Life’s Too Short- Part Twenty-Eight

AN: Sorry this is late; I just got back from camping in the mountains! (Beautiful weather.)

Disclaimer: In case you somehow failed to notice, this is fiction based on Firefly, and none of the main characters/places are mine. Duh.

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Strawberries. That was the first thing Kaylee noticed upon entering the suite Inara had arranged for them. There was a bowl of fresh strawberries sitting on the table directly to the right of the door. Immediately, she felt bad that she was lusting after fruit when her boyf- her FIANCE!!! was out risking his life, but- strawberries! Inara watched with a tiny smile as Kaylee sucked her lower lip into her mouth and gnawed on it, eying the bowl of berries. She nudged the suite door shut with her heel and edged past Kaylee to place her bags in the bedroom to the right.

“Go ahead,” she called over her shoulder. “Bring them in here. We don’t have anything to do tonight except lay low while the crew goes after that Tremain person.” Kaylee made a split decision and managed to wedge the bowl of strawberries under her elbow and carry her own bags into Inara’s room.

The two women sat down on Inara’s bed and looked around. The room was done in soft, tasteful browns and beiges, with a few touches of crimson in the lampshades and blankets that brought out the edges of objects beautifully. The bed itself was large, soft and comfortable. There were two thick pillows propped up at the head, and the sheets were warm and smooth. The floor was not carpeted, but the varnished wood was covered by several plush rugs with simple patterns of geometric figures. The curtains matched the rugs, and through the crack in them, the skyscape was visible. Inara had clearly spared no expense. There was also a desk equipped with Cortex, blank captures and, oddly enough, pens and paper. The chair accompanying the desk looked comfortable. There were two paintings on the walls, and Kaylee thought that they were real! One was of a sunset over an ocean, the brill