Lazarus hadn’t changed in the few weeks since they’d been by. The grass was maybe a little yellower, and the heat a little stronger, but the apples were still hanging from the trees, and the water in the lake looked cool and inviting. But as the crew headed towards the house, they were more than a little surprised.

“I can’t believe how much they’ve done,” Inara said, looking up at the scaffolding and the new roof.

“Can’t say I think any of this is legal,” Mal commented. “Prob’ly came off an Alliance site, knowing Monty.”

“Are you suggesting I'm going to have Federal officers coming around demanding their goods back?” Her eyes twinkled.

“Just keep a shotgun handy inside the front door.” He grinned at her, all the awkwardness gone. Their conversation, the one with the kiss, seemed to have cleared the air amazingly between them. “Nah, shouldn’t think so. It’s probably been through so many hands even Monty ain't sure where it’s from.”

“It looks very fine, though.” Inara shook her head. “If the rest of the house is as good, I’ll be able to move in straight away.”

“Thought that was the plan anyways.”

“It is. But if they hadn’t … well, I was going to ask if I could borrow my shuttle for a few more weeks.”

“Woman, you take the cake, you do. You decide to run off on your lonesome to play at being lady of the manor, and still expect me to loan you my shuttle. My shuttle, I’ll have you note.”

She didn’t get angry. He wasn't being truly obnoxious, just pretending. “I won’t be on my lonesome. I've got a housekeeper and her husband moving in tomorrow. And I can pay for the use of the shuttle.”

“I could have someone lined up to take it,” Mal pointed out, no heat in his words.

“Oh? Would this be the same surveyor and his wife who you dangled in front of me when I first took you on?”

“Took me on?”

“You were hard work, Mal.”

“You gypped me out of a quarter of the rental.”

She smiled. “So I did.”

Kaylee strolled up behind them. “You’re not supposed to