Inara found Mal in the cockpit that night, he appeared to be in a good mood so that help a little on what she was going to ask him.

"Mal?"she asked timidly

"Hey, ain't gone to sleep yet? Thought you'd be tired after the fair, he said remembering all the fun they had.

"Thanks for that by the way, I haven't had so much fun in a long time. What I wanted to tell you is, I recived a wave from my aunt invinting the crew for a vacation at her estate."

"Is she sure she want ta meet us? I mean, she don't even know us..."

"She actually invited you to tackle that problem" she smiled.

"Looks like we're going for a visit." he smiled.

--------------------------

A week later,Serenity landed gracefully on the private port of the Carlson estate, Mal was sitting in the co-pilot’s chair.

“Nice job, lil’ albatross.” he smiled.

“Aye, captain daddy” she singsonged as she got up to go and find Zoe.

--------------------

“Ready when you are.” Mal said as he offered his arm with a grin, Inara took with a smile of her own.

“Being a gentleman, Captain?” she teased.

“I’m always a gentleman!” he said in mock indignation, making her laugh. That sounded like Santa’s sleigh bells to a little boy on Christmas Eve.

They strolled down the ramp, the crew not far behind them “Oh, it’s so shiny we get ta see some of Inara’s family, ain’t it. They’d be fancy an’ all…” Kaylee mused as she descended the ramp arm-in-arm with Simon.

“I suppose they are.” Simon agreed noticing the large size of the private port, wondering how it would be right now at Osiris for a moment – it was his home before Serenity after all.

As soon as it touched she touched ground, Inara let go of Mal to be crushed in a rib-cracking embrace of her aunt. It was what she liked about her most, she was the only member of her family who was able to let go for a while.

After kissing both cheeks, Louise held her niece at arm’s length so that she could take a proper look at her, eyes sparkling with happ