SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1A/N: Most of the characters in this story belong to Mutant Enemy and the genius Joss Whedon. I took a little poetic license in creating a background for Mal, although I would love to be proved wrong. Enjoy. Reviews are always welcome.
PS – this occurs shortly after War Stories and Objects in Space
Mal literally stared at the radio for a few seconds, before managing to collect himself enough to finish up his dealings and get back to the ship. "Gentleman, it was a pleasure doin' business with you, but if you excuse me I really must go." He said and was out the door before they even had a chance to reply. He didn't know whether to be overjoyed about seeing his long lost love, or to be nervous about seeing her after so much had passed. All he knew was that he wanted to be back on Serenity as soon as possible and he did just that. He even managed to beat the girls back to the ship.
Wash had just walked into the cargo bay, when he saw the Captain run up the ramp. "What's the matter Captain? Should I be preppin' for launch or something, cause I was just about to go have a drink?"
"No, don't worry. Are the girls back yet!" Mal said, sounding more urgent than he had meant to.
"Noooo, are they supposed to be?" Wash said a bit confused.
Mal just ignored his question, and started pacing. Wash was just about to prompt the captain about what was going on, when Zoë came up the ramp, flanked by Inara and Kaylee. Edy was walking behind the front three.
Zoë nodded to the captain and said, "Have a good evening Captain." She then grabbed Wash's arm and the four of them continued on into the common room to give the two some room. Once they reached their destination, Wash voiced the questions that had been nagging him ever since being drug out of the cargo bay. "Who was that? Why did we all just leave? And, I thought you were supposed to be out painting the town, not bringing strange women back to the ship."
"That was the captain's fiancée" was all Zoë had to say.
"Oh, well I guess I'll just stay here then. I was just about to go for a drink you know."
"That's nice …" Zoë said, wondering what the captain's reaction to Edeline was.
**In the Cargo Bay**
Mal and Edeline stared at each other for several minutes, just taking in each other. Often times in prison, her image of Mal had been the only thing keeping Edeline going. The thought that they might see each other again was enough to give her hope. Later on, one of the guards had overheard her in her sleep, and had told his superiors that she had been engaged to a sergeant in the infantry. The next day they had showed her a tape of Malcolm being shot in the head after surrendering at the battle of Serenity. For weeks she had, simply not believed it, she kept thinking to herself He would never surrender like that, he rather die trying. After a few months she came to accept his death, and instead of clinging to the futile hope that they would be reunited, she tried to survive so that he had not died in vain. And now, here he stood, before her very eyes. All be it, he looked much older and much more worn, but it was really him. Gone was the boyish enthusiam with which he had faced every new challenge, replaced instead by a knowledge of the harsh 'verse. He still had the same glint in his eyes, but it shared the space with an immense sorrow and tiredness. He had grown and changed since she last saw him, but she was sure she had too. She also noticed that he was moving rather stiffly, as if in pain, and was walking with a slight limp.
Mal, too, was drowning in his own thoughts and memories. His last memory of her was as she kissed him right before leaving. Three months later, he was sitting in a foxhole, rejoicing after a small victory. Spirits are high, the men had food, and there was a temporary break in the bombardment. They had even got some mail through. It was then that he received a letter from Edeline's, mother the Anderson had been captured and that the Alliance *@#$ (something along the lines of bastards) had killed everyone on board. His world had come crumbling down around him. His legs wouldn't hold him any longer, he was forced to sit down and just stare into the space in front of him. Zoë had come over and tried to comfort him, but it was useless. That day he had vowed to never give up the fight against the alliance, whether it be in the form of a formal war, or just quiet defiance. Now she was standing right in front of him clearly alive and breathing. She had changed a lot in the seven years they had been apart, but it was still her. She looked older and worn. She was now gaunt and stiff, her eyes were tired; but he could still see a ghost of her former self in the smile that was forming on her lips as she realized it was really him. Even though it looked like she had been drug from one end of the galaxy to the other she was still beautiful in Mal's eyes. "Edy" he uttered, still in shock from seeing her again, " its really you? You're alive."
"Oh, Malcolm, they told me you were dead." Edy finally breathed.
"I was just goin' to say the same thing."
Edy finally gave into the overwhelming urge to make contact. A part of her just wanted to make sure that he was really there. She flung her arms around his neck and just stood there for a few minutes. "Its been so long, Mal, its been so very long. We don't even know each other any more." She said still clinging to him.
He simply kissed her on the forehead, saying "We have al the time in the 'verse to get reacquainted"
He winced s she pressed against his sore chest. As she pulled away he gave a short laugh and said , "Aren't we a lovely pair, I can barely move and you look like you haven't eaten for weeks."
"Yeah"
"Come on, let's go get something to eat."
**Common Room**
"Everyone, I'd like y'all to meet our newest passenger, Edeline Störrisherengel" Mal said as they walked into the common room.
"Edy, you've already met the girls, and this is Wash, Zoë's husband. In the corner is Doctor Simon Tam and his sister River, and the preacher is Shepard Book. I fear we might have to go collect Jayne with the mule, but otherwise this is my crew." Mal said as he introduced everyone.
