Big Blue Chapter 4

Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. (Except for Allan. He's mine) I’m just playing. No money being made.

This story takes place almost three years after Serenity (BDM) and has the established couples of Simon/Kaylee, Mal/Inara, Zoë/Allan and Jayne/River. Follows immediately after Out to the Blue.

A/N: Kinda fluffy.... but ya know... it is a holiday story.

Thanks again Chris for the Beta.

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Big Blue

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Chapter Four – Yuletide

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“Bao-bei?” Mal asked Inara as she cuddled in his lap.

“Mmm?” Inara mumbled as she gazed out at the stars. Mal and Inara were having another starlit picnic on the bridge.

“When were you gonna tell me about the baby?”

“After the funeral,” she replied, “I had just found out myself that morning. The confrontation with my mother ruined the plan”

“So doc knew?”

“Not even Simon.”

“Then...

“Mal... home pregnancy test's have been available for hundreds of years.”

“Oh.”

Inara giggled and snuggled in closer, “This will mean some changes.”

“I know,” Mal admitted, “Gotta get Kaylee busy on baby proofin the ship.”

“We do have about eight months before the baby comes. And nearly a year before we need to worry about any mischief from our child.”

Mal chuckled, “Bein our kid, mischief sounds bought' right.”

“Do you think the ship is the right environment to raise a child?” Inara asked.

“Zoë an Alisha turned out pretty well for growing up on a ship.”

“Oh yes, they both can both part a man's hair with a rifle at one hundred yards,” Inara said dryly.

“Zoë's closer to two hundred but Alisha's getting better...”

“You...”

“Relax, Bao-bei,” Mal chuckled, “We can make it work.”

“Yes we will.”

“Ya know,” Mal mused, “I always figured Simon and Kaylee'd be the first ones on this boat to have a youngin... not us. Seem to practice enough.”

“I thought that as well. Especially the practice part,” Inara giggled.

“That mean we can't still practice?”

“We can practice until I'm too fat to do