“Look at me!” he shouted.

“Mal, please!” she snapped, so close to slapping him that she had to hold her arm rigid.

“Please what, darlin'?”

Please stop making this harder than it has to be. Please see that this will never work. Please don't let me go.

*~*

“Look at me,” he whispered.

“Mal, please,” she whimpered, so close to the edge of ecstasy that she didn’t know where she ended and he began.

“Please what, darlin'?”

Please go faster. Please slow down. Please don’t ever stop.

*~*

“Look at me,” he urged.

“Mal, please,” she gasped, so close to panic, so frightened at giving up everything that she’d worked for all her life that she couldn’t begin to fathom the choice she'd just made.

“Please what, darlin'?”

Please help me make this work. Please keep holding me. Please don’t ever die on me.

*~*

“Look at me,” he soothed.

“Mal, please,” she sniffed, so close to being overcome with joy that she could only grasp his hand and weep tears of happiness while she smiled at the small, squirming bundles they placed on her chest.

“Please what, darlin'?”

Please tell me they have all their fingers and toes. Please tell me they have your eyes. Please don’t stop reminding me that you were right all along, that everything we'd need to be happy we'd have - right here on Serenity.