Rating: PG

Characters: Mal/Inara

Disclaimer: It all belongs to Joss, I just want them to love each other

Timeframe: Takes place 2 days before the MOVIE begins

http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=13385>Part 5 - Heartbound

Something’s Gotta Give: Part - 6 -Fragrance And Memories

By

Lattelady

Serenity had left Haven, the moon the Shepherd was callin home for a spell, fourteen hours earlier. It was their third visit in five weeks. The minin’ community had become almost a regular run, haulin’ ore out and bringin’ back goods that the families needed, but that was gonna stop for a while. It was back to bein’ bad guys, Fanty and Mingo had offered them a more lucrative, though less legal, job.

“Gorramnit, I wish the holy man’d mind his own business,” Mal Reynolds mumbled as he climbed the ladder from his bunk. In the last week he’d finally been able to pass the night without havin’ dreams ‘bout ‘Nara. Thanks to Book, and his conniving she was back fillin’ his sleepin hours.

The previous night, over a large bottle of alcohol, the Shepherd had gotten the Captain to commit to Haven’s Christmas celebration. Then the holy man had had the nerve to tell him that Inara would be there too, ‘and oh by the way, would Serenity please provide transpo for her’.

Mal wasn’t sure where he was headed as he stomped through his sleepin’ ship, until he found himself at the door to ‘Nara’s old shuttle. Acting on instinct, he quickly entered and shouldered the small trunk she’d left behind. It had been sittin’ there enticin’ him ever since Kaylee had discovered it weeks earlier. If he couldn’t purge the woman from his thoughts he’d damn well purge her belongin’s from his ship. But he hadn’t taken more’n two steps before he realized that there was no power in the ‘verse that could make him toss the thing out the airlock.

“Tamade!” he cried out as he dropped the trunk and gave it a swift kick. It slid across the deck and bounced against