The Return Home – Part 9

Serenity had left Hera with a lot accomplished in the short time they had been there. Kaylee had repaired the ship, Jayne had had himself a little bit of fun, and Mal and Zoe had laid some of their past behind them as they had once more visited to Serenity Valley, for the last time each silently promised themselves. Mal had also finally offloaded those guns that had been a sure fire way to a hangman’s noose and he even had hopes for some profit if Badger and his cousin didn’t cheat him too much. Mal really didn’t care and that was a sign that his heart wasn’t in this business anymore.

He had led the crew into dangerous waters on Persephone and took a risk coming to Hera just to restore his and his ship’s reputation and now he was thinking of giving it all up to settle with Inara on Shadow and become a rancher again. A lot had happened in a week and he and Inara were making big plans and maybe they wouldn’t even last together. Naw, he thought, that’s foolish cause we’re both head over heels for each other. And God, she sure knew how to treat a man right in bed. Mal had never been much for tasting the wares of many women, preferring the company of one he truly cared about or none at all. Women complicated things, set your head to spinning and made you do all kinds of foolishness. He and the rest of the crew had watched Simon trip all over himself every time Kaylee was nearby and it got kinda sad at the end, poor Doc not knowing if he was coming or going he was so in love with Kaylee. Mal was glad they were together and was happier for Kaylee than he could ever find words to express to her.

Jayne’s way was the easy way, pay and leave before the bed gets too comfortable, but Mal wasn’t into truckin’ with whores either. Ha, that was a joke, too. He’d bedded Nandi and his was in love with a Companion! Of course, Nandi had been there and willing and she was just too damn fine a woman to refuse and it had been a long time since anyone had taken hold of his plow and no man in his right