Title: Daydreams
Characters/Pairing:
Mal/Inara
Summary: This is just a
daydream Mal had in my
head. It’s pure fluff. It
was prompted by this
question: What is your
favorite daydream, and why?
Mal walked off of Serenity
towards the large house in
the distance. One hand held
onto a small delicate one
and the free one trailed
over the fencing he passed
by. The sounds of the
cattle filled the air and
the familiarity of it all
forced a small slight smile
to his lips.
“Daddy, what are those?”
After letting go of the hand
he held, he lifted the
little girl into his arms.
“Them’s cattle. Grew up
here, ya know.”
“They’re big and they
smell.” The child’s nose
wrinkled innocently before
she buried it against his
shoulder.
Mal chuckled lightly.
“Conjure they do, bao bei.”
“Malcolm!” Cira’s voice
carried over the slight
breeze and sound of the
livestock just as it always
had. “Mal, you best be
hurryin’ to get that
young’un over here so as she
can meet her grandma.”
“Ain’t wantin’ to see me?”
Mal asked amusedly even as
he picked up his pace.
There was no making his
mother, Cira Reynolds,
wait. “And here I thought I
was your favorite. Guess I
been replaced.”
“Hush and give your ma a
kiss then introduce us
proper.”
Mal leaned over to place a
chaste kiss against his
mother’s cheek, then ran his
hand back over the brunette
curls of the small girl he
held at his hip.
“Gabrielle, this is your
dad’s ma. She’s your
grandma.”
Gabrielle peeked up from
Mal’s shoulder with big blue
eyes and gave the kindly
woman a small innocent smile
before hiding her eyes
again.
“Oh, come now. Nicest woman
I’m knowin’ ‘sides your
ma.” Mal reassured her,
waiting for her to look at
him. “Say your hello’s.”
The child looked from her
father to Cira and after a
moment waved emphatically.
“Hello.”
Cira reached out to take
Gabrielle from Mal and hold
her on her own hip. “Ain’t
you just the most darlingest
thing ever?”
“My dad calls my ma
darling.” Gabrielle said
excitedly.
“I’m sure he does. Raised
him proper, I can promise
you that.” Cira winked at
Gabrielle. “On solid ground
and not on a spaceship.”
“Ma…” Mal said, only a hint
of warning at the
never-ending debate he had
with his mother.
“And he calls me Gabbie but
that makes mommy make a
funny face.” Gabrielle
continued.
“Does get her ire up, don’t
it?” Mal asked Gabrielle
with a mischievous grin
playing on his lips.
“Causin’ trouble like always
I can see. Some things
never change.” Cira laughed
and shook her head. “Got a
batch of cookies fresh out
of the oven if you’re wantin’
some. You like chocolate?”
Mal felt her before turning
around to see her walking
towards him from Serenity.
He went to meet her halfway
and took the bag that was
slung over her shoulder from
her. “You ready?”
“I think so.” The nerves
wracking Inara were only
noticeable to Mal. She’d
never met his mother before.
“She’ll love you. No
worryin’ that pretty head,
darlin’.” Mal took Inara’s
free hand, squeezing it
reassuringly and guided her
towards Cira.
“And I guess this is your
woman you wrote about?”
Cira asked, nodding at Inara
and looking to the small
baby the woman carried in
one arm. “And who’s this?”
“’Nara, my ma, Cira
Reynolds.” Mal introduced
the two and then looked to
the baby boy in Inara’s
arms. “And a surprise,
Darian… my son.”
Cira’s eyes widened. “And
you didn’t tell me? Wav’d
you just yesterday, Malcolm
Reynolds. How dare you no-”
“It’s a pleasure to meet
you, Mrs. Reynolds.” Inara
nodded a greeting to the
elder woman who carried
Mal’s and Gabrielle’s eyes.
Cira looked to Inara, a
large smile that resembled
what Mal’s smile looked like
when he allowed himself the
luxury. “Call me Cira, qin
ài de. You’re the only Mrs.
Reynolds about this place.
And come with that little
one. Gonna get some real
food in your bellies and
you’re gonna be tellin’ me
how my son’s been treatin’
you.”
Inara looked up to Mal with
a small smile spreading on
her lips. “Wo ài ni.”
Mal leaned down to lightly
kiss Inara’s lips and nodded
at her. “Wo ài ni.” He
watched Inara walk towards
the house with his mother
and two children and
couldn’t hold back the
contentment that smoothed
his hardened features and
brought a smile to his lips.
After a moment, he furrowed
his brow. “Hey! Can I come
or do I gotta stay out here
with the livestock?”
Bao bei - sweetheart
qin ài de – dear
Wo ài ni – I love you
