Disclaimer: I do not own OuaT - although, Disney's missing out
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Morning Awakens
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ON WITH THE STORY
The first thing Aurora noticed when she woke up is that she was not in the castle where she last remembered being. In fact, looking around at the various faces sporting confused frowns while surrounded by buildings of the strangest design, Aurora doubted she was anywhere near her home.
The second and most important unexpected thing she noticed was a severe clenching pain ripping through her abdomen. "Arrgh!" The pain took her so unawares that she crumpled to her knees and clutched at her belly.
"Aurora!" Philip was calling out to her and she felt his warm hands grab her shoulders. "Aurora! What's wrong?"
The tears in her eyes made his image blurry as she leaned heavily into his arms. "The baby, Philip," she gasped.
"Oh gods," he shakily stood and lifted her off the hard ground she had collapsed on. "Help! Midwife!" he began to shout, searching for anyone who could help his queen through her labor better than he could.
Aurora kept one hand on her belly, breathing deeply and evenly through the painful contractions. The other hand she curled around Philips neck, clinging to the only source of comfort she had access to.
From the outskirts of the crowd a female voice shouted out Aurora's name. Philip turned towards its source and saw two women standing side by side. One had her ebony dark hair cut short like a boy's while the other had long golden locks tumbling down her back.
The dark haired woman reached them first, laying her hand on Aurora's, still over her belly. "Hey, Aurora. Good to see you, and apparently we are going to have a new arrival."
Aurora breathlessly chuckled. "Hi, Snow. Good to see you too. And Emma," she looked past Snow to the taller woman, "When this is over, you'll have to show me around."
The blond haired woman spoke up then. "I can do that, but first let's get you to the hospital and that baby out."
Aurora nodded then winced as another contraction rippled through her. "That is an excellent idea. Lead the way."
Aurora pushed again at the urging of the healer. 'Doctor,' she dazedly recalled Emma shouting that word at the man when they had burst through the doors of the bright white building. "Nnngaahh!"
It hurt so much and she was exhausted. Philip was holding her hand and encouraging her on but Aurora could not make out a word he said. Everything was narrowed down to one need and one alone - get that baby out!
Hours or minutes later a great wash of relief ran through her body as the baby finally slid out into the world on a gush of blood and other fluids.
"It's a girl," Doctor Whale announced to the cheers and hollers of the small crowd of people who were gathered in the waiting area.
"That's wonderful!"
"How is Aurora?"
"When can we see the kid? Or the queen?"
The questions pressed on until Whale held up his hands and said, "Hold your horses! The baby is with mom and dad. You can see her later in the viewing ward. Mom however needs her rest. Come back tomorrow to see her."
With that he left to return to his patients.
"*knock* How is the new arrival doing?"
Aurora smiled tiredly in his direction but her eyes never left her child's small form. A beautifully pink girl with a tuft of dark auburn hair on her head was suckling hungrily from Aurora's breast. "She is doing wonderfully if her appetite is anything to go by."
Doctor Whale laughed politely then smirked and turned to the new father. "And dad?"
Aurora chuckled, looking up from her daughter for the first time to glance at Philip. "Still passed out."
The doctor just snorted then told Aurora that a nurse would be in later to put the child to bed before he left. The monarch nodded, already returning to her child, smoothing her thumb over the rose cheeks and marveling over the tiny fingers curled into tight little fists.
"She's so beautiful," Aurora whispered to the air. "I wish you were here to see her." Tears fought to break free but Aurora tilted her head back to rest on the pile of pillows she was propped up against and took deep breaths until the sadness faded to a manageable level.
A little hiccup burp interrupted her struggle, completely banishing the negative feeling and causing a bubble of laughter to pop out of Aurora's mouth. "Greedy little one." Lips smacking together and a yawn was her only response. "Hm, maybe you would like to hear a tale?" Aurora lifted the tiny bundle and rearranged so that the other breast was available. "Yes, I will tell you the tale of a princess, a prince, and a warrior and how they all saved each other."
Aurora softly whispered her tale to her child well past the evening hours, turning away the nurses and smiling at Philip when he finally awoke. "And they found a home away from home, awaiting their next adventure, "she concluded for the night.
Philip added, "Sleep well, princess" from his seat beside the bed.
The two adults sat in silence for a while before Philip asked a question that set Aurora's violet eyes on fire. "Do you think we shall ever see Mulan again?"
"Yes, we will," Aurora swore with her lips in a stern line. "Even if I have to return to our world on foot to find her."
Weeks passed swiftly for the new mother and father. A new child, a new home, a new culture - honestly Aurora was surprised she adapted so well so quickly.
An angry cry interrupted her light meal and mindful wanderings. Snorting she looked down at Violet sitting in her baby carrier on the floor. "You, Princess, can wait for me to finish eating. And then I will feed you."
Violet obviously did not like that answer but her mother was the 'tough love' parent as Snow White dubbed her. Philip was the one who gave in to his daughter's demands every time, despite some common sense.
Finishing her sandwich, Aurora brushed off her hands then reached down and pulled Violet to her. "I love you, dearling," she said kissing the puffed cheeks red from crying.
Lowering her daughter to her chest, she made quick work of opening her shirt and allowed her daughter to have her meal. "Hm, no wonder time is flying - you are impatient to grow up aren't you," the mother cooed nonsensically to her daughter, rubbing her fingers over every limb she could. Aurora sat on the sofa bathed in afternoon sunlight with Violet in her lap and daydreamed until she and Violet both fell asleep.
A whiskery kiss on her forehead woke her up a couple hours later. Phillip smiled from where he crouched in front of the sofa. "Good evening, Aurora."
She smiled, leaning forward to kiss his cheek and hand off Violet. "Good evening, Phillip."
The king looked down at his still sleeping daughter and beamed. "Good evening, princess."
A bewhiskered kiss tickled the baby awake and she promptly scrunched up her face and cried. The look of shock on Phillip's face brought an unabashed smile to Aurora's lips.
"She probably needs to be changed."
The shock morphed into horror as Phillip wordlessly pleaded with his queen. Not feeling an iota of pity, Aurora simply smiled and shook her head.
"We've practiced Phillip. It is time to test yourself."
"Ugh," he moaned even as he gamely rose to his feet, daughter in hand, and walked to the bathroom where the diapers are. "And here I believed you to be a merciful queen, Aurora."
Mock laughing evilly she swept away into the bedroom to change her outfit for the evening. Emma and Snow had asked her to come to Granny's Diner for a party celebrating Prince Neal's birth.
Phillip had encouraged her to go while he watches Violet for the night, and Aurora readily agreed. She was feeling a little suffocated in their current situation. To go from running a kingdom to grocer work at the local store was nice change of pace but Aurora soon found herself feeling restless. It was as if she no longer had a purpose and that gave her the dangerous desire to seek out trouble - just like a certain warrior she knew.
Pausing after taking off her blouse, Aurora placed the palm of her hand against her breast feeling the strong beating of her heart. It ached, she decided, yearning not just for adventure but for someone to share in the adventure.
Phillip and she were safe together. The excitement of meeting before the curse gave way to a steady friendship that was only mildly more intimate because of their shared daughter. He liked this place where his responsibilities here are just as important as those he had in his kingdom but with greater convenience and less chance of dying by a random monster attack or invasion.
But Aurora had slept long enough in her life; she wanted to keep living as she had with Mulan when they journeyed to save Phillip's soul.
Her hand went from her chest to her waist and she shoved her sweatpants off. After flinging them away with a sharp kick Aurora entered the closet and pulled out the dress she felt most like wearing tonight. It was light violet dyed cotton that flirted just above her knees, much too flimsy for the brisk Maine autumn weather but perfect for an indoor party at the diner. The dress seemed to float through the air as she draped it over her head, allowing the fabric to caress her torso and hips on its way down. Pulling her hair free of the neckline Aurora exited the closet to do any final adjustments in front of the mirror.
A low whistle from the doorway drew her gaze away from the ties in the front of her bodice.
"You look enchanting," Phillip whispered in awe as he cradled his napping daughter in one arm.
Aurora felt a blush rising from her neck, pursing her lips to prevent a giddy smile from coming through. "Flattery, my king, does nothing more than perfume the air," she lightly accused. "But!" Twirling around in a tight circle to flare out the bottom hem, Aurora danced up to the man with a full-blown smile on her face. "I appreciate your words, nonetheless."
She kissed his cheek then kissed the downy head of her baby. Phillip wrapped his free arm around Aurora's waist and pulled her in for an embrace, staying like that for a little while until Aurora pulled away.
"I need to finish getting ready. Stay here and help?"
He smiled at his queen and sat down on the edge of their bed. "Of course."
"Cheers!" Aurora shouted with the crowd for the third time, taking another quaff of her dwarf brew.
The party was well underway and everyone was having a grand time congratulating the new parents in between drinking and horsing around the diner. Even after the little prince had long since retired with his dad, speeches and rousing choruses of cheer continued to be offered.
Aurora reveled in the crowd of well-wishers, drinking, talking, and generally having a good time.
"Burp!"
"Good one, Sister!"
A dwarf, she was guessing it was Happy, smacked her on the thigh in admiration. Giggling, Aurora patted his hatted head. "Thank you!"
Then she set down her mug and excused herself. "I will return to finish this momentarily."
Happy nodded then threw back the rest of his beer, calling for another.
The bathrooms were located far enough away from the revelry that when Aurora reached the side hall in which they were located her ears rang in the sudden silence.
'Wow,' she absently thought when she stumbled into the proper doorway. 'It's really loud out there.'
The time away from the party and the relief of emptying her bladder gave Aurora some much needed clarity. After drying her hands, she flipped her wrist to look at her watch.
"Hm. I better get back home. Work will start much too early tomorrow," she said to her image in the mirror. Splashing some water on her face then drying her hands on a towel again, the young woman exited the bathroom with a clearer head.
Clear enough that she stopped before rounding the corner in the hall and interrupting a very serious conversation.
"…I just feel like I don't fit in."
Aurora listened as the woman she only knew as Ruby spoke with Snow White of her heartache and desire to seek her own happiness. The fact that it may be found in the Enchanted Forest was no obstacle as a garden in the woods outside the town held the potential to produce magic beans.
In a daze Aurora walked home, the possibility to return to her homeland making her thoughts dizzy and chaotic. She entered the house on silent feet after slipping off her shoes at the door. A steady snore echoed down the stairs leading her further in.
She arrived at the door to her room and stayed there leaning against the door jamb. Phillip lay under the quilt, chest bared to the night air and snoring quietly. Violet was sleeping in her crib, hands folded into fists with one tucked against her mouth.
This tranquil scene made her heart clench and tears rise. She should be happy. She should feel content with her loved ones by her side. But that was just it, something was missing.
Someone.
"Mulan," she choked out on a muffled sob.
Ever since the soldier woman left Aurora keenly felt her absence. And then Philip told her about Mulan's feelings and now Aurora couldn't stop thinking about her.
Sliding down to sit on the floor, the displaced queen brought her knees up to her chest and hugged them to her. "What am I going to do?"
Phillip woke her the next morning and helped her to the bathroom, running hot water into the tub and giving Aurora an encouraging nod when she asked if they could spend the day doing nothing but staying home with their daughter.
As she stepped into the soothing water, groaning at the ache in her muscles, Phillip sat on the commode and watched her with a smile.
"Want to talk about whatever is bothering you?"
Lavender hued eyes closed and the blond sank back into the curve of the tub, her thoughts racing but nothing with which to break the silence. The couple sat there, morning light and humid air dancing between them until Aurora sighed and opened her eyes.
"I miss her so much, Phillip. There is a chance to find her back in the Enchanted Forest, but I do not know if I should take that chance," she confessed so quietly.
"You love her," he said confidently watching his queen smile sadly at him in the rising sunlight.
"I love you. And our daughter. I would not trade either of you for anything."
Phillip knelt beside the illuminated tub and kissed Aurora.
The kiss was gentle and loving and comfortable, creating a warmth in her heart. But unlike when they first started courting so long ago, no spark flared in her loins to urge her out of the water and into his lap. Their kiss ended as softly as it started, Phillip resting on his heels and Aurora back against the curve of the tub.
"I love you and our daughter, too, Aurora. But I know we no longer feel that bond we once did." He turned away and rubbed his hand through his tousled hair. "We were separated for so long before the curse and immediately after. We never got the chance to grow into True Love past that first flush."
A wet hand reached out and squeezed his knee, turning his gaze back to his wife.
"None of this is our fault, Phillip," she fiercely whispered. "We saved each other and loved each other. We have nothing to be ashamed of."
The king marveled over Aurora's fiery conviction, smiling and placing his hand over hers. "You and Mulan are so much alike when you get fired up, you know."
Aurora blushed and pinched him a bit in retaliation.
He laughed. "I can see now why you love her so much. You two together would conquer kingdoms."
A sly smile pulled at Aurora's rosy lips. "What makes you believe we haven't already, my king?"
Phillip's eyes widened then narrowed playfully. "Touché."
Getting back to the serious nature of their conversation, Phillip got back up to his feet and grabbed a hanging towel.
"Will you go after her?" he asked while presenting the towel to the rising woman.
Aurora took a moment to dry off as she stepped out of the tub.
"Not yet," she declared, then reached back to pull the plug on the drain.
Ruby was gone.
The gossip mill in the aisles of the grocery store buzzed with the latest rumors about one of the prominent figures in Storybrooke. The werewolf had gone and only a select few knew where or why.
Aurora bit her lip to keep some choice words from escaping when the woman at her register wouldn't shut up about how the beast might be in the woods waiting to strike or make off with the town children. She held her tongue but her jerky movements and decidedly noisy way of shoving all the items in a plastic bag, regardless of fragility of the item, gave away her ire.
"And just think of how that she-beast has been fraternizing with our men! Why she…"
Aurora was at the end of her rope and about to lambast the bigoted woman when a sharp accented voice interrupted her.
"Shut up."
The woman choked on her words for a moment before whirling around and glaring at the slightly shorter woman behind her. "Why I never..!"
Again, she was interrupted. "I suspect you never either. Now, pay and get out. You are not welcome in my presence."
The woman's face turned red and she sputtered, "Who do you think you..!?"
The blue eyed woman who dismissed her merely put her hand up. "I am not going to ask again. Leave." Then she took a step into the stunned woman's space and sneered. "Or do I have to make you?"
Aurora watched in fascination as the obnoxiously loud customer threw down a handful of bills she dug out of her purse, grabbed her bags and stomped out.
A large sigh brought Aurora back to her next customer. Auburn hair, pulled back into a pony tail, revealed a heart-shaped face with a button nose and teal blue eyes. Freckles danced on her pale skin as her cheeks lifted up into a polite smile.
"Hello."
"Hi."
"Sorry about making a scene. I just couldn't stand that woman talking about Ruby like that."
Aurora nodded, swiping items over the scanner and placing them uniformly in a bag. "It's alright. I was on the verge of kicking her out anyway. I know a thing or two about real beasts and Ruby's not even a contender."
The teal eyed woman smiled, crinkling her nose, and held out her hand. "My name is Belle. It's a pleasure to meet you…?"
Aurora slid her hand into Belle's and firmly shook it. "Aurora. Pleasure's all mine."
"So how do you know Ruby?" Belle asked as she paid for her groceries.
A laugh preceded her smile as Aurora told Belle of her first time in the diner and Ruby made her family feel welcome to Storybrooke. "I also knew her from stories told by Snow White and Emma when they were magicked into the Enchanted Forest."
"So you know Snow and Emma?"
"Yes."
"Hm," Belle looked thoughtful for a moment before focusing back on Aurora. "Would you like to grab supper with me? I would like to hear more. And I will share my own adventures in return."
Aurora beamed, happy to have a new friend to talk to. "I would be happy to."
Belle smiled widely in return. "Alright. Granny's at 7?" she asked while picking up her bag and moving toward the door.
"7," Aurora confirmed.
Both women arrived right on the dot and grabbed a booth near the back for a little privacy. Granny herself came over to grab their orders, joking with Belle about iced tea of all things before returning to the kitchen.
The conversation started lightly; "how was your day?" "what a beautiful dress", and then the food arrived.
"How are you doing, Granny?" Belle asked the old woman with sympathetic eyes.
The matronly woman harrumphed. "As well as can be expected. I miss my girl but she needed to go find herself a proper mate. She'll visit once she has what she needs to settle down."
"Mate?" Aurora asked, intrigued.
Granny tsked. "Fool girl thinks she's trying to find others like her and me. No, her wolf has just finally matured so it's looking for a mate. Red will figure it out sooner or later just like I did." She shook her head as she left the two to see to the rest of her customers.
Wide eyed, Aurora watched as Belle's face went from shocked to amused in a jumble of eyebrows and lips pulling and tugging up and down. Belle's teal eyes caught hers and both snorted biting back laughter but unable to keep fully quiet.
"Oh my," Belle giggled.
"Poor Ruby," Aurora breathlessly wheezed.
Their mirth kept them occupied for a moment longer until they settled with mutually happy smiles.
"You know," Belle said conspiratorially. "If Ruby had asked, and there wasn't the whole mess of me losing my memories, I would have loved to date her. She is so kind and gentle and a good friend."
Aurora nodded. "She always seemed to be having fun and in the thick of things. If I hadn't overheard her conversation with Snow the night of the party, I never would have suspected she was unhappy."
Letting out a sigh, Belle sipped her iced tea and gazed out the window into the distance. "I wish…I wish she had said something," came the quiet confession.
The wistful tone struck a chord in Aurora's heart and she could not help but reach out and offer a slight bit of comfort with a touch of her hand to the back of Belle's "I know. I wish my own friend had confided in me her problems as well. Now she is a little too far beyond my reach and it hurts."
She had Belle's undivided attention. "Tell me?"
Nodding, Aurora told her story of an enchanted sleep, a prince, a woman warrior, and a journey of the heart. "And then Phillip found me and told me why she left." Aurora bit her lip as she smiled and shook her head. "I was so mad at Mulan for leaving, I chased after her but I never caught up." Taking a sip of her drink she continued. "And now I don't even know if I should chase after her anymore."
Two hands appeared and cupped her own fiercely. "Yes you should," Bell said firmly. "Mulan is a wonderful person and has a very big heart."
Aurora gasped, "You know Mulan?"
Belle smiled and let go of her tablemates' hands as she leaned back. "Would you believe me if I told you I met Phillip, too?"
Dinner came and empty plates left and still the two women spoke well into the evening until Granny came over and told them to get out.
"You two need to get out so I can close. This old woman needs her beauty sleep." Granny's tongue-in-cheek quip had all three laughing even as Belle and Aurora apologized and grabbed their coats.
"Good night Granny!" They chimed together.
"Bah! Out!"
The streets were empty with only a couple of cars rumbling down Main Street. Aurora sucked in a big breath of air then let it out in a large puff of condensation. "Haahhhh."
"So, what are you going to do?" Belle asked when they began walking casually down the sidewalk.
Aurora shook her head and frowned. "I still don't know. If I go I will have to choose the possibility of never seeing my daughter or Phillip again. Also, Mulan could be anywhere and searching could take months if not years. And…" She trailed off, slowing her walk to a stop and looking at Belle with sad violet eyes. "She might not want to return with me. She might not feel the same as she once did."
Belle laid a hand on her companion's shoulder and quietly added, "As you do now."
Aurora swallowed harshly, squeezed her eyes shut and nodded sharply.
Frowning in thought, Belle bit her cheek before shaking her head. "Nonsense," she announced, startling Aurora into opening her eyes. "Nonsense," Belle repeated fiercely. "From what you told me, Mulan left because she didn't want to run the risk of making you unhappy. That does not sound like someone falling out of love. That is someone who loves so much she put your happiness before her own."
Tears welled up in Aurora's vision and she grasped the hand still on her shoulder. "How do I find her when I am stuck here?"
Belle squeezed back but shook her head. "I don't know." Racking her brain, the librarian tried to run through all the various ways she knew to access the Enchanted Forest but none of them could take her new friend there any better than the magic beans. "But…" A glimmer of memory struck Belle, bringing a smile to her lips. "I might have a way to locate Mulan after you return to the Magical Lands."
Turning Belle pulled Aurora along down the sidewalk toward a very specific shop nestled on the corner of the downtown Storybrooke stores.
The jangle of bells rang out in the empty entrance, calling to the shop's owner who was not at home.
"Come on in," Belle gestured, allowing Aurora to pass before closing and relocking the door.
Looking around at the shadowed items lining the walls and making a maze of the floor, Aurora couldn't help but ask, "You have a key to Rumpelstiltskin's pawn shop?"
A lopsided grin pulled at Bell's mouth as she moved from the door toward the counter. "We dated quite a while. I suppose that comes with certain privileges." The key winked in the fainting sunlight as it was pocketed in Bell's dress.
Eyebrows raised, all Aurora could do was comment noncommittally. "I'll say."
Giving her a wink and smirk, Belle settled in front of a shelf behind the counter. Rising to her tip toes she reached for and grabbed a shrouded object, turning to place it between her and Aurora.
"This is an artifact from the same lands Mulan once called home." With a flourish Belle removed the silken cloth to reveal a golden dragon statue. "Aurora, meet Mushu."
Chapter End
Thanks for reading
