Expecting

Chapter 1

A/N: This is my first Firefly fic, so I'm still getting a feel for writing the characters, but I've seen every episode, so I should be okay. Oh, and this takes place after the end of season 1.

Her hand shook as she looked at the results on the screen, it was positive. Positive, her life was over, completely over. She'd have to quit her job; no one would want a pregnant companion. She couldn't afford to say aboard Serenity if she had no work, and she'd die before she took charity from Mal.

She didn't even know the baby's father, she'd been with so many people…so many, she couldn't even begin to guess who it was…maybe Mal was right, she was a whore, just a whore.

Tears pricked her eyes but she wiped them away, she wouldn't break down, she just couldn't. She needed help, from…someone. Simon! He's a doctor, maybe they could just keep the secret between them, maybe she could just leave once she started to show, she'd almost left Serenity once, and now she'd actually have a reason too. She could live anywhere, Persephone was nice enough, and she knew people there, but…it just wasn't Serenity.

She walked out of her room, silently making her way across the ship to Simon's room, he must have dealt with things like this before, he would tell her what she should do.

When she reached his door, she knocked softly and then opened it, smiling at Simon wanly as she waited to be invited in.

Simon put the book away he was reading and sat up, gesturing for her to enter. "Come in Inara, what brings you here so late, if you don't mind my asking?" He said looking at his clock seeing it was well past midnight.

River sat cross-legged on her bed opposite Simon's and grinned at Inara as she walked in, "You have a secret." She said knowingly.

Inara's eyes widened in surprise and she shook her head, "No, no I don't." she argued and looked at Simon, "I need to talk to you, do you…can River go somewhere else?" she asked, trying to sound polite but coming off as annoyed.

Simon nodded and stood up, "River, will you give us a moment?" he asked, wondering if it was his best judgment to let River wander Serenity alone, or if his curiosity at Inara's question had clouded that judgment.

River stood up slowly and lingered in the doorway as if trying to decide if she really should leave. After a moment she nodded and left, walking down the hallway, her finger tips lightly brushing against the metal walls of the ship.

Simon closed the door behind his sister and turned to Inara, "Would you like to sit down?" he asked, noticing the pang of worry on her face.

"Okay" she agreed softly, sitting on his bed and looking up at him with frightened brown eyes, "Simon, I…ah, have something to tell you."

"Yes?" he prompted.

Inara looked at the floor as if she was studying the carpet under his feet as she asked, "If I asked it of you, would you not repeat what I'm about to tell you to anyone, especially Mal?"