Thanks to everyone who stuck it out with this series even through the difficult topics.

It's not done yet, I've got a few other stories written, and a few more things planned as there have been some loose ends purposly left that way. But this is the happy ending you all wanted, so enjoy it:)

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Epilogue

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Mal helped Inara to the bed on the other side of the room as Zoe hurried out to get a doctor. Simon slid off the bed beside Kaylee and helped Mal, who fidgeted nervously with the covers and with Inara, making a nuisance of himself. When Simon gave him an annoyed look and batted away his hands, Mal glared at him.

“I am a doctor, Mal.”

“He has done this before,” River added with a smile from her safe spot as far away from Mal as she could possibly be.

“Once!” Mal winced as Inara grabbed his hand and squeezed it so tightly he was sure she’d break a bone.

“Mal. Shut. Up.” Inara hissed through clenched teeth as she tried to concentrate on her breathing. She wasn’t due for another few weeks.

Simon immediately gritted out what was needed when he noticed an aid step into the room. His voice was sharp and unwavering as he immediately transformed into doctor mode.

“Oh no!” Inara breathed at the aide as she called into a monitor that made Inara think they were going to take her elsewhere. “I’m having the baby right here. You’re not moving me.”

Jayne stepped back with a look of disgust, not at all interested in seeing how a baby was birthed. He stood beside Kaylee, who had covered her sleeping son’s head with a little blanket so he wouldn’t see her exposed chest.

The young aide glanced nervously around the room, at the big, scary men looking not at all calm, before leaving the room to find the doctor.

Simon continued where he’d left off in his preparations. He positioned Inara where he needed her and draped a sheet over her legs.

“I want to push, Simon.” Inara cried through gritted teeth.

Simon’s eyes widened. “Already?” Simon parted Inara’s legs as Mal gave him a scathing look, which he studiously ignored. “It’s never this easy for first time mothers.”

“You doctors ain’t always right, apparently!” Mal growled, shooting Simon a glare that might have scared the younger man in another circumstance.

“Mal, you fei fei de pi yan, Simon can deliver our baby. Don’t intimidate him!”

Inara screamed again and clamped down on Mal’s hand. Seeing her in so much pain broke his heart. Tore it up into itty bitty pieces. He’d never do this to her again. Ever.

If anyone noticed River roll her eyes in Mal’s direction as she caught his thought, no one gave any indication.

When Inara whimpered in pain again, Mal held her hand and leaned over her, the words flowing out of his mouth before he had time to think of the consequences of asking at this point in time. “Marry me.”

Simon glanced up sharply, raising his eyebrows. Kaylee squealed with delight from her bed and River and Jayne exchanged an amused look.

Inara growled at him. “A proposal won’t stop the pain, Mal!”

Mal swallowed thickly as Inara’s body sank into the mattress once the pain from the contraction subsided. She breathed heavily for a moment before smiling at him, her eyes filled with tears. “But it might dull it a bit.”

Mal heaved a sigh of relief. “Is that a yes?”

Inara laughed and squeezed his hand, much gentler this time. “Yes, Mal.”

The aide, followed by the doctor, hurried into the room and Simon gratefully let her take over. He could deliver a baby, but after the emotional day he’d already had, was grateful a more experienced person was here to do it. He moved back to join Kaylee on her bed, wincing as Inara started hurling very unladylike curses at Mal. The aide dropped the privacy drapes from the ceiling, effectively splitting the room in two.

Simon turned to Kaylee, reaching up to brush his fingers gently across her cheek. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”

Unshed tears pooled in Kaylee’s eyes and then she giggled. “Then just imagine ‘Nara’s words are aimed at you, too. But 12 hours worth of ‘em.”

Simon laughed and leaned over to kiss his wife, their lips meeting and clinging so tightly a watching Jayne wondered if they would suffocate one another before they parted.

Simon could hear Inara screaming and Mal trying to soothe her, but the voices muffled suddenly. All Simon could see was the woman he loved more than life holding their beautiful baby boy in her arms. He cradled Kaylee and their son against his chest and, far sooner than he would have expected, another ear piercing wail echoed around the large room.

They all waited anxiously for the doctor to finish, to raise the drapes and announce the newest arrival to their family. After what seemed like longer than it had taken for Inara to pop out the baby in the first place, the aide raised the privacy drapes. Just as the doctor settled the wrapped bundle in Inara’s arms, she proudly announced to the room, “It’s a girl.”

“A baby Jayne!” Jayne whooped, throwing his arms into the air with an enthusiasm no one expected from the large man.

Inara glared at him for one long, withering moment but it was Mal who spoke, echoing the words Simon had said earlier. “Not if it was the last name in the ‘verse, Jayne.”

THE END

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Chinese Translations:

Fei fei de pi yan - babboon's butt crack

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Comments? Critiques? Suggestions? Things you'd like to see? leave a review and let me know!

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Coming Next: River imparts some very important knowledge to her nephew. Simon and Kaylee have a heart to heart. And Mal has difficulties holding his daughter.