“I’m glad you ordered the crew to stay on board,” said Inara, as they walked down one of the many corridors of the Training House. “I don’t think I could have coped with them all milling around while we tried to say goodbye.” Mal could see that Inara was getting some strange looks from people. He smirked to himself.

“Looks like you’ll have some explaining to do after I go as well.” They reached her rooms. Mal had been there once before, when Inara had left the first time.” Inside it was neat and airy with material draped everywhere, and it was another world. Inara closed the door and locked it. Normally she had an open door to anyone, but not today. She ran into another room leaving Mal on his own, leaving him to briefly inspect his surroundings before following her to the door she had gone out of. She rushed back in almost bumping into him, having changed into a dark red silk robe.

“It feels so good to be in my clothes again,” she exclaimed, and then put her arms around Mal’s waist. He did not feel as comfortable in these surroundings as on Serenity . He shook off the brief feeling of frustration and looked down at her lovely face, realising that it could be months before they saw each other again. He had to say what they were both thinking.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” he said quietly. Before Inara could get angry at him he continued. “I don’t mean this ,” he emphasised. “I mean it could be months before I get a chance to get back here.” Inara’s shoulders un-tensed, only slightly.

“There’s not much of an alternative for us at this time.”

“But haven’t you liked it this last couple of weeks?” said Mal. Inara pulled away from his arms and sat down on a cushion.

“Mal. The last couple of weeks have been a dream. We both knew that sooner or later we would have to get back to the reality of our own lives.”

“It could work, Inara,” said Mal earnestly. “You know it could.”

“No, it couldn’t. It would possible for a while, but you have a family of crew to support and I can’t