A/N: Thanks to everyone for reading and to those of you who commented, I really appreciate it! I still have some more finished stories lurking on my hard drive and I'll try to post one a month until they're all done. I hope you enjoy them!

Mal circled the floor of the hospital once more, making sure he knew where his crew was. He’d already checked in on Kaylee and Simon, sleeping like babes in a blanket, all cuddled together and cute, although he’d never admit it. He’d seen River from a distance, where she was still trying to explain to her disbelieving parents all that had happened to her. And he’d sent Zoe and Jayne back to the ship, letting them know that as soon as Simon could be moved, they’d be off this rock.

But he couldn’t find Inara anywhere and that troubled him. She’d been particularly quiet since his arrival on Osiris, but since they’d left the Tams she’d been almost comatose. And while he might belly ache about her sharp tongue and barely concealed contempt for him, he found her silence far more disturbing.

Walking past the nurse’s station once more, he caught sight of a door leading to the stairwell. Figuring it was the only place he hadn’t tried, he reached to push it open, his hand freezing on the metal as he heard a stifled cry coming from within. His heart firmly lodged in his throat, Mal pressed his ear to the door and listened more intently. There was no mistaking that sound, it was crying and he knew with utmost certainty that it was Inara.

He toyed with his options; he could go in there and see if he could help, maybe even comfort her, if she’d let him. Of course, that course of action could lead to another big fight and even more strangeness between them which Mal was getting just a bit tired of. He could also just keep on walking, maybe find the cafeteria and get a cup of coffee. But with a heavy sigh, Mal knew if he did that, the guilt would be unbearable.

Besides, if Inara was upset, then damn it he was gonna help her. He wanted to – he’d wanted to since they’d got off of Miranda, since they’d survived that damn Reaver battle, but something had continuously gotten in their way. And Mal was just a bit tired of all the obstacles.

Steeling himself for her reaction to his presence, Mal pushed open the door, entering quietly. Inara was sitting on the bottom stair leading down from the floor above, her face buried in her hands, her head turned towards the far wall. She didn’t move at his entrance and it was obvious to Mal she hadn’t heard him. Wiping sweaty palms on his pant legs, he moved towards her and reached out a tentative hand, gently squeezing her shoulder.

More than startled, Inara inhaled sharply, whirling around to meet her visitor. Wiping hurriedly at her make-up stained cheeks, she blushed furiously as she recognized Mal’s face and turned away from him again. “Mal, you startled me,” she said needlessly, her voice hovering between trembling and shaking.

“Din’t mean to,” he admitted. Taking a step closer, he was near enough to her now to hold her and he wanted to, badly. “You doin’ all right?”

Cursing silently for being so weak and for allowing Mal to see it, Inara nodded once and then did her best to collect herself. Turning back to him, she said, “Yes, fine, thank you.” She tried to move past him, hoping he would let it go, but of course, he didn’t.

Grabbing her arm as she moved to leave, Inara froze in his hold, her eyes locking with his. Doing her best not to be swayed by the depth of their blueness, she asked quietly, “What is it, Mal?”

As an answer, he reached towards her with his other hand and brushed a tear from her cheek. The brush of his thumb against her skin made her tremble and Inara did her best not to let it show. “What’s all this about?” he asked softly, again meeting her gaze.

Blinking quickly, Inara wished at that moment in time she’d been born without tear ducts. “It’s nothing, Mal. I told you, I’m fine.”

She tried to move past him again, but his hold on her arm had tightened even further. Once he knew she was again looking to him, he asked softly, “’Nara, ain’t you tired o’ this?”

Feigning confusion, she tried to ignore how close he was and how badly she wanted him to kiss her. “Tired of what, Mal?”

Sighing, Mal refused to give up. He’d come a long way in the last three minutes and he’d be damned if he stopped now. Taking her gently by the shoulders he told her honestly, “I don’t wanna fight with you no more, ‘Nara.”

As her eyes widened imperceptibly and her heart beat even more wildly, Mal continued. “All this go se with Simon, an’ seein’ lil’ Kaylee all torn up ‘bout it …” He let the statement go, not at all sure he could finish it. Maybe admitting everything in a hospital stairwell wasn’t the best course of action. So instead, he simply repeated, “I don’t wanna fight, ‘Nara.”

He meant it. Ai ya, Malcolm Reynolds meant it. Inara thought for sure she’d float away, her heart felt so light. Swallowing the last of her pride, she stepped closer to him and rested her head against his chest. His arms easily enveloped her, and Inara sighed against him as she felt the warm solidness of his body against hers. She could even hear the steadiness of his heartbeat beneath her ear and it soothed her spirit.

“I don’t want to fight with you either, Mal,” she admitted quietly. Waiting a beat, she tilted her head up to look at him, and whispered, “Not anymore.”

Smiling at her, Mal dipped his head lower and brought his mouth to hers. It was the lightest of brushes at first, a test really, as they tried to determine how best to kiss, how to make the most of this moment. Running his hands up her back and over her shoulders, Mal cradled her face in his hands, his fingers curling into her black hair as his lips more confidently possessed hers, his lips parting so his tongue could taste her. Inara met his motions with her own, her arms winding around his neck and pulling him tight. When she felt his tongue slide along her lower lip, she shivered in delight and then opened her mouth to his, the kiss deepening and lasting until they had to part for air.

Panting slightly, Inara rested her forehead to his chest and then gazed up at him, desire and adoration swimming in her eyes. “That was much better than fighting,” she admitted, a small smile quirking up the corners of her mouth.

Kissing her lightly once more, Mal agreed. “Much better.”

---- ----

When Simon awoke again, Kaylee was still there, smiling down at him like an angel from on high. Smiling back, he shifted a bit and told her, “I feel better.”

Smiling wider, she said, “Good, ‘cause the cap’n wants to get outta here.”

Nodding once, Simon was in total agreement, the sooner he got away from Osiris and his parents, the better off they would all be. Meeting her gaze again, Simon’s heart caught in his throat as he remembered his behavior the last time they’d seen each other. He hadn’t raised a hand to her, he wouldn’t ever, but he had struck his father and while it had probably been more than deserved, it had also been completely barbaric.

Squeezing her hand gently, he waited until those large green eyes alighted to his face before telling her, “Kaylee, when you saw me in the jail-“

Pressing a finger to his lips, she shook her head firmly and told him, “We don’t gotta talk ‘bout that, Simon. Not now. It ain’t important.”

Taking her other hand in his, Simon kissed it gently as he said, “But I think we should. You should know that I would never, under normal circumstances have hit my father.”

“Don’t apologize, son.” Both young people turned toward the door at the sound of Gabriel’s deep voice. As he approached them cautiously, Regan and River following behind, he added, “I deserved it.”

Setting his jaw, Simon said, “Possibly, but that doesn’t make it right.”

“I don’t think I’m in any position to be lecturing you on right and wrong, Simon.” Eyeing him for another moment, Gabriel finally told him, “Let’s just call it a draw.”

With a reluctant nod, Simon agreed and a bit of the tension in the room seemed to ease. Looking between her boyfriend and the rest of his family, Kaylee suddenly felt very out of place. Rising quickly, she gave Simon a quick peck on the cheek and turned to go. “I’ll leave y’all alone.”

Even as Simon refused to relinquish his hold on her hand, Gabriel spoke up. “No, Kaylee, please stay.” Turning a surprised expression to him, Kaylee was about to ask why, when Gabriel offered an explanation. “Something tells me you’re part of this family too now, whether it’s official or not.” A blush covering his cheeks, he added, “And I want to apologize for my behavior before. I was terrible and I hope you can figure me.”

Nodding once, Kaylee swallowed thickly and then turned to Simon’s mom. “I’m Kaylee, by the way,” she introduced herself, sticking out a hand.

Looking from her son’s adoring face to her husband and her daughter and then back again, Regan quickly batted the hand away and pulled the girl into a hug. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she told her and Kaylee released a sigh at the warm welcome.

As they broke the embrace, Gabriel cleared his throat and all attention in the room again focused on him. Studying Simon for several moments, he finally told him, “I owe you an apology. Probably a thousand of them.” When Simon did not speak, he added, “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to make this right.”

“Then don’t try,” River piped up, circling the bed to stand at her father’s side. Looking up to him with those soulful brown eyes, she said, “Don’t try to make it right, just try to love us, accept us.” Gazing to her brother, she smiled softly and said, “That’s all we need. Love and acceptance.”

Which was exactly what they’d found on Serenity.

---- ---- THE END