First it was that she was a companion...

But after Miranda she couldn’t bring herself to be associated with the government in any way. Even her own honest living...

Than it was how he always got himself hurt...

But eventually Inara grew to accept the fact that she would never have a safe relationship with this man and besides, she kind of enjoyed the danger... it also helped that she “persuaded” him to find safer jobs...

After that, it was their stubbornness... They were like magnets. “Put two magnets the same way and they won’t click,” or at least that’s how Mal described it when they fought. Neither one wanting to give in or compromise because of foolish pride. But in the end, they always came back to each other. Out in the black, they’re all that they have.

And the real trouble started when Inara got pregnant...

Neither one was ready for a family. What with Mal constantly out on “jobs” and they weren’t even sure of where their relationship was going... At least until they realized what a family they had all along.

Serenity was their family. Kaylee, Jayne, Simon, River, Inara, Zoe, and Mal made up one family. One happy dysfunctional family.

There would always be complications in their relationship, they both knew it. But they would get through it together.