Two days later, Ken and Mel were training in the backyard. Ryu sat, Indian-style, on the grass, watching the lesson. Bethany sat in Ryu’s lap, clapping in delight.

Eliza ran out the back door. “Honey, have you seen Bethany? She’s missing!”

Ryu turned, gesturing to his lap. “She’s right here.”

Eliza breathed out a sigh of relief. “That girl is a wanderer…always getting lost…But I should have figured she’d be out here…”

Ryu smiled. “I’m sorry if you were worried.”

“That’s okay, Ryu. I’m going to go back to cooking lunch. Thank you for watching her…Lunch will be ready a lot sooner if she isn’t with me…”

“We’ll watch her,” Ken said as Mel hit the pads he held in his hands.

Eliza turned to go back into the house. Ryu turned to look at the toddler in his lap.

“I can tell that you’re going to cause your parents stress.” He grinned. “Try not to give them a hard time, though…”

Bethany grinned back. Mel plopped down beside Ryu for a break. Ken sat across from his friend.

“I think it’s great that you came to visit us,” Ken smiled. “The kids like you being here.”

“I…I like being with your family, Ken. It could convince even a lone warrior to become a family man,” Ryu admitted.

Ken’s eyebrows shot up. “Is that supposed to be a hint?”

Ryu smiled sheepishly. “I said it could convince…I didn’t say it changed my mind completely…”

Ken snorted. “Now you’re being sarcastic.”

“I wish you could stay longer, Uncle,” Mel piped up. “We could train more. I want to be strong like you and Dad, so I’ll practice a lot.”

Ryu placed a hand on the youth’s shoulder. “Mel…I admire your efforts. Perfecting your training is good. But do not forget what is even more important. Your friends and family.”

Ken shot him a look. “Where is this coming from?”

Ryu, confused, responded, “I don’t understand…”

“Are you all right, buddy? All you seemed to care about was the fight…”

“Yeah…” Mel agreed. “Dad always told me that you were always training…”

Ryu cleared his throat as he dusted some grass off of Bethany’s pants. “I think…when a person gets to be my age and go through my experiences…they start to evaluate their lifestyle.”

Ken frowned. “Are you saying that you…?”

Ryu shook his head. “Believe me, Ken…I still have every intention of training. But I’ve learned that there are other matters in this world. Family and friends will always be supportive. One does not always find a stronger opponent…but they will always have a friend or family member to talk to.”

Ken shook his head and whistled. “You’ve really changed, Ryu…”

A few days later, Ken was with Ryu at the airport. Ryu was pacing, anxiously awaiting for his flight to be called.

Ken grinned at Ryu’s nervousness. “Hey, Ryu.”

Ryu looked up. “Yes?”

“Thanks for coming. Give us a call or visit us any time you like, okay?”

Ryu nodded. Eliza had said the same thing when he bid her good-bye. Mel gave his uncle a hi-five, and Bethany gave him a hug and a sloppy kiss on the cheek. Ryu had left gifts for them under their exquisite tree…And they wouldn’t know about them until Christmas morning. He had the feeling that Mel and Bethany would be very happy. And Ryu promised that he would visit as much as he could, much to the Masters’ family delight.

“Ryu,” Ken spoke up, his tone serious.

Ryu looked up at his friend. He already had an idea of what he was going to say.

“Eliza and I are rooting for you,” Ken stated. “But whatever happens…it was meant to happen that way.”

“I think she might close the door in my face. She doesn’t know that I’m coming,” Ryu replied.

Ken rolled his eyes. “You didn’t call her?”

Ryu shook his head.

Ken sighed. “Oh well…that’s fine. I take it you wanted to surprise her. Let’s just hope she’ll be home…”

“United Airlines flight number five-one-zero with nonstop service to Hong Kong will begin its boarding process,” an agent said over the intercom. “At this moment in time, we’d like to welcome aboard our first class passengers.”

Ryu glanced at Ken. “I should get going…”

Ken gaped at him. “How’d you get in first class?”

“It was a gift,” Ryu stated.

Ken nodded, skeptical. They slammed fists and Ryu picked up his duffel bag.

“Here is my moment of truth…” Ryu said softly. He was anxious to get the next eighteen hours over with.

“Good luck, Ryu.”

“Thank you.” Ryu paused then said quietly, “Merry Christmas, Ken.”

Ken grinned. “Merry Christmas. I’ll be cheering for you.”

It was Christmas Day in Hong Kong. Some of the streets were busy…people traveling back and forth…but Ryu was oblivious. He had hailed a taxi and was pacing in front of Chun Li’s door. He hadn’t seen her in four years…how would she react? Would she dismiss him? Would she forgive him? Did she still love him? There were so many questions that he wanted answered, yet all he had to do was knock and they’d be answered for him.

He knocked, waiting for several moments. No answer. He blew out a breath. Maybe she wasn’t home. He knocked again. Still no answer.

He frowned. She wasn’t home. And he had no way of knowing where she was. He had come all the way to Hong Kong for nothing.

Now what? Go home? Ryu had plenty of money to buy an airline ticket to Tokyo. Maybe that’s what he needed to do…

He cut through the training hall to go to the street. Suddenly, a force knocked him in the legs that he dropped his bag. He looked down, seeing a little Oriental girl with pigtails. She was dressed in pink pajamas. Her top was in the Chinese style, with ropes and buttons down the front. She obviously had been running, not seeing where she was going.

“Sorry, Mommy…” she started. Her eyes widened at the sight of the stranger. “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” she screamed.

Suddenly, she attacked him with punches and kicks. Ryu was so caught off-guard, he nearly lost his balance. He blocked her attacks.

“Wait!” he tried to explain to the girl. “I’m looking for-”

“Lien! What’s wrong?” came a voice.

Ryu and the girl froze in shock, looking towards the doorway. Chun Li stood, wearing a blue sleep shirt identical to her daughter’s. Her long brown hair cascaded down her back in gentle waves.

“Ryu…?” she trailed off, speechless.

Lien, seeing that her mother knew the stranger, stepped back. Ryu’s dark eyes softened as he gazed at the woman he loved long ago.

“Merry Christmas, Chun Li…”