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Chapter 7

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Charles Serra strode into his wife's study, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. Glancing up at his entrance with an easy smile, Genevieve's face sobered immediately as she read her husband's perturbed expression.

Screwing up his face into a look of pure stubbornness, he told her, "We need to let the new maid go."

Frowning mightily, Genevieve removed her reading glasses and asked calmly, "Annalisa? Why?" When Charles could not come up with an answer, she continued. "She loves Marina and Laura, she's an absolute sweetheart and she's the only maid we've found who can starch your shirts the way you like."

With growing discomfort, Charles told her, "She's pregnant."

Her opinion immovable, Vivi digested this news and said, "Well, we can cut back on her workload the closer she gets to her due date." When Charles' expression did not change, Vivi thought of another reason her husband might be uncomfortable. "I didn't realize she was married though."

Grimacing, Charles felt his face blushing and he immediately averted his gaze. "She's not," he confirmed.

A new fear gripping her heart, Vivi felt her mouth go dry. "She's so young, too young to be-" As Charles brought his green eyes back to her, Genevieve felt her world implode. The shame on his face at the statement told her that like so many of her peers, she had just become a joke.

"Charles," she breathed placing her glasses on the desk before her and rising slowly. Leaning heavily on the wood for fear she would collapse otherwise, Vivi murmured, "Tell me you didn't."

"It was a mistake." The man, so handsome and youthful in appearance, was ready to grovel to save his marriage. "I love you and our girls."

"Apparently not enough," Genevieve spat back, doing her best to keep an even temper. Nothing would be solved by railing against him, no matter how badly she wanted to. "How could you?"

"I don't know why I did it, Vee." Taking a chance, he rounded the desk reaching for her and felt his heart plummet to his feet when she backed away, eyes blazing with anger and pain. "I love you," he repeated again, hoping the words would have some impact.

Turning away from him, Vivi placed a hand over her heart and took a deep breath. She knew it wasn't the end of her world; many of her friends, too many in her opinion, were willing participants in adulterous marriages. It was even considered acceptable, but not to Genevieve, if only for the fact that she truly loved her husband.

Not looking back at him, she asked, "You're sure it's yours?"

"Yes," Charles told her in a whisper as if speaking softly would lessen his betrayal. "Please, Vivi, let me-"

"What?" Whirling back on him, eyes ablaze, she asked, "What, Charles? What do you possibly think you can do?" As he stared at her open-mouthed, she bit out, "That's what I thought."

"I can get rid of her," he said desperately. "Get her out of the house so she won't be a reminder."

"You will not," Vivi said firmly. "That baby she's carrying is a Serra and your responsibility." And with that, Genevieve headed for the door, clearly on a mission. "Where are you going?"

"To talk with Annalisa," she said, not bothering to turn and face him. "Someone needs to check on that girl."

Charles watched her go, sinking into the nearest chair, his head in his hands. Wondering how he could have been so foolish, he could only continue to wallow in his own self-pity.

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Shelby was awoken by the insistent beeping of an incoming wave. With annoyance, she reached for her dressing gown, pulling on the slinky material and wrapping it tightly against her body to keep out the night chill. Padding across the room to the screen, she flipped it on and bit out, "Do you have any idea what time it is?"

Not in the least bit phased by her friend's greeting, Marian simply smiled serenely and confided, "Trust me, you're going to be very glad I woke you."

Registering who it was calling her at such a God awful hour, Shelby immediately perked up. Licking her lips in anticipation, she breathed, "Yes?"

Glancing to either side of the screen, Marina finally looked back to her, the grin on her face widening. Leaning forward, she whispered, "She has a boyfriend."

Her jaw dropping open in shock that quickly turned to unbridled glee, the house mistress gasped, "No!"

Nodding once, Marina's face now held a smug look of satisfaction as she confirmed, "Oh, yes, he's in this very house. We just had supper with him."

"Oh my dear friend." Shelby's eyes glimmered with a devilish delight as she considered all she could do with this newfound information. There were so many ways she could now destroy the perfect Inara Serra – all she had to do was choose. "You're right, that was definitely worth waking up for."

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"Oh my … Simon, I ain't …" Kaylee was at a loss for words and Simon was beaming. He stood a step or two behind her as she wandered a few steps ahead, walking lightly through the lit garden. Her mouth open in a rounded 'o' at the beautiful sight, she murmured, "I ain't never seen anythin' so pretty afore."

Simon felt his smile grow even wider; he'd never seen Kaylee speechless before. As she continued to stare, her wide eyes taking in each rose, each lily, each hydrangea and all the lights that weaved through every bush, shrub and tree, Simon felt his heart lighten and his shoulders relax. Kaylee was happy and full of wonderment again. Of course there was still sadness and there always would be, but he hoped that this would help when those dark times came around again.

Shaking herself from her awestruck reverie, Kaylee half-turned, reaching for Simon and he came willingly. Weaving his arms around her waist, he pulled her tight to him, kissing her temple as her head rested against his shoulder.

"It's all so beautiful," she whispered, her eyes twinkling as they roamed the space.

"Sihnon is known as the city of light," Simon reminded her, his lips whispering against her cheek before he kissed her again.

Smiling, Kaylee turned in his arms, her hands resting lightly on his chest as she touched their foreheads together. "I don't know how to thank you for this," she confided quietly, wondering if it were possible to feel too much for a person. "After everythin' that's happened, I-"

Dipping his lips to hers, Simon silenced her next sentence with a kiss, one that Kaylee returned with passion. Running her hands up and over his shoulders, she pressed their bodies together tightly as Simon's strong hands held her close.

Guided by instinct and their knowledge of one another, Simon and Kaylee made the kiss endless, their tongues dancing with passion as their hands and bodies touched and clung to the other.

Separating only for air, Simon ran his fingers down Kaylee's cheek and murmured, "I love you." As she smiled and leaned in to kiss him again, he whispered, "Marry me."

Pulling back abruptly, Kaylee looked to him in surprise, her expression mirrored on Simon's face. "What?" she asked breathlessly, having a hard time hearing anything over the beating of her heart.

Blushing furiously, Simon mentally kicked himself for his sporadic behavior and lousy timing. He'd never meant to ask her like this, off the cuff, with no ring, nothing to give her but his empty hands and even emptier bank account. Plus, it was too soon, too soon after Miranda, too soon into their relationship.

Backpedaling, he told her, "I'm sorry, I-"

Stepping away from him completely, Kaylee's eyes lit with an angry fire as she asked, "Sorry? What s'matter? You din't mean it?"

"No, I did," Simon hastened to explain, reaching for her. Glad when she didn't back away again, he said firmly, "I just, I never intended to ask you now, not like this, not when I have nothing."

Resting her hands to his face, Kaylee said softly, "What're ya talkin' about? You got everythin'." As he furrowed his brow, about to remind her about his less than stellar track record with the authorities and his empty pockets, she added, "To me ya do, anyway."

"You mean you would?" Simon felt his breath rush of his lungs as he waited for confirmation. He knew she was it for him; he would be with Kaylee for the rest of his life or he would be alone; Simon Tam was rarely sure of much, especially when it came to matters of the heart, but he was certain of that. "You'd marry me?"

"O' course I would." She stepped closer to him again and Simon could feel her gentle breath against his cheek. "I'm in love with you, silly. I'd be crazy not to say yes, if'n you was really askin'."

Cradling the back of her head in the palm of his hand, Simon pressed his lips to hers, tracing her lip with his tongue until she parted them and welcomed him. He felt such love for her he feared his heart might burst. Drawing her mouth from his after a moment, Kaylee started a line of slow, warm kisses from his chin to his jaw line and back to his ear, causing a small groan to escape Simon's lips as her touch sent a jolt straight to his groin.

"I'm thinkin' we should get outta here," Kaylee murmured as her tongue darted out and traced his ear before her teeth bit down gently on his lobe.

"I'm thinking you're right about that." Simon's arms had drifted to hold her firmly around her back, pressing Kaylee against him, causing his body to shudder again with his growing need. With an effort, he finally pulled back from her, taking her hand in his. "Come on. One more surprise."

Pouting, she told him, "But sweetie, I wanna thank ya for all my surprises." Stopping abruptly and tugging on his hand, Kaylee brought their bodies back together forcefully, their groins meeting and causing a small moan to escape them both.

Dropping a kiss to the tip of her nose, Simon smiled one his most swai grins and said, "Trust me," before reaching for her hand and pulling her out of the garden and toward his final surprise.

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Inara awoke slowly, her mind registering the rhythmic knocking sound, but not quite able to place it. As she blinked her eyes open, taking a moment to adjust to the morning light that streamed through her window and realized that rapping was the sound of a knock on her door.

"Come in," she called, expecting to be greeted by her brother or a maid.

So when Mal pushed open the door, balancing a full tray of food on one arm, she sat up quickly, holding the sheet in front of her nightgown-clad body. "Mal." She knew she sounded surprised, and why her heart should be beating so rapidly she had no idea. Willing it to slow down, she placed her calm exterior back on her face and asked casually, "What are you doing?"

"Tryin' to give you breakfast in bed." He was having a difficult time maneuvering the door and the food and Inara pictured it all crashing at his feet. Rising swiftly, she reached for the tray, taking it from his forearm just as it teetered once. Grinning his thanks to her, Mal straightened and shut the door, turning back to take the food and giving her a long look in the process.

"You always sleep in one o' them?" he asked, hiding the wicked grin he felt forming at her skin baring nightgown.

Frowning, she swatted him playfully on the arm even as she ran back to her bed and donned her robe. Tying the sash tightly around her waist, she turned back to him with a smirk and answered, "Except for the nights I sleep naked."

His smile even wider, Mal murmured, "Now you tell me," as he moved over to her bed and placed the tray on top of the sheets she had quickly pulled up.

Sitting at the foot of the bed as she sat back at its head, Inara took in all the treats and looked up at him with a quizzical gaze. "You didn't have to do all this," she told him honestly, still getting used to who Malcolm Reynolds was when he was in a relationship.

Shrugging, he reached for a banana and peeled it, saying, "I know, but I figured you were up late with your ma an' may not feel like facin' folks this morning."

Taking a bunch of grapes and cradling them in her palm, Inara smiled and translated. "So, in other words, my sisters are back this morning?"

Nodding, Mal swallowed his banana, and told her darkly, "Yup an' this time they brought the husbands."

Looking to him with a sincere expression, she said, "Thank you, this is definitely preferable to dealing with that." With a sigh, she popped a grape into her mouth, delighting in the feel and taste of the fresh fruit, such a luxury in the black. "Although, it's really only delaying the inevitable." Glancing up to him with sad eyes, she told him, "I have to face them sometime and dinner last night was only the tip of the iceberg."

"Tell me about it," Mal muttered, reaching for a piece of toast and munching. Leaning down on one elbow, he sprawled himself at the foot of the bed and missed her worried expression.

Taking a sip of juice she waited a second and then asked, "So, are you going to tell me what happened last night?" When his only response was a frown, she elaborated, "Between you and my sisters. I can guess this is as much for your sake as mine."

With a grimace and a muttered curse, Mal straightened and told her, "How you can be related to them, I'll never understand. Let's just say the after dinner conversation went about as well as the during dinner conversation."

Closing her eyes and muttering her own curse, Inara felt rage well in her chest. "I knew I shouldn't have left you with them."

"Hey, I'm a big boy an' I can take care o' myself," Mal reminded her, reaching across the bed to squeeze her hand. "Besides, your brother tried to run interference for me. He's a sweet kid. Don't quite got the chutzpah to go up against them, but he tried awful hard."

Smiling slightly at the thought of Linny going toe to toe with Marina, Inara said, "I'm glad you had at least one ally, especially since I abandoned you."

"I'm the one that insisted on comin'," Mal reminded her. "An' the whole reason we're here is so you can spend some time with your ma." Glancing to Inara, he saw a shadow pass across her face at the mention of her mother and he asked quietly, "Everythin' go okay when you saw her last night?"

Blinking rapidly to pull herself back into the present, Inara smiled wanly and said, "Yes, of course, fine."

"Huh." Mal's trademark grunt was enough to draw an eye roll out of Inara. Waiting for his question, she simply held his quizzical gaze with a firm one of her own. "What'd you two talk 'bout?"

You, she wanted to say. Inara was aching to tell Mal what her mother had said, what she had realized last night, but she just couldn't, not yet. "It was girl talk, Mal," she said instead, hiding a smile at the look of pure disgust that ran across his face. "I doubt you'd be interested."

"Ya got that right," he said emphatically, reaching for another piece of toast and chewing viciously. As a few moments of silence stretched between them, Mal finally asked, "So, more visitin' today?"

Nodding, Inara said, "I suppose so. I-"

A knock on the door interrupted her. Rising, Inara asked, "Who is it?"

"Inara?" That pinched voice could only belong to one person and Inara involuntarily cringed. "It's Marina."

Asking Buddha for a bit of patience, Inara finger-combed her hair back from her face and then opened the door, standing firmly in the small crack she created so that Marina could keep her prying eyes to herself.

"We missed you at breakfast," the older woman told her, eyeing Inara's state of dress with a critical eye.

"Yes, well I just wasn't very hungry," Inara answered evenly. "Was there something you needed?"

Smiling tightly, Marina answered with mock-enthusiasm, "Oh, not me, Shelby." As she watched Inara's face blanch just a bit, Marina continued trying to keep her look of self-satisfaction to a minimum. "You remember Shelby, don't you Inara? Well, she's house mistress now and I ran into her and told her you were home and well, of course, she's dying to see you."

Inara's eyes blazed a bit, a look Marina was all too familiar with and it only egged the older woman on. "I told her your schedule was wide open, so she's expecting you for tea this afternoon. Have fun." And with that, she turned on her heel and headed down the hall, fighting the urge to hum a merry tune.

Inara stared for several moments after Marina was out of sight, feeling her stomach roiling uncomfortably. Wishing she hadn't eaten anything, she slowly, resolutely, closed the door and stood for a moment with her hand resting against the cool wood. "Oh go se," she muttered.

"What's wrong?"

Jumping, Inara had completely forgotten Mal was in the room. Turning to face him with a scowl, she headed across the room to her closet and flung it open. Looking at each of the dresses she'd brought, her stomach ached even worse as she realized they were all sorely out of fashion and beginning to look worn; Shelby was going to have a field day with this.

"'Nara?" Mal watched as Inara's shoulders rose with each huffy breath, having witnessed her anger plenty of times before. He certainly knew the signs. Rising, he walked up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. When she simply tensed at his touch he backed off again and asked, "What's goin' on?"

"Nothing, Mal." Her voice was old and tired and Mal didn't like it. Turning her to face him, he saw the sadness that rimmed her eyes, highlighting the anger that still burned in them as well. "It's nothing, all right."

"No, it ain't all right," he snapped. Now he was mad and he had no idea why. "What'd that witch of a sister o' yours do now?"

Releasing a heavy sigh, Inara said, "It's not your concern."

"Not my …" His voice faltering, Mal backed away from her, truly baffled. Watching her as she continued to bore holes into him with her fierce gaze, Mal asked, "What's goin' on here, 'Nara?"

"Marina's arranged for me to go see the Mistress of House Madrassa, who is an old, old friend." Inara spat the word, clearly indicating to Mal that she really meant enemy. "I have nothing decent to wear and considering the circumstances this is not how I wanted to be reintroduced to my colleagues at the Guild."

Mal's stomach clenched tightly as if a strong fist has closed over it. "Reintroduced?" he questioned softly, his mouth going dry. "What's that 'sposed to mean?"

Not having the time to clear up his obvious misunderstanding at her choice of words or patience to stroke his ego, Inara strode past him and told him, "We'll have to do this later. I need to get ready."

As she moved past him, Mal grabbed her elbow firmly and whirled her around to face him. "Tell me what's really goin' on, 'Nara."

"No, Mal." It wasn't up for debate, her answer told him that. "This is why I didn't want you to come in the first place. There are things going on here that you don't understand."

"I would if'n you'd jus' tell me," he shouted angrily. He had lost his patience months ago when it came to the confounding woman standing before him now. He loved her, he knew that, knew it even though he'd thought himself completely incapable of ever feeling such strong and deep emotion for another person again. But she could also rile him like no one else and it was her ease at doing so that unhinged him. "I thought we was gonna try this," he told her, forcing his voice lower. Taking her by the arms, he asked, "Why've you gotta be lyin' to me?"

She didn't want to. Inara wished she could tell him all that was happening and wished even more that if she did he'd be able to help. But he wouldn't, so what was the point of him knowing? Whether she loved him or not, Inara was determined to keep some things to herself.

"It's not a lie, Mal, there are just things that are better left unsaid." Searching his eyes for understanding all Inara saw in them was pain and her already churning stomach did another flip. Dropping her gaze, she said quietly, "Now, please, I have to get ready."

He released her in an instant, feeling hollow although he didn't know why. A million retorts springing to mind, each more damaging then the last, Mal held his tongue, wondering what compelled him to do so as he stormed from the room. Slamming the door behind him, he realized he wanted some gorram answers. And he was going to get them.

Inara jumped as the door shut with a slap. Sinking slowly onto the bed, she felt her insides shake and in an instant she was in the bathroom, retching. She was angry that Shelby had this kind of power over her, but even more angry at her father. It was his fault in the first place that she'd ever had to hide, to run, be ashamed of who she was. She shouldn't care, Inara knew that. She was a grown woman who had made a good life for herself and who, now, had the chance to have something real and good with a man who cared for her.

But her years of training were not so easily dismissed and although Inara wanted to turn her back on the Guild that had given her life a sense of purpose and direction, she couldn't.

Waiting another few minutes to be sure her stomach was settled, Inara went about the business of getting ready, wishing now more than ever that she'd never returned to Sihnon.

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Inara stood beside her mother, holding her hand in hers, while she clutched at her brother's tiny hand with the other. It was a dreary day, a rarity on Sihnon to be sure and Inara had to wonder if Buddha weren't coloring the clouds gray to match her mood.

She listened as the priest finished the eulogy, wiping at a tear that had fallen down her cheek. Her mother, also crying, wrapped an arm around Inara's shoulders and the eleven-year-old took comfort in her warmth and the smell of vanilla and cloves that always surrounded her.

Colin was fidgeting again and Inara squeezed his hand hard to remind him to be good. She knew they couldn't really expect any more from the five-year-old; he had already weathered the church service in relative silence. But her mother had asked Inara to watch him and keep him in line and she would do just that.

An hour later the family was once again safely ensconced inside their warm and dry estate. Shedding their wet outer coats, the four Serra children stood in a small huddle in the foyer and for once Marina was not pulling at Inara's hair or making a joke. For once, the fifteen-year-old seemed to be showing a modicum of decency, respecting the memory of their dead father and although Inara would be loathe to admit it she was glad; she really wasn't in the mood.

"Jay-Jay," Linny whined, looking up to Inara with those big blue eyes. He had yet to completely get the hang of saying jie jie, Mandarin for older sister, but no one bothered to correct his pronunciation – it was fairly cute after all. "I'm hungry."

Smiling to him, Inara said, "All right, Linny. Let's get something to eat." Looking to her sisters, she asked, "Will you please tell mother we'll be in the kitchen?"

Laura and Marina nodded silently, waiting until both younger siblings were out of earshot before charging into the large drawing room where they knew their mother to be. She was sitting before a roaring fire, the reds and oranges of the flames do nothing to enliven her ashen features.

"Mother?"

Marina approached her quietly, Laura following in her big sister's shadow as always. It was rare to see the two apart and now, it was even more imperative that they show a united front.

Rounding the chair their mother was sitting in, both girls flanked either side and it took Genevieve a full minute to pull her gaze away from the flames and over to her eldest daughter's green eyes. "Yes, sweetheart, what is it?"

Glancing to Laura, the younger girl gave her sister a nod of encouragement and Marina looked back to her mother. "Laura and I think it's time to send Inara away."

Inhaling a sharp breath, Genevieve looked from Marina to Laura and back again before breathing, "What?"

Frowning slightly, Marina pushed on. Her mother was currently at her most vulnerable and so the teenager knew that if they had any chance of getting rid of the black sheep of their family, it would be now. "She's not even yours," the girl told her harshly. "She was father's mistake and now he's dead. Why should we have to keep putting up with her?"

Without even thinking, Genevieve raised her hand and slapped her daughter soundly across the cheek. The sharp noise reverberated in the otherwise silent room and when Marina looked back to her mother, her eyes were swimming with tears of hurt and betrayal. "You will never speak that way again, Marina." Her mother's voice was deadly and the girl shook in spite of her anger. "Inara is your sister and she is my daughter and I never want to hear another word to the contrary."

"She ruined our family!" Marina's tears came hot and fast now. Balling her fists at her sides, she screamed, "Inara's the reason our family is so miserable!"

"What?"

At the sound of the small, broken voice all three of them turned towards the door, inhaling a collective gasp at the sight of Inara standing there. With tears falling down her face, she looked between her sisters and then to her mother and whispered, "Mother, what's going on?"

"Shut up," Marina said angrily, striding across the room and towering over the shorter girl. "She's not your mother, don't you call her that. You're just a bastard child! An example of our father's weakness. Get out!"

Not needing or wanting to hear anymore, Inara turned on her heel and sprinted from the room, taking the stairs two at a time. Flinging open the door, she slammed it hard, and then pitched herself forward face down on her bed. Her small body heaving with sobs, Inara buried her face into her pillow and cried until the silky material of her bedspread was soaked through. Shivering at the anger and hatefulness in her sister's words, Inara curled up into the tiniest ball she could manage, her face drying quickly as she had no more tears to cry.

Her eyes swollen and puffy, she was lying there listless and staring when her mother knocked lightly on her door. "Inara, sweetheart? Can I come in?"

She didn't answer and so Vivi pushed open the door and entered. Moving around the bed to sit before the precious little girl, she ran her hand gently through Inara's tangled curls, murmuring, "Oh, bao bei. I'm so sorry."

With tears she didn't know she had welling in her eyes, Inara looked to her mother and then slowly crawled into her lap. As Vivi's arms cradled her tight to her chest, Inara sobbed, "Why does Marina hate me? I don't understand. She's my sister. We're supposed to love each other."

"Shh, hush now." Vivi tried to silence her, rocking the young girl back and forth, her lips pressed against her forehead as she whispered soothing words of comfort. Once Inara had again cried all the tears she had, the older woman told her, "Marina's feelings for you have nothing to do with you, Inara."

Glancing up to her mother with a confused look, she said, "I don't understand."

Smiling sadly, Vivi pushed some of Inara's thick curls behind her ear and said wistfully, "I know, bao bei." Pausing for a second she felt her breath hitch in her throat. She had already punished Marina to within an inch of her life and while Vivi prayed it would be enough, she also feared that her eldest daughter would never love the girl she held now.

As her mother hesitated to explain, Inara bit her lower lip, feeling it tremble with the threat of more tears. "It's not true, is it?" she asked in a shaky voice. "You are my mother, I know you are." Burying her head back against Vivi, Inara cuddled into her firmly and she instinctively tightened her hold on the shaking girl.

"I am your mother because I love you like a daughter," Vivi said quietly, wishing she didn't have to explain this. Damn you Charles for leaving this to me. "But some of what Marina said is true, Inara."

Shaking her head against her chest, Inara muttered petulantly, "No, no, no."

"Inara, sweetheart." Vivi waited for the girl to look at her, knowing she would. She was a good child, had always been. She was sweet-natured and well-mannered, much like her birth mother had been. Looking down, Vivi felt her eyes again well with tears as Inara's large eyes, brown pools of pain and confusion, looked up at her.

Choking back a sob, she said quietly, "I never wanted to tell you this and your father and I agreed a long time ago that we wouldn't, but …" Thinking of her eldest daughter and the rage she had always exhibited towards Inara, she supposed she was lucky to even have had eleven years of relative simplicity.

"What is it?" Inara asked innocently, her eyes even wider than just seconds before.

Cupping her cheeks in her hands, her mother said as evenly as she could manage. "There's something I have to tell you about your father and where you came from."

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