A/N: This is the final one for the 'pre-materialisation' arc. The next batch of chapters will be about Aelita and Jérémie adjusting to her finally living on Earth. As ever, if there any scenes you'd like to see, just leave them in a comment. Thanks for reading, and for over 1,000 hits. :)

-The Princess and the Genius-

Dreams

"What are dreams, Jérémie?"

At Aelita's question, one of an endless many about the world, the boy explained as best he could. He loved her love of learning and how she always asked what came to mind, no matter how random or insignificant or bizarre. She would need to arm herself with all the knowledge she could before she arrived on Earth after all, for the day was drawing nearer. And yet they didn't dare talk about it; they couldn't afford to waste energy on excitement when there had been so many disappointments already.

"Dreams are... well, they're ideas and pictures that your mind makes up whilst you sleep," said Jérémie. "Sort of like an impromptu movie in your head. They can be surreal or ordinary, or things that you think about often when you're awake."

"I see. That's interesting."

"Do you dream, Aelita?" He asked this almost shyly, forgetting momentarily, real as she was to him, that as a virtual being she wasn't even capable of sleep. Aelita shook her head sadly; the closest she got, she explained, was something she had come to call 'drifting' - a deep meditation where her consciousness became one with the stillness of Lyoko.

When she asked Jérémie what he dreamed about, his quiet blush was the only answer she needed.

Later, Aelita sat lotus-like on the Desert floor as her mind strayed aimlessly in peaceful contemplation. A thought struck her and, holding into the detached feeling of calmness, she conjured abstract images in her mind. The opening of the scanner door, blond hair and glasses, a shy smile and eyes of deep blue. Then, a hand in hers, warm grass beneath her feet as Jérémie had described it, and the hot sun overhead.

It wasn't quite a dream, but it was pleasant enough.

/

The air was thick with anticipation when the day finally arrived.

Jérémie took a deep breath, keying in the last part of the code before wiping his palms nervously on his jeans; inside the tower, Aelita hopped from foot to foot in nervous excitement. The Lyoko warriors stood in the scanner room, ready to greet their comrade at long last.

A countdown, a sliding open of scanner doors, a vision of pink against white light. Green eyes met blue with matching smiles and he took her in his arms, holding her tightly, for the very first time.

And neither one had to dream any more.