Our story so far-

Lola is River's twin, and Elphaba (Elphie) is the Tam's half sister. Elphie's mother was Lola's surrogate.

Elphie is thirteen and Lola is a few months younger than River...

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Inara was waiting in the kitchen for Mal when Jayne stomped through, giving her a significant glance.

“What?” she asked, miffed.

“I kinda need your help,” he growled. “What am I sposed to say to River ‘bout all this?”

“You could start by asking how she feels about it,” Inara responded hesitantly. She hadn’t ever talked to Jayne alone before, and she was silently looking for an easy out.

“Then?”

“Just let her talk about how she feels about this. Don’t you two talk?”

“We talk ‘bout guns, an’ about how to kill people, or how to injure people, and sometimes we talk about other stuff….But this is different. She has a clone…as in, her exact looks an’ everything…..Hell, I’d be needin’ someone to talk to,” Jayne said. Inara eyed him with wonder.

“Just let her talk, and listen….She’ll know if you don’t,” warned Inara. “And not just because she’s psychic- girls are born knowing when someone isn’t listening.”

Jayne muttered a thanks and ambled to his bunk.

“Givin’ advice to my mercenary?” Mal asked.

“Maybe. Kaylee wants me to do her hair, so I’ll make this quick- I might be behind on the rent for awhile,” Inara informed him.

“Why? You don’t even know where we’re goin’ yet,” Mal pointed out, bewildered. “You can get a job on Persephone, can’t you?”

“I won’t be getting any jobs, Mal. The Guild has….Well, I’m being retired. I could always whore myself, then you’d be right about something,” Inara explained bitterly.

“Whoa, now, ‘Nara, why’d you get fired?” Mal grabbed her shoulders gently.

“Because, first of all, my part in the whole Miranda ordeal did not win me any favors. Mal, the Alliance has put a black mark on me. The Guild has no choice,” Inara replied, tears threatening to escape. “So I might be looking for work, but I can’t leave Serenity, Mal, not again.”

“Yo