Chapter 3- Together
Summary: Their relationship is publicized

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Mal was dreading it. He didn't want to make the announcement. The punch Simon would surely throw was one that he didn't want to receive.

"He won't punch you. Kaylee won't let him," River giggled while she brushed her hair.

It had been a few weeks since they admitted how they felt. They decided to take their relationship slowly. He still slept beside her, but that's all they did.

"I'm gonna go get cleaned up. See you at breakfast, sweetheart."

He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss before departing.

She smiled, but it quickly turned into a pensive frown. Hopefully Simon wouldn't punch him…you never knew with him…

****

Mal walked into the kitchen at almost the exact same time that River did. He figured that she probably made it that way on purpose.

Everyone else was already seated and eating. He looked over at her and she gave a little nod that it was best to just get it out in the open.

They did a fairly good job of keeping it quiet. Shepherd saw him going in and out of her room, but didn't put it together. She didn't even tell Wash. She couldn't help but smile at that thought. He'd be so mad at her for keeping it from him.

"Everyone," Mal called. They all stopped and looked up at him. He was standing behind his usual chair.

"I got an announcement to make."

River took that as her cue and gracefully floated to his side. Kaylee let out a little squeal.

"We're…" he started awkwardly.

"Together," River finished for him. He smiled at her in thanks and she threaded her fingers through his.

Kaylee ran over to them both and hugged them at the same time going on and on about…they weren't really sure. She was talking to fast. The only word they could understand consistently was, "Shiny."

Jayne looked at Mal and then at River. "You and…moonbrain? Ain't you old enough to be her-"

"Jayne!" Zoe snapped. He got up and walked out. She smiled at Mal. "Congrats, Sir."

"Yeah. This is great! I don't mean to be that guy that always says 'I told you so' but…I told you so…" Wash shrugged with his silly grin.

Simon was unusually quiet. Mal kept shooting looks in his direction waiting for the blow up.

"I can't believe that you would…" he began angrily. Kaylee ran over to him and took his arm, pulling him towards the engine room. He reluctantly followed and their whispers echoed back as they vanished down the corridor.

"I'm happy for you both," Inara said softly. "Excuse me. I have to screen some clients."

She got up and glided out of the room. River squeezed Mal's hand motioning towards her. "Go," she whispered. He nodded and followed her.

"How long has it been official?" Wash asked.

"A few weeks."

"And you didn't tell me? I thought that we were friends!"

She laughed. "Sorry. We wanted to keep it quiet."

"Well I'm happy for you."

A proximity alert went off.

"A pilot's job is never done," he sighed. He gave River a hug and then walked towards the bridge.

"I'm happy for you too. From looks of it, he's pretty gorram happy too…" Zoe said while she lapsed into a rare moment of affection and gave River a hug. River smiled, knowing that she wasn't talking about Wash.

River was left with Shepherd. She turned to him with an enduring smile. "Speak your piece, preacher man."

He chuckled. "You're already starting to sound like him. Don't become too much like the captain. I can't only tolerate one."

She smirked and sat across from him.

"Despite what you may think, I am not here to judge. No lectures about fire and brimstone today."

"But you do have a few things to say."

"I think that it's good that you finally found each other. I realize that there is a significant age difference, but somehow you two work together…" he noted her raised eyebrows, but continued, "I've seen the way he is with you and the way you are with him. It's almost…I can't explain it."

"Neither can I."

"I just know that the two of you are the most troubled of my flock and perhaps together you can be a little less troubled. Let me know when I should start rehearsing the marital ceremony."

He patted River on the shoulder and walked out.

****

Mal hesitated at the door of Inara's shuttle. He decided to knock…for the first time. He heard her call to him to enter, so he did.

"Mal? I was expecting…someone else. You never knock."

"Well…" he shrugged uncomfortably.

"I meant what I said. I'm happy for you. Both of you. She's a remarkable person."

"Yeah, she is."

"She has something I don't, but I don't know what it is. She got to you when I couldn't. I didn't." She looked at him sadly, but reservedly.

"I knew that as long as I was a Companion we couldn't be together, but that's what I am. I just…I don't understand what it is about her that reached you. I would like to know for my own peace of mind."

He shifted uneasily, but he knew that she needed to know. "She's like me. She knows what it's like to lose everything and to be tryin' to get it back."

"That's why you're with her? Because she's like you?"

"Are you kiddin'? No one should be like me."

"Then why?"

He let out a long and slow breath, trying to figure out how to put it into words. "Home."

"Pardon?"

"When I'm with her it feels like home. I don't rightly know what it is about her that makes me feel that way, but she makes me feel whole again like before the war. I'm sorry that I don't have a flat out answer for you, but that's just the way it is. I wish I knew myself why and how I fell in love with her. I just did."

"You love her?"

"Yeah I do."

"She's one lucky woman."

He laughed mirthlessly. "I'm the lucky one."

Inara fidgeted with one of the fancy red and gold fringe pillows on her bed. He knew that this was killing her inside, but she wouldn't show it.

"I'm thinking about returning home. I've heard rumors about a position teaching at the Training House."

"I don't want you to go. You bring respectability to my very unrespectable boat. Besides, Kaylee would never comb her hair if you weren't here to do it for her."

She managed a weak smile. He saw the pain flash across her almond eyes. He hated that he hurt her, but they both knew long ago it was over. She knew it when she heard the tenderness in his voice the first time he told River it was okay. Never had she heard him use that tone of voice and never again did she hear it unless he was speaking to the young reader. That voice was hers and apparently so was he.

"I'm serious. I don't want you to go. Not 'cause of me," he repeated after a long pause.

"I stayed because of you."

A jab to the heart. He nodded. "Let me know if you want to go. I'll take you home, but this ship won't be the same. You're on my crew and always will be."

"That's a kindness."

"I mean it."

"I don't doubt that you do. It's just…she's your crew. I don't think that I could…"

"Just think on it. You never know. Maybehaps this rickety ship is home and not…"

"You."

"Yeah…"

"I'll think about it."

"Make sure you do."

She nodded and he nodded back before leaving. He shut the door with a heavy sigh. He didn't love Inara, but at one time he thought he did. He still cared about her, and it pained him to know that he was hurting her like he was.

****

"Is this seat taken?"

River peeked over the edge of her book about flying to see Mal grinning at her. She set it down and flew into his arms. He laughed.

"Easy there darlin'."

"How'd it go with Inara?"

"She might leave."

"I don't want her to."

"Me either."

She hugged him tightly. "I know it's hard for you."

He nodded against her neck. "What did I miss after I left?"

"Zoe hugged me."

"Zoe as in my first mate Zoe?"

"Yes."

He let out a low whistle. "That's a first. She don't even hug me!"

She giggled. "I also had a talk with the preacher man."

"What hell are we goin' to?"

"None," she stopped and thought about it. "For this relationship at least."

He smirked. "What did he have to say?"

"We're the two most troubled of his flock, but together we might be a little less troubled."

"He's got somethin' there."

He ran his hand down her face and bent down to kiss her when Simon's voice stopped him.

"Don't ever touch her ever again!"

"SIMON!" Kaylee cried.

Mal rolled his eyes. "Here we go…" he muttered.