In no way do I own the lyrics for the two songs.

Morning
21st July

The couple arrived at a lake deciding to take a short break they headed towards the shoreline. There were two ladies fishing over there and from the back the couple found them familiar. The two ladies turn around on sensing their arrival.

They are twins, one with long black hair that was braided and worn twirl around her head a la ChunLi style. And the other had short black hair. They seem to be in their mid twenties. Both Asian ladies were in fishing attire of vests, pants and jeans. They were a little taller than ChunLi, their gentle and pretty exterior hides the soldiers within.
 

“Li Jie, Ryu Gor. We have being waiting for you here since last night.” The long hair one said as they exchanged a series of secret handshakes.
“Good to see you too. What’s with the hairstyle. Erick.” ChunLi said as they got into the boat.

“Nothing. Just that it keeps my hair out of my face.” Her dark brown eyes watching the shore to make sure nobody else is around, nodding to her sister they started to row out to the misty waters.

“Tequila or Whiskey?” The short hair one asked noting that ChunLi shivered.
“Fancy you picking a place like this. No thanks.” ChunLi said shaking her head. Ryu understood and held her closer.
 

“Aiyah Risky. No need to offer her anything to drink at all. She has her own personal heater. Not our fault Sis. This is after-all the closest place with water that you guys are likely to pass. It was a long shot on our part. We could have ended up like the others who were situated on other parts of this lake just waiting for you guys to arrive. We’re almost there right Risky?” Erick asked. Her short hair sister answered with a nod.
 

A short while the mist seems to thin until they reached an island.
“Welcome back to Avalon, guys.” Erick and Erisk said warmly.
 

Leaving the boat the couple was escorted through the heavily forested trail. The bright shiny eyes of some creatures were watching them, an owl hooted as they passed, shadowy animal figures followed them from within the covers of the forest.

Crossing the stream and passing the waterfall they stood outside what seem to be a castle, ChunLi squatted down by the side of the moat, a crocodile swam forward eyeing her, she smiled as this place brought back fond memories. Crossing the moat they entered via a smaller door to the right of the main gates.

They headed up the path that pass by an orchard, following it further led them to the main path that overlook a pond and a few pavilions, part of a large garden, herb garden and the shooting range. In front of them, the practically built but nevertheless magnificent Main House of the Inner Circle.
 

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY! RYU!!!” they shouted as soon as the guests entered. The whole place was decorated. Ken came forward hand out stretched as soon as he was within reach Ken threw a punch at Ryu who managed to duck.

The two started a little sparring there and then. Looking around there is about a hundred or so ‘family members’. When the two stopped sparring, others came up and offered their best wishes.
 

“May you be wiser and stronger. Akachan Ryu(Baby Dragon). Do not worry Jack has yet to finish cooking.” the silver hair Zannah said, Ryu just grinned.
“Go upstairs and take a bath and change.” Ken said.
“Don’t worry there will be more than enough food for you. So take your time.” Patting him on the back and sniggering.

“Okay. Li I have to visit someone. I’ll go up later.” Ryu said.
“Ho(Okay)I’ll be waiting.” She smiled and kissed him on the lips before heading upstairs.
 

Turning right through the door near staircase Ryu moved quietly passed the dinning room. Opening the kitchen door quietly he sneaked in, glancing about at the masterpieces on the counter table.
^Good he’s not here.^ Ryu thought gleefully.
 

“RYU HOSHI!!! HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU TO STAY OUT OF MY KITCHEN!!!” A voice roared from behind.
Turning around he was face to face with the strict looking brown eye brunette with the left parting hair. The chef was wearing an apron that said:

“The kitchen is my domain. You better listen if you want a meal.” He was a head taller than Ryu. Ryu felt that he was facing a tiger.

“Do tell me why can’t I even go to the toilet in peace?”
“Heh Jack. I didn’t know you’re here?” Ryu grinned sheepishly.
“You wish I weren’t of course. My dear boy I know that you would come here sneaking around my kitchen as usual.”
“I er… was..em…bringing up some stuff for Li…” he made an excuse like a guilty student.

“Don’t use your wife as an excuse. I always make sure everybody’s mini fridge is well stock. It is not like I didn’t cook enough. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes….” Ryu being one of the few most powerful warriors around is still powerless against the Chef.
 

“Now get out of my kitchen and take those two rascals with you!” pointing towards the other side of the counter. Terry and Ryo got up sheepishly.
“You see what you done. We almost got through!” Terry said in mock anger.
“WELL what are the three of you waiting for? A red carpet and fanfare? NOW GET OUT BEFORE I THROW YOU OUT!” Jack roared again. The three scuttled out of the kitchen.
 
 

Ryu headed upstairs to his room, with a few turns he was in his room overlooking the gardens. The curtained balcony was screen off from the bed by screen divider that was painted with scenery, beside it was a small dining table. A four poster king size bed with identical lamp tables on both sides. Lying on the bed was a dark blue woolen sweater that was given to her by Dolph and a pair of denim jeans.

Their wardrobe was a walk in wardrobe filled on one side with their fighting attire and the other side with clothes for other occasion. The high-fi set on the wall unit was playing Kenny G’s Songbird.

Directly opposite their bed was their wedding portrait, below that was a couch. There was still enough room to maneuver a few somersaults and room enough to spar in.  Taking off his dogi jacket he headed to the wardrobe to look for something to wear.

ChunLi came out of the bathroom wrapped only in a towel. He could smell the scent of the shampoo on her wet hair. Ryu could feel her breasts pressed against his back as she hugged him from behind. He heard the towel dropping to the ground, he smiled feeling the familiar warmth of her skin on his.
 

“Jack shooed you out?” she said softly, gently caressing him.
“Yeah. How did you know?”
“Written on your face. You made it a point to infiltrate his kitchen every time you’re here. He he.” ChunLi was stroking his well tone abdomen.
“I know you must be hungry by now. So take a bath. Hmm.” She patted his abdomen.

Ryu turned around and held his wife by the shoulders. He sense a slight change in her but couldn’t tell what it was. There was a radiance in her skin and she seems rather contented for some reason. And was it just him or has his wife been suffering from mood swings over the last few weeks.
 

Oddly enough he felt that she had put on a little weight, not that he mind though. Lifting her chin up they started kissing again, Ryu pulled ChunLi closer to him.

That familiar warmth, that gentle scent that reminded him of the time they had lain together at Dragonspring with the Springtime flowers in full bloom after the morning rain. That experience had sent his mind reeling and took him a while to recover from the bombardment of emotions and the fact that they had done their little deed in the wilderness.

Looking at her, he felt that she is more beautiful than ever. After some time they came up for air. Without saying anything Ryu headed into the bathroom with the clothes that he intend to wear.
 
 

Coming out of the bathroom a few minutes later Ryu walked right into ChunLi’s line of fire and started to spar again. ChunLi smiled when she noticed the Ryu was responding to her challenge.
 

<  This could be my last spar with you. I hope you fight for real.  > ChunLi thought as she attacked with more ferocity, jabbing him from the side. His mind was working fast as strategies flood his mind.
<  She change her style of attacking again…hmm…exploring new ideas again… > Ryu thought.
 
 

From long practice with Iwa, Ryu swatted off ChunLi’s punches in that same catlike ease and fashion. She gave him a slightly annoyed look and drop low sweeping him off his feet. Ryu rolled, avoiding a downward punch from ChunLi. When she recovered from the punch she found Ryu was behind her.
 

Before he could grabbed her, she elbowed him hard, turning around she landed one heavy punch into his abdomen, the impact threw him into the couch. ChunLi readied herself in her defensive stance awaiting his attack, she was breathing heavily as beads of sweat form on her forehead.

<  I’m losing my stamina? So soon?  > ChunLi thought with a slight frown on her face. Dropping her stance she walked over to Ryu and offered her hand.

<<  Come on. They’re waiting.  >>  Taking her hand they headed downstairs. Ryu noticed something, ChunLi was wearing her hair in a single braid and tied on the last segment of her braid was his red headband.

<<  Oh..I nearly forgot to tell you that I’m just borrowing it.  >> She grinned as she pulled her braid over to the front.
<<  It’s okay. If you like it you can wear it this way.  >>  putting his arm around her waist, he was unconsciously stroking her waist with his thumb again.
 

<<  No. it’s just for today since Pai and Yuri are also wearing their hair in my usual style. I don’t intend to change to this style. I don’t want Yuri to sue me for copyright infringement.  >>

<<  ^You know who you look like.   >> Ryu asked
<<  I know. Cute little Yuri herself.   >>ChunLi giggled. They laughed on the way down.
 
 

The house band was playing. Kyo and Iori on the guitars, Terry on drums, somebody by the name of Ann on the keyboards and a guy by the name of Lambert on the saxophone.

“And now the birthday boy himself would like to sing a song.” The young MC by the name of JD welcome Ryu on stage and handed him the mike.

“Ahem…er…” he started. The whole ‘family’ was silent for him. “Uh thanks.. I hope you guys don’t mind my singing. I quote from somebody here when I say I’m a fighter not a singer.” There was a little laugh from the crowd.

“And Kim I hope the lessons I took from you finally pays off.” From the crowd Kim gave him a thumbs up sign.

“And er..I dedicate this song to my ChunLi. Guys, song number 42, let’s begin.” The band nodded.
The band started to play. Ryu clear his throat a bit.

“…Have I told you lately that I love you...” He sang looking at ChunLi.
“Have I told you there’s no one else above you. Fill my heart with gladness take away all my sadness. Ease my trouble that’s what you do.”

“For the morning sun and all it’s glory….Greets the day with hope and comfort too…You fill my life with laughter and somehow you make it better. Ease my trouble that’s what you do…”

 “There’s a love that’s divine and its yours and its mine like the sun. …And at the end of the day we should give thanks and pray to the one to the one…” he could see his wife smiling and there seem to be tears of joy sparkling in her eyes.
 

Ryu repeated the first four lines of the song, after a while the next two lines and the first four lines again. And now he’s nearing the end of the song.

“Take away all my sadness, fill my life with gladness.. Ease my trouble that’s what you do.. Take away all my sadness, fill my life with gladness.. Ease my trouble that’s what you do……Thank you!” he bowed, by now ChunLi was already onstage.
There were applause and whistles as they watched the couple kissed. ChunLi shooed Ryu off the stage.
 

“That was a beautiful one, Hubby. I have one for you too, And it’s by Celine Dion.” There was a short groan.
“Guys! Don’t groan! It’s not the one from Titanic!” she managed to calm them down.
“Guys. Song number 12.” The band acknowledged with a thumbs up sign to show that they were ready.
 

“..For all those times you stood for me. For all the truth you made me see. For all the joy you brought to my life. For all the wrong that you made right. For every dream you made come true. For all the love I found in you.”

“I’ll be forever thankful baby. You’re the one who held me up never let me fall… You’re the one who saw me through, through it all…”

“You were my strength when I was weak. You were my voice when I couldn’t speak. You were my eyes when I couldn’t see. You saw the best that was in me. Lifted me up when I couldn’t reach. You gave me faith cause you believe. I’m everything I am because you loved me.”

The chorus reminded Ryu of that near fatal accident that she had. That year in which he had spent by her side, convincing her to fight once again. Helping her to regain her shattered faith and overcoming her fear of the fight.

“You gave me wings and made me fly. You touch my hand and I could reach the sky. I lost my faith, you gave it back to me. You said no star was out of reach. You stood by me and I stood tall. I had your love I had it all. I’m grateful for each day you gave me. Baby I don’t know that much but this much is true... I was blessed because I was loved by you….”

ChunLi repeated the chorus again. This made him thought back of the time when they were newly Apprenticed, a time when challenges were numerous. A time he had to convince her that she had what it took to keep her position.

“You were always there for me. The tender wind that carried me. Light in the dark shining your love into my life. You’ve being my inspiration. Through the lies you were the truth. My world is a better place because of you…..” blowing him a kiss.

Repeating the chorus again.
“I’m everything I am because you love me. I’m everything I am because you loved me…..” There was cheers all around. ChunLi raised her hand for silence.
 

 “Guys! I have something to announce!” ChunLi said excitedly as soon as she had the attention of the whole room.
“I’m pregnant!!!!” she exclaimed jumping down from the stage and hugged Ryu.

At first there was a short moment of silence as everybody processes that thought. And than the silence became a roar of celebration as everybody congratulated the couple.

“Alright! I’m gonna get a sparring partner soon!” Mel beamed.
Slowly out of respect the gang left the couple alone so as to give them a moment of privacy.
Ryu was struck dumb with silence,

<  I could have hurt her just now!  > Ryu thought, he was shocked by the news.
 

Allowing ChunLi to lead him outside to the pavilion in the garden. The scent of the flowers in full bloom was heavenly, it seems that the flowers here always bloom in variety after another. A concert of nature in action conducted by a certain orange hair teenager aptly named Flora. The Kois swimming in the pond by the ornamental waterfall. They could hear the band playing from out here.

“LI! That’s wonderful!!!!” Ryu carried ChunLi as they spun around in joy. A while later he stop but still in embrace with his wife. Overjoyed, he had never felt this way since the wedding.
 

<  The love of my life is now carrying our children! I will train harder in order to protect my family . >  he thought to himself, he seated her down at the bench.

Then he realised why she wanted to spar with him earlier. He would not even land a punch on her now that he knew. It was meant to be their last spar with each other until sometime after the birth of their kids.
<<  ^Why? If you knew then why?  >>  Ryu asked
<<  I’m sorry for doing something foolish like that…  >>

<<  No I’m the one who should be saying sorry…I would never have hit you so hard if I knew. >>

<<  Ryu...That’s why I haven’t said.. I don’t think you would spar if you knew… Just let it go. Please?  >>
He could see that she doesn’t want to go into that subject anymore. He smiled signaling his agreement
 

“How long?”
“Two months. I wasn’t sure at first.”
“May I?” He asked. She nodded
When she felt his qi in hers she slowly guided him till they reached their destination. Ryu felt them. Two little individual qi signature.

“Twins?!” he exclaimed.
He could feel their qi as well, like young seeds eager to grow, bud and blossom into their full potential. The union of their love had brought about such beautiful results. Ryu put left arm around her shoulders and held her close to him, his right hand held her hand. ChunLi lean back on him.

“Wild, untamed beauty of the waterfalls…” ChunLi mumbled.
“How I wish to run wild and free by your side… Li you still remember that poem?” Ryu asked.
“Um hm, I still have it with me. It was so sweet of you. Why didn’t you write anymore?
“…I was young and inexperienced then… of all people I had to ask Ken. He suggested I write something for you. Too bad it does not rhyme.”

“But I like it. Shall I continue reciting?”
“No! no..”
“Mmnn. I didn’t mind how it went though. You were using the waterfall to describe me then?”
“…Yeah. I mess up the last part though. I wanted to tell you what I felt but I did not expect that kind of results.” Ryu blushed a bit.
“So you wanna make up for it and write another?”

“Uh.. I think not. Never good with poetry.”
“Not even for me?” she asked in a slightly hurt voice.
“Uh… maybe when somebody who knows how teaches me properly. Care to dance?" he asked, he kind of like the song that the band was playing.
"Sure." ChunLi took his hand and dance along with him, once again they were lost in their private little moment with each other. For tomorrow they will be on the road again.