Here's Part 3. Enjoy and comment.

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The skyplex was packed.

“So where are we meant to pick up this stuff,” Julien asked Mal as they pushed through a thick patch of crowd.

“Not sure,” Mal answered.

“You know they could’ve baited us out here so they could steal the ship,” Julien stated.

“Why do you think I left Zoe and Jayne behind?” Mal asked.

“Or it could be a trap for you.”

“Why do you think you’re here?”

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Leo was sitting in the dining room reading news-screen when River walked in and sat down.

“Anything interesting?” she asked.

“You’d know,” Leo answered.

River paused. “When did you find out?” she asked.

“What?”

“When did you find out you were psychic?” River asked.

Leo smiled, “Try and find out.”

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“Captain Reynolds,” a voice said.

Mal spun hand on his pistol.

“Relax,” the man said. “This is a friendly face.”

“Maybe,” Mal said. “Where’s the job?”

“Three shops down on the left,” the man said. “Password’s 42. You two should call for back-up. Cargo ain’t light.” The man walked away.

Mal lifted his radio. “Jayne, get Kaylee and the mule over here. Shop 947.”

“Copy that,” Jayne answered.

“Let’s get us some contraband,” Mal said to Julien.

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Leo had to admit, River was good, considering what she had been through. But Leo hadn’t, and she’d had training.

River’s face hit the table. She looked up at Leo. This person was reading a news-screen and she couldn’t even break through the very rim of her mind.

“Keep trying,” Leo said without looking up. “You’ll get there.”

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The mule baked up to the loading around the back of Shop 947. Mal signed for the cargo and loaded it onto the mule. The shop owner said that the crates were not to be opened until they were aboard their ship.

“Any problems?” Kaylee asked in the mule’s driver seat.

“Nothing, beside the usual paranoia,” Mal answered. “That’s nothing some sweet talk couldn’t fix.”

Julien laughed, “I would’ve thought that sweet talk coming from you would have made them more paranoid.”

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River again dived into Leo’s mind. She forced herself deep. Deeper than she meant. She pulled out quickly. But not quickly enough. She picked up one thought. Just one. But it was Leo’s most secret thought.

River had received a nosebleed from pulling out so quickly. As Leo helped to clean her up, she said to River, “Please don’t tell him. I’ll tell him. When it’s ready.”

River just nodded.

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Jayne and Kaylee went off to their own things, leaving Mal and Julien to unload the crates.

“Do you think we should open them?” Julien asked.

“Well, I’m a might curious as to why they were so paranoid,” Mal said. “Let’s just have us peek.”

They opened the crate and looked inside.

“Son of a bitch,” Mal said.

It was full of porn.

“It’s full of dirty pictures!” Julien exclaimed. “And films, and-”

“-And every dirty thing in the black,” Mal finished.

“OH MY GOD!” Jayne yelled running down the stairs.

“Oh, Christ,” Mal sighed.

Jayne got on his knees in front of the open crate and picked up some of the stuff.

“Put those down, Jayne,” Mal said. “I don’t want you to drool all over them.”

“I wasn’t planning on drooling, Mal,” Jayne said not looking up.

Mal and Julien shared disgusted looks with one another before Mal said, “Okay, put those down.”

Mal pushed the stuff out of Jayne’s hands and Julien put the lid back on the crate.

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Zoe walked into the dining room and saw Leo sitting at the table with her head in her hands.

“You okay?” Zoe asked.

“Just trying to figure something out,” Leo said without moving.

“Can I help?” Zoe asked.

Leo looked up. “I know you lost your husband,” she said. “And I know what you were planning. That makes this 10 times harder.”

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“A baby?” Mal repeated. “You want to have a baby with Leo?”

“Why are you so surprised?” Julien asked.

“I just can’t picture you as a family guy,” Mal stated.

“What about you? Don’t you want to have kids?”

“Well, yeah, one day,” Mal answered. “But I’ve never found a person I just clicked with.”

“Oh, really.” Julien coughed, “Inara!”

Mal spun to look at Julien. “You’ve been here all of a couple of hours and you already controlling my personal life. Back off.”

“I’ve been here a couple of hours and I already want to tear my hair out,” Julien said. “At this rate I’ll want to shoot myself by the end of the week.” He started to climb the stairs.

“At this rate I’ll shoot you myself!” Mal yelled after him.

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Julien walked into the dining room and heard all conversation stop. Leo, Zoe and Kaylee were all sitting around the table whispering before Julien walked in.

“How are you all?” Julien asked.

“Fine,” they all said at the same time.

“OK,” Julien said before walking down the hall and into his bedroom.

Mal walked in just as the conversation started up again. “Ladies,” he said. “Whatchall talking ‘bout?”

“Can you keep a secret?” Leo asked.

“C’mon, it’s me,” Mal smiled.

Leo paused. “We’re trying to figure out a way for me to tell Jule something,” she said.

“What’s that?” Mal asked.

Leo sighed, “I’m pregnant.”

Mal started to laugh.