Mal Love Bots for Sale! (5/6) Word Count: 1,321 per Word Rating: NC-17 Author’s Note: For damiarvn, srichard, and obsidianagirl. Summary: This the end. There will be an Epilogue however that is pure smutty goodness.

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Mal took his time as he headed toward the dorms. He wanted the extra time to think about what he was going to say.

River's reaction concerned him and he needed answers.

He slid her door open to find River curled up in ball, her head resting in the bots stiff lap. It reminded him of his last view of Mr. Universe but he quickly shoved that memory aside. He needed to deal with her, not ghosts from the past.

"River?" Mal asked softly, as he shut the door behind him.

Rolling over, she buried her face in the bot's stomach, trying to hide herself from Mal.

"River sweetheart. I think we need to talk." Mal sat on the bed and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Embarrassed. No one was suppose to know, especially you."

"I've known since the crate arrived."

River turned scared, confused eyes looking at his.

Mal grinned at her look. "You're not the only smart person on this boat. I watched you open the crate. I've been coming down to the common area and been listening to what you've been doing with that bot."

River blushed and turned to bury her face again.

"Not sure how I feel about you carrying on with that bot. Never been jealous of a bot that was me before."

River lay perfectly still. Frozen in hope and fear.

"Honey, I need you to look at me. Tell me what's going on. I'm in the dark here and I don't want to do the wrong thing."

River trembled as she sat up to lean against the wall, her knees against her chest. The realm of emotions for someone other than her brother was still new to her. She loved Serenity and its crew, but how she felt for the Captain was something entirely different. This was outside her realm of understanding but she had to know.

"Nobody sees me. I'm not just an albatross. I'm a woman now. Have feelings. See what I want but no touching. Hurts inside. Was broken, now pieced back together but there are pieces missing. Love fills the holes. Can't breath, can't fly, and can’t live without love.

"Everyone still sees me as a broken little girl. I'm not anymore. I'm better, not whole and might never be, but better."

"So why don't you help us all see how you've grown."

"Don't know how."

"Yes you do. Stop letting Simon speak for you. Give your opinion. Let people know what you think."

"You make it sound easy."

"It is. Mind you, people might not agree with you about some things, but that doesn't mean you're not entitled to think what you want. Stick to your guns, no matter who disagrees with ya."

"Even you?"

"Especially me. I'm a stubborn, old captain."

"Not old."

"Older than you."

"Age is based on cycles of the sun from the date of birth. Speaks little of experience."

"Having been around longer usually gives an individual the benefit of more opportunities to experience."

River nodded at this.

"But what about me. I experience everything."

"Well, I guess you’re the exception to that rule."

"So why does no one see me?"

"River, we all see you but for the longest time you needed us to take care of you. I guess now you don't. You have to make us understand that."

River sat momentarily and absorbed his advice.

Mal gave her a few moments before getting to the heart of the matter.

"So why did you buy the bot?"

River buried her face in her knees and mumbled something.

"River, I didn't hear you."

"You especially don't see me and I so desperately want you too."

"So you'd rather have a mirage than the real thing?"

River looked at Mal through the shield of her hair, the impact of his question raising optimism in her.

"Better than nothing at all. Not her, don't have her beauty or grace to tempt a man.

"Didn't look, I promise, but sometimes things come in no matter how hard I try. Saw the truth of who and what you are. Understood you when other's, even Zoë, failed to. Saw the honor and kindness buried under the grim choices you've been given."

River sucked in a breath and declared her intentions, "I want it all. I want to be with you, beside you, every day, every night, in celebratory times and in grim. Soul mates joined down through the ages; one person in two bodies. That's what I want but only you can tell me if I can have it."

Mal was agape. He’d suspected and now he knew.

“Talk about putting all your cards on the table.”

“I’ve shown you mine, now you show me yours.”

Mal paused. He knew River could just pluck how he felt from his brain, but it was necessary for him to speak the words so she could hear them from his lips.

“Back on Miranda, when I first got of the lift the first thing I noticed was that you weren’t there. I felt like the last piece of my soul had been ripped from my body when I realized you were dead. Then those doors opened and there you stood, like an avenging goddess, defending our family.

“I knew then that you understood what I valued most in this world, because you valued it too. You would do anything to protect the ones that you love, no matter how dreadful the act so long as it kept them safe. No matter what it costs you to keep them safe, you’d do it.”

Mal reached over, took River’s hand and stared deep into her eyes.

“I realized that the faith I’d lost back in Serenity Valley hadn’t been lost, it was just waiting. Waiting for you. You gave me faith that I could believe in something other than myself because I believe in you.”

Tears streamed down River’s face as a joyful light filled her eyes.

“So to answer your question, yes River, you can have it all.”

River launched herself at Mal. Wrapping her arms around his neck, their lips met with all the pent-up passion for the other that they’d been hiding.

Just then a knock sounded at the door.

“River?” Kaylee’s voice filtered into their subconscious and the pair reluctantly drew apart.

River settled herself comfortable into Mal’s lap before she spoke.

“Qing jin.”

Kaylee opened the door. A hesitant look on her face, which broke into hundred-watt smile when she saw River wrapped in Mal’s arms, the love bot motionless on the bed beside them.

“Wanted to apologize for embarrassing you. I wasn’t thinking. Just wanted to taunt Jayne with the fact that I figured it out before him. I’m sorry.”

“Not a problem. Sometimes good things come from mistakes.” River smiled as she snuggled into Mal’s arms.

Taking the contented looks on both the Captain and River’s faces, Kaylee figured River was right.

“So the two of you?”

River looked up at Mal, unsure of how he wanted to handle the crew finding out about them.

Placing a kiss on the end of her nose, Mal replied, “Yeah, the two of us.”

“That’s shiny Captain.”

Kaylee turned to go, but paused and asked over her shoulder, “Is this a secret?”

“Nope and the Doc knows.” Mal said as he leaned down and kissed River again.

Smiling happily, Kaylee shut the door on the couple and wandered off to find Simon.

Mal’s hands were stroking up River’s sides, as his tongue forayed into her mouth, exploring hers.

With a moan, he pulled himself out of the kiss.

“We’ve got a job to do.”

“Later?” River inquired as her fingers stroked his chest.

“Definitely later.” Mal smirked as he stood and set River gently on her feet.

Taking her by the hand, he led her out into their future together.