Trying to hide out from six people, one of whom was psychic, in a space as small as Serenity for 24 hours was gorram near on impossible, but Mal was willing to give it a good go. In fact, he’d made it to hour 20 of his birthday without having to face anyone. Feeling quite smug, he slipped down the ladder into his bunk after checking that the coast was clear.

A small, chocolate frosted cupcake with a single unlit candle rested atop a plate on his bunk, along with a pink envelope.

Kaylee. It had to be.

Shaking his head, Mal opened the envelope, and pulled out the birthday card. Neat, flowing script read: “Happy birthday to the best petty thief in the ‘verse. Love, Inara.”

Well how ‘bout that? ‘Love, Inara’ indeed. Mebbeso this birthday wasn’t shaping up to be so bad after all.

He was about to take a bite of the cupcake when he had himself an idea. Carefully balancing the plate, he climbed back up the ladder and quietly made his way to Inara’s shuttle. She called out for him to enter in response to his knock.

Mal held up the plate with the cupcake. “Take it this was your doing?”

“Why...uhhmm...yes, actually.” She looked a bit flustered.

“Well, a man shouldn’t celebrate his birthday by his lonesome. So care to share the bounty?”

“I...yes, I’d be honored.” She stepped aside to let him enter.

She found some matches while Mal settled himself on the sofa, and then lit the candle. “I believe the tradition is that the birthday person gets to make a wish and blow out the candle. So make your wish, Mal.”

Mal closed his eyes for a moment and then swiftly blew out the candle. He leaned back aganst the sofa, looking thoughtful. “Wanna know what I wished for, Inara?”

“Mal, if you tell me, it won’t come true.”

Just as she leaned across him to remove the candle, he gently caught her wrist. “Can’t have that, can we? So how’s about if I show you instead?”

“Mal, I don’t thiink…”

He cupped her face in his hands. “’s my special day.”

And with that, he gently kissed her. The frosting on that cupcake couldn’t possibly taste as sweet as she did, Mal thought. After what seemed an eternity, he pulled back.

“Was that what you wished for, Mal?” she whispered.

“Partially.”

“What was the rest?”

He knew he was hitting dangerous territory. “Bao bei, a birthday kiss will do nicely. ‘sides, if I tell you the rest, it won’t happen”

She leaned forward and her robe gaped open, affording Mal a lovely view of her cleavage. “Well, we can’t have that, can we?”

Mal took a deep breath. “Inara, I’m willing to press my birthday luck for a kiss. But I won’t take advantage of you.”

The robe slipped off one shoulder as she leaned in. “Mal, it’s your special day.”

Her nearness, warmth and jasmine scent combined to cause Mal’s brain to short circuit, but he knew he had to be certain. “Tomorrow won’t be, Inara. And this ain’t something for just one day outta the year. So you’d best be certain about this particular birthday gift."

She stood up and untied the robe, letting it fall around her ankles.

"Happy Birthday, Mal."