Inara found Mal in the cockpit that night, he appeared to be in a good mood so that help a little on what she was going to ask him.

"Mal?"she asked timidly

"Hey, ain't gone to sleep yet? Thought you'd be tired after the fair, he said remembering all the fun they had.

"Thanks for that by the way, I haven't had so much fun in a long time. What I wanted to tell you is, I recived a wave from my aunt invinting the crew for a vacation at her estate."

"Is she sure she want ta meet us? I mean, she don't even know us..."

"She actually invited you to tackle that problem" she smiled.

"Looks like we're going for a visit." he smiled.

--------------------------

A week later,Serenity landed gracefully on the private port of the Carlson estate, Mal was sitting in the co-pilot’s chair.

“Nice job, lil’ albatross.” he smiled.

“Aye, captain daddy” she singsonged as she got up to go and find Zoe.

--------------------

“Ready when you are.” Mal said as he offered his arm with a grin, Inara took with a smile of her own.

“Being a gentleman, Captain?” she teased.

“I’m always a gentleman!” he said in mock indignation, making her laugh. That sounded like Santa’s sleigh bells to a little boy on Christmas Eve.

They strolled down the ramp, the crew not far behind them “Oh, it’s so shiny we get ta see some of Inara’s family, ain’t it. They’d be fancy an’ all…” Kaylee mused as she descended the ramp arm-in-arm with Simon.

“I suppose they are.” Simon agreed noticing the large size of the private port, wondering how it would be right now at Osiris for a moment – it was his home before Serenity after all.

As soon as it touched she touched ground, Inara let go of Mal to be crushed in a rib-cracking embrace of her aunt. It was what she liked about her most, she was the only member of her family who was able to let go for a while.

After kissing both cheeks, Louise held her niece at arm’s length so that she could take a proper look at her, eyes sparkling with happy tears “It’s so good to to see you again, my little niece again…”

“Me too, Auntie Lou.” Inara smiled, her sides still hurting from the crushing embrace

“Ah, this must be the famous captain Reynolds” she hugged him too “are you taking care of my little niece?”

“I do my best when she doesn’t push away” he teased, Inara blushed a bit at that and Louise chuckled, knowing she had been right about these two.

“Yes” she agreed with a smile “Inara could be stubborn when she wants to be.”

Kaylee came to Inara’s defence “Oh, bi zwei captain. Inara’s just shiny!” Earning a grateful smile form Inara.

“You must be the ship’s sweet mechanic, Kaylee, right?”

“Thanks ma’am.” She Kaylee was flattered to receive from Inara’s aunt; she even hugged her even though they were strangers. She wasn’t a snob how Jayne painted her at all!

When they were all introduced, the crew was shown into their respective rooms; all with bathrooms attached and equipped with Jacuzzis an all. It was better then a core 7-star hotel! Obviously, Louise made sure that Mal’s room was wall-to-wall with Inara’s and that the two rooms were a bit further down the marble hall then the others.

When it was time to go to dinner, Mal knocked on Inara’s door and went in; maybe they could go to dinner together.

“Did I just hear Malcolm Reynolds knock?” she teased lightly.

“Funny. I jus’ wanted to know how you’re fairing, the bruises are almost gone” he smiled knowing that she was healing fine.

“Yes, that cream Simon gave is excellent” but Mal could see that she was uncomfortable about something.

“What is it, ‘Nara?”

“What?” she feigned innocence but she knew that since she started to explore the woman beneath the ashes of the companion, he had been there for her all the time, he had come to know her more than anyone.

“Don’t play with me ‘Nara.”

She looked away from him and stared through the window and Mal knew she was shutting him out.

“Please don’t do this ‘Nara, don’t shut me out. I thought we were gonna talk everything through, remember?”

“It’s stupid Mal, really.”

“Why don’t you let me decide for myself?” by now he was right behind her, so close she could feel his hot breath in her hair.

“Today my cousin is visiting and it just took me for a trip in the past, that’s all.”

Mal stayed silent.

“Her name is Yvette. We were very close as we grew up until she started getting jealous of me for no reason, we sat for the guild’s exam together but she failed and started hating me from night to day. We had a grand party to celebrate my promotion to an official companion in the guild and the tried to drown me in the pool. I was 19 years old. I tried to talk to her but she just blames me for her failure in the exam and the ruin of her aspirations when I wasn’t even near her during the exam. She still hates me and it’s been years ago! I don’t even want to know what she is capable of now.”

Mal resisted the urge to gape “Well, it’s best if she don’t do anything now ‘cause she’ll have to answer a nice bunch of people.”

“I don’t know, Mal, she’s very cunning.” Inara turned in his embrace her arms went round his neck as he held her tight, Mal knew she would never admit she liked it when he held her – just like he wouldn’t admit it out loud that this protectiveness comes naturally to him

-------------------------

When Mal and Inara entered the dining room, on the first evening of their visit to Inara’s Aunt Louise’s house on Londinium, the table was beautifully set with real china toped with actual food such as Mal had not seen in ages. There was red wine poured in crystal glasses along with silver utensils; two bouquets of flowers provided the final touch. The formality of it all left him feeling a bit uncomfortable. The rest of Serenity’s crew along with Louise and another lady were already around the table. River was mumbling something about carbon dioxide; her brother and his mechanic were to damn busy making goo goo eyes at each other to notice that they were at a dinner table; Jayne was being just himself filling his plate with all he could reach and Zoe was just eating quietly looking at the plate as if it held the answers for all her questions.

Mal and Inara took the two remaining seats at the table, side by side. Mal presumed the lady who looked about Inara’s age must be the infamous cousin, given their cold greeting. As Louise stood up, the other lady stood up as well. “Everyone, this is another niece of mine, Yvette.”

‘Ah that’s why she looks a bit like Inara,’ Mal thought as he shook hands with her and offered a smile.

After pleasantries were exchanged, Kaylee’s cheerful voice could be heard whispering just a bit too loudly, “Ya got a down right nice family ‘Nara, ain’t it shiny to meet Yvette here?” But Kaylee’s smile disappeared when Inara shot her a sad look. Something was sure as hell goin’ on here, and it made Mal a might uncomfortable not understanding exactly what it was.

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All through dinner, Yvette watched Mal and Inara sharing significant glances and smiles as they joined in the animated chatter of their crewmates. Yvette didn’t like the way that good looking man looked at her cousin; she wanted him for herself. There was no way she was going to let Inara get what she wanted – again. Yvette knew what had happened to Inara and she had no qualms about using it against her if needed.

After everyone was full to the line, they gathered in the living room – which seemed more like a great hall to Mal. Jayne didn’t hesitate finding his place on the sofa as he sipped his beer while Kaylee, Simon and Zoe talked about River’s improvement. River enjoyed dancing to music only she could hear whereas Inara and her aunt went to get the rooms ready. So Mal was left alone, attracted by the wonderful view from the balcony, he decided to grab some fresh air. He never noticed Yvette following him.

“Good evening, Captain,” she said in an obviously seductive voice. She circled him as if he was her prey.

“Good evening, Yvette,” he said clearly uncomfortable with her closeness. His hand went instantly to his pistol. Never in the nine levels of hell would someone have thought that he was putting himself in disadvantage!

Seeing his hands at his sides, Yvette grabbed his shoulders and pressed her lips to his. His hands grabbed her shoulders, the violence with which he pushed her away took her off guard. His arms finally reaching their fullest possible extent he finally let go of him and wiped his mouth as if trying to rid himself of a vile taste.

“Whoa now!”

“I know you want this Malcolm Reynolds,” she said, letting her voice show just enough disappointment to make him think she wanted him for himself and not to destroy her cousin.

“I’m sorry but I don’t want anything from you.” His voice sounded irritated; as if he did not find her as attractive as that piece of trash.

“I bet you would be willing if I was Inara, wouldn’t you?” she snarled.

“T’ ain’t any of your darn business,” he said moving towards the entrance to the living room. He had almost reached it when she caught his arm

“She’s not worth the attention, Mal. She’s just a lucky know it all, a Chinese bobble head doll who always gets what she wants by batting her eyelashes.”

“You ain’t got no business, talkin’ about her like that. It’s my estimation that you’re expressing some long seething jealousy. Did she steal your toys when you were girls?” Mal hissed.

“You need someone who’s independent and doesn’t suffer from night terrors…someone who’s not damaged.”

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Meanwhile at the balcony entrance

Inara saw Yvette circling Mal and decided to see what was going on. Inara knew Yvette, she was up to something. She poured a glass of fruit juice and sipped it by the entrance of the balcony, behind a tall plant so that she would not be seen by Mal or Yvette.

Inara seethed inside as Yvette attacked Mal, but it made her heart skip seeing Mal’s reaction. Secretly she wished Mal had gone for his gun rather than a shove, oh well. Mal’s comment about her toys made her chirp, she stifled the laughter just in time and her presence remained unnoticed.

“You need someone who’s independent and doesn’t suffer from night terrors…someone who’s not damaged.”

Inara flinched as though someone had just slapped her; Yvette’s words had cut to the core. It was true, she was damaged. Inara covered her mouth with her hand so that the sob wouldn’t escape as she rushed down the halls to her room.

------------------------------------

“Inara damaged? That’s like a silver studded saddle that is just getting worn in enough to be comfortable.” Mal bristled at her insult of the greatest woman in the verse.

“Inara’s a good person whom bad things happened to; and if ya really want to know what I think about you, I’ll tell you. I heard that after the academy most of the girls pass the exam to enter the guild, with what the fancy core education an all… so I’m figurin’ you hafta be mighty stupid to go and eat the whole damn kitchen instead of studying and then blame someone else for your failure. It must have taken a lot of work to loose all that weight, did Inara send you a guild’s doctored diet? Sure as hell she didn’t need it…as they say, charity starts at home.” He smirked, putting contempt in his voice

Without a word, Yvette fled the room, crying.

“That went well,” he sighed before heading to Inara’s room.

-------------------

Mal’s heart felt as if it was stabbed with a knife when he heard the sobs; he thought she was having a nightmare. Mal knocked softly on the door and went in.

“Go away! No one gave you permission to come in!” Inara cried. He ignored her. “Just go…” she whimpered, softer this time. She looked so tired and hurt, Inara sat curled up in a small ball on the sofa bundled in an immaculate white comforter; her face buried in a cushion.

Mal started to approach her but she stopped him. “No! Go and be with her, you don’t have to answer to me it’s your life. . I know you don’t want anyone as broken as me.”

“Call me dumb, ‘Nara; but I can’t get my head around what you just said.”

“It’s ok Mal, it’s not the first time I’ve been passed over infavor of one more to your liking. You of all people should know that, no need to cover. I heard her.” She smiled bitterly.

“Heard who? say what?” Mal was thoroughly confused, much more so than normal.

“I heard Yvette saying that I’m damaged. I know you believe her. Mal, I’m not something fragile you need to protect from bad things!! You don’t need to pity me,” Inara yelled as tears ran down her cheeks. “I’m used to it, dealing with things alone that is. Go back to her. She’s waiting for you.”

“You thought I’d sleep with her?! Could cut me some slack,” he replied bitterly, understanding finally crossing his furrowed brow

“You slept with Nandi!” She threw back.

“Yes I did, and at that time you were telling me there was no chance in the ‘verse I could ever be with you. A man can’t withstand temptation when there’s no reason to do so darlin’.”

“You don’t have to answer to me, Mal.”

“I know but that don’t mean I don’t wanna.” He took a deep breath. “What do you mean by you’re used ta dealing with things alone, anyhow?”

“Nothing,” she sighed, and looked away from him.

“Don’t ‘nothing’ me ’Nara. Don’t’ push me away,” he pleaded softly.

A tear made its way down her cheek and that was all that Mal needed. He lifted her bundled form in his arms, and carried her to bed setting her in his lap; her head buried in his shoulder.

“This is not me, I’m not a crying person,” she cried softly. “This just isn’t me. Why do I have to feel so angry all the time?” she sobbed.

“This is you ‘Nara. People change, the you that exists after all the trauma that you’ve gone through is different than the you that existed before. There’s nothing bad about letting your emotions out. It’s actually a really good thing, not everyone is strong enough to let it out so soon like you’re doing. It’s best like this baobay, don’t let it fester,” he whispered in her hair and held her.

After she calmed down, she washed her face and returned to find Mal still sitting on the bed.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked.

“What did you mean when you said you’re used to deal with things alone?”

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Please tell me what do you think ^_^ A real BIIIIIG THANK YOU to my beta reader, desert-girl.