As usual I didn’t make these characters I just get to play with them, all credit for creation goes to the Joss.

To Washie, thanks again for the Beta, could have done it without ya, your comments always bring a smile to me face. People this woman deserves a prize. CosmicFugitive it must be said thanks for the help that night I was bashing my head against a wall and ya helped out with a bit of Mal speak (I don’t care that you said I did all the work! It was still helpful man). Eric Sardinas must be thanked for the title, there’s a lot to be said for learning from a bluesman people. But enough chit chat.

Killin’ Time Blues.

Inara stepped down from her shuttle’s airlock and walked out into the ship's hold. She surveyed the somewhat shabby but all the same loved ship she now felt was more home than anywhere else. Sighing contently and humming a tune she remembered from when she was a child she headed for the ship's galley.

It was funny, she mused, how something as simple as being held by someone, or just spending a night cuddled up against them could cast such a radiant glow on life. It seemed that the whole of Serenity had been tinted two shades of brighter drab and rust. She smiled as she slipped into the galley like a finely perfumed rose in the stream of an ornamental garden.

Book was seated at the ship's dining table reading as he often pleased. He looked up to smile at Inara, but his expression flashed briefly to that of a far too knowing look.

"Fine day isn’t it."

"Mmmm…it does look that way." Inara smiled as she moved to the food lockers to fix herself some tea and perhaps a late breakfast.

"I trust that you found your silver lining Inara." Book smiled knowingly, closing his book. Inara smiled while dropping her gaze.

"Mmm… I think it found me more than anything."

"Humm…they often do. It's nice to know that in a universe this big solace can be found right under one's nose." Inara smiled at this, Book had a tendency to be a somewhat wily man at times and this didn’t surprise he