A/N: So glad that you are liking my take (or at least, my first one) on Inara's past. It's gonna get angsty folks!

And thanks again to Leiasky who always takes time to beta, even when I know she's swamped.

Keep those comments coming ... they're the cream in my coffee and I really LOVE coffee!

***

Best Intentions, ch. 2

***

Inara sighed as she felt Mal’s arm curl around her waist, his warm body pressing into her back. Despite all that was happening, she was glad that when she saw her parents again, for the first time in over three years, she wouldn’t have to do it alone.

Pressing a kiss behind her ear, Mal asked quietly, “You wave your folks?”

Glad he couldn’t see the frown on her features, she answered quietly, “Yes, they’re expecting you, me, Kaylee and Simon day after tomorrow.”

“Good,” Mal said, his breath tickling the back of her neck. “You still scared ‘bout seein’ ‘em?”

Allowing a bit of her annoyance to show, Inara told him hotly, “I’m not scared, Mal. I wish you’d stop saying that.”

Propping himself up on one elbow, Mal placed a finger under her chin and made her face him. As he beheld her beautiful, if angry face, he felt a pang of guilt at forcing her hand. He honestly hadn’t meant for this to get so out of control; he’d initially thought it would be a nice gesture, a surprise, something he could do for her to let her know that he cared for her, about her. But as the weeks had passed and she had become more and more resistant to the idea, he wished he’d have let it go when she’d first asked him to.

“We don’t gotta go,” he said quietly, his eyes focusing on each part of her face; her eyes, her nose, her lips. “We can skip it, if’n you want.”

Furrowing her brow, Inara asked him suspiciously, “Why?”

Sighing a bit, Mal told her, “’Cause, I don’t want you to be so anxious. I thought for sure you’d be all right with this or that at the very least you’d admit to me what was wrong. But …” He trailed off, running his hand down her shoulder and then resting his chin on her arm. “I’m sorry, ‘Nara, I din’t never wanna see ya so upset.”

She actually smiled at him, touched at his words and completely ignoring the fact that it was now too late. She had waved her parents and told them they were coming and as much as she did not want to give into Mal, she outright refused to give her parents the satisfaction of turning and running.

Rolling onto her back, Inara rested her hand against his face, and said softly, “Thank you, Mal, really. But I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Swallowing down the fear that was still rising in her stomach, she said, “It will, it’ll be fine.”

Frowning at her, Mal sighed heavily and then asked, “It’s me, isn’t it? You’re worried ‘bout them meetin’ me?”

Inara giggled lightly. The thought had occurred to her; what exactly would the great and dignified Edward Serra do when he met his daughter’s criminal boyfriend? But while she didn’t necessarily look forward to those introductions, she knew it didn’t matter what her parents did or said. She was an adult now, leading her own life, and they could no longer dictate her actions.

Kissing him lightly, Inara said, “I’m not going to pretend that it’ll be a walk in the park, for any of us, but no, Mal, I’m not ashamed to bring you home to my parents.”

Letting out an audible sigh, Mal lied back down beside her and pulled her close. “Well, that’s good to know. An’ I can hold my own ya know?”

“Trust me, sweetie,” Inara told him quietly, moving as close to him as she could. “I know.”

***

Kaylee had not let go of Simon’s hand since they had entered the hovercar and, in return, Simon had not been able to pull his eyes from her beautiful face. She was so excited, the energy of her emotions caused her to glow, illuminating her face in a way Simon had never seen before, but wanted to see again. Plus, she looked absolutely radiant. Inara had allowed Kaylee to borrow a few of her dresses until they could go shopping for more and Kaylee had donned a jade green one that hugged her curves in all the right places and made Simon think some very improper thoughts.

He’d already told her she looked beautiful, but unable to resist the urge to tell her again, he leaned over and whispered to her, “You look incredible.”

Pulling her gaze from the window, Kaylee smiled brightly at him, and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thanks, sweetie.” Squeezing his hand again, she asked, “You ever been to Sihnon before?”

Simon nodded, settling back into the seat. “Once,” he told her. “When I was just starting at the MedAcad. We came here to study for a few days in one of the big hospitals. They had a special trauma wing with …” Simon trailed off as he realized that Kaylee’s face had fallen at his telling.

“What is it?” he asked her quietly, again leaning close. Mal and Inara were in the front of the car with the driver, so they were for all intents and purposes alone, but still … “Did I say something wrong?”

Kaylee quickly shook her head and turned her gaze back out the window, so Simon couldn’t read anymore of her disappointment. “No, ‘course not,” she said. “I shoulda figured you’da been here ‘fore.”

Smiling slightly, Simon tugged on her hand and forced her gaze to his. Placing a hand to her cheek, Simon said quietly, “But I’ve never been here with someone I love,” before leaning towards her and kissing her gently.

“Really?” Kaylee breathed when their lips had parted that radiant glow again permeating every part of her.

Smiling again, Simon wrapped his arm around her shoulder and said, “Really.”

This admission seemed to satisfy Kaylee and they rode the rest of the way in silence, until finally the car stopped in front of a grand mansion. Opening the door, Simon stepped out and reached back to offer a hand to Kaylee who took it, still stumbling out of the car a bit clumsily as she wasn’t used to the dress. Catching her with an arm around her waist, Kaylee smiled to him sheepishly and then turned to look at Inara’s house, her eyes practically bugging out of her head.

Her mouth dropped open and Kaylee stood staring as the driver took their things to the front door and Mal paid the man. Moving up beside her friend, Inara threaded her arm through Kaylee’s and whispered, “Mei mei, you’re catching flies.”

Snapping her mouth shut hurriedly, Kaylee turned those wide green eyes to Inara and asked, “You grew up here?”

Looking to the house herself, Inara forced a smile to her face as she said wistfully, “I did.”

“Wow,” was the only response Kaylee could muster.

Mal moved up beside Inara, his arm crooked, inviting her to take it, which she did gladly, while Simon moved up beside Kaylee and did the same. “Well, it ain’t gonna do us any good to stare at it,” Mal muttered as he and Inara led the way to the front door.

Simon and Kaylee followed, Kaylee still in awe over the opulence and grandeur of the mansion. Simon simply smiled at her delight. The Serra estate was certainly bigger than his family’s home on Osiris, but compared to the other palaces in this neighborhood it could almost be considered modest.

As Inara extended one finely manicured hand to ring the bell, she turned Mal towards her and straightened his jacket, smoothing his collar. “Now, remember Mal, my parents supported Unification, so please, no browncoat talk?” she asked, her eyes begging him to heed her. As he frowned at the request, she amended, “At least for the first twelve hours, then you can go crazy.”

Smiling widely at her, Mal leaned down and kissed her lightly, murmuring, “I like the sound o’ that,” just as the door swung open and the butler showed them in. He was new and Inara did not know him, but he knew her, greeting her as Miss Serra and guiding them towards the family’s formal living room.

Inara took a deep breath as the older man pushed open the heavy oak doors and prepared herself as best she could. Squeezing Mal’s arm just a bit more tightly, she stepped into the room and smiled graciously as her mother and father rose to greet them.

“Inara!” Liliana Serra was a woman of incomparable beauty, everyone said so. She was bedecked in the finest silks and jewels, the dark red color offsetting her olive colored skin and jet black hair. She approached her daughter arms outstretched, and wrapped the girl in a tight embrace.

“Hello mother,” Inara said quietly, hugging her back and then stepping away as her father followed behind and placed a kiss to each of her cheeks. “Father,” she intoned, trying to keep the tremor from her voice.

Gazing at them for a moment more, Inara realized how they had aged since she’d been gone. Her mother’s hair was still black without a hint of gray, while her father’s had taken on that salt and pepper look that spoke of dignity in his social circle. Both of them had crow’s feet at their eyes, but any other wrinkles had been smoothed away, no doubt by surgeries too countless to mention.

Remembering her manners, Inara gestured Mal forward and made the introduction. “Mother, Father, may I present Captain Malcolm Reynolds.” As Mal stretched out his hand towards her father, Inara said, “Mal, meet Edward and Liliana Serra, my parents.”

“It’s a pleasure, sir,” Mal said as he shook the older man’s hand firmly, making eye contact.

“Likewise, Captain, thank you,” Edward intoned evenly.

Turning to Inara’s mother, Mal took the hand she offered and kissed it lightly. “Thank you so much, ma’am for inviting us into your home. We appreciate your hospitality.”

Liliana could only nod graciously and watch as her daughter gestured behind her, motioning Simon and Kaylee forward, Simon taking over the introductions for her.

“Mister and Mrs. Serra, I am Doctor Simon Tam and this is my girlfriend, Kaywinnet Lee Frye,” he said smoothly, also extending a hand to Edward and making eye contact, while kissing Liliana’s outstretched hand. Kaylee, not knowing the proper protocol, shook their hands as well, smiling her biggest smile and telling them, “You can call me Kaylee.”

Inara watched her parents stare at Kaylee and Mal before they remembered their manners. She would have laughed at their absurd reactions if she hadn’t seen the way Kaylee’s eyes flashed when her friend realized that they were looking down on her. Simon must have noticed it as well, for he took Kaylee’s hand in his own and kissed it, before resting it again in the crook of his arm. Silently, Inara thanked Buddha that Simon had finally gotten it right.

Motioning them further into the room, Edward moved towards the bar, as Liliana asked in her best hostess voice, “Would anyone care for a drink?”

***

Much to Inara’s chagrin, it seemed that taking everyone’s drink order was the last civil or straightforward thing either of her parents could say for the night. As the six of them sat around the impossibly large dining table, Inara tried to hide her grimace as the conversation turned from uncomfortable to downright painful. She’d known this was a bad idea.

Her mother, with all the polish and aplomb of a woman of her stature, had now turned her questioning to Simon. Her eyes swept over his body appreciatively, making Inara want to vomit into her entrée. But she tried to hide the gag as Liliana Serra began interrogating the young man.

“So, a doctor?” she asked, her eyes lighting and her face breaking into a wide and knowing grin.

Clearing his throat a bit, Simon’s eyes roved over everyone at the table as he wiped his mouth on his napkin and answered, “Yes, ma’am, but please don’t call me Doctor Tam. Simon is fine.”

Nodding once, her eyes twinkled with familiarity as Lili questioned, “All right then, Simon. What kind of doctor?”

“A surgeon, actually.”

Edward’s ears perked up at this information and he favored the boy with a kind look and a question. “Really? What’s your specialty?”

Simon’s eyes darted to Inara and then to Kaylee, who was watching him answer with rapt attention, her smile wide and proud. Smiling at her himself – how could he not? – he looked back to the older man and said, “Trauma.”

As the older couple shared a knowing look, it was Lili who turned back to Simon first and with a flirtatious grin said quietly, “Oh well, I imagine it takes a lot to fluster you then, Simon.” Inara noted how her mother kept emphasizing his name and had to roll her eyes in disgust. Luckily, no one noticed.

Smiling even wider, Kaylee finally jumped in, more than happy to brag about her man. “An’ how,” she told Lili, her eyes lighting as she squeezed Simon’s hand and sat up in her chair, talking excitedly. “Simon don’t so much as flinch ev’ry time cap’n comes in with a new gusher.”

Her provincial tone and exuberant demeanor did nothing to ingratiate the young woman to either Liliana or Edward, and they dropped their eyes to their plates, taking a few bites of food and sips of wine in silence. Finally, it was Edward who asked, “And does this happen often? The wounds, I mean?”

Again Kaylee answered with her usual enthusiasm. “Oh reg’ler ‘nough,” she told them, and then paused, her head cocking to the side as she considered the frequency of other happenings on her boat. Looking to Mal with a cute little smile, she said, “’Course not as often as the boat breakin’ down, right, cap?”

Mal tried to hide his discomfort at Kaylee’s statement, knowing the girl was only trying to engage him in conversation. Reaching for his wine glass, he returned her smile with a small one of his own and said, “Not so much with you on board, lil’ Kaylee.”

“Oh?” Liliana’s ears perked up at this last. While she instantly had disliked both Kaylee and Mal, she found the younger girl’s eagerness and rough edges completely distasteful. Hoping that she might be able to uncover something that would give her insight into how to detach Kaylee from the well-bred doctor, she added, “How so?”

Inara could see where this was going. She could read the gleam in her mother’s eye; the predatory look that told her Liliana Serra was circling for the kill. Hoping to stymie Kaylee’s answer, Inara said quickly, “Kaylee is Serenity’s mechanic, mother.”

Oh yes, perfect. With a patient smile and an upraised eyebrow, Lili shared a look with her husband and then said quietly, “Oh, well, isn’t that … unusual.” Raising her wine glass to her lips, she added almost as an afterthought, “A young, female mechanic, traveling through the blackness of space on a ship full of-“ Her eyes darted to Mal, noting the way his cheeks were flushing and said carefully, “Tradesmen.”

All four of Serenity’s crew swallowed hard at this comment, but Kaylee most of all. Dropping her gaze to her plate, she would not lift her eyes again, having picked up on Mrs. Serra’s implication. Not wanting to be rude, she simply placed her fork to the side of her plate and decided to listen, not even meeting Simon’s gaze when he reached over and squeezed her hand.

As the silence built around the table, Edward determined he should break it. Returning his attention to Simon, who was by far the most interesting person in the room, he asked, “So, Simon, where did you study?”

Returning his gaze to their host, Simon answered, “Osiris, Capitol City. I was a resident there.”

“Oh and were you raised there?” Liliana asked.

Simon was decidedly uncomfortable with this entire evening, but he knew his manners. If his hosts asked him a question, he was obligated to answer, no matter how rude or uncouth he thought they were. So, suppressing a sigh, he answered patiently, “Yes.”

“And your parents?” Edward questioned. “What do they do?”

Unbelievable, Simon thought to himself. Maybe there really is a checklist; these questions were the same ones his parents had always asked any date or friend he’d ever brought to the house. Swallowing down his automatic answer of ‘disown their children,’ Simon answered. “My mother is a curator at the Natural History Museum and my father is the CEO of a large shipping conglomerate.”

Her eyes again lighting with a gleam that Simon found disturbing, Liliana looked to him and said, “Well, handsome, smart and rich. Simon, it seems you are quite the catch.” This last statement was directed to Inara, who had not lifted her eyes from her plate for quite some time. Feeling her mother’s gaze boring into her scalp, the younger woman took a deep breath and raised her eyes, giving her a practiced smile.

Simon swallowed hard, not missing the knowing looks and suggestive glances that Inara’s parents were sharing as they looked from him to their daughter. Turning intently to his food, he was very glad when the next question asked, was not directed at him; although he did grimace when he heard both the recipient and the query.

“So, Malcolm, where did you study?”

Mal’s hand froze halfway to his mouth, his forkful of beef and potatoes pausing in mid-air. Turning to Inara’s father with a puzzled expression, he questioned softly, “Shenme?”

Sneering slightly at the use of the slang, Edward asked, “To be a captain? I assume you went to a military academy of some sort.”

Taking a deep breath, Mal placed his fork back to his plate and tried to ignore the warning look Inara was giving him. “Well, actually sir, captain’s more of an honorary title.”

As the older man raised his eyes at this, Kaylee piped up again from the other side of the table. Maybe bragging about Mal would make this whole evening easier on Inara, who she could tell was decidedly uncomfortable. “But cap’n was a sergeant, right n’ proper,” she said, not heeding the warning look Inara had now turned to her or the daggers that Liliana was trying to hide at the interruption. “Durin’ the war.”

Inara inhaled sharply, waiting. She didn’t wait long. With a clap to the younger man’s back, Edward said, “Well, now that’s refreshing. Always nice to meet a fellow Alliance man.”

Inara felt very fortunate to be sitting as she was sure the tension would have caused her to faint. Grimacing a bit, Mal fixed her father with a mild grin and said, “Well, sir, that ain’t exactly the truth.”

Inara couldn’t take it. Grabbing his forearm, she hissed, “Mal.”

Liliana could hardly believe her luck. In just one dinner she had already uncovered almost all the information she’d need to get both of these hooligans – Malcolm and Kaylee – out of the picture, so that Inara could finally make the proper choice when it came to her future. Waving a hand at her daughter, she scolded her, saying, “Let the man speak his peace, Inara. It’s rude to interrupt a guest.”

Swallowing back her angry retort, Inara released Mal’s arm and just prayed.

Looking back to her father, Mal gave an answer to combat the puzzled look on his features. “I was actually an Independent during the war, sir. A browncoat.”

Again, silence. Secretly, Inara could not believe that her father didn’t haul off and punch Mal, but she knew that the great Edward Serra had been raised to be much more reserved than that. Instead, he simply nodded curtly, before again turning to his food, the room sinking into a heavy quiet that set them all on edge.

This time Liliana broke it, deciding to discover the real reason for her daughter’s visit. “So, Inara, how is the Guild?”

Continuing to take small forkfuls of food and sip her wine, Inara did not meet her mother’s gaze as she answered evenly, “Fine.”

Rolling her eyes slightly in mock annoyance, her mother pressed her. “Oh, come now, Inara. Don’t keep me in suspense. You know I crave the details of your glamorous life.”

From beside her Mal almost choked on his food and Inara shot him a dirty look. As he grinned to her sheepishly, Inara collected herself and met her mother’s gaze. By way of an answer she said, “The Guild hasn’t changed, mother.”

Deciding on a different tact, Lili asked, “Well, what about that high priestess position they’ve been grooming you for? Your father and I thought for sure that you’d-“

“Things have changed, mother,” Inara interjected quietly, cutting the woman off before she could finish the statement.

Knowing she was on to something, Liliana leaned forward and asked innocently, “How so?”

With a resigned sigh, Inara placed her fork beside her plate and met her mother’s seemingly open gaze. “I happen to be on sabbatical from the Guild right now.”

This was not the answer Lili had been expecting and her wide-eyed gaze and concerned look told Inara as much. “Why? Did something happen?”

Looking again to Mal, Inara couldn’t help but smile at him, as he reached over and squeezed her hand gently. Keeping her eyes on his face, she answered quietly, “My priorities have changed, that’s all.”

This was not the answer Liliana Serra wanted, although, unfortunately it had been the one she’d been expecting. Deciding to force the words from her daughter’s mouth, she played daft and asked, “Inara, what could possibly be so important to risk your entire career, your entire future for?”

Closing her eyes, Inara’s face fell as she saw through her mother’s tactics. Realizing that this conversation could in fact actually turn uglier, Inara swallowed her anger and turned her head slowly in her mother’s direction. With clenched teeth, she said quietly, “Mother, why don’t we discuss this later?”

She really had hit a nerve. Gesturing to the table, she asked, “Why? Aren’t these people your friends?”

“Mother, please.” It was actually a plea this time, a genuine request to just let it go.

And so of course, Liliana Serra just made it worse. With a furrowed brow and a pitying look, she reached her hand towards her daughter and dropped her voice to an exaggerated whisper that seemed to carry around the room better than her normal tone. “Oh, Inara, don’t tell me you fell in love? Again.”

Everyone’s eyes widened in shock at this question, except for Inara’s which blazed with rage. Placing her hands palms down on the table, she was saved from saying something she might regret by Simon, who had risen and was pulling out Kaylee’s chair. “I think we’ll go for a walk around the grounds,” he said, taking Kaylee’s hand and pulling her towards the door. “If that’s all right?”

Disappointed that he was going, but knowing she had more work to do on her daughter’s misguided relationship, Liliana waved the young couple away. “Of course, dears, enjoy yourselves.”

Once they were gone, Liliana immediately continued her guilt trip, turning a now disappointed look to her husband as she said, “We thought for sure that you would have learned your lesson the first time, Inara.”

Rising suddenly, Inara leaned forward on the table, her angry eyes tearing into the other woman. “Mother, that’s enough.”

Edward Serra stood now, a sharp gaze directed to Inara. “You’re being rude, Inara. Sit down.”

With an incredulous look and a snort, Inara backed away from the table, and circled on her chair, setting her hands on the high back. Mal watched as she tightened her grip on the wood, her knuckles turning white. “I’m being rude?” she questioned, looking between her parents. “This is unbelievable. You really haven’t changed, have you?”

As her parents threw each other questioning stares, Inara took a moment, trying to contain her rage. Nothing had ever been solved in this house by getting angry, Inara knew that; even maybe, but not angry.

Mal watched Inara fume and knew this was bad and more than likely going to get worse. Reaching out, he covered her hand with his own and she offered him a weak smile, before again turning her attention to her mother, who was continuing her nighttime entertainment of embarrassing her daughter. “So tell us, Inara,” she sneered, not hiding the contempt from her voice. “Who is your knight in shining armor this time? Who is this man you’re ready to denounce everything for?”

Deciding that he did not like the older woman’s tone, nor how this evening had turned out, and knowing it had been his insistence that had landed Inara in this situation in the first place, Mal rose at this question and extended his hand to Inara’s mother. “That’d be me, ma’am.”

The look of shock on the woman’s face was priceless and for Mal, it almost made up for this whole wretched evening – almost. Even as Liliana lightly shook the man’s hand, she fixed her cold gaze on her daughter and said, “Well, this is a surprise. And you live with this man on his scow?”

Sighing, Inara rubbed a hand over her eyes and muttered, “Ship, mother. It’s a ship, a beautiful one. And yes,” she said firmly, again bringing her gaze to her mother’s face. “Yes, I live with him there.”

“And you’re going to leave the Guild?” Liliana could read her daughter like an open book and she could see the chinks in Inara’s finally crafted armor she was prying open; she wasn’t about to stop now.

“I suppose,” Inara sighed, not even aware the statement was coming until it had passed her lips.

Shocked, Mal turned to her and asked incredulously, “’Spose?”

Shooting him a look that clearly stated how quiet he should be at this moment, Inara elaborated. “This is all still pretty new to us, mother. We’re still working it out.”

Crossing her arms over her chest and sitting back in her chair, her mother actually rolled her eyes. “Oh, well, that’s comforting,” she muttered, throwing a disapproving glance to Mal. “I’d hate to think you’re going to throw away your entire life on a whim.”

Just as Mal was about to form a biting retort, Edward spoke up. Rising he placed his hands up, palms out and said quietly, “I think this has been a very tiring day for everyone. Maybe we should all turn in and discuss this more tomorrow?”

Liliana shot her husband a look, but relented. She’d probably done enough damage tonight anyway. Nodding, she rose and said to her daughter, “Your rooms are ready. I’ll have Angela-“

“Rooms?” Inara’s voice was cold and Liliana stopped to regard her quizzically.

“Of course, is there something wrong?”

“I’m not a child, mother,” Inara informed her. Taking Mal’s hand as he rose, she said unequivocally, “Mal and I are seeing each other and we will be sharing a room. As will Simon and Kaylee.”

With a reluctant nod, her mother said, “Of course, dear. What was I thinking? Just a slip of a tongue.”

“And, I think I remember the way,” Inara added, turning on her heel and practically pulling Mal from the room.

After they’d gone, Liliana turned a hard glare to her husband. Raising her arm, she pointed off after them and said harshly, “Edward, our daughter cannot be tied to a man like that. Did you see him? And what of that Kaylee girl? Uh, she’s wretched.”

Edward rounded the table and placed his hands on her shoulders, trying to calm her. “Lili, please, let’s remember that they are our guests,” he said diplomatically, stymieing her retort by placing a finger to her lips. “But I agree with you. Inara and Simon are much better suited to each other. Plus, she cannot leave the Guild. We worked too hard to get her there.”

Sighing, Lili was relieved to know she and her husband were on the same page. “So what do we do?” she asked him, her eyes imploring him to come up with a plan.

Taking her hand, he threaded it through his arm as he led her to bed. “What Inara thinks we’re so good at already,” he said casually. At his wife’s bemused expression, he answered, “Meddle.”

***

TBC