Hi everyone I'm back, sorry it's been a while been really busy so had to put writing to the background for a while but I'm back and should hopefully be updating more often.

6 Years Ago

"So me and Zoe will meet at this point." Mal says, as he points at the at map of the battlefield, "Buffy you take the front, you're our shadow, get into position and clear out as many of them as possible." Buffy looks up from her gun and nods swiftly before turning back to cleaning the gun, Mal sighs slightly before continuing "The lieutenant will wait from word from us, before he can call for air support, so this needs to go down right. Bendis cover us from here. If this goes to plan, we'll win this gorram war tonight."
"Yes, Sir." Zoe says before grabbing the plans and making her way to the other end of the camp.

As the other soldiers disappear to their positions to keep watch, Mal turns back to Buffy, only to spot a blonde speck of hair heading into one of the tents.
He takes a deep breath before quickly walking towards the tent and poking his head inside, "Hey." He says.
Buffy turns to Mal before quickly turning away "Hey." She says as she reaches down for her bag, "Your plan..." She says hoping to end the awkward silence "It's good. This could work Mal."
Buffy grabs her rucksack and throws it over her shoulder before turning to him "I better get ahead with the scoutty scout scout on my hiding place."
Buffy moves to head for the exit but Mal grabs her arm as she tries to move past him, Buffy looks up at him "Let go."
"Talk to me." He asks her, his eyes practically begging her.
Buffy sighs deeply "We talked Mal."
"No. Cause if we had really I would have gotten you to agree."

Buffy scoffs, she dumps her bag on the ground and turns to face him fully, her arms crossing as she looks up at him, an unconvinced look on her face "Oh, really?"
Mal merely smirks "Yep."
Buffy rolls her eyes "You're really full of yourself you know that right?"
Mal smiles softly before looking at her seriously "I meant what I said, Buff."
"No, you didn't." She says, her voice getting caught in her throat.
Mal places both his hands on her cheeks "Buff, you know I never say anything, I don't gorram mean."
Buffy arches an eyebrow "What about the time, where you said that you would give your arm and leg for a sheep made out of cheese which could fly."
Mal freezes, as a frown of confusion covers his face "When did I say that? Don't remember that."
Buffy smirks slightly at the memory "Probably best. You wore a dress that night."
Mal's eyes widen "I what!? What the gorram—" Mal cuts himself off "Never mind. Look that's not what we're discussing. Buffy, when we end this war tonight all I know bout tomorrow is that I wanna be with you."
Buffy looks up at him, her eyes soft as tears fill them "You may not think I meant it..." He goes on "...And yeah, the timing was Zhí shǎizi, but Buff, you are the gorram greatest thing that has happened
to me. And if anyone asks I'll deny it but...you are my life, and I want to spend it with you."

Before Buffy can say anything Mal leans down and kisses her softly, she kisses him back clinging to him like it's the last chance she'll have, as they pull away they are both breathing heavily. Mal places a small kiss to her forehead before leaning his forehead against her own. He then tilts places his finger under her chin and tilts her head upwards slightly, looking deeply into her eyes "Marry me, after this gorram war. Tomorrow."
Slowly a smile breaks onto Buffy's face and she can only say one simple word "Yes."

Present Day:

"You seriously wore a dress?" Buffy asks Mal with a smirk on her face as they walk around the celebration party "I thought that was supposed to be Zoe."
Mal chuckles "Tactics, woman. Needed her in the back. With you all refusing to put it on and deciding to play babysitter to the two kids instead, so had to do what I had to do."
Buffy smiles "I don't wear granny clothes, but I'm sure it looked amazing on you."
"That it did. Besides, those soft cotton dresses feel kinda nice. There's a whole airflow."
Buffy chuckles "Yeah, well I know you like dresses Mal, remember it's not the first time you've worn one."
Mal's eyes widen "And we don't speak of that."
"Yes, captain."

Mal nudges her softly with his shoulder, she smiles at him before doing the same, Buffy then smirks "One problem Mal."
Mal stops and walks in front of her "And what's that?"
"Jayne was right, you ain't a pretty girl."
Buffy laughs as she walks past him, he just simply stares "I am so pretty!" He yells as he jogs after her.

Mal smiles as he watches Buffy dance around the fire with Inara, he barely notices the woman crouched in front of him who Jayne was leering at.
After the woman makes him drink something he is dragged onto the dance ground, he smiles at Buffy who merely chuckles at his current situation before heading back over to Inara.

After the ship had taken off Buffy is helping Mal put everything away, she places one of the large crates to the side only to have Mal appear behind her "It's a good haul." Buffy tells him as she straps down the crate.
Mal nods as he wraps his arms around Buffy's waist "Yeah."
Buffy freezes as she feels him wrap his arms around her, as he slowly starts kissing her neck she sighs in pleasure "You're in a good-ish mood."
"Why not. Got paid, hasn't happened in a while."
Buffy smiles before reluctantly pulling herself away from Mal, she turns to move some of the things they collected the previous day but notices someone sitting on the ground "Ahh!" Buffy yells as she jumps.

Mal grabs the blonde's arms "Buff? What is it?" Mal turns to where she had been standing and spots the girl "Who the hell are you?"
The girl looks up at Mal "What do you mean?"
The girl stands as Mal speaks "I think I was pretty clear. What are you doing on my boat?"

Buffy turns to Mal "I'm gonna go get Zoe."
Buffy quickly heads out of the room before Mal can say anything. Mal huffs before turning to the girl "Why are you here?" He asks again.
"You know I'm to cleave to you."
"To wubba who?"
The girl stares up at him innocently "Did Elder Gommen not tell you?"
"Tell me what? Wh—who are you?"
"Mr. Reynolds, sir, I'm your wife."

Mal continues to stare at the woman, frozen in shock "Could you repeat that, please?"
"I am your wife. That was your agreement with Elder Gommen since he hadn't cash or livestock—"
Mal interjects "I-I'm sorry. Go back to the part where you're my wife. Cause I've had a wedding, don't remember there being anything of the sorts last night"
"I don't please you?" She asks, sadly.

Mal continues to stare at her, as Buffy, Zoe and Jayne enter the room "You can't please me. You never met me. You can't be my wife."
"Wife?" Buffy asks as she enters with Zoe.
Mal turns to her panicked, just as Jayne speaks up "You got a wife? All I got was that dumb-ass stick sounds like it's rainin'. How come you get a wife?"
"I didn't." Mal argues as he turns to Buffy who had her arms crossed "We're not married." He says gesturing to the girl.
"I'm sorry that I shame you." The girl says sadly as she looks down at the ground.
"You don't shame me. Zoe, would you get Wash?"
Zoe nods "Buffy's gonna kill you." She whispers before walking over to the radio.

Before Mal can say anything Zoe's voice comes in over the radio all across the ship "This is Zoe. We need all personnel in the cargo bay."
Mal turns to her "All? I said Wash."
Buffy speaks up "No Zoe's right, I mean shouldn't everyone have the chance to celebrate your nuptials. I know I'm just thrilled." She says sweetly, Mal could hear the anger and sarcasm in her voice however.
"Buffy—There's-there's no bliss." He says in a panic "I don't know this girl. I didn't marry her. Didn't touch her."
"Then can I know her?" Jayne asks as he continues to stare at the girl.
"Jayne!" Zoe yells "Don't sully this."

"Who's the new recruit?" Shepard Book as he comes down the stairs while Kaylee and Inara enter the cargo bay with Simon and River.
Zoe smirks "Everybody, I want you all to meet...Mrs. Reynolds"
"You got married?" Kaylee asks with a gasp.
Simon just stares in confusion "Well, that's, uh—congratulations.
Wash pipes in "We'd always hoped you two kids would get together. Who is she?"
"She's not my wife!" Mal yells; the girl starts to cry and Kaylee tries to comfort her "Captain!"

Mal shakes his head "She can't be my wife! I'm already married!"
"Mal!" Buffy yells.
Buffy turns to see everyone staring in shock, except Zoe who just looked amused.

"What do you mean you're already married?" Kaylee says.
Buffy and Mal glance at each other but before either can say anything Wash speaks up "You and Buffy. I knew it! When I found that photo of her in your pocket I knew it!"

"Shut up!" Buffy and Mal yell before the blonde glares angrily at Mal "What is wrong with you! Are you intentionally dense?"
Mal turns to face her "I didn't know!"
"So you two are married?" Inara asks.
"Yes." Mal says.
Buffy glares "Not for long at this rate. And legally you're still a widow. So enjoy your honeymoon captain." Buffy gives him a mock solute before leaving the room.
"Buffy!" Mal yells before noticing the girl still crying "Would you stop crying!"
"God Mal, could you be a human being for 30 seconds!" Inara yells "Don't destroy this girl, like you've most probably just destroyed your relationship with Buffy."
Inara glares at him angrily before going after Buffy.

Buffy is cleaning the scythe when someone enters her quarters "Mal, I swear I will batter you."
"It's not Mal." Inara says as she lowers herself from the ladder.
Buffy sighs in relief "Hey." She says as she places the scythe to the side and leans back on the bed.
"So..." Inara says as she sits next to Buffy on the bed "You and Mal are married."
Buffy nods slowly "Technically."
"How long?"
"6 years. Although I was missing and being held captive for 4 of those years, so it's more like 2."
"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Inara asks, slightly confused as to why Buffy and Mal would keep it a secret.
Buffy takes a deep breath "For the past 4 years, I was tortured in almost every way imaginable. The alliance, they tried to find the key to my strength so they could put it in their soldiers. And I...I learnt that the only way for me to survive was to shut myself off. I let go of hope, of the idea of freedom, joy...I let go of Mal. I didn't want to, it's just what I had to do. To survive."
"So what changed?"
Buffy shrugs "Me. I was different, when the ass hat of a creep brought me onto this ship, and I saw Mal...all that pain and heartake just came rushing back. Believe me...I love Mal, I do, but...what he doesn't realise is that I'm no good. I didn't tell anyone cause I didn't want to give Mal hope that the woman he lost those years ago, was back, when in fact she died a long time ago."

Inara looks at the girl sadly "Buffy, she's still in there, otherwise Zoe wouldn't keep catching you and Mal together, and you wouldn't have been so hurt by what happened."
Buffy chuckles "Well when your husband marries another woman I think it calls for some couple counselling."
Inara laughs as well "Definitely."

Later Buffy is heading through the ship, when she hears someone call her name "Buffy!" Buffy rolls her eyes at Mal's voice and keeps on walking.
"Buffy! Buffy, please." He begs, he manages to catch her and grabs her hand but she immediately twists his hand behind his back "Don't touch me."
She releases him, before crossing her arms and glaring at him "What do you want, Mal?'
"Buffy, I am so sorry. Look I was drunk, I didn't mean to..."
"Marry another woman?" Buffy asks spitefully "Cause clearly you did, Mal."
"Look I didn't mean for this to happen."
"It doesn't matter, Mal. I don't wanna talk about this okay. So just leave me alone."

"So they're married?" Wash asks Zoe "Like married, married, Buffy and Mal."
Zoe nods "Yep. They got married the day after the war ended."
Wash's eyes widen "6 Years!?"
"And the captain never told us?" Kaylee says, feeling rather upset by this.
Zoe tries to explain "He thought she was dead, Kaylee. Mal didn't talk about Buffy because he didn't want to think about it, so he didn't talk about her."
Kaylee's eyes widen "Oh god, Buffy, what is wrong with the captain, marrying another girl."
"He was drunk." Wash argues.
Zoe shrugs "Him and Buffy would often get drunk and do stupid things, hell they raided a liquire store a couple weeks after they got married. They considered it their honeymoon."
Kaylee looks over at Zoe "Captain's gotta fix this."
Zoe nods "Yeah, before Buffy kicks his ass."

Later Buffy is doing tai chi in the hanger when she hears footsteps approaching her, Buffy sighs and closes her eyes trying to pretend that the person was not there.
"Buff." Mal says softly as he approaches her, when she doesn't stop what she is doing, he sighs and walks around to face her, as he sees her eyes closed he places a hand on her shoulder.

Almost immediately Buffy grabs his hand and twists it before pulling on it, causing him to flip through the air and land painfully on his back on the floor.
Buffy opens her eyes and looks down at Mal, who seems to have had to breath knocked out of him.
Buffy rolls her eyes "Seriously? You knew I was gonna do that."
Mal looks up at her and chuckles "Yeah, although I was hoping you'd be on top of me like old times."
Buffy scoffs "You're unbelievable." She pauses "You know what, you're a newlywed, go do what newlyweds do."

Buffy turns on him but suddenly Mal swings his leg out, his leg catches her ankles causing Buffy to drop to the ground, Mal then quickly takes the opportunity to crawl on top of her and pins her to the ground.
"Gorram it. You are gonna talk to me."
Buffy glares up at him "You really think you can make me?" She challenges "Don't make me hurt you Mal."
Mal arches an eyebrow as an idea comes to his head, an idea he knows is terrible but could get her to open up "You wanna beat me up go ahead." He sits up and straddles her "You wanna hit me in the face, go ahead."
Buffy looks at him oddly "Are you insane? You do realise I could kill you right."
Mal chuckles and stands "I know you Buff. You'll break my nose and feel better."

Buffy stands and scoffs at him before turning her back on him, Mal grabs her arm but she shakes him off violently "What do you want from me!?" Buffy yells.
"Anything. Gorram it Buffy beat me to shit, do something!"
Buffy punches him in the face sending him sprawling backwards, she takes a deep breath and looks at him sadly "I died. Not technically but...the girl that I was she died that day." She admits.
Mal looks up at her and slowly stands while rubbing his now bruised jaw"What day?"
"You know what day, Mal. You were a widow, you were supposed to move on, meet someone new."
Mal slowly walks towards her "Why would I do that?"
"I love you, but I'm not good for you Mal. You were supposed to move on. And now that you married to someone else, I...I hate it. I hate that you can make me like this, because I do wanna be with you and I—"
Before Buffy can finish her sentence Mal approach her and kisses her roughly.

As he pulls away she breaths heavily, "Spoke to the Shepherd." Mal tells her "Gonna make with a quick divorce, then you will be my only ball and chain."
Buffy chuckles slightly before slapping him on the arm "hùndàn"

Buffy and Mal make their upstairs but freeze when they spot Saffron cooking
"What the hell?" Buffy says as she watches the other woman walk around.
Saffron pauses and notices both Buffy and Mal.
Saffron smiles at Mal "I made you dinner." Saffron glares at Buffy before placing a plate on the table at Mal's usual place.
Mal glances at Buffy who shrugs "If you want that divorce, you gotta play nice." She says simply "But that doesn't mean I won't knock her off her ass."
Mal chuckles slightly before hearing Wash and Zoe enter the room, Mal groans "Something smells good." Wash says as he smells the food.
Zoe walks over to Buffy "You alright?"
Buffy nods and smirks slightly "Yeah, currently planning how to make Mal's life hell for the next few months as punishment."

Zoe chuckles as Mal shakes his head and moves his way over to the table "Having yourself a little supper, captain?" Zoe asks with a smirk.
Mal glares up at her "Don't wanna make her feel..." Mal takes a bite "It's damn tasty."
Buffy raises an eyebrow, causing Mal to mouth a sorry to her.
Wash stares intently at the food "Is there anymore where that came from?"
Saffron looks over at Mal "I didn't think to make enough for your friends. But everything's laid out if you'd like to cook For your husband." She says looking at Zoe before turning to Buffy "You could make the dessert for our husband as I made the main meal."

Both Buffy and Zoe stare at the girl before turning to each other with looks of disbelief covering their faces, Zoe then looks over at Wash who chuckles nervously "Isn't she quant. I'm just not hungry."
Buffy shakes her head then glances over at Mal "Don't even think about it, or I'll shove that carrot up your ass."
Mal gulps before looking down at his food.
Buffy sighs and takes a seat next to Zoe, Zoe looks over at Mal "Are you enjoying your own nubile little slave girl?"
Mal tries to argue "She made me dinner, what was I supposed to do."
"You better get the damn divorce..." Buffy tells him pointedly, "...cause if she tries to get me to cook for you again, I will throw you off the ship, mid flight."
Mal turns to Buffy "I will."
"Good, cause remember the little fact that you and I have not had sex in 4 years, I can easily make that 4 into a 10 or more."

Wash moves to grab a drink, he grabs Mal's cup but suddenly Saffron appears and latches onto his wrist "That's for me or the other Mrs Reynolds to do."
Buffy scoffs "Have at it honey. I don't wait on Mal."
Saffron takes the glass ignoring the shocked looks on everyone's faces, Buffy then turns to Mal "I am so glad I didn't take your last name."
Mal's eyes widen "You said you did!"
Buffy shrugs "Well I lie."
Mal places his fork down and looks over at Saffron "This is very nice, and if I hadn't already eaten—"
"You don't want to finish?" Saffron asks, a look of despair appearing across her face.
"No, I just...um, I have captain-y things to do. But truthfully, that's a fine meal. Thank you." Mal stands from his seat and glances at Buffy "We'll talk."
"Once you've fixed your mistake, there's a lot we need to talk about."
Mal moves past Saffron but freezes as she speaks "If you're done with supper would you like me to wash your feet?" Mal just stares at her before turning and leaving the room.

Later Buffy is in her room lying down in bed when she hears the door open, she turns on her side and spots Mal entering the room, Buffy rolls her eyes "Mr Reynolds, where's the Mrs?"
Mal shakes his head "You're not funny."
Buffy chuckles "I think I'm a little funny. Plus would you rather deal with funny Buffy, or scary Buffy."
Mal smiles slightly before moving to the other side of the bed and lying down next to her.
Buffy rolls onto her back and tilts her head to the side so she can look at Mal "I have something for ya." He tells her.
Buffy arches an eyebrow "Ooh, prezzies, gimme."
Mal chuckles and pulls the chain around his neck, he yanks it over his head "Close your eyes."
Buffy looks at him skeptically,Mal rolls his eyes "Trust me, gorramit."

Buffy huffs but does as he asks and closes her eyes "This doesn't mean you can boss me around all the time, you know."
"Yeah, yeah. I know, that's your job."

Buffy smiles before feeling something being placed on her left ring finger, her brows frown in confusion, she peaks an eye open and spots the ring on her finger "Your mother's ring." She realises.
Mal nods "I meant to give it to you, found it they day you were taken was gonna give it to you that night."
Buffy smiles sweetly "You're such a sap."
Mal rolls his eyes "Shut it. No one but you, can know."
"Your secret is safe with me."
Mal raises an eyebrow as he sniffs the room "What's that smell?"

Buffy shrugs "Your little wife number 2 decided to spray me with some weird ass perfume, which honestly gave me a migraine."
"She won't be here long, once we land, she's off."
Buffy nods and leans closer to Mal, Mal wraps an arm around her waist before kissing her softly.

Buffy responds and rolls herself on top of him as they continue to kiss, suddenly the two pull apart "Buff..." Mal says clearly very light-headed.
Buffy shakes her head feeling herself go slightly woozy, she takes a deep breath and realises something "Son of a bitch." She says weakly before passing out on Mal's chest.