AN: I've had hints of Mal/Inara before and as there was something left from "Heart of Gold" that needed focus. So here's some shifting focus between Mal and Inara on her decision to leave Serenity.

AN2: I'm dedicating this chapter to my sister and my niece who was born just 6 hours ago.

*** Be strong ***

Mal was sitting on the bridge, thinking. Inara had finally announced her departure to the rest of the crew. Just waiting for it had been eating him up inside, it was somewhat a relief not to have to keep it quiet, hidden. But the relief didn't take away any of the gut wrenching pain. He was thinking about the moment Inara had told him she was leaving.

He had Nandi in mind as he realized how short and brutal life could be and that one should embrace whatever happiness one could find. Looking straight into her eyes he gathered the courage to finally let her know what just the mere presence of her in the room did to him.

- Inara, I ain't looking for anything from you. I'm just, uh, just feeling kind of truthsome right now. But, uh... Life is too damn short for ifs and maybes.

- I learned something from Nandi, Inara interupted him. - Not just from what happened, but from her. The family she made, the strength of her love for them. That's what kept them together. When you live with that kind of strength, you get tied to it, you can't break away. And you never want to.

He felt himself approaching her, her gaze was just hypnotic, reeling him in like a fish caught on a hook. But this fish didn't struggle one fidgement of a second.

- There's something... There's something I should have done a long while ago, she continued, being closer than ever. - And I'm sorry... for both of us... that it took me this long.

He felt as if there could be nothing stopping him from going in for that kiss. And then she said it.

- I'm leaving.

And for so long he had been waiting for her to finalizing it. He knew her to never say something without meaning it. So the thought of avoiding it, that wou