This is my first Serenity/Firefly/Mal/Inara fanfic.

A glossary for the Chinese used in the story will be found at the end of each chapter.

Enjoy and review please!

Chapter 1

Captain Malcolm Reynolds tossed onto his back, huffed out a curse of frustration and flung his arm across his forehead. "Go se, go se, go se!" he mumbled. He couldn't sleep. That wasn't anything new. These days, sleep was elusive, his dreamin' of Inara - frequent.

The Ambassador had left the crew of Serenity more than seven months ago, she had left Kaylee with her precocious nature, Simon and River who had come to love and depend on her, Jayne who... well, Jayne... and even the Preacher who was on more'n one occasion likin' to bend the Companion's ear with his troubles - she had left them all. She had walked away from the crew, her friends… from Mal. A bitter pill to swallow.

Mal took a moment to replay their torrid history. The memories he dreamt about constantly. They also occupied his waking thoughts, even when there was other business underfoot. Thievin', runnin' from Alliance patrols, an honest job, a not-so-honest caper, nothing kept her far from his thoughts – a fact he found more'n a little irritating.

Inara Serra had joined the crew of Serenity more than two years ago now. She had regally sauntered in like the Ambassador Mal sometimes called her, and she had stormed his life. Never one to admit things, even to himself, Mal had to concede that she had been the freshest breath of air he had encountered after many years of breathing nothing but the stench of galactic depravity.

Initially maintaining a cool distance from the crew, she soon became a part of their makeshift family. On occasion, an honest-to-God part of a heist. Mal smiled. She never seemed to like when that happened, but even the trained companion couldn't hide the flush of excitement when the job was about to go down.

But she had left. And deep down, he had to have known it would happen sooner or later. A woman of her talents and her beauty would never be happy settlin' for the outer rims, at least not forever. And while Inara kept her reasons for being onboard Serenity entirely her own, like everyone else there, she was runnin' from somethin', somethin' Mal figured was her business entirely. That didn't mean he wasn't curious! Guai, he was more'n a little curious. But he reckoned it was her secret to share. And see'in as they wont be see'in each other – well ever again – he best put those thoughts from his mind.

But he had been about to tell her. Wo De Tian A, he had been about to confess the stirrings in his heart. But she had shot him down the night they had left the rock where Nandi had died. And call it pride or stubbornness; Malcolm Reynolds had not been about to beg. And so he had let her go.

Two weeks after Nandi had passed, Inara left Serenity. And they hadn't even needed to go outta of their way. Badger had a job on Persephone, Inara decided to take her leave. There had been tears from Kaylee – and Wash mind you – Zoë kept askin' if she was sure this was the right thing to be doin' and Simon had hugged her fiercely. River, who was more alert than usual, embraced her too. Be damned if it wasn't a scene that tugged on more'n a few heartstrings. Book gave Inara a copy of his favourite poems, "to remember us by," he'd said, and Jane tried to grope her – for old times sake.

Of course, he wasn't supposed to know all this. Mal had been conspicuously absent when Inara stood in the hanger bay of Serenity. Captainly things to do you see. But he had been watching. And watching her look for him, delaying for as long as possible, had almost made him go to her. But what good would that have done? Inara had made her choice. And truth be told, she was better off somewhere safe. It was this thought that brought Mal no measure of comfort either. Nothing he told himself did.

"Mal… ur... I think you better get your hiny up to command central. We... urm... we have a situation."

Wash's voice coming over the intercom system roused Mal from his musings. Looping his suspenders over his shoulders he holstered his weapon and headed for Serenity's control centre.

"Wash, tell me there 'aint no threat of explosion on account of you racing towards some planet - again! It's getting mighty old. And I don't pay you to-"

"Hold your horses there Cap'n Sir. I thought you would be interested in having a look at this.."

Mal glanced through the windscreen and saw a shuttle drifting a ways ahead. "Looks abandoned, bounce a wave off of-"

Wash's expression was deeply pained as he said, "Urm... Mal, done that already... you will never guess whose sending out the distress call."

There was a crashing sound and Jayne came barging into the tiny control room. "Capn, what in the spichter of hell are we doing circling this gorram piece of crap? Too small to have any loot, an' last I heard, Alliance cruisers weren't too far behind."

Turning a fleeting gaze in the direction of the commotion, Mal said, "Well Jayne, last I checked I was in charge of this boat!" Mal rolled his eyes, and turned his attention back to the floating craft, but was temporarily distracted by the dinosaur figurines on the console. Mal raised an eyebrow at Wash, who just shrugged. "T-Rex here was just about to give us that information anyways." Mal's lips twitched at the dig, "Care to enlighten us?"

At this point, the rest of the crew, including River had come to investigate.

Wash silently mouthed 'T-Rex?' but didn't say another word, instead coughed with a mixture of hysterics and amused agony. "How about I bounce the picture onto the viewing screen and give all of you the communal pleasure."

When the hazy picture became clear enough, accompanied by a familiar voice demanding 'immediate assistance', there was a collective gasp, along with a stifled giggle from Kaylee.

"Is that?" she asked. Looking up at Mal before guffawing again. "It can't be? Can it?" Simon's jab in her ribs helped her regain some of her composure.

Simultaneously Mal and Zoë cocked their pistols.

Having heard, and not actually seen the guns cocking, Wash interjected "I do so love my wife."

River, completely uninterested turned to leave, but decided to linger long enough to say, "It's the misses."

Mal snapped, "That'll be ex-misses little Darlin'." To Wash he said "Dock Serenity."

"And why exactly would we be doing that?" asked Simon.

But he was talking to air because Mal was already making his way to the loading bay muttering, "Gorram piece of-"

"Now, now Cap'n," Kaylee said in her sweetest voice, as the entire crew followed. "Is that any way to welcome-"

Wash's voice echoed over the intercom, "Docked Mal. Pressure seals are locked-on and ready to open."

"Kaylee, another word and you're 'gonna be space food. I have every intention of welcoming our visitor."

"I'll say," added Zoë. Standing facing the door leading to the other ship, Mal and Zoë lined up. "Two pistols enough Sir?" she asked as she took aim at the hatch.

"I'll take it as a kindness that it's only two. Jayne, hit the release!"

Jayne's finger hovered over the red release button that would open a connection between Serenity and the stranded ship. "You sure about this Cap'n? I mean, last time we tussled with this ruttin' thiev'n lunatic, you ended up naked. And I for one don't wanna be see'n that scene anytime soon."

"Very rarely does Jayne say anything worth processing, but can I add my enthusiastic 'yay!' to that?" Wash added in his usual animated way as he joined the rest.

"Amen," added Book solemnly before being glared at by Mal. "What? It wasn't particularly pretty son."

This time, both Kaylee and Simon stifled a giggle.

"Will everyone just shut the hell up about my anatomy and open the gorram door? And Kaylee, don't you have some pressure valves that need oilin' to see to?"

"Actually no Cap'n. We seem to be fresh outta oil. So I guess I'll hang around here and welcome the misses back."

"It's ex! Wang Ba Dan.." Mal muttered. "Jayne! Don't make me ask you again."

Jayne shrugged, hit the release button, and swiftly turned to train his weapon, Vera, at the opening hatch. He wasn't taking any chances this time!

Mal and Zoë advanced towards the door, armed and ready. The pressure seal hissed and the door swung open.

"Well, well, well…" said Mal, gun trained and ready. "Wo Bu Shin Wo Dah Yan Jing. If it isn't the Meh Lien Duh Jyah Jee. Saffron, you better have one helluva good reason for being out in my corner of the 'verse."

The petite red head stepped forward. "Nice to see you too honey."

That's about all Saffron managed to get out before Zoë knocked her out.

Glossary:

Go se: Shit

Guai: Hell

Wo De Tian A: Dear god in heaven

Gorram: A form of God Dammit!

Wang Ba Dan: Dirty bastard sons-of--

Wo Bu Shin Wo Dah Yan Jing: I don't believe my eyes!

Meh Lien Duh Jyah Jee: Shameless hussy