A/N: Thank you to those who have reviewed, subscribed, and added this story to their favorites. I think that is long overdue.

Also thanks to Moonlitxangel for beta reading again.

Kadic Academy, Dorm building, Monday 9:00 PM: Elizabeth 'Sissi' Delmas sat awkwardly in front of her vanity and stared at the reflection that told her everything Aelita had said was true. She should be staring into a multi-monitor computer terminal in the basement of an abandoned factory covered in dust and grime and grease from sneaking around though it. It was supposed to be Wednesday, very early in the morning instead of nighttime on Monday.

Yet she was here, her body wanting to be tense with fear and cringing from the white thing that had consumed her. She looked at her shoulder, still imagining the feel of Aelita's reassuring hand that she knew she should still feel traces of but didn't. She cautiously reached for her head as her body and mind came back into sync, her own hair feeling soft and dry. In the mirror she could see her pajamas piled neatly on the bed. Sitting in front of her were the tools she used to remove her makeup. A knock at the door startled her and she bolted up then out of the chair and to her bed. "Just a minute" she called out, unable to recall if she'd locked her door a bit more than twenty-four hours ago.

Quickly dressing herself in her pajamas she walked to the door, "who is it?" She discreetly tested the doorknob, relieved to find she had indeed locked the door.

"Aelita... I came to make sure you were ok."

Sissi smiled slightly, welcoming the feeling of being cared for yet finding some amount of resentment that Aelita felt she might need to be checked on. She unlocked the door and stepped back as she pulled it open. "Oh, well I'm fine... Should you check on Odd?"

Aelita nodding and responded in a kind, "good, and yeah, that's my next stop. You're welcome to come." She looked Sissi over and noted the embarrassment then realized that Sissi was in the middle of removing her makeup. "You can come down when you're done with your makeup if you'd prefer." Sissi nodded in response and Aelita turned to leave the room. She stopped abruptly and turned her head back towards her new family member, "you're welcome to sit with us at breakfast tomorrow."

After the pink haired girl left her room, Sissi shut the door and suppressed a squeal of happiness as being beneath her. But there was no hiding the smile she wore at Aelita's invitation. Though it was so far from the 'in' crowd of the school sitting at their table offered the promise of acceptance and friendship that she hadn't found anywhere. Her smile faded, it would also mean separation from Herve and Nicholas. She frowned slightly, it would also erode her power in the school's social circles. Aelita would probably tell her not to worry about her social status because it wouldn't give the happiness she could find in real friendship. However, it had been the defining point of her life for so long that giving it up seemed impossibly difficult.

(())

Ulrich watched as Odd tested out his legs, unnecessarily verifying that the return trip had fully healed them, with a smile of amusement. He watched the usually hyperactive boy pick up Kiwi and put him on the bed before crawling in under the covers. A curious look was returned with a devious smile and Ulrich shook his head, "whatever it is it isn't a good idea Odd."

Odd looked up at Ulrich, "you don't even know what I'm planning."

"I know you well enough to know that whatever kind of prank you've got planned isn't a good idea." Ulrich answered with a slight smirk. "Let everyone be glad you're ok and enjoy the attention."

Odd shook his head, "how else will I prove I'm really ok if I don't pull one of my patented pranks?"

Ulrich shook his head with resignation, "I'm not saving you if this goes bad."

Odd smiled confidently, "sure you will good buddy, I know you too well." Ulrich simply groaned in response.

Only a few minutes later a knock at the door signaled visitors and Ulrich growled as Odd called loudly for him to open the door. Outside the door, Aelita and Jeremy exchanged worried glances and Jeremy began to sink into thought as he tried to figure out if something could have gone wrong during the return trip. But aside from the time XANA used it to trap Ulrich, Odd and Yumi in a simulation bubble there had never been a problem. Aelita meanwhile tapped Jeremy on the shoulder, less inclined to believe a technical glitch was responsible and thinking she knew what it was instead, she winked at him and whispered "bet he's trying to trick us."

Jeremy blinked a couple of times as Ulrich answered the door then nodded, apparently recovering from whatever terrible scenarios his mind was creating. He placed a finger to his lips to prevent Ulrich from ruining whatever it was that Aelita was going to do and followed her in. Odd flashed a grateful look to Ulrich then moaned as if he were in pain, scrunching up his face to complete the illusion. Jeremy looked at the boy as Aelita approached him with a concerned expression and heard her ask "Odd! What's wrong" with a convincing level of urgency.

Odd groaned and shifted in bed using only his upper body. Aelita approached him with a grave look that seemed a bit off. But he paid that point no mind and struggled to sit up, smiling as Aelita's hand stopped him and she gently asked him what was wrong again. Thinking that he had both her and Jeremy now he gestured to his legs, "I think something is still wrong."

Jeremy looked at Aelita then to Odd, "maybe I should have a look." He walked up beside Aelita and grabbed Odd's blankets after she nodded to him and cautiously pulled them off of Odd's legs. Aelita watched him grimace then suck in a breath as Jeremy did that and for a moment she considered the possibility that he really was still hurt. But Jeremy looked him over and saw no evidence of any sort of damage, has assessment conveyed with a quick glance. Aelita looked Odd in the eyes and found no evidence of tears which she had learned early on were a sign of more than just sadness. She turned her gaze to Odd's legs and moved her hand hesitantly towards them.

Odd readied himself to scream out in agony as Aelita approached. It was actually part instinct as only moments ago he was on painkillers and looking at surgery to reassemble the shattered bone. He felt her hand make contact with his skin just above the knee and couldn't scream. Instead he laughed wildly as Aelita squeezed that area then relaxed her fingers for a second then started again. Jeremy shook his head and Aelita shot him a glance which he interrupted as a request for help. He joined in, pinning Odd's legs to the bed and doing the same thing Aelita was to the knee she didn't have a hold on. Ulrich restrained Odd's hands, leaving him to the mercy of the two geniuses. "Told you not to try a prank," Ulrich said through his own laughter.

Sissi hurried down the hall as she approached Ulrich and Odd's room. The sound of laughter and what might be pleas to stop were spilling out into the hallway and she was anxious to see what was going on. She pushed rapidly through the partly closed door and stopped short at the sight: Odd, in his Kiwi emblazoned shirt and orange sleeping shorts was writhing on his bed, gasping for breath and laughing as Jeremy sat across his legs while he and Aelita were doing something to his knees. At the head of the bed Ulrich was leaned over Odd and holding his wrists, presumably to prevent retaliation as the blond and pink haired teens tickled him.

Jeremy looked up at Odd's face and let go of his knee, putting his hand over Aelita's to let her know it was time to stop. Odd looked like he was hitting the point where laughter becomes both painful and dangerous and though it was years ago, he could still remember what that point felt like and how much worse it got as you went beyond it. Aelita looked between him and Odd then relinquished her hold on Odd's knee before slowly backing away to give Jeremy space to move off the bed. Ulrich waited until his two friends were clear of Odd, noting that Jeremy had to fend off a few kicks from the boy, then released Odd's hands and moved quickly out of Odd's reach.

Sissi walked farther into the room, disappointed that she had missed out on tickling Odd and wondering if that was some kind of normal thing or what. She watched as Odd lay on the bed, tears streaking down his cheeks while he caught his breath. He scowled at each of his attackers and Sissi walked over to him, turning a curious look on the threesome that had been attacking Odd, "What did he do to deserve that?"

Aelita smiled lightly, "he wanted to make us think his legs hadn't been repaired by the return trip."

Whatever Odd might have tried to answer with disappeared into shock and Jeremy answered the unspoken question. "When you jumped Sissi was the one who rescued you before you could drown. We gave her the choice to join us and apparently she agreed." He gave her a knowing smile, "speaking of which, I hope your first experience with the scanners wasn't too bad." He frowned but understood as Sissi's expression darkened at the memory.

Her experience hadn't exactly been pleasant, in fact she wondered if she would have nightmares about the claustrophobic metal cylinder and the perfectly dark environment it created when the doors hissed closed. The ring of light starting at her feet and working its way upwards, recording her stained clothes and messy hair along with whatever else it imaged. The invasive feeling of having her body recorded atom for atom as Aelita had described and the fear of wondering what could happen if the information got out. Aelita's assurance of safety and privacy almost wasn't enough to convince her to step into the thing.

Odd, having recovered enough to speak and anxious to get some revenge spoke up, interrupting Sissi's thoughtful pause. "You should've seen Einstein here for his first trip to Lyoko... I bet he shit in his pants when the door slid shut."

Jeremy tried and failed to put on a brave face as he answered, "It wasn't the scan that bothered me, it was that I'd fought with Aelita and was scared she wouldn't want me in Lyoko because she was mad."

"Uh huh," Ulrich chuckled, "you were terrified and almost backed out but we wouldn't let you."

Sissi looked sympathetically at Jeremy as Aelita tried to defend him. "But he did step into that scanner and get virtualized." Her voice sounded supportive at first but she finished with a very warm, soft tone as she recalled the time spent linked to Jeremy's mind. He obviously recalled that as well, for he smiled at the memory. Quirking an eyebrow Sissi asked the obvious question, "What happened on Lyoko?"

Odd blurted out an answer before anyone else could speak saying, "they had mind sex." He laughed at his own teasing tone and the reactions he got. Jeremy and Aelita blushed over the rather crude description of what had actually happened. Ulrich turned a disgusted look on Odd while Sissi stood for a moment in shock before yelping "What!"

"I got caught in some sort of void because Yumi made an error in the transfer procedure. Aelita was able to contact me but in the process our minds linked, allowing us to share each other's thoughts and emotions."

"It was an experience that I think we'll both remember fondly for the rest of our lives..." Aelita chuckled, "even if the transfer process was a little rough on Jeremy."

"A little?" Jeremy questioned the room, "you guys call nearly getting deleted a little rough?"

"Relax Jeremy," Aelita said as she gently touched his arm, "Odd's just trying to have a little fun at your expense." She turned her attention to Odd and quickly looked him over one last time as the energy of their earlier fun faded and her tiredness from everything came back with a vengeance. "Odd? Are you going to be all right?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine... No more jumps off of factory roofs, but the sci..." Odd cut himself off as everyone frowned and glared at him." Ok, ok, ok. I'm fine and no more attempts at suicide." As he looked around the assembled group he became serious for a moment. "Look guys, I really didn't mean to hurt everyone like I did. I needed some excitement and figured that if it killed me it wouldn't matter because you'd all be better off without me. I still... I'm sorry you all had to go through that."

Jeremy looked at Odd, friend and sometime enemy, with compassion and a measure of doubt. What principal Delmas said on the erased day still haunted some of his thoughts. Sincere as Odd sounded, he still wondered about the boy. Part of him worried that Odd was faking just to have everyone off his back. Another part wondered if he'd try to take advantage of the group's sympathy. Still another was concerned that Odd really did need professional help just as the principal recommended. Making matters worse was he knew almost nothing about people. He'd been getting better thanks to Aelita but still, it wasn't enough to get a really good assessment of Odd's condition in such a short time. Aelita would tell him to stop, talk to Odd and go with his feelings. Yumi would probably give him the same advice were she here. He looked up at Odd, having momentarily changed focus to his feet as he felt some quilt over thinking badly of his troubled friend.

Ulrich's phone rang just as Jeremy opened his mouth to tell Odd that he wanted to talk to him and Aelita, after hearing that it was Yumi, tugged on his arm to indicate that it was time to go. While Ulrich answered the seemingly obligatory questions about Odd's condition, Aelita wished Odd a warm goodnight and walked slowly enough to allow Jeremy to do the same. Sissi looked longingly and a little jealously at Ulrich then bid both him and Odd goodnight before following Jeremy and Aelita out the door and pulling it shut. Jeremy looked back at the closed door then shook it off, it wasn't like he had a good idea of how to talk to Odd yet anyway and there would be plenty of time tomorrow. Aelita glanced worriedly at Jeremy and Sissi walked a few steps behind as they all made their way down the hall.

Sissi, wondering if Jeremy and Aelita were paying any attention to the outside world, called out to William as he approached. The Einstein couple looked up as one and offered a cordial greeting to WIlliam then flashed grateful smiles to Sissi after stopping near him. "Odd's just fine... he even tried to prank us." Aelita answered the questioning look in a friendly manor. "Yumi called Ulrich to check on Odd and they're probably still talking," she added uncertainly.

William smiled at her, "thanks for the warning." He turned and started walking back towards his room.

"You aren't going to check on him?" Sissi asked a moment before realizing that William had decided not to for the same reason she had decided not to stay around and listen to Ulrich while he talked with Yumi. Looking between Jeremy, Aelita and William, Sissi finally settled on looking at Jeremy while he called out a good night to William. Once he had finished, she decided to ask him a question that had been bugging her: "What are the rules for using a return to the past?"

Aelita immediately hushed her and the trio moved to Jeremy's room where they could discuss that in private. "As infrequently as possible," Jeremy answered as Sissi sat down at his desk while he and Aelita sat side by side on the bed. "The return to the past program increases the supercomputer's power each time it's used and there are effects on all of us as well."

Aelita continued, seeing Sissi's concerned expression. "We're not sure if it's an actual, physical side effect of the process or just sleep deprivation to be honest. At the moment we think it's the latter, scans of all of us haven't revealed any sort of defect arising from either the return trips or the virtualization process." Knowing what Jeremy might add to that, Aelita silenced him with a look then continued. "There's a lot about Lyoko and our fight that you don't know, although I did give you an overview before you were scanned." Sissi nodded, remembering that. "And you'll have plenty of time to learn about it. But even though we're done fighting XANA, Lyoko is still a secret that my... that all our lives depend on keeping. My mom was killed over it and my dad locked us away rather than let the technology get out. Do you understand that?"

Sissi looked at the hardened expression on Aelita's face and saw a similar one on Jeremy's. Her little slip in the hallway hadn't been appreciated and she could see that clearly. Second guessing her decision once again, she gulped and looked away. "I'm sorry," she said weakly.

"It's alright Sissi," Jeremy answered, "just try to keep in mind the stakes. We don't mind explaining things but it has to be in secret."

Sissi nodded and turned her face up to meet Aelita's eyes. "I understand." She bid the two a goodnight and left the room, closing the door to give the couple whatever privacy it would afford. As she headed down the hall to a stairwell she looked towards William's door and wondered how much different she was from him. He was largely outside the group despite being included. He had lost the one he loved to a rival. He didn't fit in, in much the same way that she didn't.

(())

Kadic Academy, Cafeteria, Sunday 9:00 AM: Elizabeth yawned as she walked in and got into the food line. For it being so early, the cafeteria was crowded though it really wasn't that big of a surprise today. Someone had accidently shorted some electrical lines and the result was a very loud, high pitched noise that was blasted through the PA system. The entire live-in student body woke, some in a panic thinking it was a fire alarm, and now many couldn't get back to sleep. As consolation, a special breakfast was offered and as Rosa offered up a couple of strips of bacon, Sissi shook her head no. The waffles, fruit and whipped cream would be plenty for her and she did have her figure to maintain. She walked out of the line and towards the Lyoko warriors.

The table was arranged slightly differently this morning. Aelita was sitting across from, instead of next to, Jeremy and she had her pink laptop open and was typing on it in between bites of fruit. Beside her sat Yumi and beside Yumi was Ulrich. Yumi gave Jeremy a strange look along with an amused smile. Jeremy looked worried while Odd sat next to him obvious to everything but the food he was shoveling into his mouth. Next to Odd was William who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else than across from Ulrich.

At another table sat a distressed looking Herve and Nicholas, the two friends who she'd abandoned when she was accepted to the Lyoko warrior's circle. Around another table was a group of tired looking cheerleaders who were eying her with an unfriendly look. She had definitely lost a good deal of status in her move. But having Herve and Nicholas mad at her seemed to be the worst consequence for some reason. Looking back in their direction she sighed slightly as they pointedly looked away and returned her attention towards Jeremy's table. It was strange to think of it that way, but it was also easier than to think of it as Ulrich's. That wound hadn't healed completely.

Yumi eyed Sissi warily until Aelita nudged her. Now that the emotional roller coaster of Odd's misadventure was over she was having second thoughts about allowing Sissi in. The girl was, as Jeremy might put it after watching a spy movie, a security risk. Though to date she hadn't done anything that she knew of to jeopardize everything that had been fought for. Further, despite the proximity to Ulrich she hadn't done anything but occasionally flirt lightly with him. It was still bothersome and annoying even when Ulrich told her to stop. It was infuriating if Ulrich tried to play nice. Part of her wished Sissi could be un-scanned and her memory erased. But then she'd still be actively competing and that would have been worse.

Aelita looked up from her laptop to see Sissi seemingly caught and unable to decide if and where she should sit. A glance at Yumi suggested the reason and she nudged the older girl lightly to draw her attention away from Sissi. Before the girl sat down though, Aelita was back to being absorbed in her program. She did however keep an ear open to the table just in case. And while she felt guilty about working through breakfast she knew there was a good reason for it. Welcoming Odd back into the fold had been a little... Difficult was the word she'd settled on. Not that anyone minded now but it was still added work. It was easier than the constant worrying and effort to punish though.

William motioned for Sissi to sit beside him and Odd looked up as she sat down. "Morning Sissi," he greeted with a half full mouth. A chorus of voices echoed the greeting and then everyone turned back to what they were doing. Odd continued eating while Yumi and Ulrich discussed what they were going to do for their free day. After a few moments, Sissi spoke up, mindful to use a soft voice, "can I see Lyoko today?" She felt all eyes on her.

Odd answered first, "yeah sure, I can show you after breakfast."

"No, you're spending an hour after breakfast working on the practice problems we let you skip yesterday," Yumi reminded him.

Odd's expression fell then brightened, "can't I do that on Lyoko? It's easier for me to pick up geometry there anyway."

Jeremy spoke up, "if you promise me you'll actually work on it then I can take you to the factory while Aelita works on the project I'm not allowed to know about." He glanced at Aelita, or rather her laptop and asked, "how about a hint?"

Aelita looked up from her keyboard, "Odd, Sissi, why don't you come by the factory at... two o'clock and we'll get you set up. Odd can work and we'll show you around Lyoko." Pushing down the screen so she could see Jeremy she added, "nope, it's a surprise."

Yumi chuckled and flashed a sympatric look to her stressed and worried friend before looking at Ulrich then Sissi, "you know what, I think I'll go with you guys." Glances and what little Jeremy had taught her about the supercomputer gave her a pretty good guess at what Aelita was planning and she wanted to see how Jeremy would fare. Also, she didn't want Sissi on Lyoko without herself being there.

Now all eyes were on Yumi who shrugged and said simply, "what? I want to know what she looks like on Lyoko and I didn't get to see Jeremy before Aelita gave him a new profile so..."

Jeremy laughed, feeling embarrassed about that time on Lyoko and answered "no offense Yumi, but I'm glad you didn't have to see that."

Odd laughed as well and looked up from his food, "I'll draw you a..."

Odd stopped in mid sentence as Aelita threatened, "not unless you want that profile for your next visit to Lyoko, Odd."

"Sorry Yumi but I am not subjecting myself to that humiliation."

"Chicken." Ulrich replied to Odd through his laughter. "If it's so worth Yumi seeing then why not?"

Sissi sighed as they continued to argue good naturedly and wished she could fit in here. But making fun of Jeremy with Aelita around probably wasn't wise and there was no way she was going to do anything like offering to use Jeremy's profile, whatever that was. Her attention was pulled away from her thoughts by William. "This is why I don't always sit or study with them, sometimes it feels like I'm completely left out." Sissi nodded her head.

(())

Jeremy looked at Odd's door, knowing that staring at it wasn't going to change its state, Jeremy knocked. While he waited Aelita's words kept him glued to the spot. While I finish my surprise, talk to Odd, ok? You never got to at the hospital and haven't all week. She was right, he needed to talk with the boy he'd observed for the past week. But his observations had proven useful since they'd eased his fears about Mr. Delmas' concerns.

"Hi Jeremy... What brings you here?" Odd asked as he opened the door.

"Well, I never really got to talk to you at the hospital and... I guess I just figured I'd see how you were doing." Jeremy smiled a little nervously as Odd welcomed him in.

"And you finally decided to stop spying on me?"

Jeremy looked down. Spying wasn't exactly the nicest way to put it but it wasn't exactly wrong either. He'd watched Odd pretty closely, looking for signs of aberrant behavior that he'd researched on the 'net. But Odd seemed to show none, just his usual attitude and even that was toned down some. Which worried him slightly too. Though most things concerning the welfare of his group had that effect. He supposed it was a lingering effect of feeling the responsibility for the entire group's lives for so long. "I wasn't spying on you." He answered defensively. "I was checking on you."

"Why?" Odd demanded, "I promised everyone I wouldn't do that again and since when have you known me to break my promise?"

"Never." Jeremy responded. "But you've directly attacked your friends and you've never tried killing yourself either. You did both in the span of two weeks and I'm worried. You seem better but Odd... Do you know what Mr. Delmas thought about you, what he said he saw in you and the kind of help you needed?"

"Jeremy, listen I'm fine. Overworked and under loved but fine just the same. You don't have to worry about me, I know how much my actions hurt you guys and I can promise you it won't happen again." Odd looked at Jeremy from his seated position on the bed as Jeremy pulled his head up to look at Odd's face.

Jeremy shook his head and consciously kept his arms at his side so he didn't fidget. This hadn't been easy to hear and it was getting harder to repeat as time passed. "Odd, the principal said..."

"That I needed professional help because I obviously don't see women as people if I could force them into having sex." Jeremy blinked as Odd finished his sentence. Odd continued, "Ulrich told me about it earlier in the week."

"So then has this all been an act to make all of us think you're ok just to throw us off?" Jeremy asked with a quake in his voice that said he was unsure of himself.

Odd cocked his head to the side, "have you been watching spy movies of something?"

Jeremy stared up in disbelief, "Odd this is serious. I'm talking about."

"Me, " Odd interrupted loudly. "You're talking about me. Never before have I let you or the group down. Not once have I abandoned you." Jeremy considered differing but he supposed that in the end Odd had a point. He'd always managed to make it in time to help. Odd calmed down a bit as Jeremy did. "I get it, I screwed up with my plan. Yumi forgave me. Aelita forgave me. Ulrich forgave me. Hell, even Sissi stuck up for me. So why can't you?"

Jeremy strongly considered yelling back but restrained himself, that wouldn't help matters at all. Truthfully, he was only holding on to the incident now because he felt it was his duty to protect his friends from harm. He couldn't fight physically so he used his mind, remaining alert to the possibility of more trouble. But as he looked the angry friend over he decided it was time to let go. Probably something Aelita had taught him. "Look Odd, you know I feel responsible for all of you guys and I sometimes can't help it. The others let go and I... I guess I still needed to make sure. Delmas is supposed to be trained to spot problem students and when he decided you were one I figured I shouldn't be so quick to dismiss his thoughts."

Odd huffed in annoyance as Jeremy was basically saying that he trusted an outsider more than a warrior. And the thought registered as weird for a moment until he realized that in some ways Jeremy did consider himself an outsider. And a parent, leader and provider all in one. Or maybe that was something Yumi had told him somewhere along the line. But that vigilance had saved everyone's lives more than once. "Jeremy," Odd started off, his anger draining off of his face. "I'm not the monster Delmas thought I was."

"I know," Jeremy interrupted. "But I had to make sure, it's just what I do."

"Yeah." Odd agreed.

Jeremy turned and started to leave then looked back and turned again before extending his hand in Odd's direction. "No more drugs, no more suicide attempts?"

"No more snooping around or spying?" As Odd took Jeremy's hand he quickly added, "and no more homework."

"Odd..." Jeremy drawled in annoyance.

"Fine." Odd huffed, "No more snooping around or spying from you and no more drugging people or suicide attempts from me."

Jeremy shook his hand firmly, "Deal."

"Ok good, now get out of here so I can try to enjoy my time before your math class."

Jeremy chuckled on his way out and headed for his room. If Aelita wasn't working on some sort of secret project he'd to up to her room. But she was and he changed his mind about going to his room. If he went there he'd work on Lyoko and end up dwelling on what Aelita had planned for him. Instead he decided to go walking around campus in the hope that it would keep his mind off of Aelita's plan. She had had that strange glint in her eye that made him worry she was up to no good when she told him yesterday she was working on something for him but couldn't say what it was.

Odd looked around his room and decided to do a little snooping of his own. He wouldn't go bother the princess since he knew full well she would carry through with her threat and he really did not want that humiliation. Jeremy wasn't likely to be doing anything worth spying on so that left Yumi and Ulrich. Who would kill him if they caught him spying on them. He looked at Kiwi, unless he had a good reason to be in their general area... Grabbing the leash he gathered Kiwi and began to head towards the dorm exit. Yumi and Ulrich would probably be sparring in the gym and if he was lucky he could wind up needing to hide there if he was caught by the couple. If he was really lucky, he'd catch them in an embarrassing picture.

A/N: Next chapter should have some fun moments to balance out the seriousness of the last couple.