubbed tiny circles on the material of her shirt. Buffy sighed in contentment as her body relaxed. She knew she couldn't help him work out what was bothering him, that she couldn't help him fight off the ghosts the war -- and the rest of his life -- left him with, but she could be there.
And that was enough.
Chapter 18: Something of a Break
Continuing with the 'baby-verse' . . . for several more ficlets, at least. I'm posting four new ones now, and have five more written (all need to be typed). But, those last five are the end of the 'baby verse'. After that, it's back to unconnected ficlets again. :)Also, thank you to everyone who voted for Out in the Black at the Sunnydale Memorial Fanfic Awards!! It came in as runner up twice. {{hugs readers}}
Title: Something of a Break
Summary: See the road rise up to meet us? It's in the air we breathe tonight.
Rating: FRT, to be safe, though it's lower in my opinion.
Prompt: 60: Lake
Disclaimer: I am not Joss, therefore Buffy and Mal are not mind. Neither are any other characters, places, or space ships mentioned. All hail Joss.
***
It was hot, but not overtly so. Mal had insisted twice now that it wasn't nearly as hot as Buffy thought it was, because it wasn't. She was just irritable. And, granted, she was probably hotter than he was. But, that wasn't because of the weather. She was, he explained as patiently as possible, probably warmer than he was because of her condition. The look on her face immediately after those words left his mouth sent him moving away a mere second before her hand swung out to swat him on the arm. She glared at him, her hands on her hips, and repeated the word harshly.
Condition.
And, looking back, Mal could admit that he'd been wrong to bring that up. The mood she was in -- the mood she'd been in for days -- he was lucky to walk away with just a halfhearted slap on the arm. She had quickly reminded him that she was only in her current state because he'd put her there. She'd said it rather testily too, clearly itching for a fight. He hadn't risen to it, though, choosing instead to grin as he made a cheeky remark about how she'd enjoyed it at the time. That bit of cheek had earned him another glare, of course, but it'd been worth it because she had stopped complaining about the heat. She'd stopped speaking at all too, but he knew she wasn't *really* mad.
They sat in silence on the soft sand at the edge of a small lake, and watched the sun set. He was behind her, his legs stretched around her body so that she could lean back against him. She relaxed gradually as they sat, and eventually she had pressed her body as close to him as she could, resting her head against his chest. He trailed his fingers up and down her arms, listened to her breathe, and smiled as her hands moved to rest on her swollen belly. The sun had almost completely set when she finally spoke, but neither of them made any attempt to head back to Serenity. They were safe here, after all.
"I've been horrible lately, huh?"
"Little bit," he said softly. "Testy, at least."
She sighed softly, and he pulled her a little bit closer. "I'm sorry, Mal. It's just . . . I'm so uncomfortable, and I feel so damn useless like this."
"I know, Buffy, and I understand. But, darlin', you are not useless. Won't ever be."
Sighing again, she nodded but didn't say a word. Mal turned her head, and lifted her face to his. He kissed her softly, and she twisted a little to get closer. She smiled when the kiss ended, and he was struck by how long it had been since he'd seen such a gesture from her. Vowing never to let her go that long without smiling again, he gazed out at the horizon. "Sun's set. Water looks inviting, don't it?"
"I'd sink to the bottom," she said, but he could hear the grin in her voice.
"Nah. Besides, if you did start to sink, I'd be there to keep you from it."
"You don't seem real eager to get back to the ship, you know. You trying to keep me out here for any particular reason?"
"We ain't got suits out here with us, Buffy. Maybe I just wanna see you naked. You ever think of that?"
"Nope. Not once," she deadpanned. "You're distracting me."
He shrugged. "Maybe."
"The crew told you to talk to me, huh? 'Cause I've been so mean lately?"
He chuckled. "Zoe threatened me a little, actually. Said she'd shoot me if'n I didn't get you off Serenity for a while. Also said that anyone with eyes could see that you were goin' stir-crazy, and that I needed to do something about it."
Buffy turned her head and grinned at him. "Well, her shooting you would have set me off -- and not in a good way -- so I'm glad you took her advice."
Grinning back, he said, "Me too, and not just 'cause she probably would have shot me. This is nice, ain't it? Me and you out here alone . . . even if we aren't swimming."
She turned around in his arms then as gracefully as she could and settled herself a bit closer. Kissing just once wasn't enough for either of them, so Mal eagerly met her halfway for a second. Long, slow kisses and Buffy's breathy little moans left him wishing they were closer to the ship, but he wasn't going to complain for a second. It was enough having her in his arms and feeling her smile against his lips.
He did so love her smile.
End Something of a Break
Chapter 19: She's the One
I didn't mention this in the last one, but Shannon beta'd these for me. All mistakes remaining are my own.Title: She's the One
Summary: For you, there'll be no crying.
Prompt 088: Ring
FRT
Disclaimer: I am still not Joss, and I still don't own any of the characters. All hail Joss.
***
Mal had a bug up his ass. That was the only way Buffy could describe it. He was angry about something, though no one on the ship knew what that something was, and there was just no talking to him to find out. He stalked around like an angry, wounded animal and it seemed to everyone that his trigger finger was itching. Not that he'd shoot her. Or any of them, really. Buffy was reasonably sure that even Jayne was safe so long as he stayed clear of talking about the war, money, or any of the other things on Mal's list of taboo topics.
Buffy looked up as the man himself walked into her room. Arching an eyebrow, she didn't even attempt to get up. Her ankles were . . . rebelling. "Hi."
"I love you."
She blinked. The expression on his face was not one that usually accompanied such a declaration. He still looked rather angry, in fact. "Um, I love you too."
"No. You don't get it. I love you."
"Okay," she dragged the word out a bit. "So, you love me. I love you, too. Is there another point to get?"
"I . . . I ain't a nice man."
Buffy's head flopped back, landing on a pillow. "We've been over this. Many times, in fact."
"Would you just shut up and let me work this out? I've been gearin' up for it all day."
"You've been storming around the ship angry as all hell all day, Mal! What do you mean you've been gearing--"
"Buffy." There was no arguing with that tone of voice.
"All right. Shutting up now."
She watched him pace around her room then, still unable to work out what exactly was going on inside his head. Finally, he sat down on the bed next to her and reached out, touching her stomach. "You stir up my fire."
"I what?"
"Stir up my fire."
She sat up slowly. "Okay."
"My mama always said that I'd eventually meet a woman that'd stir up my fire. You're her."
Unbidden, tears formed in Buffy's eyes and she blinked them away rapidly, cursing her hormones all the while. "I think that's the sweetest thing anyone's ever said to me."
Mal looked at her then, and she could see the conflict in his eyes. Reaching out, she pressed her hand against his cheek. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know how to do this."
"Do what?"
"How to tell you what I want to tell you."
"Well . . . what you said a minute ago was a pretty good start. I mean, if you came in here to compliment me."
He smiled softly. "I came in here to ask you to marry me."
"What?" Her mouth was hanging open, Buffy was sure.
"You heard me."
"But you've been mad at me all day! And we've never talked about . . . about that."
He leaned forward slightly and reached out for her hand. "I wasn't mad at you. I wasn't mad at all. I've just been thinking, is all."
"Yeah, well your thinking face looks a lot like your angry face."
"I'll keep that in mind for next time."
"Did you . . . were you serious, what you just said?"
He squeezed her hand once before letting go and reaching into his pocket. Buffy's eyes widened when he pulled out a ring. It wasn't anything fancy, just a gold band, but she knew what it was. "Oh."
"I should have asked you before now. Long before now."
"Mal . . . if this is about the baby, you don't have to--"
His lips silenced her and Buffy returned his kiss automatically. "It's about us, Buffy. You and me. This baby's got some to do with it, sure, but I like to think I would have asked you eventually anyway, if'n there was no baby."
Taking a deep breath, Buffy reached out and took the ring from his hand. It was more fancy than she'd first thought. There was a pattern inlaid on it, even. Delicate. You had to look really hard to see the little swirls, but she could feel the grooves under her fingers. "This is really pretty."
"It was my grandmother's."
"Oh." He really was serious about this. "I love you."
"Is that a yes?"
Buffy looked at him and smiled brightly. "Well, technically, you never actually asked."
He smirked. "I didn't?"
"Nope."
"Hmm," he kissed her again. "Think I better remedy that, then."
End She's the One.
Chapter 20: She Speaks in Riddles
Title: She Speaks in RiddlesSummary: River, river, carry me on.
Prompt 071: River
FRT
Disclaimer: We know I'm not Joss. All hail Joss.
***
River knew. Buffy and Mal hadn't told anyone about their engagement, but River knew. Of course she did. She was a reader, after all. It made Buffy a little nervous, though. She was afraid River would say something to someone, even if she didn't mean to, and all of their careful planning would be ruined. They were going to wait until after the baby was born to get married. She and Mal both agreed that it would be best to wait until she was more comfortable. And besides, Simon and Kaylee's wedding was only a week away. Buffy had no desire to steal Kaylee's thunder in any way.
"Thunder can't be stolen if it doesn't make a sound."
Buffy looked up. "You reading my mind again?"
River smiled softly, her lips barely curving up. "You think very loudly."
"I don't mean to," Buffy said automatically.
"I know, silly. You can't help such things! They just are." River said this with such conviction, that Buffy couldn't stop herself from grinning at the girl.
"I won't tell anyone," River said firmly. "Not anyone. Not even Serenity."
Buffy blinked, not quite knowing what to say to that. River reached out and ran her hand over the top of Buffy's belly. "Soon."
"Four weeks, or so," Buffy agreed. "Simon says everything's fine. . ."
River nodded. "Everything is. Growing and growing more each day. She's strong."
"She?" Buffy asked, hopeful.
Shrugging the question off, River continued, "Strong like steel, with an attitude leaning toward destruction, and pretty, too! She'll sparkle."
"Really?" Buffy's smile had grown a little as River spoke.
"Really. She'll try to tear you apart when she comes, though," River frowned for a second. "But you'll have help when the time comes."
Buffy grimaced, but nodded. "Yeah, I'm expecting it to hurt. I'm strong, though. I can handle it."
"You just have to have Faith."
"Exactly," Buffy confirmed. "And I do. You know, have faith that I'll be able to handle having this baby."
River shook her head, and opened her mouth to say something else, but Jayne interrupted them by coming into the galley. Zoe and Mal quickly followed, and Buffy found herself caught up in the conversation they were having. Job prospects and future money took precedence over talking to River about how high her pain tolerance was, and Buffy barely noticed when the younger woman slipped out of the room. The prophetic words forgotten for the moment, Buffy leaned into Mal as he slipped an arm around her. The future was coming, even if she wasn't as ready as she'd tried to lead River to believe. Buffy knew though, deep down, that she really could handle what was to come.
Even motherhood.
End She Speaks in Riddles.
Chapter 21: White Wedding
Title: White WeddingSummary: It's a nice day for a white wedding.
Prompt 020: Weddings
FRT
Slight spoliers for Serenity.
Disclaimer: I am not Joss. All hail Joss.
There are spoilers for Serenity in the notes below.
.
.
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Notes: This ficlet, more than any other sets a timeframe for when all of these ficlets are taking place. Not just the baby-verse ones, either. All of them. They're taking place sometime between Inara and Book leaving Serenity and the Operative showing up. So, after the series but before the movie. :)
***
Buffy couldn't even look in the mirror on the day of the wedding. She knew she would start crying if she did, and that just wouldn't do. She couldn't have puffy eyes walking down the aisle. Puffy eyes on top of . . . she sighed and stopped that train of thought before it progressed any further. She was doing her best not to think about that. That she was fat. Very fat. So fat she couldn't see her feet. Thinking about it made her irritable.
So, Buffy was trying to think of nothing except that she had a wedding to attend. And it was going to be a beautiful wedding, she just knew it. Shepherd Book was performing the service. They'd made a special trip to Haven just so it would be him and not a nameless official who didn't know them. Book was trying to persuade them all to stick around until after the baby was born, too, and Buffy kinda liked that idea.
"Buffy?"
She turned and smiled as Kaylee pulled her from her thoughts. "You look so beautiful."
Kaylee beamed at her. "So do you!"
"I'm fat."
"You're pregnant."
"I can't see my feet."
"You're pregnant."
"But that doesn't change things! I'm still fat."
Kaylee just grinned at her. Buffy knew everyone had grown used to her complaining. Zoe was the only one who really understood though. She was too big now to be much use if there was a . . . need, and that was a hard thing for the Slayer to accept. She was beyond ready for the baby to be born. Sighing again, Buffy looked at Kaylee. "You really do look great. That's such a pretty color on you."
"White?"
"Yeah. White washes me out. But you . . . you look beautiful, Kaylee."
"Thank you, Buffy. You feel okay?"
Buffy just smiled. "Yep. You ready?"
"Oh yeah. More than, I think. Everyone's here, and River says Simon hasn't thrown up once. I think that was supposed to reassure me."
"Everything's gonna be fine, Kaylee."
"I know. I just expected to be more nervous, you know?"
"And you're not?"
"No. I'm just . . ."
"Happy?" Buffy supplied.
"Yeah," Kaylee said softly. "Very happy."
"Good," Buffy told her. "That's exactly how you're supposed to feel on your wedding day."
The smile that lit up Kaylee's face then was almost enough to make Buffy forget how uncomfortable she was. Almost. "Is it time for us to get out there?"
"Yeah. River and Inara are already waiting on us."
Standing up slowly, Buffy frowned even as she started walking toward the door. "Kaylee?"
"Yeah?"
"Mal did put me in matching shoes didn't he?"
End White Wedding. More soon. :)