I'm glad that everyone is taking a liking to this story! I'm trying my best to update as much as possible. I have a lot of ideas for Fernweh!

Also woohoo for 5,000 word chapter!

"Did you kiss her?"

"No."

"I don't know, man. I've seen that face before."

"Shut the hell up."

"No promises."

Jeremie looked up from his phone, giving a deadpanned look to Ulrich. He texting him across the school's parking lot where they help with Aelita's belongings into Yumi's car, with some of Odd's things already in the backseat. Ulrich was next to Yumi, giving him a thumbs up over her shoulders. Jeremie wrinkled his nose in annoyance. They bicker happily with themselves.

He slumped over on the bench where he sat at, watching them load up the trunk. Jeremie didn't care about the shuffling steps behind him, only to see William and Odd pass the bench with the last of Aelita's boxes. Odd noticed him glooming on the bench as he placed the box on the top of the car, scooting away from William greeting Aelita loudly.

Jeremie glanced away as Odd sat next to him nonchalantly, giving out a whistle as a greet.

They sat in silence for a moment, realizing that he must speak first, "You can go over there like a normal person." Odd turned his head as Jeremie scoffed.

"I find it hard to believe she still can tolerate me." Well, that was a small lie, but Odd didn't need to know the full truth from earlier's activities.

"You're sulking and you totally forgot about your favorite person? New low, man." Odd joked as he elbowed Jeremie's arm lightly.

He sighed, feeling a guilty pit in his stomach despite of it being a joke. The times he and Odd spoke today and not even a nice greeting was given. Jeremie closed his eyes and sat up from his seat, "I'm sorry, Odd. Today came faster than I thought."

"It's okay. Girl trouble, amirite?" Odd gave him a cheeky grin as he stared back, unamused, "Look, man, she'll be fine. There are five sisters she can look up too."

"You're going to your parents' first?" Jeremie raised an eyebrow.

"For maybe a few years, once she gets out of collage." Odd shoved his hands in his pockets, "We'll try for apartments, townhomes, things like that when we get jobs. Don't even worry about it, Einstein."

Jeremie didn't answer, looking back over at William and Aelita. He sighed, hanging his head low. Odd gave him a pat on the back.

"Don't worry about them. Or- well him." Odd lowered his head to meet with Jeremie's face, "If anything happens to her, I'll fuck up him for you. Scout's honor."

Jeremie chuckled as he raised his head, "You were never in Scout's."

"Merde, throw me a bone here, Glasses!" Odd threw his hands up and gave him an obnoxious grin to assure him everything was okay, this time patting his back a little too hard. Jeremie grunted, fixing his glasses to his nose.

"Thanks for stumbling into my scanner."

"Thanks for not letting me die!"

Jeremie and Odd both gave a smile to each other. Filling himself with confidence, he stood up. Odd followed suit.

"Go talk to Aelita. She'll cry if you don't." Odd pushed Jeremie towards her direction, making him whip his head back at Odd and cursing him.

Jeremie straightened himself out and steadily walked towards the group. His heart slowly pumping faster as he watches Aelita take notice of him and turns away quickly. Shit, she hates him that bad? He inhaled through his nose and trekked forward. One by one, everybody took notice of his presence.

"Well, good to see you too, Einstein!" Yumi piped up, closing the driver's door. She wore her classic turtleneck sweater signature and high-rise jeans, instead this time the sweater was grey and tucked into her jeans. "I almost took you as a stranger."

Jeremie rubbed his neck, embarrassed, "Hello, Yumi..." he tried not to watch William toy with Aelita's hair, "Long day, I guess."

"Well, their plane leaves at 6pm. And I would like to beat afternoon traffic." She waved her hand at Odd that assuming was procrastinating, "Is there anything else we're missing?"

William answered before Odd could get the chance, "All set here, sir!" he saluted, making Jeremie roll his eyes.

Aelita move to the passenger's door, about to open it, but looked up at Jeremie. His breath hitched at the sight of her. There was some hesitation in her movement, her facial expression slowly turned into her eyes filled with tears. Something about this sight Jeremie was used to, but not now.

Leaping up to Jeremie, she wrapped her arms around his neck and crying next to his ear.

Odd and Ulrich looked back and forth at the pair then themselves, almost as if they were having a silent conversation about the outburst. Maybe they were as confused as Jeremie, wondering why Aelita had a change of heart from their fight earlier. If anything, they were happy.

"I'll miss you, you big dummy." her voice already strained, he slowly hugged her back. Flabbergasted by her sudden outburst, his heart decided to dance and almost wanting to shed a tear too. Jeremie took glances at everyone that stared, including William but he paid no mind to this gesture. He took this moment to embrace her, digging his nose into her shoulders. It smelt of peaches.

How the fuck am I not gonna miss this?

"Group hug!" Odd shouted with his hands in the air, bear hugging the both of them.

"Odd!" Ulrich groaned, upset by his friend's abruption. Yumi laughed as she too joined in, grabbing Ulrich by the collar, and pulling him in. They held each other tightly, with Jeremie and Aelita not caring for the world how tight it could be. He glanced up at William as he watched them, smirking, and nodding at Jeremie. Maybe he wasn't such a bad guy after all. It could be his jealousy clouding his mind, not breaking through the fog and getting to know the guy more. William was a capable man, fought and survived with the Warriors and proved his worth at the end. It was a good idea that he'll be there for Aelita when Jeremie was not. A scary and unpredictable idea, but a better one. Jeremie gave him a nod back, starting to get overwhelmed from his friends.

Each one hug another for good bye; Odd busting his dramatic tears out in front of Yumi as he squeezed the hell out of her, Yumi almost choking. Ulrich shook hands with William, bantering on how to stay connected on social media. And Aelita.

Beautiful.

She wiped her tears away, looking at Jeremie. Her smile beamed, "You'll text me when I get off the plane, right?"

"I was thinking you still hate me." he chuckled, touching his cheek that was slapped earlier.

"Why would I ever hate you, Belpois?" she gave a confused laugh, looking near at his cheek.

"You hit me earlier... b-because...?" he blushed of how close she was, unable to finish his sentence.

"I hit you?" Aelita gasped quietly, "I didn't mean to..." her mouth shaped into a frown.

Jeremie opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. It was a pretty vivid memory. And recent too. This wasn't so hard to forget too easily. But Aelita shattered his circling thoughts by leaning forward and planting a kiss onto his cheek. He choked on his breath, as if mountains and mountains of pushing back feelings flooded his aching chest. Immediately he almost tripped over himself, trying to keep his cool by checking if anyone saw that happening, thankfully no one did as they all occupied with themselves.

"You... will text me, right?" Aelita stared at him as if nothing happened, picking up a small travel bag to occupy her in the front seat.

"Yes." Jeremie quickly said, holding his flushed cheek, "Absolutely. No problem-o. As soon as I get up." he blabbered on and on till Yumi clapped her hands.

"Time to go!" she was half way into the driver's seat when she stopped, "I'll call you later, Jer."

Jeremie glanced at Yumi, to Aelita, then back at Yumi, "Uh, right. Right. Cool." he looked back at Aelita, "Guess it's goodbye..."

"Yep." she nodded. They masked in their presence for a little longer.

"You have the... you know... the moving fee ticket?"

"Yes."

"You have extra cash, right? There's a gift shop if you like-"

"Yes, I have everything."

"They also have head pillows. It's gonna be a few hours till you land-"

"Jeremie." she gave a breathy laugh.

"Right, sorry. So... ah- Farewell..."

She nodded again, turning away, and entering the front seat as Jeremie closed the door for her. Ulrich helped stuff Odd and William in the backseat with the rest of the boxes and travel bags, grunting and shifting uncomfortably.

Ready for departure, Yumi started her car and backed out of the parking spot as William and Odd started to bicker for space in the backseat. Aelita glanced out the window as they drove out of the parking lot, locking eyes before they couldn't no more.

And right there, his heart sank, not realizing the heavy toll it was gonna put on him. Til it was safe, he could see her but how long would that take? Months? Years? Maybe he would say fuck it and have her back here with him. Where she wanted to be. Ulrich broke his thought bubble by patting him on the shoulder, speaking in a low voice, "You gonna be... okay?"

Jeremie didn't answer, staring where the car was last seen.

"When is your dad picking you up?"

He turned his head to Ulrich, looking down, "At 7."

"I thought it was 4?"

"I asked him to wait for me." he said with a monotone voice.

"Huh? Oh." Ulrich didn't push his friend farther, understanding straight away. He guided him back to the Boy's Dorm, pointing a finger at Jeremie, "So she kissed you then?"

Jeremie cheeks flushed with red as he deadpanned, keeping his face carefully composed, "You did not-"

"Oh man, I saw." Ulrich grinned at his expression, patting his back, "Don't worry, I can keep a secret."

"It's nice if you talk to me, mon fils."

Jeremie huddled in his jacket as he glared out the window, his glasses reflecting the scenery. He almost started counting the cars that passed by.

"Oh, I know." Michael drummed his fingers on the wheel, trying to catch his son's attention, "Let's play Marco Polo."

This made Jeremie smirk, slowly turning his head to his father, "That's a water game."

"Aha, I knew you weren't getting rusty on me, kid. It's a game if you try hard enough." he laughed, nudging his son's arm with his fist. Jeremie turned his head back to the window, making Michael sigh.

"Are you excited to be back home? You know..." he pierced his lips, "I have a good feeling we should cook up a good dinner. Or we can go out. It's on me."

Jeremie replied with a hum. He looked over at his son, then leaning into the wheel as he watched the red light waiting to turn green, trying to think of ways to spark a conversation with him. But the silence got to Jeremie, and sighed, breathing fog on the window.

"What was Mama like?"

Michael blinked, not turning his head away from the road, "What's this all of the sudden?"

"Just miss her." he watched the fog disappear slowly.

"Oh, I too." Michael sighed, flipping the turn-signal knob, guiding them through an intersection, "Well, she was a bubbly woman. She was fierce like your Nana, and had an overly obsession of sourdough bread." he chuckled to himself.

"You love her?" Jeremie shifted his body to face his father, looking at him like he wasn't joking.

"What? What kind of nonsense-" he scoffed with a smile, "There's not a single lady that could replace her. I would skip Thursday pool night if that means I will never stop loving her." Michael took a glance at Jeremie, "What's going on, mon fils?"

Jeremie took a moment to answer, "It's-"

"Aelita." he said with a straight face, looking over, "It was obvious."

"Great, does everyone want to read me like a book?" Jeremie threw his hands up, scoffing.

"It was noticeable when you didn't let me help put your stuff in the back." his father gave him a small smile, "She left for Canada today, right? I'm sure you miss her."

"I feel so stupid, dad. She has a boyfriend now. I think..." he winced, thinking about her kissing his cheek as he squeezed his own arm, "I just let her go, I didn't stop her or anything. I just- Boom, gone."

Michael started to cackled, confusing him, "Ah, amour. Tu es encore si jeune..."

Jeremie adjusted his glasses, feeling his face heat up, "Yeah, what about it."

"You will find a way to meet her again. It's only a matter of time." he said, leaning next to him, "You know, Mama had a favorite word. You know it?

"N-no."

"Fernweh. It's a feeling where you want to be at a distant place so badly, it hurts. Or yearning to be somewhere that doesn't exist. Your mother couldn't stay still even If she wanted to. She dreamed to be in foreign places. You know, she actually booked a flight to Iceland once at 3 in the morning without telling me. Hah, my bank account never recovered from that." he chuckled to himself.

Jeremie let his father talk more about his mother, the voice drained out by the thumping in his ears. He laid his head back, watching his father tap the steering wheel as he closed his eyes and drifted to sleep.

Jeremie held his breath as they hid still in the closet, listening to the smallest sound, stealing glances at each other to ensure it will be okay. Aelita took a deep breath, almost laughing, "Oh my god, he almost caught us." he started to beg her to be quiet.

"Please for the love of god, whisper." his voice cracked, pushing the door slightly, looking for any signs of danger.

They cramped themself into a storage closet, running from Jim. Finding out that they pick the lock to the robotic class that held Herb's gas-powered robot, pouring red paint into the chamber where the gas was, and almost got caught and ran. All for Herb trying to sabotage his own robot again. Their bodies smooshing against each other. As much as Jeremie hated small spaces, Aelita loved it. That she-devil.

"You think Jim knew it was us?" Aelita calmed down, trying to look over his shoulder out the door. Her breath hitting the back of his neck, his whole spine tingled.

"I-I think it was too dark in there. There's no way..." his throat was coarse from running, trying to ignore the obvious Schaeffer over him, shuffling to go around him.

"Well, I think it's okay to leave-"

"Wait!" he exclaimed quietly, pulling her back in. She landed almost on top of him, both yelping in surprise. He swallowed, feeling his throat tighten. His fingers shook at its tips while his nervous system went to war with itself. Hearing footstep outside of the closet, they hear a disgruntled gym teacher walk the hall, cursing under his breath. Jeremie instantly covered her mouth, staring down at anything but Aelita as he concentrated on the heavy footsteps. He ignored her eyes that was glued on him, hoping there wasn't enough light to see his redden face.

There was silence. Both breathed in a rhythm once it was safe to make any sound at all, he then removed his hand. "Sorry." he barely said.

Aelita glared, vary aware of every inch of their bodies touched. Jeremie met her eyes, but he saw so much intensity there that he had to look away, fixing his gaze instead on her lips. He gulped as those same lips changed into a smirk, "You want to leave?"

"No..." He breathed, doing his best to still his trembling limbs even as that very observation made his heart start racing, doing his damnest to keep them to himself despite how close they were. Aelita lifted his hand and placed it on her cheek, closing her eyes from the warmth of his hand.

"You can hold me, you know."

"R-right." Jeremie nervously laughed, moving his other hand to her other cheek. He can feel her face flush of warmth. There was so many bells and alarms ringing in his head to just kiss her already, but hesitated. His eyes wonder around her face, blessed to see so many wonderful features that made Aelita... Aelita. A real human being that cares for him, and not be used for math homework.

She opened her eyes, those emeralds full with... lust. Leaning forward, her lips brushed along his, hitching his breath away. Aelita deepened the kiss, snaking her hands up his chest and around his neck, tracing the back of his neck with her fingertips.

Jeremie tried to follow suit, placing his hands on her side lightly like she was a fragile glass. He attempted to mirror her action. She teases her tongue on his lips, he teases back. She tugs on his shirt, he tugs back. She touches skin... he touches too. Hesitantly. At one point he had the confidence to run his hand up her shirt, blinded by lust, only for her to yelp at the sudden gesture of his hand.

"Ah shit... too much?" he whispered lowly, his head already spinning from how fast everything was going.

"I just..." Aelita shook her head, grabbing his hand and guiding it back up her shirt, "I waited for you for so long..."

"M-Me too..." his voice cracked as he touched her stomach. It was so warm. And soft. Tracing his thumb across her belly button, he leaned forward to kiss her neck. Her body electrified from his contact, gripping his shoulders as a soft moan left her lips. He swallowed, bringing his hand up her breast to feel around. It was too soft, like a cloud. It was heaven to him. With approval, Jeremie gently pinched her nub, watching her squirm.

Another moan left from her, and he was out of breath. Those sound were exhilarating. It was nothing that he hasn't heard before from her. He reached his other hand and cupped her chest, her face swelling with red. "Jeremie...!"

Either he was dreaming or his luck was turning around for him, feeling like he was doing everything right. Jeremie want to hear his name one more time; God it was ecstasy. Wanting more, he lifted her shirt up as she gawked at his confidence. He dipped his head down, he tasted what he longed for. Aelita gasped for air, "Ah! J-Jeremie!"

"Jeremie." Michael's voice was monotoned. Water squirted on Jeremie's face. Jumping out of his seat as he yelped, pushing away the mini squirt gun his father held, "I can't have you spend the night in the car."

Jeremie wiped his face with his sleeves, noticing Michael already opened his door for him, standing over him, "Before you ask, I had to do this with your mother before so you can't get mad at me."

"Okay. Okay." he rubbed his face one last time, unbuckling the seat belt and passed his father. They were already home, sitting in their driveway, and just to find out that his father already set all of his belongings inside the garage, "Oh jeez, I didn't mean to make you do all that."

"You were sleeping deeply for a long time, mon fils." Michael closed his eyes, pretending to hoister the squirt gun. Jeremie kept his gaze away, refusing to show his face red and sweating. Of course, it was a dream. Oh, great it had to happen now. But he was right, the sun had disappeared and only the lights of porches and streetlights lit their view, including their own floodlight above the garage door.

The driveway was paved with soft gravel, it crunched under his feet easily. His childhood home was a modern-size cottage, its wall painted with a deep walnut color as if to imitate the wood itself. The front lawn coming back to life from the winter frost and the flowerbeds were okay. He never saw his father keep up with the garden, only his mother did that. Noticing the dead leaves scattered into a loose pile near the tree, their home was the same condition as of the whole block.

"Would you like me to also take your stuff to your room, princess?" his father snickered, unaware of Jeremie's choking.

"I think I can get it." he cleared his throat, giving him a highly strung smile though secretly wanted to punch his arm for using such badly timed name. Not that he would have known. Jeremie tramped away before he let his dad speak, entering the garage and grabbing the nearest tub of items to bring inside.

Jeremie hung his last shirt into his closet, pushing aside the almost identical blue sweaters from his younger years though he knew he still had some style. He double checked his travel bag of any hiding garments that got misplaced, hoping that it was safe to say everything important was done. There will be a time where he'll get to the miscellaneous items later, but his clothing, computer setup, and toiletries were at their proper place.

His old room was dusty assuming his father never touches it out of respect, he'll give him that. The bed was neatly made to the corner as his desk was right next it. The window looms over his desk as the streetlight beams through the blinds. The other side of the room held his dresser with a box TV on top, on the side of it with clutter of a broken laptop he took apart but never bother to touch it again. Jeremie made sure to hang his Einstein poster over his bed; he loved that poster.

Something irked him inside, remembering that he had one more thing to grab, and it lingered in the corner where he hid all the photos in a manila envelope in a crate. Turning his head at it, he sighed and gently closed the closet door.

Not sure what made him do it; maybe he was already feeling nostalgic or he was fucking crazy trying to hurt himself like this this early. Opening the envelope, he winced at the Junior High photos like every memory hit him. Mostly of his friends huddled together, unfortunate selfies of Odd posing with one or another person behind him, and almost every outing they have gone to. In one of those outings was a photo of Aelita enjoying her first banana split back on Earth while Yumi sat next to her, assuming at an ice cream parlor. She had a surprised face with a spoon in her mouth.

"Don't be shy. Take a bite!" Odd bustled Aelita as he held the camera, almost snickering.

"Odd, don't be mean." Ulrich kicked his ankle, knowing his mischievous plan all along.

Aelita gave a look at Jeremie for an approval across from her, nodding at her with compliance. She quickly stuck the spoon full of the vanilla ice cream and swallowing it immediately, her face slowly turned from surprised to horrid. Odd flashed the camera before her face blended with terror, holding his laugh in, "Oh my god, not swallow! It's supposed to melt in your mouth first!"

Aelita dropped the spoon and held her head as she groaned loudly, "It feels like a Scyphozoa sucking the life out of me!" she dropped her head on the table as Yumi and Jeremie comfort her while shooting dirty looks at Odd.

Jeremie smiled, chuckling through his nose. At some moment he sat on the carpet crisscross to examine the photos. Upon the scattered prints, he found a stack that was paperclipped together: professionally done pictures from Nuit Sous les Étoiles Kadic Dance. He blinked, staring at the nicely dressed younger self and Aelita, his face bleated with red and Aelita not looking at the camera, instead looking at Jeremie. They both wore a hearty smile.

A swift knock at his door disrupted his thought bubble, his father slowly peaked his head through, "There's my kid. You still down for... dinner?" His words trailed off as he glances down at the assortment of pictures in front of Jeremie, like the photos were his audience. He let himself in, placing his hand on his chin. Jeremie felt himself get embarrass, placing down a stack of photos.

"I think I'll turn in for the night." he closed his eyes, retrieving his glasses to clean them off with his shirt. It was a blatant lie, as his stomach growled on inconvenient timing. Michael stood a moment, still stroking his chin. He stared up at his father, wishing he just leave him alone.

Jeremie never had problems with his father. If anything, he missed him. Semester after semester, they never spoke or visited for free time including the summer. The times they spent time together was holidays and those were always short lived. There will be a time Jeremie will tell him why he avoids him or why his time hiding in the Laboratory is better than spending it wisely on Easter Day. One day he will if he didn't believe it will paint him as a psychopath. Jeremie stared back at the dance photos.

He didn't grab notice of his father taking a seat on the ground next to him, his chin on his knee. Picking up a picture of him and Aelita, Michael let out an amusing hum.

"She looks beautiful in this." he waved the picture at Jeremie, "I might have to hang this up in the hallway."

"We're not together, dad." yet it did hurt to say, it's not something he would want to say a lot of.

"Oui, but you're not still friends?" Michael looked at him as if the answer surprised him.

Jeremie didn't answer that. Finally placing his glasses on, he took a glance at the photo.

"Look," Michael wrapped his arm around his son, "I can't tell you how to take things. You are a grown man, n'es tu pas?"

Jeremie nodded slowly.

"Things will... be okay." he gently shook him to reassure him, beaming a smile at him, "You still got Yumi, Ulrich, and Odd in Boulogne, right? You got some universities calling your name. Besides, you'll see Miss Stones again soon."

Jeremie didn't bother to correct his father that Odd was in Canada with Aelita. He only knew he was trying to help settle his nerves. Him knowing he was upset was a mystery, but all he felt like today was an open book, so he gave up on trying to hide it. The way Jeremie sees it, it might be never that he'll see her again. Aelita technically doesn't exist, but with Jeremie's computer savvy and slight illegal ways, made her a citizen of France. It wasn't the point though.

Michael lifted himself up with a grunt, casually pocketing the photo without Jeremie noticing, "Get some sleep. We got a big day tomorrow."

Jeremie did the same, gathering the photos and neatly placing them back into the envelope. He didn't feel like asking what his father was planning. With a silent agreement, he started to let himself out, gripping the doorknob.

"Things get better... Right, dad?" Jeremie spoke up before his father left, hesitation stuck in his throat.

Michael turned just to only smile, "Only time will tell."

Jeremie smiled back, nodding, "Right."

"Bonsoir."

Jeremie nodded again, leaving him with his thought. Maybe, his dad was right. Things are okay. Jeremie thinks he did the right decision by sending Aelita away. He was protecting her. There was no one that understood what they went through, not like they would have remembered. The danger, the consequences, the government; it's all there. It was a matter of time before someone found out about the Supercomputer. This would put Aelita into danger, either a hit list or kidnapping, Jeremie didn't pick which one was worst. It was best to keep her away as much as possible, probably change her name if she wanted.

He fitted into his pajamas and slipped into his bed, removing his glasses into its rightful place.

The dark was lacking in propriety than he remembered.

Jeremie finally broke his façade. The cracks in the dam finally shattered and all the emotion of six years came barreling out, sob after breathless sob until he thought his lungs were glass that broke inside him. He hid his face in his pillow like he was being judged by a god that did nothing but cursed him.

All that filled the air was an overwhelming scent of bacon and his father faint humming, summoning him awake almost immediately. By manners, Jeremie washed his face and his hands in the hallway bathroom, looking up to see his puffy eyes. Ashamed, he continued to wash away his face.

Jutting down the stairs as his stomach demanded, he passed by the assortment of photos that displayed on the wall. Jeremie stopped dead set, almost assuring himself he saw pink hair in the photos.

Michael poked his head out of the kitchen entryway, fitting a smirk, "I figured I'd be seeing you." he lowered his voice when he noticed his son staring at the photo. He went back to his humming, flipping the bacon.

The Kadic dance photo was framed nicely near all the other family photos, especially next to his mother's portrait. Aelita's smile looked brighter than before. Jeremie was sure he was smiling too.

He finally took up the courage to take his phone out and tapped the pink-haired contact.

"Hello."