One Further Addendum- part 2

-Your what now?

-You heard me.

“#Just when you think you know someone.#' Shaking his head, Mal is all sorts of confused, betrayed and plain pissed. 'I just think it's pretty weird that you've never mentioned having a daughter before-”

-Before what, Mal? Before we started going out? Before we became lovers? Or before we got married? Since when were you or anyone on this crew owed that part of my life?

Evidently, that was the wrong thing to say. Inara could sense Mal withdrawing again. He started typing coordinates for the training house and mumbled something about an ETA in 6 hours. This needs to be done carefully. She got up and approached his chair slowly, perched herself on a flat area of his control panel and waited for his attention. She made sure she was closer to the door than he was, ready to block any attempt at escape. Only in resignation did he turn his chair to face her. Knees just touching her own. ”You're right. I ain't your lover, boyfriend or husband. You don't owe me anything. I'm sure you have your reasons for keeping this to yourself.”

Inara reached out to take his hand. Pressed it briefly in gratitude.

-Was this what you meant by 'being good'?

-Precisely.

Inara made herself more comfortable on her seat. She would have to start at the beginning of a long story.

*************************************************

Just before the Parliament declared war on the Independents, the Guild in Sihnon did a stupid thing. It allied itself outright with Parliament and ordered all companions to take Alliance officers and business partners as priority clients. Some houses went so far as to pair companions with certain military brass in order to retain some political clout when the war got underway. House Madrassa led in the matchmaking of course, much to the disgust of most of the companions there. We not only felt our basic right to practice freely undermined, but more importantly, we objected to being treated as whores by our own Guild.