"Are you sure that I am the best person for this?" Yumi asked as she had just received an hour-long lecture on how to take care of Maya.

"Well, I'm not letting the two idiots take care of her, and I want someone that I know to take care of her. So...you." Aelita said, having Maya in her lap. "It won't be hard, I promise."

"Yeah, it doesn't seem like it's hard," Yumi said. "Especially for you."

"Anyway, I heard that Ulrich asked you out, is that true?" Aelita asked, as Yumi nodded, but sighed.

"He did, but...what if it's not right?" Yumi said. "I mean, yes, I like him. But what if it's just temporary? I don't want to go through a breakup."

"I'm sure he wouldn't break up with you." "Yeah, but...still," Yumi said as Aelita put her arm around her shoulders.

"Ulrich likes you, and you know that. So try it, talk it out before making any move, and then get together." Aelita said. "You two have been waiting a long time, so a few more days won't hurt."

"...That's right." "See? Now go." Aelita chuckled and hugged Yumi, who returned the hug.

"It's really nice to have a girl to talk about nowadays," Yumi said. "There are things I wouldn't dare tell these douchebags."

"Aww, I tell Jeremie almost everything," Aelita said and smiled. "He is nice, but sometimes kinda stupid and clueless."

"Yeah, that sounds like Jeremie," Yumi said. "And what about XANA? Does he attack or just hide somewhere."

"First of all, it's a girl." Aelita clarified. "Second, yeah, she's quiet, except that tower she keeps activated."

"A girl?" "Yeah, my dad told me that she acts like a girl, so he thinks that XANA is a girl," Aelita said.

"You learn something new every day." Yumi chuckled and stood up. "I should go, my parents are waiting."

"Okay," Aelita said, but then quickly turned her around.

"W-" "Your phone number," Aelita said, taking out the new phone from her pocket.

"Since when do you own a phone?" "Since today. Jeremie gave it to me." Aelita said, deciding she wouldn't tell everything to Yumi...for now.

"Makes sense," Yumi said, taking Aelita's phone in her hands, and typing in her number. "Here, and bye. I'll see you tomorrow!"

And with that, the black-haired girl left Aelita's room. She smiled, put her phone back into her pocket, and walked out of the room too, heading outside the dorm building.

Outside she saw not many people, just the ones that went to pick up pizza from the delivery guys. She closed her eyes and took in the scent of the wind that was blowing.

This is what's missing on Lyoko. She thought, opening her eyes again, suddenly seeing Jim running across the schoolyard, trying to catch a dog, probably Kiwi.

Aelita smiled, walking towards the forest surrounding the school. She didn't want to go to the factory, but she wanted to visit something else...the Hermitage. There were a lot of unanswered questions the last time she was there together with Jeremie.

/-/-/-/

"Congratulations!"

The three celebrated, as they all met in Jeremie's room, where the boy was. Initially, he was met by Ulrich and Odd as he was smiling like crazy, but the two invited also Yumi over since they knew she was in Aelita's room.

"So the bet is over then." Odd implied, taking out his wallet and opening it. "Pay up."

Ulrich and Yumi scoffed, but in the end, gave him 20 euros each. Jeremie just watched them, not understanding.

"You bet on...what exactly?" Jeremie asked, adjusting his glasses as Odd put his wallet back.

"They said you won't kiss Aelita. But I had faith in you." Odd joked. "We made the bet even before you materialized Aelita here."

"Idiots," Jeremie said, making them all laugh.

"So now you two are a thing?" Yumi asked. "Because she didn't say a word about it."

"Ehh..." Jeremie began. He didn't know the answer. Were they together? Was it just a "kiss and that's all" thing? Neither have said anything after that about their relationship. "...Maybe?"

"Oh my god." Yumi facepalmed herself but chuckled. "You didn't ask her, did you?"

"I-" "Next bet; Aelita will ask him out sooner than he asks her, 50 euros." Odd immediately suggested as Yumi shook her head, but Ulrich agreed to it by shaking his hand with his roommate.

"My god..." Jeremie said, and turned around on his chair, opening the program he was editing. It was a surprise for them all, even for Aelita, and he always tells the girl what he is working on.

Thinking of Aelita, as they all left him alone, he picked up his phone, and decided to call his...they didn't talk about either of the "nicknames" and "relationship" things. Pressing her contact, it only rang for a couple of seconds.

"Hiii Jeremie!" Aelita said, enthusiastically.

"Hey, Aelita," Jeremie said. "How are you?"

Somewhere, back when he was a small child, he read in a fairytale that even asking a girl how is she will make her feel loved.

"Perfect! I found another picture of me and my parents." Aelita said as Jeremie's eyes were wide open.

"You are in the Hermitage?" "I am, yes," Aelita replied. "After all, technically I am the owner."

"It's not that," Jeremie said, beginning to worry. "What if...something attacks you, or...kidnaps you...or-"

"Nothing will happen to me, don't worry," Aelita reassured him. "Anyway, I was thinking of making this livable."

"How?" "Well, clean it, maybe new paint, some new furniture," Aelita said, hearing her footsteps through the phone. "Or just clean it, not everything is destroyed."

"I can help you to-" "No, I can already sense that you are working. I don't know what, but...I would be happier if you took a break sometime." Aelita said, worried.

"I will. I'll take a break every 20 minutes to go outside for 5 minutes, okay?" "Yes, it's alright. Love youuuu!" Aelita hung up, as soon as Jeremie blushed.

Yes, he told her that he loves her. Yes, she told him the same. But it will always make him flutter when Aelita tells him she loves him. Jeremie quickly set up a timer for 20 minutes to make sure he kept his promise to Aelita.

Aelita, Aelita, Aelita...sounds like an angelic name. Jeremie thought looking through the many lines of code. What am I thinking, ofcourse, she is an angel! He added a few lines, but it quickly went over just a few and he kept going.

The timer went off, so he pushed himself away from the computer and stood up, walking outside his room to the hall, where he immediately met face-to-face with their gym teacher.

"Ah, Belpois!" Jim said, walking closer to him. "You left your room!"

"Yeah, I did. I need a break from my computer." Jeremie said. He wasn't lying, and Jim somehow knew that, because he slid to the side, so Jeremie could go.

"But it doesn't sound like it's coming from your head, Belpois. You may be smart, but rational thinking is something you don't have." Jim said, making Jeremie roll his eyes. "Did Stern tell you? Or Schaeffer?"

"Actually..." Jeremie said and thought of surprising Jim. "...Aelita told me."

"Ah, makes sense. Schaeffer always cares about you." Jim added and waved his hand to his side. "You may go."

Jeremie nodded and walked past him to the staircase.

/-/-/-/

Aelita walked into the basement. Another vision showed her that there was a room with toys, and she wanted to see it. There were so many visions, always happening when she touched a unique and special item, mostly photos.

She already had 4. One was her and her mother, drawing on a wall. Second was her on skis. Third was her father throwing a frisbee to Aelita. And fourth was Aelita, just looking into the lens of the camera.

She made a note to herself to ask Jeremie if he could make them digital just in case something happened to them.

The room she was looking for stood right in front of her, a wooden door between. She opened it with a little force, revealing a room not just full of toys, but also plushies, and other stuff used to play anything.

I think I was a really playful kid. She chuckled, seeing the amount. She closed the door again and walked to another door, but for some reason, this was a metal door. Surprisingly, this one opened easily.

Aelita walked in, seeing nothing but darkness, because this room had no window, unlike the room before. However, when she tried switching the light switch on, it lit up the ceiling light.

Weird, there's electricity here. Aelita thought. The room was a closet. There were some shelves and hangers, but most importantly...there were clothes with Aelita's name on a tag.

She scanned through them, picking out a few. They were all really fluffy clothes, all of them being also pink or dark pink in some way. She then remembered that in her room was a mirror. She grabbed the clothes and walked upstairs to her old room.

The first set of clothes she put on was a button-up long-sleeved shirt with a wool collar on her neck and wool on the edges of her sleeves. And together with it, she had fluffy sweatpants. It all looked like it was a pajama.

This will be useful when it's cold. She thought, taking it down and putting on the next set of clothes.

This was a hoodie similar to one she had already, but this had a simpler look, only a dark pink color and nothing else. The sleeves were longer than her arms and she basically hid her whole body in it.

Comfy home clothes. Aelita thought to herself, taking it down and putting on another set.

This one was a dress. She had trouble getting it on and settled on it being loosely hung on her shoulders. She spun around, the fabric lifting up easily. It was fairly simple dress. The only thing was she didn't know why would she ever need this dress.

In mere moments her phone rang, just as she was folding the clothes. She took it out and picked it up.

"Hello?" "Hey, Aelita," Jeremie said, nervously.

"Something happened?" "No, but...I was thinking if...how do I put this...if you would..." Jeremie stuttered making Aelita chuckle.

"Don't be nervous, I don't bite." "Yeah, right. Will you...watch a movie with me?" Jeremie said finally. "A sleepover at m-"

A sleepover? And that you are nervous to ask? "Yeah, although...how many blankets do you have?" She asked. At that moment she heard his chair screech and the closet opening.

"Four." "We could have a sleepover here at the Hermitage. It's bigger, quieter, and the couch is clean." Aelita said. "We would be alone, you know?"

There was a moment of silence, and Aelita thought she screwed it up by altering his plans. But then, she heard a bag unzip on the other side.

"In half an hour?" "Sounds amazing," Aelita said and hung up. She quickly took the clothes into her hands and made her way out of the Hermitage.

/-/-/-/

"But don't worry, it's not that cold there," Aelita said, walking hand in hand with Jeremie to the Hermitage. She insisted that they put on long and warm clothes, so it confused Jeremie.

"Whatever you say," Jeremie said.

They were soon in front of the Hermitage. They walked along the path outside the Hermitage and immediately felt the cold that was there.

"Come on, I'll survive, you'll survive, proxy-pie," Aelita said and kissed his cheek as she let go of his hand.

"Proxy-pie?" "I used that name before when you called me Princess of Lyoko." Aelita chuckled, as Jeremie placed down his bag and took out the blankets and pillows they gathered.

"So I'm guessing it's my nickname now." "Right on it, Einstein," Aelita said as she laid two blankets on the couch itself so they would lie on them, not on the cold and probably dirty couch directly.

"Aelita..." Jeremie took a deep breath. "I..it doesn't sound good when you call me Einstein. For some reason."

"Aww, okay, Jeremie, I won't." Aelita smiled, laying down on the blankets. "Come!"

Jeremie nodded, and laid down beside Aelita, while the laptop was already placed on the side. She quickly curled up next to him and wrapped a blanket around them both.

"So, the second movie that we watched?" Aelita asked, already playing Iron Man 2 while not waiting for a reply.

"Whatever you like, Aelita," Jeremie mumbled, already having his face in Aelita's hair.

Some time passed while they were watching the movie, and Aelita remembered that in two days they were leaving.

"Jeremie?" "Mhm?" He mumbled out.

"Are you sure I won't be a burden to your family?" She asked.

"I'm sure, and hey, they don't have a chance to say no, you know?" Jeremie said.

"Maybe they do." "But they won't say no, Aelita," Jeremie said. "They are nice, really nice."

"If they are nice like you, then I shouldn't be worried, right?" Aelita turned around in Jeremie's arms to face him, obviously not caring about the movie anymore.

"I'm nice?" "Well, much nicer than the two guys that wanted to...rape me," Aelita said, making Jeremie his eyes wide open.

"Who?" "I don't know, but I successfully shook them from me," Aelita said. "And Yumi said that I should be careful with guys being close to me."

"So I ca-" "No, not you!" Aelita giggled. "I would undress and lay here without problem."

Jeremie blushed like crazy, thanking God that the screen's light was behind Aelita.

"I trust you, Jeremie." "I trust you too," Jeremie said and gently kissed Aelita's lips for a while.