Author's Note: Hey again! What's up y'all? Happy V-day! Hope everyone had a nice one with their honeys…or if not with a honey, then with some very special friends!

February 16th 2005

10:48 p.m.

Paris France

The hospital was quiet tonight. The only sounds that emanated from this floor were the soothing clacking of computer keys, and the soft patter of the hospital staff's footsteps. Here in the coma ward everything was quiet…it didn't matter what time…day or night, it always possessed a soothing, peaceful silence.

Ling Xiaoyu never liked hospitals…maybe it was the fact that she was always only one or two floors above the morgue…where complete strangers lay cold and dead in freezers beneath her…or maybe it was the vampiric entanglement that had taken place two months ago at Mishima Medical?

Whatever the case, she always felt uneasy in them.

She had arrived in Paris earlier this afternoon. She knew that Jin was here…as well as Kazuya. He hadn't picked her up at the airport…and she hadn't expected him to. He did however; tell her to meet him here; in the coma ward of the hospital.

Ling Xiaoyu never packed a lot of clothing whenever she went on trips…even during the King of Iron Fist Tournament; she had rivaled Jamie in infamously living out of just two suitcases. She should have been excited…she loved to travel, and here she was…in one of the most romantic cities in the world…and soon, she would be with the man whom she loved.

No longer would she have to wait and wonder where he was…she would have him all to herself here. Jin had invited Xiao to stay at his Parisian flat in a rather upscale portion of town. Images of late night love making and late morning breakfasts in baggy bathrobes danced in her mind.

Her heart fluttered in her chest as she mulled these thoughts over like a movie projector in her mind.

Of course, she wasn't here just for Jin…like Jamie Parker the Nephilim had mentioned to her when he had to fight Hwoarang…it's all about the mission.

Immediately after the Tournament had ended, Ling had gone back to Hong Kong to go to school…for a little while; everything had gone by in a sort of secure monotony. She had gone back to school…but found herself longing for something more…fulfilling. For some reason, Xiao felt selfish for knowing of the existence of Nephilim, vampires, and other forces of darkness and attempting to go back to her normal life. Looking back on it, plenty of University students had indeed disappeared mysteriously…only to be found dead several days later in an alley…victims of "acute neck trauma".

She wanted to do something about it…and had even e-mailed Jin and Jamie…asking them what to do. Jamie had told her to be careful…but keep him informed if he had to make any impromptu visits to China…while Jin had been relatively evasive on the subject. He would tell her to wait for a little while, and that someone important would come to talk to her very soon.

Then, randomly, in the middle of January while she was walking to her Psychology class, an Irish gentleman named Charles Corcoran had asked to speak with her. He had explained that he was a member of the Via de Angelus. A secretive group of people who helped the Nephilim combat the forces of darkness and such.

He had expressed interest in employing Xiao and the others, and recruiting them to the cause.

Finally, Ling Xiaoyu was beginning to feel like her life would have purpose again.

The fact that she would be working closely with Jin only sweetened the deal.

And so, twenty year old Ling Xiaoyu took a sabbatical from college, to train in the arts of demon hunting. While her training was far from over, she had managed to kill a vampire, and a H'sria Demon in controlled environments (a glowing recommendation from Jamie helped significantly as well).

She felt a sense of pride and purpose in her life…and she loved it…and now, she was stationed in Paris…with Jin, her lover…to watch over the slumbering form of Kazuya Mishima.

While Devil had been defeated, the VDA was worried that his demonic emissaries or even Heihachi Mishima's fanatics (Dr. Abel etc…) would attempt to capture the fallen Mishima.

Xiao politely asked for directions to Kazuya's room…she was surprised to find out that she was indeed on the list of family members (right up there with Julia Chang, Christie Monteiro, Steve Fox, Jamie Parker, and…even Hwoarang).

The list had labeled her as "daughter-in-law"…even more pleasant surprises.

However, she refused to get her hopes up…knowing Jin; he would probably tell her that it was less suspicious this way (like labeling westerners as brothers, sisters, and extended family?).

True, she had confided in her best friends, Julia, Miharu, and Christie, that the relationship with Jin was in sort of an emotional standstill. The two had never really graduated from that high school type of boyfriend and girlfriend. To Jin's defense though, he had left before senior year had ended…leaving her alone for two years…then resurfacing for the fourth tournament…before promptly disappearing again…then reappearing two years later.

Life with Jin was certainly very complicated.

However, when the two were together they were very passionate…and they worked so well.

Finally, Xiao made it to Kazuya's room. He had an observation window, and that was what Ling looked through. He looked so peaceful there…and even though he was in a coma, he looked content…even…happy?

It was as if his human side needed time to recuperate and adjust to having full control of his body.

Even though Ling didn't know the real Kazuya…she could tell that he was a kind man…a loving man…he would have made a good father to his son.

And…eventually, he would get that chance. Afterall, the VDA had explained that he would awaken in due course. No one knew exactly when though. It could be tomorrow…or it could be ten years from now.

Slowly, Ling entered the room, and stood over Kazuya's sleeping form.

"Please wake up soon Kazuya-san…you're son needs you…he misses you…" Ling murmured.

She gently knelt down, and kissed his forehead. Suddenly, she was aware of someone standing behind her. Ling gasped and turned…only to find herself in the protective, muscular arms of Jin Kazama.

"Jin…" She murmured.

"You finally made it." He whispered into her, burying his face into her hair.

The faint scent of an herbal shampoo clung to her loose hair. Ling had apparently stopped wearing her hair in pigtails…going for a more adult look. Jin liked it…although; he had thought she was beautiful since the first time he laid eyes on her.

"He looks so peaceful here." Ling said.

"He does…I'm sorry that you had to meet me in such dismal surroundings…but the VDA had me go through a weapons orientation all day today. Since I'm here a lot I figured…"

"No, it's alright. It's quiet here…soothing." Ling replied.

She smiled for him…it was her bright, famous, traffic stopping smile that Jin loved.

"Well…why don't we go for a walk or something? You must be hungry?" Jin prodded.

Ling nodded. "I'd like that…but what about-"

"I think he'll be alright for five minutes. Besides, the VDA has operatives in the hospital. They guard him when I cannot."

(Ten minutes later)

The two sat in the small café sipping their coffee. Ling relished the soothing, warm beverage flood throughout her body. Jin sat across from her. He wore a black button down shirt untucked, and a pair of dark, bootcut jeans. His hair wasn't gelled back at the moment, and instead hung in soft shaggy tendrils around his face.

"You grew your hair out." Ling observed.

"Yeah," Jin chuckled. "I guess I forgot to cut it and-"

"Don't," Xiao interrupted gently.

The two kissed lightly, and Jin reached into his pocket. Everything seemed to go by in slow motion as Jin got out of his chair and knelt down on one knee. He opened the box for Ling, exposing a beautiful ring.

He said something…but Ling couldn't really hear him…she was brimming with happiness as tears began to spill from her cheeks….she did hear something though…the four most important words of her life.

"Will you marry me?"

Xiao smiled, looked into Jin's hopeful eyes, and responded…but before she did, her million dollar smile spread across her cheeks…

Author's Note: Okay…had to get the sappy, impromptu romantic scene somewhere in this story…um…as you can tell, I'm not that great at these sort of romantic scenes…I'm more about action, and to a lesser extent, the sappy, sensitive scenes…anyway, please accept my humble, pitiful offering at romance…I know it was horribly cliché and crap…but please read and review! No FLAMES PLEASE! Oh, and by the way...I tried to portray Xiaoyu as a little bit more grown up...afterall, she's in her early twenties now and stuff...I love the character, but I just wanted her to grow up some...and after her encounters with vamps and stuff, I figured she'd mature a little more as well ) RR POR FAVOUR!