May Old Acquaintances Be Forgot (December 2521)

Atherton Wing sipped the expensive champagne and glanced around the room carefully, planning his next encounter. A couple children ran by, and he shuddered as they came too close. He simply could not understand why Lady Braxton would encourage parents to bring them, for a ballroom was no place for children. If it were any other party, the thought of a roomful of children would have kept him away, but Lady Braxton's ball would be the perfect place to continue his schmoozing, for every high born citizen on the planet was present. If Atherton were lucky, he would be able to leave the party with a few new business cards that would keep him in the lavish lifestyle he enjoyed for many years to come.

His eyes stopped roaming suddenly, and he nearly spit out his drink as he caught sight of a familiar figure. She had her back turned to him, but she was nevertheless unmistakable. Atherton had run his hands over her graceful curves many times, had seen her without the beautiful gown she was currently wearing. He knew every inch of her body. Inara Serra had returned to Persephone.

Of course, Atherton could no longer think of Inara without remembering her last betrayal, a betrayal with a petty thief no less. His blood boiled at the memory. She had kept to her word, had blacklisted him with the Guild, leaving him to seek the company of women not associated with that particular governing body. Though the experiences had been pleasurable enough, they could not compare to the experience with a true Companion, and Atherton still hated Inara for forcing his hand. He wanted nothing more than to see her suffer for what she had done, to cast her out of her precious Guild as she had done to him. But first, he would claim her body for his own.

A plan forming in his mind, he approached her, letting a wide smile spread over his face. "Inara," he greeted. "What brings you back to Persephone?"

She turned to face him, her eyes narrowed, but he barely recognized the anger in her look as his eyes landed on her rounded stomach. She caught his gaze and smirked slightly. "I simply could not miss the Braxton Ball," she said.

"So you were invited as well?"

"I was. I must say, I did not expect to see you here, however." Atherton's blood boiled at the implication, and he wished he had brought a woman to the ball if only to put the Companion in her place, to prove that he did not need her help finding a date for a fancy ball.

"I come every year," he said smoothly. "I suppose congratulations are in order. Or is it my condolences?" He glanced pointedly at her stomach.

"Congratulations, thank you," she said.

"Is the father around?"

"That is none of your business."

"So how did the Guild take the news of your. . . situation?" Atherton knew that the Guild did not take kindly to pregnant Companions. They strove to prevent such an occurrence, for it led to messy complications. They hated messes. It was why Atherton much preferred Companions to his current company. Sure, they were more expensive, but the safety of the Guild made it well worth the price.

"Also none of your business."

"But you are retired, I assume?" She turned away, refusing to answer him. Undeterred, he stepped into her line of vision again. "Tell me, Inara, how did it happen? Surely a talented and experienced Companion such as yourself can prevent unwanted occurrences."

"I never said it was unwanted."

"Oh?" That statement intrigued Atherton. He could not conceive of a situation where a Companion would want a child. "So I take it the father is involved?"

Before Inara could answer, a male voice joined them. "'Nara, I know you said we had to come to this shindig, but I was hopin' we could leave a mite early. The boys have already fallen asleep, and I've had enough small talk to last a coupla lifetimes." Atherton's eyes narrowed as he recognized the man as none other than Malcolm Reynolds, the ruffian who had helped Inara ruin him years before. He carried two boys, both fast asleep and draped over his shoulders. The oldest could not have been older than three. Atherton's shock transformed into complete disbelief when he saw them. Though he had sensed something between the two when they first met, he had attributed it to unresolved sexual tension. He never dreamed it would evolve into the two procreating so rapidly.

"Malcolm Reynolds." Mal's attention moved from his wife to Atherton, and Atherton was pleased to see his fists clench where they rested on his sons' backs.

"Ath. What are you doing here?"

"I was invited. And you? Hoping to turn this into a barroom brawl?"

"Mal is here with me," Inara said, placing a hand on his shoulder. He visibly relaxed under her touch though he still stared daggers at Atherton. "The invitation told me to bring my family, so I thought it only appropriate that I attend with my husband and sons."

Atherton choked a bit on the sip of champagne he had taken. "Husband?"

Mal smirked. "Three years next April."

"So you got her pregnant and forced her to marry you?" Mal started toward him with a growl, but one of the small boys stirred, giving him no choice but to stop. Aware that his sons' presence would stop the worst of his actions, Atherton pressed on. "Oh, seems it wasn't like that. Let me guess, you love her. Can't see why that is though. After all, she's just a common whore. Plenty like her in the verse." Mal's growl was louder, and he glanced around as if trying to find somewhere to place his slumbering sons. Inara seemed to sense his growing irritation, for she grabbed his arm.

"Let it go, Mal."

"You're going to regret saying that," Mal warned.

"Is that a challenge?" Atherton questioned. Mal opened his mouth, but Inara cut him off.

"No. No," she repeated, glancing pointedly at Mal. He closed his mouth abruptly, still glaring at Atherton mutinously. "It's not a challenge," she said firmly.

"Don't know. I've gotten a mite better since you've been trainin' me."

"No challenge, Mal." He shrugged. "Come on, let's go." Nodding, he turned away.

"How does it feel being a kept man, Captain Reynolds?" Atherton called, goading him.

"See? I'm gettin' better at these fancy shindigs," Mal remarked to Inara, not turning. Atherton watched them go, still contemplating his next move. He would make them pay. Both of them. And now that he knew they were involved and had children, it was just icing on the cake.

For the next hour, Atherton skulked around, staying out of sight of Inara and Mal but within earshot, hoping to catch a snatch of conversation which could help him to ruin them. He knew he was missing out on other potential contacts, but revenge ranked higher as far as he was concerned. He was happy to note that he was not the only one who seemed scandalized by Mal's presence though nearly every person that saw him complimented him on the boys which made Atherton's anger increase. Eventually, Atherton's efforts did pay off. Mal and Inara began arguing; Atherton could not hear the words, for they spoke softly, conscious of the children still sleeping on Mal's shoulders, but their gestures gave them away. After a few minutes, Inara stood. "I'm going to put the boys upstairs. Lady Braxton was kind enough to set aside a couple rooms for the little ones."

"I'll take them," Mal offered.

"No. You're going to stay here and socialize."

"'Nara." She simply glared at him, and he passed the kids over with a sigh. Stumbling a bit under their combined weight, Inara moved to the stairs while Mal moved to the bar. Now that he saw his opening, Atherton's eyes quickly scanned the crowd, finally coming to rest on a beautiful woman standing by herself against one of the walls, sipping a drink. He strode to her side quickly. "Hazel," he greeted with a wide smile. "Can I buy you another?"

She glanced at her still half-full glass and shook her head. "I'm okay on alcohol but I'm willing to entertain other offers."

"I had hoped that might be the case." Hazel was a whore, a beautiful one but a whore nevertheless. She had a falling out with the Guild a couple years before which meant that she was no longer an official Companion though she was still desirable enough that many men, Atherton included, wanted her. She used her beauty to her advantage, and her rates were quite high. However, she was the type of woman one could hire to come to an event such as the current one, and Atherton was sure someone had. He was not the only person in attendance with a Guild black mark.

"So, what will it be? My contract ends at the end of this party, so I'm free the remainder of the night."

"Actually, it's not for me."

"Oh?"

"A friend of mine needs some cheering up, and I thought you would be the best woman to do it."

Hazel looked at him critically. It was well known that Atherton did not have any friends, merely acquaintances whom he tolerated for business purposes. However, Hazel was a woman who did not pass up a paying job, no matter the suspicious nature. "My kind of cheering up?" she asked.

"Most certainly. He's fighting with his wife." Atherton pointed to Mal at the bar. She eyed him with interest and gave a murmur of approval.

"You have good taste, Atherton. For him, I'll cut my normal rate in half."

Atherton bristled a bit at the implication that Mal was more desirable than him, but he was not going to turn down a discount. Money mattered. Pulling out a few bills, he handed them to her. "The rest at the end of the night."

"How do I know you'll pay?"

"I've always paid my debts before." She studied him for a moment before nodding. Tucking the bills into her bosom, she pushed off the wall and walked toward the bar. Atherton moved closer as well, staying in the shadows of the wall where he would be unseen but could hear every word they said.

"You look like a man who needs the company of a good woman," Hazel remarked, sliding into the seat beside Mal. He grunted into his drink without looking at her.

"You're barkin' up the wrong tree. I ain't interested."

"Oh, everyone is interested. They just don't know it yet."

"I'm married," Mal said.

"It doesn't matter to me."

"Well, it does to me."

"Give me a chance. I'll prove it doesn't." She reached out and laid a hand on his shoulder. He turned to her, his expression incredulous.

"Lady, I don't know many more ways to say I ain't interested."

"Why? Am I not pretty enough?" Hazel's lip jutted out in a pout, an expression Atherton had always been unable to resist. Mal looked over her body critically.

"You're a beautiful woman. If'n I weren't married, I might just take you up on that offer. But I am married and personally find my wife even more beautiful." Hazel seemed slightly surprised by his vehemence, and Atherton understood her shock, for he felt it as well. Every other man he had met was powerless to resist Hazel's advances, especially when she truly wanted something. And she definitely wanted Mal. He could see it in the way she leaned subtly closer to him.

"I heard you were fighting with your wife."

"Did you now? Where'd you hear that from?"

"Your friend."

"Didn't think I had many friends at this shindig."

"Atherton."

Mal gave a snort of laughter, and Atherton saw him quickly scan the immediate vicinity. He shrunk further back into the shadows, but Mal didn't seem to find him. "Good ole Ath told you, huh? Did he also tell you that 'Nara and I fight pretty much all the time?"

"He didn't mention that. But he did say you could use some cheering up."

"I'm sure he did." Mal turned back to his drink. Somewhat confused, Hazel leaned closer, letting her ample breasts press against his shoulder. He jerked away as if burned. "Honey, you should take your attentions elsewhere. Ain't no need for them here," he told her. Hazel frowned at his response but did lean back slightly.

"Don't you want to be cheered up? I've been told I'm quite good at it."

"I'm sure you are, but there's only one person who does the. . . uh. . . cheerin' for me."

"It doesn't sounds like she's doing a good job if your marriage is so unhappy."

"Didn't say it was unhappy."

"You said you and your wife fight all the time."

"Well, we make up all the time as well." Atherton felt his rage increase at Mal's words. Hazel did not pick up on the true meaning, but Atherton knew exactly what Mal was talking about. He simply could not stand the thought of the man's dirty hands all over a beautiful creature like Inara. Mal stood with his drink, stepping away from the bar. "Piece of advice? Careful listening to Atherton Wing." With that, he strode away, leaving a confused Hazel still sitting on the barstool.

Atherton followed Mal for a bit, and he was still in earshot when Inara rejoined him. "Did you skulk in the corner the whole time?" she questioned, exasperated.

"Got me a drink first," he said, holding up his glass.

"Have you talked to anyone since I've been gone?"

"I did meet a lovely young woman at the bar. Didn't catch her name, but she's right over there." He nodded to Hazel who smiled and waved at him. He raised his glass in response.

"Mal, she's a whore."

"Such language." Inara glared at him, and he smirked. "I did pick up on that vibe. Told her I wasn't interested, but she was quite persistent."

"I find that difficult to believe."

"What? You don't think this pretty face could attract a beautiful woman? Married you, didn't I?" Inara shook her head at his antics. "Turns out our old friend Atherton hired her for me. Such a nice guy. Don't know why I cut him up so bad last time I saw him." His voice dripped sarcasm.

"What did he hope to accomplish with that?"

"Nearest I can tell, he hoped I'd succumb to her womanly wiles and run off in the night with her, leaving you to fall into his arms in despair. Not sure yet what he planned to do with the children but I imagine he wouldn't be averse to just leavin' them here. Didn't seem all that interested in bein' a family man from what I saw."

"That seems a bit too. . . rough a plan for Atherton."

"I imagine he was a mite surprised to see you here and didn't have all that much time for schemin'. Give him your social schedule in advance next time. Perhaps he won't have to think off the cuff." Inara turned and studied Hazel critically. The other woman shrank under her gaze and turned her attention to a couple other men at the bar.

"She is quite attractive."

"Not as beautiful as you, bao bei."

"Sap."

"You set me up hoping for that line." He cocked his head to the side as the orchestra began the next piece of music. "Hey. This is the one that you taught me. Wanna dance?" He held out a hand, and she rolled her eyes at him as she took it.

"You just want to avoid any more small talk."

"Way I see it, you get to dance with me, and in public no less, so we both get something out of this deal." He led her onto the floor, bowing as they began the steps.

"Are you planning to step on my foot this time?"

"Wasn't plannin' on it, but that can be arranged if you like, darlin'."

"You're incorrigible, Mal."

"Long as it's you doin' the encouragin'." Inara chuckled at the bad joke, and he smiled back as they touched hands, spinning around one another. Atherton fumed silently. They may have won the battle, but he was determined to win the war.