Mal awoke to the sound of the crew moving about to start the day on Serenity. Stretching muscles pleasantly abused by his evening of passion with Inara, he smiled at the memory. There were certain advantages to sharing a bed with a former Companion, he mused, for once not letting his disdain for the profession sour the thought.

Opening one eye to check the chronometer, he was startled to see Inara still curled up under his covers, dead to the world around her. “’Nara,” he said, nudging her with his leg. “’Nara, darlin’, it’s past time to get up.”

Inara mumbled incoherently and pulled the sheet up over her head. Mal peeled it back gently, and leaned forward to kiss her. “Come on, sleepyhead,” he whispered against her ear. “Time to get up.”

Drawing a deep breath, Inara opened her eyes and smiled lazily. ‘What’s the hurry?” she asked, stretching like a well-satisfied cat.

“Crew’s already up and about,” Mal replied calmly.

Inara jumped out of the bed, frantically searching for her clothes. “Mal,” she said, exasperated. ‘Why didn’t you wake me before?”

“Only just woke up two minutes ago myself,” Mal replied. Giving her a lop-sided grin, he added, “Guess I was all tuckered out from last night.” He ducked as Inara’s slipper sailed past his head. “Whoa now, no need to get all tetchy,” he said.

Inara gave him a look halfway between anxious and annoyed. “I thought we were going to keep our relationship a secret for now,” she said, brushing a trembling hand through her tangled hair.

“I thought so too, darlin’,” he said, discerning she was more nervous than angry. “But I overslept, plain and simple. And so did you.” He padded over to her and took her into his arms. “Ain’t the worst thing in the ‘verse to have to admit to beddin’ me, is it?”

Inara leaned into the embrace, relaxing into the warmth of it. “Of course not,” she said, sighing. “It’s just that so many things have changed so suddenly. I suppose I’m just a little dizzy from the spin.”

Mal chuckled lightly. “Now you