It was just after Thanksgiving in North America and Ken and some servants were putting up Christmas lights on the mansion. They put up icicles, colored lights, lights on the bushes, figures of Santa Clause and his reindeer on the roof, and decorated the whole house for this very wonderful and festive holiday. The inside of the mansion was decorated as well and in the living room was a large Christmas tree decorated beautifully with colorful light, bulbs, ribbons, cute ornaments, and strands of beads. It was one of the loveliest trees around. When Ken and the servants finished decorating, everyone went outside to see all of the work that they did. They all looked in awe at such a festive house.
"Wow Ken," Eliza said, "you really outdid yourself this year. The mansion is beautiful!"
"It is all for you and the baby," Ken replied
"Wouldn't it be nice Ryu and Chun Li were here to celebrate X-mas with us?"
"Yah, that would be nice," Ken paused for a moment getting an idea in his head, "Hey! Why don't we give them a call and see if they want to spend X-mas over here with us?"
"That's a good idea," the two lovers went inside.
In Hong Kong…
Chun Li, Ryu and Darien, who is now a year and 9 months, had just gotten back from the department store. They had bought a Christmas tree and decorations.
"Lean it to the left a little…a little more…a little more, there!" Chun Li said as she helped Ryu put the X-mas tree in its stand. She tightened the bolts to the tree.
"Dun Che Lao Ren (Chinese version of Santa Claus) is coming!" Darien said
"That's right," Chun Li said smiling
"Want to start decorating the tree now Darien?" Ryu asked his son
"Yes, yes, yes!" Darien replied happily
The family began to decorate the tree. They put up the lights and pretty bulbs but the tree was not as beautiful as Ken's was. Ryu lifted up Darien so he could put the golden star at the top.
"It's so pretty. When I was younger and my father used to cook X-mas dinner. He would make roast barbecued pork, chicken, and soup with wood ears. I remember one year I wanted a certain Wushu outfit, it was pink and it had black trimmings and a black belt. It was one of a kind and I was going to ask for it for X-mas, Chun Li said
"Was? What do you mean?" Ryu asked
"That was the year that my father was murdered, I completely forgot about it until now…" she started to get teary eyed.
The phone rang surprising the little family. Ryu went over to pick it up. Chun Li heard Ryu say hello and she knew it was Ken.
"We were just decorating our X-man tree," Ryu said
"Eliza and I did all the decorating yesterday, anyways, I called because Eliza and I were thinking about you guys and we were wondering if you and Chun Li wanted to come out here for X-mas?" Ken asked
"Really, wow! Sounds cool. I'll talk it over with Chun Li and I'll give you a call back, ok?"
"Alright, take your time, bye"
Ryu hung up the phone.
"That was Ken, he and Eliza wanted to know if we wanted to go over there for X-mas." Ryu said, "what do you think?"
"Well, what do you think?"
"I asked first,"
"Well," Chun Li paused, "I think it is a great idea!"
"Really, wow, me too!" Ryu turned to Darien, "How would you like to go see Uncle Ken for X-mas Darien?"
"Uncle Ken! Uncle Ken" Darien said excitedly
"Then it is settled, I'll give Ken a call and tell him we gladly accept," Ryu said
A few days later, at an airport in San Francisco…
"Wow, I had almost forgotten how America celebrates X-mas. When I lived in New York everyone always got into the spirit of X-mas and they were always in a good mood." Chun Li commented
A familiar voice came from behind the family
"Wait until you see my house," Ken said
"Ken!" Chun Li and Ryu said turning around.
Ken rushed over to greet his best friends and their child. As usual, Ryu and Ken did their quick fighting moves and hitting of their fists.
"It's great to see you again, the limo is waiting outside" Ken lead them to the limo and he was holding Darien.
"Chun Li, you are looking beautiful as ever," Ken commented
"Thank you," she replied smiling
So, what do you think about going to Mammoth for a few days to hit the slopes?" Ken asked
"Hitting slopes? I thought we were going to have X-mas at your house Ken…"
"Ryu!" Chun Li lightly slapped Ryu's forehead, "Mammoth is well known for skiing and snowboarding,"
"Ohhh, haha, I've never snowboarded before…"
"Neither have I," Chun Li added
"Well, I can teach you guys, after all, I am Ken Masters and I am good at anything I do,"
Chun Li and Ryu both laughed at him.
"Well, I think learning something new is great, I'm in, but what about Darien and Mel?" Chun Li asked
"The sitters can take care of them,"
"I don't know about that…" Chun Li began but Ken cut her off
"Don't worry about a thing, I know a great sitter, two as a matter of fact…"
"Who?" Chun Li and Ryu asked
"Jane and Guile, of course!"
"I bet that would make Guile really happy," Ryu said smiling
"Oh yah," Chun Li said sarcastically, "Jane loves Darien so I know she will be happy to take care of him"
The reunited friends drove off in the limo to Ken's mansion.
"Wow! Ken you were not joking, your house looks wonderful!" Chun Li said in awe
"Thank you, thank you," Ken replied proudly
After everyone said their hellos Chun Li and Ryu went to their room to unpack.
"I think I'm going to sleep a while…I'm really sleepy, it must be jetlag." Chun Li said
"Ok Hun," Ryu replied, "I'll take Darien because he seems to be wide awake," he walked out of the room.
Chun Li got into comfortable clothes and looked around the room. She saw a large, elegant fireplace across the room. There were three stocking hanging above it labeled "Chun Li" "Ryu" and "Darien." Her room was right by the garden and there was a balcony overlooking part of it. Ken knew that Chun Li loved the beautiful garden. She closed the curtains and climbed into the extravagant bed. It was a bed fit for a princess.
She quickly fell asleep.
Ryu made his way to the living room where Ken, Eliza, and Mel were.
"Where's Chun Li?" Eliza asked
"She had jetlag," the mighty fighter replied
"Oh, she must be asleep then. So Ryu, are you ready for the snow trip Ken has planned?" Eliza said as Ryu sat down on a couch.
"Of course, I bet it will be great!"
"Well, you have to learn how to board first pal," Ken butted in
"How hard can standing on a board and sliding down a hill be?"
"And having your feet in heavy boots which are attached to a large board…"
Ryu gulped and continued
"Bah, if you can do it, then so can I!"
Eliza laughed at the two bickering men.
Back in Chun Li's room…
Chun Li was sound asleep and she finally woke up.
"That was a nice rest," she thought and got up.
She heard a knock on the door.
"Come in," she said
"Hey princess," a man said with a mustache
"Hi Dad" Chun Li replied
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yah, I feel re-energized" she said putting on decent clothes
"Good, come on down to the dining room. Francois cooked a great dinner,"
"Oh, I love his cooking. What did he make?"
"Fish. Good source of iron you know,"
"Aw dad, you are always such a health freak," she giggled and walked towards her father. He put his arm around her and they walked out the room.
"What would you like for X-mas this year?" Chun Li's father asked
"I still want that pink Wushu outfit! Chun Li said walking down the hall.
As they continued walking, Chun Li heard a knocking noise.
"Where is it coming from?" she wondered
She felt someone lightly shaking her.
"Chun Li…Chun Li" she heard and it sounded like Ryu's voice.
Chun Li opened her eyes and realized she was back in the room where she had fallen asleep.
"Hey Chun," Ryu said rubbing her cheek, "wake up sleepy head"
"Where is he?" she asked
"Who? Darien? Who are you talking about?"
"Oh, I must have been dreaming," she sat up in the bed
"Oh, well Francois cooked a big dinner and I came to get you because it is ready. He cooked…" Chun Li cut Ryu off
"Fish…" she said
"Yah, how did you know that?" Ryu asked surprised
"I don't know…just a lucky guess, I guess" she smiled
"Well get up and put something nice on,"
"I don't know, I would really like to eat in bed," she smiled
"Haha funny,"
Ryu playfully picked Chun Li up and helped her get ready for dinner.
The dinner that Francois cooked was absolutely delicious but Chun Li could only think about the dream that she had. "Why am I dreaming about my father? I haven't dreamt about him for a long time," she thought. Chun Li felt a nudge on her arm.
"Chun Li! What's with you?" Ryu asked
"Huh? What? Umm…nothing, I was just thinking about something,"
"You have been quiet all through dinner," Eliza added
"I think it is just jetlag…it has not worn off yet," Chun Li replied trying to reassure her friends and husband that she was alright.
"Well, it better get better tomorrow cause we are going snowboarding!" Ken yelled
Everyone laughed. Hours later, everyone was tired and decided to go to bed. Chun Li and Ryu headed to their room.
"Are you excited for tomorrow?" Ryu asked
"Yes, I think it will be a lot of fun," Chun Li replied smiling
"I'm gunna show up Ken on the slopes, he'll be sorry,"
"Haha, don't let your head get too big Ryu, you have not even tried snowboarding yet, and plus, I heard that when you try for the first time you fall on your butt a lot"
"Bah," Ryu waved his hand, "I'll show you, there will be nothing to it"