I have to just note this, I always seem to forget my disclaimer, Except for Jo Macleod the rest of the gang belongs to Joss and I'm just enjoying my play time in his Verse. Also, I have to explain that this part of the story is short, but important...it took me six whole rewrites to get what I felt was needed...I have a hard time with Inara since I'm not a fan...LOL, maybe that's why I picked Jo for Mal instead. :) So take this is you will, there will be more...it's just takin me more time then my last story to get it the way I want to express it. Enjoy and Reviews are as always welcome and wanted!

Mal sighed, he knew what he had to do next and he was unsure how to approach it or even what to say. He and Inara had never been a couple the way he and Jo where now. There would never be anything between them except friendship, they'd been through a lot together since the day that Simon and River Tam had boarded his ship. He would never deny that there had been an attraction, he couldn't…that was why he'd told Jo about Inara in just that light. He'd seen the look that had crossed her face when he'd said the word companion, but he'd let it go. Jo would most likely get along with Inara he didn't doubt that for a moment. Her words, spoken to him only a short time before meant more to him then he'd let on. She trusted him she'd said, she knew he loved her…hell she'd told him she saw in his eyes the same look he gave Serenity. She was right, he saw Jo as a freedom of sorts, he could be himself with no holds bared and that made him love her even more. If told only a few months before that he'd be standing here happily wed he would have said that the teller was completely tweaked.

With Inara, it had always been a fight to hold in what he was truly thinking, feeling. She twisted him in nine different directions and nothing had ever made sense. With Jo, it had been so very different, it felt so natural with her, as if she where the other half to his whole. He sighed again and shook his head rubbing a thumb and forefinger over the bridge of his nose fighting the small headache that was starting there. He had no idea how to begin, but he had to speak to her sometime. He forced his feet into motion and moved down the corridor, down the steps and toward the guest quarters. Zoe had told him that Inara's guest was a young woman by the name of Autumn, and that she was a companion in training. He wondered why Inara had been sent to bring her to Sihnon, it didn't seem like a duty that she would perform. He got there all too soon and he stood staring at the door a moment in silence. Finally he reached out and knocked. Only a moment later the door slid open to reveal a young girl nearer then not to River's age.

"You must be Autumn, I'm Captain Reynolds…"

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance Captain." She said softly bowing at the waist.

It was then that he saw Inara, she was standing at the back of the small room watching him closely. "Inara…your looking good, been a while since we've seen you. How ya been?"

"Mal, I'm good…I hear congratulations are in order. You're a newlywed?"

He smiled, "Her name's Jordona Macleod…was Macleod…" He gave a soft laugh, "She took my last name so I guess it's Jordona Reynolds now." Funny he hadn't thought of that before now…it sounded nice even to his ears. He sighed, "So…we're taking you ladies to Sihnon I hear."

Inara nodded, "I hope we're not taking you out of the way…I know it was short notice but…"

"No, no…it's fine." He interrupted, "We where just headed out to the outer rim, it's not a problem at all. Uh, before I forget…Jo asked that I make sure you'll both be joinin' us for dinner. Her cookin's the best you'll taste on board, even Kaylee says so."

Inara smiled, "We wouldn't think of passing that up, it'll be nice to meet the woman who finally got you to agree to marriage."

He cleared his throat and bit back a short reply saying instead, "I'm the one who suggested tying the not actually…she didn't expect it from me…I'm glad she said yes."

Did she just blush he wondered with a slight look of surprise. "She's a special woman ." He said, "You'll understand when you meet her. She'll be announcin' when the meals ready…so…" He backed up a step.

"Thank you…we'll be there." Inara said stepping toward him then.

He cleared his throat, "I'd better see to the helm before then, I'll see you at meal time." With that he turned to go but before he got far Inara called to him. He turned back to face her.

They stared at each other in silence then for a heartbeat, "I'm happy for you Mal…truly." She told him.

He nodded, "Thank you, I appreciate it." With that he left her and headed for the bridge to speak to River about a course set. He didn't see Inara's face fall as he turned, she knew he wouldn't have known what he'd just done. She could only hope that Jordona Macleod made him as happy as he claimed, she knew he hadn't been lying to her. Zoe had told her from the start it was like that, and even that the rest of the crew agreed that they where meant each other. She sighed and turned back toward Autumn with a sad smile. The young girl was watching her carefully, "Are you alright Inara?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm just sad is all."

"You loved him?" The girl asked her.

Inara thought about that a minute before finally answering, "A long time ago I think I did."

"And now?"

"And now his heart belongs to someone else."