Zhou, Yong & Shang travel back from the war with the Huns. Zhou's leg is no better, Shang has a broken arm & concussion, while Yong has an abdominal wound. They rest at the Fa family home.
3rd person POV unless stated otherwise.

Zhou sighed in despair as his friend kept moaning in the cart. "How dare you sigh, you old bat! I am wounded and in pain!" Yong Li proclaimed. Zhou leant in close to his son, "And leaking opiates," He joked. The young man's face broke out into a smile, a rarity. "You'll be fine, Yong. You're on enough painkillers to wipe out an army while we're suffering through the pain!" Zhou continued with a smile. "Yes, but you've had that dodgy leg for years! You're used to it!"

Zhou made a sound at the general, who sputtered indignantly. Zhou cast a look over to the 21-year-old captain and frowned in concern. "You don't look too good there, my boy. Do we need to rest?" Shang blinked a few times but waved his hand. "No, I'll be fine. We're less than a day out, right?" Zhou squinted. He'd definitely need tending to. "Yes, but I only have the one live-in doctor. He will tend to your father, General Whine A Lot!" Zhou shouted. "I resent that!" His best friend shouted back. "My daughter will tend to us, while my mother cooks us a meal," Zhou smiled at the thought of finally seeing his daughter again.

"Ah yes, how is your little Mulan?" Yong called. "Eh, she's ok. She finally got married," Zhou dropped back a few paces to he could make eye contact with his friend. "Really? Of all the beasts to tame, I didn't think anyone would be able to your daughter," Zhou rolled his eyes. "They didn't, she chose to go willingly, as a last favour to her mother," Zhou's heart suddenly felt very heavy in his chest. "I am truly sorry for the passing of Li, friend. She was a good, pure soul." Yong placed a hand on Zhou's.

"I appreciate it, friend," Zhou smiled. "So, who did she marry?" Yong asked, trying to change the conversation. "Oh, a military boy," Zhou boasted. "Chengs son, Lao," He said. Yong's eyes widened with a quirk of his lips. "Good choice. Shame Cheng passed on though," Zhou nodded grimly. "Yes, no doubt she is upset about that. Hopefully, Lao comes home safely though," Zhou puffed a breath of air out and stared in the distance. "I can just about see my house from here, so we're not too far out," He announced. "Zhou," Yong hissed. Zhou craned his head down to his friend's mouth. "Make him rest. He's stumbled many times and I worry the concussion is worsening. Pull the Major Role card if you must. There is room for two here," Yong whispered. Zhou took a couple of large strides and clasped the young man on his shoulder. He stumbled, his face turning an interesting shade of white. "Decision made, son. Go and sit in the cart with your father," Zhou commanded. Shang began to protest, but Zhou silenced him with a look. "Do I need to pull rank?" He asked. Shang sighed heavily but didn't argue any further. He clambered into the cart alongside his father, leaving Zhou the company of his horse.

The rest of the four-hour journey passed with no resistance or problems, and Zhou's house was finally in front. After a long seven months away, he was home.

Zhou woke the two Li men up and said they were at his house. "I will get the doctor to you Yung, and I will lead you to my daughter's old room, Shang. She is an excellent carer," He helped the boy out of the cart, steadying him when he listed. Zhou pounded on the gates. "Mama?" He called.

The gates swung open, revealing his mother at the door. "Oh, Zhou!" She cried. Zhou hugged her tightly. He missed her so much, and it hurt every time he left. "Zhou I was so worried you wouldn't come home!" She whispered. He pulled away with a relieved smile. "I am, mama. Hopefully, not going away again."

"Who're these two stragglers?" Zhou almost laughed out loud: there was his mother's "no crap" attitude. "General and Captain Li. They're injured, so I brought them here to heal. I know my daughter is good at her healing... or she was before I left," Zhou said. His mother smiled like she knew something he didn't. "Oh yes, she is incredible," then turned her neck to the general in the cart, who was watching with amused eyes. "You needn't worry, General. I've sent our Mulan out for some water, so you can get settled in before she arrives," Grandmother smiled warmly. General Li smiled back. "It is no trouble, but thank you." Zhou pushed the cart into the courtyard while his mother helped the 21-year-old onto a bench. "From the looks of it, Zhou, this one is about to pass out," She called in a warning. "Head between your knees," Zhou laughed at her briskness. "We could do with her in the med tent," Yong commented as he watched his stubborn, headstrong son obey the elderly woman with a look of slight worry.

Zhou laughed but stopped when there was a loud clatter. He spun to face the sound, worrying in case it was a hun. "Baba!" She yelled. Zhou ran to his daughter and held her tightly. She cried into his shirt.

Yong watched as the young girl ran into her father's arms. He knew Zhou didn't care for tradition when it came to his daughter. To be honest, Yong couldn't blame him. Zhou lost many children before she survived infanthood. Four sons and two daughters died before they reached the age of five. He was bound to spoil her rotten.

He smiled as Zhou hushed his daughter fondly. Yong wished Shang was a little more open: they were all the others had left after all. Yong's eldest, Xia, was married off a good five years ago, and he hadn't heard from her since. Aside from the letters about her married life, that was it. He caught his son's eye, who was watching the exchange with curiosity. Yong was almost saddened to hear she'd been married off. For ancestor's sake, he held her as a newborn! For most of their toddlerhood days, Mulan would play with Xia and Shang. Yong and Zhou had always joked about them marrying, but a small part of him wasn't joking.

"Mulan! You... you are..." Zhou stuttered. Mulan laughed tearfully and wiped her eyes. "Yeah! I found out I was expecting not too long after Lao left. Oh, baba. I thought I'd be alone! Well, besides from grandmama," She added when the latter coughed loudly. "How far along?" Zhou asked as he gently touched her belly. "Nealy eight months," She laughed. The father and daughter held each other tightly once more before he assumed control again. "Mulan, we are going to catch up after dinner." He smiled. "However, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind helping our Captain over there," He gestured. Mulan's eyes fell on the hunched form. "Of course!" She smiled. "What's wrong with him?" Zhou watched in amusement as she waddled over, cradling her bump. He met her eyes as she cleared her throat. "Oh, uh, we think a broken arm and concussion, though we don't know how bad yet," He filled in. Mulan nodded and took a seat next to the 21-year-old.

Zhou allowed himself to be led into the house by his mother, comfortably happy knowing his best friend was being tended to by the doctor, and Mulan taking care of the captain.

"I have a few questions to ask before I start, is that ok?" She asked quietly. She handed him a cup of water. He hummed but didn't move. "I need you to be as specific as possible," She glanced over his hunched form. "Where are you hurt? And how badly?" She shifted on the uncomfortable seat slightly. "Um... I think my arms were broken... I can't open my eyes either... it feels like they're burning," He admitted, not seeing the point in appearing like a hero. He already was one!

"Ok... so, and I'm going to need your help here," Mulan began. She groaned quietly as she eased herself up. "We're going to walk slowly into the house. I have some supplies in my room," She held a hand out. "Come on,"

The captain grasped it in his own, warm, hand. Mulan's heart fluttered. "Keep your eyes shut if it's easier. You'll just have to trust me," She smiled. The captain huffed slightly. "How do I know you won't run off and drag me behind?" Mulan snorted and gasped at the unladylike sound. "Well, for one thing, I am currently the size of a nǎiniú, and cannot move fast, even if I want to, and the second thing: My feet are so swollen, I can barely walk, much less run." She met his eyes briefly. "Ok," He said simply. She clasped his hand tightly and led him through to her bedroom. "You can rest on my bed. It's not particularly large, but it should fit you." She smiled.

The captain allowed his eyes to open now he was out of the unrelenting sun. His gaze fell upon the heavily pregnant lady helping him. "Do you feel nauseous in any way?" She asked, placing a damp cloth on his head. He sighed, god that felt amazing. "Captain?" She repeated. "Uh..." He took note. He felt a little queazy, but that was probably from lack of food, rather than the concussion. He voiced his thought. "Hmm... ah!" She bumbled out of the room and came back a few seconds later. She pushed something into his hands. "Eat. It's a rice bean cake,"

By god, that was one of Shang's favourite things ever!

"So..." He began. Mulan raised an eyebrow. "Feeling better?" She asked, rubbing her stomach. Shang suddenly felt guilty. He was hogging her bed, and depriving her, a heavily pregnant lady, of a place to sit down! "Oh, keep still. I am used to standing. It does not bother me," She dismissed. Shang froze: a woman had never spoken to him like that before!

But... it didn't bother him like he thought it would... instead, he found her intriguing.

"Now, I must say to you two things," She smiled. "One) You must rest, sleeping will ward the worst of the concussion away. I will wake you for dinner," Shang had already dropped back onto the bed, exhausted. "Two) When you wake, I want to know your name. I don't like calling you Mr Captain Sir," She smiled.

She began to pull her door closed, but stopped. "I'll also sort your arm out properly when you wake," Her eyes twinkled. "See you in a few hours,"

And he was out like a light.

TRANSLATIONS

nǎiniú - Cow