snarky_panda (snarky_panda) wrote in mulanficspace, @ 2007-07-21 02:43:00 |
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Current mood: | content |
Current music: | Monk |
30 Kisses: Mulan and Shang, Part Twenty-Nine
Title: Night
Author: snarky_panda
Fandom: Mulan
Pairing: Li Shang/Fa Mulan
Theme: #24, good night
Disclaimer: All characters, etc. from the Disney movie belong to Disney.
Her eyes were wide open as she lay in bed, her stomach clenching nervously.
Shang didn’t seem particularly happy when she broke the news to him. Not that he looked upset or anything, but she’d been hoping for a warmer reaction upon hearing that they were expecting a new baby. He merely looked stunned.
Perhaps it was too soon.
Mulan rolled onto her side to face Shang and found that he was awake. She was barely able to see in the dark, but she could make out that his eyes were open and he was lying on his side watching her. They lay quietly for several minutes, staring at one another, neither of them speaking.
He broke the silence first.
“Can’t sleep either?” he asked gently.
“No. I’m having trouble getting comfortable. You?”
“Mm. Too much on my mind.”
Shifting once more, she rolled onto her back again. A large hand settled onto her stomach a moment later. He began to stroke her tenderly.
“You’re not unhappy then?” she murmured tentatively as he caressed the skin that covered her womb.
“What?”
“About the baby…”
“Of course not.”
Sighing with relief she closed her eyes. “Good. I…I know it hasn’t been very long.”
She was worried that they weren’t ready.
Silence stretched between them again for a long time before he finally spoke up. “I am worried, a little. I hope that…I will be a good father to our new baby.”
“You’re a wonderful father, Shang. You’ll be great.”
Mulan sensed that it wasn’t exactly what he meant. He was worried that something would happen to their new baby, as was she, and that once again he wouldn’t be able to prevent it. They were living in tumultuous times and there was no telling when another outbreak of violence and war would occur. But with the marriage of the princess had come a time of peace and renewal that, with any luck, would last. Mulan felt optimistic and hopeful about the things to come.
“I’m scared too.”
The sheets rustled softly as he shifted, inching closer to her. She turned on her side to face him, feeling the closeness of his face to hers. A moment later he leaned in and kissed her lips tenderly.
“Tomorrow I’ll start to make up the new room for the baby,” he said quietly.
“Okay.”
They lay together in comfortable silence and she closed her eyes as he caressed her shoulder absentmindedly. Eventually his strokes became uneven and slow, signaling that he was beginning to drift off.
“Good night, Shang,” she whispered, reaching over and running her fingers through his hair. She let them drift down to his face and cupped her hand around his cheek.
In the stillness she heard his breathing change and felt the muscles in his cheek twitch under her hand as a drowsy smile spread across his face.
“M’night, Mulan.”
(Link here to continue)