After Dinner: Chapter Nine

Disclaimer: I don't own Disney's Mulan.  I'm not making any profit by writing this story.

By: Susan

Summary: "Would you like to stay for dinner?" "Would you like to stay forever?" Whatever happened during Shang's dinner with the Fa family? Was it a quick meal or something a bit more drawn out?

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Dinner that night was extremely awkward. Mulan stared out the window for most of it, and Shang looked at the ground. There were forced smiles and small attempts at conversation by Mulan's parents and grandmother. After clearing the table with the women, Shang excused himself, made his way to the stream outside and began skipping rocks. He concentrated on nothing but Mulan, so each rock sank to the bottom without skipping once.

"You have to use flatter rocks and turn your hand like this." A voice behind him said. Shang turned, shocked, and watched as Mulan skipped the rock four times, though the stream was quite narrow. She blushed and looked at the stars in the darkened sky.

"I figured you didn't want to see me again," Shang said softly, seating himself on the grass.

Mulan sat down beside him, glancing at his handsome profile and chin resting on his knees. "I...I'm sorry, really really sorry about running off like that."

Shang turned to look at her, placing his hand on the soft grass. Mulan's short black hair was curled around her ear, and her beautiful body was sprawled out next to him. He smiled, not feeling as awkward or afraid as this morning. Maybe it was the peaceful night or hearing nothing but the crickets in the grasses or seeing nothing but the stars above him and Mulan next to him; whatever it was, a calm placidity washed over him giving him much confidence.

"It's fine," Shang said, clearing his throat. They looked at the stars for a moment. "I meant what I said this morning," he said firmly.

"I know you did," Mulan replied softly, placing her hand atop his own rough one and smiled at him. He looked at her oddly and she smiled. "May I tell you something important?" she asked.

"Anything you wish," he answered.

"I told my father this today, and I think you have the right to know this too," she breathed in deeply, and started to speak. "The real reason I left you this morning was because I was, and still am, afraid of something. I talked to my, well I guess he's-"

"Who, Mushu?" Shang interrupted, without thinking. "I mean, uhhh..."

"How do you know Mushu?"

"I, uh, it's a long story..." Mulan looked at him suspiciously, feeling color rise to her cheeks, but continued anyway.

"I told him that I was afraid of what you thought of me. I didn't think you knew me as well as you thought you did. After all, you've known me for awhile, but as Ping, and only known for this last week was I Mulan to you." She stopped and looked at him. He nodded his agreement.

"I didn't think you knew who I really was inside. I'm clumsy, and I'm not very pretty, and I say what I feel. I'm a horrible cook, my mother has been making dinner, not me, and I can't sew or-" She stopped again when she noticed his stare. "You didn't know that, did you?" She asked softly, her heart sinking steadily.

"Mulan look," Shang said, taking her hands in his own. "Things like that don't matter to me. You saw all the men on the first day of training. They're all clumsier than anybody I know. And," Shang looked at her face, "I think you are beautiful," she blushed heavily. "I like that you say what you feel, because it's a sign of intelligence, and I love that about people.  You don't need to know how to cook and sew for me to love you," he told her gently. She looked at him with tears and love shining in her eyes, but turned away before he could see them.

"I was afraid if you knew who I was on the inside you wouldn't want to marry me, and I couldn't hide all that for the rest of my life just so you would." He shook his head.

"But, I know who you are on the inside already Mulan, and knowing that just makes me want to marry you even more." She looked at him in disbelief.

"You...are you..." He shook his head once more and spoke tenderly to her. She leaned in to hear his words.

"Mulan, something about you attracted me to you right from the start. Well, at least when I found out you were a girl," he said sheepishly, "But whether it was your beauty, your courage, your strength, your integrity, or your willingness to sacrifice everything you had for you father, or anything else or all of those, it doesn't matter. Every one of those reasons and more show how much I care about you right now." His black eyes focused on her and he suddenly noticed her tears. "Mulan, why are you crying?" She looked at his sadly, more tears running down her delicate face. "I just admitted all that, what more do you want?" Shang asked, frustrated.

"Oh, Shang... These tears," she said miserably, trying to wipe them away, "these are tears of regret. Regret for everything that could have happened and didn't." She closed her eyes painfully and tried to pull her hands out of his grasp. He wouldn't let her move.

"Mulan, I don't understand."

"Shang, look at yourself, then look as me. I had the chance to marry a smart, handsome, genuine young man, who loved me for who I am inside, and didn't want to change me. I had the chance to marry you, and now that chance is gone." She stared up at the sky in silence. "I'm going to bed," Mulan told him, turning and walking away. Shang turned towards her. He couldn't lose her again, not after all he had just told her. He stood up next to her and pulled her closer to him, staring into her dark eyes.

"Mulan, who told you that chance is gone? Your thoughts are running away from you."

"Shang..." She pulled away from him, but he wouldn't have it. He held tightly to her wrists.

"Mulan, wait." Shang knelt down before her, loosening his grip on her wrists. "I've told you all this and more. I meant what I said this morning, and for you, I will repeat it." He smiled nervously at her confused face. "Mulan, I, Captain Li Shang, would be honored if you, the young woman whom I treasure beyond all things, just because she is herself and no one else, would answer yes to my second plea of marriage." She looked at his smiling face in obvious shock.

"Shang...I-" He nodded at her with a smile, and she smiled back. She knew this was what she wanted, and quicker than you could say Mushu, she was pulling him to a standing position and throwing her arms around his neck. Shang pulled her body close to his own, holding her face in his hands, and leaning his towards her, he pressed his lips upon hers. Mulan melted in his arms, happiness pulsating through her. Their lips stayed together, tears of happiness running down both their cheeks and mixing together. He picked her up and twirled her around once for good measure. Their lips parted, and she snuggled at his chest. He smiled down at her warm body.

"Is that a yes?" He whispered down to her, and she looked back up at him in happiness and excitement.

"It's a yes please, and a thank you," Mulan told him softly yet playfully, and this time, she sprang upon him and kissed his handsome lips. He was stunned, but at once gave into her warm embrace.

"Thank you, for being yourself. You've made living worthwhile." He held her tight against his chest, sitting down on the side of the stream with his true love in his arms. They stayed there together, hand in hand, looking at the stars and each other in silence. It was a lovely silence, one from two people so in love that would be together forever. Love now bloomed in China for the two heroes, just as the magnolia tree shows its blossoms every spring.

[ THE END ]

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A/N: Hey everyone, I'm glad you enjoyed After Dinner.  I wrote a sequel to it called The Power of Love, and I would love for you to read it! ;)  Thanks for all your kind reviews!