When they finally left Miranda, she waited for almost a week for him to come to her. She waited for the demand that she leave the Guild. She waited for the ensuing argument. She prepared in her head all the ways such a conversation could go horribly wrong. How one word could tear apart this fragile connection. And she waited.

One the first day he smiled at her across the kitchen, but had no words to say.

On the second day were the funerals. They sat in the dirt of the moon and he held her while she wept.

On the third day they sat side by side above the cargo bay for two hours and exchanged no words.

On the fourth day Mal's composure cracked and she held him while he cried out all his tears on her shoulder.

On the fifth day he called out her name and she ran to the kitchen. She waited. She prepared words in her head. He looked at her. No words came. She walked away disappointed.

On the sixth day he came to her shuttle. He knocked on her door and she granted him entry. She waited. He didn't make a demand. He didn't mention her profession. For minutes he stared at her. Then he reached out his hand.

"Never leave me. Please. I don't care what you do, but stay. Always, always stay."

And in answer she reached up and kissed him and it felt like a dam breaking.

In time there would be the fight about the Guild. And she would protest and he would be aggrieved, but ultimately she would agree.

In truth she had handed in her resignation the day they left Miranda.

A/N- All credit belongs to the ever amazing Joss Whedon