Chapter 3

Spring Break is over and Ulrich goes back to Kadic. Monday afternoon and the gang meets up at Ulrich and Odd's room.

"Yumi, did you like the picture of that cute little guy?" Ulrich asked slyly. She laughed.

"Oh, yeah." She said sarcastically. "It's hott." She showed everyone the picture of the huge clump of poop that Ulrich had sent her. "Can you send me an actually picture of Stefan, and not his poop?" Ulrich smiled and showed everyone a picture of Stefan.

"Hey, it does havehis D.N.A!" Ulrich said and laughed.

"Who is that?" Aelita asked walking in. Nobody had known where she'd been all week.

"Aelita! I tried to get a hold of you all week!" Yumi yelled. Everyone had tons of questions like "Where have you been?" and "Why didn't you call?"

"Guys! Guys! Stop!" Aelita screamed, making everyone fall silent. "Now, who is the cute baby?"

"Ulrich's baby brother, Stefan. He was born during the break. Unfortunately, he's de—" Yumi started. About to say 'deaf', when Ulrich had told her not too, Ulrich saved himself the trouble of explaining.

He added, "Finetly the cutest baby ever…" Yumi looked weirdly at him. "And Yumi wasn't!" Yumi hit him in the arm.

"Oh," Yumi mouthed. "sorry." Ulrich shrugged.

"It's fine." He mouthed back. "So, how was your guys' week?" He asked everyone.

"Well, I worked on a new program for Lyoko. I found a lot of new things! Possibly new info on X.A.N.A!" Jeremie announced. Everyone cheered. "My parents had to work most of the time." He told them his information, new lands, towers, species. "I'm working on finding a new way to deactivate towers. In case, that is, Aelita's not there and doesn't call or tell anyone where she is!"

"Hey!" Aelita yelled.

"Okay, me next!" Yumi yelled. "My annoying little brother was… you guessed it, annoying. And little, I guess. Anyways, I bowled and mini-golfed with my family and some old friends. My parent's bought me this," She said holding up her new laptop. "And this!" She held up a new flip silver razr cell phone. Everyone 'wowed' in amazement.

"Internet access?" Jeremie asked. Yumi nodded.

"Fast internet access?" Ulrich asked.

"Yup!" Yumi yelled.

"Now me!" Yelled Odd, who was trying to act as if he wasn't impressed to cover his jealousy. "I was in a wedding. Yeah, me. Odd Della Robbia—A wedding." He looked around to see nobody listening. "As boring as it sounds," He raised his voice. "It was pretty fun! Especially the reception."

"Who got married?" Yumi asked, being the only one paying attention.

"My sister, to some dweeb." Odd replied. (A/N: Imagine Odd… In a tux!)

"Hey, how come you never told us she was getting married?" Ulrich asked. "Wait, how come you never said she was engaged?"

"You never asked!" Odd answered with a sly grin. Ulrich rolled his eyes.

"Hey! How come I wasn't invited?" Ulrich asked.

"You were! But hello! Stefan!" Odd yelled. "Hey," He got quieter. "how come you never told us Stefan was born deaf? We are your best friends, aren't we? Shouldn't we know this? We're here for you, Ulrich." Ulrich shot a 'Did you tell?' look at Yumi. She shook her head.

"Did… My mom… Tell you?" Ulrich choked up.

"Yeah, she told my mom. Hey, dude," Odd answered. "I'm sorry."

"Hey, don't feel bad for me!" Ulrich said, putting on a fake smile. "It'll get fixed and we're just a normal family. It's fine." He said ready to cry.

"Hey guys? I think it's getting kind of late. Why don't we start heading back." Yumi said.

"But it's 4:30!" Odd yells.

"It's late." Yumi replied slowly, gritting her teeth. Aelita, understanding the message, grabbed Odd and Jeremie's arms and pulled them out the door. Ulrich looked away from Yumi. "It'll be fine, Ulrich." She said patting his back.

"I hope…" He said quietly.

"That's all you can do. You're no specialized doctor. But it'll be fine."

"I doubt it… We still have a 25 chance that he won't get to hear…" Ulrich said. "Ever." He added.

"Ulrich! How can you say that? 25. That's not even half! Are you hoping for the worst for your little baby brother?" Yumi asked.

"No! I'd never!"

"Then do you hear what comes out of your mouth?" Yumi asked.

"No!" Ulrich shook his head. "I mean yes." He said quietly.

"Hey," Yumi said. "Look at me." Ulrich turned slowly. "Call your mom. Check up on him, know that he's okay."

"Thanks. I will." Ulrich said. He dialed off of his mobile and let it ring.

"I'm gonna go. See you." Yumi whispered. She gave him a hug, waved and walked out. It rang a second time.

"C'mon… Pick up!" Ulrich thought. Suddenly, there was a click.

"I was just about to call!"

"Mom!" Ulrich yelled. She started babbling, he couldn't understand anything he said. "Mom! Mom! Slow down!"

"We just went for a check up with Stefan. His chance of hearing dropped to 50." His mom said. He could hear his mom crying and sobbing… Something Stefan could not.