Chapter 11

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It takes Serenity almost a week to reach Persephone. In that time things changed, although most of the crew wasn't even aware of it. Kaylee and River snuck off to be together whenever possible. The mechanic having yet to take Rivers virginity, wanting the moment to be special, and not some rushed, heated, secret moment somewhere on board Serenity. The ever stubborn younger woman sulked a bit over this, but for now seemed satisfied with the heated make out sessions when they could slip away long enough.

The most common meeting place down in Kaylee's bunk, where she now kept her door locked after a near miss from Captain looking for Kaylee to fix the intercom system. And on occasion, Inara's shuttle. Not all decked out like it is for when she has clients, but it was still a nice little get away and a change from the small bunk or the clutter of the engine room.

Inara was more then glad to give the young lovers her quarters when they needed it and she could spare the time. She loved young love, so passionate, so intense. That feeling that you always wanted to be together. And she knew it was hard on the girls since they had to keep their relationship a secret for moment. When she knew they wanted to shout it from one end of the 'Verse to the other that they'd found love in one another. So, she was happy they could depend on her for a bit of freedom at least in the form of her shuttle. And of course, a willing and waiting ear for when one wanted to gush about the other while the other was away, or working.

Mal was a brooding as ever, still trying to think of how to approach Simon about the whole 'we want you to break us into the academy' plan. Avoid the topic at the table whenever they ate, not wanting to let on they weren't going to be fishing for info as they usually did, through the usual channels. Though he had been noticing something odd about the good doctor lately. He kept seeing him and Saffron talking quietly. Not plotting