A/N: Hello all! Sorry for taking so long to update, I've been busy with school, scouting, and dance. I realized I had left this at a bad place when I watched Firefly on SciFi. Now I have some free time and should be able to update more regularly. Thanks for the reviews, I'm glad to know my story isn't lame or hated.


Chapter 3: Regrets

"What do you mean?" askedMal as the crew hushed. "Can't ya go back home?" Sida's green eyes filled with tears, and it was a few moments before she could answer. She finally squeaked, "Reavers come, Mal. Pa hid me before they broke into our house. He and Ma tried fightn'em, but there were so many. I could see them from where I was hid, and I watched them tear Ma and Pa apart. They weren't the only ones lost either. The yao mó pulled out, but one got left in our house." Sida began to sob now, unable to speak for a moment. She pulled down the neck of her peasant shirt to show a series of scars. They looked like human teeth marks, though somewhat altered. Mal and the others stared in shock as she recovered herself. "The neighbors got him before he could do much damage. I thought I was goin' to die."

As she finished the story, Mal gathered her into a brotherly hug, shushing her and trying to comfort her. This had hit him rather hard, everyone could see it. "It's all right, Mei-mei, you can stay," he whispered to her, cradling her sobbing form in his arms.

Sida stayed with Kaylee that night; Mal was still on the fence about she and Simon sharing quarters. Mal lay in his room, thinking over the news Sida had dropped on him. He hadn't visited home in a long time, but felt he should have been there, for his parents and for Sida. He heard a soft knock on his door. "Come in," he said, sitting up, bare chested as he didn't like sleeping in his shirt. Inara entered in a silky pink nightgown. "I didn't think you'd be sleeping," she said, sitting beside him on the bed. Mal fixed his eyes on the floor. "I shoulda been there," he said, his voice dripping with disgust for himself.

Inara laid a hand on his shoulder. "Mal, you didn't know. Don't blame yourself for this," she said, somewhat soothing and scolding at the same time. "I didn't stay in touch, didn't tell them where to find me. Sida's been trampin' all over the verse looking for me, not knowin' what trouble she could get into." He looked up at her, his eyes full of sorrow. Inara felt herself leaning in towards him, and knew he was leaning closer as well. Their lips would have eventually touched if she hadn't stood up abruptly. "I can't do this, he'll be to jealous when I make and keep an appointment." she thought, shaking her head a bit to clear it. She knew she shouldn't be falling in love. "It's late, we should get some sleep," Inara announced, her voice not its usual calm. "You're right," said Mal laying back down as Inara exited. They exchanged good nights. In spite of his anger with himself, he smirked slightly when she left.