After hours of rest, Mulan finally started feeling better. She got up to fix Ping something to eat. "We all got alittle worried about you." John said. "I'm fine, though." Mulan replied. "You didn't seem it this morning." John stated coyly. Mulan wanted to say "Why do you know us too well?!?", but she blew it off like a fly because she knew how concerned everyone was. "I just forgot to eat. It'll never happen again." she said simply. She went back to chopping up food.

John knew she was hiding a secret. Once he knew someone, he could read 'em like an open book. More like his favorite book actually. He just had THAT good of a mind! "You're hiding something, aren't you?" he speculated. "What do you mean by that?" Mulan asked. "It's a secret. Only a secret you and Shang know about." John profiled. Mulan felt her heart pounding through her chest.

"You don't have to admit it now." John eased. Mulan slammed the knife she was using and turned angrily. "John, I don't know WHAT you heard, but our private lives together are NONE of your business!" she exclaimed. John didn't know what to think. "I didn't mean any harm. I just-" "JOHN, YOU MAY NOT THINK YOU HARM, BUT YOU DID!" Mulan cut him off expressing her anger like she never had before. She went to the kitchen sink and wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry John." she apologized as she cried. "It's ME who should be apologizing." John comforted.

"I should've known better." he continued. "John, I know you're only looking out for me, but there are some things I like to keep to myself." Mulan wavered. "Perfectly understandable." John replied. Mulan clinged
to him like Pocahontas would when SHE was upset like this. "I didn't expect this." John half-joked. "I'm just glad you understand!" Mulan cried. All John did was hug her. She slowly escaped the embrace.

"Ping's probably hungry." she said. John smiled and went outside. He noticed Shang holding back laughs. "This better not be about Merida's jinx again!" he jokingly scolded. "After ALL the turmoil Merida has been through with Rapunzel and The Ice Queen, I can't believe that Anna girl and Kristoff STILL haven't married yet!" Shang busted. "That IS funny. But, I guess time will tell when the time's right." John said. Shang jumped off a tree stump and walked up to his unusually troubled friend.

"What's wrong?" he asked. "Mulan was all upset earlier." John answered. "It happens to expectant mothers." Shang humored. "But it seemed to me she was hiding something." John stated. Shang's jaw dropped. *Sometimes, I wish John had a not-so-brilliant mind.* he thought. "It only seemed that way." John altered. Shang was put at ease this time.

"I don't know if I should tell you this..." he said doubtfully. "Shang, whatever it was you and Mulan went through, me, Pocahontas, and Merida are ALL here for you." John stated true to his word. Shang sighed a sad sigh debating or not if he should tell the devastating secret he and Mulan had been carrying. He held back tears of sorrow as he lowered his head. "Shang, whatever's holding you back is obviously troubling you." John altered. Shang wanted to punch him. Luckily, he had just enough calmness not to.

He took a breath as he regained himself. "I'd like to tell you, but right now isn't a good time." he answered somberly. "You know you don't have to admit it if you don't want to." John replied in a comforting tone. Shang put on a broken smile. (A/N: That part is inspired by the song "She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5.) "What do you say we get inside?" John suggested. Shang couldn't agree more. The two went in the cottage and called it a day.

At dinner that night, Mulan ate pretty good. *I needed some nutritious food.* she thought. "Shang, you haven't eaten much." Pocahontas said. "I'm not too hungry." Shang replied. "Shang, you need to eat." Mulan added. Even though Shang was often very protective of her, SHE was kinda on that protective thread with HIM too. "I know. I just can't right now." he replied. "What do ya mean ya can't right now?" Merida asked.

"Merida, I wish I could explain." Shang answered. His mind was still reeling in what went down earlier that afternoon. The memory was still fresh and he wished he had a quart of brain bleach to to cleanse it away. He got up from the table and walked outside. "What's his problem?" Merida asked. "It's not a problem, Merida. It's something traumatizing." John intervened. "I think I know why he's acting that way." Mulan confessed. Everyone looked at her.

"Doctors have advised me to eat more, because during my first pregnancy, I...I...I almost miscarried Ping." she cracked. She began bawling her eyes out as everyone's jaw dropped. Shang came back inside to comfort her. "That's what I was debating on telling you, John." he confessed. "I see..." John replied speechless. Pocahontas walked over and put a comforting hand on Mulan's shoulder. "Why don't we all go for a night-walk?" she asked. Mulan wiped her tears and everyone headed out.