She watches from the shadows so no one can see her heart.

Inara laughed at Wash’s joke. She sat with Wash, Zoë, Kaylee, Simon, River, Jayne, and Shepard Book at the dinner table sharing stories. She loved evenings with the crew. Everyone was always so happy. It made her feel like she had a family again. Mal entered the room in the middle of the joke. “Where’d all the food go?” He demanded, looking at the empty dishes. “Ya missed it, Cap’n.” Kaylee giggled. “Gotta get here quicker next time.” Mal grumbled something under his breath and gathered the scraps into his plate. Inara watched him move. His hair was untidily scattered across his head and his suspenders clung tightly to his body. Kaylee looks at Inara. Inara has her eyes on Mal, and for a brief second, Kaylee sees Inara’s heart. Inara blinks and turns her head away before Kaylee can confirm what she saw. Maybe it was only her imagination. “What is it, bao bei?” Simon whispers to Kaylee. “Nothing. Jus’ thought I saw somethin’.” She says and turns back to her food. She made a mental note to talk to Inara later.

It was the middle of the night and Mal couldn’t sleep. What he saw in Inara’s eyes earlier…was it love? Did she love him? Mal shook his head and climbed up the ladder in only boxers. He wanted some tea and he knew no one would be awake at 1:00am. He was wrong. Inara sat drinking tea in the dining area when Mal walked in. “Inara what are you doing up?” He said in surprise. Inara was only wearing a skimpy nightgown, practically see through, and her hair was down. She bent her head so her hair hid her face. She watches from the shadows so no one can see her heart. “I couldn’t sleep.” She said. And it was true, she had spent the past hours staring at the ceiling of her shuttle crying over Mal. Mal poured himself some tea and sat down next to her. “Same here,” He said and tried to catch her eye, but she ducked into the shadows. They were silent for a while, both thinking of the other, before Mal finally asked, “What are you afraid of?” Inara looked up. “Sorry?” “You keep hiding from me, ‘Nara. You’re scared someone’s gonna see your heart, ain’t ya? Well, if I saw what I thought I did at dinner, then your games of hide-n-seek’re over, bao bei.” Mal studied her face. Inara inched a little closer to him, her arm brushing his. Before Inara knew what was happening, Mal had lifted her into his arms. Inara was now sitting on his lap, with one leg on either side of him. “Mal I don’t know what to say…” She whispered. “Then don’t talk.” Mal cupped her chin is his hand and kissed her. He had imagined doing that for some time now, but always backed out, now he wondered what had taken him so long. Inara loved the feeling of his lips. He was much more gentle then she would have expected, and she loved this side of Mal. Mal broke the kiss and looked into her eyes. She was no longer hiding her heart.