A/N: Sorry it's taken me so long to post the next chapter; real life has been a bit hectic. Also, sorry it's a bit short for such a long wait.

Chapter 19

Inara again found herself in Serenity's cargo bay and immediately went to the intercom to call everyone on board to the kitchen for a meeting. They all quickly assembled, eager to hear the news.

"The Cap'n's not with you?" Kaylee said sadly, as she entered the room. "He didn't wanna come."

"No," said Inara. "That's not it. I just wanted to let you know that Mal's taking time to consider what he wants to do, and to prepare you for whatever outcome he chooses. He admits that he misses us terribly, but I think we all need to consider that he's been living a different life for so long; he's a different person than we remember. He really may not be coming back to us."

"But you said he's still considering it?" asked Simon.

"Yes," said Inara. "There seems to be a growing percentage of him that's trying to talk himself into coming back to Serenity. But he said that he's not going anywhere without his daughter, so I really can't say what will happen. I've given him some space, though. I told him two days, and then he has to tell us his decision."

"I think that sounds fair," said Kai.

"Well," said Inara, looking around at her friends. "That's all I've really come here to tell you. I should return to him and find out what he says."

"Yes," said Kaylee, emphatically. "Go."

"But didn't you tell him two days?" asked Jayne.

"From his perspective," said Inara. "It will be."

"Huh?"

"I can go back to whenever I want," she said to him.

"So you're gonna time travel to two days from now and then go back to him?" asked Jayne, trying to make sense of everything.

"How did you even learn to dress yourself?" asked Simon, staring at Jayne, dumbfounded. "We're already about 500 years ahead of the Captain. She can just go to him directly at whatever date she wants."

"Just because I didn't have your fancy learnin', don't mean I won't understand it eventually, Doc. So why don't you cram it up your-"

"That's enough, Jayne," Zoe interrupted. "Inara," she said, turning to the Companion. "Thank you."

"I guess I'll be off then," she said."

"Good luck," said Kaylee.

"Thanks," said Inara before she disappeared again.

Once she was gone, the group disbanded and went to return to their business. River, who had remained silent the entire meeting, wandered through the corridors, deep in thought. A few moments later, she ran into Daniel, Joey, and Vicki playing with their new parakeet.

"Auntie River, Auntie River," said Joey. "Come look. We've taught him how to say 'Hello.'"

On cue, the parakeet squawked 'Hello' and fluttered his wings a bit, but remained sitting on the perch in his cage. It then whistled a small, happy tune, which delighted the children.

"A bird may feel the constricting metal of its cage, but still he sings because he knows he has wings," River said softly.

"What do you mean, Auntie River?" asked Vicki.

River looked at her niece and smiled sadly. "Nothing you have to worry about," she said. River then held out her hand and stuck a finger into the cage to stroke the parakeet's soft plumage. The four of them listened intently as the bird continued its song.