Bittersweet Disposition

By Rachel J.D.
Calisky3

Chapter 1

They say time heals all wounds, but maybe not all...

Mulan's current disposition consisted of a daylight attempt to go unseen, on a busy street, as she tip-toed around town. She was in Aurora's renewed kingdom and did not wanting to see her or Phillip after her year-or-so hiatus.

"Great," she breathed heavily. She turned away after spotting Aurora standing, laughing with a street vendor, the odds.

She was not far from the exterior walls of the kingdom, she could just see it. She needed to get beyond them and her dreaded day could end. It had been sometime since Mulan had stepped foot into Aurora's kingdom after never giving Aurora a reason for her distant. She had practically been invisible to them since Aurora told Mulan she was pregnant.

Aurora looked the same, beautiful in every way.

Mulan hid behind a building unsuccessfully being pointed out by a random crowd member and catching Aurora's smile for her. Aurora's eyes searched for a quickly disappearing figure.

"Mulan!" Aurora called after her.

Mulan did her best to try to ignore her friend and turn around various obstacles to avoid an uncomfortable situation for both of them. She knew she was being unfair, but she felt she had no other choice. The whole situation was unfair.

"Mulan..." the voice grew more distant to Mulan's delight thinking she was on the verge of loosing her captor.

She turned a corner around a building away from the crowded street. Mulan headed down a shaded alleyway believing she was home free.

Aurora stepped in front of her, arms on her hip with a stern look as if to ask, 'were you ignoring me?'

Mulan's mouth grew dry and Aurora's piercing eyes met her and she had no words. Aurora's expression changed from anger to kindness as a smile grew. "Were you running from me?" Aurora almost laughed. "You can't escape me, my friend."

The truth of that statement was becoming more clear by the second. Mulan's heart beat faster than she wanted and her skin paled. "Hi," was all Mulan could muster.

There was a silence between them for a moment, before Aurora attempted to hug Mulan but she stepped back and saw Aurora's confused expression. Mulan kept a distance and did not want her touch for fear it might feel too much like home. Home, a place Mulan had not had for some time.

Aurora did not know what to say but offered her outstretched hand. "Are you staying for a while?"

"No," Mulan answered too quickly. Aurora tilted her gaze and blinked an even more confused expression then before.

Before the silence broke by friendly chit-chat, which Mulan always dreaded, she said, "I must be going." For fear of seeing Aurora's hurt eyes, she avoided them all together before turning to walk away... again.

"You just got here and you're already leaving? Why not stay for a night?" Aurora called to the fleeing Mulan. She kept her quick pace.

"I'm just passing through from a trip, I have no reason to stay," Mulan said dressed in her traditional armor not choosing her words wisely.

Aurora scoffed and stomped after her with her dress flowing behind her.

"What do you mean no reason?"

Mulan did not answer her, realizing her mistake.

The quiet was disturbed by the shuffling of feet from behind Mulan as she stopped abruptly, from a grasped hand on her shoulder trying to spin her around.

"What's going on with you?" Aurora was offended. "Are we not friends, am I not enough reason to stay in town for a moment?" The tension in her voice made her words cut. "I haven't heard from you since my child was born..." Almost accusing.

Mulan was silent for a moment contemplating her next words carefully. She did not want to further offend a woman she deeply cared about. Mulan attempted to stay away from her for her own sanity, it had failed. She knew she should have taken the longer way around Aurora's kingdom to avoid the discussion they were having now, but Mulan could not justify two extra days of travel verses facing the person she desired, her friend after all. It was not Aurora's fault. Mulan knew her hurt and anger was unjustified.

The pain in Aurora's eyes was reason enough to calm her nerves allowing her to find her center. Her chest ached at the thought her attitude was taken backwards.

"Please. It's nothing like that."

This time Aurora did not speak, eyes piercing through her armored chest. Her arms still stoic on her hips waiting for a further explanation that Mulan wasn't willing to give.

"I'll stay a night."

Aurora turned her gaze away and blinked back her expression. "I wouldn't want to pressure you. If you do not wish to visit with me I won't take offense." Her words were cold now and slow. She turned her confused eyes to Mulan and rested her stiff arms. "I've missed you is all..."

Her words sped up, "Have a safe journey to wherever you're headed."

It was Aurora's turn to walk away hesitantly leaving Mulan ripping out at her quickly beating heart.

"Aurora, wait. Please!" Mulan pleaded walking a few steps after her. "I've missed you too." It wasn't enough to stop her from walking away. It was justified.

"It's just hard to be around you." That stopped Aurora in her tracks.

She turned to look at Mulan questioningly.

She looked down shuffling her feet not knowing how to explain her plight without giving her heart away. "When I'm with you... I get reminded. And I leave," her words were broken. "It's hard to go on in my life without being nearer."

At that Aurora smiled. "You stay away so you don't get reminded that you'll miss me?" She chuckled finally releasing the tension.

Mulan relaxed. "Something like that."

Aurora stepped closer to Mulan and wrapped her in a close hug. Her heart was beating in her chest and she felt how right she fit in her arms.

Aurora pulled away smiling "You are silly. Can you stay a while? I want to know about your life. So much time has passed."

Mulan tried to smile. She did not want to meet Aurora's child or see her kind husband who was once also her friend. Mulan's weary expression confused the sweet look from Aurora as she tried to understand her struggle.

"I will stay a while." Was all she could get out. A soft grin played on Aurora's lips.

"Good. We will have a celebration. The return of our warrior."

"No. Don't go to any trouble. A temporary stay."

"Temporary as it may be, I still want to celebrate," Aurora beamed.

"I am no ones warrior," it came out as a whisper.

"You most certainly are!" She pulled back examining her dazed friend. "You are my warrior most certainly. Saving me and Phillip countless times. Where has your head gone? We tell stories of you to everyone." It explained why a street vendor knew to point out Mulan to their queen.

Mulan blushed and pulled away from her embrace. She stiffened again from the announcement of her reputation.

Aurora reading into her slight change in attitude grasped her hand. "Don't by shy. You deserve our affection."

Aurora leaned in to kiss Mulan on the cheek making her slam her eyes shut and the blood rush through her body. Her sweet smell lingered close to her skin as her warmth almost grazed passed Mulan's lips.

Right then, Mulan heard an infant's cry. A baby girl was in the hands of a smiling Philip. "Mulan, It or good to see you."

Mulan's eyes shifted from Philip to the bundle of joy squirming around in his arms. "Amelia requests your presence dear."

Aurora smiled and said, "When does she not?" Scooping the baby in her arms.

Mulan looked on at the loving family and almost felt sick to her core because she couldn't find it within herself to be happy - at least for them. The baby girl took one look at Mulan and became fixated.

All the girls attention went to Mulan and Aurora noticed chuckling, thinking Mulan was just inexperienced around children.

"Would you like to hold her?"

"No, I..." Before any other words passed her lips a beautiful baby girl was in her arms. Amelia smiled her full rosy cheeks at Mulan making soft laughter as she reached for her hair.

Mulan looked down at the baby seeing how closely she resembled her mother. "Hello little one." At that Phillip and Aurora smiled. They had their own theories about why Mulan kept such a distance from her, once close friends, but regardless they were happy to have her home.

"I must confess that I named her with you in mind." Aurora saw her quick confusion. "You share a name."

Mulan looked down at the baby in her arms and tried to quietly understand. "Mulan... It's her middle name."

It dawned in her. "Amelia Mulan?"

Phillip and Aurora both laughed.

"You have missed much friend." Phillip interjected.

Mulan was beyond flattered and ashamed of herself from keeping such a great divide between herself and friends she truly cared for.

The little girl stopped her from shaking out of pure emotion. "She's beautiful."

"We want her to be our warrior princess, if only to live up to her name." Aurora was beaming and winked at Mulan furthering her color.

An assistant came and picked up Amelia leaving Mulan looking after her.

Aurora grabbed Mulan's hand and swept her away. "I'm so glad you're here... we have a so much to catch up on!"

Author's Notes:

I had an idea one day, while half asleep from a 16 hour work day - a story came to mind and I could write nothing down but I was determined to someday share it with the world because I love this pair and I love the idea of Mulan and Aurora - in spite of everything. I wanted to write a more truthful story of their relationship, with all obstacles in the way, which makes it difficult. I first had a love scene in mind, because lets be honest - everyone loves some good smut now and again, but we'll see how it turns out after I get most of the honest details (stories do tend to change after time). I do not plan on making this a long 'fic-lit', but I do love me some angst, build up, and everything else.

Disclaimer: These characters are not mine, but I am a fan. Not beta(ed) all mistakes are my own.