"Obviously we need to set some mutually approved ground rules," she said, forcibly reigning in her anger.

"What do you mean?" asked Simon nasally from where he still sat on the floor, his hand pressed to his bloodied nose.

"I mean, we handle this like adults. We'll set a timetable," she explained calmly.

"You mean like, who gets to spend time with who and when?" Mal asked warily.

"Exactly," replied Inara. "Now, here's what I propose. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays will be for you and I, Mal. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays will be for Simon, leaving Sundays for each of us. Fair and logical, and no one needs to get hurt. Are we agreed?"

Simon and Mal exchanged glances and then both nodded.

"Good," Inara said firmly.

"Well, uh, I guess that makes it our day," said Mal with a smug grin.

"I guess it does," Inara agreed as the three of them nodded and she helped Simon to his feet. She looked at his face, wincing with compassion. "Sorry about your nose," she apologized lightly, and then headed back up to her shuttle.

They watched her go and then Mal wiped the blood from Simon's nose with a gentle swipe of his thumb, pulling the other man close with a smile. "Now, where were we--?"