A General's Son

Chapter 25

Chan and Sun were sent home, with hugs of congratulations and the promise of seeing them soon at the wedding.

"And be sure to visit when the babies start to come," Granny Fa invited, causing Li to utter a surprised "Grandma!" to which she of course paid no mind.

Chan felt more then a little uncomfortable at that moment, but Sun only glanced over at him and gave the smallest of giggles. However, soon they were on the road back home. Chan felt lighter then air. His plan had gone off without a hitch, and Sun, just as he had hoped for so many sleepless nights, had said yes. And she was now happily planning the wedding.

"I'll wear red of course," she said excitedly, "I wonder if mama can get the same woman that did my robe for the Emperor's ball to do it? You liked that one, didn't you Chan?" Chan glanced over at her, smiling at her exuberance.

"Of course I did," he said, although he was sure Sun had decided on it already.

"As for the other dresses, I don't know. Perhaps she will have ideas for those ones too? She knows the styles better then anyone…yes that's what I'll do," she mused to herself, seemingly oblivious of Chan now. "Mama and Baba shouldn't have any trouble paying for the design…" Just then Sun turned to Chan, her face showing her alarm. "Baba!" she said to Chan, "You'll have to ask Baba for my hand…what if he says no? We've never actually talked about it…I have no idea…" she continued fretting about that, before Chan found time to chime in.

"Sun, don't worry," he tried to reassure her, "I already did that." It took Sun a moment to realize what he had said.

"You did?" she asked incredulously, "When? What did he say?"

"Yesterday," Chan said simply, "And he said yes."

"He did!" She replied happily, not believing her ears. Chan nodded.

"On the terms that you would say yes, of course."

"So that was what you were doing at my house yesterday? I knew you were up to something…" said Sun, looking rather pleased with her skills of deduction. Chan nodded.

"You guessed it," he said, chuckling, "And it was no easy task. It took me forever to convince him, but he finally said yes."

"Seems he likes you after all," she replied, grinning, and then continued impishly, "But if he had said no, I could always have told him that we needed to get married to make me an honest women."

"Ha ha, very funny," Chan retorted, "Do you want to be a widow before you even get to take your vows? Because I think I'd be dead in about two seconds if you did that."

"I'm only joking. Besides, if I sent my father and brother after you it would be for something that was actually true."

"That's a relief," Chan said sarcastically, rolling his eyes at her rather cruel sense of humor. Sun only flashed him her most charming smile.

"You know you love me," she coaxed him, knowing full well she was winning him over.

It was just then when Sun's horse stumbled, nearly jarring Sun from the saddle. She quickly dismounted and Chan did the same.

"Are you all right?" he asked, panic evident in his voice as he rushed over to her.

"I'm fine," she said truthfully, "It seems that the horse just stepped in a hole in the road."

Apparently that had scared Chan more then it did her. Chan bent over to examine the horse's leg while Sun stroked its nose soothingly.

"Is he going to be all right?" Sun asked after a few minutes. Chan stood up and dusted off his hands.

"He should be, it's just a little swollen. If he keeps weight off of it, it will heal in a day or two."

"Good," said Sun, smiling, "I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to him, he's one of my favorites." She patted the horse's neck for emphasis and it nickered in response. Chan took its reigns and fixed it so the injured horse would be lead behind Lotus. He then hopped up on his own horse and extended his hand to Sun below.

"Come on up," he implored her, "You're riding with me." Sun gratefully took his hand and pulled herself up until she was settled in front of him. Chan reached around Sun and took the reins, then gave Lotus a smart kick to get her going.

Sun smiled contentedly and leaned back into his chest, her fingers seeking out the flower that hung from the chain around her neck. Chan glanced back to make sure the horse, although favoring one leg plodded steadily behind. The sun had now set, but the moon lit their way and it would only be an hour's journey before they were home.

"It seems like so long ago that we left home," Sun said, breaking the silence, "but it was only this morning." She turned her head and smiled at Chan. "I feel like a new person."

"Me too," Chan answered, "happier, definitely." He squeezed his arms more tightly around her. "And now you're all mine and no one can take you away." Sun grinned and then continued, after a moment of thought.

"But Chan, you might have to share me just a little," she said naughtily.

"What do you mean?" Chan asked, his eyebrows rising comically in response.

"Well, your children will need their mother to care for them," she replied silkily.

"Oh, that type of sharing," he joked, "but I hope they won't take up too much of your time; I was only planning on seven or eight. Although, nine's a good number too."

Sun just shook her head impatiently. There was no way, even if he was joking, he was getting nine kids out of her.

Chan continued more seriously, almost as if speaking his thoughts aloud. Now that it was only he and Sun he seemed much more open to the subject of babies then when his great-grandmother was the one bringing it up.

"I always wanted a big family," he said, "you have no idea how jealous I was of you and Xiao, always having each other. Sure I spent the whole day playing with him, but every night he went to his house and I went to mine." He paused, and then continued again, looking rather sad. "I asked my parents once why I didn't have any brothers or sisters. I felt as though I'd broken some unspoken rule; they looked so…at loss for words. Especially my mother, I've never seen her look like that, before or since. I never asked them again, and I never told anyone, not even Xiao. Until now."

Sun could tell it had taken a lot for him to say that. It was one of those memories that haunt you forever that you are too afraid to share. She met his sorrowful eyes with her own sympathetic ones, glossy with unshed tears.

"It's all right Chan, I'm here now."

"Thanks," Chan said, giving her a weak smile. "I'm glad I don't have to be alone anymore." He thought of something else and quickly perked up, his light-hearted nature restored. "So let's get married and start working on those seven or eight kids, okay?"

Sun couldn't help but smile back and then she turned around once more, leaning back against his chest. Suddenly, nine children didn't sound so bad after all.

Sun yawned and tried, unsuccessfully, to keep her eyes open. The comforting warmth of Chan against her back, combined with the gentle rocking of the horse, made her unexplainable tired.

"Chan?" Sun said sleepily, her eyes barely open.

"Mmm?" Chan asked back, his chin resting gently on top of her soft hair.

"Wake me up if I fall asleep. I don't want to miss…being here with you," Sun said, yawns alternating between words. She then nuzzled deeper into his chest and promptly fell asleep. Chan looked down at her and smiled in amusement.

"I will," he said, rubbing her arm as her chest rose and fall with the methodical breathing of sleep, "I will."

Chan let Sun sleep the rest of the way home. He couldn't bring himself to wake her out of her peaceful, angel-like slumber. When they finally trotted noiselessly into their courtyard, Chan dismounted, gathering Sun gently in his arms. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck and continued sleeping as he carried her up the steps into her house. He pushed the door to her room open and then laid her gently down on her bed. Drawing the covers over her, he gave her one last kiss goodnight and tiptoed out the door. Where he promptly ran into Xiao. Apparently he wasn't the only one roaming the halls after dark.

"Chan," Xiao said, surprised at first, but then he glanced into Sun's room, and observed the sweet smile that was on her face even as she slept. "You asked her then?" he said, grinning, all too sure of the answer. Chan nodded, catching Xiao's infectious grin.

"Yeah," he replied happily. Xiao reached over and slapped him fondly on the arm.

"Well, I suppose congratulations are in order then." Just then Sun turned over in her sleep. Chan gave a fearful glance inside her room and then motioned for them to move out of the hallway.

"I should be going," Chan said quietly. Xiao nodded.

"We'll have more time to talk tomorrow." His eyes then got the same mischievous twinkle that Sun's had not two hours before. "Are you going to want me to call you most honorable brother-in-law from now on?"

Chan narrowed his eyes in annoyance and gave his friend what he had coming to him.

"Ow…I'll take that as a no."

"Shang…Shang!"

The voice invaded Li Shang's dream, a rather strange one that involved a young woman in shining armor leading a grand army to conquer the lands to the west. But this dream was forgotten as he reluctantly opened his eyes and took in the face of his wife.

"Mulan? Whaz the matter?" he asked groggily. It was not fear, however, that was written on her face. Only excitement was evident there.

"It's almost midnight; do you know where your son is?" she asked, leaning over his half-awake form from her place next to him on their bed. Shang rubbed his eyeballs wearily; right now he was in no mood for guessing games.

"I don't know…should I?" It seemed a rather stupid answer to him, but he was to out of it to care.

"He's getting engaged," Mulan said in a fierce whisper, her eyes welling up with pride for her only child. Shang was fully awake now.

"That's right!" he said, remembering at last, "I had almost forgotten. What do you think he's—" He stopped suddenly and both he and Mulan listened intently as a noise reached their ears. They remained still as footsteps echoed within their home, and a shadow passed in front of their door, on its way to another room down the hall.

Chan was home. They looked at each other in the semi-darkness as slow smiles spread across their faces. Chan was home, and he was getting married.

A note from the author: Howdy peoples! I missed you all during my far-too-extended absence. I hope the long chappie sort of made up for that. And speaking of that, I hope you liked it! This is the only chapter I haven't had written before I posted the one before it. Does that make any sense? I hope so. Anywho, so this chapter was just sort of pulled out of my head as I was writing. Especially that last part. You see, I do miss the other characters, it's just that Chan and Sun need to take center stage right now. Soon, I hope, the otherpeople will have more prominent parts. That's the one thing I don't like about this story. Gasp perish the thought I know. But, if you agree, disagree, or have a comment, you know what to do! coughReviewcough

And now it's time for...

The Little Known Fact of the Day!

Hooray! Back from its one chapter hiatus!

Okay so its not really a little known fact, but its just something to be aware of. There are several important things in this chapter that will be revisted later. One will be really obvious. The other...maybe not so much. Perhaps you have forgotten about it already? So when you see me write "remember Chapter 25?", hopefully you'll get it. That's just me going a little J.K. Rowling on you, because as we all know, she loves to allude to things that are going to happen in the future. I've always wanted to do that, so I did! Although I'mnot even close to her level of sneakiness.