Everyone was surprised to find more gifts under the tree Christmas morning than there had been the night before. It's not that the base of the tree was bare on Christmas Eve-the crew had been adding to the small pile as the days led up to the holiday- but what mystified them was the extra gifts were for each person, with a "To" scrawled on the tag but lacking a "From". Nobody would confess to it either, allowing Kaylee to give a good natured "Thank you mystery Santa," comment after they'd finished opening gifts.
While their evening meal was no goose and punch-laden smorgasbord as in the stories of old, there was some fresh food that Inara had purchased for their meal, including strawberries and honey-roasted chestnuts. After they'd eaten their fill Kaylee suggested Shepherd Book read the story of Christmas from his Bible. As they gathered in the cargo bay dimly lit with Kaylee's white lights, Mal made an excuse to stay behind and clean up some of the extra dishes in the kitchen. But when Mal found himself alone when everyone left to listen to the Shepherd, he felt a twinge of guilt.
Mal's life, as with every crew member aboard Serenity, was typically preoccupied with living job to job and paycheck to paycheck. But that day, for the first time in years, Mal had inadvertently allowed himself to forget his preoccupation with work and the ever-looming threat of the Alliance and make peace with the here and now. Surrounded by the blanket of space and far away from the horrors of the 'verse, Serenity felt like an actual home. And the people aboard? Well, Mal would never admit it aloud, but the nine of them felt like a family.
With the kitchen looking like nobody had ever entered it, Mal made his way to the cargo bay, hoping that he could still catch the end of what the Preacher was reading. Sure enough, they were still gathered near the Christmas tree, as if they were children taking in a story. Mal leaned against the doorframe and listened too.
"Didn't think you would join us," Mal heard Inara say from behind.
"Was passing through," Mal said simply.
Inara leaned against the other side of the doorframe and gave a knowing smile. "I know that was you who gave the mystery gifts," she said.
"Really?" Mal folded his arms. "What ever made you think that?"
"Come on," Inara chuckled. "A pink frilly scarf for Kaylee after the formal ball on Persephone? A pistol cleaning kit for Jayne? You know us too well. Though I will say I was surprised that the Shepherd got a new Bible,"
"River had done a good number on the old one tryin' to 'fix' it," Mal said.
There was a brief glimpse of adoration in Inara's eyes before she turned to look at the rest of the crew. "You did well,"
Mal followed her gaze in looking at the family he'd put together, united not in a heist but in the spirit of Christmas. "They deserve it,"
[Merry Christmas everyone!]