Addicted

by charmedangel025

Even though Mal has made his feeling for Inara clear, he can't shake his feelings for someone from his past: His Wife. When she comes back into his life, she seems to be the only one who can unlock the secrets of River's past.

3. Gaining Trust

Addicted

Chapter 3: Gaining Trust

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: If I said I owned them, I lied.

Author's Note: Okay, this is a REALLY short one. It's just kinda here to get the story rolling.

It's like I can't see anything

Nothing but you

Mal was sitting on the stairs, down in the hold. He had zoned out, thinking about Nivia. A thousand thoughts filled his head. He didn't even notice River sit down next to him.

"Water." She said. Mal snapped out of his thoughts. He looked at River. She looked almost confused.

"I see water. There was a lot of it. You were scared." She said quietly.

"We met in the rain." Nivia said from behind her. Mal stood up. "River, this is-"

"Nivia. I know." Mal, too looked confused. "I'm River." She said, sweetly, approaching Nivia. "So, you two met... in the rain? That doesn't make any sense. When it rains, people go inside. They don't like getting wet."

Nivia smiled. "Not me. I love the rain. I have a tendency to go outside and dance in it." River smiled. That sounded fun. "I love the feeling of the rain hitting my skin," Nivia began to explain, "I was lying down, in my yard. Mal thought I was in trouble. He shook me and startled me." She laughed. "I-"

River laughed, too. "You hit him."

"How did you-"

"Nivia," Mal cut in, "Can we go upstairs? Talk?"

"Uh, sure." She smiled, and then they walked up the stairs, and towards Mal's room, passing Simon on the steps.

"I like her, I can see trust in her. (A/N: I know that makes no sense, but this is River) And she's nice." She told her brother. Then, she smiled.

"I think I'll tell her things."