Because, not all that unlike when she’d really seen space for the first time, looking at River lately, she felt like she had then.

Just plain happy, and pretty much amazed. Like she’d just been given the best gift ever.

And nothing would ever be the same again.

————-

It was later on in the day now, a while after noon. They’d talked to Inara for a while and then went out and buried the rest of the bodies. Afterward, River had wanted to go for a last swim in the lake before they went. Kaylee had swam with her for a while, but then got up on shore to lay out their picnic lunch for them. Now she was just sitting on shore, arms resting on her knees, chin on her arms, watching River jump off the top of the waterfall and dive into the lake with nary a splash. Kaylee smiled a little wistfully and lay her head on its side, waiting for River to surface, which she did a few moments later closer to her, her startin’ to swim over to her then. Kaylee watched as her lover made her way back over to her, feeling like she was maybe losing something precious. Her and River alone out here, just them. They’d have the trip to the colony town, but after that, she’d have to share her new girlfriend with other people. Even if one of those others was one of her best friends. Oh, she knew she and River were steady and all, but still, there was just something magic about being the only two in the world like it’d felt like they’d been these last weeks. Something she was somehow sure she’d miss once it was gone. She smiled though as River got up closer to her and sat up on her knees, offering her hand to the woman. River took it and smiled to her, and Kaylee could see it in her eyes that she was thinking about pulling her in.

River apparently kept strong against the temptation though and let Kaylee pull her up to shore with her.

River knelt down next to her next and touched her cheek gently, kissing her. Kaylee felt spellbound and easily felt herself get lost in the simple kiss. She sighed a little blissfully when the kiss was over, looking at River with what must surely look like a lovesick gaze.