“Shuttle disengaging in three...two...one...”

Mal bit the inside of his lip as Inara’s shuttle broke off from Serenity shortly after they broke atmo. He was sitting in the copilot seat, supervising River. Not like she needed though. In the short months she had taken over the job, she was already a natural at it.

He watched as Inara’s shuttle floated off in the distance and let out a small groan. And in the short months since Inara had come back to Serenity, she had settled back into her routine of her occupation. And Mal felt like he was being clawed at in the inside...

“Just admit it...”

Mal was caught off guard by River’s words. He looked over at her as she pressed a few buttons on the console. “I’m sorry...what?”

“You’re jealous. Jealous of the men she gets to be with...”

Mal’s jaw dropped when she said that. He tried to force a word out, but River had left him speechless. Finally, he managed to wrestle out, “I am not jealous.”

River gave him a ‘You-can’t-fool-anyone’ look before looking out the window of the ship. “You decide to keep it close though, because it’s all yours and no one else's. It’s not healthy...Keeping it all to yourself...”

“Well, I won’t say anything against it. If it keeps her happy.”

River let out a laugh as he said that. “Do you really think she’s happy?”

Mal’s eyes widened at River’s remark. “Um...what do yo-”

“What do you wish from her,” asked River, her voice becoming mischievous and dramatic, “To lay in her bed all day? Be her best kept secret? Her biggest mistake?”

Mal once again tried to argue with River, but all he could manage to say was, “Just land the ship...”

River turned back to the console with a grin on her face. “Yes, sir.”

Mal put his face in his palm and sighed. Simon was right. His sister was a brat...