Disclaimers : Everything belongs to Joss, except for one character of my creation.

**Mousing over the Chinese should reveal the English translations on most browsers. If not, translations follow the story.

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When Mal had awakened that morning staring at the ceiling of a strange room, it took him a moment to recollect where he was and why he was there. Then he remembered the events of the night before; the emotional and soul-baring conversation with Alex in the infirmary, which had culminated in their lovemaking.

A right pleasuresome end to the evening, he thought with a slight smile, turning to look at her sleeping form next to him. She was on her stomach, sprawled across the bed, still dead to the world. He looked at the time. It was still early; best he get up and around before the crew caught him coming out of the wrong end of the ship. That could surely lead to some awkwardness at the breakfast table.

He rose quietly and slipped into his trousers without disturbing her. He felt, physically and emotionally, better than he had since—well, since he could recall, frankly. The only regret he could come up with at that moment was biting her in the heat of passion. Truthfully, he could not remember doing that at all—but, then, he had been slightly preoccupied at the time.

The second regret came to him a moment later when he couldn’t find his shirt. He began tossing things about, expecting he’d unearth it any time. Then he remembered.

It was in the infirmary.

Oh, gorramit! he thought, heading for the door. It was at that moment he heard voices outside.

“ Ta ma duh !” he muttered, feeling suddenly trapped.

“I tried my best to do that already,” came the sleepy murmur from the bed.

He turned to see Alex awake, propped up on her elbows and smiling at him. “Trying to sneak out on me?”

He walked back and sat down beside her.

“Was tryin’