Mal wasn't sure whether or not Inara would be in his bunk, but as he lightly tapped on the door before he entered, he heard no-one there. As he climbed down the ladder though, he noticed her asleep, curled into his pillow. He smiled at the sight, it pulled his heart strings to see her so comfortable in his surroundings. He watched her sleep for a little longer, before going to his wardrobe and pulling out a clean shirt as per River's orders.

Inara woke up with Mal's naked back facing her, and wasn't sure whether or not she was still sleeping or was awake. She gingerly sat up, not making any noise just in case she was awake, and continued to view his form as he grabbed a shirt from the wardrobe. She gasped as he turned around, realising that she was indeed awake and he was indeed half naked in front of her. There was something about him that always made her as giddy as a schoolgirl, even though when she had actually been one, giddy was never a feeling she had ever felt.

"Ummm...ah...Inara! You're awake. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have intruded..."Mal stammered out, feeling awkward as hell being caught in this situation.

"Mal, please" Inara answered; glad her voice didn't convey her shaky feelings at his state of dress. "This is your bunk, you have a right to come in and dress..." The statement fell from her lips, as she lost her track of thought.

“Inara, I gave you use of my bunk coz it’s a damn sight more comfortable than those ‘guest apartments’. That means, you treat it as your own. So, if’n you don’t want me in here, you tell me so. It also means that if’n you wanna put another blanket on the bed, change the linen, put up some o’ Kaylee’s fairy lights to lighten the place go ahead. My only problem is the incense; I don’t wanna be sneezin’ for weeks afterward.”

She smiled at his mention of her incense, realising he didn’t know about her small stash in the case beside the bed. She looked up at him standing there, his shirt still in his hands.

Mal looked down at Inara sitting on his bed, looking up at him. He