The day after Alain woke up in the past, he looked up from his desk after someone knocked on his door. It was a girl with electic pink hair and a smile as she stepped in. Around her neck was a visitors badge as she took the seat in front of his desk.

"Part of me wishes that was dream," Alain said and Aelita giggled as he leaned into his chair.

"Thank you," Aelita said and Alain smirked and looked at his family portrait, then back at her.

"I could help you find your mom," Alain said and Aelita shook her head.

"Someone went through a lot of trouble hiding her, even with your resources I don't think it'll help," Aelita sad and Alain shrugged, before sighing and crossing his arms.

"Seven months, all over again," Alain said and Aelita saw his picture and left her chair so she could walk over and pick it up off his desk.

"You have a beautiful family," Aelita said and Alain took the picture and put it in his drawer.

"We're separated," Alain said and Aelita looked at him and smiled.

"Is it too late?" Aelita asked and Alain nodded.

"Paulette and I, we're done. That was as true now as it was seven months from now," Alain said and Aelita asked what happened.

"I'm not proud, but we got into a fight, I got drunk and woke up with another woman. Paulette has every right," Alain said and Aelita opened his drawer and pulled the picture out.

"It may be too late for you and your wife, but not for you and your daughter," Aelita said and placed the frame on the desk softly.

"That place where you and Jeremie saw stars, where was that?" Alain asked and Aelita smiled, "I want Sylvie to see some stairs."


Paulette answered the door after hearing a knock. Looking through the peep hole, she sighed and opened the door but didn't undo the chain.

"Alain?" Paulette asked as she tilted her head out the door.

"Hey, can I come in?" Alain asked and Paulette closed the door, undid the chain, opened the door to only step out and close it behind her.

"No, but we can talk on the porch," Paulette said and crossed her arms while leaning against the door.

"Fine, I want to take Sylvie to the country," Alain said and Paulette almost laughed.

"Sure, I'll believe that as soon as I see a signed form from St. Pierre," Paulette said and turned to open the door before he pulled a form out and handed it to her.

"I'm serious," Alain said and she looked at the form and back up at him.

"You haven't taken leave since she was born," Paulette said, handing the form back to him, "If I say yes."

"I have no illusions we can salvage...us," Alain started and Paulette looked away and sighed, "What I did, was unforgivable. No matter how much I try to blame the drinks. That's not how I want my daughter to think of me."

"How long did you take leave for?" Paulette asked and Alain told her three weeks, "She goes on break this week. Alain, don't mess this up."

"I won't," Alain said as he turned as he saw Sylvie walking down the street from school.

"Daddy!" Sylvie shouted as she ran toward him, her backpack bobbing up and down from it not being tightened. Alain walked down the porch and knelt down, Sylvie jumping into his arms. He picked her up and carried her up the porch and looked at Paulette who opened the door and let them in.


"So, did you remove him?" Aelita asked when she came into the lab while Jeremie was on the chair.

"Yeah, it's bad enough he knows," Jeremie said as Aelita closed the distance and looked at the screen, "You okay?"

"I'm better. It still feels like I hit my head sometimes," Aelita said and Jeremie grabbed her hand and they smiled at each other, "That was close."

"I know, too close," Jeremie said and leaned into the chair, "We'll never get caught that off guard again."

"I hope so," Aelita said and looked at the screen, apparently wanting to say something but not sure if she could.

"Aelita, what is it?" Jeremie asked and Aelita looked at him.

"I want to find my mom."


Luck seemed to be with Alain, because in the country there was a festival that weekend. They stayed at a hotel and walked, store to store, stand to stand. The food was amazing and the atmosphere was different from the city. Sylvie really seemed to be enjoying herself.

The two walked through fields, and down dirt paths. They got to pick their own apples at an orchard. When the sun started to go down, Alain had to carry Sylvie to their hotel to let her take a nap before the fireworks that night.

When Sylvie woke up they went to a field where people were already waiting. They brought a blanket and sat down, looking up and at the sky as they fireworks began. The sky was filled with stars as they waited, and those stars were replaced with flashing colors.

"I know I promised stars, but I hope this is okay."