Chapter 5 – Decisions, Decisions

SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING IN MONTHS!!! School is killing me and honestly, I had no urge to write any more of this story! Thanks to Mylinda Antoinette, here comes the fifth chapter and soon the sixth!

A/N: Stefan is now two months old. An additional note, this isn't my favorite chapter. More romance between Ulrich x Yumi, less Stefan. But I added a twist, so it'll be okay. More UxY in the beginning, Stefan in the end. Let me tell you, this is not the end.

P.S: I don't know what Ulrich's parent's (never shown) are named so I'm going to make them up. Ulrich's father will sadly be named Ulric, (my pronunciation for Ulric will be All-Rick), and Ulrich's mother will be Avril (which is French)

"I just wish I could've got the girl." Ulrich mumbled alone in his room. "I've liked her all this time in Kadic, but I've never had the guts to ask her! Stupid Ulrich…" He sat in silence for a minute. "She's the only one…" Yumi opened the door slowly.

"That much?" She choked out. Ulrich blushed and looked at the ground.

Crap! She heard me! He thought. "…That much what?"

"You like me that much?" Yumi asked, shutting the door quietly. Ulrich gulped and nodded. After all, he wasn't lying.

"I'm just stressed right now." He admitted. "When I decided on leaving Kadic… I thought this was my last chance… So I went for it. But it's okay. I understand…I guess." He said quietly. Yumi sat down next to him.

"Honestly?" She asked.

"Absolutely." He said quietly.

"Why are you leaving, Ulrich? I mean… Your parents are fine and stable. They'll be okay and so will Stefan. You can't just leave everything and go."

"I think I can." He said strongly. Yumi looked at him with confused eyes.

"O…kay." Yumi said, getting up and leaving. "See ya…sometime, Rich." Her eyes got watery as she left.

"RIIIIIING!" Ulrich's mobile rang. "RIIIIIIIIIIING!!!!!!" It rang louder. He sighed, grabbed it, and answered.

"Hello?"

"Ulrich! Get home as fast as possible. Please." His mom demanded.

"Mom? Wh—" Ulrich asked.

"Ulrich, just get home." She hung up. He ran down the hall.

"Ulrich! What's going on?" Yumi called.

"My mom just called. I think its Stefan. She told me to get home A.S.A.P." Ulrich yelled.

"Well, I'm coming with you!"

"No Yumi!" Ulrich said out of breath.

"Yes! I'm not going to leave my best friend." She said, as she caught up with him. "You were there when Hiroki was terribly sick. I'm going to help you too." He thought about what he said earlier. I think I can. Those words rang in his head. But he smiled.

"Thanks, Yumi."

They snuck out and caught the next available bus to the city where Ulrich's family lived. It was raining and dark out. As they sat together in the bus, Ulrich apologized.

"Yumi, I'm sorry…about earlier. Saying I could leave you guys… I wasn't thinking clearly." He said.

"Ulrich," She replied. "It's okay. Don't worry about it." She smiled. He grinned. They stared at each other for awhile. Yumi leaned in.

"This your stop!?" The old man that drove the bus yelled. Yumi blushed. Ulrich laughed. They both got up and walked off.

"Thanks." Ulrich said as he got off. They ran as fast as they could in pouring rain. They finally caught sight of Ulrich's house, and headed straight there. Ulrich stomped in and slipped on the hard wood floor with his squeaky shoes. "Ooh…Ouch…" he said as he carefully stood up. Yumi grabbed his arm and helped. They walked in quietly. "Mom? Dad?"

"Mrs. Stern?" Yumi asked. "Mr. Stern?" They walked through the silent house. Ulrich looked at Yumi and cocked his head. She shrugged. Suddenly, Ulrich's dad ran in the door.

"Ulrich!" He yelled. "And…?"

"Yumi…sir." She answered. He was usually at work, and wasn't home so he didn't know Yumi all that well.

"What's going on dad?" He asked. He gasped for air but began to talk.

"Stefan… Is having surgery done…. Tonight."

"Why so late?" Ulrich asked. His dad shrugged.

"No clue. The doctors called and said bring him in. Come, kids. Your mother told me you would probably be here. She's at the hospital with Stefan." They were escorted out and sat down in the car, hugging themselves for warmth.

"Uh, heat back here dad! We're freezing!" Ulrich yelled.

"Oh, sorry, kids." He clicked a button and within minutes, it was warm. His dad handed back two sweatshirts. "Put these on." They did and about 10 minutes later, they pulled into the hospital. They rushed in.

"Stern." His dad said at the counter. They directed him to a room. All three walked in but the doctor stopped them.

"Uh… Family only." Ulrich looked at Yumi.

"She's family." Ulrich's mom said. The doctor allowed them to walk in and Yumi snuck a quick "thanks" to Mrs. Stern.

"What's up, mom?"

"Big surgery on such a little boy!" His mom, an emotional wreck, yelled.

"Mom," Ulrich said calmly. "I know he's your baby boy but he'll be okay."

"Yeah, Mrs. Stern. Hiroki was only one year old when he had to get HUGE surgery. He made it through, and so can Stefan."

"But Stefan's only two months old!" His mom cried.

"Mom! It will be O.K." He said slowly. "Why is he going into surgery anyway?"

"Oh, Ulrich," His mom said, a tear in her eye. "I didn't want to tell you just yet but… They had to do something with his left ear before it got…any worse."

"O…" Ulrich started, speechless. "…Oh…" Yumi put a friendly hand on Ulrich's shoulder.

"Everything's going to be alright." She said. He turned to her.

"Yumi, I've decided." He said quietly. "I'm leaving Kadic. Not that I want to leave you guys, or anything. I'll visit so much but…"

"I understand." She said nodding. He smiled in relief.

"Thanks." He said. He then turned to his mom. "Mom, I am leaving Kadic." She frowned.

"Ulrich," She said, about to scold him. "…Okay." She said calmly. He looked confused. He was almost positive she wouldn't like the idea. "If it's what you want." She added. He smiled slightly and hugged her.

"It is."

Later that evening… (Several hours later…)

Ulrich woke up with a big yawn. He stretched his left arm and looked to his right. Yumi lay there with her head resting on his shoulder, asleep. He smiled and rested his head upon hers, and went to sleep. She woke up, but didn't move. She smiled a little, and went back to sleep.

"MY BABY!" A lady shrieked. Ulrich and Yumi both woke up.

"Mom?" He asked tiredly. He looked at his mobile. Figures. He thought. Four AM.

"Oh, my sweet baby boy!" His mom screamed with tears of joy now in her eyes. The doctor smiled, and the nurse came out with 'Mom's bundle of joy'. She gently grabbed him and held him close.

"It was a very long surgery, very tiring, but…"

"But what? What aren't you telling me!?" Ulrich chuckled. When it comes to Mom and her baby, get out of her way. She waited for a response.

"It worked!" Ulrich jumped up, waking Yumi up even more by knocking her on the head.

"What!?" He and his Mom yelled in unison.

"Stefan…Can hear again!" the doctor said.

"Fully?" Ulrich asked. The doctor nodded.

"Worse in his right ear now, but we'll fix it at age one. But he can hear." Ulrich's smile was as wide as it could get. His Mom, Dad and him cheered and smiled.

"Wh…what happened?" An out-of-it Yumi asked.

"Stefan can hear again! Fully!" He yelled. Her jaw dropped.

"OH MY GOSH!" She yelled. Stefan started crying. "Oh… Guess we were a little too loud now, huh?" They all laughed.

TEXT MESSAGE FROM: Ulrich

TO: Odd, Jer, Aelita

Stefan can hear again! Fully!

TEXT MESSAGE FROM: Aelita

Awesome!

TEXT MESSAGE FROM: Odd

Sweet, dude!

TEXT MESSAGE FROM: Jer

Congrats!

"Lets go out to celebrate!" His dad yelled.

"Yeah!" Everyone yelled.

"Uhh…" Everyone looked at Ulrich. "Hate to burst your bubble but, it's four thirty in the morning." They chuckled.

"How 'bout…Ten AM. Breakfast for all five of us."

"Oh, sir, thank you but I don't want to be a burden. I can just go back to Kadic." Yumi said politely.

"No, Yumi, It's okay! Stay! We'll make an excuse from school tomorrow for the both of you. You both need sleep, and Yumi, this is a way to thank you for supporting us." Mr. Stern said happily.

"W…Wow. Thank you, sir!" Yumi said.

"Yumi, call me Ulric." (Remember: pronounced All-Rick) Ulrich's Dad said.

"Ah, yes dear. Call me Avril." Mrs. Stern said. "Well, children, temps à aller." Yumi and Ulrich looked at her strangely. "Which means, time to go." The two nodded and walked out. The parents took care of a few things but by five AM, they were home. "Yumi, dear, there's a guest room upstairs to the right. You may sleep there if you like. There's a T.V and a bed, so I'm sure you'll be fine." Yumi nodded and started to walk.

"Yumi, you don't want to sleep in those clothes, do you?"

"Not really." She replied shyly. Avril laughed.

"Here, they may be a little big, but they'll do."

"Thank you," Yumi said and went to bed.

"Ulrich, get into your wittle pajamies and off to bed with you." His mom teased. He sarcastically smiled and walked upstairs. "Ulric, dear I'll put Stefan to bed. You go to sleep."