Their most recent munitions order fulfilled and delivered, Mal had told River to plot a course to Greenleaf and they were nearly there. They had a delivery to pick up for Kostova – not quite legal and definitely on the quiet. So quiet, that Mal did not know what the cargo was, which worried him more than a little. Bane had requested picking up parts for Monty’s next order and he had decided to get that done before they met up with the contact, as they might need to get away quick. Monty’s orders got larger each time, they did not know who he sold to, but the grenades and putty were much in demand. Mal was glad he had more standard and mostly legal work, although munitions was highly illegal, but it was regular. It made life a little more predictably safe, and unfortunately boring. They had all lived on their wits for so long, that when there was nothing to keep the adrenaline pumping, he felt there was something missing.

Mal had managed to find time to wave Inara. He had done some apologising and they had made up. Inara was keeping something from him though, but he could not get her to tell him what it was. Mal wished she would change her mind and return to Serenity . Whatever it was that kept her away from him; fear, complication, independence – he no longer believed the excuses. She may be able to handle not being with him for months on end, but he could not. He wondered if they had not finally succumbed to each other at Christmas his feelings would not be tearing him up like this. The idea of knowing her now in that way and not being with her was too much like being in limbo.

~ * ~

Over the last couple of weeks, Simon had seven failed attempts at asking Kaylee to marry him. Each time something had come up or they had been interrupted. Now, as he walked to the engine room, he was determined to get it right this time. No fancy dinner, no perfectly planned situations – just to come out with it. He smoothed his hair self consciously as he stepped into the engine room. He could only s