River had insisted Inara open her present last. Inara lifted the lid off the box to find a small painted daruma doll nestled in a sea of red tissue paper.

"Oh, River, it's lovely!"

River looked pleased.

"Filled in one eye for you."

Inara noticed that indeed, one eye of the doll had been carefully dotted in with black ink.

Kaylee piped up. "Sweetie, isn't Inara supposed to make the wish?"

River looked very smug. "Knew what she's been wishing for."

Inara smiled. "Well, we'll see if it does."

Jayne shook his head. "I ain't bettin' 'gainst the moonbrain. Learned my lesson when I ended up doin' all her chores from the last tall card game we played."

When the party was all over, Inara and Mal stayed to clean up. She had just put the leftover cake away and turned around to find Mal standing far too close to her.

"Mal, you surprised me!"

"Hope ya enjoyed the little celebration. We need a bit of happiness here on this boat, after..."

"Yes...it was lovely. Especially now."

Mal looked a bit embarrassed but was not about to let the moment slip.

"Seems to me we forgot one very important tradition, darlin'."

Inara paled. "Not the birthday spanking, Mal. You can't be serious..."

He smirked at her. "Pinch to grow an inch, Miss Serra."

"Please. Anything but that..."

Mal leaned in, effectively pinning her against the refrigerator.

"Anything?" He drew out the word, whispering against her cheek.

"Mal, I..."

"Make ya a deal. One birthday kiss in exchange for a spanking." Breathing the words along her skin...

Inara knew a good deal when she saw one.

****

Several hours later, after it was all over and a sated Mal was gently snoring in her bed, Inara sat at her dresser, a satisfied look on her face as she brushed her hair.

She glanced down and noticed the daruma doll.

The second eye was very carefully inked in to match the first.