Just a missing scene from Heart of Gold that we all wish would've happened.

Disclaimer: I don't own Firefly...obviously.

Happy reading!

Inara sat, crying, leaning against the wall, as she had been for what felt like hours. All alone. Secluded. By herself. Just the way she wanted it. Or the way she had wanted it. Before she met Malcolm Reynolds. 'Speak of the devil and he shall appear.'

"Oh, uh...'Nara...sorry...di...didn't see ya there."

"Of course you didn't," She said as she stood up, not bothering to compose herself. Not now. Not with him. He needed to see this. Needed to see what he had caused her.

"Wha?"

"Don't play stupid with me, Mal."

"Well the uh...the fight's nothin' to be worried about, you know...not like we're actually gonna let 'em win."

"You're an idiot." She knew she was being unreasonable, but she didn't care.

"You know you're uh...not makin' much sense right about now..." Mal's face contorted in confusion. "You been crying?"

"No Mal," She said sarcastically, in a low voice. "Not that it matters."

"Huh? You're gonna have to start some explainin' here very soon."

"There's nothing to explain, Mal! Can't you just start comprehending simple things?"

"Comprehendin' what, exactly?" Inara let out a frustrated sigh.

"Nothing Malcolm! Nothing. Just...just leave. I didn't invite you in here, and this isn't your territory, so get out," Mal made no move to do as she said. He raised his eyebrows at the use of his full name. "Now!"

"Wake up on the wrong side of the bed this mornin', princess?"

"No, but you did."

"Oh, so that's what this is about!"

Inara scoffed, "Hardly. You have no business here."

"So you're tellin' me that you shut yourself up in a room and cry like that everyday?"

"Wha...what?"

"I ain't stupid, 'Nara. And neither are you. So let's just get this over with, and move on with our daily lives of whorin' and petty thievin'."

"That's where you're wrong, Mal."

"Wrong about what? Wrong about this...thing we have? 'Cause I don't think so."

"And by 'thing', I assume you mean insulting each other vigorously and taking to bed with my best friend? No, you're correct about that."

"So this is 'causa Nandi."

"Nandi's done nothing to hurt me, Mal. Don't you dare put this on her."

"I ain't puttin' nothin' on no one, woman!" His outburst caused Inara to turn her back on him, trying hard to suppress tears. "'Nara, look, I'm...I'm sorry, alri-"

"Get out." Mal could hear the suppressed sadness in her voice.

"I can't."

"Excuse me?"

"I said 'I can't'."

"Mal. Stop."

"No, Inara. I'm not leaving this room until this something is settled 'tween you an' me."

"There's nothing to settle!" She said, finally turning around to face him again. Mal took a deep breath.

"I love you."

"Wha...what?" Inara said after a long pause.

"I'm pretty sure you heard me," Mal was as shocked with himself as Inara seemed to be. He hadn't meant for it to be said. Not here. Not now.

"This isn't happening," Inara said to herself. She hadn't expected it of him. Simon took that moment to barge into the room where the Captain and the Companion stood.

"Inara! It's Petaline. She's in labor! She's asking for you. Would yo-"

"Of course, Simon," She smiled. A fake smile, sure, but enough to satisfy the young doctor. As she passed, Inara gave Mal a sad look. One of desperation. Then walked away as if nothing had happened.

Fin.

A/N: I haven't posted anything for a REALLY long time. I wrote this awhile ago, and wasn't sure if I should post it or not. Also, this is my first Firefly fic, so please review and tell me what you think. It would be greatly appreciated! Thanks. :)