River giggled to herself as she flew Serenity. She had a secret! And what a big one it was!!! But, then, she usually had several secrets floating around her head. But, still, this was a big secret!

Of course, Simon had a rather large secret, too, hidden in his pocket. But, this one was Simon and Kaylee's secret! And, it was in Kaylee right now! Growing, by the hour gaining size to it. She couldn't tell what it was yet. That was only a few days off.

She languidly flew Serenity toward Persephone. It hung in front of her, a majestic jewel in the vasty nothingness that was most of the 'verse. Mal had been waved by Badger, who finally had a job for them. HAH!!! Probably had been screwing up his courage to ask for the "Great Hero's" and the "Evil Liars" that they were known as, depending on who you believed. Namely, the Parliament or the average Joe who had heard the Miranida wave. Well, it was an offer he couldn't refuse. It was the first job they had had since Chang. And Ptah. And Billy...

NO!!!! She couldn't let her thoughts stray to that! If she did, her grief would overwhelm her. Instead, she focoused on the two events that were of intrest to her. One was Cassandra, going into her room. Where her and Kaylee's little 'gift' for that hwoon-danh. Nothing much, just a little oil from a busted line, set off by a pressure tap on the ladder. She grinned to herself. Okay, a lot of oil!

The other was Mal. Knocking on Inara's shuttle door. He didn't intend for it to happen. But nothing ever goes according to plan!!!

***

She heard a knock on her shuttle door, and said, "come in!" out of habit. Nothing strange about that, it was probably Kaylee come to speak about some new conquest with Simon. Or, on the other end of the spectrum, her nefarious revenge on Cassandra.

So, when Mal came in and just stood there, staring at her...was that... shyly !!! Yes, it was. So, mister confidence his own self was feeling a mite shy aro