A/N: We are getting into the big plot guys! And I'm so excited to finally get there! I hope to update the next chapter sooner but in the meantime, let's learn more about Aelita's past and Ulrich's home problems!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

As soon as Aelita stepped off the train, she knew she was truly home. While the Hermitage was amazing and her friends were the best, they weren't her family and that's exactly what Switzerland held: her family.

When she left Kadic to go find herself, she ending up finding long lost relatives on her mother's side. Everything seemed to fall into place after that. All those years trapped in Lyoko faded away when she met her aunts and uncles and cousins.

She smiled when she saw the big crowd waiting to pick her up. An older woman with faded pink hair that was almost white ran up to her, engulfing her in a hug.

"I'm so glad you're home!" She cried, squeezing Aelita tight.

Her named was called all around the crowd as the people tried to hug her.

"I'm missed you guys so much!" Aelita exclaimed, pulling away from her little cousins.

"Let's go get you something to eat, you must be starving," The older woman suggested, taking Aelita's arm.

"I'll go get your bags!" An older man volunteered.

"It's so good to have you home," The older woman said, leaning her head against Aelita's shoulder. "How has university been treating you?"

"Oh, it's been great, Aunt Alida," Aelita replied. "I have this amazing job DJing at a radio station."

"And your grades?"

"I find out next week, unfortunately."

"All A's, I'm sure," Alida assured, leading her into one of the cars.

Aelita giggled as she got into the car. Some of her little cousins bounced in next to her, talking her ears off all the all the cabin. Aelita was able to find and purchase the old cabin from her childhood on one of her travels. She fixed it up like the Hermitage. Every Christmas since then, she met her family up in the cabin. It helped eased the memories of her mother being taken from the place.

When they got to the cabin, all the little ones jumped out and started playing in the snow. Aelita helped her Uncle Cyrus with the bags while Aunt Alida and the other adults started cooking a nice warm meal.

The night was the best night Aelita had in awhile. Her family knew all about her troubles with Lyoko, her father, and her mother. She didn't have to hesitate to talk to them about it. All her ghosts seemed to float until the night came. Even surrounded by families, being back in the cabin caused her nightmares to be as prominent as ever.

She woke up around four o'clock in the morning with the same nightmare of her mother being taken. She gave up on sleep, getting up and slipping on a sweatshirt and her house shoes. She made her way downstairs to the kitchen for a cup of peppermint tea but her Aunt Alida was already there, pouring two mugs.

"Morning, sweetie. Nightmares?" Alida asked, handing her a mug.

"Yeah, you?"

Alida nodded, sipping her tea. Alida was her mother's sister and suffered just as much as Aelita did when her mother was kidnapped. Alida had to flee with her husband and kids after Anthea was kidnapped. They spent several years in hiding until Aelita's father disappeared in Lyoko. Aelita was able to track them down when she left Kadic.

"What was it this time, sweetie?" Alida asked.

"My mother being taken by those men. I wish I could get her back."

"So do I, honey," Alida replied. "It kills me that I haven't been able to see my sister in so long. It kills me that you have been able to see your mother in so long. But I promise you, Aelita, we will get her back. One day."

Aelita smiled, wiping her tears from her eyes. "Thanks, Aunt Alida. That means the world to me."

Alida stroked her hair, wiping a few tears away as she did so. "Want to help me with breakfast? We got a cabin full this morning."

"Of course."

When Ulrich made it back to his house, he expected his mom to come out of the kitchen, greeting him. Sadly, that wasn't the case. The house was unusually quiet. He set his stuff down and went straight to his dad's office but found it empty. Ulrich stared inside, confused. He called them last week to tell him that he would be back home today so where were they?

Ulrich shook his head, dialing his mom's number. He wasn't in the mood for his dad's attitude today.

"Hello?"

"Mom, where are you?"

"What are you talking about, sweetie?"

Ulrich sighed in annoyance. "I'm at home and no one is here."

"Um…"

Ulrich noticed her hesitance and groaned. That could mean only one thing: his parents got into another fight and his mom went to his grandparents while his dad was drinking his problems away. "Want me to come see you, Oma and Opa?"

His mother started crying on the phone. "Sweetie, you know Oma and Opa want to see you more than anything but I need you to go get your father and take of him, okay? Can you do that for me?"

Ulrich sighed. It was the same every time. His mom would run off and he would be left to drag his father out of the bar. "Of course, Mom. I'll come over for Christmas."

"I would like that, sweetie."

Ulrich got off the phone with his mom and pulled out a cigarette. So much for quitting. After he finished smoking, he got into his car and drove to his dad's regular place. The bar was empty since they just opened. The bartender was cleaning up a few things but nodded when Ulrich came in. Ulrich nodded back and spotted his father in his usual spot. Sighing he walked over, sitting down next to his father.

"Son."

"Dad," Ulrich replied. "How many have you had?"

"I don't know. Five."

Ulrich caught the bartender's eye who nodded. Ulrich sighed, rubbing his head. "What happened?"

"Did your mother not tell you?" Mr. Stern spat. "She left me. For good this time."

Ulrich closed his eyes in anger. That explained why his mother was so upset but that didn't explain why he was stuck here with his father.

"She said she had enough of my attitude so she packed up and left. I'm honestly not surprised. We haven't been happy since you were a kid," Mr. Stern kept talking, not paying attention to his son who had pulled out another cigarette. "It's over. It's officially over."

Ulrich sighed, pulling the drink out of his father's hand. "Time to go home, Dad." Ulrich placed money done for the drinks and pulled his father's arm over his shoulder and dragged him out.

When they got home, Ulrich placed his father on the couch where he fell asleep instantly. Ulrich shook his head in disappointment then went to his room to call his mother.

"Hello?"

"Mom, Dad told me what happened. Now I need you to tell," Ulrich demanded.

"Oh, honey," His mom sobbed through the phone.

"Please, Mom, tell me," Ulrich practically begged.

"Your Oma came to visit right after you left for University and noticed that your father had become worse. I don't what came over me but I decided to listen to her and go see a therapist. I tried to convince your father to join but he yelled at me. After a few weeks with a therapist, I learned I was depressed but even on antidepressants, I wasn't getting better. I realized then how verbally abusive your father has been. We got into a huge fight over it and I decided to leave your father after he tried to hit. But I'm okay, baby. He didn't hurt me."

"Mom, why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to take your focus off of school."

"I'm coming to see you."

"No, baby. You need to stay with your father. Stay with him until Christmas then you can come."

Ulrich sighed. "Mom, I can't stay with him. He might have gotten better after I left Kadic but now that you are gone, he will get worse."

"Honey, please." She begged. "I know how he gets around you but I can't stand to see him all alone on Christmas."

"Okay," Ulrich gave him. "But if he tries anything, I'm coming to you, okay?"

"Okay. I love you."

"Love you too," Ulrich hung up the phone and placed his head in his hands.

"What did I tell you?"

Ulrich looked up at the voice and groaned. "Go away."

"You aren't good enough."

"Not now."

"Even your own mother doesn't want you."

"No."

"What makes you think she will want you if your own mother doesn't?"

"Go."

"You're a failure."

Ulrich slammed his fist against the wall. "GO!"

The cabin was in full swing by noon and Aelita couldn't be happier. The noise and laughter made her forget all about her dream. Though she knew as soon as she closed her eyes tonight the nightmares would be back. Aelita pushed that thought out of her mind and tried to enjoy her time with her family.

"Aelita!" A young teenager with pink hair like her came running up. "Cyril and I are going sledding. Want to join?"

"Sure, Alala. Let me grab my coat," Aelita washed her hands from cooking their dinner then left the kitchen to grab her coat out of her room. She noticed her phone was lighting up on her dresser. She picked it up to see she had five missed calls, two voicemails, and twenty text messages. "My God, what did I miss?" She wondered, unlocking her screen and noticing they were all from Ulrich. She pressed the playback button to listen to her voicemails.

"Aelita? I'm sorry to bother you but I really need to talk to you. Can you call me back?"

"Aelita? Something's happening to me. Please call me."

Aelita frowned, going through her texts.

I can't get in touch with anyone. Please answer me.

Something's wrong with me.

I'm scared.

The texts went on like this. Aelita shook her hand, calling to Alala that she would catch up, then called Ulrich.

"Aelita," Ulrich sighed in relief as he answered.

"What's going on, Ulrich?"

"I-I don't know. I can't think straight. I keep seeing stuff."

"Like what?" Aelita asked confused.

"I can't explain. I just really need someone. You are the only one to answer."

"Ulrich, you're scaring me. What's wrong?" Aelita asked, worriedly.

"I hate to ask this but can you come back?"

Aelita sighed, thinking it over. She loved her family more than anything and really wanted to spend time with them but Ulrich was one of her best friends.

"Aelita, please. It's about Lyoko." Ulrich added, noticing her silence.

That changed her mind in an intense. "I'll be there tomorrow afternoon, okay?"

"Thank you," Ulrich sighed in relief before hanging up.

Aelita groaned, rubbing her head. Now she had to break the news to her family.

After a long talk with her aunt, Aelita didn't feel as guilty to leave her family. Her aunt knew her friend needed her, especially when Lyoko was involved. Alida knew how much Lyoko affected her and her friends. So that next day, Aelita's Uncle Cyrus and Aunt Alida drove her back to the train station where she caught a train to Germany. A couple of hours later, Aelita found herself in front of Ulrich's door. She knocked and waited for an answer. After ten minutes of standing outside in the cold, Aelita tried to open the door, finding it was open.

"Hello? Ulrich?" She cried, closing the door behind her. "Ulrich?" She walked the familiar path to his room, pushing the door open. "Ulrich?"

Her friend was sitting in the corner, his arms wrapped around his knees, shaking.

"Oh, Ulrich," Aelita cried, running towards him, crouching down to his level. "What is it?"

"I-I can't stop him," He cried.

"Who? Who can't you stop?" Aelita asked, rubbing soothing circles on his hand. "Tell me."

"H-h-he won't go away."

"Ulrich, look at me," Aelita demanded, grabbing his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. "Tell me what happened."

"I-I see William, Aelita. Every day. He never leaves. He's always there, haunting me, tell me I'm not good enough. I can't sleep. I can't think. I can't breathe. I-It's like he's suffocating me. Make it stop!" Ulrich yelled, forcing his face out of her hands and burying his head back in his knees.

"Oh, Ulrich," Aelita's heart broke at the site of him, pulling him in for a hug. They sat like for what seemed like hours until Ulrich pulled away.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. You aren't the only one suffering," Aelita reminded him.

"Yeah but I took you away from your vacation."

"You're more important," Aelita told him. "We'll figure this out, Ulrich. You'll get better."

"That's not the only thing," Ulrich confessed. "I thought these visions were getting better but I came home yesterday and found out that my parents are getting a divorce."

"Oh, Ulrich, I'm so sorry. What happened?"

"My dad being a jackass as always. My mom is still being a nice person and wants me to stay with him but I can't, Aelita. He tried to hit my mom," Ulrich explained.

Aelita rubbed his knee in comfort. "Okay. Why don't I stay here with you? That way you aren't alone with your dad."

"I couldn't ask you to do that. I already made you leave your vacation," Ulrich shook his head. "You can still go back."

"And leave you here by yourself? No way. We're friends, Ulrich. I'm here for you, remember. I'm going to help you get through this."

"You're the best, princess," Ulrich pulled her in for another hug. "Thank you."

"Thanks for inviting me over, Jeremy," Vivien smiled, sitting down next to Jeremy by his computer desk.

"Well how else are we going to launch the program?" Jeremy asked, motioning to the computer.

"I meant for dinner. It was nice to get to know your parents. I like them," Vivien corrected.

"And they like you. Now are you ready for the big moment?"

Vivien nodded excitedly, watching Jeremy's fingers dance across the keyboard as he launch their program.

"And done."

Vivien squealed in excitement, jumping up to hug Jeremy.

As the couple celebrated, several miles away a loud ding went off in a lab. A strange man with wild hair looked up from his work. He walked over to the computer in the middle of the lab, scanning the message. He cursed under his breathe, slamming his fist against the table.

"Aelita."