Alright, so my plans are changing and I dunno if I'm even going to Vegas or not. Either way, I'll still keep posting and if I don't go I will still take a break to give everyone time to catch up. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear River,

Happy birthday dear! Eighteen is such a milestone in a young girl's life. I'm sorry, young woman. You are no longer a child, but a beautiful, brilliant, engaging young woman of this universe. I know I’ve only known you for two years, but is has been a pleasure to watch you grow and mature from the timid child you used to be to the confident adult I know you are now.

The ranch is doing fine, other than it feels slightly incomplete. I believe the others will write their accounts, but for Meilin and I, we're doing fine. She grown some since you left, and she's learned to smile and play. She's very curious and we've all found the simplest pleasure in making her grin.

I hope all is going well, we think of you constantly as the ranch seems empty without you and Boston filling the house with your escapades. However it seems you’ve moved on to a setting that will only aid in your development, and while the road may be difficult it will help you become an even more exceptional young woman. There is no doubt that great things will come from you.

Have a Happy Birthday and a Merry Yuletide (and keep writing!)

With Love, Inara

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Walnuts.

Sculls cracked open like walnuts, fresh brains spilling out. Gobbled up greedily by powder wigged bureaucrats, who in turn smiled with rows of sharp teeth and played with the marionettes that were the people. They laughed, the powdered wigs, and they grew children in jars. Children with dead eyes, children with dead souls, children with no individualism. Grey, soulless babies, canned brains, floating in jars. Stolen children with their brains eaten, their brains butchered, their brains property of the powdered wigs. Stamped and registered.

River screamed in her sleep.

She bolted up, gasping, trembling, shaking, her mind on fire and her stomach clenched and ready to wretch from the visions. Eyes wide, paranoid, tears rushed her eyes and she raked her hands through her hair.

Fiyero swung down into her bunk. “River?”

“They did it, they did it all… they keep doing… relish it… need it… need the…” Turning, her eyes focused on his face, and she stopped as he cupped her cheek. Cringing at her own words, she choked on air. "Oh gawd.."

He pushed the hair out of her features, trying in earnest to understand what plagued her so. “It’s ok..”

River pulled away from him to go on her hike, she felt numb, set in motion by instinct and habit, not by her willing mind. Her mind was dulled by the horror.

Fiyero grabbed her wrist and gently pulled her back. “It’s too early.”

“Nooo,” She struggled.

“River you’ve only been asleep an hour.”

The girl stopped, turning to him as her lip trembled.

“It’s only been an hour.” His voice lowered in sympathy.

“They’ll come back.” She squeaked.

“Well…. I won’t let them.” He wavered, yet gave her strength as wrapped her up. “I won’t leave.”

River pressed her face to his bare chest and breathed, his smell soothing her as her body slumped against his.

Fiyero restrained his initial hormonal reaction, and laid down with her. She molded against his chest, and his lips brushed the dark hair as he became accustomed to having River in his arms.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day was uneventful.

They slept in, played with Meilin whilst western movies blared on. Politics of the day before were pushed aside as their daughter brought the sunshine.

And then came naptime.

Inara trembled with sensation and ecstasy, her verbal release was no scream, but a soft gasping trail of inaudible words as she lay herself across Mal’s chest and caught her breath.

Mal caught his wind as well, though he gave her lazy kisses in the process. Smoothing her hair out of her face, he caught her dark eyes and held the gaze.

She kissed him, languidly, parting for well deserved air, she nuzzled her nose against his face before laying her head down to rest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“This, is yer new friend.” Simon made a face as Jayne rammed the pole into the icy ground, making the scarecrow bounce and scatter hay. The thing had a bulging flour sack for a head, stuffed shirt, vest and pants as it was hooked by a few nails to the cross. Realizing the materials used for construction, he changed to a rather unpleasant emotion. “Those are my work clothes!”

“I know.” He grinned, the cigar clenched betwixt his teeth. “Needed in-spear-ration, decided nothin’ would be better than a twin fer you.” Taking the cigar out of his mouth, he used the hot ashen end to draw a half circle on the bottom of the flour sack face, then two dots above it to create a smiling face. “No blue for the eyes, but I reckon you two got the same dai luzi weixiao.”

Simon scowled.

Zoe chuckled. “This is a bit more helpful than the other target, gives you a sense of proportion, realistic accuracy and the like. Though Jayne will replace any ruined garments.”

“Well if he dies, I don’t gotta buy new clothes.” Jayne announced snifely.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The boat docked that night.

The city of Cheng De Xi Guang was truly an ocean of light. As Mal and Inara watched through their window, the chrome, stainless steel and alabaster buildings glowed from the night lights. The city was a mix of the new architecture, and the traditional old as Buddists temples with their sloped roofs and enormous pagodas that taunted corporate buildings, a few sparse cathedrals with their ornate gothic spires and masques decked in gold and blue were scattered below as well, though Sihnon was the first settlement of Asian settlers, so it's flair was deeply rooted in it. At the heart of Cheng De Xi Guang there was a massive park that was lit up at night by paper lanterns and trees wrapped in tea lights. It’s beauty could not be fully appreciated as the lanterns and lights looked like stars against a cavernous black, however Mal could make out trees, and sensed that there was something breathtaking about it.

They docked promptly, and their luggage was taken away to a hover car waiting for them. Mal wore one of his new outfits, this time the waist coat was a deep, earthy red. Inara wore a red qípáo with floral embroidery and her hair swept up with some traditional hairpins that had enamel lotus blossoms. Meilin rounded out their look with a tiny red suit of soft silk, elastic banded trousers and a small mandarin collared blouse that had little blossoms on it. They left their suite and the boat, Mal escorting his family out. The dock was high society, and filtered into a port building that was white marble through and through. The building had lounges and restaurants where people could wait for incoming ships, but they didn’t have the time to experience any of the port building as at the pick up wing there was a man holding a holo board that read ‘Inara Serra And Guests’. The man was dressed in a driver’s uniform navy slacks and a well fit tang jacket, the embroidery on the collar and sleeves in silver thread. What clearly made him a servant was the fact that the right chest and shoulder of his jacket were embroidered in silver as well, that bearing the respected crest of the house of Serra, the fenghuang flying in a circle around the sun holding two sabers and a palm frond in it’s talon, with a navy mandarin hat with embroidered the same seal as well as a tassel to cover his head.

He smiled at Inara. “Miss Inara.”

“Firdaus.” She smiled back “this is my daughter Meilin and my significant other Malcolm Reynolds.”

“Hi.” Mal waved his hand shortly to Firdaus.

“Please follow me.” The driver walked them out to the parking lot, where a pearl colored Royce Mikado was waiting. Firdaus opened the door and waited till they climbed in.

Mal took a seat next to Inara and breathed in the premium leather seating. There were screens in the chair’s headrests as well as a privacy screen. Firdaus shut the door and climbed in, taking the hovercar out of park and driving off. Inara held Meilin so she could see out the window, and Mal stared out with his daughter. He had to admit, Sihnon was pristine. Too pristine for his liking, but prettier than Ariel as it was more old world as well as organic.

“How has the past two years been Firdaus?” Inara initiated conversation, for Firdaus like all slaves didn’t talk unless engaged.

“Very eventful. You mother has had a full plate with her position of Head of Public Works. She wishes to run for parliament as well.”

“Really.” She sounded uneasy to the thought. “Where will me and my family be housed?”

Mal’s eyes snapped to Inara as the word family was new from her.

Meilin was wide eyed as the bright neon lights stimulated her mind. She had never seen such lights before as she watched from the comfort of her mother’s embrace.

“Your mother has had the help prepare your old apartment.”

“You have an apartment at your ma’s place?” Mal blurted.

"Miss Inara." Firdaus reinserted himself into the conversation as he could tell the couple was about to make it exclusive. "Your mother wanted me to ask if you wished for any slaves. She was concerned as you freed yours before leaving, and have none."

Mal gave her an incredulous stare that bore into the side of her face.

Inara dismissed him. "No, I won't be needing any."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was an hour drive to the Serra estate.

The estate was located in old Cheng De Xi Guang, in a province called Suzhou. Mal wasn't able to see it however the trees were as ancient as the land, and the estates were acres of lush greenery. Entering massive stone gates, the hover craft drove down a long driveway, lit by spotlights that were positioned to make the bamboo forest it cut into glow. Eventually they pulled up to a siheyuan. It was made of imitation stone and intricately carved wood as tiles lined the sloped roofs. The main building was two stories, with an enormous hand carved wood moon door. The door was accessible through a flight of steps, flanked by statues of poised and noble fenghuang on pedestals. The Mikado parked, and Firdaus opened the door.

"Thank you Firdaus." She carefully slid out with Meilin close to her chest, the baby was tiring as she lost interest in seeing new things.

Mal had an urge to tip Firdaus, yet figured that was taboo, instead. "Uh yeah, thanks." Taking Inara's arm, he walked her up the stone steps and reveled at the house of Serra. This was where she had grown up, a far cry from the little ranch house he had skinned his knees in. At the door was another slave in a similar uniform, and he bowed his head silently and opened the door.

Malcolm Reynolds had to keep his mouth shut.

He was dangerously near dropping it open in awe, for the house was lavish. Marble was the floors, lacquered wood pillars had etched into them fenghuang flying and fighting long celestial dragons, with calligraphy speaking of the house of Serra spiraling alongside the beasts. Silks, precious vases, statues, scrolled art and much more decorated the main building.

"Inara." It was Miss Serra that came from another room, she was in a ruqun dress, blue with gold mink fur on the sleeves and collar, with her long hair down and draped as if it were a stole of another small animal. Her face showed her age, the creases in her eyes, the lift of her cheekbones, but her skin held a glow like Inara's, and her hair was hardly losing its color or luster. Her body was that of her daughter's, svelte and firm, though carrying some dignity of age. Inara's mother opened her arms and embraced her daughter. "Oh my love, how I've missed you so. You will forgive me for my cross tone on the wave? I fear I was startled by the news." She kissed her daughter's cheek, and looked down at the small gift of life in her arms.

Mal heard the click of claws and raised his brows as three dogs trotted in to greet the guests. A sable coated Saluki and fawn Shar-pei went over and sniffed the captain’s boots, the wrinkled dog wearing a thin chain with a medallion of the house crest, and the other with wide leather collar with the same medallion. The dogs sniffed, lost interest, and went to Inara with tails wagging from familiarity.

Meilin gazed up at her grandmother with wide, curious doe eyes. She kept one hand grasping her mother though, for she wasn't sure of strangers. It was also late, and she wasn’t patient when there was a bedtime schedule to keep. Her eyes lost their circumference, and with a yawn they fell to a more tired size and shape. Curiosity was dampened by the need for her nighttime routine.

"Oh, she's a dream." She beamed down, reaching in without asking and taking the baby abruptly from Inara.

The infant squawked, clumsily turning her head and trying to reach for her mother.

Inara's protectiveness flared. Her mouth tightened and her muscles grew rigid, it was obvious she wasn't sure of her mother being entrusted with her child. "Mother,"

The Shar-pei rammed its head into her leg, it had missed the other mistress of the house.

"Look at her, she's just like you when you were little." She rubbed the baby's back and kissed a round cheek. "The same Serra face and hair, I'm so glad those genes were passed on."

Mal could clearly see Inara's frustration and maternal drive. He rested his hand on the small of her back and wet his lips, hoping his girlfriend wouldn't do what her body language was suggesting, tanning her own mother for taking Meilin.

Meilin didn't like being held the way she was, a whine grew in the pocket of her throat and she struggled to get away. Pushing, twisting, finally seeing her parents and letting out a cry for them.

"May I..." Inara moved in and re-secured her daughter, who calmed down. "She's a little fussy, it's rather late for her."

Meilin let out a hiccup, and then snuggled in, nosing around her mother's chest for her bedtime milk. With fabric in the way of what she wanted, she whimpered and grunted hungrily, kneading with her tiny hands.

"May we be excused?" The younger Serra asked as she rubbed her daughter's back and ignored the disturbed mien of the new grandmother. "I'd like to keep her on a schedule and she's very hungry."

"Of course, I'll have Gunju see you to your apartment."

Mal curled his lip slightly as he swore he saw disgust over the older women's face in regards to how Inara nourished their daughter.

"No, no, I know where it is." Inara began to walk towards the courtyard door, the dogs following out of curiosity and want of a head scratch.

"After she sleeps will you be up to tea? That way we can get properly reacquainted."

"Of course."

“Oh, and Shan-shan is in you apartment, she heard your name and was so excited she snuck into your flat and hasn’t budged since.”

The canids twisted their ears back and retreated at the mention of Shan-shan.

The captain, not entirely sure what just went on, followed before the electronic sliding door closed. The courtyard was massive, alight by electronic lantern as the sound of coursing water filled the cool night air. They crossed a bridge, went over a winding path, and ended up at the other side of the courtyard. “Um.. who’s Shan-shan?”

“My mother’s cat.” Inara punched a keypad and the sliding door opened to her apartment.

“Jidi fei gao!” Mal recoiled, mouth gaping, blue eyes the size of saucers as his hand immediately went to his hip where his gun was supposed to be.

Shan-shan was a two hundred and fifty pound tiger.

Inara walked past the cat, and left Mal frozen like the proverbial deer as the tiger blocked the door.

“Um…” Mal couldn’t move, nor blink. “How… did that sneak in?”

Shan-shan swished her tail curiously at the newcomer. Velvet paws prowled closer, and she sniffed his boots with a rumble of inquisitiveness. Nosing him gently, the pet licked his shoes as he smelt strange to her.

“Inara?!” He hollered.

“Shan-shan laidao.” Her voice carried.

The enormous feline wearing a broad crystal studded collar turned and padded off like an obedient dog.

With his path clear of giant cats, the captain entered, drinking in where Inara lived while in the Core when she wasn’t at Madressa fine tuning her technique or servicing clients. The apartment was several rooms, decorated in fine orient art and textiles as well as its share of Middle Eastern and Moroccan decor. It reminded Mal of her shuttle, just without all of the drapery.

"I can't believe her." The sound of her angry voice filled the air and brought him out of his interior design critique.

Mal followed the voice. "Um.. yeah what the hell was that?" The bedroom had an enormous canopy bed, the four posts hand carved with rolling mountains and birds. There were also sheer silk curtains around the bed, embroidered with mountains and waterscapes, the entrance tied back with gold sashes.

"Did you see her just rip Meilin away from me?!" Inara took a seat on a chaise and undid the frog buttons of the top half of her dress. Adjusting the very hungry and upset infant, she eased her head up and made sure she latched. "And she ignored you completely as well as looked like she thought I was an abusive parent when she saw I nurse."

Shan-shan rested her large head on the armrest, sitting with her ringed tail wrapped neatly around skillet sized feet. Golden eyes baleful towards Inara.

"Yeah, that was a cause of befuddlement and frustration." Mal stood next to her though away from the tiger, confused beyond words. "As well as the look that you gave her when she took Meilin?"

"What look?"

"Like she was a baby eater or something to that effect. I feared for her life for a moment."

Shan-shan grumbled from lack of attention.

"My mother...." Inara caught herself and bowed her head, exhaling deeply to control the rage she felt. "My mother... she made me as convenient as possible." She swallowed a well of tears in her throat and watched Meilin, who certainly wasn't a convenience, but a blessing she worked hard on. “She is not one that believes in active parenting and bonding at a young age.. or bonding… with anything. Attachments are not something she likes to form.”

Mal could tell she was hurting already, and was keeping certain things elusive to him. He expected in good time they would come to light. Taking a seat next to her, he wrapped an arm around Inara’s shoulder. “Well, if it’s any consolation you are definitely not like her.” He pressed his lips to her hair and gazed down at Meilin’s furrow faced concentration. “You love this xiao qiji more than anything, and you’ve toiled your share to make sure she’s well loved,” reaching out he grabbed a set of button sized toes “and well fed. Natural nurturer you are.”

“Thank you,” she smiled in appreciation, for though she had never made it her conscious path, she had become the opposite of her mother. “but you’re going to break her concentration if you fiddle with her toes.”

He let go and turned his palms up.

The tiger went over and set her head in his lap, startling Mal.

Inara giggled.

“Shenme... shi dao yi zhe shi?” He asked, freezing in place as if the animal would eat his fingers if he so much as twitched.

“Shan-shan’s harmless.” The ex-companion explained. A thin smile of amusement hugging the corners of her mouth. “She just wants a little attention.”

“I feel like I’m gonna be an appetizer.” Mal’s voice hit a nervous pitch.

“Nonsense, she’s a Domestic Tiger, she’s been bred to have the disposition of a puppy.” Inara replied. “Just scratch her ears, she’s feeling left out because I haven’t said hello yet.” Glancing down, Inara gently massaged Meilin’s cheek to get her to nurse a little more. All of the commotion, the new sites and Mal’s toe grab had accumulatively made her lose her concentration.

Meilin gazed up at her mother, who had become a pacifier since she was no longer putting in effort.

“Come on Xiao Xiongmao,” She coaxed. “Shall we try the other one?” Removing Meilin, she turned her around and offered the other breast, massaging her mouth. She knew if Meilin didn’t get her fill, she wouldn’t sleep well. “You can’t possibly be full yet. There we are.” Inara felt Meilin suckle again and rocked her body gently.

Shan-shan lifted her head away from Mal, stretched her neck and sniffed the crown of black baby hair with a resounding ‘whuff’ of air. The tiger had no clue what the little thing was, and after a few sniffs she came to the conclusion it was her mistresses cub, and not a live toy to bat around.

“Shan-shan, this is Meilin.” Inara responded calmly to the curiosity, trusting the cat entirely as the large nose gingerly nudged Meilin’s arm. Afraid that Shan-shan would break concentration though, she gently pushed the nose away.

The cat, content, went back to Mal.

He was terrified and befuddled at the same time, both more so at Inara’s reaction to a predator’s inquisitiveness about their child. “You know… as cute as this may be, the giant maneater turned obedient kitten, wild things are supposed ta be wild.”

“Domestic Tigers have been domesticated for a hundred years.” She corrected. “And besides, if wild things are supposed to be wild how would have you ever been caught, dressed and educated?”

Mal narrowed his eyes and looked at her sideways. “Yes, because beforehand I roamed the countryside a nekkid wild Shadow child.”

“And yet that sounds highly probable.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inara's mother retreated to her own bedroom.

"Cadoc." She called out.

"Yes, Zaira my peach blossom." A young man came out of the bathroom in nothing but a silk robe that wasn't even fastened. Putting his rippling muscles on display.

"Please dress, we're going to have tea with my daughter shortly."

"Of course." He turned, and went to the closet to fetch his clothing. "How is your daughter?"

"Fallen astray." Zaira sighed as she went to the bed and sat down, opening a drawer in the nightstand and taking out a thin keypad. Turning it on, a screen appeared in mid air above the keypad, and she pressed a key to connect to the coretex. "She fell in with a rim man, he impregnated her and has her living on some plebeian world as a housewife of all things." she typed 'Malcolm Reynolds' into the coretex, as that was the name he had given in the wave.

"Sounds dreadful." The young man's voice came from the closet.

Zaira's eyes widened as the information on Malcolm Reynolds came up. "It is."

*** *** *** TRANSLATIONS/DEFINITIONS

dai luzi weixiao: Stupid ass smile

Cheng De Xi Guang: City of the Prosperous Light

Qípáo: A traditional Chinese dress, form fitting with short sleeves and a mandarin collar

tang jacket: Traditional men’s suit jacket, characterized by it’s mandarin cut collar and frog buttons

fenghuang: Chinese Phoenix, a feminine entity often paired with the masculine Chinese dragon to signify Ying and Yang

Suzhou: Named after a city in Earth-that-was China that was renowned for it's gardens, pagodas, and stone bridges

siheyuan: Literally means 'courtyard', a complex with four sides and a courtyard in the middle, a common residence in Ancient china. A single family occupying a spacious siheyuan signifies wealth and prosperity

Shan-shan: 'Shan' a Mandarin name meaning 'elegant bearing for girls. Doubling the name to Shan-shan is a common way adults address children with affection

Jidi fei gao!: Chicken's flying testicles!

laidao: come

xiao qiji: little miracle

Shenme... shi dao yi zhe shi?: What... is up with this thing?

Domestic Tiger: With an upper crust demanding more exotic yet passive pets, the Blue Sun Co. genetically engineered and bred into existence Domestic Tigers. Giant cats with the dispositions of retrievers.

Xiao Xiongmao: Little Panda

****As always, the writer appreciates all comments whether they be positive, negative, or suggestions.**