It would be about a day's ride out to Chloris. On the way, Mal and River started quietly moving her things into his bunk. The rest of the crew would find out sooner or later, but for the time being they were trying to remain inconspicuous.

"How do you have this much stuff comin' from that tiny room of yours?" Mal huffed as she piled a few more things into his already full arms.

"I have organizational skills."

"Yeah, but the volume of the stuff comin' out has to be more than the volume of this room!"

"You used a math term correctly! I'm so proud!" she said genuinely.

He beamed. "Yeah well…"

She kissed him on the cheek and then continued going through her things.

"I'm gonna take this on to our bunk, it's gettin' a mite heavy."

"Okay, I'll be right behind you."

He opened the door with much difficulty and staggered up the steps. He passed through the kitchen just as Zoe entered. He didn't stop, he just kept walking.

"Hey Zo."

"Sir."

She watched him open the hatch awkwardly with his foot, almost falling in the process. He navigated the ladder with difficulty, but she took it as a good sign when she didn't hear a thud. He remerged a few minutes later and went back into the kitchen where Zoe was getting ready to clean her gun, one of her favorite pastimes. River came through the kitchen next with more things. Mal offered to take a few from her, but she shook her head and vanished into their bunk.

Mal turned to Zoe. He was just waiting for her to say something. The silence was driving him crazy.

"Well?" he asked finally.

"Well what, Sir?" she asked.

"No comments? Jokes? Anything?"

"It's about time. You've been sneaking around for too long."

Mal was about to respond when River came back through.

"She's right."

Then she disappeared again. Zoe smirked.

"Good for you," she said evenly.

"Thanks," Mal grinned.

River came back through and handed him a few more things before going back to her room. He shrugged and added them to the pile on his bed where the rest of her things were until they organized a bit. He returned to the kitchen.

"I just have one question, Sir."

"Okay."

"Is she bringin' Daisy?"

She could tell by the look on his face that she was. Zoe burst into laughter and then walked off towards her bunk shaking her head. Mal sighed and then River entered with the small plastic enclosure that was Daisy's home.

"This is everything," River smiled.

"Let's go get our bunk in order. Come on creepy little darlin'," he muttered as he took the aquarium from River carefully. He held it up and looked inside it. Eight beady little eyes looked back at him from under a hollowed out log. He lowered it shaking his head. The things he did for his girl…

They went through all of her stuff and his stuff, squabbling over what to keep and what to toss out. He only gave up a few things because every time they fought over something of his he'd just point to Daisy's aquarium to remind her of his compromise. She'd give in every time.

An hour later everything had been put away. She added a few knick knacks here and there, but the majority of her things were clothes. They could barely fit them all.

"I have captainy things to do. I'll see you later," Mal sighed as he gave her a kiss on the forehead.

"Okay. Don't stay away for too long," she called after him. He smirked and then ascended the ladder.

He had to help Kaylee in the engine room. She wasn't as mobile in her current condition. She had him working for most of the afternoon. He was covered in grease from his face, down his shirt, on his arms and hands, some on his pants, and even a little on his boot.

"Thanks fer the help, Cap'in!" Kaylee beamed. She gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"No problem, mei mei. I have to go get cleaned up."

"To your bunk?" she asked suggestively.

"Yeah…why?"

"Tell River I say hello then."

"How did you-"

"Zoe. Don't worry, I didn't tell Simon or Jayne. I don't think Zoe did neither. I think it's shiny!"

He just smiled and then went towards his bunk. He figured that River would be flying the ship, so he went on down to his…their…bunk.

"Hey," River smiled up at him. She was sitting on the floor leaning against the bed.

"Hi there. I thought you'd be flyin' the ship."

"Zoe asked if she could. She likes to fly sometimes. It makes her feel less lonely."

He noticed Daisy crawling around on her lap. He leapt a bit. She sighed.

"Five months now and you're still scared of her."

"No, I was just startled…"

"Right…"

"I ain't scared! I'll prove it!"

He stepped over her legs and went to the sink to wash up a bit. Once his hands and arms were clean, he plopped down beside her and held his hands out. She smiled and carefully lifted Daisy up towards his hands. She crawled onto his waiting hands and up his arm.

"How long do spiders live?" he asked as Daisy continued her exploration of his arm.

"This type, three to ten years."

"How old is she now?"

"One."

She laughed at the expression on his face. Daisy crawled back down to River's waiting hand.

"I never thought spiders could love, but she sure loves you…" he commented as he watched River put Daisy back in her home. "We got that much in common."

She gave him a kiss and then looked at him before smirking. "You're filthy. Kaylee put you to work, didn't she?"

"Yeah."

She cupped his chin and moved his face to one side. "She kissed you! I see her lips in the grease!"

"Jealous?" he snickered.

She playfully shoved him and then got up. She set Daisy's aquarium on the desk while he got up and moved back to the sink.

"You have grease on your shirt."

"I do."

Her hands slid across his chest from behind and started undoing the buttons. He slid his suspenders down so she could yank the shirt off of him. He turned around and their lips brushed just barely. She cleaned off his face and then handed him a clean shirt.

"Tease," he growled disappointedly.

"Flirt."

She ran her hand down his chest before he had finished buttoning it and then moved gracefully towards the ladder.

"Where are you goin'?" he asked with his puppy dog eyes.

"To pilot the ship."

She flashed a smile and then left him alone, unless you count Daisy, in their bunk. He pulled his suspenders back on and then left to see what else needed to be done.

He was with Jayne playing cards in the common area when Simon came barreling in.

"Have you seen River?" he asked worriedly.

"She's on the bridge," Mal said calmly.

"RIVER!" Simon shouted as he walked towards the bridge.

"Doc, what is it?" Mal asked, now a bit worried his-own-self.

"I went into her room, and Daisy's enclosure is gone!"

Mal relaxed with a slight smile. "Don't worry. Daisy is fine."

"I'm not worried about how Daisy is! I'm worried about her escaping! She scares the hell out of me!"

"I'm with the doc on this one," Jayne grunted as he set his cards down. "Gin, pay up!"

Mal swore and smacked down the money. "Double or nothin'." Jayne agreed with a nod and a long drag off of his cigar. They began again.

"Do you know where she is?" Simon asked.

"Yeah."

"Where?"

"In my bunk."

"What is Daisy doing there?" Simon asked.

"Well, River sort of moved into my bunk and she brought Daisy along. Gin."

Jayne swore and smacked his cards down just as Simon cried, "WHAT?"

"We're sorta sharing a bunk now."

"I caught that!" he snapped.

"Do you have a problem with that, Doc?" Mal shot back with danger in his voice.

"I have no problem with you and River dating. It's just…before I could pretend that you were just hand holding."

Jayne laughed. Mal shot him an evil stare. He shut up.

"Well, we've been together for six months. So we're takin' the next step."

"That's fine. I don't mind the relationship you two have, but the thought of my sister having sex is disturbing."

"Maybe to you," Jayne blurted out.

Mal's death stare fell on him once again. "Airlock, Jayne. Airlock."

Jayne slid the money closer to Mal after adding some more and then he got up, suddenly recalling something important that he had to do elsewhere.

The day passed and soon it was time to go to bed.

"So," River began as she sat down on the bed. She swung one leg over the other and leaned back on her hands.

"So," Mal replied as he pulled his suspenders down. She smiled mischievously at him and tilted her head to one side.

"I was thinking that perhaps we could break in our bunk."

"I like how you think, sweetheart."

He bent down and practically devoured her mouth with his. He hadn't even gotten his boots off and they had toppled over onto the bed. He kicked them off while kissing her neck.

"You know that your brother is disturbed by this?" Mal teased.

"Then let's really do something that would disturb him."

"I love the sound of that."