"I'm the dominant one in this apartment," Cammy growled as she narrowed her eyes at her partner in this one-sided conversation. "When you're free and running about outside, you can cause as much havoc as you want, but when I want to do something inside, I'm not going to allow you to ruin it for me."

The recipient of her statement of dominance narrowed her eyes and shot Cammy a look of disbelief and amusement.

"Don't give me that look," the British woman said in response.

Today was a very important day for her. Many days were spent toiling away in her apartment, preparing for the hour she so revered. The time of day was perfect. The rooms were spotless. The entire thing had been rehearsed, and it was ready for action. It had taken months, but eventually Cammy had mustered up enough courage to perform her biggest task to date: proposing to Chun-Li.

The idea of proposal did not come easily to her. She loved Chun-Li, she did, but the idea of marriage was so foreign to her that she never thought of what would happen next. There were more levels to the relationship the two had, and while Cammy never realized that on her own, Chun-Li dropped a few subtle hints. What if this, what if that. Gradually, Cammy began to catch on, and she realized just what she really wanted: a partner, and not one just for fighting. She wanted someone to look up to, someone to look out for, and someone to love.

She looked to her right hand and breathed a small sigh as she calmed down. In that hand was a small black box, its contents well-known by her. Holding the box in her hand gave her some reassurance that she was on the right path and that she wasn't about to back down at this point. She had come so far not to fall now. A sudden sensation of something rubbing against her leg got her attention, and she looked down at her cream-colored cat. The small feline was attempting to get back in its owner's good graces, and unfortunately for the extremely skilled Delta Red agent, she never could resist.

"Alright, fine. I'll let you off the hook just this once," Cammy said, shaking her head. "But I don't want to see you make any more messes in this apartment. God knows I remember what you did to little Harry."

The cream-colored cat purred with glee, remembering its antics and how the jet black kitten fell for it. Cammy clicked her tongue as an image of the same kitten covered in flour flashed through her mind. Spinelli certainly loved causing good natured havoc, but not today. Before she could slink away with a victory, Cammy reached down to pick her up and place her in the niche of her arm securely.

"Just to be safe," she said as she moved through her apartment, "I'll place you in the hallway. Burn off some energy chasing the mice the landlord oh so regularly misses."

Spinelli emitted a low, disappointed meow, prompting a sad smile to appear on Cammy's face.

"Yes, yes, I've heard that before," she replied, dropping the cat to the ground as she opened up the front door to her apartment. She made sure the cat moved outside. "Don't worry, I leave it open just a bit for you, so you c-"

Cammy stopped herself as she caught a pair of white boots at the top of her vision. Her breath hitched and she quickly put her hands behind her back, keeping the black box out of sight. This wasn't planned! She slowly looked up to see Chun-Li standing in the doorway, one hand on the door handle and one hand on a small group of folders. The Chinese woman glanced up, not expecting Cammy to be there. She gasped once and stepped back, fighting the reflex that threatened to persuade her to throw a punch. This was a fighting woman, after all.

Squeaking from shock as well, Cammy stepped back and hid the small black box in a pocket of her jacket quickly enough so her friend couldn't register. Her hands shot out in defense, and she grimaced when Chun-Li stepped back. There were no words for a few seconds. The air around the women became less tense and more awkward as time passed, eventually leaving a sniggering Chinese woman and a flustered agent in its wake. Chun-Li patted her partner on the shoulder as she moved inside, careful not to step on the cat that had sauntered out into the hallway.

Huffing from embarrassment, Cammy looked at Chun-Li's back for a moment before closing the door.

"I absolutely hate it when that happens," she muttered.

"I've had it happen to me plenty of times going through Shadaloo's bases," Chun-Li replied with a giggle as she set her folders aside on the kitchen counter. She brushed at the hem of her Interpol uniform before looking back at Cammy with a smile. "Given that we've both run through those bases, it's a good thing we didn't kick each other! Ha ha!"

Despite her nervousness, Cammy found herself chuckling along. This was just one thing that told her just how much Chun-Li meant to her. She had a great effect on people, and she was able to bring them out from the gutter with smiles on their faces. Business was her forte as well, and she could be firm and level-headed to suit the situation. No matter what the situation was, she always managed to come out on top, and in the case of interacting with someone, she never failed to impress or charm, even if it wasn't her intention to do so.

"That would have been bad; I don't think I could live with myself if I kicked my partner accidentally…"

"Oh don't worry Cammy. You've got great reflexes, but you have great skills to rely on as well," Chun-Li replied, glancing to the main room of the apartment. She leaned to one side and folded her arms, taking in everything through her hazel eyes. "Wow… The whole place looks spotless! It's like I don't even live here anymore!"

"Uh, well, I put your things off to the side, near the desk," Cammy replied, deciding to take Chun-Li's statement as a compliment. It sure sounded like one, so perhaps it was.

"What's the occasion?" Chun-Li asked, turning to look back at Cammy.

There was a small 'eep' of surprise from the British woman. She had hoped that it wouldn't be necessary to come up with reasons for cleaning, but she knew better than that. Chun-Li was an inquisitive woman, and nothing got by her without her knowing. But by no means was she supposed to know the true reasons behind this act of cleanliness. It would ruin the surprise Cammy had planned.

"Early spring cleaning?" Cammy said in response, grinning sheepishly as she shrugged.

Chun-Li stared for awhile, her eyes narrowed. Anyone who knew the woman knew that look. It was the look of an expert investigator, also one of an interrogator having been given a bad answer to a question. However, much to Cammy's relief, Chun-Li shrugged and thought of her answer no more. She instead went to place her hands on the back of the main room's couch, examining the area as well as the darkened world shown outside the windows.

Cammy nodded with a smile, pleased that she was able to avoid questioning. She looked down at the kitchen counter and the folders on it, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. Possibly some work, and, knowing Chun-Li, she wasn't about to rest anytime soon. Perhaps just this once Cammy could be the one to take her mind off of her work instead of it being the other way around. The small black box in the pocket of her jacket poked out only slightly, and it was enough to remind the nervous woman of what she was to do.

Marriage… Cammy was going for broke on this one.

"It's so nice outside," Chun-Li declared, looking out into the world.

"Yeah, it sure is, innit?" Cammy replied, approaching the Chinese woman from behind. "Anything new or interesting happen recently?"

"Not really. Caught a few more remnants of Shadaloo and tried them, but that's about it." Chun-Li glanced over her shoulder at Cammy, not noticing the woman's hands were behind her back. "How about you?"

"Not much, just cleaning and reading."

"An uneventful day for both of us, huh?"

The two shared a bit of laughter at the thought of doing absolutely nothing interesting. It was a shock for them that they were able to go months, let alone days without a crisis. Cammy's sisters had left to return to their families, Guile was busy accepting a new Lieutenant Colonel rank, and Juri busied herself with odd jobs and hobby searching, all while giving her two rivals respectable distance. She came by every now and then for some good-natured tormenting or sparring, all under the guise of checking in with her probation officer.

Cammy pushed those thoughts aside as she waited for Chun-Li to turn away. This was it; the moment she had prepared for. She glanced over her shoulder at the front door to the apartment, paranoia tugging at her nerves in an attempt to dissuade her. No, nothing could possibly go wrong today, and Cammy would make sure of it. She took a deep breath and moved behind Chun-Li.

"There's this new oriental restaurant that just opened down in Piccadilly," Chun-Li stated, idly playing with a fat black cat that was looking up at her from a couch cushion. "I was thinking we could check it out later tonight."

"I had other plans."

When Chun-Li looked up and behind her, she noticed Cammy looking up at her with a determined expression. She was about to ask as to what her plans were when the Delta Red agent lowered herself onto one knee, and soon everything clicked into place for the Chinese woman. An expression of utmost surprise was etched on her features. She stared slack-jawed at her partner as she tried to find something to say, but she ended up smiling instead. Through watery eyes, she watched as Cammy reached for her right hand.

It was as if the roles had been reversed. Chun-Li was now the nervous wreck; shy and expressive in her reactions while Cammy became the calm and collected one. She covered her mouth with her other hand to stifle a gasp, trying desperately to blink away the moisture forming in the corners of her eyes but to no avail. She was caught off guard, but more importantly, she was touched… figuratively speaking.

"Chun," Cammy said softly as she patted her hand. "I know you're surprised. Hell, I'm a nervous wreck myself, but I hope that I get my point across here."

"C-Cammy…"

"We've known each other for so long. We've fought together as one. We've been there for each other, crying over shoulders and getting through the toughest of times." Cammy seemed to choke up for a moment, but she nodded her head and continued. "I never knew what love meant until you came along… You bring out the best in me, you understand me, and you loved me long before I ever realized the same about you."

The British woman smiled sincerely as she reached into the pocket of her jacket to pull out the black box.

"There is still so much for me to learn about life, and I want you to teach me. I want you at my side." She released Chun-Li's hand as she flicked open the black box to reveal a small silver ring. The sheen of a diamond was apparent. "I want you. Chun-Li Xiang, will you marry me?"

At that moment, the biggest crime in the world would be to refuse her proposal. Chun-Li never thought of that. How could she refuse? She reached down to the ring, picking it up between her thumb and index finger. It was absolutely remarkable, a real work of art. However, compared to Cammy, the ring paled. The only significance of the ring was that it showed just how far the woman would go for her, and Chun-Li would do the same if given the chance.

"Y-yes!" she exclaimed, overjoyed.

Cammy grinned as she placed the black box back in the pocket of her jacket. She stood up and took Chun-Li's hand again, edging the diamond ring onto her love's ring finger. The woman watched with profound energy in her eyes as it slid onto her finger, then, she looked back up at Cammy.

Because the two women struggled to find words to say to each other, they did the only thing they could: they held each other. Chun-Li squeezed her new fiancé as she did the same to her; both completely lost in a world all their own. The fires that burned for each other were now blistering infernos, and no matter what happened, it seemed they were incapable of being extinguished. Hot tears drifted down Chun-Li's cheeks, and Cammy's own composure began to wane as she too was threatened with tears of joy.

Finally, Cammy had someone she could have, hold, and love. While she did not know it, Chun-Li was thinking the exact same thing. She had found the partner of her dreams. For too long had she gone without someone who could match her or someone who could treat her like a woman was meant to be treated. She had tired of the intimidated looks men gave her when she was in their presence, and all she ever wanted was someone who could see her not as a fighter but a strong woman complete with all bells, whistles, and flaws humanity bestowed upon her. Everything seemed to be perfect for the first time in their lives.

The key word was 'seemed'.

After a minute of embracing, Chun-Li's euphoric rush came to a screeching halt. From over her partner's shoulder, she saw the front door to the apartment was open. She bit her lip and pulled away from Cammy, who raised an eyebrow at her partner's action before she followed her gaze. Somewhere in the back of Cammy's mind, she had expected something like this to happen, but not at this time. Both women's eyes widened and their stomachs dropped when they recognized the person standing in the doorway with a cream-colored cat in her arms.

The woman stared back at the two through disbelieving violet eyes. Her mouth was slightly agape, and she was so transfixed that she didn't notice that the cat in her arms had dropped to the floor to run away in an attempt to preserve its nine lives. Juri's gaze lowered to Chun-Li's right hand, and, despite the Chinese woman's attempt at hiding it, the ring was seen. She looked back up at the two women with contempt in her eyes, yet just as quickly did she give it did she take it away in favor of another look. It seemed as if it was one of sad resign or betrayal, but the two women had never seen such an expression used by the Korean woman in all the time they had known her.

There was a reason for her entrance, but Juri couldn't concentrate on it. She couldn't remember what the reason was or why it brought her here, and neither could she focus on anything before this present moment. Her mind was solely focused on Chun-Li and Cammy, as were her eyes. Eventually, she breathed a disappointed sigh and looked to the floor. She shuffled about stiffly, fumbling with her hands behind her back. This was one situation in which she was not prepared for, and it was one that she did not know how to react to.

It is instinct that gives humans two distinct reactions to any situation, regardless of what it is. If one is unaccustomed to or threatened by a new situation, they will either fight back or run away from it. For Juri, Chun-Li and Cammy feared that the reaction would be a hostile one. But yet, at the same time, they knew that this couldn't possibly happen. Juri had come so far in the months she had spent in England and for her to regress back to her days in S.I.N. was very unlikely. She looked back up at the two women for a moment as if she had something to say, but her mouth remained closed.

"J-Juri," Cammy said, stuttering as she gave a cursory glance at her love, "I… this isn't how I wanted you to find out…"

But Juri was silent. The only response she gave was a shake of her head and a raised hand, urging Cammy to say no more. She didn't want to hear any more. Hanging her head, she placed her hands on her hips and looked away before turning to leave. Juri had come to return a cat to its owner only to find said owner claiming the heart of her rival. Not even a minute had passed since her appearance, and already she was gone. Chun-Li called out to her after finding her voice, but the woman did not acknowledge her. Seclusion was what she wanted now more than anything else.

Chun-Li stood still for a moment with her partner as they tried so desperately to come to terms with what had just happened. Juri, the once ruler of S.I.N., had seen what those two had done. To any other person, the union of these two women would bring joyous bouts of laughter and smiles, but Juri wasn't like the average everyday citizen. It was obvious that she was infatuated with Chun-Li, and seeing her forever off-limits put a major dent in her confidence. This seemed like a good enough reason for her recent behavior, but nothing is as it seems.

Muttering her motives to her partner, Chun-Li took off after the Korean woman. Despite everything she had done to her and the world in the past, Juri was considered a friend. Friends should not have to sulk about alone. Of course, Chun-Li knew that she was gambling by trying to talk to Juri after what she had seen. Would she even want to speak to her? Would she even acknowledge her? Perhaps not, but the Interpol agent was not about to let such a pessimistic thought cloud her judgement.

She could hear the sound of shoes on concrete above her and winced. Juri was heading for the rooftops, and that didn't bode well for her given her current state. A variety of terrible thoughts swam through Chun-Li's mind, but she did her best to brush them aside. She ran up the apartment stairway, glancing up to see a flash of violet. Before she could call out to her, Juri disappeared through the rooftop maintenance doorway. In a few seconds, Chun-Li reached the rooftops with a clear head and wiped eyes.

The night was warm, which was a stark contrast to the previous nights in England. Although stars were hard to see in major cities, there in London people were treated to the sight of many glistening silver dots against the vast black canvas that was the night sky. It should have been a night worthy of joyous celebration or remembrance, but instead it paled when it fell over Cammy White's apartment complex. Atop a lone, square air conditioning unit sat Juri's solemn figure. From the way she looked, it seemed as if she had been there for hours when in reality she had just arrived.

A sigh of relief escaped Chun-Li's lips when she spotted Juri. The raven-haired woman had her back to her, but it was apparent she was looking out at the city beneath her. Chun-Li gingerly made her way over to her and jumped up to land on the AC unit. The impact of boots on metal made a sharp clunk noise that pierced the already active night. If Cammy or Guile were to hear such a noise and feel the force of someone landing next to them, they would search for a neck to snap or growl threateningly, respectively (which was unfortunate in the case of Cammy). Juri gave no reaction. Instead, she remained sitting in her slouched-forward position with her hands clenched together.

Chun-Li lowered herself into a crouch and reached out to Juri only to pull back as if it wasn't the right thing to do at the time. How could it be? Juri probably wanted nothing to do with the woman now. All she could do was wait for a response, and thankfully she was patient enough to do so. After a minute without a word, Juri blinked and opened her mouth.

"…So, you two have finally tied the knot, huh?"

Her tone was calm, almost indifferent. Chun-Li chose to respond with a sad smile and a nod, which Juri caught in the corner of her vision.

"Figures. I had a feeling you two would be together." When Juri didn't receive a voiced question, she answered one nonetheless. "Why am I so surprised? Well… I wish I knew. Maybe it's the sense of hopelessness or just the fact that I've lost something."

Chun-Li knew Juri was talking about the chance to woo her and how seeing her favorite officer with another woman crushed those chances. The woman had tried, yes she did, but Chun-Li's heart was claimed long before the ring was slipped onto her finger. Juri was defeated and robbed, and she wasn't one to take it lightly. She had her rival's sympathies, regardless of whether she wanted them or not.

"Juri, I'm sorry," Chun-Li started. Deep down, she had nothing to apologize for, yet she said it anyway just to calm her friend's nerves. "I'm sorry you had to see that. I know you… you loved me…"

Juri tried to scoff but it came out as more of a short, sad laugh.

"Love?" she repeated, finally turning her head to look at Chun-Li. She didn't have the heart to be snide now. "That's nice of you to think that way. No… I didn't love you. The infatuation, the flirts, the teasing… that was just lust talking."

Looking down at her boots, Chun-Li decided the best thing to do at the moment was to let the woman speak freely. There was nothing she could say to make her feel better until she gathered enough information, as her hasty apology had fallen on deaf ears. Juri needed to get some things off her chest, and now was the time to do it. Chun-Li silently thanked Cammy for not following, as she couldn't begin to imagine the complications her presence could create. She looked over at the ring on her finger for a moment before turning to look at Juri again.

"When I first met you, I thought nothing of you. You were nosy and you got in my way, but you fought me. You were truly dedicated to your path, and you were obnoxiously caring, fierce, and strong." Juri turned away to fumble with her hands. "I wanted you, but I didn't respect you. As the months passed by, I began to feel something more… You cared for me. You saved me. You accepted me." Sniffling, she shook her head. "No one's ever done such a thing for me in years. I wanted to tell you how much it meant to me, but I just couldn't find the words. Now you're gone…"

"I'm not gone," Chun-Li said simply. "I'm still here, and I'm still your friend. I doubt much can change that."

Juri gave the woman a skeptical look.

"Even after all I've done, you call me a friend?" Chun-Li nodded once, figuring it was the best response. To her surprise, Juri's lips curled up in a sad smile. "Heh, the only thing bigger than your boobs is your heart…" Her smile vanished just as quickly as it had appeared. "Do you remember that day in that tavern all those months ago?"

Not only was it time for confessions, but revelations as well. Chun-Li looked up thoughtfully for a moment as she tried to remember. It was the day Cammy confessed her love to her, even if she was persuaded by the alcohol in her system. It was such an eventful day which was full of twists and turns, but Chun-Li was able to pick out the important bits. One of them was her question towards the Korean bartender: a reason for surrendering. She wondered why Juri was bringing this up now, though, even if it was a welcome change from speaking about the marriage proposal.

"Yeah," the Interpol officer replied. "I asked why you turned yourself in all those months ago."

An audible grunt brought her attention back to Juri. She was glowering at her, as if her question was meant to be rhetorical.

"Well, don't flatter yourself," she warned, looking out at the city once again. "You had nothing to do with my decision. I just… found something new to fight for."

"…What were you fighting for before?" Chun-Li asked softly, choosing not to prod Juri for what her current goal was.

Juri stayed silent for a few seconds. It seemed like she was preparing herself for a painful revelation, but her expression was one of deep contemplation. Chun-Li found herself genuinely interested in what her rival had to say, even if she figured she wouldn't like it. Knowing ulterior motives was never something she enjoyed in her career, but she was willing to give her rival, no, her friend the benefit of the doubt once again. She had earned her pardon, anyway.

"My past, I suppose," Juri said. She could feel the Chinese woman's disbelieving eyes on her and nodded slowly. "I know. It's hard to take in. Despite what I had done over the years, I'm sticking with that: my one and only excuse. Ever since that day I've been fighting to right the wrongs done onto me and to avenge my parents. It would have been a just goal…" She turned to look at Chun-Li. "I could have been like you. I could have fought for justice and all that crap, but I didn't. I was robbed, abused, violated, and tossed aside. The police couldn't help me… No one could. Instead of pissing around waiting, I went to Shadaloo to get what I wanted. Revenge wasn't just a goal; it was my only reason for living."

Gritting her teeth, Juri pressed her fingers against her temples.

"It clouded my mind. It was all I thought about. Gone was the shy girl that I once was. If I wanted to survive in this cruel, unfair world, I needed to close my heart." Juri sighed and slumped her shoulders as she dropped her hands to her lap. "The sad thing is… I closed my eyes as well. I could no longer differentiate between those who were innocent and those who were guilty. Instead, I saw those who stood in my way, and I couldn't have that." She sniffled again and wiped her eyes, seemingly cursing herself for showing weakness. "When I finally killed Bison and Seth and got my revenge, the oddest feeling came over me. What do you feel when you accomplish something big? You feel fulfilled. You feel proud. I felt empty."

Chun-Li gave a solemn nod as she understood all of what Juri had to say. Revenge was all she had to live for, and while she had accomplished that task with Bison and Seth as well as with their respective organizations, the end didn't justify the means. The woman seemed well aware of that, however.

"I was tired of all the pain and misery inside. I lived my life without feeling, and when I finally felt the emptiness in my heart, it sickened me. What was there left to do? How far would I go? Who else would I kill? How many families would I continue to tear apart?" Juri shook her head and looked up to the stars. "I wasn't born to be a criminal. My hate and anger guided me for such a long time, but I can't live with looking over my shoulder every day. My future hung in the balance. The future of every single person I met hung in the balance. For once in my life, I let my heart guide me. I know it's too late to make it right, and I'll keep paying the price…"

"You did what you thought was right," Chun-Li said, lightly pressing her hand against Juri's back. She anticipated a bad reaction, but all Juri did was close her eyes. "In the end, that's all that matters. I don't think of you any differently than I did five minutes ago. I care about you, Juri. Even Cammy cares, isn't that right?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder.

"…That's right."

Juri's eyes shot open as she turned to look behind her. There Cammy was, leaning against the AC unit with her blue eyes fixated on her Korean rival. She had heard every word from Juri since her revelation that she didn't love her partner. There was no anger in her eyes, and she seemed as if she couldn't judge her rival for her actions, especially after a heartfelt explanation such as that. The blond woman pulled herself on top of the unit and sat on the opposite side of Juri with a small smile.

"How…" Juri started, but she trailed off.

"We're only human," Cammy said. "You said it yourself that the past is meant to remain where it is. To look back is to take down that path. Our lives are here. We fight for the future. No, we fight to create a better future, if not for us then for others." She gave a small tilt of her head. "You've earned your pardon. The world is yours, and what you do with it is up to you. Just… promise me that you'll keep your nose clean, will you?"

Chun-Li noticed Cammy didn't bring up the marriage proposal. It was in the past, and Juri seemed to have gotten over it. Although it was unfortunate for her to see it, she doesn't look as if it matters now. Instead, Juri smiled and wiped her eyes. She gave the two women around her a look of respect and adoration, thankful for their words. While it could be said that she would be fine without the two women in her life, if she hadn't met them, she wouldn't be sitting here discussing her secrets now. She probably wouldn't have gotten her pardon.

"Heh, I never make promises I can't keep," Juri said with a playful tone. She sighed and wagged a finger. "I'll try, though."

It was good to see Cammy making her peace with Juri, as not many would go out of their way to show the woman that she mattered in this new world. Chun-Li watched them speak, all the while finding her opinion of her partner soar higher and higher with every passing second. All the people she had come across she could hardly understand save for a few, and Cammy continued to amaze her. She wanted to look into those baby blue eyes every morning, and she wanted to hold her close when she was weak and support her when she needed it.

People would have to understand their relationship. They will have to come to terms with these two as they were bound by love and respect, and while the challenge seemed to be astronomical, if the two were able to get the support of the Korean woman, everyone else seemed almost easy to convince. And Juri did support the two, albeit reluctantly. While a chance for love had been taken from her, she came to the conclusion that there were others she could find. She had noticed that the nights had become colder, and while she enjoyed her solitude, seeing Cammy and Chun-Li together influenced her to add a few more steps to her plans for the future.

The two partners watched as Juri walked away from them, satisfied and uplifted by their words. The book on her past had been closed by her hand. A new book would open for her, and her time on this world will fill said book with her trials, her tribulations, and her accomplishments. As for Cammy and Chun-Li, a similar book was awaiting them, and they would eagerly record their lives with the other at their side. While the future remained unwritten, their plans and aspirations will set the scale for their lives to come. Who knows… perhaps in a few years, Juri Han won't be the only one to pester and test this new couple.

The End.