Chapter 7 - Obvious (by Christina Aguilera)
"Then would you say," Mulan said nervously with a gulp, "that, that is what happened to us?"
Shang's eyes widened, knowing what she was trying to say. Then without a doubt, or stagger, without even thinking, he replied with confidence, "Yes. I believe that."
Mulan blushed and tried to hide her growing smile, but then replied, "For how long have you know that?" she asked.
"For five years," Shang answered her gently. "Since the moment you saved my life in the palace. But what's worse is that I didn't realize it until I yelled my heart out at Chi Fu, and more importantly, I didn't know it until I found myself alone and losing you once again as you went back home."
"And what would you do to feel that feeling once again?" Mulan asked.
"I followed you home and swore that I would do anything to be with you, and feel the same emotion that I felt the first time I fell in love with you," Shang told her.
The music slowed to a stop, unbeknownst to the couple, but Mulan still had one more question. "Why? Is it because…"
Shang smiled, knowing exactly what she was about to ask and then replied, "It's because I love you." He then leaned in to kiss her.
Shang sighed happily as he lay in bed. He couldn't sleep and he had spent the whole night and every moment of every day thinking about it and dreaming about it. It had been a week and he still couldn't stop thinking about it, stop wondering about it, or stop wanting it. And the best part was, she kissed him back. She didn't pull back, she showed that she loved him too, by kissing him back. It was everything Shang had been waiting for in the past two months and it was all he wanted and more. Sure he wanted Mulan to remember that he was her husband, but why? Why? What were his reasons? Sure he wanted to make love to her as any guy wanted, but that wasn't what he really desired. He could live without that part. All he really wanted to do was kiss her and be able to hug her, but more importantly, be able to be the husband he hadn't proven to be. Because he realized, as long as he had her in his life, and she loved him unconditionally, then honestly, it wouldn't really matter if he could touch her or not.
Mulan smiled as she did her chores early in the morning. Her mother and father watched with a peculiar eye as their daughter sung and danced while sweeping around. Granny Fa quietly whispered to the two that it was because she was in love. Yet it was early for Mulan to be up. Way too early, but even Shang wasn't awake yet. But then again, it was a bit late for Shang to be sleeping this late, which Granny Fa once again argued as him being in love as well. And Mulan was doing her chores without complaint. The girl was definitely in love.
As Mulan swept she couldn't help but think of the festival.
It was a week after it had happened and Mulan couldn't stop thinking about it. But the worst part was just how awkward it was between them right now. Both were waiting just to see what the other person would do, both were waiting to see how the other was reacting, both were waiting for the right moment. It was hard, and Mulan and Shang did not want it to be this way, but they couldn't help it. As a rule, it honestly always is a bit awkward the first week, and they both remembered that when Shang was courting Mulan the first time around. It was funny though, because neither Shang nor Mulan saw a lot of each other during that first week. After Shang had followed her home, he didn't return until a week after. It was probably better that way, because the couple then realized just how much they missed each other's company. But it seemed both of them forgot what happened in the past whenever they were around each other. It was as if Shang wanted to make a new start, and Mulan just wanted to stop living in the past, and get to know the Shang today, because he certainly had changed.
The worst part of this awkwardness was that Mulan and Shang were actually living together. They saw each other every day and had to be with each other every day to either work on chores or to remember a certain memory. Of course things weren't that awkward, considering they were friends before they fell in love, but of course, love works in mysterious ways.
As Shang silently entered the kitchen, he watched as Mulan danced around with her broom, singing, "Dāng tā dài wǒ zài huái li, Tā dī shēng duì wǒ lái shuō, Wǒ kàn dào shēnghuó zhōng de fěnhóng sè." He smiled to himself as he saw that she was thinking about the night of the festival just as much as he was.
"Good morning Shang," Fa Li said to him, interrupting both Mulan and his reverie.
They both then turned to look at each other and made eye contact. But that's where it ended, and they both then made their way to the breakfast table and found themselves sitting face to face once again.
As they all sat and ate in an awkward silence, Shang decided to break the silence by thanking Fa Li for the wonderful breakfast, to which she corrected him by saying Mulan made it. This however didn't surprise Shang at all, considering it was his favorite dish and because he knew Mulan was a great cook.
Shang watched as Mulan looked down and smiled modestly, thanking Shang for his complements. It was then that he looked at her, and really looked at her. Even though Mulan was obviously 5 years older than when he remembered falling for her, she was a different woman. As he helped her remember old memories, it was as if she became that same innocent girl he knew, with a free heart and a tendency to love everyone. But after he married her, he saw a more mature, a calmer, and a grown woman: one he could admire for all time, the woman he knew would make a wonderful mother, and the one he knew was the woman he married, grew to love, and always loved him in return.
He sighed as he contemplated on their past marriage life. Mulan was always there for him, always loving him when he didn't deserve it, and yet, why? Shang always wondered why she stayed. It certainly wasn't because she was weak or because she had no other place to go. Mulan stayed because she loved him, and now he knew it was his turn to return the feeling.
Can you hear it in my voice?
While Shang was talking, Mulan was staring at him the whole time and admiring the way he looked, the way he talked so eloquently, and just almost everything about him.
"So what do you think Mulan?" her mother finally asked.
"I'm sorry, what?" Mulan asked, with a sudden change in pitch and speed in her voice. Immediately she turned her glance from Shang to her mother. She suddenly felt the weight of Shang's eyes on hers, looking at her oh so curiously. From the corner of her eye, she saw Shang smirk a little.
"I was asking about what dress you should wear to the Imperial dinner tomorrow evening," her mother told her impatiently. "I was talking to Shang about it and he told me that you should wear your finest dress of course in respect for the Emperor. I agreed and wondered what you had to wear and if you had anything of the sort."
Was it something I let slip?
"I-uh, a dress?" Mulan stuttered. This was not going well for her. "Well who's my date to this dinner?" As soon as those words left her mouth, she regretted because then she knew the answer and the embarrassment and awkward situation that would follow.
"Well I'm sorry I haven't asked you earlier Mulan," Shang said, standing up from his place. He walked over to her and smiled and extended his hand, "but would you be so kind as to escort me?"
Mulan blushed and looked down. "I would be honored General Li. What time will you pick me up?" she asked jokingly.
Does the whole world know?
"You'd think that after spending the night in a barn cuddling that you would know exactly who your date is," Granny Fa muttered. To which she got one glare, and a couple of nervous laughs.
Mulan blushed and wondered just how much teasing she would get from her parents and grandmother about this event. It wasn't that she was embarrassed about it, it wasn't that she didn't want it to be spread around because no one else would ever know, and it wasn't that she didn't care about it. Mulan always thought about it, but it made the hole deeper and deeper for Mulan and Shang.
"I can ask Lin to go dress shopping with me," Mulan told her mother.
"That's a great idea," her mother said.
Shang looked from her mother to Mulan, then to her father, wondering what he was going to do while Mulan was gone. Mulan ignored this little glance and immediately thanked her mother and ran out the door for Lin, knowing she had much to talk about.
"Lin!" Mulan yelled and ran up to her best friend as soon as she saw her. They hugged as if they hadn't seen each other in years.
"Well, well," Lin said with a smirk, "What brings you to me today? Is lover boy in town as well?"
Mulan blushed, "Yes he is. How'd you know?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Lin asked.
Mulan looked down, "No, it's not obvious."
Lin laughed and looked at her best friend. Mulan looked up to look at her friend in the eye and smiled. "Mulan, Shang has been in love with you since the moment he met you. I could see it in his eyes and your eyes when you told me about him. Your eyes sparkled." Mulan smiled.
"Besides," Lin smirked, "When in the world are you going to finally settle the deal?"
"Settle the deal?" Mulan asked.
Lin laughed, "You know? Settle down with pretty boy?"
"It's up to him, not me." Mulan told her.
Lin laughed, "There are several ways of getting a man alone. You just have to initiate it."
Mulan looked at her friend in awe. "Are you saying you want me to get pregnant?"
Lin laughed, "Well that is the next step isn't it? I mean it's been how many years?"
"Five?" Mulan asked warily and laughed.
Lin laughed and crossed her arms, "Exactly."
Mulan rolled her eyes, "Look I came here to ask for your advice on getting a dress. Not get 'the talk' from you."
Lin's eyes sparkled. "Dress shopping?" she grabbed Mulan's hand and laughed. "Well then what in the world are we doing still standing here? Let's go!" She then pulled her around the town.
"What's wrong Shang?" Fa Zhou asked as he sipped his cup of tea. He looked curiously at the young man wondering what could be troubling him other than Mulan.
Shang sighed, "Your daughter."
Fa Zhou smiled understandingly.
"But mostly her friend Lin," he confessed. "I know Lin is going to blab somehow that Mulan is my wife. And I don't think Mulan is ready to take that news just yet."
Granny Fa laughed. "I don't think that's necessarily true. I mean just a week ago I caught you two snuggling in the barn. You sure she's not in love with you Shang? I'm pretty sure she is. She might even already know."
Shang laughed, "Yes, I think I'm pretty sure she loves me now." He chuckled, "She kissed me that night after I confessed that I loved her." Fa Li smiled. "It's just…" Shang sighed. "This whole first week business, it's making things awkward between Mulan and me. I haven't talked to her since that kiss and I can guarantee you she's wondering why. I just can't talk to her. I wouldn't know what to say. I…"
"Shang," Fa Zhou interrupted him. "Do you love Mulan?"
"Of course," Shang immediately responded. "I…I mean yes sir."
"Does Mulan love you?" he continued.
"Well…I…I certainly hope so, I mean she kissed me and…"
"Son," Fa Zhou sighed. "Just answer me yes or no."
"Yes," Shang told him, without a single trace of doubt on his face. "She does love me."
"You seem pretty sure there," Fa Zhou said, "Are you sure?" Shang's face turned into one of horror. Fa Zhou laughed. "Then I don't understand what is keeping you from telling her how you feel and bringing it back to the days when you two were married," Fa Zhou smiled.
Shang chuckled. "A lot more than you can imagine," he confessed. "I think I'm falling more and more in love with your daughter, probably more than ever before. I've seen things that I loved about her that I've forgotten over the years. And…I think Mulan is hiding a secret from us."
Fa Li and Fa Zhou shared a worried glance. "Well," Fa Zhou sighed, "That complicates things. What is she hiding?"
"Okay," Lin said with a smile. She looked at Mulan head to toe. "I think you're ready to try on these dresses.
"Lin!" a muffle came from Mulan, who was buried under the pile of dresses Lin picked for her. "I can't even see the changing room." She sighed and dropped the dresses on the floor, much to the shock of Lin and the store keeper. "I can't try on all these dresses."
"Why not?" Lin and the store keeper asked.
"Look! You've taken every single dress in the store," she gestured towards the empty store. "I'm just going to pick a select few to try on and then we'll go from there." Mulan started sorting through the dresses and threw the rejects at Lin, who threw them to the store keeper.
Mulan looked at a red dress and threw it at Lin.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Lin laughed. "What are you doing? I don't think you should be just throwing this away."
Mulan laughed, "Why? This dress is too…"
"Too what?" Lin asked in exasperation. "Too beautiful? Too silky? Too perfect? What in the world is wrong with it?"
Mulan made a face as she held in front of her. "It'll make me stand out."
"So?" Lin yelled. "What's wrong with that? These men! They…they make us sit demurely, they make us be such docile lambs, they treat us like slaves, they make us act like a doll, and…and…and you have a chance to rebel against that! The one thing you could do is make a scene by being the most beautiful woman at the dinner and you want to turn that down because 'it'll make you stand out' too much? So now of all times you choose to be untraditional?"
The other women in the store nodded as if they agreed with Lin.
"Being with that handsome and strongly minded traditional General has probably changed her and calmed her down a bit," one of the girls yelled in the back. Lin laughed and nodded in agreement.
"Look I was in the army, I was all about fitting in, trust me. Besides, standing out because of a dress is not my thing. That was all you." Mulan laughed. "But this is why you were my best friend when I was little. You're just like me, except you sneakily rebel against the man in these little inconspicuous ways."
Lin smiled, "Yes and you were always the one doing it, while I was all talk. It was your instinct to jump in head first while I looked back and analyzed it for a while."
Mulan hugged her best friend. "I'll try on the red dress just for you." She then slipped into a changing room in the back.
She walked until she reached a small room with one little window. One woman in the back told her it was the changing room and Mulan thanked her. As soon as she got into the room, Mulan sighed and looked at herself in the mirror. She could honestly agree that she was a lot prettier and a lot rosier because…"you're in love," her mother would say. Mulan shook her head at that as if she was arguing with her mom and deny it, but she couldn't deny it at all. She was in love with Shang. Mulan smiled at her reflection and as she turned to the side just ever so slightly her eyes widened in awe at what she saw. She immediately slipped off her dress to look more at the horror unfolding in front of her. Mulan approached the mirror to see if it was true. She couldn't breathe. She stood in horror looking at what reflected back to her. A million questions spun through her head but one of them was, "What will Shang say?" Mulan couldn't breathe. She touched her stomach and tried to suck in, as if it would have helped, but it didn't.
"Mulan!" Lin yelled from outside the room. She immediately barged in and Mulan threw her dress to her stomach to cover it. "What are you doing?" she asked with a sigh. "Admiring your reflection my friend? Yes, yes you're beautiful; as I'm sure Shang and I have told you a million times before."
Mulan smirked.
"Well," Lin sighed and tore the dress from Mulan's hands. She looked at Mulan and her eyes widened.
"I can explain!" Mulan immediately yelled. "No you can't…" she told herself.
Lin squealed and hugged her best friend. "Why didn't you tell me?" She laughed, while Mulan smiled uneasily. "I knew you would settle down with him one day! It took you long enough! I mean seriously? Five years? Did you two just want that much alone time before you had kids?" Lin laughed, "Oh who am I kidding? I'm so happy for you! What are you going to name her? Or him? Or…"
"Lin!" Mulan clasped a hand over her friend's mouth. "You cannot tell anyone. And I mean it! No one can know! No one! Promise me this, as my best friend."
Lin smiled and held up one hand, "I promise." She giggled. "Does Shang know? Of course he does!" She giggled again.
Mulan threw her a look. "You'd be surprised," she thought.
Lin smiled and quickly put the dress on her friend and looked happily at her. She sighed dreamily, "You look amazing. And it doesn't even show that you're pregnant!"
Mulan sighed, "I'm not pregnant. I've just been gaining weight lately."
Lin rolled her eyes, "Ahuh. Yeah, sure. China's high prized heroine is fat? I don't think so."
"Look," Mulan told her, "I haven't been exercising lately and…"
"Mulan," Lin interrupted her. "There's no use hiding it. You've been trying to gain weight since forever. After people told you that you were too skinny to bear sons or any children, you gulfed down as much food as you could. I'm your best friend, don't lie to me."
And for the first time, Mulan looked away from her best friend and wondered exactly who she could trust.
"We're home!" Lin yelled from the front door as she entered in with Mulan.
Fa Li greeted them both at the door and hugged them both. "How was it? Did you find a dress?"
"It was great," Mulan told her mother. She looked around the house constantly. It was getting late and the Imperial dinner was coming up in just a few hours. "Where's Shang?" she asked her mother.
"Oh," she smiled and led them to the kitchen. "He had to leave early. Something about meeting up with some friends beforehand…"
"So he couldn't wait for me?" Mulan asked angrily and crossed her arms. "Typical," she muttered.
Lin looked at her sympathetically and shrugged. "Try on your dress so we can see it!"
Mulan fake smiled and walked to her room with her dress.
With the room silent, Fa Li decided to initiate the conversation. "So Lin, have you gone to the Matchmaker yet?"
Lin laughed, "No, after what happened to Mulan I'm a bit wary about it. But at least I know what to expect now. I'll be going a few weeks from now."
Fa Li smiled, "You'll do fine! I know you will."
Lin sighed, "Yeah, well at least Mulan had some backup. Even though she failed she had millions of suitors at her front door after the war, and she was able to meet her future husband in the Army."
Fa Li's eyes widened realizing what Shang was talking about. "Lin, that's what we need to talk about. I have something to tell you about Mulan. She recently lost…"
"What do you think?" Mulan asked as she walked into the kitchen, interrupting her mother.
Both of the women smiled and the sight in front of them. Suddenly in the front of the house, the sounds of whining horses could be heard by all. Mulan looked curiously at the front door.
Fa Li laughed, "Oh you didn't seriously think Shang would just leave you like that, did you?"
Yao laughed at Ling's pathetic joke. Chien-Po and Shang looked at each other and sighed. Shang was quickly regretting his decision to meet up with Mulan here at the dinner, but he had to let his friends know before they blabbed to Mulan everything that he wanted to keep a secret for now.
"So let me get this straight," Ling said while trying to hold in his laughter, "Mulan lost her memory and you don't want to remind her that you're her husband? Can I slap you?"
Shang growled, "Keep it down! I don't want the whole world to know! I've tried changing the subject each time someone brings it up, but honestly I'm tired of trying to hide it."
"Yeah well," Yao chuckled, "She's going to find out sooner or later, and probably not from her memories either. Someone is going to tell her when you're not around and Mulan is going to freak out."
"Oh trust me," Shang sighed, "That is the least of my problems now. I think Mulan is pregnant."
All three of the men cheered and congratulated their General, a little louder than he had wanted. Shang laughed and his face reddened.
"It's about time," Ling said. "I mean it's been what, five years? You wanted alone time with Mulan?"
Shang laughed, "I guess you could say that. We wanted to wait a little. Plus, you don't get alone time when you have kids."
Suddenly all three of the men tilted their heads sideways and stared in awe at something behind Shang. Their mouths were all agape and their eyes widened. Then all around him, other men did the same thing and some men facing the other way turned around to look at what was behind them. Shang wondered what in the world these men were looking at and as soon as he turned around, he knew exactly what they were looking at: Mulan. Shang smiled as he watched his beautiful wife in a red dress descend from the stairs.
"What are you doing just sitting here?" Ling sneered. "Go get her!"
"Oh right," Shang nodded and ran to go get her. He tripped over several things on the way to get her because he couldn't keep his eyes off of her, and Mulan couldn't take her eyes off of him as well.
Mulan smiled when she finally met up with Shang, "Aren't you such a graceful person? Looks like you need some women's training. You practically tripped on your whole way over to me."
Shang chuckled, "I think my reasons for tripping are justified." Mulan blushed. Shang stared at her admiringly when she blushed and smiled as she did so, which eventually threw him completely off. He then ran around his mind looking for words to say. Shang knew what he wanted to say, but the words wouldn't come out right. "You look…You…uh…"
Mulan looked at him peculiarly. She smirked knowing exactly what he was trying to say, and it reminded her of the time at the palace before she left for home. Mulan then kissed him on the cheek and linked arms with Shang and led him to their table. "Thank you Shang and you look quite sharp as well."
Shang sighed. "I'm the one who's in control," Shang thought. "Now I'm acting like a fool."
Mulan smiled at Shang as they reached the dinner table and he pulled her chair for her. Mulan smiled at her old comrades who greeted her happily as she sat down with them. She then greeted them back and politely asked how they were doing and where their wives were. Mulan then zoned out as Shang sat next to her.
"Mulan?" Yao quickly beckoned her. "Are you even listening?"
Mulan's face reddened, "I…I'm sorry. I was just thinking."
"About pretty boy" Ling teased. "You were always distracted by Shang at camp, and before Shang even started courting you and after."
Shang turned his head and looked at her with a smirk.
Mulan blushed and looked away from Shang. The three men laughed as Mulan blushed. "Do my feelings show? Is my face aglow?" she wondered as she looked down. Lin was right, it was obvious. It was completely obvious that she was in love with Shang, but Mulan wondered, "Isn't it obvious that I don't know what I'm doing anymore?" She sighed and smiled shyly back at Shang. Shang laughed as Mulan smiled and shrugged. Mulan couldn't help but laugh back and admire him. "I'm feeling like a little girl caught up in emotions," she thought as she looked at him adoringly. "I'm out of control. Isn't it obvious?"
Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po, who were watching this scene unfold, smiled and said between the three, that it was just like the old days. As Shang sat next to Mulan he couldn't help but feel nervous. Shang sighed and thought to himself, "You've been with this girl for 5 years now, and yet you still get nervous around her." Shang muttered the words of his grandfather, "That's love."
"What did you say Shang?" Mulan asked, turning from her conversation with Chien-Po.
"Oh…I…uh…nothing. I didn't say anything," Shang told her.
Mulan nodded and looked at him like he was crazy, which Shang admitted quietly that he was.
"Psst," Ling smiled and gestured for Shang to hold her hand.
Shang shook his head. "Do you see my hands? They tremble." He then showed Ling his hands. "I'm nervous around her."
"Shang," Mulan said to him, startling him.
Shang immediately looked up at her, and then back down.
Mulan looked at him peculiarly and then sighed.
Shang bit his lip, "Wonder why I can't look you in the eyes?" he thought gloomily, "I'm in love with you."
"Well anyways, while you're…" she waited for him to look her in the eyes. "Forget it. I'm going to go get some fresh air. I'll be back."
Shang watched as Mulan left him. She looked back for a moment to see if he would follow her, but when their eyes met, he immediately looked away and found himself looking at three disappointed men. "What?" he asked them.
"Shang," Ling said with his arms crossed. "Really?"
Shang groaned. "Look okay," he confessed. "I don't know how long I can keep this inside. I'm in love with her. And it's been a week since I've kissed her and told her I love her, and I'm finding myself in the same position I was 5 years ago: nervous to death."
"We know," Chien-Po told him.
Shang plopped his head on the table, "Is that obvious that I don't know what I'm doing anymore? Whenever I'm around her…I…I'm feeling like a little boy caught up in emotions. I'm out of control. I can't think when I'm around her. Even though I've known her for years and I know she's in love with me, I just…I'm lost. I feel like I'm going to mess up around her."
"Isn't it obvious?" Ling muttered. "Look just be yourself. That's who she loves. And go after her! Don't just sit here and talk with us."
"And what do I do as I'm standing there alone with her up on the balcony? What do I say?" Shang asked knowing fully well of the awkward situation that would come.
Yao sighed and rolled his eyes, "You've been married to her for 5 years, you should know what to do. Plus, you did court her. You have had to have awkward situations."
"And if you don't know what to do, just kiss her," Ling laughed. "So go pretty boy! I don't know what you're doing still sitting here with us. Go find her."
Shang smiled and ran to go find Mulan.
Suddenly these emotions are in control of my heart.
Mulan stood there admiring the view on the balcony, which overlooked the palace gardens and the mountains and plains of China. As a door shut, she immediately turned around to find herself looking at Shang. Shang sighed and smiled when she turned to look at him. Mulan couldn't help but smile back when she saw him.
"I was coming back," Mulan said with a grin.
Shang chuckled and looked down. He kicked around with his foot, "I know," he said softly. "But I needed some fresh air as well." Shang then looked up to look her in the eyes.
Mulan smiled and gestured for him to stand next to her, "Go ahead and join me then." Mulan sighed as Shang stood next to her leaned over balcony. "I can't help but feel like I've been here before with you," she confessed.
"We have," Shang nodded. "A couple of times I might add, and we did the exact same thing, leaning over this balcony and looking outward at the scenery in front of us, talking, and then…yeah. Something always led us to meeting out here whether it was because were fighting and needed privacy or because we were tired of those three." They both laughed. "But," Shang sighed, "that was a long time ago, and those were different times." He muttered.
"Why?" Mulan burst out. "Why does it have to be different? Why can't we go back to that? What is making it so hard to do so?"
Can you see it in my eyes?
They both turned to look each other in the eyes. Mulan looked him in the eyes, but after a brief moment she couldn't, and looked away. She cursed silently at her weakness and looked down.
Shang sighed and answered her, "I…I don't know."
"I'm sorry," Mulan whispered. "I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. I know you're trying."
Shang scoffed, "Well apparently I'm trying not hard enough if the girl I love doesn't even want to look me in the eyes or tell me what's bothering her."
Mulan immediately turned to look him in the eyes, shocked at his statement.
Every glance, every smile must give me away
Shang laughed, "Oh now you decide to listen to me. I kind of expected you to not look me in the eyes when I said that."
Mulan blushed and laughed. "Well what can I say? I'm not exactly the most ordinary girl you know. You can't really expect what I'm going to do."
He turned and leaned sideways against the balcony to look Mulan face to face. "I know. I've known that for years. Why else do you think I spend so much time with you?"
"Because you're in love with me," Mulan said with a smile.
"That too," Shang laughed.
And I feel so much I can't hide that I don't know what I'm doing anymore
"Shang," Mulan sighed and crossed her arms, "What are we doing with each other? We're just talking and teasing each other and not going anywhere. And this is honestly the most talking I've done with you since that kiss. I'm getting the idea that you don't really love me, that you're avoiding me, that you don't even want to talk to me anymore…"
Shang smiled and got closer to Mulan. He smirked as her breathing hitched as he got closer.
"And I mean I haven't as much held your hand since that night," Mulan said, walking backwards as Shang got closer. "I mean we snuggled and kissed in a barn and danced and you haven't even held my hand or kissed me…"
And with one sweeping moment Shang leaned in and quickly kissed her. He slowly slinked his arms around her waist as Mulan slipped her arms around his neck bringing him closer. Mulan couldn't help but smile as they broke apart. Shang smirked when he saw her smile.
"I love you Mulan," Shang told her as he gently squeezed her hands. "And the truth is, I…I don't really know what I'm doing anymore. I can't think anymore. When I take you some place I don't really know what memory to help you remember. I'm just taking you there for the heck of it."
"I know," Mulan said with a smirk.
"You…you do?" Shang asked incredulously.
Mulan laughed, "Yes of course. I just want to know why?"
Shang shrugged, "I guess I just really like spending time with you. I don't want to leave just yet."
"You don't ever have to leave Shang," Mulan whispered and pulled him closer to kiss him gently on the lips. As they broke apart, Mulan sighed. "Shang," she said nervously, "I…I have a confession. I've been hiding it…but I…I think it's time to tell you."
Shang looked at her carefully, "What's wrong? You can tell me anything."
"I know…I just…I've been too scared to tell you. But I'm not going to keep this a secret from you. I…"
"Excuse me," a man said, and Mulan and Shang immediately turned to where the voice came from. They immediately bowed towards the man. "Good evening," he greeted them. "May I interrupt you two for just a moment?"
Mulan smiled, "Of course. What is it your Excellency?"
"I actually need you two to report here in the morning to discuss some military plans," The Emperor confessed. "I'm afraid China is indeed in trouble once again, but we would like to prevent the use of force."
"Yes, sir." They answered him respectfully.
"And can I expect your presence at this meeting this time Fa Mulan?" The Emperor asked. "I hope you are feeling better from your illness."
Mulan smiled, "Yes sir. I am feeling much better thanks to Li Shang."
"That's wonderful news," The Emperor told them. "You two take care of each other, and I'll let you get back to…I'll just leave." They watched as the Emperor walked to the door and back inside the palace.
Shang smirked.
"What?" Mulan asked him.
"I think we should go back inside before Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po find something witty to say about our long time disappearance," Shang said with laughter in his voice.
"Agreed," Mulan smiled and reached for his hand.
They walked back into the building hand in hand and closer than they were before. "Just like old times," Shang thought.
I'm feeling like a little girl caught up in emotions
"Lin," Mulan said as she entered the house with her arms intertwined with Shang's. "I hate to kick you out of my house, but I need to talk to my mother and Shang privately. I hope you understand."
Lin smiled, "No, I understand perfectly." She hugged Mulan, "Good luck!" and walked out the door. Mulan sighed, knowing that her best friend didn't understand why it would be much harder than she thought. Her mother followed to close the door.
Shang sighed happily and sat down in front of Mulan. He looked at her carefully. She was trembling a bit as she stood there in front of him and she wouldn't look him in the eyes. "Mulan? What's wrong?" Shang asked nervously.
Mulan bit her lip and looked at him with tears forming in her eyes.
Shang's expression changed from one of worry to one of horror. "Mulan, what are you not telling me? What's wrong?"
Fa Li walked in and noticed a change in her daughter's mood and immediately looked at the two wondering what was going on. "Why are you crying? What's wrong?"
I'm out of control.
"I'm sorry," Mulan whispered to Shang, as tears streamed down her face. She immediately started talking off her dress, much to her mother's protest. Shang looked at her curiously wondering what she was doing. Mulan then slightly lifted her corset to reveal her stomach. Shang's eyes widened as he saw what she was hiding all this time and Fa Li fainted. Yet at this moment Shang completely forgot about her memory loss, he forgot that she forgot that they were married, and instead of staring in horror at what would be a huge problem for him, he smiled and grinned and laughed happily at the fact that after 5 years, Mulan was finally pregnant, and with his child. But Mulan brought him back to reality, "I know you didn't get me pregnant, and I don't remember…I don't know who the father is." Mulan cried even harder, and Shang hugged her and took her in his arms. "You…you probably think I'm dishonorable and promiscuous and…and unworthy…"
Shang chuckled and shook his head, "No, no I could never think that. Mulan I love you. And I know that you would never just have a one night stand."
"Shang," Mulan said sternly, "Be serious here. What will the other people think when they see that I have a child and I'm not married?"
Shang grimaced for a moment, realizing that Mulan still forgot that they were married, "The child is mine. I take full custody of this child. I am the father. You can tell people that."
Mulan looked at him curiously, "You would do that? But dishonor…"
Shang laughed, "I don't care. If there's one thing that you taught me, is that I shouldn't care what other people think. That is our child."
Mulan kissed him and then rest her head on his shoulder, "Thank you Shang. You don't know how thankful I am to have you here."
Shang smiled, "Of course once you start showing a lot however, I'm sure you're going to want to stay inside the house, right?"
Mulan nodded. "Shang thank you for not running on me and leaving once you found out…I had to tell you. I couldn't keep this a secret from you for long. I…I just don't know who the father was…and…I…I'm so sorry. I love you more than you could ever know and I'm sorry I did this to you. You're a great guy and you don't deserve to have this happen to you. I'm so lucky to have you…"
"No," Shang told her. I'm the one doing the right thing, you just think I'm an angel. But I'm not. I'm nowhere near that. Shang sighed and truthfully said, "I'm lucky to have you."
Isn't it obvious?
Author's Note: Okay, I AM SO SORRY it has taken me ages to update. I mean all the work and writer's block, I have just been busy. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this story which I had writer's block. I literally would work on this story for 15 minutes and not feel the desire to write anymore. Yeah, it was enough to want to completely delete this chapter and start all over again. Anyways, tell me what you think about this chapter and REVIEW.
Oh and as an added note, that part that Mulan sings, I had to translate it in Chinese to make it seem more legit. Anyways, if you know Chinese (that has been Romanized to show up on here...I used a translator) you'll recognize that that song is the song La Vie En Rose by Edith Piaf, which is a beautiful song in several movies, more specifically Sabrina.
