A/N: Lack of updates, I know. Real life has a bad habit of keeping me busy at times. Thanks to all who reviewed, read, and/or followed. Always, always appreciated. :) Anyways, here's the next chapter. Things are going to get a mite interesting.

Sky Song

Possibilities

She'd always been the oldest, even when she was little; the mature one, the girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Everyone could see it in her murky, bleak, brown eyes, even at the tender age of six. Those eyes, too big for such a small, sweet face, made her appear like a porcelain doll. Yet, there was nothing delicate about her. The eyes told a story, a sad story, of a little girl who'd seen too much, who'd known more than she should have, who had desperately fought to protect, and had lost anyways. Only six, they'd say, and with a future that had already been decided for her.

Poor thing.

So pretty, with so much potential.

A total waste.

A full blown tragedy for a child so young.

She heard the voices, heard them talk about her even when they didn't think she could. Eventually, she simply drowned them out, forced herself to hear nothing but the numbing silence instead.

At the age of six, Inara Serra had lost everything.

"You never truly wanted him, anyways. Isn't this a sign? Shouldn't you be grateful? This is your chance to be rid of such a bad seed, to start anew. I know for a fact there are clients simply itching to have you back in practice, Inara." The elder sister's intimidating words seemed to echo in the vast, empty hall.

The companion kept her head bowed, and bit back her anger at the carelessness of the elder's words. It was no secret that they shared no love for the fruit of Inara's womb, and they felt entitled enough to verbally share that with her every chance they got. The companion was always forced to remain silent, and take their abuse, if only because she was indebted to them for even taking her back in at all. After her involvement with Miranda, they'd deemed her unfit to practice. Her clients, her previous dedicated hard work, and Sheydra, had been the only factors that had allowed them to change their mind years later. A grace period, they'd called it. A chance to repent for all her errors. But deep down inside, Inara knew that they had only kept her around because many of her prominent clients refused to be serviced by anyone else. Guild or no Guild, business was still at the core of everything. Those clients who had received a replacement, were never quite satisfied, and it gave Inara pride to know that none could mimic her style or work.

As long as she held that title over their heads, they could never oust Liam from the programs, and although it was only a minor victory, she counted it as a victory nonetheless. The thought reminded her of a certain rogue-ish captain, lopsidedly grinning at her, knowing exactly the origins of her newly adopted mentality. Annoyed, she shoved the image away. Still, as she kneeled before the sisters now, she wondered why she ever even considered joining their ranks in her youth at all.

"Forgive me if I speak out of turn, but in my teachings, I was always led to believe that all life is sacred, and that most of all, every child deserves to receive all ten kindnesses from their mother. Liam's faults aside, I remain his mother, and as his mother, I have a duty to fulfill in protecting him, and sheltering him," Inara replied, steadying her nerves as she kept her head down.

She was met with a moment of silence, and then the hushed whispers of the sisters as they discussed amongst themselves.

The minutes felt like hours, as Inara tried to keep her mind peaceful, and the sisters decided her son's fate.

Finally, the elder spoke; "Wise of you to quote one of Buddha's scriptures. Then again, I have always known that you were wiser beyond your years, Inara. Know I do not mean insult when I question this turn of events, and that it is only my wish to see you prosper as I once had years ago when you were but a student. We all had very high hopes for you, and only want to see them fulfilled. Even though you have come back to us, you remain tied down to your troubled past by this boy, and thus, will never be able to move forward."

A pause.

"But, we are not cruel nor unjust. We share sympathy for you in grieving for your lost son, and the sisters have reached a unanimous decision; we will permit your leave of absence for as long as necessary to retrieve him. However, there are ground rules to be met, and you must adhere to them as a proper companion, regardless of the circumstances," the elder told her.

Another sister spoke up just as Inara stood up on her feet to thank them. "Remember, you still represent the Guild, and this House, no matter where it is you go. You'd do well not to forget that."

The threat was thinly masked to even an untrained eye, but it certainly did not go unnoticed by Inara's tempered mind. She bowed, and thanked them before exiting the great hall. "I won't. Thank you."

She took her leave, still hearing the faint whispers of the sisters as they talked about her. She focused on the sound of her shoes clicking against the tiled floor instead. She wouldn't trouble herself with their gossip, she'd gotten what she wanted, and there were other, more pressing matters that required her attention. Like the fact that Malcom Reynolds had wandered off and gotten himself yet another hefty reward fee on his head, along with his crewmates. The man just couldn't stay out of trouble for more than a minute, and Inara couldn't help but wonder what he'd done this time to warrant such an exuberant number for his life.

Alive.

They wanted him alive, though.

Despite Sheydra's persistence that she shouldn't, Inara was taking her leave early, and heading to Persephone to intercept whatever disaster was going to befall the ragtag crew she'd grown too attached to.

"And, what exactly, will a companion be able to do for them in that sort of situation? Do you really believe you can simply talk your way out of something like this? Inara, you could be out of your league here, I don't think it's wise of you to meddle in this man's affairs!" she'd warned her in a desperate attempt to stall the strong headed woman.

Inara had stood her ground, however. "Liam is on that ship. Kaylee, Simon, River...He can't possibly protect them all from this. That's my son, and my friends. I can't just sit here and wait for something bad to happen to them. I just can't."

Sheydra didn't understand. She couldn't possibly. The risk was too great, even for a troublesome child like Liam. It seemed that even her closest sister was thinking what everyone else was also too afraid to say; it would be better off for all of Inara's past troubles to simply go away.

"A fresh start. That's what such a pretty little girl like you needs. A chance to start anew. All the memories, the girl you once were...you'll find that it will all just go away..."

Inara swallowed back the echo of the voice from her head, and focused at putting the last of her things together.

"For a boy you seem to be so proud to claim as your son, I find it strange how you never wanted to acknowledge the fact when he was still here with us...," Sheydra all but whispered in a small voice.

Inara turned on her then, inky black curls bouncing with her sudden movement. She glared daggers at the older woman. "How dare you...?!"

The fairer lady did not give in to the anger, and instead, sighed in defeat. "I only worry for you, sister. Years ago, you showed up on our doorstep with a baby almost full grown in your belly, without even a word of explanation. All you told me was that you needed help, and that so long as the child was to be raised here, he would never come to know of his birth mother. I accepted this, and, respecting your privacy, I've never asked how you'd come to be in such a careless situation, nor whom the father was...Standing here now, I'm still reluctant to ask the questions, however, one can only wonder at your sudden change of heart, Inara...," Sheydra explained calmly.

She wanted to speak, to answer to the accusations, but she found that her tongue did not want to work. Instead, she lowered her head, and wondered at what words she could speak that would save her even an ounce of grace at this moment. She heard Sheydra take a few soft steps towards her, and then the woman grabbed her by the chin, and forced her to meet her ice blue gaze.

She searched her eyes for a moment, before speaking; "I won't ask those questions, not even now, so don't be afraid, sister...However, I will ask you this, if you can answer it truthfully; is it sincerely your son's life that you wish to so foolishly save...or your Browncoat lover's?"

"Stay. On. The. Boat. Repeat after me," Mal instructed to his antsy mechanic.

Kaylee rolled her eyes in exasperation, and did not do as she was told.

"Uh, uh, uh! None of that, l'il lady!" Mal chided, wagging his index finger before the bouncy brunette.

"How come you're takin' River, and I gotta stay put?!" Kaylee whined.

Mal sighed, and raised his fingers to his temple. "Look, I don't like bringin' albatross along, either, but fact o' the matter is, she can sense things, and I'm gonna be needin' that ability while dealin' with the likes of Badger, alright? 'Sides, from what I gather, the yīgè rén de xiǎoguǐ seems to have takin' a shinin' to her. Might just work in our favor," the captain rationalized.

Kaylee folded her arms over her chest, seemingly unsatisfied with his answer.

"On top of that, someone's gotta stay on the ship. High chance this rendezvous goes wrong, Badger's gonna come for that cargo. You take Serenity, and get her off planet. We gotta stick to the plan, Kaylee, and ain't no one more fit to take care of this ship than you. It ain't that I don't want you havin' any shore leave, it's just that...with the way things are, we can't risk anyone gettin' caught," Mal tried again, this time with more sincerity.

Even the captain was unsure with his plan this time around, and it was enough to get the ever optimistic Kaylee into a more worried state. She'd been there when they'd discussed the possibilities, the outcomes, and what to do in each situation. But, with Liam on the ship, and a cargo worth more than the bounty on their heads combined, there were certain risks they simply couldn't afford to take. It had been a full blown argument about River joining in on the encounter, with more than a few protests from Simon. Considering her latest relapses, no one was sure it was a good move to be bringing the psychic along, despite the advantages.

"No. Absolutely not! River is barely in any condition to pilot the ship, how do you expect her to deal with a room full of men with nothing but violence on their minds and weapons in their hands?" Simon had countered during the discussion over a rather bleak dinner.

"Seems you may be forgettin' that your gorram moonbrain sister saved our skins back on Miranda, includin' yours...Creepifin', if you ask me, the way she handled an entire army and walked out without even a tickle," Jayne had piped up, watching the aforementioned girl with an uneasy expression as he recalled those events.

Simon had turned to Jayne with a heated glare. "There is no way I'm putting her in that sort of position again. It's not a switch, Jayne. You can't just turn her into whatever is most convenient to you at the time! She's a human being. And she happens to be unwell at the moment."

Surprisingly enough, it was the captain that had spoken up in an effort to diffuse the situation. "Doc, I ain't sayin' I wanna do this anymore than you do, but, we're gonna be needin' to take some risks if we're gonna pull outta this in one piece. Badger's got the cargo on his mind. Even if we leave River on the ship, she'll be in just as much danger as she'd be if we take her with us. I don't expect her to...do anythin'. Just give us fair warnin' if something seems amiss. Zoe, Jayne, and I will take care of the fighting, if there is any."

Simon had not been convinced. "Yes, please do explain to me again the benefits of walking directly into a trap, while knowing it's a trap? I can't seem to wrap my head around that part of the plan."

"First off, we ain't got much direction on this job. Its clear Badger left out some details before we accepted the damn thing. Don't you find it a l'il strange that we pull off the cargo from Sihnon, and then there's a mysterious reward number on all our heads? On top of that, we all know that he's a man of business. Badger won't resort to violence unless he has to. He'd rather get what he wants in a transaction, it's the way he works, and our lives are rather valuable at the moment. That's where your sister comes in; she's a wild card, but she's saved us more times than I can count. Maybe you should start havin' a little more faith in her. Besides all that, River is a human being, so I do believe she's got the right as any to make her own damn decision on the matter," Zoe had explained sternly, her arms folded over her chest, before nodding in the direction of the youngest girl sitting quietly at the table.

Everyone in the room seemed to have had their gazes drawn to River, awaiting her own reply to the question no one had been able to ask. The room had gone quiet, until River had screeched back her chair to stand up, acknowledging everyone around her at last. But her eyes had only been on Simon when she mustered up a sad, little smile.

"You've always done your part. Let me do mine," she had said, but her words were a whisper, and were only directed at her brother.

She had then walked to Liam, crouched down before him, and stroked the soft, honey coloured curls on his head. "I'll only be gone a little while. Just do what I told you, and everything will be okay," she had said to him.

Kaylee remembered her words vividly, and the look on Liam's youthful, frightened face that followed after her warning. She had wanted to ask Mal about it, but the decision had been made, and Simon, Kaylee, and Liam were forced to stay back on the ship while the others dealt with Badger.

"You're worried about him, aren't you?" Kaylee's expression softened as she gleaned something she never thought was actually possible.

She hadn't realized she'd spoken out loud until Mal had paused in his tracks only a few feet away, his back still to her. Kaylee smiled sweetly, and hugged her arms as she got a few chills. "You're worried more about the l'il one than the actual cargo. Why, cap'n, how could I have ever called you a monster?" She teased as he turned around with a curious expression on his face.

"Ain't that the cutest thing?" She grinned, and before Mal could argue the point, she skipped off happily, attending to her assigned tasks.

He'd been so small when he was born. He'd come out earlier than anyone would have liked, but the good news was that he was healthy. He was beautiful, and healthy; Inara remembered that part better than any. The whole birthing process had been a blur of pain and emotions and time, but the moments he was swaddled against her breast, she remembered vividly.

It had been so unusual. She was a mother. The feeling was alien to her, and she wondered at the tiny bundle in her arms, so fragile and weak and helpless. She should have wanted to love him, to protect him, to keep him safe, and part of her did. But the other part warred with that instinct, told her exactly what he was a reminder of. Not a day would go by where she wouldn't be judged, where he wouldn't be judged and ridiculed. They had advised her to be rid of him; that his life was better limited to whatever growth he endured inside her womb, and nothing more.

But she couldn't.

She couldn't make that decision, and so time had made it for her.

The little life she held was already considered troublesome, already had enemies, and already had lost all who would love him. It brought tears to her eyes, and not of joy as what they'd all mistaken them for. They were tears of grief, because she'd brought a life into the 'verse, and he would only grow to hate her for it.

Only, in that moment, he loved her. He loved her more than anything, and it was born of the purest intentions. She was the heartbeat he'd listened to while he'd been safe, the blood pumping through his veins that kept him alive, the air he couldn't yet breathe. She was everything to his uncomprehending mind.

But she knew better.

Her body may have been sustaining his life, nourishing it, but he had been the one who had so desperately fought for it. He had defied all the odds. When everything had been against him, he'd turned the tide, and come out still fighting.

Premature he may have been, and so tiny as a result, but Inara could only think of strength when she looked down at his little form.

Strong-willed little warrior.

"Liam, did you want to say goodbye to everyone before they leave?" Kaylee asked the fidgeting toddler.

He nodded shyly, and shuffled his feet.

As she led him, hand in hand, he asked her in an innocent voice, "Why do they have to go?"

"They gotta keep us, and Serenity safe. A hero's work is never done, ya know," Kaylee replied.

He didn't say anything more on the subject. By the time they reached the cargo bay, Mal, Zoe, Jayne, and River were all geared up to go. It looked odd seeing the typically nimble psychic wearing so much clothing for a change. She was picking at it in annoyance, but knew better than to take it off because of the armor Mal had forced her to wear underneath. Simon was adding some final touches, clearly still very much uncomfortable with the situation.

"You don't have to go, mèimei. They gave you a choice. If you don't feel up to it, just say so. No one is going to be upset if you'd rather stay on the ship," Simon whispered to her, desperation easily found in his tone of voice.

"You're such a worrywart," River replied, snorting at him and rolling her eyes at his futile attempts to change her mind.

Simon didn't seem to have a response to that.

By the time everyone was ready to leave, Liam gave River a lingering hug, and looked to be on the verge of tears.

"No need to cry, l'il one. They'll come back in no time," Kaylee soothed him, rubbing his back after River had let go.

"No, they don't. They never do...," he hiccupped, trying his best to fight off the urge to cry.

Kaylee didn't seem to understand Liam's explanation, and felt a little useless and alone as everyone else was out of earshot by now. Just as Mal pressed the button to open the airlock, Liam took off in a sprint, as fast as his little legs could carry him. Kaylee and Simon could barely react by the time he was halfway gone.

Zoe, Jayne, Mal, and River all turned to acknowledge the sudden change, only to note that the child had tackled Mal's right leg in a feverish embrace.

"Y-you h-have to p-promise to c-come back," he hiccupped, a trail of tears wetting his pale, puffy cheeks.

No one seemed to have an adequate response to the scene before them. No one seemed to know what to say, not even the captain himself. Mal looked around at his crew, silently asking for help because he was at a total loss for words as the little boy cried against his leg. Kaylee looked heartbroken as she watched Liam, Simon looked curious and shocked, Zoe seemed to be showing concern for the boy, Jayne looked more contemplative and understanding than usual, and River seemed to be lost in thought. Not one made a move to pry the kid off of him, and so the captain was left to figure it out on his own.

With a deep sigh, he picked the kid off his leg, crouched down to his level, and held him firmly by the shoulders. He stared into his face, while Liam tried to wipe his eyes, still sniffling.

"Stop that. I ain't leavin' my ship in the hands of no baby, you hear me? And I sure as hell ain't leavin' my crew to no weepin' sap. You wanna be captain one day? Best start actin' like one now. When I get back, I expect everythin' to be in order. If anythin's amiss, I'm takin' you right back to 'Nara. Are we straight?"

Liam continued to sniffle at Mal's harsh words, still not opening his eyes to look at him. Mal gave him a quick shake, and repeated himself in a firmer voice; "I said, are we straight?"

Slowly, the crying quieted down a bit, until Liam was forced to open his eyes and look at the planes of Mal's face through a blurry gaze. He nodded once, his nose still dripping, his tears fresh, and his large eyes red and aching.

"Good." Mal stood to his feet, turned on his heel, and left, motioning for the rest of his crew to follow.

A swirl of dust lifted as he walked out, kissing the ends of his long brown coat, but he never looked back once.

When they were all gone, Simon and Kaylee joined the boy as he stared after them.

"What did River tell you when she told you everything would be okay, Liam?" Simon asked, trying to bring the boy's mind back to happier times.

Liam wiped at his running nose with his sleeve before chanting the words. "'Hide and seek is good to play, except during the night. Stay away from the cargo bay, or the bear will give you a fright'."

A/N: Crazy busy for me lately, so yeah this update is coming late. I had initially intended to add a few more scenes to this, but felt like it would have dragged it on. Not to mention, I wanted to cut it off at a pretty intriguing hint at what's to come. The next chapter will obviously have tons of stuff going on, and I'm a bit nervous! I hope I can continue to deliver with this little ficlet, and as usual, feedback is appreciated.

Translations:

yīgè rén de xiǎoguǐ : imp of a man

mèimei : little sister