Sorry for the late update, I did this while at school I hope there isn't a lot of mistakes xD don't forget to review please ^-*
Mal opened his eyes slowly and took in his surroundings, he was in Serenity's shuttle and there was someone warm, soft and sweet smelling sprawled on his chest. It was Inara, the woman he loved and mother of his son. He smiled. She smelled a bit like baby too and it suited her, she was a great mother and he would never have wanted to have kids with anyone else but her.
He slowly unwrapped his body form her warm one when the baby woke up as he knew that if he so much as cooed the wrong way, Inara's mother instincts would be in full drive and though Ryan was a good baby and slept a lot, he didn't have the heart to wake her up.
He lifted his son and put his finger in the little mouth, and watched the woman who had gone through so much mostly because of him. She really was beautiful…her dark, wavy hair framed her delicate features, she had a button cute nose – if she knew what he was thinking, she would have probably smacked him upside the head – but it was true!
Her lips were full for real not because of the make up she wore. But if there was any favourite part of Inara's body it would be her eyes. They were like big, soft, fine dark chocolate pools full of understanding kindness and wisdom who could read him like a book and convey any emotion she was feeling… she usually didn't like it when others knew what she was feeling but she seemed to open up more with him.
What he still couldn't understand was how come a brilliant, beautiful, brave woman could fall for someone as battered as him. One thing was sure though, he lost her once and the empty vacuum inside of him se left could not be filled by nothing but her and he wasn't going to lose her again.
His son moved a bit, attracting his attention. He was another wonder in the captain's life… he was so small and frail Mal thought he would break in his arms the first time he held him. It was clear that Ryan was a miniature copy of his father except for his dark hair and the natural tan he got from his mother. His eyes were bright blue and looked at everything with innocence, wisdom and wonder at the same time…it was incredible what big a change these little persons could bring into one's life.
They would soon arrive on Serenity. After waving Zoe to announce their arrival during which he could hear Kaylee squealing with joy, they moved most of Inara's things, including the bed, with discretion – Sheydra was kind of a miracle maker and a very perspective woman Mal discovered in the few minutes he'd talked to her. He still couldn't believe they moved most of Inara's things like the bed with such tact.
Ryan cuddled closer to his father's chest as he carried him to the shuttle's cockpit to make sure everything was fine, seeing the stars so close, the baby stretched his hand out, trying to catch one.
"You have a knack for touching shiny thing huh?" chuckled the amused captain "you like looking at them stars before you sleep…" Mal whispered, proud that his son had inherited his love for the black "yeah well, you're gonna see loads of them at home too." he said caressing his baby son's arm. Home. Malcolm Reynolds was finally taking his family home.
Inara's eyes opened slowly as she stretched like a cat who'd just had a perfect nap.
Her blood ran cold for a second as she realized her baby son wasn't with her but when she took in her surroundings, she sighed happily 'Everything is fine' she thought to herself as she remembered what happened a few hours earlier.
*FLASHBACK* just after last chapter
"And what about you and me?" he asked slowly, fearing the answer she would give him.
"We will have to change some things but I'm ready to make changes for Ryan…including in our relationship because I don't think we had a proper chance – and I know that that's my fault but-" when she realized she was ranting, she stopped and blushed. A companion never ranted but where Mal was concerned her training usually went out the window, particularly when he was kissing her so passionately, it was what got them here in the first place.
"I have to ask something of you though…"she said softly her hand playing with the button of his shirt "My work could pay for all that Serenity needs but I know you don't want me to pay for everything.. What I want you to do is that you don't take dangerous jobs – only honest ones because we can't make this work if you're not alive, Ryan needs his dad and I can't do this without you…" by now tears were running down her cheeks, the idea of Mal dying shook her to the core.
Mal wiped her tears with his thumb "I can't promise you that a job will go smooth but I will do what I can ok?"
She sniffled
"Hey no water works…the crew will kick my pigu from here to Earth-that-was if they knew I made you cry."
The crew. Inara wiped her cheeks with her hands and smiled radiantly "We're going home."
"Yeah we are." He gave her that boyish smile she liked so much, if Ryan started to smiled like his father she was in big trouble.
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A merry xmas and a shiny new year to you all!!
