Warning: Rated for language and violence.

The main characters of this story are based on characters from the cartoon 'Code Lyoko.' I do not own, nor do I claim, any copyright to these characters.

O o O

Suzanne ended up staying with the Ishiyamas for two days. She really felt uncomfortable staying there, since Yumi was a student, but the family was very accommodating.

On the third day, she decided to return to the dorms, the stigma of the package having dulled enough that she thought she could handle sleeping there. She thanked Mr. and Mrs. Ishiyama for their kindness and hospitality and returned.

Things seemed to settle down after that. Suzanne didn't receive any new surprises, and Clark didn't try to call her. The police told her that they were done with her apartment, so she could return there if she wanted to. Her landlord told her that little damage was done to the apartment itself, so all she had to do was clean it up and everything would be fine. Her renters insurance covered the damage done, so all she had to do was go and replace what was destroyed.

Then the garage called and said her car was finished and she could pick it up at any time. That afternoon after classes, Jim drove her over and she picked it up. Jim said he would go with her back to the apartment, just in case, and help her start cleaning things up.

When she returned to her apartment, she almost cried in despair at the enormity of the cleanup ahead of her. Jim surveyed the mess and declared, "yeah, it's gonna be a bitch to do, but it won't take too long."

With that, he walked into the apartment, went back to the kitchen, rummaged around a bit, then came back with trash bags.

"So, where do we start, living room, kitchen, bathroom or bedroom?"

Suzanne just stared at the man.

"C'mon, Suzanne, which is it? It'll take you forever and a day to get rid of this all by yourself, with the two of us, it'll only take forever." He smiled at that last phrase.

She smiled and shook her head. "The kitchen will be a good place to start. I can smell it from the hallway."

The couple spent the next week clearing out the wreckage that was done. When she first thought of her and Jim as a couple, it shocked Suzanne to her core. After she divorced Clark, she never really considered finding another man, and even if she had, Jim Moralés would not have been on the list. A lot of the times he was a jock in the truest sense of the word. But something happened since this whole mess with her ex started. She started seeing another side of Jim, one she hadn't seen before, one he probably hadn't let anyone see for a long time.

He was actually a caring man. He cared about how she felt, what she thought. Another man would have just started picking things up and throwing them out when confronted with the mess that was her apartment. But he only picked up clearly identifiable trash and junk and bagged it. If he wasn't sure about something, he would ask her. If she looked like she was going to do something that would hurt her, he would stop what he was doing and help, or at least offer to. After the second time almost breaking her neck, she gladly accepted his assistance.

They would come to her apartment after the school day was over and clean. In the late evening, they would go to the café where he first took her and have a small meal. They would talk and laugh about he happenings of the day. Sometimes, they would gossip about the other teachers, or tell stories about their past. And Suzanne had to fight to keep her self control.

She had to fight not to reach out and take his hand as they sat at the table eating in the evenings. She had to fight not to walk too close to him as they left the school in the afternoons. She had to fight not to slip her arm around him and pull him close whenever they were standing together. She had to fight not to take him in her arms and lose herself in him forever.

No, she thought to herself, it's not love. It's nothing, infatuation, a crush. Stockholm Syndrome, I don't know! I'm feeling this way because Jim is being kind to me when I'm going through a hard time. I can't love him!

You're afraid, came another voice inside of her, you're afraid he will be just like Clark was, stringing you along while he chases every skirt he sees, then dumping you in the toilet when he tires of you.

Yes, I am afraid, she replied, I'm afraid if I let myself go, I'll lose myself in him, and never find my way back.

And, would that be such a bad thing? the voice asked.

I don't know, she replied, and that's what frightens me the most.

O o O

The other event that was creating a buzz at the school was the upcoming Autumn Harvest Dance. It was the first major social event of the school year. All the girls in the school were chattering about what they would wear and who they would be going with, or wish they were going with. The boys tried acting like they didn't care a whit about going with a girl, while secretly dying by inches working up the courage to ask the object of their affections out.

Jim and Suzanne, along with most of the other teachers, worked to coordinate the logistics of the dance. One of the first things they did was secure Aelita Hopper as the entertainment for the evening. She was very good at mixing the techno-pop music that the kids nowadays seemed to like so much, and she created quite a splash at a dance last year, so she was a safe bet. Besides, she worked for free.

The planning and preparations for the dance cut into the time Jim and Suzanne had for cleaning her apartment. But they had progressed enough so she could live at home once again. Their cleaning and renovation 'dates' were kept primarily to the weekends.

O o O

On the Saturday before the dance, they finally cleared out all of the mess that was in her apartment. It was now bare, other than some small lamps purchased at a sporting goods store, and a mattress.

They sat on the floor in the living room that evening, bathed in the light of a small camping lantern. Suzanne had run out to the store and bought dinner fixings. They now sat in the middle of the floor, eating and relaxing.

"I though we'd never finish," she said to him.

"I had my doubts for a while too," he said with a laugh, "but I knew we'd get it done. Even I know trash doesn't breed."

She gave him a little laugh that ended in a coy and shy smile. "Jim, I want to thank you for all you've done."

"Don't mention it, Suzanne, it was my pleasure," he replied.

"It's just that I... it's just that... it's just..." She paused for a moment, then said, "it's just that it's been a long time since I had to depend on anyone for help, especially a man."

She was silent for a moment, a battle raging deep inside of her. Then, the battle ended. She looked at him, then leaned forward and kissed him full on the lips.

Jim was shocked, and tried to pull back, but only for an instant. Then another part of his mind took over and he leaned into her and returned the embrace. While one of her hands was flat on the floor, arm holding her weight, she took her other hand and cupped his cheek, softly caressing his stubble. He also took a free hand, wrapped it around her as much as he could, and pulled her closer. She complied, scooting forward and wrapping both arms around him as he wrapped his around her. All the while, their lips were locked in embrace, their minds lost in the moment of ignited passion.

After what seemed like an eternity, Jim broke their embrace. He pushed her back enough to look at the love radiating from her. His mind warred with the rest of him, but he finally let her go and got up.

"Ah, look, I need to go," he said.

"Jim, I'm sorry if I embarrassed you," Suzanne quickly said, "I don't know what came over me. Please don't be mad."

"I'm not Suzanne, really," he told her, "truth be told, I've wanted to do that for the longest time now, longer than this whole ex-husband incident."

"Then what's wrong?" she asked.

"I don't want this to move too fast," he said, "if I do, if we do, I'm afraid I'll hurt you, and I don't want that to happen. I've wanted this for too long to blow it now."

"Wanted what?"

"You. I've been smitten by you for a while now. And now that my dreams have come true, I don't want to ruin it by blundering ahead."

"And what makes you think that you are rushing things?"

"The little voice in my head that is telling me to keep going, to do more. The little voice in my head that's gotten me into more trouble than I care to think about. Look, it's late, and maybe the wine got to me a little, but I think I need to go home and clear my head. We can meet for lunch tomorrow, it being Sunday, and maybe do something together. I'd really like that if you would."

"I'd love to Jim," she softly said.

"Alright, how 'bout noon tomorrow at the school?"

She nodded yes.

"Great! Well, I'd better be going. I really need a cold shower before I hit the sack."