They were tangled together.

A quilt covering their lower halves, facing one another. Fiyero's arms were wrapped around River, feet linked with her own as he slept off the exhaustion of love making as well as weeks of heartache brought from being apart.

River was not nearly as tired, but lay with him, kissing what she could, relishing his presence. He looked peaceful, and his mind was content as he snored softly. Wiggling out of his grasp, she sat up.

He groaned.

"Shhh." River kissed his lips as his arms found her waist and hooked around it.

"Where' you goin'?" He asked sleepily, eyes clothed for the most part.

"Need to get up." She petted his chest, then pressed her mouth upon a pectoral. "You need to rest."

"Wanna rest with you." He tugged her back down, and then proceeded to snuggle up against her.

River, far too happy to protest, kissed him from mouth to collarbone, and cuddled in as it appeased herself as well.

If only until he fell back asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shan-shan had come out of hiding.

She was with Inara, underfoot as Inara was going through their dwindling food supply and making a list of what they had and what they were going to need, quickly.

Inara, jotting down a bag of rice was in order, suddenly felt a broad head nudge her back. "Shan-shan."

There was a happy chuff as the tiger nuzzled the crouched woman. Nosing her arm until her head wedged under the arm.

"I see you." Inara scratched the bridge of the nose, then pushed Shan-shan back, only to have a large paw bump her elbow.

"Are we running out of food?"

Turning, looking up, there was the Operative.

"I have some money for food and supplies if needed." He told her. "It's the least I can do to show my gratitude towards your hospitality."

"We may have to accept that offer..." She paused, preparing to say his name, yet remembering there was no name to say. "Um... what's your name?"

"I fear I have none."

Shan-shan sniffed his shoes, then with a flick of her tail ramm