BLUE SUN ROOM FAN FICTION - ROMANCE

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Family--Part 2, Chapter 2/9
Tuesday, April 18, 2006

This AU story takes place 9-10 years after "Serenity, the Pilot," and is Mal/Simon and River/Kaylee slash. Don't read if that's not your cuppa. Mal and Simon want a child. Will River and Kaylee help them out? Was there ever any doubt? Conversation in the infirmary


CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 3209    RATING: 7    SERIES: FIREFLY

DISCLAIMER: Don't own it, never did, never will--just having fun playing.

A/N: You should really read the first part of this story, if you haven't already. All chapters are interlinked. Chapter 1 Adult Only!, or an alternate beginning at Chapter 2 PG13

Part 2, Chapter 1

As always, thanks to kispexi2 for betaing this for me! Thanks to rhian_morwenna for making sure I got the medical stuff right! And thanks to woodsong_1978 for the final polishing! *g*

Translations are in mouseover.

Feedback is my drug of choice. Feed my habit?

Chapter 2 Conversation in the infirmary

Kaylee caught up with River just as they arrived at the room they had claimed in the passenger dorms.

"No fair! You let me catch you!"

"Maybe. Had fun. Less tense."

"Guess that's so."

Kaylee still wasn't sure how she felt about River having a baby for Mal and Simon, but it was River's choice and she would support her in any way she could. Maybe she'd feel better after they had all talked, which wasn't going to happen if she didn't get cleaned up right quick.

While River went to the closet to get some clothes for her, Kaylee stripped down and gave herself a quick wipedown. Then she slipped into the clean cover-alls and tanktop River handed her.

Looking in the mirror to rearrange her hair, she spotted a smear of grease she'd missed. While she cleaned it off, she asked, "So, băo bèi, how we gonna handle this? Go knockin' on their bunk door? Call them over the comm? What?" She knew she was being silly, but it was either that or start weeping, and she had no intention of breaking down again.

"Not necessary. Daddies are in the kitchen. I'll go to the infirmary. You go to kitchen, tell Simon I need him in infirmary. He'll think I'm sick. Come rushing in. You come with Mal. We talk."

"Honey, are you sure you want to make Simon think you're sick? He might not be too happy about being tricked."

"He'll be fine. Call me brat. Laugh. Not so nervous. We'll talk."

"Well, if you're sure…"

"I'm sure. Let's go." They left their room, headed for the infirmary and the kitchen. Fortunately, they didn't run into anyone on their way. River slipped quietly into the infirmary as Kaylee kept on to the kitchen. Her luck continued--Mal and Simon were the only ones there.

Mal had just gone up behind Simon for a hug, when she cleared her throat, "Urm, sorry fellas but River asked me to come get you, Simon. She's in the infirmary. Said she wants you."

"The infirmary?! Is she all right?" Simon asked as he quickly hung up the towel he'd been using to dry the dishes before rushing past her.

Kaylee looked at Mal and swallowed, hard, "Could you come, too? Hold my hand?"

Mal cocked an eyebrow at her, but just said, "Sure thing, xiăo mèi mèi. Everything all right?"

"Oh, shiny Cap'n, just shiny." She knew she didn't sound too shiny, though. Couldn't be helped. Maybe when this conversation was over she'd be back to her normal self. Until then…

They arrived at the infirmary in time to hear Simon ask, "River, mèi mèi, are you all right?" They could see her on the medbed, sitting with her hair hanging in front of her face. If Kaylee hadn't known better, she would have thought River had reverted to the way she was before Simon had been able to stop the drug therapy.

As soon as Kaylee and Mal stepped in the door, River stood up and pushed her hair out of her face. "Yes, gē ge, I'm fine. You like babies."

"What?" Simon stared at River, a very confused look on his face.

"Simon, I think you've been had. Isn't that right, Albatross?" Mal nodded towards Kaylee, who had shut the door and was in the process of tinting the windows.

Looking at Mal, River said, "You like babies, too." She glanced back at Simon, "April Fool, gē ge." Simon just looked more confused. "Ancient saying from Earth-that-was. Joke's over. You're the fool."

Simon looked hard at River, and then burst out laughing. "Brat! How could you do that to me? I thought something was really wrong."

River just smiled and winked at Kaylee, who started to laugh as well. Soon, all four of them were laughing somewhat uncontrollably. When they eventually calmed down, Mal sat on the medbed with Simon on the stool next to him. River sank to the floor beside Simon, and Kaylee hovered between them all until Mal patted the seat next to him in invitation. Once they were all settled, he figured, being the captain and all, he'd better start this conversation.

"Well, Albatross, I'm guessin' you've been doin' a little bit o' readin'?"

River looked up at Simon, who was looking at her with affectionate tolerance while he caressed her hair, "Couldn't help it. Emotions too strong. Sorry."

"That's all right, mèi mèi. So, how do you feel about this situation, and have you and Kaylee talked about it?"

"Want to do this. You and Mal want a child. No other way. Happy to do it for you." River reached up and gently caressed Simon's face. "Kaylee's nervous," she said, glancing at her partner.

"You're nervous, Kaylee? Can you tell me why?" asked Simon.

"Well, not sure's I'm nervous, more concerned-like. See, we ain't talked much. River wants to do this, and I support her, but how will this affect her? Being pregnant. And what about after?"

Mal hugged Kaylee as Simon tried his best to answer her questions. "The fact that you support River will be the best thing possible for her, emotionally, throughout this process, if that's one of your concerns?" Kaylee nodded, so he continued, "As for how being pregnant will affect her, I'd imagine it would be the same as for any other woman. Possible nausea, mood swings because of varying hormone levels, sleeplessness during the last trimester, weight gain, etc. All things I would monitor closely. How do you feel about those possibilities, mèi mèi?"

River made a face as she looked at Simon and answered, "Don't care. Temporary. You'll help."

"Yes, I will. As for after the baby is born, and Mal and I become its parents, I don't honestly know how that will affect either of you. However, because we will all be together, I would hope that would ease any difficulties. Granted, a whole new set of difficulties could arise, but we'll all just have to be aware of that and try to keep it from happening. Any other questions?"

Kaylee asked, "How do we go about the process?"

"Well," Simon said, "the best thing to do would be to visit a fertility clinic…"

"We ain't got time nor coin for stoppin' at some doctor's office," Mal objected. "Specially one that don't know us."

"I know, love. I only suggest it because I'm not a fertility specialist. However, I do know there are two basic techniques used for surrogacy--artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization. I would prefer artificial insemination."

"Why?" Kaylee wondered.

"Because in vitro fertilization is a more complicated procedure, and is known for causing multiple births--as many as six babies at once." Simon winked at Mal, as he said this. Mal glared at him as he continued, "It's possible, though unlikely, to have multiple births with artificial insemination, but usually only twins, maybe triplets. Also, it's a fairly simple process, as long as neither of the donors has an unknown problem, so I should be able to perform the procedure."

"Twins or triplets? Unknown problem?" Kaylee looked worried.

"Twins or triplets are no more likely via artificial insemination than they are through normal fertilization. Unknown problems could be low sperm count or inability of a fertilized egg to grow, among other things. But I don't think we need to borrow trouble at this stage."

"So, what do we do at this stage?" asked Mal.

"First, River needs to track her cycles so we can determine when she's fertile. That will take some time, at least a couple of months, so we all have time to think about what we're doing. And, River, if you change your mind, Mal and I would completely understand. Isn't that right, love?"

"Absolutely. Good to know there's time for all of us to really talk about this. Want you to be totally certain it's what you want to do."

"Already sure. Won't change my mind. Will start tracking. What happens next?"

"Well, when we can determine when you're fertile, I'll collect Mal's semen," for all his medical detachment, and the fact they'd been together for so long, Simon blushed as he said this. Mal looked uncomfortable as well. "Then I'll insert a catheter…"

"Oh, hey, I don't need to hear this do I?" asked Mal with a haunted look on his face.

Kaylee punched him on the arm as she said, "Grow up, Captain! I need to be clear about everythin' that's involved here." Mal closed his eyes and resigned himself to hearing all the embarrassing details. Oh, he was gonna have a talk with Simon later…

"…into River's uterus," Simon continued as if he hadn't heard his husband or friend, "and inject the semen through the catheter. We'll have to wait for a few days after the procedure to know if it worked. We may also have to perform the procedure more than once, depending on how well it works the first time."

Mal groaned. "Are you finished? Not sure how much more of this I can take."

"Yes, I think that about covers it. Any more questions, Kaylee? River?"

"Nah, I'm shiny. Thanks, Simon," Kaylee came over and gave him a hug as he and River stood.

River just kissed his cheek, and winked at Mal, as she left with Kaylee.

After they were gone, Mal looked over at Simon and asked, "How am I ever gonna keep their respect, you keep embarrassin' me like that?"

"Well, I could have suggested we use a turkey baster, would that have made you feel better?"

"What's a turkey? For that matter, what's a turkey baster?"

"A turkey was a fowl on Earth-that-was that was generally eaten at a feast called Thanksgiving. Some cultures stuffed the cavity of the bird's body before baking it. A baster was a tube used to suck up the liquid during baking and spray it…"

"Never mind! I get the picture! Wish I didn't! Why are you telling me this?" Mal could only be thankful that Simon hadn't mentioned this while River and Kaylee had still been in the room. He knew his face had to have turned about ten shades of red by now.

"Because you thought talking about a catheter was embarrassing."

"Wasn't just the catheter."

"Oh?"

"Nah. Also all that 'low sperm count' and 'I'll collect Mal's semen'. Wanted to crawl into a hole and forget about this whole thing 'bout then."

"I'm sorry, love. But it had to be said."

"Yeah, I know. Can we just stop talkin' about it now, though?" Mal asked as he stood and started to leave.

"Certainly." Simon reached for Mal as he passed, and pulled him into a hug. They stood contentedly for a few moments before leaving the infirmary. There was nothing to do now but continue their life as usual, and wait.

Chapter 2

COMMENTS

Tuesday, April 18, 2006 8:02 AM

WANMEI


Whoa, Mal was the one who was embarrassed! Rock on! Always wanted to see the captain put into a situation like that to see what he'd do. *giggle*

Excellent chapter, I can't wait until you post more!

Tuesday, April 18, 2006 8:47 AM

LVS2READ


Wanmei,

Glad you liked Embarrassed!Mal. I just couldn't resist. *evil grin*

I'll post more soon, I promise!

"I love my captain."

Tuesday, April 18, 2006 12:02 PM

AMDOBELL


Very good and I so understand Kaylee's misgivings and River's desire to want to do something selfless for the brother who gave up so much for her freedom. And Mal squirming is always fun! Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me

Tuesday, April 18, 2006 4:45 PM

BLUEEYEDBRIGADIER


Kinda surprise Mal was squeamish about artificial insemination...he grew up on a ranch, so surely he should be familiar with methods of breeding cattle stock (not 100% similar, but the general idea is the same, I presume).

Still...hiliarious stuff here;)

BEB

Tuesday, April 18, 2006 5:12 PM

LVS2READ


Ali,

Glad you think I got it right with River & Kaylee, and yeah, Squriming!Mal is always a hoot! *g*

BEB,

I figured it's one thing to deal with AI in cattle and totally another to think of it with your husband's sister. *evil grin* Plus, remember how flustered he was in HoG? Glad you enjoyed this chapter!

"I love my captain."

Saturday, June 3, 2006 7:52 PM

REALWORLDDOIHAVETO


Hey anonymous you didn't have to read it but you did so what’s with the comment?

Sunday, June 4, 2006 4:59 PM

LVS2READ


Thanks, RealWorld.

I just figured they weren't worth responding to. *eg* But you hit the nail on the head. Nobody forced him/her to read it, so comment was unnecessary. Ah well, some people just don't get it.

Thanks for reading!

"I love my captain."


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