Title: Imagine That (Half-A-Dozen)
Fandom: Firefly
Summary: It wasn't at all hard for her to picture him with half a dozen children swarming around, tugging at his pants leg and calling him dad. The sight would be entirely natural and endearing. (Set during a certain scene in Our Mrs. Reynolds.)
Rating: G
Pairings/Characters: Mal/Inara
Length: 400 words
Genres: angst
A/N: Yes, this fic has two titles. I couldn't pick just one. Anyway, I was rewatching Our Mrs. Reynolds the other day, and this popped into my head. Because we all know what 'Nara was thinking in that one scene in her shuttle... (No, not the one where Mal was stupid and got everything all wrong...) Read 'n' enjoy.



Imagine That (Half-A-Dozen)

"Imagine that," Mal said, grinning crookedly. "Me, with a whole passel of critters underfoot…"

The thing was, Inara could easily do that. Mal was the family kind of man, and, despite all of his ruggedness and crudeness, Inara thought he'd make a great father when he finally decided to settle down. It wasn't at all hard for her to picture him with half a dozen children swarming around, tugging at his pants leg and calling him dad.

The sight would be entirely natural and endearing.

But, watching lovingly over that scene, Inara didn't see this "Saffron" woman. No, not at all. Instead, Inara pictured herself as the head of that swarm—as the mother of Mal's half-dozen children.

Inwardly, she cringed at the thought.

She was a Companion. To her, children were strictly forbidden. She was never to have any. Never in her lifetime, no matter how long it might be. She'd long ago accepted that rule and she had always refused to let herself entertain the notion of children.

Now, though, the thoughts ran rampant and unchecked through her head.

Having a newborn, cooing baby cradled in her arms… Watching the child take its first steps, say its first words… Watching the baby grow and mature into a toddler… Presenting to the first child its younger sibling when the second was born… And then repeating that process until there really were half a dozen children swarming about, tugging at her skirts and calling her mother.

That actually sounded… quite nice to Inara. Like a life she would like to lead.

But, she reminded herself sharply, it was forbidden. It was a dream she couldn't have.

"Ten year time, I could teach 'em to—" Mal went on.

Angered more at herself than at him, she stood suddenly and glared over her shoulder. "Could you leave me alone for five minutes, please?" she said sharply.

END


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