A/N: This chapter took longer to get out than I thought. Some big things are coming up next chapter.

It's been a few weeks since William was elected to get closer to Laura and it was going great. Laura didn't suspect a thing. Every day they met for coffee and talked for hours. After a couple of times meeting, William worked up the nerve to ask her to go to dinner that weekend. Laura agreed with a smile. But even after all their meetings, William still had nothing.

Meanwhile, ever since Laura received the offer from Tyron, she started looking into Aelita and her little 'gang.' She couldn't find much about Aelita. It was like she wasn't real but she was able to find stuff about the others. Oh, boy was Laura able to find information about them. But it was Jeremy and his girlfriend she found most interesting. Vivien was on an interesting path. Her last year of high school, she was put on the waitlist for MIT. MIT apparently told her to send an original project and they would consider her. That was over a year ago. Jeremy was also put on the waitlist for MIT but only after Vivien applied. The two were trying to get in together. And seemed like they were working on a project together, Laura just had to figure out what it was.

Laura wasn't the only one trying to find this program, Aelita was on it as well. She was bundled up in warm clothes and went with Odd, Ulrich, and Yumi back to the old factory. The three of them stood behind her, bundled up with hot chocolates in their hands as Aelita typed away on her laptop.

"It's freezing in here. Why didn't we bring a heater?" Odd complained, bouncing slightly on his toes.

"Stop bouncing," Yumi snapped.

"Well, someone is still touchy," Odd said, eyeing Ulrich who was huddled next to him.

Ulrich shook his head, warning Odd not to say anything. "Got anything, Aelita?"

"Actually, I think so. I was able to create a program on my laptop that would be to alert me when whoever made this Lyoko opens it," Aelita said, finishing up her program. "I can put this on my computer and create another alert to my phone that why if I'm not home and they open the program, it will send me the location of the computer they are using."

Odd whistled under his breath. "Remind me never to get on your bad side, princess."

Aelita looked over her shoulder and grinned at him. "I'll be done in a few minutes."

"Good. This place brings back memories I didn't want back," Odd said as Ulrich and Yumi nodded in agreement.

Aelita quickly finished up her program, closed her laptop, and disconnected it from the supercomputer. Odd reached down and grabbed her laptop as Ulrich grabbed Aelita's hand to help her up. "Alright, let's get out of here."

"Thank god," Odd cried, putting Aelita's laptop back in her bag and throwing it over his shoulder. "I need more hot chocolate."

The four walked slowly back to the Hermitage. Aelita hooked her arm through Odd's arm, trying to get warm. Odd rubbed his hand, giving her an encouraging smile.

"Have you heard from William today?"

Aelita shook her head. "He texted last night saying their dinner went well but that's it. He seems like he is getting too close to her."

"Yeah, I'm afraid of that," Odd said. "Maybe we should remind him why he is doing this."

"He should know why he's doing this," Aelita said.

"You want me and Ulrich to talk some sense into him?" Odd asked.

"Would you please?" Aelita sighed in relief.

"Anything for you, princess."

Ulrich turned to look at Odd, raising his eyebrows. "Why both of us?"

"It would be best if he heard it from both of us," Odd said.

"Please, Ulrich." Aelita gave him her best puppy eyes.

Ulrich sighed. He wasn't William's biggest fan but he would do whatever Aelita asked of him. "Okay."

Yumi scuffed, walking a little faster ahead.

Aelita frowned at her reaction, leaning more into Odd. She watched as Ulrich sighed and walked faster to catch up with her. "Do you ever think they will stop fighting?"

"Sure hope so. If they ever get together, they would be amazing together," Odd replied.

"Yumi! Wait up," Ulrich called, running up beside her. "What's wrong?"

Yumi shook her head, crossing her arms. The past few days, everything that happened over break has filled Yumi's head. She couldn't get Ulrich calling Aelita out of her head. She knew they were just friends but Ulrich would do anything for Aelita. She didn't think he would do the same for her.

Ulrich sighed when she didn't say anything. Of course, she was still mad. She's been mad at him for almost a month now. She wasn't going to get over it that easily. "Well, soccer is starting soon. My first game is this Tuesday." She always use to love him watching him play.

Yumi hummed. "I'll think about it."

Back at the Hermitage, Yumi went straight to her room, claiming she had homework when she really just needed to write. She's been writing more since Odd put out his movie. She figured if Odd could express his feelings in a creative way, so could she. Every day she would write her feelings down. It was helping with her nightmares and she was getting them less and less.

A few minutes of writing, she heard someone knock on her door. She sighed, dropping her pen. "Come in!"

Odd opened the door, grinning at her with a mug in his hand. "Hot chocolate."

Yumi rolled her eyes, taking the mug from her. "Thanks, Odd."

"What's with you and Ulrich?" Odd asked, making himself comfortable on her bed.

Yumi turned her chair around to look at him and propped her mug against the back of the chair. "Did Ulrich tell you what happen over break?"

"Of course. I'm his best friend. He tells me everything," Odd bragged, grinning at her. Yumi gave him a look, causing him to frown. "He told me that his parents separated and he broke down so he called Aelita. He said he couldn't get you or me to pick up and she was the only one that called him back."

Yumi shook her head, grabbing her phone and checking her call log. "He never called me that day."

"I didn't get the calls either because I was on a plane home. They never came in."

Yumi's eyes widen in surprise. "I was on a plane to Japan. I feel so stupid. I've been mad at him for calling Aelita when he's been coming to me for help. I thought he forgot about me."

"Ulrich? Forget about you? Yumi, he's still crazy in love with you. You should see his face whenever you ignore him," Odd told her.

"He's not still in love with me, Odd. It's been four years since we've even considered that," Yumi shook her head. "He's not."

"Keep telling yourself that," Odd smiled, standing up. "I'll leave you alone with your thoughts." He kissed Yumi on the forehead and left her room, closing the door behind him.

"He's not still in love with me," Yumi repeated. "Is he?"

She turned back around, picking up her pen and immediately writing.

As Yumi wrote upstairs in her room, Ulrich and Odd watched Aelita create the alert for when the new Lyoko opens on her desktop. As soon as she finished with her desktop, she set to work on setting up an alert for her phone. When she finished, she leaned back in her desk chair, sighing in relief.

"Well?" Ulrich asked.

"As soon as whoever recreated Lyoko opens it, I will get an alert," Aelita explained. "Now I need to email Tyron and tell him the progress."

"What about your mom? Will he do anything to her?" Odd asked.

Aelita shook her head. "He won't hurt her if that's what you mean."

"I'm sorry, princess," Odd comforted, squeezing her shoulder.

Ulrich bent down to squat beside her, placing his hand on her knee. "We'll save her, okay?"

Aelita placed her hand on top of his and squeeze it. "Thanks, guys."

Odd kissed the top of her head and rubbed her neck as Aelita double checked everything.

Yumi watched from the doorway, not sure what to make of the sight in front of her. She closed her eyes for second before turning on her heel and walking away.

"How have you been, elf?" Nicolette asked, hopping up on the desk next to Aelita and hanging her a bag and coffee.

Aelita was working late this Monday at the studio and Nicolette stayed with her to keep her company and join her on as a radio host.

Aelita shrugged as she took a sip of her coffee. "Tensions have been high at the Hermitage and I'm so tired of it."

"Is Yumi still mad at you?"

"She said she isn't but she is. I can tell," Aelita told her. "I feel so bad. Ulrich's my friend. I would've done it for any of them. I would've done it for you."

"I know you would have and I think Yumi knows that too. It's just…clearly Yumi still has feelings for Ulrich," Nicolette said.

"Oh, I know but Yumi is completely oblivious to that fact." Aelita sighed, taking a long sip from her coffee.

"Aelita?"

"Hmm?" Aelita looked up, hearing Nicolette use her actual name and not elf.

"Why didn't you tell them about your family and that you were with them?" She asked.

Aelita dropped her eyes, shrugging.

"That's not an answer."

"I don't know. I'm worried about putting them in danger. My aunt and uncle had to go into hiding after my mother was taken. I just don't want word getting out that they're okay. It could put me and them at risk again," Aelita explained.

"Why'd you tell me?" Nicolette asked.

"I just feel like I can trust you."

"And not your friends that you've known for over four years and share this super, massive secret?"

Aelita looked at her surprised. "How do you know we have a secret?"

"Aelita, your mother was kidnapped and your dad was killed and you never told me why. I don't care, it's none of my business but it's obvious the way the others look at you and protect you that they know," Nicolette said.

"They do know," Aelita nodded, figuring that was easier than explaining Lyoko and XANA. Plus, another person did not need to get involved in this whole mess.

"I just figured you would talk to them about how you found your family on your travels. Or hell even talk about your travels," Nicolette continued.

"My traveling was about finding myself outside the group and my parents. I didn't know who I was and I needed to find that person. I want to keep some of that to myself," Aelita explained.

"Hey, I get it, elf!" Nicolette held her hands up in surrender. "I was just curious."

"The song's almost over, your turn," Aelita said handing her the headset.

Nicolette stuck out her tongue and hopped down from the table, getting into her character.

Back at the Hermitage, Ulrich and Odd were waiting for William to get back from his "date" with Laura to update them with any new information. Ulrich was playing a new video game Odd got for Christmas while Odd was playing with Kiwi. The dog ran around the living room with a toy in his mouth as Odd tried to get the toy back.

Ulrich rolled his eyes when Kiwi tripped over his feet and tumbled. "Nice."

"Knock knock!" William called from the front door.

"Living room!" Odd yelled back, finally grabbing the toy from his dog.

William walked into the living room, nodding at the guys. He plopped down next to Ulrich. "What's up?"

Odd threw the toy to Kiwi, making the dog run after it. Odd got back off the floor and sat next to Ulrich. "How was everything with Laura?"

"No change. I really don't think she remembers us," William said.

"How does your girlfriend feel about this? Roxanne?" Ulrich asked.

William made a noise between a sigh and a groan. "I thought Roxie was cool with this but lately she's been very standoffish. She wants to know why I'm doing this. Obviously, I can't tell her. I've never told anyone about Lyoko."

"What have you told her?" Odd asked.

"I told her part of the truth that I use to go to school with Laura but then I mentioned Laura was in a horrible accident and lost her memory. I told Roxie I was trying to get her to remember me," William explained. "Roxie thinks I'm getting too close to her." William looked at the two guys who looked like Roxie when he said Laura was just a friend. "And judging by those looks, you guys think so too."

"You just need to be careful, man. Aelita's worried that Tyron sent her," Odd told him.

"Tyron's contacted her again?"

Odd nodded.

"Shit, man." William rubbed his face, trying to get rid of the headache that was forming. "Alright, I get it. I need to be more careful with Laura."

"And you need to figure out what she knows and soon," Ulrich warned.

William nodded. "I got it." He rubbed his hands on his pants before standing up. "Anyway, I got to go. Roxie expects me back soon. Good luck on your match tomorrow, Ulrich."

"Thanks, man," Ulrich said.

After William left, Odd leaned back and turned towards Ulrich. "You think he's going to listen to us?"

"Yeah, I think so."

The next night was Ulrich's first soccer match and he was nervous. He invited the whole gang even Vivien, and Nicolette. But the one person he wanted to come refused to. He asked her several times the night before while they were in bed and then again when they woke up before she left but she refused each time he asked. And now everyone was sitting in the stands except her.

Ulrich ran over to the stands where Aelita, Odd, Jeremy, Vivien, Nicolette, and William were all sitting. Odd had made a sign with Ulrich's number on it and both him and Aelita were wearing jerseys with his number. The others were wearing school colors, Nicolette even had a matching beanie.

"Hey!" Ulrich exclaimed, when he saw them all. "Thanks for coming guys! Nice hat, Nicolette."

Nicolette beamed, waving a pom-pom at him.

"Any word from Yumi?" Ulrich asked.

"Sorry, buddy," Odd said, shaking his head.

"I tried texting her but she hasn't responded," Aelita told him. "I'm sorry."

"Just go play a hell of game, man," William encouraged. "You got this."

Ulrich shook his head, laughing slightly at William. When Aelita told him that she invited William to his game, he was a little irritated. He never got along with William and didn't know why she was trying to include him. Odd thinks she feels guilty for how they treated him. "Thanks, man. Where's Roxie? Aelita said she was coming."

William shook his head. "We got into a fight. I'm not sure how to fix it just yet so I'm going to let her cool off for a bit."

Ulrich nodded. "Jer, Viv, thanks for pulling yourself away from the computer to come."

"Oh, we wouldn't miss it. Right, Jer?" Vivien asked, nudging Jeremy in the side when he didn't answer.

"Right. Good luck, Ulrich," Jeremy responded, rubbing his side where Vivien nudged him.

"Thanks. I should get back out there." He ran back off to warm up with the rest of his teammates.

Aelita watched Ulrich run off then pulled out her phone, calling Yumi.

"Just leave her be, princess," Odd told her, taking the phone away from her. "If she wants to come, she will."

"But Ulrich!"

"Will be fine. He's played through worse," Odd reminded.

"He's right, Aelita," Jeremy said. "He doesn't need Yumi to play soccer."

"You're right," Aelita sighed, taking her phone back from Odd and putting it up. "I just wished she would come and support him."

A few minutes later, the game started and Ulrich took off and he was unstoppable. The others in the stand cheered as loud as they could as Ulrich got the ball. Nicolette waved her pom-pom, screaming at the top of her lungs as Odd and Aelita held up the sign. When Ulrich scored his first goal a few minutes later, they screamed even louder.

Off at a distance, Yumi stood, watching. She knew she should get closer but she preferred to stay where she was at and so she did, for the whole game.

With less than a minute to go, the game was tied. Ulrich took the ball and ran towards the goal. He could hear Odd screaming and Aelita cheering him on.

Yumi watched as Ulrich weaved his way through his opponents and finally scoring with a second to go. She clapped and cheered with the rest of the fans and decided to go congratulate Ulrich. She walked over to where Ulrich was celebrating with the others. She grinned, shaking her head as Odd attempted to pick Ulrich up. She was about to say something when Ulrich picked Aelita up and spun her around. Aelita giggled, holding on to his arm as he put her back down. Yumi stood frozen as Ulrich bent down to kiss Aelita's forehead. She closed her eyes, her anger over Ulrich coming back. She quickly turned on her heels and walked away. She didn't noticed Ulrich spotting her and quickly trying to catch up with her.

Aelita watched sadly as Ulrich tried to catch Yumi. Odd threw his arm over her shoulder, squeezing it.

"Don't worry about them, princess. They'll work it out in the end," Odd said.

"Who's up for some burgers and beer?" Nicolette asked. "We should celebrate Ulrich's awesome play even though he's off chasing his girl."

Aelita rolled her eyes. "Burgers and beer sound amazing."

"Actually, Vivien and I are going to head to her dorm. We have homework due tomorrow that we haven't started," Jeremy said.

"Einstein hasn't started homework? What is with you?" Odd gasped, his hand going over his heart.

"Haha," Jeremy rolled his eyes, placing his arm around Vivien's shoulder. "We'll see you guys later."

"Bye, Jer. Bye, Vivien," Aelita waved as they left.

"I'm going to head out too. Roxie finally text me back and I need to work things out with her," William said, showing them the text on his phone.

"Go. We'll see you later," Aelita told him.

"So I guess it's just us three," Nicolette said.

"Four," Ulrich walked back up. "I couldn't catch up with Yumi. People kept stopping me and then I lost her."

"You need a beer, my friend," Nicolette told him.

"Yes, I do."

The four of them made their way to small bar, Ulrich immediately ordering a beer as Nicolette and Odd talked loudly about a new movie they just watched. Aelita pulled out her phone, sending another text to Yumi. She was about to put her phone up when her alert she created went off. Whoever recreated Lyoko just opened it.

Several miles away back in her dorm, Laura looked on to her laptop where a similar alert just went off on her computer.