A/N: Alright, sorry it took me so long to write this up, my translation engine is down and I had to use a few other sites (one for translating it to chinese, then another to translate that to pinyin). Also in regards to the screwy feedback and the wonkiness of the site, you can e-mail me feedback at fireroxychick@yahoo.com. Hopefully the wonkiness is over, but if not that's always an option (cause it's sad when feedback gets eaten by website monsters).

Now for the next chapter ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear River,

Well, you’re eighteen years old! Happy Birthday Miss Legal Adult! I’d tell you to go and celebrate like I did… but you’d get in some serious trouble Meimei. When I turned eighteen, the next day I woke up with someone who I know I wasn’t properly introduced to, but we had gotten to know each other in a non-proper way. That, and I was sick to my stomach and my head swam for a few days afterwards. So stick to cake and stay away from hard liquor and illegal substances alright? Ain’t nothing wrong with having responsible fun. Trust me it’s better to remember fun then to wonder if you had any.

Speaking of responsible fun, I put a little something with your gift. Your brother would have a heart attack if he knew, but you and Fiyero are mighty close, and I just want to make sure you’re covered in case. You never know when the moment arrives. Hell I never knew if the moment would ever come with Simon.

Well everything’s shiny over here, your brother and I are getting along fine. I’m itching for spring to come, as soon as we drive the heard to New Calgary we’ll be getting paid. Any extra coin I want to build a new work shop, an automatic feeder for the animals and a few new amenities for the animals too. Nothing fancy neither for myself nor the critters, but the chickens need bigger and proper coop (plus I would like to put a little pool in, that way we can raise us some peking ducks), and the captain said he wants a barn for calves and breeding stock. I came up with a nice efficient design for that too. Of course there’s all sorts of stuff I want to do, like build a little set up to make cheese out of the cow milk, as well as a greenhouse, and a garage for the mule and a few more transports I want to build, but I have to be patience you know? Captain used to glare if I so much as mentioned a new part, though I think when I ask him about getting to do these things I’ll hold up Meilin while asking, cause that baby’s got some magic powers when it comes to swaying him.

I wish you were here for Yuletide, there’s so much shiny stuff we have planned! There’s going to be a real tree, and we’re going to decorate it and we’re going to decorate the house too. Plus I’m going to bake all sorts of sweeties, and I’ve already twisted Jayne’s arm and he’s going to hunt us a Yuletide goose. And when Simon gets his piano we can have all sorts of holiday music and maybe even play some games and do some dancing too. Even though you can’t be there though, I packed you something for Yuletide, I hope it’s yummy.

Well, I have to go, I still have a lot of presents to make.

Hugs and Kisses, Kaylee

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

River had awakened in Fiyero’s arms.

Sleeping with him had kept her mind at ease and the night horrors to a minimum, though she still felt their wrath. The morning was like all of the others, she had dressed and gone to hike, then swim and go through her forms with the Grand Master. The drawings in the dirt were still there, though he said nothing about them since the beginning, and she preferred it that way as they were an embarrassment and meaningless. In fact, River Tam wished to destroy the markings, which was why she moved towards them, and the first chance she had, used the form’s sweeping step to erase a picture of the god Osiris eating a child’s brain.

“ZHAN.”

The Grand Master’s voice was firm, and she halted immediately, head snapping to his face for instruction.

He beckoned for her to come to him near a picture. “Come, let us study these curios.”

River obeyed, though her gut wrenched.

“These, from the drawings to the calligraphy, were done by a master.” He smiled a wrinkled smile, his foot kicking the branch up she had used to write. Weathered hand catching it, he used it to point to the work. “These lines were done by a quick but steady wrist, fluid yet controlled.”

River squinted, wishing to see what he was in awe about.

“Few people can write and draw like this, and those I know are also excellent with a sword. There is so much beauty in this work, regardless of the subject.” Grand master’s wrinkled seemed to be more abundant than usual as he thought about what was before him. “Now the subject, is one that shows the darkness that grips and rattles the artist. Such grave matters these are, the only way to release them from the mind are to express them externally.” His dark eyes shifted to her face, for he knew who the artist of the work was.

“They never release.” She confessed softly.

“There is always a way to release my child.” The Grand Master countered. “Meditation, prayer, art, form…”

“Nothing helps, the darkness may retreat with the sun but attacks when the sun sets.” The head of dark hair shook, however as it was a training day the locks were confined to a long braid. “This has happened before, Grand Master. My mind is shattered, never healing.”

“There is always healing my Shao Long. I am not ignorant to what you have been subjected to and regardless of what they did, you have the power of healing it yourself.”

“How can the mind heal from a sickness it doesn’t know?”

“How it healed before, placing the pieces together to understand the cause.” He gestured to the dirt etchings. “They are scattered to the corners of your mind like leaves to the mountain wind, nonetheless everything in the universe comes together. Leaves can be gathered if one has the patience.”

“I was told you could unlock the lost pieces.” River turned, and burned her eyes into his face. Her voice held a desperate twinge, and she was desperate. Desperate to rid herself of the horrors.

The Grand Master showed sympathy and understanding, for he could glean her pain. Reaching out, his fingers touched her temple, and he shut his eyes.

River watched, waited, waited for the feeling, the rush of knowledge. The understanding she yearned for. To know what happened, to know what they had taken away from her conscious.

None came.

He drew his hand back, inhaling sharply, eyes snapping open.

“You saw.” His pupil could tell, it was obvious.

“I did.” He sounded as if he was ruffled, though he was calm and gentle. “And what information you hold, makes my soul weep and my heart wrench with agony. I will pray for what I have seen, for your mind shows how the world lacks so many essential things to one’s being.”

Her head dipped in shame.

“I can release it.”

River looked back up. Hope.

“However, you are not ready to know what you keep.” He saw her disappointment, and lifted her chin. “It takes strength to wield such knowledge, it will come soon, I wish I didn’t have to tell you to be patient, but you must…”

Her face twisted in anguish, as did her voice. “Patience will kill me.”

“You won’t have to wait long, Shao Long…” He paused, and changed his approach. “Do you know why you are a Long?”

Shoulders were shrugged, she didn’t know the reasons other than she was.

“You possess both the Waijia and Neijia. The external and the internal. Few people are able to excel in both, but they study at an exceptional rate. And it won’t be long before you have grown into your own to face what your mind holds.” His face, was wise and grandfatherly as a hand that was as coarse as a prume cupped her face. “Just give yourself time to grow stronger before knowing all.”

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

Meilin had been fed by her mother, burped by her father, given a short bath, diapered, clothed in a cotton tee and laid to rest in the middle of the bed. Shan-shan laying by the foot of the bed like a sentry, Mal wondered if the cat should be left alone with Meilin (who looked like a snack), and Inara told Shan-shan to protect the baby. With that, Mal unpacked two com boxes, set one on the nightstand with some small statute on the button to hold it down, slid the other in a pocket, and they headed to the building to the right of the apartment that held the tea room. When they entered, it was swathed in deep blues, silvers and jades. A ballad of violin, cello, wood winds and piano with eastern notes flitted through the air, the room was soft with warm light and as Mal looked down he saw like the lobby of the luxury liner's floor, that the tea house floor was glass, and under it was crystal water and koi larger than River's cats. On of the koi came up and stuck his head out of the water, making the captain take a brisk step back as it appeared as if the fish was about to eat his boot.

"Come in, come in." Zaira Serra's voice greeted.

"Did you see that?" He whispered to her, pointing to the fish that opened it's mouth at his boot.

Inara briefly looked at his sideways and took his arm, heading down the steps to the recessed floor where couches, plush chairs and a table sat around a table that's legs were each of the four celestial animals; The azure dragon, vermillion bird, white tiger and black tortoise. None were color, but it was obvious what they were, in all their Asian grandeur.

Inara and Malcolm paused and gawked at the man next to her mother.

He was Inara's age, in a Tang suit of black with a fenghuang of multiple colors embroidered on his right breast. Obviously he belonged to her, as he bore the crest of Serra. He was tall and well boned, his shoulders tapering him to a V at the hips. In perfect shape, his skin was supple and slightly tanned, his face was well defined, looking as though he came from European bloodlines. Wheat colored hair was long (the latest trend in the core, they had seen it everywhere, plus Kaylee had raved about it and attempted to make Simon grow his out) and slicked back so it rested at his nape. The mustache and imperial below his lip were well trimmed, and his slate hued eyes were devilish towards Inara.

Zaira rose with Cadoc and went over to the couple, she addressed Malcolm, the way a person addresses a poorly formed horse, though she did it with a smile, albeit a deprecating one. "Now we haven't had a chance to be properly introduced my lad. I am Zaira Sabah Serra, Ibnah of the line of Saud."

"Malcolm Reynolds." As she held her hand out, he bowed, took it and kissed the fingertips. "Charmed, Miss Serra."

"Please, please, call me Zaira." She gestured to the man at her other arm. "And this is..."

"Cadoc?" Inara blurted, befuddled.

"Hello Inara." Cadoc gave a perfectly trained smile.

She blinked a few times. "You're... you're in service for my mother?"

"Her personal companion."

"Ahh, so you're on the clock." Mal piped, making his lover glare at him. He feigned innocence, and suddenly found something to amuse himself with. "Well then, I guess this makes you and Inara friends?"

"We graduated from the academy at the same time." He reached out for a handshake. "Cadoc Von Steurm."

"Malcolm Reynolds, the Von is silent as I ain't that special." Mal smiled sardonically. "So Cad, can I call ya Cad? How is it bein' paid ta do what you do? Play house, look fabulous, have that tight leash clipped to your mandarin collar..."

"Malcolm." Inara warned.

"What? Can't a lowly working class man be fascinated with such a life?"

Zaira smiled rigidly, as if she opened her mouth she would breathe fire upon the captain.

"Well I must confess it is better than toiling at the yolk of the blue collar day by day." Cadoc answered back cooly, his words inserting a knife into Mal's side.

The other man gave a look that was half amused, half wanting to give the companion a good hiding. "Well then, I'm glad you're happy in your little enclosure, hope she walks you every day, obviously she takes you to the groomers..."

"Better to be an Afghan than a cur." Cadoc retorted tightly.

"Oh nin huo wo you yi ge te bie guan xi."

"Now now boys." Zaira, though thoroughly amuse with her pet, waved him off. "Let's be civil. Come now, the tea will be getting cold." With that, the others followed the matriarch. She took a seat in a chair that looked more like a throne than anything else, Cadoc crossed his legs in an armchair, and Mal and Inara took to a couch. "Now Malcolm, where are you located?"

A houseboy poured the steaming tea into small porcelain cups, Mal was handed one, and he took a sip. "Shadow actually."

"I thought Shadow was obliterated during the war." Zaira's companion quizzed.

"Common error, only half of Shadow has fallen." Mal clarified with a patriotic note. "The rest is more or less intact, but Shadow is picking up the pieces, and life is a little rougher."

"So what do you do as a career?" The matriarch took a sip of her own tea.

"I'm a cattle rancher by birth. I was a goods importer for some time but this year I returned to my roots."

"How big is your operation?"

"A humble size, though I wish to double it in a few years or so."

"So it's just you?" She was quick to press.

"No, I have men and women under my employ." He exhaled. "A solid bunch, a few adept cow hands as well as a mechanic and doctor. I still have my boat, so we're also fortunate to be employed by the nearby town, making supply runs."

"Quite impressive." Her eyes were slanted, a lie. "Now Inara, how did you meet this partner of yours?"

"I rented a shuttle from him when I left."

"So you swooned for the charismatic captain." Her voice held a sardonic edge, yet retained a friendliness to it as well. "So when was my blessed grandchild born?"

"A little over three months ago." Inara explained, batting her eyes nervously. Scrutiny from her mother was not something she took well. "It was fall on our world and Mal had just come home from a supply run."

Mal smile coyly, she was sticking to the original tale, and he liked it. "Just to be clear, I didn't leave her alone. Our doctor was close by, and when I came home it was quite an event."

Inara smiled back, seeing how amused he was. "He's quite the man." She praised. "He stayed by my side the entire time, and I fear he loves the both of us without bounds." Inara's eyes sparkled at Mal. "Mal is rather extraordinary."

"Really, because the one letter I did receive regarding your stay on his ship used petty, boorish and ruffian as descriptive terms." The mother announced simply.

That killed the moment of sweetness between them. Mal gave Inara a surprised and partially wounded stare as the smile of affection was wiped clean off of her face.

"Ruffian eh?" He chewed on it thoughtfully.

"Mal." She began.

"No no." He turned and gave a firm smile to Zaira and Cadoc, who was swimming thrillingly in the awkwardness his mistress had brought forth. "It's alright, it's all water under the bridge. You see, in the beginning, we couldn't stand one another, she would insult me, I would insult her profession, thus was life. But that's of yore, right," He turned back to Inara. "Dear?"

Inara smiled nervously back. "Yes."

"You would insult her profession?" Cadoc purred smugly. "You have a problem with the profession of a companion?"

The younger Serra blanched.

Mal pursed his lips to contain a five minute rant. "I suppose I do."

"And what is wrong with a centuries old tradition, one that originates over a millennia ago from the geisha and courtesan cultures?" Zaira interrogated. "Something steeped in greatness and nobility?"

Inara wanted to dissolve into the floor as she feared the worst to come from Mal.

"I've just never seen the act of selling your body or company to be all that noble is all." He held himself back considerably.

Zaria and Cadoc nodded their heads, obviously judging.

"So mother." Inara took a deep, cleansing breath. "Tell me what has gone on since my absence?"

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

The scarecrow had been nicked in the leg.

And as before, Kaylee had retreated to her workshop to finish Simon’s piano bench. The situation was so bad, she didn’t even want to sleep in the same bed as him, she didn’t want that attachment anymore, because he was going to die in a manner of days.

Simon was going to die.

He was going to be killed by Bailey Tig, and then that was going to be it. No more Simon. They would have no future, no more love, no marriage, no happy life together.

Her heart ached, and her hands shook so that she was unable to work. Ripping off her gloves, she threw them angrily on the counter. A whimper escaped Kaylee’s lips, and tears flooded her eyes.

She sank to her stool and cried.

“Miss Kaylee?”

It was Shepherd Kouros, her door had been wide open and he had been returning to the house after his trip to the barn. Coming in, he knelt next to the squat stool.

“What are you doin’ out so late?” Kaylee hurriedly wiped her eyes.

“I took it upon myself to give the blessing of the animals to your livestock.” He explained, reaching into his pocket and handing her a handkerchief. “However I can’t abide having someone so kind and bright as yourself in tears.”

“Oh, it’s nothing.” She sniffled.

“From what I’ve seen the past few days, I hardly doubt it’s nothingness.” The preacher said kindly. “Someone you love dearly is in a very dangerous position.”

“But he could get outta this position.” The mechanic dabbed her eyes. “I used to prod him about bein’ proper and unwillin’ ta fight, but I know that’s why I love him so much. He’s so sweet, he don’t feel the need to be macho and show off, he ain’t like the normal fella. And he don’t got to do the normal thing!” She announced sorrowfully. “He can get out, and he doesn’t have to die.”

The shepherd, mused over it all carefully. “Miss Kaylee, are you a Christian woman?”

“I was churched when I was little, accepted Jesus, talk to him once in awhile. Why?”

“I just ask because you never know one’s faith as this universe is so diverse and I am careful not to offend.” He divulged. “But, as you are, perhaps the Lord has a plan. You may not know it yet, however though this may look bleak, He is giving Simon a platform for something in His almighty plan. We must have faith in Him, and pray for guidance and strength for Simon, as well as peace for ourselves.”

His words were warm, encouraging, and a weight felt taken off of her shoulders. “Shepherd… will you pray with me?”

“Of course my child.”

He took the worn mechanics hands in his own, and they bowed their heads.

“O’ Lord, we come before you tonight….”

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

That night, shielded by the thin curtains, Mal and Inara slept with their daughter cozied between them and a giant cat sleeping on the chaise lounge. Night passed to day, and in the early morning as mist lifted from the koi pond outside, there was a noise.

Mal stirred. Hearing the door open, and footsteps, he quietly got out of bed, and had to briefly fight back the curtains. After taming them, he swiftly pulled on some pants and grabbed his pistol, for he was leery of the Core. Padding down the corridor, he heard something again and turned the corner, aiming the weapon.

At a house boy.

The boy, stricken with fear, made the tray shake in his hands. He wore the exact same uniform as all of the other servants.

"What the... aiya.." The captain sighed heavily and dropped his weapon. "You best knock, son."

"I'm... forgive me Sir." The child stuttered. "Please disregard my fault."

"Forgiven." Mal put the gun's hammer down and set the safety, placing the pistol in the back band of his pants, taking the food tray. It had a small pot of tea with cups, a jar of honey, two plates: both with an assortment of what he assumed was Middle Eastern fare (and was). There was also a newspaper, and a capture on top. "Tell you what, you make sure I get bacon and eggs tomorrow, you'll get a few bits."

The boy's eyes lit up. "Is there anything else, Sir?"

"Nope."

With a bow, the houseboy left.

Mal turned and padded back to the room. He slid the tray onto his nightstand and climbed back in.

Shan-shan yawned a harrowing yawn, her sharp daggers of teeth gleaming as a bubblegum pink tongue unfurled out of the cavernous mouth. Her claws extended as the rolling muscles under the orange pelt stretched.

Inara's eyes fluttered open. "Mmm…Hey you."

"Hey yourself. Want breakfast?"

With a yawn, she nodded her head and sat up. She stretched as her swain picked Meilin up, and picked up the tray to set it in her lap. "Thank you."

"No problem." Mal lie back against the dozen pillows on the bed, and kept his daughter on his chest, her little pink tee riding up.

Meilin sighed, molding against his chest as she had a half an hour before her breakfast.

"Aren't you hungry?" she poured herself some tea.

"Not terribly so." He stiffened as the cat jumped up onto the bed, making the mattress bow. The pet laid next to Inara, putting it’s head beside her lap.

Inara set his plate on her nightstand so she had more space. “Zaochen hao Shan-shan.” Scratching the mighty head, she smiled.

Shan-shan chuffed happily, ramming her ears into the hand for better scratching.

“So she likes you?”

“My mother wanted her because everyone else was investing in exotic pets. I was the one that spent time with her though when she was cub, mother used to just leave her to her own devices so Shan-shan used to sleep in my bed when I came home. She also spent her first summer at Madressa when I was there as am instructor." She mused affectionately about the felid "The girls I taught in calligraphy used to let her wear necklaces around the grounds and play with her.” Inara smiled “She’s a good cat, very loyal.”

“Why didn’t she come on my boat when you rented out?” Mal quizzed jokingly, as Shan-shan rumbled contently like an engine.

“Because she’s not mine and I knew from the start it was a preposterous thought, also I took one look at you and could tell you were a dog person.” She retorted sarcastically. “Besides, there’s the size of the litter box to be taken into consideration.”

“There’s nothin’ wrong with dogs.” He defended snidely. “They are the less idle of the domestic kingdom. Never saw a feline drive a herda beef over a range for auction.”

“Of course not, dogs simply lack independence, nobility and grace.” She countered, a playful hinge in her tone.

“Cats can’t take commands. And River’s cats don’t count on accounta they had they have a yu ta di gu guai de tou nao lian jie shi.”

“Shan-shan, say ah.”

Shan-shan opened her mouth to show Mal her exceptionally sharp and white three inch canines. Her giant pink tongue lolled out of her mouth, as if expecting a treat.

“Jianghua.”

Shan-shan released a sound that was more like a deep, guttural ‘woof’ than the king of cats roar.

“Zhaozi.”

Shan-shan put a paw up on her mistress’ leg, gazing at Inara for praise.

“Good girl. Now beibi miankong.”

Flatting the round ears, the cat pulled it’s face into a chilling snarl.

“Good girl.” As the cat relaxed, leaving Mal dumbfounded, she then turned to breakfast. Taking up a fatayer filled with cream cheese, and ate a delicate bite of her breakfast as she picked up the capture and pressed the screen.

Her mother's face came into view. "Inara, Malcolm, I am unable to serve as a proper hostess today, as I have a meeting with the city council. Please forgive me, however Cadoc will be stepping in. He has planned to take you to our community’s annual stag hunt in the Womendi Zi Ran Xiuli Gongyuan, the hunting equipment will be at your disposal as well as a handful of servants and a nanny for Meilin. So, please dress accordingly and have a splendid time." The capture ended and Inara grimaced.

"That doesn't sound too bad." Mal said as his foot was the victim of a fly by tail strike.

"Do you know how to hunt a stag with a bow and arrow on horseback?"

"Well..." Mal bumbled. "No."

*** *** *** TRANSLATIONS/DEFINITIONS Meimei: sister

ZHAN: Stop

Shao Long: Young Dragon

Ibnah: Arabic; Daughter

nin huo wo you yi ge te bie guan xi: you and I are going to have a special relationship

aiya: damn

Zaochen hao Shan-shan: Good morning Shan-shan

yu ta di gu guai de tou nao lian jie shi: Weird mind link thingy with her

Jianghua: Speak

Zhaozi: Paw

beibi miankong: mean face

fatayer: A Middle Eastern pastry

Womendi Zi Ran Xiuli Gongyuan: Park Of Our Natual Beauty

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