Thanks again to Washie who was so helpful in beataing this one…Lindas still rasing hell hun. Also much thanks must be given to Eric Sardinas for the title, that man is god…if god had a peace of bronze pipe fixed to his fourth finger on his left hand and played slide really, really loud.

Final thanks to Joss for creating these characters, so I could have my way with them. Please done sue me, because I just came up with the story line, not the other stuff.

Bittersweet

Kaylee had sat with Inara on one of her fine couches for the better part of two hours, just holding the older woman. Inara had been worried, saddened, hurt and confused about their meeting with her old friend and the somewhat icy Monica. Inara had spent much of her time apologising to her lover, feeling guilty for not allowing her to show support for her in public, Inara had also explained why she hadn’t allowed Kaylee to do this.

"I’m so sorry Kaylee, I…it…it's awkward…perhaps part of the reason for why I worried when we first spoke our feelings to each other…" Inara looked away from Kaylee, who promptly cupped the companion's chin and gently turned her head toward her.

" 'Nara…shuu. I told you I would always be here for ya’, sure I was a little er…well down-some when it happened, but I know companions have their rules. I well…I just want ya’ to know I’ll always be here bao bai, whether were allowed to be us or not…" Kaylee smiled, a warm accepting smile that radiated nothing but love. Inara felt her anxiety at the prior run in with the other two companions recede a little, she slid forward on the couch and wrapped herself in Kaylee who waited with arms open.

"I feel I should have told you about these things much earlier…I’m sorry, I guess I hadn’t wanted this time with you marred by the confines of my profession…" Kaylee pulled Inara tighter to her, sighing. Time stood like air in a forgotten tomb.

"So…um the thing with Kyuss…" Kaylee felt like she had just put a needle in her arm, an unwitting volunteer to giving blood. She c