Growing up on Shadow dinnertime had been an important event, it brought everyone together, let people share good food, laughter and the company of those around them. Mal had many fond memories of meals around his mother's dining room table, and over the last few years, the meals that the crew of Serenity had shared had turned out about the same, some good food, some good conversations and some strange company.

He had a feeling this was going to be one of the more memorable dinner's that this crew had ever shared. He moved from the bridge back down to the dining area. He could hear Kaylee, Simon and Jo laughing before he even got there. He stood just outside the door and listened to the conversation.

"He made you sit through it?" Kaylee asked with a snicker.

"He was intent on seeing just how much I'd sit through without finally getting sick or just plain up and leaving. He even ate while we watched these poor buggers get mauled by those nasty monsters."

Mal smiled, she was telling them about the scary movie he'd taken her to…he hadn't admitted it, hell he never would but he had actually wanted to see how far she'd get before getting sick or walking out of the movie. She deserved her dues, she'd made it all the way through and only looked a little green when it was over.

He stuck his head in and cleared his throat, "Uh…she picked the movie and she made me eat that popcorn by myself."

Jo laughed and shook her head coming around the counter with a large pot, she set it on the table and turned on him waving one gloved hand with a big smile, "You lie Malcolm Reynolds…you picked that movie!"

He laughed and taking a hold of the gloved hand pulled her forward and kissed her before pulling back with a laugh as he said, "Your right I did…" He looked at Kaylee as he said, "But she bought the popcorn and she looked a little green so I ate it." They where all laughing as Jayne and Zoe joined them a moment later.

"What's so funny?" Zoe asked.

"Jo and the Cap'n where just tellin' us about a movie they saw while they where away." Kaylee answered with a grin.

"Mal…everything's ready want to make an announcement so River, and our guests know it's time to eat?" Jo asked as she made to move the last dish to the table. It looked heavy and Mal watched as Jayne intercepted her, "Here…give me those things and I'll do it."

"Thanks." She told him handing off the gloves and turning to gather some last minute spices and spoons from behind her. Mal hit the comm. button and said, "Alright, anyone hungry needs to come to the dining area, dinners on the table…River this includes you, put it on Auto pilot and come down here please."

He switched the comm. unit off and moved to take the seat at the head of the table. It was only a minute later that they heard footfalls and River came through the door. Jo smiled as she spotted the young girl, "Well, two more and we have everyone." She said with a smile as she got a light hug from a passing River. "Welcome back." Mal heard the girl say as she moved down the chairs to take her seat. Jo winked at him and he smiled, yeah, this was feeling more like home all the time.

Almost everyone was seated when Inara and Autumn showed up, Mal stood as they came in and moving to stand behind Jo he put his hands on her shoulders and gave Inara a smile as he introduced them, "Inara…I'd you to meet my wife, Jordona. Jo this is Inara."

Jo smiled and shook hands with the other woman, "It's a pleasure to meet you, everyone speaks very highly of you here."

"I've heard only praises for you as well…it's nice to meet you, as I told Mal earlier I knew it had to take quite an amazing woman to finally steal his heart."

Jo noticed that while the smile seemed sincere the words held an unmistakable edge, she chose to ignore it. "Thank you…won't you sit? I know everyone's hungry, please join us…" She felt Mal give her shoulders a squeeze before he moved away to take his own seat. Dishes where heaped full and the conversation was centered around what they had seen and done on their vacations away from Serenity. Jordona tried hard not to stare at the women seated across from her but found her eyes straying toward Autumn every once in a while, she looked so familiar but Jo couldn't place her. She focused back in on the conversation and made a mental note to try to get a look at the cortex sometime soon.

When dinner had ended and everyone broke apart to go back to what they'd been doing Mal stayed behind to help with clean up. They worked quietly side by side for a while until he broke the silence, "Thank you."

"For what?" She asked finally looking at him.

"For making the whole night as easy as it was. I know you're not thrilled with this even if you deny it."

She smiled, "She seems nice enough Mal…just standoffish is all. However, if what I've heard from Kaylee and Zoe is true and from everything, you've told me then I can understand she's slightly uncomfortable. Your taken, she had at one time I guess hopes maybe that you might wind up in her bed or in her life and now…it can only go as far as friendship. I'd be upset and a little distant too if that where me and I knew I'd lost my opportunity."

She sighed as she put away the last cup and turned to find him standing close behind her, a small smile tugging at his mouth. "What?" she asked him quietly. He only shook his head and stepped closer, reaching up he tugged her hair free so it tumbled from the bond she'd put in it. She shook her head and he watched in fascination as it cascaded around her and over her shoulders. He ran a hand through it and pulled her into a kiss. When they broke apart she glanced up, "Bedtime?" She asked quietly, "Oh yeah…" He answered taking one of her hands in his as he pulled her along behind him heading for their bunk. She laughed and hit the lights as they left the room.

It was late and Mal was asleep beside her but Jo couldn't sleep. She finally gave up with a soft huff of breath and crawling out from under Mal's arm she grabbed his discarded shirt and dropped it over her head. She shuffled the remaining clothes on the floor and pulled on her pants before unlocking the hatch above and climbing up and out. She let it close quietly behind her and made her way to the bridge. River was sitting in the pilots chair watching out the window.

"Hey…" Jo said quietly.

"Hi…can't sleep?"

"No…would you mind some company while I surf the cortex for a while?"

"No."

"Thanks…" She said sliding into the co-pilot's seat and tapping along some screens until she gained access to the cortex. She had an idea of where to start and as she dug in, she wasn't sure she wanted to be right about what she was thinking.

It was several hours later that she found what she was after and as she blinked bleary eyes at the screen, she cursed quietly to herself. Mal and Zoe had to know and she wasn't sure how to break it to them. Along with that, what she found brought an ugly piece of her own history close enough to make her shiver. She'd never wanted to see this man again in her lifetime and now…She sighed, "Nee ta ma duh tyen-shia suo-yo duh run doh gai si!" She muttered angrily. She turned off the screen in front of her and with a heavy sigh got up. She said goodnight to River and made her way back to bed. As she slid in beside Mal, she couldn't help but be angry with Inara. It was her doing for bringing a new and terrible danger to people she called friend on this ship. She rolled over and gazed at Mal's quiet, strong features, god help Inara if anything happened to these people because of what she'd done. She'd make sure Inara paid dearly if anything did.