Mal was ten minutes late when Inara heard his boots outside her shuttle door. While she wasn’t blowing out the candles she had lit yet, she had begun to think he wasn’t coming.

Her heart fell a little when she heard him walk away again. She could tell, however, he had not gone far.

You’d think after all this time, he would realize that I am familiar with the sound of him loitering outside my shuttle, she thought peeking outside the door.

She saw him leaning against the railing over the cargo bay. Perhaps I should leave well enough alone. He is by no means obligated to do this. But he did change his shirt, she noticed, pushing the mental image out of her mind. This is just Mal and it’s just a manicure. This is not a big deal. Just go get him.

“I thought I heard someone prowling around out here,” she said, as she glided in next to him. “Coming in?”

She felt him relax a bit as she accepted his offered arm. “Yes, shall we?”

“This place looks a lot brighter then usual,” Mal said as he sat on the couch. He picked up a throw pillow cased in a deep blue silk cover. “Did you get some new things?”

Inara nodded, “I did, in fact. It’s nice of you to notice.”

“I almost don’t recognize this table without the tea set,” he said as Inara watched his fingers dancing over the chocolate colored table cloth.

“I put it away. I would be happy to get you some tea if-“

“Oh no, that’s not necessary. Besides, you’re going to keep my hands plenty busy, right,” Mal said, cringing the moment the words were out of his mouth. “I mean with the manicure and the…”Mal trailed off clearing his throat. He picked up a pair of cuticle clippers. “Some of these things lean a little more towards frightening then I’m generally comfortable with. In fact, I think Niska has a pair of these his own self.”

“Then I’m sure his nails are impeccable,” Inara said, taking them from him and laying them back down. She brought over a bowl of warm sudsy water and placed it in front of him. “Place the tips of your fingers towards the bottom of the bowl.”

“What is it?” he asked.

“It’s just water with a mild conditioner. It will make it easier for your skin to absorb the lotions and oils.”

Mal looked at Inara skeptically,”Lotions and-? Am I going to come out of this smelling like you? Don’t misunderstand; it works for you, and very well at that. It’s just not for me.”

“I promise you, Mal, you will leave this shuttle with the same amount of masculinity you walked in with. I need you to trust me.”

Mal nodded. “So what do you reckon the rest of the crew is doing right about now?”

Inara lifted Mal’s right hand out of the bowl and began toweling it off. ”By now, I’m sure Marina has told them what they are really there for.”

Mal’s head shot upward to look catch Inara’s gaze. She was hurt by the distrust she saw in his eyes. “What do you mean?” he asked slowly.

“It’s nothing like that. I lied a little to the crew, it’s not just manicures. They are getting a full spa treatment, massages, and makeovers for the girls, all of it. I’m sorry, Mal. I didn’t mean to scare you. Did you think I…You know I would never-”

“No, you’re right. I do know better. Whenever my whole crew’s in one place I’m not, I lean towards edgy anyway. I know how much you care on them. It’s a real nice thing you did.” He paused for a moment, an apologetic smile on his lips. “I’m sure Kaylee and the Doc’re squealing with delight and the others are taking bets on what we’re doing here, as likely as anything.” *** “I got twenty on them sleeping together,” grinned Wash even after Zoë elbowed him lightly in the belly.

“I’ll take that,” snarled Jayne.

“No, guys, Inara would never-“ Simon started before a glare from Kaylee stopped him.

“She wouldn’t?” asked Kaylee. “And why not? Capt’n not good enough for her?”

“Well, I didn’t say…he’s just not her usual clientele.”

“Damn,” Jayne shook his head, “she’s given it away for free she at least ought ta enjoy it. Shame if ya ask me.”

River shook her head. “No money changing hands but wouldn’t be free. Trouble’s coming.”

Book stood in front of the group, his hands tented in front of his chin. ”I don’t think it’s any of our business and I’m not a betting man, but if I was, I’d be betting with Wash.”

“See honey, look at that, I even got God on my side,” Wash said looking at Zoë, who was smiling.

“I’m staying out of this,” she said, throwing her hands up.

“Look at this room,” Kaylee said awed. “I thought it would be nice, but I never imagined anything so fancy. And this here is just the lobby.”

“There is a salon on Osiris I used to frequent that was nearly as nice. It didn’t have all the murals, however.”

“Simon,” asked Kaylee, “you’ve had this kind of thing done before?”

“Once or twice,” he answered, slowly realizing he was the only one. “It’s really quite relaxing.”

“Heh. I knew there was a reason you hadn’t moved on Kaylee yet,” chuckled Jayne, prompting smacks from both Kaylee and Zoë.

The crew looked up as the door leading to the spa opened and a tall, pale redhead entered the lobby. “Inara described you all so clearly, you don’t even have to introduce yourselves. I’m Marina, this is my place. Inara waved me that she wouldn’t be coming, but she left me specific instructions for all of you. I also get to give you some good news. Inara told you that you were here for manicures and while that is true, it’s only part of the truth. The full extents of the spa’s facilities are at your service.”

Marina walked over and opened a door,”Come on in, guys.” She turned back to Serenity’s crew. ”These are the best of my staff specially assigned to see you through this afternoon. Kaylee, you’re with me. The rest of you introduce yourselves. We’ve got some pampering to get to.” ***

“Ow,” Mal complained as Inara pushed back the cuticles on his left hand.

“Please,” she rolled her eyes. “Just by looking at these hands I can tell they have been through much worse then this.”

“Imagine you don’t see hands like mine much. You’re client’s hands are usually all soft and prettified, I’m sure.”

Inara nodded. “It’s true. Very few of them have had to work hard for their standing or their money.”

Inara stood and moved to sit next to him on the couch. ”Give me that hand,” she said gesturing to his left. She held a small bottle of oil that had been sitting in hot water. “This is meant to be warm, but not hot, so if it’s uncomfortable swallow your manly pride and tell me.”

She looked for a reaction as she poured the oil onto the palm of his hand. “Must be just right then?” she asked, and he nodded.

“This isn’t something I do for my clients. I like to reserve things like this for people I…”

He looked at her, his eyes pleading for her to finish. If she just took that step, he’d be right behind her.

She didn’t.

“You know, as well as this is going, perhaps we should try a pedicure next.”

“No,” said Mal shaking his head. “No way. Kind of a rule, nobody touches my feet. Trained or not.”

Inara leaned in, intrigued. ”Why, are you ticklish or something?”

His face said it all.

“You’re ticklish,” she said laughing. “The big mean Captain is ticklish. Now, why didn’t I know that?”

Mal grinned. “Darlin’ there are several reasons you don’t know that, the most of which being I haven’t told anybody. I’d take it as a kindness if you kept that to yourself.”

“Of course. Everyone is entitled to their secrets, Mal, as much as you might try to prevent that.”

“I don’t mean to be invading anyone’s privacy; I like to keep track of what’s happening on my ship. Never much cared for surprises, just trying to keep them from popping up.”

Inara shook her head. “It doesn’t matter, there are still things happening on this ship you don’t know about.”

“Like the weekly card game in the galley that I’m not invited to? Or that Kaylee has routed the cortex into the engine room so she can watch her soap operas while she tinkers on the ship? Go on; tell me something you know that I don’t. I challenge you.”

Inara, ready to take that challenge raised an eyebrow and looked him square in the eye. “5711,” she said, unflinching.

“Well, that is something.” Mal said leaning back on the couch. “You wanna tell me why you know the key code to my bunk?”

“Not really,’ Inara responded. “I am merely proving my point.”

“Guess you realize now I have to change it. Got business stuff in there, stuff I don’t want other folk to see.”

“I completely understand.”

“Course, I also can’t have you sneaking in and kissin’ on me again.”

This time her face said all that was necessary.

*** “Sheets and pillows, everything?” Zoë asked, surprised.

“Yup,” said Kaylee. ”A whole new set. All in Captian-y colors. Dark blues and browns. Real pretty.”

“Well, I’ll be. How long you think she’s been planning this?”

“She said she isn’t planning anything, that she just wanted him to be more comfortable in her space.”

Zoë shrugged. “Could still be nothin’. She does do a lot of business with him, it’s smart if you think on it.”

The girls were lined up next to each other in the salon area of the spa, getting pedicures while their hair set under the hair dryers.

Kaylee was having her toenails painted a bright pink color. River went with a dark blue.

“Color for your nails, Mrs. Washburne?”

Zoë was somewhat taken aback by that. In all the time they had been married, no one but Wash had ever called her that. “Um, no, just clear, thanks. And, please, call Zoë is fine.”

The pedicurist nodded and continued on with her work.

From the salon, they could see Serenity’s men indulging in massages the next room over.

“You know, Kaylee”, Zoë said smiling,” you could have let them close the blinds.”

“And miss the show?” she replied grinning. “No way. Jayne seems to be handling being massaged by a man better then I reckoned he would.”

River shook her head. “Small world. His father created Jayne’s great love.”

Kaylee looked confused. “Did Jayne have a girl back home?”

Zoë looked closely at Jayne who was trying his best to demonstrate the best way to hold a large gun while still staying on his stomach. “I think she means Vera.”

“Oh, that makes sense,” Kaylee said pleased. She was having a hard time taking her eyes off of Simon long enough to really look at Jayne anyway. “You never thought on Mal, you know, ,like that, did ya, Zoë?” Kaylee asked making River laugh.

“Once,” Zoë began slowly,” for about five minutes when we first met.”

“Jesus,” said River grinning.

Zoë nodded. “Yup that was all that man could talk about. The Lord this and the Lord that. I won’t knock it too hard as it kept many a man alive, but it caused me to nearly kill him more then once. Besides with both Mal and the Lord there that tent would have been a mite too crowded for my tastes."

She looked thoughtfully through the window at Wash who caught her eye and waved. “I am glad I didn’t have to kill him, however. No Mal, no Wash. It all works out somehow, Kaylee. You’ll see,” she said as she waved back at her man.

***

Tianna. I am completely cornered, Inara thought contemplating her next move. She stood and walked towards the exit of the shuttle. “Would you like some tea, Mal?” she asked.

His exasperated expression told her she wasn’t getting out of this. He joined her near the door, ready to follow her if she left.

“See, me and the old ball and chain had some time to talk planning this last heist and it came to light that you two never actually had any contact. Now, I’ve see enough head wounds to know that any injury that would cause you to black out would leave a mark, or at least a bump. I had been runnin’ on the assumption that you were drugged like I was, from her and just not wantin’ to talk about it. With Jayne around, I understood. But it weren’t her you kissed, was it?”

”She told me you were dead. It was an impulse, that’s all,” Inara said, crossing her arms.

“Impulse?”

“Yes,” she said walking back to the couch to sit.

He followed her. “You haven’t had that impulse since?”

“I haven’t been told you were dead since.”

“Fair enough, but since I was blacked out, I have to know. How was I?”

Inara paused, unsure of how to handle this. Unsure of what she wanted to come of this, but secure in the knowledge she could steer it either way. “You were alive. That’s all I remember, really. Not that I was expecting much.”

He sat next to her and leaned in, accusingly. “You implyin’ I ain’t a good kisser?”

Inara laughed. “I was implying you were passed out.”

“Well, as sure as I am of anything, I am certain that you will think I’m dead again some time in the future. All I ask is that you give me a chance to prove myself next time.”

They sat there for a minute, the air between them heavy with the unspoken.

“You’ve done this sort of thing before,” Mal said. “How long do you expect we have until the crew comes back?”

Inara could see some idea forming in his head. “They should be back anytime now. I could wave Marina, find out for certain.”

“Not necessary.” Mal said, standing and walking towards the door. “I’m going to the galley, I think I’m going to get dinner started, surprise the crew when they get back.”

Inara smiled brightly. “Really? Mal that’s very nice of you. Can I help?”

He shook his head. “No, you’ve done enough for one day, just show up for dinner lookin’ all pretty like and we’ll call it even. Thank you for this, it was…well it was real nice.” He held his hands up to look.

Ianra nodded. “Anytime. Maybe we can keep them up, make this a regular engagement.”

“Don’t know if my manly pride can handle all that, but it’s something to think on. Only had one and now I have the itch to get cookin’” Mal shook his head and walked out of the shuttle, whistling as he went.

Inara couldn’t help but laugh. I don’t know I have ever made anyone whistle before. He almost sounds happy.

The thought gave her pause. It was something she had never considered before. Given the right circumstances, she could make Mal happy.

She sighed, well aware of the knowledge that those right circumstances were few and far between.

Just show up pretty for dinner, she thought opening her closet. That I know I can do."