There were rules aboard his boat. Rules that had to be obeyed. And one of the biggies was no four-legged critters allowed, unless they were destined for the dinner table. And they had better leave smallish droppings.

Mal had managed to hold the line on that with Kaylee, despite the seemingly endless parade of sad-eyed kittens and puppies and one thing that he couldn't quite identify she'd try and wheedle him into taking on board at every single port. They were lost, or abandoned or some other such thing.

But he'd cross his arms, put on his best Stern Captain-y Face, and the piteous creature would have to find a home elsewhere. It was the way it had always been.

Until now.

Until a rather bedraggled looking kitten in a cage was held up for his inspection, followed by the two words he could not possibly resist:

"Please, Daddy?"

Mal looked deep into those blue eyes exactly like his, except set in a face that was a miniature of Inara's, and knew he was humped. He'd managed to fight off the Alliance for six weeks at Serenity Valley, but couldn't hold the line against one six-year-old child.

Girl most definitely got it from her mama.

"Carly-girl, you know the rules. No kitties. Or puppies. Or lizardy things."

Her eyes started to well up. "But Miko has no home! She'll have nobody to take care of her if we don't take her in. We just gotta make her family!"

She'd gone and named the poor creature already. And Kaylee had clearly taught her to play the 'family' card.

Yep, he was humped. And judging by the way Kaylee was stifling her giggles, it appeared his daughter had back-up.

He looked pleadingly at Zoe.

In response, Zoe stuck a forefinger inside the cage and scratched the kitten's head.

"Sir, it is your daughter's birthday..."

"Not you too, Zoe? One little scrap of dirty fluff and all the females on my boat go addlepated."

"Please, Daddy?," Carly begged. "I won't ask for anything else for my birthday, I promise!"

In truth, he knew that Carly never asked for much for her birthdays or Christmas. She was usually happy with a just a rag dolly or a coloring book. His daughter knew from early on that they'd never be able to afford fancy things, so saw no reason in asking for them.

"Kittens are big responsibilities, Carly-girl. She needs to be fed and given fresh water twice a day. And groomed. And then there's the whole litter thing. Think you're old enough for such big chores?"

Carly nodded eagerly. "I am, Daddy! I'll get Uncle Simon to give her a checkup, and then I'll bathe her and feed her every day!"

Jayne had a disgusted look on his face.

"I gorram better not find cat hair inside Vera..."

River grinned.

"Cat can keep mice outta Jayne's bunk!"

Mal sighed. He knew a losing battle when he was faced with one.

"Miko stays inside the shuttle, dong ma? Don' want her gettin' into the engine room and fallin' into summat where she might gum up the works."

Carly's eyes grew wide.

"I promise, Daddy!"

Carly led the way back to Serenity, holding Miko's cage like it was the most precious jewel. She kept up a happy stream of chatter about how the kitten now had a real home.

Carly headed straight for the infirmary and held up the cage for Simon.

"Uncle Simon! There's a new patient for you! She needs a checkup and a bath, stat!"

Simon peered at the small kitten.

"Well, Caroline, I can't say as I've ever had a four-legged patient before, but let's get a look at her."

After a careful inspection and weighing, Miko was given a bath with much protesting on her part and was pronounced healthy. Even Mal had to admit that she looked much better after the dirt had been gently washed off.

"I'll see if we have some fish scraps left for her," Jayne gruffly offered.

Carly grabbed Mal's hand.

"We gotta show her to Mama!"

"What do you have to show me," Inara asked as she came down the stairs.

"Mama, look what Daddy got me for my birthday!" She proudly held up the kitten.

Inara declared Miko utterly adorable and sent Carly off to feed her.

"Mal, are you sure about this? I seem to recall a rule about taking in orphans..."

Mal grinned.

"Better some homeless four-legged female critter now than a two-legged male one later on."