“Can I come in?”

Inara looked up from where she was writing, covering it over quickly with a clean sheet of paper. “Of course.”

Zoe ducked inside and sat down. “I wondered if I could ask your advice.”

“You?” Inara couldn’t stop the slight cough of laughter. “I thought you never took advice from anyone.”

“I don’t,” Zoe confirmed. “Unless I ask for it.”

“And you’re asking me?”

“It’s about … Hank.”

“Ah.” Inara busied herself for a moment putting her pens away.

“Is that all you’ve got to say?”

“Is there more?”

“Inara …”

The Companion smiled at looked at the other woman. “What do you want to ask about?”

“I’ve … that is I’m …” Zoe stopped.

“This is a first. You lost for words.”

“I'm not lost. In fact, if anything there’s too many.”

“Let me try and help. You’re getting closer to Hank and you want to know if I think it’s a good idea. Right?”

“Sort of.”

“Sort of?”

“Actually I was wondering whether you thought we should have sex.”

“I presume you’re talking about you and Hank.”

“I wasn't meaning me and Jayne.”

“Really? I always thought you’d make such a handsome couple.”

Zoe stood up. “If that’s all the help I’m gonna get –“

Inara took hold of the first mate’s arm and pulled her back down. “I'm sorry. It’s just … you always seemed so sure of yourself.”

“Not this time.”

“What’s changed?”

“I’m … He’s …” She stopped.

“Ah. That much.”

“I just don’t know where I stand with him.”

“He cares about you.”

“And I … he’s okay.” She couldn’t say it, not yet. Not to anyone, not even the phantom of Wash who appeared in her dreams. And he’d been most insistent.

“Just okay?”

“Least I'm not threatening to shoot him anymore.”

“Have you kissed again?”

Zoe glared at her, then her look softened. “River told you.”

“She might have mentioned seeing you two in the galley a few nights ago.”

“So I guess everyone knows?”

“No.” Inara shook her head, smoothing her dress. “She only told me because she said she was going to