After hours of rest, 花木兰 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." 花木兰 replied. "You didn't seem it this morning." John stated coyly. 花木兰 wanted to say "Why do 你 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 说 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. 更多 like his 最喜爱的 book actually. He just had THAT good of a mind! "You're hiding something, aren't you?" he speculated. "What do 你 mean 由 that?" 花木兰 asked. "It's a secret. Only a secret 你 and Shang know about." John profiled. 花木兰 felt her 心 pounding through her chest.

"You don't have to admit it now." John eased. 花木兰 slammed the 刀 she was using and turned angrily. "John, I don't know WHAT 你 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, 你 MAY NOT THINK 你 HARM, BUT 你 DID!" 花木兰 cut him off expressing her anger like she never had before. She went to the 厨房 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." 花木兰 wavered. "Perfectly understandable." John replied. 花木兰 clinged
to him like Pocahontas would when SHE was upset like this. "I didn't expect this." John half-joked. "I'm just glad 你 understand!" 花木兰 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 树 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 你 this..." he 说 doubtfully. "Shang, whatever it was 你 and 花木兰 went through, me, Pocahontas, and Merida are ALL here for you." John stated true to his word. Shang sighed a sad sigh debating 或者 not if he should tell the devastating secret he and 花木兰 had been carrying. He held back tears of sorrow as he lowered his head. "Shang, whatever's holding 你 back is obviously troubling you." John altered. Shang wanted to 冲床 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 你 don't have to admit it if 你 don't want to." John replied in a comforting tone. Shang put on a broken smile. (A/N: That part is inspired 由 the song "She Will Be Loved" 由 Maroon 5.) "What do 你 say we get inside?" John suggested. Shang couldn't agree more. The two went in the cottage and called it a day.

At 晚餐 that night, 花木兰 ate pretty good. *I needed some nutritious food.* she thought. "Shang, 你 haven't eaten much." Pocahontas said. "I'm not too hungry." Shang replied. "Shang, 你 need to eat." 花木兰 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 表 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 表演 that way." 花木兰 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. 花木兰 wiped her tears and everyone headed out.