Summary: Mulan, an Army woman comes home after two years of being in the battlefield. Throughout the two weeks, she befriends a local girl, Aurora. Loosely based off 'Dear John' MODERN AU: SLEEPING WARRIORS.

My favorite chapter to write, I enjoyed it very much and I hope you do too! (You most likely will, hint hint. Then you're going to hate me again for a few more chapters)

There's only 5 chapters to go until this story ends so... yeah. Hate as much as you want because you're probably going to get frustrated. I can accept it. Just not too much hate. Love you guys! xx

Disclaimer: I do not own anything. ENJOY.

Chapter 7: Fear of Rejection

"Hey"

"Hey"

The two ladies smiled awkwardly at each other. Aurora stood by the backyard door as she watched Mulan look around at her father's garden. The blossoms bloomed recently. Maybe it was her father's spirit that bloomed.

"How are you holding up?" Aurora asked the other girl.

"I'm okay. I never appreciated how well he took care of this place" Mulan wiped a tear off her face and sniffled. "I wish I appreciated him more"

"Tell me about it. We all do it to our parents" Aurora walked out and saw by the stone bench, she touched the petal of a beautiful flower.

"What's your story with your parents?" Mulan sat down next to her. "You never mention them much"

Aurora looked at Mulan then took a deep breath. "When I was old enough to live on my own, they made me. That's why I live in a huge house, they pay for it, they pay for bills, they give me a monthly allowance, that's how they show their "love", through money. They think they can buy anything." Aurora looked away from Mulan, she didn't want to see pity in her eyes. "They're still my parents, I should love them, it's not like they fully abandoned me"

Mulan placed a hand on top of Aurora's. Aurora looked at Mulan and smiled at each other, Mulan buried her head on Aurora's shoulder, she remembers her father again.

"Do you miss them?" Mulan asked. Aurora looked at the poor girl who lost nearly everything back home.

"I do because I'm lonely. I'm a very lonely child as you know already. Or maybe, I push them out, I'm open to people but I push them out" Aurora felt a tear drop down her cheek, it fell on top of Mulan's head, which startled Mulan quickly.

Mulan looked at Aurora and gave her a small smile, Mulan wiped Aurora's cheek with her thumb. "You should give them a call, just say what's on your mind, say that you miss them, invite them for dinner, something… to let them know that you're still their daughter."

Aurora was slightly taken aback, "You want me to call them? I told you, they don't really love me, they use their money to buy me"

"No- that's what they think they should do to receive your love. Aurora… I made that mistake once, they do it to yourself" Mulan said. "Okay?"

"I'm scared" Aurora thought out loud, "I'm scared that they don't want to talk to me" Aurora looked down at her lap where her hands are rested.

"A girl once told me that her belief in love wasn't strong enough to overcome her fear of rejection. Do you know who that girl is?"

Aurora smiled, "Me"

Mulan nodded, "Your words was running through my head when I confessed to Phillip that I love him, I needed your words of wisdom to help me overcome my fear of rejection" Mulan smiled thinking of Phillip, "You'll never know until you try"

"You never know until you try" Aurora whispered to herself while looking into Mulan's eyes. Aurora broke the gaze before she does something stupid. This is her best friend, Mulan, she's happily in a relationship with a man she's been infatuated with for years, she shouldn't ruin that.

"What about you? When you told me that, you said you were falling for someone, will you ever tell me more about him?" Mulan asked.

"He…" Aurora started trying to mix words into her mind, "He… he's very strong, I can tell, physically, mentally, and emotionally, he has the most beautiful chocolate brown eyes," Aurora tried to think more of the wonderful features Mulan has that she could translate into an imaginary guy.

"Like me" Mulan joked, and the simply words that she said has caught Aurora off guard.

Aurora stared back into her eyes, "A lot like you"

Aurora stared at Mulan's lips. You'll never know until you try. Aurora took a deep breath and leaned in.

Mulan was full of confusion, she didn't know what she was suppose to do in an event like this. A beautiful woman about to kiss her, her heart palpitating.

Their foreheads touch, but theirs lips did not. Aurora was looking down instead of looking at her in the eyes, if she looked in her eyes, she's scared that she'll see rejection.

"I'm scared… I'm scared that you're going to reject me" A tear falls down on Mulan's lap, she immediately knew that Aurora was dead serious about her feeling towards her. "I'm scared that if I do this, our friendship will slowly drift apart because of the awkwardness. I'm scared that you'll hate me because you're in love with someone else and I decided to kiss you" Aurora took hold of Mulan's shirt as she cried. "I'm scared to reveal who I really am"

Mulan didn't know what to say, she took hold of Aurora's arms, steadying her. Mulan's eyes widened.

"I'm scared" Aurora said once more.

Mulan leaned in and captured Aurora's lips.

Their first kiss was innocent, just a simple innocent kiss.

They broke away and stared at each other.

Their second was more passionate that the first kiss, Mulan didn't know if she was just trying to make a friend feel better or if she was really into kissing Aurora. Friends don't kiss passionately, do they?

Mulan heard the phone ring from inside and broke the kiss, "I have to answer that, it could be my commanding officer"

Mulan let go of Aurora's hands, she stood up and touched her lips while walking towards the phone.

"Hello?"

"Mulan, how are you doing?"

"Phillip…?" Mulan asked the familiar accented voice. "Why are you calling me?"

"I'm checking up on my girl"

"Philip, now is not really a good time, I know you only have a few minutes to call but now isn't the best time" Mulan tried to speak in a whisper as fast as possible to not waste any time.

Mulan just saw Aurora walking out toward the door, "Aurora!" Mulan called out.

"I'm sorry, love. I'll talk to you when I can, okay?"

Mulan didn't even reply, she hung up the phone and followed Aurora. Mulan was a skilled runner, she ran towards Aurora and grabbed her wrist.

"You love him, I can't have you while you're with him, can we just please forget what happened just two minutes ago because I can't take it, please, Mulan"

I'll update Thursday or Friday, I have late night class tomorrow. xx

Tumblr: Sleeping-warrior (Two dashes)