Firefly
Disclaimer: I own nothing, blah, blah, blah...
Pairing: Mal/Inara
Read and comment. I hope you like it.
This is how I think the end of "Hearts Of Gold" should have gone.
Truth To Say
"I'm sorry it took me this long. It wasn't fair on either of us...I'm leaving"
Mal's heart stopped at that moment. The moment the only woman he had ever really loved told him she was leaving. Forever. The blood had stopped flowing through his veins. His heart stopped working, and along with the rest of his body.
His muscles went stiff, so he couldn't move and stop her walking away or draw her to himself like he felt like doing right now. His brain had stopped so he couldn't find the words to say to stop her. His breath was caught in his throat, he couldn't breath, even if he could find the words to say.
Her eyes connected with his and his heart beat finally, but the rhythm was off. His heart was broken. She turned away, she couldn't bear to see his heartbroken expression. He cleared his throat, struggling to keep his voice steady.
"I've said before I ain't got not call to stop you...But if you go...You ain't coming back again. I can't stomach watching you leave a second time"
Inara raised her head. She didn't look at him. She hadn't expected this. She had expected him to tell her she wasn't going. That she was part of his crew, and he wouldn't allow her to leave. Or not to say anything. He was never that great with words.
"Everytime you leave to court some devilishly handsome, sweet talkin' stranger I gotta bite my tongue to keep from begging you to stay. They don't appreciate you. Your grace, your kindness, the way your smile lights up the room. They don't miss you, not like I do. And they don't love you like I do"
Inara smiled to herself, but did not speak. She missed him, too. She enjoyed the company of her clients, but not as much as she enjoyed his company. No matter how much they fought. No matter how often they disagreed on things.
"For the love of God...Say something" Mal begged. His heart was in overdrive. He had just confessed his love for her, and it drove him mad that she wouldn't look at him.
"Nandi saw right through me. She figured out that I was...Am...In love with you. She was a very intuitive woman. And it's only because of her that I'm making an ass of myself right now...This is the part where you say..." Mal faltered. He didn't know what she was supposed to say. He had never been in this situation before. All he knew was what he wanted her to say.
"Come to my shuttle"
He followed her into her shuttle, not knowing what what to expect. She invited him to sit down and he accepted. She sidled in next to him. Her close proximity made him nervous. She had invited him into her shuttle, so as far as he was concerned he was in uncharted territory.
She put her hand on his leg and turned to face him. "Mal...I love you"
"I love you, too"
She moved toward him until their faces were only centimetres apart. " I ain't been with a woman in a long time. And I ain't never felt this way bout anyone"
"Neither have I" Their lips connected and Mal felt more alive than he had in years. He and Inara were finally together. This is not an end, but a beginning.