River was nervous. It was almost an oxymoron. She had escaped from the Academy, faced down a horde of evil, angry Reavers, battled her inner demons and emerged victorious, and regularly went on out on jobs with Mal as an extra gun hand. Yet, here she sat, at a private table across from Badger, and she was nervous. Over the past two weeks out in the Black, River had attempted to prepare herself for a future meeting with the strange little man. She had stolen some of Kaylee's romance novels and surreptitiously watched Inara's reactions via the cortex with potential clients, and calculate all the potential variables, but nothing had prepared her for the experience of being regarded as a real woman, wanted and desired.

Badger had decided to take her to a fancy restaurant on the other side of the city in an effort to impress her. It had worked. River could admit she was suitably impressed, as she had been worried that they would be unable to get in to this establishment with no reservation. However, Badger knew the manager and was able to pull some strings to get them a seat. They had been sat in a private area away from the main crowd on a dais overlooking the city. It was a beautiful view. Badger moved his seat closer to hers and leaned across the table. He caught her eye and gave her a little wink and a smile. River was certain he thought he was being quite dashing, however, she had to try not to giggle.

"See anything you want, sweets?" Badger asked as he peered over the menu at the girl across from him. She looked from her study of the menu and smiled at him, which in turn made him grin like a bit of a fool. It amused her and simultaneously made her stomach flutter.

"Never had the food here," she responded and placed her menu on the table in front of her. "Perhaps you could make a suggestion." She raised an eyebrow at the little man and gave him a flirtatious look she had seen Inara give a client. Badger sat up a bit straighter with a proud look on his face and grinned a little wider. Right now, he was feeling quite the part of a regular gentleman and if he played his cards right, this girl could be very good for his business, among other things. After all, a pretty lady on his arm could make him look much more respectable in the community of which he was a part.

"Well, luv," he replied and he leaned in closer and indicated a few items on the menu in front of her. "I personally enjoy the chicken, however, I've heard tell that the baked salmon is most appetizing." River rested her chin on one hand and looked at him.

"Well," she replied. "If you get the chicken, I'll get the salmon, and then we can share." She gave him a coquettish smile and stroked his hand lightly. River was pleased with the reaction it got. Badger shivered slightly at her touch and again moved his chair slightly closer to her. He had done that several times throughout the date, and was now positioned almost directly beside her. His proximity was nerve-wracking and left her unsure as to how to proceed. Thankfully, she was saved from any embarrassment by the appearance of their waiter. He placed a bottle of chilled vintage wine on their table and took their order. Badger poured them each a glass and raised it in a toast.

"Cheers, flower," he said as he took a sip. River raised her glass in response and followed suit.

A few hours and few glasses of wine later, River was beginning to feel a slight buzz that she recognized as the inability of her liver to metabolize the alcohol present in the wine at a faster rate than she was consuming. In other words, she was drunk. She felt warm and relaxed and moved in closer to Badger. She leaned up against him and he put his arm around her. He was currently regaling her with a story of life back on Dyton Colony, while he smoked on a cigar. Specifically, it was the story of how he got kicked off the moon and spiraled down into a life of smuggling and piracy. Even through her drunken haze, River recognized many of the elements as being exaggerated. For instance, she knew for a fact that no lions existed on Dyton Colony, so it would have been impossible for Badger to fight one off with his bare hands. However, she decided now was not the best moment to point this out to him and instead giggled at his storytelling. Badger took her giggle as a sign of encouragement and continued to speak, using a louder voice than normal and grand gestures. However, they were interrupted by the loud crash of two men barreling into the fine establishment with their guns drawn.

It seemed as though Simon had discovered his little sister's absence from the party arriving back on the ship and had questioned Mal about her whereabouts rather forcefully. Being that the two of them believed River was enduring a fate worse than death, they quickly devised a plan to rescue her from what they were certain was a dreadfully dull dinner date with a man far beneath her intellectual level, among other things. Therefore, they were quite surprised when, after barging into the restaurant, they caught sight of River leaning up against Badger and giggling at his emphatic story telling.

Mal and Simon were oblivious to the fearful stares of the rich patrons in the restaurant and stormed over to where River and Badger were ensconced. In a moment of manliness Jayne would have been proud of, Simon punched Badger in the jaw, knocking him off his chair and onto the ground.

"Come on, mei mei, let's go," he said as he grabbed her arm and proceeded to drag her away. Much to his surprise, River wrenched free of his grasp and knelt down beside Badger, who was still lying flat on his arse.

"Are you alright," she asked with a worried gaze as she stroked his chin and propped him into a sitting position. Badger thoughtfully rubbed the spot where Simon punched and nodded.

"I'll be ok, luv," he replied, turning his gaze from Mal and Simon to her. He smiled at her, then winced and realized it wasn't a good idea. River helped him to stand up and he turned to look at Mal.

"Now Mal," he said with an appraising stare. "Din't I tell you that I'd get your pretty little pilot back by ten o'clock sharp? And din't I say I'd give you the money at that point in time?"

"Now just a minute," Simon interrupted. Badger turned his gaze toward the young man. "My sister is very unstable and you are reprehensible for taking advantage of that!"

"Who the gorram are you?" he asked.

"I'm her brother," Simon responded, stuttering slightly.

"Well, then," Badger replied. "Seeing as how that's the case, and you're prolly feeling protective of her, I can let this transgression pass. But since it's only 9:00, I believe I have another sixty minutes to go before returning her to your vessel. So, gentlemen, if you'll excuse me."

With that, Badger took River by the hand and they walked out of the restaurant.

"Simon, you're a boob," River said as they passed.

Badger whispered something to the maitre-de on the way out and soon a waiter was headed over to where Mal and Simon stood with slack jaws.

"Sirs, the gentleman indicated you would be paying the bill," he said as he handed Mal a slip of paper.

Outside, Badger led River back to his office. She was enjoying the feel of her hand in his and had to bite back a warm sigh. Instead, she just smiled at him and was rewarded with a smile in return.

"I figure we have 'bout forty-five or so minutes 'fore I have to get you back to your ship," Badger said, holding open the door for her. "Got any idea how we can enjoy that forty-five minutes?" River smirked and leaned in close to him.

"Oh I have a fair idea," she responded and pressed her lips against his.

They ended up being late back to the ship, but River definitely enjoyed her forty-five or so minutes.