Prologue

It has been a few weeks since our heroes shut down the supercomputer. During the first few days it was hard for them to adapt to a life without Lyoko. But eventually, they got used to a new life. Since they had so much free time now, they wanted to join clubs. Jeremy was in the computer and robotics team. Odd had joined the art club, the drama department, and the film team. Ulrich and Yumi used to the gym to teach Karate to younger kids at times or just to practice. Even though those warriors moved on, Aelita couldn't. She could barely eat or even sleep without having nightmares. She would sometimes cry herself to sleep with Mr. Puck in her arms. Jeremy didn't know how to help her at all; she watched her father die in front of her on Lyoko and her mother got kidnap, not even sure if she's alive. He wanted to make her feel better, so one day he finally built up the courage to help her out.

Jeremy knocked on her door, "Aelita?"

She didn't answer so he just opened the door.

There was Aelita sitting by the window in her room holding Mr. Puck, watching the rain. She was curled up slightly and looked as if she was six years old.

Jeremy smiled slightly and walked up behind her, "It's nice that we got a snow day off even though we actually live at school."

Aelita kept staring out the window, but Jeremy could see a slight smile in her refection.

"I remember," Aelita began, "when I was younger, I would play in the snow, with my mother, and sometimes my father. But there are times when I feel as if something or someone is missing from that memory. It's sad that I'll never get to do that with my family again." She turned to see Jeremy's face and a tear escaped her eye, "Even more sad that I'll never remember what was missing from that memory, the only happy memory I have with my mother and father."

Jeremy was speechless, not sure of what to say or what not to say. Instead he sat beside her and wrapped his arm awkwardly around her.

A small bubble of laughter escaped Aelita's mouth, "I'm sorry, I'm dropping all of this on you, I should be thankful for all that you've done for me. Without you I'd still be in a computer thinking I am just a type of software program or something, I just..."

"Just what?" Jeremy asked.

"I just wish I could have it all, my father and mother, but I also want you and the others in my life. You guys are my best friends and if my memory is correct, which I doubt it is, the only friends I've ever had. You guys are all that I have now that my parents are gone."

"But Aelita, you don't know for sure if your parents are gone."

"Jeremy I saw Xana destroy my father and I saw my mother get kidnapped, I have all the proof I need."

"You know your mom has been kidnapped, but that doesn't mean she isn't alive. And if she is out there somewhere, she wouldn't want you to just sit here sulking... That's Ulrich's job"

Aelita smiled a little, she moved closer to Jeremy so their bodies were touching a little bit. Jeremy blushed slightly but continued speaking, "And as for your dad, he's escaped from Xana countless of times! And we could almost never know where he was half the time. Aelita, your dad is a survivor, just like his daughter."

Aelita looked up at Jeremy, "You really think so?"

"I know so."

Aelita sighed, "I don't feel like a survivor though. I feel like a girl who just has a messed up past, an unpredictable future and a sad present."

"Everybody's past has something bad in it, no one can tell the future and sometimes life maybe sad now but you have to look at the good things. Like right now I'm here with you" Aelita smiled, "But I don't want to move on, that's the thing, I feel, like I'm not going to be able to survive this."

"You know there was once this girl I knew, who wanted more than anything, to live here on Earth. She lived on a virtual world inside a supercomputer; she spent most of her time educating herself about the real word. Even though she knew that living on Earth could be hard, it was much better than hiding out in towers, living in fear from a virus that wanted her to stay on Lyoko so he could use her. That girl, I think she is the bravest girl in the world. If she can survive living in the same world as an evil virus, I think she could survive anything."

Aelita blushed a little and pulled away from Jeremy, only far enough so she could look at his face, "And what was this girl's name?'"

"We called her Maya at first, and then changed it to Aelita." Jeremy grinned.

Aelita smiled, "Other than being brave what else was this girl like?"

"Well, she has really short, really pink hair," Jeremy smiled, "She's also kind and smart. And my best friend," Jeremy swallowed a lump in his throat, "My best friend who I love very much, with all my heart"

Aelita looked at Jeremy, with a huge smile on her face, "Well I can tell you for a fact that she loves you even more."

Jeremy smiled and, for a second he chose not to be his usual, geeky, awkward self. He leaned in, slowly to Aelita, giving her time if she wanted to back away. But she didn't and leaned closer to him too, her hand touched his face, his hand wrapped around her neck and their lips locked.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Said a voice from the door way.

Jeremy and Aelita turned to see Odd leaning in the middle of the door, with Ulrich and Yumi, behind him.

Ulrich smiled, "We were coming over here to see if Aelita was okay."

"But we can see that Jeremy already, got that covered," Odd grinned

Jeremy and Aelita blushed bright red.

Yumi walked over to Aelita, "Odd stop teasing them!" She wrapped her around her best friend, "How ya feeling, princess"

"I'm feeling better, mostly thanks to Jeremy," Aelita said, making Jeremy blush even more.

Odd laughed, "So, should we leave, so these two could get back to, you know," he grinned.

Jeremy laughed, "Shut up, Della Robbia," He picked up a pillow from the floor and threw it at Odd. He ducked and the pillow hit Ulrich in the stomach, "Hey!" Ulrich yelled at Jeremy.

Aelita got up and walked in front of Jeremy, "Come on guys, knock it off," she said that just as Ulrich threw the pillow back at Jeremy. It hit Aelita in the face with such a force, she fell down. "Aelita!" they all yelled and ran to her.

Jeremy bent down, "Aelita are you okay?" He helped her up.

Aelita grinned and started to laugh, she looked up at her friends who cared about her more than anything, "I'm fine. I love you guys."

Odd looked confused, "Uh, Aelita, you ok?"

"Yeah, how hard did that pillow hit you?" Ulrich asked

"Guys shut up and just hug her," Yumi rolled her eyes, making Aelita laugh. She looked at Jeremy and smiled at him.

Everything was going to be alright.