Not his little Kaylee anymore

My picture was this: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v480/shansgrl/picfor1000.jpg

Title: Not his little Kaylee anymore
Author: shansgrl
Fandom: Firefly
Rating: PG
Summary: Mal takes a look back
Author note: This is my first Firefly fic ever, so feedback would be greatly appreciated! Especially since this was unbeta’d. Written for the picfor1000 challenge on LiveJournal.


“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today….”

Mal stood listening to the words that the preacher was saying, but he wasn’t paying attention. He looked at the bride thinking that he has never seen her look any prettier than she did right at this minute. As happy as he was he couldn’t help that he felt might uncomfortable in the fancy outfit he had been forced to wear. His only comfort was that he knew Jayne was just as miserable if not worse. It had taken Mal, Simon, Zoe and even River to get Jayne in the suit. That started the day out on an interesting and disturbing note, with the sight of a half naked Jayne burned into their heads. But he had a suspicion that River hadn’t minded in the least.

He felt Kaylee give him a slight elbow and jolted him out of his thoughts. His part must be coming up.

“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”

“I do” Mal replied. He looked down at Kaylee and smiled. “Xiao meimei, you sure? It’s not too late to run.” He said quiet enough that only she heard.

Kaylee beamed at him. “I’m sure Captain.”

“He’d better be good to you. Otherwise he’s out the airlock.” He bent over and kissed her cheek. “Love you little one.” He said softly.

She reached up and touched his cheek knowing that those words did not come easy for him. “Love you back”, then she was gone.

“Simon, do you take Kaylee Frye as your lawful wedded wife to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honor, comfort, and cherish her from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto her for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.”

Mal’s thoughts drifted again. He never set much store to preachers and prayers, no secret about that. But Kaylee had wanted a traditional wedding and the entire crew of Serenity made sure it happened. Kaylee, Inara , River, even Zoe had gone crazy with the plans for the wedding. Giggling and carrying on like womenfolk do with that sort of thing. After the evening meals, they would sit at the table and made plans in such detail that it would rival any of their heists. He just hoped the whole shindig went better. But it was good to hear laughter again, especially from Zoe.

Mal and Jayne managed to keep out of most of it though, finding other things that needed doing, all the while leaving Simon in the clutches of the females. Jayne and him had a couple of laughs about that, and the doc swore he’d get back at them. Turned out that the last laugh was on them, seeing the doc made sure that they had to wear the dandified clothes for the wedding.

“Kaylee, do you take Simon Tam for your lawful wedded husband, to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honor, comfort, and cherish him from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto him for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.”

He watches Kaylee look at Simon as she says those words. He saw her there in her fancy white dress, and thought of the day that she came close to dying, the day they took the Tams on board.

He tries not to think very much about that day. Makes him twitchy and uncomfortable, and only if he will admit it to himself, scared. They almost lost Kaylee that day, and he still has nightmares of it. Visions of Kaylee being shot, falling to the ground with blood pouring out of her gut. The precious seconds that seemed like eternity while a battle of wills played out between him and the doc. Then Kaylee in the infirmary, looking so pale with the breathing mask over her face. His bloody hands taking the instruments that Simon used to patch her back up. He never did like looking at those gorramn instruments after that. No matter how clean they were, and the doc kept them clean, he could still see her blood all over them.

“I Simon, take thee Kaylee to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor, and cherish, 'til death do us part.”

“I Kaylee, take thee Simon to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor, and cherish, 'til death do us part,.”

“The rings please” the preacher says. Jayne steps forward and hands the rings over. Mal can tell Jayne’s impatient for this to be over so that he can get out of his suit.

He hears Simon’s voice first, then Kaylee’s say, “With this ring I thee wed. Wear it as a symbol of our love and commitment.” Mal’s thoughts drift again.

He remembers the day that Kaylee asked him to give her away. Her face so full of life, shining with that inner light she has. He was stunned that she had asked him, but did not hesitate to say yes. She had then hugged him so tight he thought his ribs would break. It hit him then, that she wouldn’t be his little Kaylee anymore. She’d be someone else’s.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Mal smiled as Kaylee all but threw herself at Simon. When they turned they both smiled and looked around at everyone. Then as everyone started to talk, Kaylee came over to him and took his hand.

“Thank you, Captain.” she said.

“Welcome.” She then walked over to her husband and stood by his side.

No, she wasn’t his little Kaylee anymore. She was part of Serenity, as they all were, therefore, she would always be a part of Mal.