Mal was sleeping peacefully when he felt his wife trashing on their bed, hair dark locks damp with sweat. He managed to get hold of her slender shoulders and shook her a bit.

“’Nara, honey, wake up. It’s just a mare… wake up baobei.”

Inara sprang up in her husband’s arms to meet his eyes which calmed her and threw herself, sobbing in to his chest. When the sobs reduced to whimpers and hiccups, he lifted her chin enough for her to meet his stir, blue eyes.

“I’m sorry-” she whimpered

“Whoa, now. There’s nothing you should be sorry for… What’s da matter, gorgeous?”

“You were shot!” she sobbed her fear out; it wrenched his heart, seeing her like that “You left me and I didn’t know what to do – I don’t know what I’d do without you Mal!”

“I promise you, baby. You’ll never find out ‘cause I plan to be here a damn long while… You’re stuck with this mean ol’ man, cupcake.” He grinned

She gave him a watery smile “Shut up, you’re talking about my husband!”

Sensing all the commotion, baby Naomi decided to make herself known by giving a small squeak and raising her tiny fists

“I got her.” Said Mal, by the time he reached the crib, Naomi was crying.

Before Inara could say a word, he was holding their daughter. Rubbing her fragile back across the soft material of her baby grow, he brought her to the bed and handed her to her mother before snuggling up behind them and kissing his wife’s cheek. She loved him for who he was and managed make her life turn around him and their daughter in the most lovingly possible way, she let him in her heart and showed him the vulnerable parts in her because she trusted him and he couldn’t believe he’d gotten himself so darn lucky.

She was his home. He thought as he caressed his daughter’s small head.

Inara cradled her almost 8 months old daughter until she calmed down. It was incredible how the little creature sensed all of her emotions, she wasn’t sure it was just a mother-baby thing but it sure was special.

Naomi gurgled and began to search her mother