Yay! Fourth chapter! I'm happy to see the reviews! Love it, you guys! LOVE IT!

I did mention that the Élyseé Palace is like, the Whitehouse, but like, in France, right? I don't remember. But if not- There 'ya go.

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((Normal POV))

They were at her house. It wasn't called their house, it was her house. Thanking the gods, Aelita made Nicolas to work in another city nearby. Sam and Odd were grateful enough to her and her husband's medical procedures they've done of them, but Aelita told them they could stay with her until they felt like they had to leave.

"So, Princess." Odd started, "Married Nicholas, did you? What happened to Jeremie?"

"He gave me no freedoms. So after prom night, I dumped him….again. Have you seen him, lately? I was just thinking about you guys and the others last night." Aelita gave them both a nice cup of tea, and sat down on the nice chair next to the couple.

"No, we haven't. We haven't seen any of them. Makes me wonder, you know? What happened the…what? Twelve years we haven't heard from them? Did Ulrich ever confess his feelings for Yumi? What jobs do they have? Are they still alive?" Sam replied.

Odd jumped up, "Holy crap! YUMI'S THE INVESTIGATOR WE HAD TO SEE, SAM! I just put the puzzle pieces together! We can meet Yumi! We can! Aelita, I suggest you come with us, if you'd like."

"Oh, I'd love to! I'm just as excited to see Yumi as you guys are!" Aelita dropped her cup of tea, "LET'S GO!" Before she even said this sentence, they were half way to the hotel.

XxX
((New Position.))

"Ulrich, we shouldn't be doing this…" Yumi muttered to him, although she, him, and god knew she didn't care. She wanted this.

"I know, and just knowing we might get caught turns me on." He whispered back to her. They found his hotel room a nice place to stay. Cozy, and comfortable, and no one could barge in like they would in high school.

Too bad they didn't even have time to close the door.

He could feel her get more aggressive. Yeah, sure, she didn't want to do this. His body over hers, both clothed, of course, but just feeling each other touch each other's hands and cheeks like this made their hearts flutter. Just the feeling of her lips to his made their day brighten. They knew it. They needed each other.

"Aww, come on guys, don't you have a hint of decency? There are kids here, you know." A voice at the doorway whined.

"You sure know how to kill a mood, Theo." Ulrich answered, sitting up, "Why'd you follow us?"

"I didn't. Jeremie invited me. While looking for his room, I saw you two, getting pretty touchy." He added with a sly smile, "Although, I'm not trying to make you guys feel uncomfortable, I just love to watch you guys blush like that." He took a seat, after closing the door, and watched them look at each other.

"Now, if you don't mind. I want to talk business here." Ulrich groaned, "Not to you, doofus. To her." Yumi smiled and Ulrich groaned louder, "About McClear and her stalker."

"How'd you know?" Yumi quickly asked, "How'd you know I had a stalker?"

"Ulrich's lips open for more than just kissing, Yumes." Theo answered smartly, as Yumi turned to Ulrich. Whom only shrugged and gave her a weak grin.

"You told him! Why the hell did you tell him!"

"Incase this got worse, Yumi. I only told him, he better not have told anyone else."

"I told Jeremie, but that's it. It's only for your protection, Yumi. It's only for you." Theo added so Yumi would have no reason to attack him, "Jeremie's still the genius he was, he's good with mysteries and puzzles, as you are, and Ulrich and I- we're officers. We can take this guy down. We care for you, the years that past; that did nothing to how we feel for you. As you can obviously tell from Ulrich."

The said boy rolled his eyes.

"Hmm. Whatever. As long as it's not on the news or anything, I guess its okay." She answered.

"Do you think you have any ideas on who may be your stalker?" Theo questioned carefully.

"No, none... Well…" Yumi tapped her chin slightly, "I usually get the calls or notes when William isn't around. Like, when I was at the bar- William wasn't with me. When I was at the hotel- He left to give the evidence to the Scientific Investigators."

"William…Dunbar? Ahh, right. You work with him." Theo nodded whist smiling, "I bet Ulrich isn't too happy to see him again."

"He's alright." Ulrich answered sternly. Theo gave him a look, "I said he's alright."

"Alright, ANYWAY. We have a few clues you and Mr. Dunbar might want to check-out at the station. Some new prints, clothing pieces, burned body parts. If you have a strong stomach, come right ahead." Theo warned, "Now, I'll let you back to your love-lives, okay?"

"Okay." Yumi smiled, nodded, and waved to Theo, "Bye." And the door closed shut.

"Alright!" Ulrich pulled Yumi closer again, but she squirmed away, "…Oh, geez. What now?"

"It's Mr. S." He shot her a confused look, "Mr. Stalker?" He nodded, "He's really starting to creep me out. This could affect me in my job, Officer. I need someone to look out for me while I'm working. I don't know if the damn guy's William for Christ's sake!"

"Would you feel better if you stayed with me tonight?" Ulrich offered. Merely because he hated seeing her so scared, since she's usually so strong, and not because of the alone time it would offer.

"I'd love to, Ulrich…but…" She looked away from him.

"Oh, no. Not the trailed off 'But…'." He slapped his forehead. For the girls he was around- that was never good, "You know something, Yumi? I gotta get to work for at least a half day's pay. You have the whole day to think about it, how does that sound? You can stay in here as long as you want, just keep the door closed and locked; windows too." She nodded, "Oh, and remember, Jeremie's next door. So if Mr. S as you call him, calls you and freaks you out, tell Jeremie, okay? He'll tell me, is that okay?"

"Yes, that's fine Ulrich, thank you." She hugged him goodbye.

Life was slightly returning.

Ulrich had left as quickly as Theo had. She was alone, in his room, with his stuff, all alone…all so very alone… RING!

Yumi jumped when her cell phone rang, she didn't recognize the number, but she knew that Jeremie was with her, in the next room. She took a breath and answered, "Hello?"

"Mrs. Yumi Ishiyama. We're at your door. Open up." A feminine voice told her sternly, "We need to speak to you."

Yumi rolled her eyes, "Very funny, Heather. I know you like Ulrich and all, but you have no reason to try to scare me like that." She even came up to the door to prove it to herself.

"...Who?" The person on the other line asked.

The door opened, and three people jumped at her- she screamed, terrified, and not having enough time to register anything.

Jeremie came rushing in, afraid Yumi's stalker had attacked her, "What's going on? I heard a scream!"

"Hiya, pals!" One being jumped up. His pointed hair style and that purple dot gave away his entire person.

Jeremie and Yumi screamed at the same time, "ODD!"

"And Me!" Sam got a hand up from her boyfriend, "Miss. Sammy-kinz!"

The third person stayed quiet- staring at Jeremie. She couldn't believe how well he was doing. He looked happy- nice clothes, same skinny body, nice face, he had glasses in his shirt pocket, but he must've been wearing his contacts this time. His life seemed to be going just fine, "Erm." Aelita moved her glare, "Long time no see, you guys."

"How'd you know we were here?" Jeremie asked.

"No. Listen to the story…" Sam started, "Odd, tell 'em."

"ALRIGHT. STORY TIME." Odd shouted as he closed the door behind Jeremie, "You know, after Xana, and Lyoko, and the factory, we were still tight friends, but then Yumi graduated and like…we weren't."

Yumi sighed, "We know that part. Tell us how you knew we were here."

Aelita snickered, "I'll tell 'em." Odd and Sam had told her the drive over here, "Sam is a judge, Odd's a physic." That sentence alone got wide-eyes from Jeremie and Yumi, "Yeah, I know. And they're working on this case, McSee-through, or something…"

"McClear?" Sam giggled.

"Whatever." Aelita continued, "They were called to see this investigator team, but when they got at the building, they said they weren't there, and the boss gave them the city they were in. Caen, obviously. So they went off, but they got in this bad car accident. I work as a nurse, and like, I saw them. And Odd told me that he had a vision about visiting you, so here we are!"

Yumi glomped onto Aelita, "I can't tell you how happy I am to see you guys again!"

"Ditto, my friend. I haven't had much of a social life after high school, and a little at college." Odd answered, messing with his hair, "So…What do you guys do?"

Jeremie cleared his throat, a queue meaning he'd go first, "I work for the president and all his technologies and whatnot. And I think the daughter has a crush on me."

"Lady Michelle?" Sam burst out laughing, "Don't flatter yourself, Jeremie."

The genius fixed his glasses, "Excuse me?"

"No, Sam. I think he may be right. 'Cuz I read in the newspaper about Ms. Michelle having a crush on someone that works with her father in the Élyseé Palace." Odd glared at Jeremie with a huge grin, "Nice, dude!" He high-fived Jeremie.

"And what about you, Yumi?"

"I'm a criminal investigator, as you guys should know by now, and I work with William. Whose probably in our hotel room. My birthday was a few days ago, and now, I feel old." Yumi answered.

Aelita snickered, "You're not even a whole year older than most of us, Yumi. Don't get us started on feeling old." She patted Yumi's shoulder. And her wedding ring scratched her neck.

Yumi pulled Aelita's hand to her face, "Is that a wedding ring?"

Jeremie popped up to the question. He stared at the rock on Aelita's wedding finger, "That sure looks nice, Aelita. Who'd you marry?"

Aelita coughed, clearly embarrassed, and stated, "I, uh, I married…Nicolas."

"That idiot?" Yumi and Jeremie said simultaneously, "Are you serious?"

Aelita nodded sheepishly, "But I want a divorce, ASAP."

Yumi and Sam nodded, "Good. The boy's a dumbass."

"How's he doing, anyway?"

"He's a doctor."

Jeremie and Yumi looked at her in disbelief, "No. Way."

"I know! I KNOW! He's a doctor! Hard to believe, but it's so true. Oh-so-true. And he wants kids. And I'm like no."

"Think of it this way, he could deliver your own child." Sam added.

"Yeah, he'd be putting the baby in, and pulling the baby out." Odd answered, and got glares from everyone there, "Er, I'm just sayin'."

"Alrighty. Well, where's Ulrich? I've been dying to see him ever since Odd told me he became a police officer." Sam asked impatiently.

"He's at work." Jeremie answered, "For like, half a day. He works with Gauthier."

"That's so cool." Odd answered, "I'd want to be a police officer."

"I wouldn't…" Yumi trialed off when her cell phone started blasting again, "Hello?"

The scratchy voice had returned, "Hello there, darling. I see, you've met, some…old friends I presume. Very cute, but I dare you to stay in Ulrich's hotel room all night long, and you'll see what happens to him the next morning."

Yumi threw the phone to Jeremie, who had to duck a little, so he wouldn't get hit in the head, "Hello?" Jeremie answered as he looked at the phone. The number blinked a little, "They hung up." He answered to Yumi.

"What's going on?" Sam questioned. She, Odd, and Aelita were confused beyond belief.

"It was him, Jeremie! He's going to get Ulrich in some sort of danger if I stay here." Yumi threw her hands around, "Okay." She turned to her old friends she had just reunited with, "I have a stalker, and he's not leaving me alone."

"That's terrible!" Aelita shrieked, but then after a pause, she stated, "Maybe it's William just playing a joke on you?"

"I've already thought about that." Yumi answered, grabbing onto her phone, "It's a possibility, but ever since William and I started working together- He hasn't been so… affectionate to me."

Sam nodded, and then added, "But that doesn't mean the idea is completely out of play."

Yumi shrugged, "Yeah. I know. But, well, I'll try to stick with William for the next day or so, and if the calls don't come- then he's the stalker."

"That's a good way to figure out if it's him or not." Odd answered, and collapsed on the sofa, "Why are you in Ulrich's hotel room anyway?"

Jeremie laughed and raised his hand, "I can answer that. Ulrich and Yumi are together now."

"FINALLY." Everyone shouted in unison. Odd then added, "You know, he wouldn't go out with this one chick, and I gotta say. She had the body and everything." He curved his hands like an hour-glass, "She was pretty attractive. And when he refused her, the whole soccer team thought he was gay. But then, the whole idea of his love- Yumi Ishiyama- gone and in college, we knew he was hurting."

"IDEA." Sam shriekd randomly, "Odd and I, and hopefully Aelita, will get rooms here. Praying it's on the same floor as you guys. THEN, we can all work on the McClear case together! We all know bits and pieces about it. We'll crack the case, AND be friends again!"

"Wonderful." Yumi clapped her hands happily, "You guys wanna meet William?"

"He hasn't changed much." Jeremie added, with a slight shrug, "So don't get too excited."

"Yeah, sure. How's that guy doing anyway?"

XxX

"Ha-ha!" William laughed, and he stepped up and walked back out, "Hey, I'm out. I'm gonna get some coffee down at the Starbucks near-by. Nice to meet you all again!" He waved and walked out.

Sam smiled, and once the door closed, she blurted out, "Is it just me, or is he hot now?"

Odd gasped and pulled his collar, "What about me?"

"Oh, hush, Odd. It's just a question." Sam hissed back.

"I actually have to agree." Aelita nodded and Sam smiled telling Odd 'I told you so', "but I wouldn't say he's hot. He's just more attractive. He doesn't look so dark."

Yumi sighed, "He's okay, I guess. I don't really find him attractive. Well, I do, but not like for me. He's not really my type."

"We know your type." Jeremie answered mockingly.

Still, relaxing in Ulrich's room. The newly-found friends continued to joke around, until the door-knob jiggled, and a well-known brunette man walked inside, "Whoa. Hello everyone."

"ULRICH!" Odd hopped up, "BUDDY!"

"Odd!" Ulrich smiled and embraced his long lost friend, "How've ya been?"

"Just fine." Odd replied and playfully punched Ulrich in the shoulder, "We already went over your newly found love life with Yumi." When he turned to see what Yumi was doing Ulrich mouthed to her 'We have a love life?'

Odd turned back, knowing Ulrich did something. And Yumi lipped back 'I guess so!'

"Guess who I am!" Aelita came up next to Odd, annoyed that she was so much shorter. She had grown about a foot since the last time she'd seen everyone, but it's like every one else grew another two. For Yumi, it was nature. I mean, she was a year older.

Ulrich tapped his chin, "Hmm. Pink hair. Green eyes. Petite figure." With a grin he said, "Mom?"

Aelita's mouth hung agape and punched him, in the same shoulder Odd did.

"I'm just kidding!" Ulrich laughed, "I know it's you, Aelita. I couldn't forget you even if I wanted to. So, anyone else I should remember?"

Sam raised her hand.

Ulrich eyed her carefully, "I don't remember you."

Odd snickered, "I'll jog your memory." He skipped next to Sam, whispered something to her, and they fell back onto the sofa, "Oh baby!"

"Odd, we should get up before Ulrich comes in…"

Ulrich jumped as the scene he witnessed unrolled, "NO. ENOUGH. I REMEMBER." He shielded his eyes with his hands, "Sorry, Sam. I couldn't remember you. You could've said you got a hair cut."

With his eyes till shielded, Yumi went up and planted a kiss on his lips. He grinned, "Mmm, sexy Japanese-babe lips." He murmured, "Only one name comes to mind." He kissed back, "I missed you." He whispered as he removed his hands.

"Do you work with someone from the crew? Yumi works with William…" Odd started.

"Yeah, Yumi and I already went over that." Ulrich nodded.

"… and Aelita married Nicolas."

"…And I work with Sissi."

Ulrich stopped, turned and started at her, "You poor thing you. Wait. Back up. You married Nicolas!"

"Yeah. He's a doctor."

"Pssh. He probably like slept with the college teacher that gave him the diploma." Ulrich snarled, "Well, not like his horrible romantic skills would help him any."

"His teacher was your health teacher."

"…Alright, gay sex, then." Ulrich corrected, "Oh, and to answer your question, I work with Gauthier. I think he likes you, Yumi."

Yumi grinned, "Well, he is kinda cute."

The brunette snickered, "Well, so is Heather."

She gasped, "You wouldn't."

"I would if you would." He strutted past her, "So, any ideas?"

"We all know stuff about the McClear case." Jeremie started, "Oh, and Yumi's stalker called her a few hours ago. Like, right after Odd, Aelita, and Sam came up."

Ulrich turned back to face Yumi. She, being ashamed of the whole situation, just looked at the ground, shyly.

"Anything good?"

"We were chatting with William." Sam smiled, "And the girls and I think he's hot."

"I don't think that's good news to him." Aelita sank into her chair- quite comfortable, "It's good news to us, but I don't think he'd care."

Ulrich nodded quickly, "Yeah. I don't. Odd, you gotta meet my gal pals down at the station."

Jeremie nodded and jumped into the conversation, "They're pretty attractive." He was too innocent to say 'sexy' or 'hott', "Especially this one girl, Heather, isn't it?"

Odd grabbed Jeremie's shoulder and Ulrich's collar, "Hot girls? What are we just sitting here for!" He dragged the two men out the door.

Yumi, Sam, and Aelita just stared.

"Pssh, men." Sam stated and Aelita and Yumi quickly agreed in a simultaneous 'Mmhm.'

XxX

"Stern? Back at the station? What for?" Clayton asked curiously, "You're girlfriend kick you out, or something?"

"Nah, my friends here wanna meet the force. They know Gauthier from school. He's still here, right?"

"Yep, I think so. He and Heather are taking the night shift. For the extra bucks." Clayton pointed down a long hallway, "In the Lounge for right now. Before I yell at them for not working."

Ulrich laughed, "Alright, thanks."

---

"Surprise!" Ulrich jumped in, scaring Heather and Theo, "Damn. I was hoping I'd catch you two making out or something."

The two snickered. There wasn't really a romance on the team (or, just not one Ulrich knew about) it was all friendship. And of course, what's friendship without a little mocking?

"What're you back for?" Theo asked, sipping a cup of coffee to keep him up.

Odd jumped in, past Ulrich, "Hey Gauthier! Long time no see!"

Theo jumped up and raced to Odd. They hugged for a minute and soon after, Theo said, "Hey guys. Jeremie, Odd, this is Heather." Heather waved for her spot, "Hottest girl on the force."

She blushed and looked away.

"I'll say!" Odd sat next to her, "Hey baby. The name's Odd."

Heather fluttered her eyelashes flirtingly, "Hey there."

Odd smiled and jumped up and down in his sit, "I like her!"

Ulrich only rolled his eyes. Theo took Jeremie and Ulrich and steered them into a new room.

Odd, still gazing with Heather, said, "Ulrich could've told his pals he was working with all the pretty girls in France."

Heather giggled, "You're so sweet." She swatted at him, brushing her fingertips against his chest, "What did you say your name was again?"

"Odd. Odd Della-Robbia. What's yours, honey?"

"Heather. Heather Larson."

"Larson? Oh, that's funny, I know this girl- Samantha."

Heather interrupted him, "Yeah, my sister."

Odd coughed, "Your sister!"

Heather nodded, and pulled him closer, "I know, she's on the weird side. But that won't come between us, right?"

"Us?" Odd repeated. Not even comprehending what was going on, until he felt Heather's soft lips, aggressively attack his.

XxX

"Check this." Theo took a file out of the drawers in his desk, "Jeremie- you have a sharp eye. See if you can find anything wrong with it." He passed him a certain picture from the file, "It's young Alice."

He gasped as he saw the picture, "Oh my." She was drop-dead gorgeous. Blonde hair around her head, blue eyes staring in the distance, "It was rape, wasn't it?" He looked up at Theo. Seeing how the young woman was completely naked, and the bruises and cuts around her arms and legs looked like ropes to keep her in a place.

Ulrich and Theo nodded, "That's what we think. However, Yumi and William would find out for sure. And we'll get the information from the DNA tests from her underwear, and the autopsy."

Jeremie placed the photo down, "It's horrible."

"I know." Theo stated, "But, there's more. Take it from here, Ulrich? As I search for the files?"

Ulrich shrugged as Theo started opening and closing the metal drawers, "There's been a few more murders before and after her, that has some similarities. Each of them, in their late twenties, or early thirties. Beautiful- beautiful young women, snatched from their house, and cut and bruised by what we think is the same object."

Jeremie sighed and questioned, "I wouldn't call that a similarity just yet."

Theo, had come back with three files, but had a paper Clayton just gave him, "I know a similarity." He looked at the men before him, but mostly Ulrich, "Each of them, being stalked."

"Of course, they were stalked…" Jeremie answered like it was a no-brainer.

"…By a man, whom calls himself Helplessly N. Love." Theo added.

Ulrich's heart stopped beating for a second, "You mean…?"

"Be careful." Theo whispred.

Jeremie's eyes widened, "Oh my god. Does that mean?"

All three of them said at the same time, "Yumi's his next victim."