Author's Note:

Sorry this chapter is so short. After this there'll be an epilogue but other then that this story is pretty much finished. I hope you all have enjoyed and that you don't hate it. I had fun writing this since Firefly is one of the best television shows ever made. It gave me an excuse to watch the episodes as "research".

Anyway thanks for reading and reviewing! This chapter is dedicated to the reviewers, warrior zoe, Sophia Adamo, Windrider (thanks for the idea!), and BlueEyedBrigadier (thank you also for the idea!).

Chapter #5:

"Excuse me," the Shepherd tending to the garden outside of the building turned to see a tall man wearing a brown coat, followed by a glamorous woman and a big man with a smirk on his face. "Is this the local church?"

"Yes," the Shepherd answered. A second later the man in the brown coat had wrenched the doors open and was storming down the aisle. "Man must have a mighty powerful urge to pray…" the Shepherd said to himself as he went back to work on the garden.

"Mal," Wash said in a frightened gasp.

"I object," Mal shouted, "I don't care if you've passed the point already but I object I object I object!"

"Sir, may have a minute with you in private," Zoe said in a dangerous voice. Mal shrugged and nodded. Zoe pulled him outside in a few short strides.

"So," Jayne said to Wash, "marriage. That sucks."

"Sir you shouldn't be here," Zoe said once they were outside.

"Well maybe I wanted to wish you well on your day of bliss," Mal tried. Zoe raised an eyebrow incredulously. "Well fine, I came to tell you you're making a mistake."

"I don't think it's a mistake sir but thank you for expressing your feelings." Zoe turned to go back into the church.

"No, hey wait," Mal called, "I didn't run alls the way over here to express myself, I came to stop you."

"And exactly how," Zoe asked, "were you planning on doing that?"

"Shouldn't the fact that I think it's a mistake be reason enough for you to stop?" Mal asked. Zoe crossed her arms and shook her head. "Well in that case," Mal searched for something to say, "in that case I… I order you not to get married!"

"Sir you're delusional," she commented dryly, "perhaps it has something to do with the blood loss."

"The what?" Mal followed Zoe's gaze to see that blood was dripping through his bandages.

"Now," Zoe supported the Captain and led him forcibly into the church, "we'll get you back to the hospital as soon as possible but for now why don't you just sit down here," she lowered him onto a pew, "and rest."

"But I-"

"Inara can sit next to you," Zoe suggested and Inara rushed to comply, "why don't you just concentrate on the tassels on her shawl."

Mal looked down at the tassels, maybe it was just the blood loss but they were very fascinating. Also something smelled beautiful, Mal realized it was Inara and breathed in deeply, not noticing that the Shepherd had resumed the ceremony. Mal looked back at the tassels and noticed that their numbers had doubled.

"Yep," he murmured softly, "definitely the blood loss."

Vaguely in the distance he heard the sound of someone saying "You may now kiss the bride."