Disclaimer: Joss is the Boss and he owns all.

My apologies for the long absence, I haven't had much time to get on lately. Here is the next chapter, I hope everyone enjoys it.

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~~~Previously~~~ River and Mal accepted the mutual feelings they had for each other. Inara discovers this and is infuriated. Mal confronts Inara only to tell her he's staying with River, because "Love is a leap, Inara, and you have to jump without takin' time to look." River tells Simon, Simon gets angry. River explains that she's her own person and can make her own decisions. Mal goes to Simon to explain and take a few punches. Simon realizes he can't control everything River does and accepts this. The crew gets a job from Badger.~~~

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The woman didn't reply. Instead, she drew her gun and pointed it at Mal. "No thank you, Mr. Ramsey." she said, "I think I'll just skip right to dessert."

Bang! The air was filled with shrieks and gunsmoke.

---One Week Ago---

Day 1

Mal stood in the cargo hold, tapping his foot impatiently. Women. They were never ready when you needed them to be and always ready when you didn't want them to be.

He glanced over at Simon, who gave him the same look. Women.

They had been getting along pretty well these past couple of weeks. As well as they had been before anyway. Simon never brought up River, and Mal didn't push it. Simon would come to grips with it in his own time, all Mal could do was let him.

Mal sighed and stepped over to the comms device. "Kaylee! River!" he shouted into the device, "If you ain't down here in thirty seconds-"

"Quit yer yellin'." Kaylee said, appearring in a doorway to the catwalk, River right behind her.

Mal and Simon just stared at the two women. They were absolutely gorgeous in the evening gowns Badger had supplied them with. Kaylee's was pink with white lace, while River's was silver with a black flowered design running up one side.

Mal came back to his senses, "About time!" he replied, "Been waitin' fer fifte