The traditional obligatory offering to Boss Joss. Love his work, got bored, and decided to to run with it!

This is a story co-written with a very good friend of mine, aka DeanWinchester here at FF.net. Humor, smut, jealousy, with just a dash of angst thrown in later chapters to make things interesting. ;-D Bask in the Mal/Inara-ness!

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The following morning, Inara sat on the silken cushions of her settee, glancing at her view screen as she had for the last few hours. In her efforts to utterly ignore Mal until she felt confident enough to face him, she locked herself away from the crew, browsing through the client registry.

She now had a less than pristine reputation among the higher profile clients in the sector, but Inara’s name still held clout among the aristocracy of many planets. Her cup certainly was not dry. She’d show Mal, she wasn’t just a dependant on this ship, at the mercy of the Captain’s whims and ‘jobs’.

River watched silently from the entrance to Inara’s shuttle as the Companion clicked through the client registry. She stood on her tip toes, spying through the porthole on her locked door. River knew that she had no intention of choosing a client today, or ever for that matter. Inara’s heart simply was not in it.

The girl smirked, sensing the tension that had gone on between Mal and Inara the previous night. The air was thick with it, in fact. Dreams, thoughts hidden, on both their parts, desires repressed for far too long. The two were liable to kill each other if this dance of theirs went on for much longer.

Unexpectedly, a familiar name suddenly flickered on the screen, along with a personal note in place. Inara’s mouth opened slightly in shock, while a smile soon replacing it as she saw that the name in question was now on planet.

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Minutes later, Kaylee stumbled into the main hold of Serenity, leaning drowsily against Simon as the two returned from their romantic getaway. An entire night of rest, relaxation…and quite their fair share of alcohol. It was one of the grandest times she’d ever had with the handsome doctor. From what the young woman could tell, it had been the happiest- and most distracted- Simon had been in a long time.

The incident with Draedon had left its mark on him, and for weeks he’d been sulking back into his old habits. And now, Kaylee was a desperate woman, frantic in her search for a way to heal her lover’s troubled mind. Hopefully last night had helped a bit. She squeezed his arm, which she’d wrapped her own through.

“You are lovely, Simon,” she looked up at him dreamily.

Simon was still upset about Draedon and all of that, but he had been healing in a slow progression. Kaylee was helping him. Making sure he had his fair share of fun. Last night had been very fun. So much he wasn't sure this morning if he could walk, but his legs proved otherwise when they were able to hold him. Now he was holding onto Kaylee lazily as they walked into Serenity. He too had a bright smile on his face that read into a whole bunch of good emotions he was finally able to experience again.

He had kept his promise to River in that time also. He had not given her up. He had no chosen one over another. It wouldn't have been fair really. He looked over and down at Kaylee with a smile.

"You're pretty lovely too." He planted a kiss on her forehead and continued walking with her. "Where too?" He asked as they got further inside.

Wracking her brain at his question, Kaylee smirked, wholly amused by the disheveled and wrinkled shirt that Simon was sporting from last night. She supposed that there was a good chance that the doctor hadn’t worn the same clothes two days in a row in his entire life in the Core. Just another one of the aspects of her life that Kaylee was perfectly happy to introduce him to.

“Well,” she thought out loud, holding onto the opposite side of her lover’s shirt as she clung to him playfully. “…I gotta admit, I’m a might tired from our shameless gallivantin’ around town.” She giggled quietly, lifting up on her toes to press a light kiss to his lips. “How’s about we sleep on it? Maybe we can come up with somethin’ to do when we’ve got a bit more energy in us.” She smiled wickedly, yet surprisingly sweetly: It would seem like a contradiction, if it weren’t Kaylee.

Jayne was currently pumping a barbell up and down. A yellow t-shirt covered his torso and some shorts were what he had on today. No need to be intimidating. Plus his shorts were way easier to work out in. It had been nicer when he had Preacher around to spot him and such, though. He worked furiously on pushing the iron up and bringing it back down.

His eyes caught movement at the doors and he glanced that way throwing the weight into the cradle. Well Hell, it was only little Kaylee and her boytoy. He was beginning to think that doctor was becoming more and more her accessory. He grabbed his towel and wiped his face off.

River heard her brother’s voice, and tore her gaze away from Inara’s shuttle, launching herself down the stairs and to the hold’s bottom level. Jayne had just given up on his barbells for the time being, and River took a position leaning against the bar with both hands, watching with a tell-tale grin as the two lovebirds strolled in.

“Good night?” she asked with interest.

Kaylee chuckled at her question, “Wonderful,” she nodded to her young friend without giving too much away.

As close as the two girls were, River was still Simon’s little sister, and some sense of modesty had to be kept around her.

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The captain stood stretching his torso in front of a mirror. He was desperately trying to see if his recent gunshot wounds had left any bad marks. Not that he minded the scars he just didn't want something elaborately disabling.

Then it hit the captain…why was he checking this? Who was he checking these for? Hell. Throwing his arms down, he grabbed his shirt and threw it on. Pulling his suspenders back up he let them fall into place before leaving his bunk. The effect she could have on him was amazing.

Coming into the kitchen, he found Zoe pouring herself a drink.

"Might as well pour me one too," he said jerking a chair back and plopping down.

Zoe slid his cup across the table and he caught it quietly and nearly chugged the alcohol she had served him. Zoe watched with a hint of a smile.

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"How much sex you gonna be havin' with the doctor, little Kaylee?” Jayne called out the question with a vulgar grin. “I don't think the man can even stand on his own two feet anymore. You gone done milked him dry."

Kaylee leaned into Simon’s words, her eyes drawing closed in exhaustion, her lips drawing in a smirk. It was simply too comfortable in the doctor’s arms. Her initial hopes were assured; Simon had obviously loosened up a bit on their date.

She rolled her eyes at Jayne’s lewd comments. She and Simon had been together long enough to have long since become immune to the mercenaries callousness. Well…Kaylee felt that way at least. She held Simon close as she walked him past River and Jayne.

“I’m liable to have more’in this boy can take if you keep askin’ me that,” Kaylee smirked, just as happy to step up to the plate now that she was actually getting some. Her nails grazed beneath the untucked back of Simon’s shirt as her head finally full completely against his shoulder.

Simon, on the other hand, wasn't too good with Jayne's comments. Relationship or not the man sometimes made Simon turn beat red. And that’s exactly how the young man reacted. His face turned red and he turned towards Kaylee. It was more of a make him go away gesture. Kaylee fired back at the mercenary and Simon could lift his head up finally.

Her hand reassured him and he smiled brightly. "I say we grab food and go back to my room so I don't have to be around when the captain decides to play twenty questions like the scary surrogate big brother the man is," Simon grumbled.

It was true. Kaylee had two freakish fake big brothers. She had Mal and Jayne as much as he teased her he was there to protect her. After all who would be little Kaylee to him? It was obvious the only soft side that man had was for his guns and Kaylee.

Jayne's eyes were quick to follow the loving couple. He groaned and felt the need to actually vomit. He needed to visit one of his old "friends" and by friends he meant whores because in reality Jayne had none. Except maybe the crew.

His eyes went back to River and he shook his head. Then going to the couple who were leaving to go up. Jayne felt the need to ruin the moment by making things widely uncomfortable. This was Jayne, though. Always vulgar and trying to bust someone’s happiness bubble.

Simon's smirk lifted upwards. She was worse than he was by far sometimes and that was one of the things he loved about her. She could get him to do things he would have been too scared to try. His eyes went over to his little sister as he noticed her standing near Jayne. That was a little bit strange. Considering it was Jayne.

"Morning River." He gave his sister a nod. He would have hugged her, but he pleasantly tangled up in Kaylee's grasp. He turned his head bending down to whisper in her ear. Soft flow of chinese greeting her. It was just him expressing a few things he didn't normally say in front of most folks. This way he could be a bit quieter by whispering it. He tightened his grip a bit and looked up innocent as could be. A bright smile on his face.

As they made their way up the stairs, Simon staggered some. It wasn't easy to walk like this plus with the shape they were in it was the worst. "I don't know. I'm kind of hungry. You ate all of our strawberries last night and the rest well..." He stopped not finishing his sentence there.

Kaylee giggled as Simon’s suggestion, nodding as they stumbled up the stairs with him. “This I could definitely get used to,” she smirked, stopping at the top of the stairs to kiss him softly. Of course, they wouldn’t be on shore leave for long here on Prassus, but Kaylee was more than prepared to keep this vacation going as long as humanly possible. Though she had to admit, she missed the engine room something fierce.

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Several messages had been sent between Inara and her intended guest, inviting him on board Serenity for the duration of their shore leave. She had suddenly found herself with the intense need to see him. The Companion sent over their location on Prassus, and as the two said their temporary goodbyes over the broadcast, Inara signed off the registry. She was not planning to return to it for quite some time.

Standing from her seat, the Companion made her way quickly across the catwalks above the hold, casting a quick glance down as Kaylee and Simon made their way back to the ship. She smirked at her young mechanic friend, glad to see that she was finding what little happiness one could in these trying times. Inara’s own spirit had been brightened some by the prospect of a familiar face.

She made her way into the kitchen, where Mal and Zoe were taking part in a few drinks. Inara coughed, stepping up to Mal’s side rather formally. “Morning, Captain.”

Mal wasn't cheery. He was downright upset really. He had no job to do and he was just sitting. Like a bump on a log whatever that meant and it annoyed him. He wanted to be actively pissing off the Alliance. Not sitting on some planet watching his crew make out like bandits. That being Kaylee and Simon only. Plus Inara and her clients but that only the greeting hello and then he saw no more. Apparently him, Jayne and Zoe were odd men out in the love department. Mal hadn't exactly been that intimate with anyone in a year probably. Very unpleasant.

"Mornin'."

“I just wanted to let you know that I’ve invited a visitor on board. He’ll be staying with me for the next few days.” Her face remained stoic, as if she were trying extra hard to ignore last's night's events.

"During that time, I would request that my privacy be respected." She didn’t bother asking if Mal had any objections; even if the captain did have an issue, Inara was not likely to care. She might have agreed with Mal’s insisting that she not pay rent for a while longer, but it was still her shuttle, and she had the rights of a property owner in that respect. Meaning, she did not have to ask for permission.

He said not bothering to look up at her. But when she mentioned someone coming aboard his ship he stood up quite fast like. Stepping in close the captain kept his eyes on her. "What’s this? It's one thing when your visitors are off my ship or senators, but havin' some guy come gallivanting on my ship I don't like."

Turning to Zoe for help. "I can’t do much, can I?" She shook his head taking a sip of her drink.

"I'm afraid not sir." Mal's eyes narrowed and he sat again.

"Fine, but he better not get in my way. I'll be having to shoot him then."

Inara was satisfied as Mal reacted so harshly to her words. “Don’t worry, Mal, I’ll keep him away from you,” she shot back at the captain harshly. “We’ll be in my shuttle the majority of his stay, anyway.”

She wasn’t about to let Mal get his kicks by finding all sorts of fun ways to mock her personal life. He had no right, and who she chose to spend her time with was none of his business. Inara moved away from Mal, running her hand along the counter as she rounded it to stand beside Zoe.

“I’m sure you’ll miss me terribly if I’m indisposed for a day or two,” she smiled caustically, subconsciously unsure where all this hostility had shown up. She knew where her discomfort was from, but Mal gad no reason that she could think of to be so unpleasant.

He was upset that she could affect his mood this much. He had been down in his room checking his scars over to make sure they were "appropriate" for her. And then it dawned on him. He was doing that thing again. Getting his hopes up. Things never panned out. Hell she might leave again. The captains eyes went to Zoe and he watched his second in command steadily. If she gave away his secret he was gonna have to do something drastic.

Mal wouldn't admit it outloud, but he was a little bit uncomfortable with it all when Inara brought her customers on his ship. Jealous? Little bit actually. It was hard not to be. He looked down shaking his head in obvious discomfort. Getting up from his seat he poured himself another cup and raised it to the two.

"Miss you? It'll be a holiday. Have fun." He tipped the cup some and turned going off to the bridge. Zoe shook her head taking a sip of her drink.

She rolled her eyes with her back facing the good captain as he tried to get her riled up. “Oh, don’t worry,” Inara reassured him harshly, “I will.”

She cast a semi-apologetic eye at Zoe, realizing how uncomfortable this must be for her to be in the middle of. Or how amusing, for that matter. Cooling down slightly, almost regrettably, she made her way down the hallway towards the main hold, coming face to face with Kaylee and Simon, on their way inside.

“Oh, morning, mei mei,” she smiled weakly, placing a hand on the girl’s free shoulder as she made her way out. “Get in and out quickly if I were you,” she muttered under her breath, warning the young mechanic that Mal was in a mood today. A surprisingly recent turn of events. Of course, Inara would be lying if she claimed that she hadn’t purposely fueled the argument, but still.

Kaylee nodded with a smile as Inara greeted her, having stormed out of the kitchen looking a bit shaken up.

“Morning, ‘Nara,” she smiled back cheerfully, the smile faltering a bit when Inara warned them both.

They parted ways, and Kaylee shook her head and made a face up at Simon. "Honestly, those two act just like a pair of fussy babies sometimes."

And that was typically on their good days. But Kaylee, along with everyone else on the gorram ship, knew that they were just lying to themselves. Both were too proud to admit that they liked each other, and that was that. Kaylee loved Inara and the Captain both to death, but if they didn’t get over themselves soon, they’d both wind up miserable and lonely…and still driving each other crazy for the rest of their lives.

Simon was resting quite happily with Kaylee when they stumbled into Inara. He raised a confused brow, but he caught up suddenly.

"I'd rather not comment. Knowing Mal he's listening in and well you know." He said shaking his head as they stepped into the kitchen. His eyes went to Zoe who was standing quietly with a grin still.

Zoe hadn't minded much being in the middle of the fighting. It wasn't an uncommon thing. Those two fought all the time. Even when the fight didn't make much sense they'd keep on going. She gave the happy couple a nod and stayed where she was till she finished her drink. "I'd better check on the captain knowing him he'll fly us into a rock just to make her mad." She went off to the bridge.

Simon looked at Kaylee with a raised brow. "Is it just me or did the kitchen clear out a little quickly?"

Kaylee nodded, knowing full well that what Zoe suggested wasn’t that far out of the grasp of the Captain when he got into those tiffs with Inara. The young mechanic smirked at Simon’s observation, wrapping both arms around the boy’s waist. “What? You mindin’?” She asked with a broad grin, kissing his neck before trailing up ever so slowly to his lips. At least they had a couple moments of peace.

Simon gave her a shrug and a smirk formed over his lips as she moved in closer kissing on him. He pulled back slowly from their kiss and shook his head. "Not so much anymore." He said leaning his head down to kiss her. With his luck River would come busting in or Jayne would make a wise crack, but silence covered him and he was more than happy to have it embrace the both of them.

One thing the doctor could never get tired of and that was kissing this here girl in his arms. Deepening it he moved in closer closing off whatever gap of space that was left. The doctor had learned to let go a little bit whenever he was with her. He let one hand rest on her waist dangerously close to going farther. The other went to dig into her hair.

Kaylee moaned softly into Simon’s kiss, loving the warmth of his body as he pressed against hers. Every inch of her burned for him. Hell, the last night had done nothing to satiate her desire for the man in front of her. Kaylee’s hands trailed up, wrapping around his neck and holding his lips firmly to her. She surfaced for air, leaning her forehead into his.

“Alright, Dr. Tam,” she chuckled, grabbing Simon’s wrinkled collar as she pulled him towards the pantry. “Let’s get some food in your stomach and get you out of those ratty old clothes.” Of course, Kaylee had no intention of getting him into any new clothes anytime soon, either.

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To be continued! Please R&R

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Chinese Translation: mei mei – little sister [an endearment]