Characters/Pairings: Mal/Inara, Simon/Kaylee, and some Wash/Zoe but mostly Mal/Inara Rating: PG Spoilers: after the BDM Disclaimer: if I owned it do you think I would be writing this? Notes: Ok this is set after the BDM but Wash is alive if it really bugs you I will dedicate a chapter explaining why Wash is alive but only by request because I’m lazy. This is a continuation of running and that’s pretty much it.

Once Inara got back to the Training House, she caught some novices huddled around a door that was cracked a little. They were giggling softly to themselves but when they saw Inara, they scattered like leaves on the wind. Then Inara being a little curious herself, she looked through the crack. There she saw Malcolm Reynolds talking with none other than the House Mother and actually holding his own in conversation, which was a surprise in itself.

“Ya see…I need a Companion for my ship so I can get docking clearance and more reputable customers.” Inara had caught Mal as he was just finishing his request, expertly noticing he had dressed up for the occasion since he was clean shaven and looking quite handsome. A dull ache fluttered in her chest, a less than subtle reminder of just how much the sight of the former infantry sergeant could undo her years of training.

“Well…I will suggest the idea to my girls, but first, because I like you, I would like to invite you to a ball. Think of it as a test to see if you can truly attract ‘reputable’ customers.”

“Well umm…” Mal stuttered.

Please don’t blow it, just say yes! Inara prayed silently.

“Well, I would love to, ma’am,” Mal managed semi-gracefully.

“Good! Bring your whole crew! I think they might enjoy a night out. The ball is tomorrow night at the Grand Star Hall. Don’t be late,” She warned. Mal thanked her and turned to leave. Inara all but ran down the hall to avoid being seen. On her way back to her suite, a Companion trainee caught up with her.

“Lady Serra? The House Mother wishes to speak to you immediately,” she said before disappearing again. Hesitantly, Inara made her way back to the meeting chambers where the House Mother normally held court.

“You wished to see me?” Inara asked, bowing respectfully.

“You know a Malcolm Reynolds?” The House Mother’s response was more of a statement then a question.

“Yes,” Inara said with a practiced calm voice. “I was onboard his ship for some time,” Inara finished.

“Is he a good man?” she asked.

“I wouldn’t say he is a bad man but he has his good points… some times,” Inara replied.

“Why did you leave Serenity?” the House Mother asked.

“I felt it was time for me to move on,” Inara said cryptically.

“Be straight with me, girl! I know you too well for lies,” the House Mother scolded Inara gently.

“I just couldn’t stand it any more,” Inara admitted.

“Could not stand what?” House mother asked quietly.

“I couldn’t keep dealing with the fact that he just kept dancing around me,” Inara finally let herself remember.

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The Companion’s mind flashed back to a point shortly after the Operative came after River, during a run to Persephone. It was late and Inara couldn’t find sleep, so she went wandering around the ship for a while before finally making her way up to the cockpit. It was here that she found Mal just sitting silently, looking out into the Black. He finally looked up when he felt he wasn’t alone anymore.

“I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to disturb you,” Inara apologized.

“It’s fine. Could use the company anyway,” Mal said. After a brief pause, Mal asked, “What are you still doin’ up anyway?”

“Couldn’t sleep,” Inara answered. “How about you?”

“Same.” Inara noticed there was a note of hesitation in Mal’s voice, but she thought better on her attempt to call Mal on it.

“What are you thinking?”

“That this is the longest we have gone without insultin’ each other,” Mal muttered quietly, a dry note of mirth lacing his words. Inara relaxed and giggled a little.

“I do believe that’s the first time I have ever heard ya giggle, Inara.” Mal pointed out.

“Oh really? Well…it’s not considered appropriate for a Companion to giggle.”

“I like it! I…I mean it’s not an unpleasin’ sound! I mean...” Inara raised a hand to stop his rambling, while trying to hold in her laughter at Mal’s visible discomfort. “You know you can compliment me without making an excuse,” Inara informed him gently, a small smile curling on her lips.

A silence fell between them. It wasn’t an issue of being uncomfortable; they just had nothing else to say.

After several minutes of empty silence, Inara had to restrain herself from jumping out of the co-pilot’s chair when a ragged “Stay” hissed out from between Mal’s pursed lips.

“Excuse me?” Inara asked startled.

“Stay.” The word now was almost a desperate plea, chilling Inara’s bones at the pain behind it.

“Why do you want me to stay?” Inara hoped she already knew the answer, but she had to hear it from Mal.

“Cuz…cuz Kaylee would miss you somthin’ fierce and we need the business an-” Inara cut him off.

“Is that all you care about? Business?!” Inara asked indignantly.

“Well no...um well…uhh,” Mall stuttered.

“Oh if you can’t say what you want to say, then you can find another Companion!” Inara stormed off in a huff, heading briskly towards her shuttle to start packing.

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“So you left because you wanted him to say something else?” House Mother asked.

“Well, he should have said what he wanted to say! Besides, he had another whole day to stop me, but he didn’t…he just let me go.”

“I see.” The House Mother turned away from Inara, seemingly deep in thought. Inara was about to offer apologies for this emotionally-charged outburst when the House Mother’s voice floated past her elegantly clothed shoulder.

“You may leave now, Inara. Oh…before I forget….you have been engaged by a client for the ball, correct?” House mother asked.

“Yes,” Inara replied, a little curious at this random line of questioning.

“Good.”

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The crew had been in the midst of another wonderful meal based around the tasteless – but theoretically nutritious – protein claimed to be a suitable replacement for fresh meats.

By the time the captain returned, the crew had given in to their hunger and started their improvised supper. Zoe automatically turned her head to look at her captain and was a mite put off by the look gracing the man’s face. His accompanying words did little to alleviate her concerns.

“Kaylee! Pull out that pink monstrosity you call a dress! We have a ball to go to!” Mal proclaimed, mirth warring with irritation for control of his features.

“Cap’n?” Kaylee asked, rather surprised herself at this sudden outburst.

“The House Mother invited us to a ball tomorrow,” Mal clarified.

“You mean all of us?” Zoe asked uncertainly.

“Yep…thought you would ‘enjoy’ it.”

Just then, there was another beeping from the comm. system. It was Wash went to find out what it was, after both Mal and Zoe shot the pilot a look. When he came back, a look of confusion was all over Wash’s face.

“Uh…Mal? There is a very attractive woman outside asking for you,” Wash informed Mal.

Mal immediately rose from the head of the table, quickly marching out of the kitchen, through the familiar hallways that led to Serenity’s cargo bay before reaching the still open loading ramp. A ramp that now was graced with a woman who, if Mal was honest with himself, possessed a type of beauty rarely seen in the circles the ship travelled. A tiny part of mind, however, seemed to holler “But she can’t hold a ruttin’ candle to Inara!” repeatedly as he looked down upon her from his slightly higher vantage point.

“House Mother sent me,” she informed a slightly stunned Mal. “She, at the time of her extending invitations to you and your crew, sadly forgot her manners by failing to consider the fact that your crew probably didn’t have the appropriate attire for such an event. So she sent me to help you and your crew to find something suitable and pay for it,” she finished politely.

“Now hold here one moment, lady! I don’t take charity!” Mal replied.

“But sir, it is not charity! It is the tradition here on Persephone that when you are invited to an event of this magnitude, the person who invites you has to pay for whatever it takes them to get there,” she clarified.

“It’s true Cap, this guy once asked me...” Simon appeared at Kaylee’s side, forcing the mechanic to trail off. “Oh never mind, but it would offend her greatly if you don’t accept,” she finished.

“Really?” Mal asked the messenger skeptically.

“Really,” she assured him, a polite but caring smile appearing on her lips at the scene in front of her.

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In preparation for the ball, Inara spent most of the next day in preparation for her duties. Appointments were scheduled and met promptly by the Companion for important cosmetic matters such as a combination manicure-pedicure; an extensive 3-hour hair styling session with her favourite artiste; and an intricate 1-on-1 with Inara’s personal vanity mirror for applying the suitable makeup design for an affair such as the rapidly-approaching ball.

The final stage of her efforts – her dress – was reached only two hours or so before Inara was scheduled to appear at the Grand Star Hall. It was at this point, the Companion took a moment to reflect on the elegant garment that she had selected from her extensive wardrobe to grace her. The dress was a shade of blue that Inara had found to be seemingly hypnotic when she had purchased the dress a year or so after getting her Companion’s Licence at a specialty boutique mere blocks from the Guild Academy on Sihnon…a shade of blue only matched – maybe even bested – by the iridescent blue of a certain ship captain’s eyes. The sleeves flowed from the shoulder straps like waterfalls, adding to the beauty of the garment’s tight corset-like top and flared waistline. The perfect thing for dancing, Inara thought with a smile.

Inara’s musings were interrupted as one of the House’s servants paused outside of Inara’s chambers to inform the Companion that her client had arrived and was awaiting “the Lady Serra” outside.

This is going to be an interesting night, Inara thought. ************************************************* A/N Ok a huge thanks to BlueEyedBrigadier who is my beta and a bit of a co-author thanks so much. And I know you people are out there reading my stories so pleas review I live off reviews.

Sab