"Ugh, what is that smell?" The warrior complained, wafting her hand in front of her face. "It smells worse than the time I was in…"
"Stop complaining and just change the baby." Aurora cut in, not bothering to look up from the magazine she was reading as she lounged on the couch.
"How can Dawn make such a smell?" Mulan continued, picking the baby u and holding her at arms length. She thrust the squalling infant in Aurora's direction.
"No, you're changing Dawn this time." Aurora's voice left no room for complaint. Mulan pulled a face but none the less took Dawn over to the changing mat on the table, holding her at arms length as though she were about to explode.
"How do you even use these… things?" Mulan gestured at the table once she had set the baby down.
"What, diapers?" Aurora inquired finally looking up from her magazine. "I dunno I usually just use a cloth. Aren't there instructions on the packet?"
Mulan peered at the packet but remained as confused as ever, however she was unwilling to admit her shortcomings to the Princess and so decided to just plough ahead regardless.
"That is truly foul. She is most definitely the spawn of Philip." Mulan muttered but in the quiet of the house Aurora heard her.
"And what is that meant to mean?" Aurora demanded.
"Only that Philip often lacked in personal hygiene." Mulan responded without looking away from the task she was attempting to perform. She couldn't wait until this was over and the child could learn the path of a warrior; that was something Mulan could do.
"Excuse me?" Aurora replied indignant.
"Well I did know him longer than you, considering you were asleep for years." Mulan quipped.
"That still gives you no right to say something like that about my true love. We may have woken up here without him and somehow married but that doesn't mean I don't still love him." Aurora declared passionately.
"I know, but until the Saviour and the Queen find a way to restore the year we've lost then there's no point dwelling on that. We need to live in the here and now Aurora, you, me and Dawn." Aurora sighed and came to lean against the warriors' strong frame.
"I suppose you are right." She pressed a kiss to Mulan's cheek and leaned around her to correct the hands fumbling at the diaper. Mulan picked Dawn up again and Aurora laughed. "You can hold her against you; she hasn't got teeth to bite you, yet."
Mulan wearily eyed the child who was eyeing her equally wearily back. Aurora laughed again and quickly plucked Dawn from Mulan's uncomfortable grip. "Sit." She instructed before positioning Mulan's arms and sliding Dawn into them so that the warrior was cradling the baby. "I know you haven't taken to this naturally but you'll get there." Aurora promised, placing a chaste kiss to Mulan's lips, each smiling lightly. "Just try not to decapitate her." She joked. Mulan laughed.
"I'll try, but I will make no promises." Dawn yawned audibly and snuggled into Mulan, Aurora reached over to softly and soothing stroke a downy head as the baby drifted off.
"Snow will be coming round later to help show me how to use the magical kitchen elves." Aurora commented as she went back to her magazine and Mulan slowly shifted to a more comfortable position whilst trying not to wake Dawn.
"You mean like the oven?" Mulan queried. Aurora hummed her response already engrossed in an article about make-up and fashion disasters.
This world was all so strange and new, and motherhood was also strange and new, but Mulan knew that together and with the help of their friends they could get through it, though she really hoped that Philip never showed up.