Dear Mal,

I know that right now you're only a year old, can't read yet. But when you're older I hope you get to read this letter and see that I haven't forgotten you, I've never forgotten you nor your Ma. I want you to know that I love you son, and when I left it was cause it was for the best for you and your Ma.

You see, we loved each other, fiercely, but it wasn't to last. Longer I stayed, the more turmoil and feuding became apart of our lives. I want you to know that we tried to work things out, for your sake as you were on the way, but after awhile it was apparent to us that it just wasn't going to work out. I knew your mother would never annul, but I knew she would be miserable with me around, and you would suffer from the tension between us. You looked to have a brighter future without me, and your Ma a happier one, so I packed up and left one morning while you two slept. I left your ma a letter as my explanation, but I fear it eased her little.

I'm not proud of it son, but that's what I did and I remember it to this day. I want you to know that I love you, and I think about you every day.

Your Pa

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

Inara gazed up fro the letter she had found in the pile, her mouth gaping, chocolate eyes wide in disbelief.

Mal had set Meilin in her basket and given her her toy keys, holding some of the pictures, captures and letters. Inara had the rest, and he braced himself for her reaction.

"He's... he's your father." The slender hand clutching the letters dropped to her side, and her dark brown gaze was filled with incredulity. "You freed your father..." brows knit together. "Why would you push him away?"

Mal began to open his mouth.

"And don't say 'cause'."

He gave an expression of frustration and went on the defense. "Because, I have the right to. Plenty of right in fact. I did the right thing, I helped him out, doesn't mean that I have to be friendly to him."

"He looked like he wanted to be a part of your life."

"Then why did he leave me and my ma, huh? After all these years of me thinking he was dead he shows up." He pointed towards the door. "And all of a sudden I'm supposed ta embrace him? Hm? He packed up when I was little and he made himself a new life. What happened to those vows he took? What happened ta bein' my pa? The man left us, why would I wanna get attached ta that?"

"Do you not know how lucky you are? You've found your father, Mal." Inara exclaimed. "And he wants to know you and catch up. He'd even tell you why he left, he gave you these letters and captures." She waved them at him. "Look, look at this picture." She pulled one out of the few she had out and showed it to him. His father, possibly about ten years ago, with his petite wife, four sons and a spotted ranch dog. "Mal, you just don't have a father, you have brothers!" The two older boys looked to be but a few years younger than he would have been ten years before. They were tall, strapping, the color of the picture was faded but they had dark brown hair and eyes that matched Mal's. The younger two were Ezra and Pacey, young and rangy with the cow dog between them.

"I don't need brothers." He dismissed. "I've lived my life all this time without them just fine."

"Mal, this is your family. And it sounds like Hershel would welcome you into it." She pressed. "Yes, you've grown up with just your mother, but you now have people just like you..."

"I already have a family." he cut her off sharply. "I got plenty of family, I gotta house of people down on Shadow, I got you, I got Meilin, I don't need a buncha strangers and some old too zai zi who packed up at left me and Ma."

Inara searched his eyes, seeing his flickering anger on the raw subject. She pulled her gaze away and turned around, suppressing so many things he couldn’t understand. "You're making a huge mistake."

Meilin let out a loud noise, unhappy she was in her basket and not in someone's arms.

Mal scooped the protesting infant up and kissed her dark curls. "It's my mistake to make."

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

Simon.

Gun.

Bang. Blood. Simon. Dripping red.

River awoke with a start and a searing pain to her chest. However she roused less dramatically than usual, and found Fiyero spooning her, his gentle breathing against her neck indicating he was in fact sleeping quite peacefully. Relaxing, sighing, relishing the feel of his body warming hers, she enjoyed the moment. For so long she had doubted ever finding another that would love her. She was broken, an unnatural teen that didn't know how to interact with her own age group, with a past that few wouldn't discriminate against. However Fiyero seemed to adore her quirks, and seemed to compliment her own personality. She kissed his arm, and listened to the silly 'Mmm.' that came from his sweet lips. They couldn't get enough of each other since hiding. They talked, trained, teased, cuddled, kissed as well as a few other things her brother would swivet over. Fiyero was fond of lying next to her and kissing her, amusing his maw with geography as well as the occasional ticklish spot. While River liked to curl in his lap, with a head on his shoulder as they talked and touched.

She brushed his arm again and gingerly removed it, sliding out of bed carefully. Clothed in his tunic as a nightgown, she listened to his groan, and saw how her lover rolled onto his stomach to sleep.

Boston released a squeaky kitty yawn as he slept on the end of the pillow with his new mouse between his paws. Seeing her leave, he got up, stretched, and curled into a ball closer to Fiyero for better heat.

Walking silently over to the table, the clairvoyant noiselessly picked up a her new sketch journal and supplies. Sitting by the light of the fireplace, she opened the journal and touched the second page. Picking up a pencil, she began to scribble down the words and images that had been plaguing her. The bean factory on Beaumonde, the god Osiris, everything that had been drawn out on the sand. She was determined to put the pieces together, and recording them she surmised would help.

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

Zoe had gone in to help Shepherd Kouros with Simon's surgery.

Kaylee was a pile of emotions in her hammock. She couldn't stand to pace outside the infirmary, to hear the faint bleep of the monitors. Serenity's engine room provided comfort, her own humming cocoon as her girl was running to provide power to the infirmary. The mechanic had stopped sobbing, and was merely silently crying, thinking of the dreadful future she had if Simon didn't pull through. He was everything to her, he was the only man (out of quite a score) that she ever wanted to be with for the rest of her life.

Jayne's heavy boots clattered into the engine room, he sniffled, trying to appear indifferent to the situation. Yet in truth he was sad too. He liked the doc, though they hardly saw eye to eye he was sort of like a smaller brother he could harass. The giant frame came in, something stuffed in his coat, and stood next to the hammock.

Kaylee didn't even look up.

The merc pulled York out of his jacket and set the cat on Kaylee's stomach. "Figgured you could use the company, Shepherd said it's gonna be awhile. Lotta stuff ta patch."

York, sensing something was wrong, nuzzled her and snuggled in to become a ball of purring and soothing energy.

Kaylee wrapped her arms around the cat as the tears kept on streaming down her cheeks. "How's he doin'." There was no question in her voice, it was merely a low, zombie like mumble of suffering.

Jayne took off his cowboy hat and sat on the grate floor, his back against the housing of the engine. "Moniter's are still beepin', lived through a few hours already, reckon' he's okay." Gazing at her heartbreaking face, he continued with as much positive as he could muster. "Once he's through, he's gonna need someone ta nurse him back. Lotta attention, gonna need meds, bandage changin, feedin.... sponge baths...." Jayne wasn't necessarily thinking of Simon when it came to sponge baths. He was in fact thinking of a skin flick he had watched on the cortex, two well endowed nurses and inserting himself into the role of the patient. Catching himself before going off into his own erotic world, Jayne cleared his throat. "He's gonna need ya though. Probably won't be well until he's gotta ride for the cattle drive."

"Jayne, he might not make it." She whimpered. "He weren't breathing when we got here."

Jayne fiddled with his hat. "He is now, and I know that's somethin'."

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

River stared at her doodles.

Boston got up, stretched, and jumped off the bed to see River. Jumping up, he wrapped himself around her shoulders and gazed down at the journal curiously. "Mraal." He purr yaowled softly.

River scratched her friend's chin while studying her artwork. The other page had a conte sketch of Fiyero asleep, however she didn't focus on that, she focused on the horrors. The atrocities that had plagued her since more of her mind had unlocked itself. They meant something, the location on Beaumonde meant something, however a piece was missing.

A piece she wracked her brain over, but to no avail could come up with. Her face furrowed with thought, eyes intensifying as she strained for the answer. Something told her the answer was what could drive her purpose. It was something greater. Something beyond Miranda, something of a bigger picture.

The reader thought of the Feds at the temple.

Though they scared her, fueled her dreams, River was tempted. For the Feds could know something. A mind, or, the ship's data could have her missing piece. All she had to do was get close enough.

River made up her mind.

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

Zoe sidled up to the engine room door.

Kaylee had bloodshot eyes and a haggard look of sorrow as she lay in her hammock, York was flopped across her flat abdomen asleep, and Jayne was sitting on the floor dozing an afternoon nap.

Hearing a noise, the mechanic's weary gaze found Zoe. Kaylee locked onto her, waiting for the news.

Zoe came to stand next to the hammock, absently she combed a lock of hair out of Kaylee's face. "He's been patched. Gave him a transfusion, his lung was ripped up, damaged some veins, dunno if it effected any nerves but his arm might have some troubles." Her voice was soft and caring towards Kaylee. "Shepherd Kouros did everything possible, he says if Simon makes it past tomorrow he'll be outta the woods."

Jayne snorted and stirred. "Wha?"

Tilting her head back to get a better view of Zoe's face, Kaylee let out a low whisper. "Can I see him?"

The second in command nodded her head. "I'll take ya."

"No, I can do it." Kaylee handed her York and climbed out of her hammock. Her legs wobbled, yet she kept steady and walked out the door.

"What'd I miss?" The merc rubbed his torpid face with his sleeve.

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

River flung herself off of the tree limb and landed on the tiled roof of the temple in a perfectly noiseless crouch.

Boston landed next to her, eyes wide in the dark.

Rising she ran across the roof with her soft cloth shoes, the nandao Grand Master had given her strapped to her back. The moon cast a silver light on her, making her fair skin glow as the wind made her hair raven billow and the cloth of the uniform twist. From the temple roof she could see the blue florescent glow of the ship parked on the lawn, well armored Feds patroling their stealth painted excrescence to make sure nothing from the temple tampered with the ship. Gleaning the area, she bolted across the roof and dove off, somersaulting onto a shishi.

The guards swore they saw something and flashed the light on the statue, yet found nothing.

River held her breath as she had molded herself to the opposite side of the shishi, hiding against it.

Boston jumped down the lengths of the roofs until he found a tree, where the Siamese cat leapt to the top of the statue's head.

After telling him to stay, River scaled to down and ran through the shadows before vaulting up to the tree nearest the ship. Close enough to the ship and its personnel, she got as high as possible so she was shielded from lights, the green of her uniform helping her blend in with the foliage. There, she let out a cleansing breath and focused. Singling out minds, there was little to glean, and she could not seem to find the man in command of the ship. Mulling over the prospect of actually getting to the ship, to board and hack in, her stomach heaved in fear and her mental equation told her there was little chance she could run across the lawn and into the ship without being seen. Disheartened, she sent Boston a mental command.

Boston yowled.

The Feds turned around briskly, flashing their lights on the cat.

Within that moment the Shao Long darted back to the safety of the temple, diving into the shadows and slipping in via a door. There, safe, she kept to the wall before jumping up against the wall, climbing up the length of it by jumping off the wall to a pillar, going back and forth between the two till her last leap had her catching the sill of the open skylight. Pulling herself up, she rose on the roof and shut her eyes to attempt to find the officer who ran the ship.

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

Kaylee had fallen asleep on the bed next to Simon.

He had been moved out of the examination chair and onto the collapsible bed he had gotten from the job with the Risin Sun crew and stored in the infirmary. It was a hospital bed, more comfortable than the chair for long term patients, and well needed after Zoe’s illness since keeping her in the chair had posed problems and made her prone to bed sores and at risk for poor circulation. Kaylee had found him there; oxygen in his nose, IV in his arm, his chest bandaged, a blanket draped over him as the beep of the monitor confirmed he was alive. She had laid next to him, combing his hair out of his face, praying for him to live.

Finally, he stirred.

Kaylee lifted her head up as his bleary opened. He was listless, a blank face due to trauma and medication.

Taking a deeper breath, he winced.

“It’s ok, take it easy.” Sitting up, she kissed his forehead.

Simon seemed to think it over, though his mind wasn’t sharp. Confused at where he was and what had occurred, he clumsily brought a hand up and groped at the IV.

“No, don’t pull it out.” She eased his hand down, trying in earnest to soothe him and not cry. “You remember what happened?”

He thought about it, eyes dull and half closed. Opening his mouth, his voice was nothing more than raspy air. Frustrated, he grunted and his heart rate picked up.

“Simon, baobei you gotta relax.” She reassured, combing his hair out as tears of joy pooled and stung her hazel green eyes. “You were in a shootout and ya almost died, Shepherd Kouros gave ya surgery, patched up your chest. You had a breathing tube not too long ago, Shepherd said your voice might be hoarse.”

He sighed, exhausted, and leaned his head on her shoulder. A weak hand reaching for her as his eyes shut.

Kaylee held his hand and kissed him again. “Just rest up. I’ll take care of ya.”

She pulled the blanket up as he drifted back off.

Simon still had to get through the night.

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

River pinpointed the commanding officer.

There wasn’t much to glean from him, other than his hunt for a reader and his own flaws. He was too low ranking to know anything of importance, which made him a useless little grey soldier. His ship probably held more information, from there she could use the ship’s security passcode to access the federal database, and from there she could hack in and access top security files. On the roof, she headed back towards the ship, trying to form a plan on how to get to the out of reach piece of federal machinery.

'They are being more aggressive than usual.'

The projected voice of one of the higher ranking monks filled her mind, making her pause. Gleaning the area, she followed the energy and jumped across the small gap between the student hall and the master’s quarters. She stopped at their courtyard, where all of them were seated in a circle on the grass. The night breeze making their robes flutter as they had there mental discussion, everyone projecting openly so they could converse cohesively.

The one monk mentally projected aloud to the room. 'They will do anything to get her, she will be the one that breaks this temple that has lasted generations of secrecy. If they find we are lying the government will come upon us like locusts! I propose sending her away, off of this world preferably.'

How can you think such a thing?' Master Ryokai announced with horror. ’We vow to protect everyone who seeks shelter.’

‘We must have no connection to her if we want our work to continue. It was not as if we knew of her, of this, of what she would bring. It was all accidental.' he responded back.

'Nothing is accidental.' The Grand Master announced peacefully, sitting in the circle with his prayer beads in one hand as his limitless eyes focused on the other monk. 'There is only the known and the surprising. I had more faith in you Master Timur, for I thought you would not buckle to such pressure. Such is not the ways of our temple, we may seek peace, but not sacrifice to obtain it.'

'What if we sent her to Long Shifu Li Ten?’ another offered, a young master new to the ranks ’If she is a Long then he will surely be able to endow her with what she needs to make her finale ascent into the greatness we have hoped for. Also he is in a place that only the highest order knows of, no one would find her.'

'Though she has learned lifetimes of form and discipline in mere months, it can take a lifetime to grasp the sheer power of what Li Ten can give to another Long.’ Grand Master fingered his beads, rolling them against his thumb. ’Shao Long has the makings of a great Long, we must not rush her. A sapling on a hill is victim to the elements. The sun will scorch it, the rain will wash it away, the wind will crush it. But a sapling protected on a hill will grow strong enough so when the time comes it will thrive in the heat, its roots will run deep against the rain, and the trunk will not sway to the wind. The first sapling dies to be consumed by nature; the second grows more and more, spreading life with its seeds and shade. A Long must be a Long Zhanshi that becomes consumed with the Shensheng Long Jingshen before given the teachings that hold no name, and only five souls have become Long Shifu. Must we remember Li Ten's pupil as an example of a sapling exposed too soon? She will stay here, and I will shelter and teach her till she is strong enough to stand on the hill herself and find her true path as the wind blows, the sky rains and the sun bakes. After she travels her path, after she finds the spirit, will she go to see Li Ten, no sooner.'

River furrowed her brow as no other Master protested the Grand Master’s announcement.

He rose, leaning onto his staff for support. ‘I must rest, I am not the man I once was decades ago. Pardon my absence.’

River backed away from the courtyard as she felt the mind of the commanding officer draw near to the courtyard. She followed, close to the tiles to keep her silhouette from cutting against the sky.

Her blood boiled at the officer’s voice.

“YOU.”

She quickly slid down the slope of the roof, grabbed the eave and swung herself under into the covered hall. Instead of jumping to the ground, she caught the rafters with her feet and held on while taking her hands off of the eave and transferring herself completely to the rafter. It was there, hidden in the shadows she could see the officer harass her mentor. Grand Master stood there, small and stooped as the taller grey clad Fed was in his face.

“Listen to me, Grand Master.” He snarled. “I have been generous with time and patience. But I have intelligence that shows you are hiding government property.”

“I hold no property.” He feigned timid ness, hunching himself to appear to be a frail waif of an old man. “A monk has nothing, separation from the worldliness that keeps enlightenment at bay.”

“Don’t toy with me.” He pushed the Grand Master. “A HUMAN. A GIRL. He pressed. “I have been ordered to find this young woman, and I have been told one with the description is in your keep.”

“The government owns people?” He asked wearily.

“People that signed a contract.” The commanding officer explained.

The Grand Master furrowed his brows, pulling his many wrinkles to the center of his forehead as he squinted. “I know of no girl. And even if I did, I am but an old man far in his dotage. My mind is scattered and only remembers so much as it strains for enlightenment.”

“I will tear this temple apart.”

“The spirits that guide this temple…”

“I’m not in the mood for spirits and religion. I’m here for answers. And I need one by tomorrow or else.” Turning on his heel, he walked away.

The Grand Master waited till he was out of sight before straightening his spine and showing his true strength. “Shao Long.”

River jumped down.

He smiled. “You’re no longer afraid.”

“I see them for what they are. Pawns.” She announced flatly.

“What are you going to do?” He walked towards her.

“Protect this temple. The spirits are angry, they do not like threats.”

“Practice restraint, for your power is greater than what they can withstand.” Walking past her, he headed towards his room. “Now I must rest, there are only a few hours before sunrise and I am but an old man in my dotage.”

The Grand Master gave a rare smirk.

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

Mal lead Inara and Meilin to dinner.

The season meant the sun set later than usual, so it was still bright outside as they went to the dining room. Meilin was wide awake, though she would hungry and ready for bed in an hour or so as Inara carried her. Her mother was giving her father the cold shoulder, because she felt he was an idiot in three different languages. And Mal as tight jawed from all of her negativity towards his choice. Shan-shan came with them, because she had seen moving trunks and Inara packing. The giant feline knew that meant Inara was going away, so she was following like a shadow.

The dining room was very Middle Eastern. The table was low to the floor, with rugs and cushions. There were pastries, fruit, strained yogurt, tea and other fare on the table as classical Sihnon music floated effortlessly through the room. Zaira was seated at the head of the table, with Cadoc to her right as well heeled as her beloved dogs.

The dogs saw Shan-shan and quickly left the room.

“Good evening mother.” Inara took the seat to her left, setting Meilin in the sling she had brought.

Meilin sucked on her hands, watching her mother and trying to talk with her mouth full.

“Inara.” Zaira gave a smile as strained as the yogurt. “I heard you’re packing.”

Mal sat down, awkwardly as he was still not accustomed to such customs. “Leaving tomorrow.” He nodded.

“All three of you?” She asked with a dangerous edge.

Shan-shan lied down behind Inara, twisting her ears back to the tone.

“Of course.” Inara served herself some grapes as a slave poured tea. “It’s nearly Yuletide and our first one together as a family.” She smiled down at Meilin and petted a small foot.

Meilin smiled.

“Inara, I want you to reconsider my offer.”

“No, mother.”

“Inara, you cannot leave this life for an xiantian Duli haidao.”

Inara locked eyes with her mother in a way that could have burned a hole in the drapery. “What did you call Mal?”

*** *** *** TRANSLATIONS/DEFINITIONS too zai zi: Son of a rabbit Nandao: straight sword shishi: stone lion, fu dog Shao Long: young dragon Baobei: Darling Long Shifu: Dragon Master Long: Dragon Long Zhanshi: Dragon Warrior Shensheng Long Jingshen: Celestial Dragon Spirit xiantian Duli haidao: inbred Independant pirate

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

A/N: Apologies if the all the usuage of dragon sound kung fu hokey. But I tried to come up with something better... nothing just was was better.