When Roxton approached Marguerite she was sitting on the nearest rock she could find when a short rest was called. He stood right in front of her without speaking for a full minute before she spoke.

"Was there something you wanted Roxton?"

"Earlier, I spoke without thinking. I didn't realize what I was saying until it was too late."

"Was that an apology John?"

Roxton sighed, "Bloody hell Marguerite! You always make these things difficult."

She looked up at him and smiled, "I do my best."

"So you're just torturing me?"

She shrugged, "I figure you have punished yourself enough in the last three hours. I didn't really need to do it."

Roxton grabbed her hands and pulled her up. Before she could protest he put his arms around her and pulled her close.

"Roxton! People are watching."

John gave her his trademark Cheshire cat grin and dropped his arms and walked towards his next conversation. The next one promised to be much more unpleasant.

He saw Captain Reynolds arguing in whispers with his chef. He waited till she walked away before approaching the Captain. He looked up at John's approach.

Mal sighed. John cleared his throat. They stood in silence for a few minutes before Mal sighed again, "I suppose you want me to say I'm sorry for what I said. I'm not but I've been told I should be civil. Sit down and we can pretend to get along."

They both sat on a fallen log. John looked at Mal, "You were told?"

Mal put his hand on his head and his elbow on his knee. He took a glance in Jia's direction. "I am her boss I don't know why I let her talk to me like that." They both looked over at the offending party.

At that moment across the group Jia put her hands on her lower back and stretched.

John turned back to Mal, "I know why."

Mal half smiled, "So do I."

John smiled back. "We are hopeless."

Mal straightened, "Maybe you are but I most certainly am not."

John put up his hands in mock surrender. "I stand corrected."

Mal shrugged in response.

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Across camp Jia approached Marguerite, "Do you think they can really get along?"

Marguerite scoffed, "No. I think they will pretend to in order to keep us from bothering them."

Jia sighed.

Marguerite looked up at her and thought of her relationship with Veronica, and how strained it had been for so long. She then thought of how hesitant Finn had been around her. She looked over at John and Mal. They were now discussing the very large rifle that had been on John's arm the entire trip. She looked at Challenger. He was deep in discussion with the now grown Simon. River hung in the background twirling in her own world. No one else around. She looked back up at Jia. 'Maybe I can try something different this time' she thought.

"So, tell me about yourself."

Jia looked down at her and blinked rapidly for a second, "Like what?"

"About your family? Or the ship?"

Jia shrugged, "My father was a boxer and then a soldier. My mother was..."

She was saved from explanation by the rest being called over. They all stood and started forward. Marguerite walked beside and looked at her in an expectant manner.

Jia sighed, "I have a brother and a sister. I've been cooking since I was twelve. I've been with the crew of Serenity for about nine months now. There's the Captain, First Mate Zoe, and her husband, our pilot Wash. They are expecting their first child in about three months. Our mechanic is Kaylee, then there is Jayne, he's the mercenary..."

"Wait, Jayne? He?"

Jia laughed, "Yes and no one teases him about it. He's really good with guns. Doctor Simon and his sister River. There's also a Shepard that travels with us."

"I don't understand. A shepherd? As in sheep?"

"Not in our time. He's a kind of monk or priest."

"Oh," Now she really was confused, "Why would a priest travel on a transport ship?"

"I wasn't there but it started out as trying to keep the Captain in line. Now he's kinda part of the family. That's the crew of Serenity. What about where you are from?"

Marguerite sighed, "Three years ago I funded an expedition to a lost plateau. George Challenger said he had evidence of dinosaur alive. I was looking for something on the same plateau, so I funded his trip. Lord John Roxton is a legendary hunter. He signed on to be the first man to hunt a t-rex." She scoffed, "Little did he know he would get far too many opportunities. Edward 'Ned' Malone came along to report the story of our trip."

She then got a wistful look on her face, "We had another member of our expedition. Professor Summerlee. He was, 'is,' a botanist. We don't know where he is right now. He fell off a waterfall two years ago. When we came to the plateau we met a jungle girl named Veronica Layton. She offered her home to us and we have been living in a tree house made by her parents ever since."

"You live in a tree house?"

"A very large tree house. George has made many improvements including an electric fence. We trade with the tribes in the area. Not exactly Paris but it's not bad." She looked around, "Don't tell anyone I said that."

Jia laughed, "No problem. You haven't said anything about your family."

Marguerite bit back her usual acidic remark, "I was raised in a convent. I don't know my family." before Jia could comment, "I have gotten along just fine on my own."

Jia shrugged, "I should say so. Might not be biological, but it sounds like you have a great family."

Marguerite looked over at her for any signs of mocking. Finding none she laughed, "Very dysfunctional, but I suppose so." Marguerite saw an opening for information gathering, "You said before you didn't have a traditional education?"

Jia stiffened slightly, "My mother took me out of school when I was eight. Said they weren't teaching me things I needed to know."

"Where were you educated after that? You don't seem like you don't have an education. You have a great vocabulary and there is something else."

Now Jia really stiffened.

"You carry yourself like a refined lady. Perhaps things are different in your time but in mine..."

Jia interrupted, "My mother taught me until I was fifteen."

At Jia's upset tone of voice Marguerite kept silent, for once not certain what to say.

Jia sighed, "Sorry. I forget you are not from our time sometimes. My mother was a companion. It's a very high priced courtesan."

Marguerite again didn't know what to say.

"In our time it is not something to be ashamed of but rather to be proud of. Companions are considered upper class. In my time, if you tell someone your mother is a companion they think you are a part of that group of people. I am not and never want to be. Upper class means Alliance. Alliance killed my father so I really do not like being called upper class."

Marguerite let silence rule for a minute before continuing. "I can see your point of view. You have every right to hate the Alliance."

Jia scoffed, "So does everyone else."

"I worked for the British government for a while."

They both looked astonished by Marguerite's confession.

She continued, "In a secret capacity."

"Simon took the opportunity during the night to inform me that the British are nothing like Alliance. He made sure I knew that."

Marguerite looked at Jia confused, "Why?"

"I have a tendency to rant about government." Jia smiled.

Marguerite laughed, "I have a tendency to keep secrets. I guess neither of us is living up to our reputation today."

"I guess not."

They walked together in silence for a bit before River came rushing up to Marguerite.

"What is it River?"

"Nothing."

River took Marguerite's hand and smiled. Marguerite couldn't help but smile back.

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Two hours later Mal and John walked about twenty feet behind Jia, Marguerite and River. Jia had just laughed at something Marguerite said.

"What do you suppose those two found to talk about?" John asked.

At that moment Marguerite and Jia glanced back at them then turned their heads forward and tried not to laugh.

Mal narrowed his eyes. "Us."

John watched the girls more intently and sure enough they were being sure to keep a respectable distance in front of the men.

John increased his pace, "What do you say we put an end to this little hen house?"

Mal grinned and they caught up with the ladies.

They women were now trying not to laugh.

Mal asked, "Something you want to share ladies?"

Jia answered quickly, "No."

Marguerite agreed, "Not at all."

Jia smiled, "Unless you want to tie us down and make us tell you."

Marguerite put her hand over her mouth, John's face turned red, and Mal looked confused.

Marguerite would not be left out, "But then of course you will go to the special hell."

Now it was Mal's turn to be red and John's turn to be confused.

John knew when he was beat, "Carry on ladies."

The men drifted back to their original positions. The ladies held their laughter until the men had left and then let it go in hushed tones.

John didn't look at Mal, "You see there was this tribe of women like the Amazons..."

"I really don't need to hear about it."

They both continued in silence before one of the men rushed up to Roxton.

"Mr. Tembo!"

"What is it?"

"Mr. Stark is missing."

John looked around and grabbed the gun the man had been holding and tossed it to Mal. "We will look for him. The rest of you stay here."

With his pronouncement Mal and Roxton walked off into the forest.

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The hour wait for them to get back was tense for everyone. When they were back Challenger raced up to them.

"Did you find Mr. Stark?"

Mal looked around quick to see who was listening, "Only the parts they didn't like."

Challenger blanched but looked at Roxton.

Roxton nodded, "Compys."

Challenger nodded in understanding. Though rare on the plateau, the compys had made their presence known more than once. Raptors were much easier. Bigger for one thing. Less of them for another.

The trip took on a more somber note from then on, everyone having been reminded of their own mortality.

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Night came and it was time to camp. Weather on the lost Plateau or Isla Sorna, the dark was just too dangerous, and for the same reason.

A man came up to Marguerite and Jia, "A tent has been set up separately for the ladies."

Marguerite smiled and thanked him.

John, having heard, slid up beside her, "I'm sure I could find a tent more to your liking. Something with a little more privacy perhaps?"

Marguerite smiled at him, "Thank you John, but I would like to spend a night where I don't have to worry about predators in my tent."

"Are you implying I would disturb your sleep Marguerite? I wouldn't dream of it."

"And you better not either."

She walked off towards Jia and River, who were making themselves comfortable. After they got situated in the tent, Marguerite and Jia laid down for a quick rest. River snuggled along Marguerite's side. She looked in alarm at the girl, but didn't have the heart to push her away.

She thought, 'Marguerite, you are going soft.'

She looked over at Jia who was looking at her with a knowing smile. Jia then closed her eyes. Marguerite sighed and said with only a little irony, "Could this day get any better?"