Hi everyone! Thankyou to all the reviewers! I am SO SORRY for the long wait but my computer just crashed recently.... Here is the last chapter 30! That's a nice number right? I hope the last chapter isn't too sappy haha and that you enjoy!!
Chapter 30
'Finally.' Inara said as she hugged Sivella close but softly. She loosened herself from her friend shortly to take in the blood on her dress.
'It isn't mine.' Sivella explained in a emotional, weak voice as she felt the support from Inara's hands on both of her shoulders. 'At least, most of it isn't..' Sivella mumbled as Inara took her in another embrace.
Waiting for Sivella to get up from that ledge seemed to have taken hours, while it was only minutes. It had been dreadful minutes.
'I am sorry, I have to check on you.' The ambulance man said who had helped Sivella up from the ledge.
Inara reluctantly let go of Sivella and nodded softly.
'Let's go here so you can sit.' The man said as he took Sivella towards the other ambulance and sat her down. Inara didn't leave her side.
'Where's Thomas?' Sivella asked as she looked around. Inara followed her gaze.
'He's unconsciouss, the other doctor is with him.' Inara said softly. Mal had gone to him earlier while she had waited for Sivella and Grace to be helped up from the ledge.
'You're lucky that it's just a scratch. As for those ribs, you bruised them badly.' The doctor said after a while. Inara felt relief wash over her. Sivella nodded sadly.
A few minutes later...
Thomas was lying with his eyes closed on the ground. When he opened them he saw someone looking at his wounds. Then he saw Sivella looking down on him, as she leaned on Inara. He studied her bloodied dress.
'So typical, things happen and you are sleeping through it.' Sivella said harshly.
Inara gave her a shocked look at this blunt comment but Sivella loosened herself from her and squatted near him. Her finger went to his broken lip and trembled in front of it, then she touched the skin softly. He looked up at her as he leaned on his elbow.
'So typical of you to insult a man when he's down.' He groaned in pain. That man had hit him good.
'Stop muttering and get your big body off the ground already.' Sivella ordered as she
took him under his armpit impatiently to get him up but stopped quickly when she felt pain shooting through her ribs.
The moment he finally stood straight he tried to inhale breath deeply and widened his chest only to get crushed by Sivella who flew in his arms and hugged him closely. Her cheek pressed hard against his chest. He looked with wide astonished eyes at Inara and then clumsily put his arms around her in surprise.
Inara smiled softly as she turned and saw Mal coming towards her. She walked towards him.
'It's going to be allright.' Thomas whispered soothingly in Sivella's hair when he felt her tremble against him.
She looked up at him, her big eyes were watery.
'Is it?' She asked softly.
'It has to be.' He answered softly.
She swallowed as she realised again what this man really meant to her.
'Thankyou.' She whispered as she loosened herself from the intimate embrace quickly and turned her back towards him. She saw Mal and Inara in the distance, Mal stepped forward and hugged Inara close. Sivella sighed. She turned back towards Thomas.
He was already walking away.
'Thomas...' She uttered weakly to stop him.
He stopped in his tracks and turned around to face her. Her eyes looked sad. He saw that she swallowed and looked away shortly.
'I am so sorry that...' Her voice seemed to have left her momentarily, making it difficult for her to finish what she was going to say. Her eyes couldn't meet his.
He could see how much trouble it cost her to say whatever she wanted to tell him.
'... That I gave you such a hard time.' She finished after a short pause as she looked at him again.
She looked so fragile, so hurt.
She took a step towards him as she looked up at him.
'I am a proud woman.' She explained as she looked up at him. 'And maybe.. Also stubborn.' She looked away again. 'And I'm hurt. First I told myself that I didn't deserve you, that you would see what kind of person I was anyway and... That you would leave me then.' She bit her bottom lip. 'That's why I had to keep you away from me.' She put her arms around upper body to try and comfort herself a bit. She laughed softly but it wasn't a laugh of joy. It was a laugh of sadness.
'All that time that I was on Serenity, I watched how Mal and Inara acted towards each other and I... I recognised so much. I even gave her advice, can you believe that?'
He just looked at her. Wanting her to finish what she was saying.
Sivella shook her head. 'That seems all so ironic now.' She said as she stared at the ground. 'I mean... Me giving advice while I don't even know what to do with my own life..' Her voice trembled with the last sentence. I don't even know what to do with my own life, or the people I care for, love...
'Almost dying gives you another perspective on life. It made me see that I was fooling myself.' She shook her head softly again. 'I was pushing you away because...' She looked away again and swallowed. 'Well..' Her lip trembled. 'Because I was afraid. I am afraid.' She almost whispered now. Her face was crunched up in a smile but sadness radiated from her.
Thomas just stood still, he couldn't move. Didn't dare to step closer to her, although he wanted to.
'So that's out.' She said in a lighter voice. She breathed in deeply. 'That's what I mean with being proud Tommy, I would never ever show anyone that I am actually afraid. I'm hurt. I am afraid to get hurt again. I'm afraid to admit my feelings to myself, to others... To you. And when I sum it all up like this, maybe I am afraid to live.' She finished in a trembling, emotional voice. So, there you had it. She had shown herself without any walls. She had put it all out in the open.
Thomas sighed when he heard the angry undertone in her voice.
'It's not so weird that you got afraid of many things.' He said to assure her. He knew Sivella well enough to suspect that she was angry with herself because of all of this.
Her dark big eyes looked up at him.
'After everything that you've been through, everything that happened. Don't be too hard on yourself.' He said in a soft, sweet voice.
She shook her head in disbelief. 'And still, after everything I did, you're being nice to me.' She said in an almost irritated voice.
Thomas tilted his head to one side as he studied her. He shrugged nonchalantly. 'Because you deserve it.' He said as if it was the simplest thing in the world.
'There are still a few other things I have to say.' Sivella said as she fumbled with her fingers.
He raised an eyebrow at that as he saw her struggle again.
'I feel a bit guilty about it.'
Did he actually see her face flush?
'First... I want to say that I'm sorry for all the things I said when we were arguing. And secondly, when I saw you on the porch you were asleep and I...' She felt so ashamed!
'I... Kind of took... Advantage of you.' She said quickly as she looked up at him.
He got a frown between his brows as he tried to think back of that moment. 'You did?' He asked confused. He couldn't remember that.
'Well, it's not that bad.' She quickly said. 'I just want to have it out because it was stupid and not at all like me.' Why was she telling him this again?? Because she felt stupid about it and ashamed that's why..
'I kissed you.' She blurted out. She crossed her arms in front of her chest defiantly.
His eyebrows both raised instantly. 'You did? When?'
'You were asleep.' She clearafied.
'Great, that's just great.' He muttered angrily.
'I thought that maybe you wouldn't mind because you said-' Sivella quickly began to explain.
'-You kissed me while I was out?' Thomas asked in a stern voice as he got an angry expression on his face. He couldn't believe it!
'You said that you would wait for me to kiss you.' She said in a somewhat stronger voice back.
'That doesn't change the fact that you kissed me while I was unconsciouss.'
'I know it was stupid..'
'Then why did you?' Thomas asked as he took a step closer towards her.
She had to look up at him because he was taller to make eye contact with him.
'Because for once.. There was a moment that you weren't your usual self, I mean the annoying and irritating part.' She said boldly.
'So you just thought that you could take advantage of me?' He asked as he crossed his arms in front of his chest.
'Advantage? Most men would be honoured to be kissed by me.' Sivella countered arrogantly.
He raised an eyebrow at that. 'Really? Well, I'm not most men.'
'You can say that again.'
'So what I can conclude about this rough action of yours..' He said as he took another step closer to her. 'Is that you are attracted to me, in fact, you're very attracted to me....So attracted to me that you can't control your urges even when I'm asleep?'
Did he sound triumphantically? She narrowed her eyes.
'Or maybe only when you're asleep.' She muttered weakly as she looked up at him from under her eye lashes.
'Is that so?' He muttered as he placed his lips just one inch away from hers.
Her breathing hitched instantly. For a moment she froze and the next she closed the short gap and pressed her lips hard against his to kiss him passionately as she pressed her body against him.
'Are you angry with me?' She asked carefully when she loosened her grip from him and he wasn't kissing her back.
'Because you kissed me while I was asleep? Ofcourse I am!' He said. 'I want to be kissed by you when I'm awake, so you'd better make up for it.'
'I just did.' She said surprised at his words.
'O no no no, this is going to cost you big time.'
'That's not fair.' She began angrily but then saw the bright smile form on his face. 'If I hadn't told you, you wouldn't have even known.' Sivella defended herself.
'Well, how sad that is for you. I don't pity you for that.' He said with a wicked smile on his face.
'You must be very hard headed to stick along for this long.' Sivella muttered.
He looked down and kissed her the way he had always wanted too. So passionately, letting all these pent up emotions coming up again. Sivella shivered from it.
He left her breathlessly.
'Wow.' She muttered amazed.
'I lied to you..... I do care for you.' She admitted softly as she caressed his cheek and looked in his eyes.
He smiled widely.
'Are you sure about that?' He asked.
'Weirdly enough....' She teased. 'Yes. Very sure.' She said as she kissed him again.
'I thought a lot about you when Blake had me.' She placed her forehead against his chest. 'I thought I was going to die. I was certain of it. Thinking of you... Helped me through it... I... I love you.' She uttered with a dry throat.
Thomas smiled widely. 'Really? Who could have thought that?' He said teasingly as he stroked her cheek with his thumb.
'I love you too.' He said as he lifted her off the ground effortlessly and kissed her again.
'Finally.' Petulia muttered as she held the cold pack against her head. Inara followed her gaze and saw Thomas and Sivella kissing. She smiled widely and looked up at Mal. He smiled back at her.
'I really like that man.' Petulia said. She then looked up at Inara and then to Mal. 'I like you too. You made a good choice.' She said as she looked at Inara.
To Mal's surprise Inara looked away shyly and he could even see a blush creeping up her face. Mal smirked. 'She did?' He asked teasingly.
'Don't get too cocky.' Petulia muttered as she lowered herself from the wagon.
'Mam, you can't go yet. You have to stay...'
'I have to stay nowhere young man.' Petulia muttered hard as she walked back towards the house.
One week later...
It had been a lovely morning, and there would be many more lovely morning's to come. Sivella smiled widely. The sky was blue, the grass had the beautiful colour green, she saw Inara sitting on the terrace amidst the flowers, next to her was the crew of Serenity and her aunt, Thomas and Grace. Grace had crutches. She heard the birds, so peaceful. Sivella felt free in that moment, she took off her shoes and slipped off the stairs to feel the slight wet grass under her bare feet. She took in the damp air of the morning air and felt her hair softly caress her cheek with a little help from the soft wind.
When Sivella came towards the others who were sitting at the terrace Grace stood up with help from Mal. She held up her arms and Sivella walked towards her to hug her.
'Grace.' Sivella uttered as she held Grace carefully.
'I think we have something to toast too!' Petulia said as she filled the glasses on the table with champagne.
Inara smiled. 'Yes we do.' She said as she looked at Mal.
'Both the Blake's went to prison. That is behind us now.' Petulia said as she sat herself down. 'Finally we can go back to our lives, especially you.' She said as she eyed Sivella and then looked at Thomas meaningfully.
'Will you come to Sandria with me? For a while to see David and Mary? They really miss you.' Grace asked as Sivella went to sit down.
'I...' She looked down for a moment and then looked up at Thomas.
Inara raised an eyebrow. She felt so happy, Sivella looking like that at Thomas meant something very good.
'There are some nice places and people on that dump of a planet.' Thomas said as he reminded Sivella of her angry words in the kitchen.
'I know that.' Sivella said softly as she smiled slightly.
She turned towards Inara who was sitting next to her and placed her hand on Inara's.
'What do you think?'
'I think I'm very happy that this is all behind us and that David and Mary might like to see you. I think you can begin again.'
Sivella smiled at that as she gave Inara a meaningful look.
Serenity on Petulia's land
Sivella sighed as she looked at Serenity from the outside. Everyone had packed their bags and they were all moving into the ship now.
'It's been a pleasure.' Mal said as he walked towards her and shook Sivella's hand.
'Not all the time..' Sivella admitted with a smirk as she thought off the beginning.
'Have to admit that I didn't know what I was gettin' into.' He said with a smirk as he shrugged.
Sivella smiled. 'I'm glad you helped Mal. Without you... Things probably wouldn't have worked out.' Sivella said. 'You're a good and fun man. I like you Malcolm Reynolds.' She said as she smiled widely.
'You're an exceptional woman. Was nice gettin' to know you.' Mal said. 'Take good care of yourself.'
'And you too, and care for Inara please. But I'm sure you will.'
He nodded. Sivella watched him turn away and walked towards Thomas and Grace who were talking to Kaylee and Zoe. She then saw Inara heading towards her slowly.
'Ow Inara.' Sivella said as they both held hands out to each other and tears fell from her eyes. 'I'll miss you so much.'
Inara smiled through watery eyes. 'As will I.' Inara said as she hugged her friend softly, not wanting to cause her any pain.
Sivella had already said goodbye to everyone of Serenity's crew now except for Inara who would be the most difficult one to say goodbye too.
'You've helped me so much.' Sivella said as she caressed Inara's cheek. 'My sister.' She said softly as she kissed her cheek.
'I love you.' Inara said as she hugged Sivella again.
'Mal already went to look for some jobs on Sandria. Even Jayne was enthusiastic about it.' Inara whispered.
Sivella smiled slightly. 'I hope I'll see you soon.'
'I hope so too.' Inara said as she hugged Sivella again. 'Thankyou for everything, for your advice.'
Sivella chuckled slightly. 'It's always easier to give advice then to follow it up yourself.' She whispered.
Inara nodded. 'But you did.' She said as she smiled.
'As did you, we both did.' Sivella sighed softly. 'Goodbye sweet Inara. Take care and come to me soon, or I will find you.' She said as she kissed Inara again.
'Goodbye sweet Sivella.' She said as she kissed Sivella and let go of her hand slowly as she walked back to Serenity. She waved at Thomas and Grace as she took Mal's hand who guided her into Serenity. They waved and then the doors shut.
Thomas held Sivella from behind as Sivella held her hand in front of her mouth in sadness as Serenity's door closed.
'She gave this for you.' Petulia said as Sivella took the bag. She opened it and found the blue dress, Inara's favourite dress, the one she had grabbed to tease her. Her fingers went gingerly over the material as tears fell freely from her eyes now as she caught one last glimpse of Inara.
She mouthed a thankyou and Inara smiled widely as Sivella cradled the dress against her chest. Thomas kissed her neck as Serenity dissapeared into the sky.
Outside Inara's shuttle
Mal wiped away one of her tears with his thumb. Inara looked up at him with big eyes.
'I'll miss her.' She said in a shuddering breath.
Mal nodded as he hugged her closely. She looked up then and he kissed her. 'You sure you don't want to be stayin' here?' He asked carefully with fear in his heart.
She kissed him passionately, forcing him back against the railing. He had to pant for air when she loosened him. 'Is that enough answer?' She asked softly.
'It would be for me!' Jayne remarked from the other side of the railing.
'Shut up Jayne!' Kaylee muttered angrily. Really something for him to ruin the moment.
'What? Some thing's just ain't fair and square.' He muttered as he walked towards his weights.
'What's not fair about this? They deserve each other!' Kaylee muttered softly to not be overheard.
Inara smiled against Mal's chest, things went on as normal again.
'T'is all 'bout others deservin' somethin'. I deserve somethin' too.'
'Yeah, a smack in your big face is what you deserve!' Kaylee snapped annoyed.
Mal smiled as he looked from Kaylee and Jayne back at Inara. 'I love you.' He blurted out as he swallowed after that. He just wanted to say it, had thought about it many times, but now he felt that she had to know.
She gave him a surprised look and raised her eyebrow. 'Really? You actually love Serenity's whore?' She asked teasingly with a slight edge.
'Don't be sayin' such a thing.' He said seriously and in a stern, hurt voice.
'I'm sorry.' She quickly said as he placed her flat hand against his chest. 'Sometimes it's hard to give up on old habit's I think.' She looked up at him with big eyes.
She bit her lip as she touched his lip with her finger. She followed her finger. 'Buddha only knows..' She said as her finger traced his lip. 'That I've loved you for a long time now.' She let go of his lip and looked up at him with two big Bambi eyes.
Mal smiled widely. 'Well, I should have known that you couldn't resist a good petty thief.' He shot back at her.
She slapped him playfully in his chest.
'Just admit that you've always wanted me.' Mal said.
'Now you're just pushing it.' She warned him.
He stepped forward and grabbed her by her waist and backed her up against the wall. 'Really?' He asked as he brought his lips close to hers.
She gasped as she felt his warm breath on her lips. 'You'd better watch what you're doing, I still have some tricks up my sleeve..' Inara stated playfully as she opened her mouth slightly and gave him a challeging look.
'Then I'd better find out soon about them.' Mal muttered as he closed the gap between them again and kissed her passionately.
Jayne sighed as he lowered his weights and saw Mal and Inara kissing again. 'Is that goin' to go on all day long?!' He muttered annoyed.
'Jayne shut up!' Kaylee warned him as she herself had followed the scene in front of her with a warm heart and a cup of warm tea.
'Just get a room!' Jayne shouted to the two.
'Jayne!' Kaylee shouted angrily as she turned towards him. When she turned back Mal and Inara had dissapeared into her shuttle. 'Great, just great! Thankyou Jayne!' Kaylee snapped. She could have enjoyed this romantic scene in front of her even more but Jayne had to interrupt it. Some things never changed, she thought angrily as she stalked off with her tea.
A big smile brightened her face up though, when she thought of Mal and Inara finally together.
The End....
And what did you think??? Please let me know! Reviews make me really HAPPY!