Saturday's Child

When Malcolm Reynolds was born his mamma looked down into the big blue eyes of her newborn boy and smiled. Knowing that he would grow up big and strong like his pa had been. Knowing that he would always be smiling just like his pa had. Knowing that he would always work hard just like his pa had. Knowing that he would have the strength of his belief just like his pa.

The first day Zoe met Mal she was at her first meal in the mess-hall just days after training started. There he sat at a table full of men and women, mostly volunteers, regaling them with tales of his life back on Shadow. Zoe knew that this reckless man had worked hard throughout his life, it showed in his broad shoulders and worn hands but not in his eyes- they held a light and a warmth that Zoe and the rest of his troops looked to when they needed strength. After the war that light dulled, it hadn't disappeared but Zoe Washbourne knew that the war had killed the precious belief he had held in his eyes. Now they showed the telltale signs of the hard work his youth and the war had pressed onto his shoulders. The only time they truly shone with that first light was when things were running smooth with Serenity which for Mal meant a happy crew and with everyones bellies full and wallets flush with cash.

** 6 MONTHS AFTER MIRANDA**

Inara watched Mal over her dinner. The man was infuriating beyond words. He kept everything to himself, he worked himself in to the ground for this crew, he is so insensitive and had no idea of civilised conversation- always accusing her of using 'feminine wiles'. She understood times were hard after Miranda, everyone was scared of the Alliance and jobs were becoming scarcer. Something however had changed in Captain Malcolm Reynolds. Something that Inara and the rest of the crew had notices. His eyes showed it. They shone- with a new light and a rekindled belief- it seemed as if the Shepherd's words had finally sunk in. Yes she still had to sit back and watch Mal work himself to exhaustion, but at least for once she could see he was happy while doing it.