Disclaimer: I don't own Code Lyoko

Author Note: Once again thanks for the reviews, and for sticking with me through this story. Here is the final chapter, enjoy!

Chapter 3

I gave a sigh as I peered obsessively at my own reflection in the mirror before me. It wasn't like anything seemed strange about my appearance, no I looked like the same Jeremie Belpois. That was what I was worried about... Gasping for a deep breath, I tried in vain to calm my trembling fingertips as I reached to tighten my bow-tie. Finally accepting that I looked as good as I was possibly going too, I turned to an even bigger worry hanging over my mind. So centering my thoughts I tried to remember everything Odd had taught me over the past month and a half.

Not allowing myself to give into the embarrassment I felt building on my face, I gently lifted my arms to embrace a portion of the empty air inside my bedroom. Closing my eyes I let my feet slowly recall the steps I had memorized with the same determination, that years earlier, would have only been spent on some program to foil XANA. Back then, with the weight of the world resting at least partly on my shoulders, I never would have guessed I'd find dancing of any sort to be important. Yet truthfully back then, I never would have believed this day would come...

But here I was... Even though my heart felt like it was about to stop from sheer anxiety, I found a smile slowly creeping to my face. I couldn't stop the waves of happiness that had been overcoming me since I first woke up this morning. All my life I had never managed to convince myself that nervousness was really just excitement, but...well today I could almost believe it.

Almost...

"Hey Jeremie, you ready in there, or should we call 911!?" Pulling me from my thoughts, I stopped and rolled my eyes playfully as I heard Odd's voice resounding through the door. Mustering the bravest face I could manage I walked over and twisted the knob, after which Odd and Ulrich came pacing in. "So...how are you holding up Jeremie?" Ulrich asked with a slight sincere grin on his lips. Folding my arms in what I hoped looked like confidence I nodded slowly. "Fine. I'm...fine."

Knowingly putting a hand on my shoulder Ulrich winked at me. "Whatever you say good buddy." Swatting him away with a quick gesture Odd smiled playfully at me. "Who needs nerves when you've got the secret weapon our Jeremie is packing!?" "Secret weapon...?" Ulrich replied as he raised an amused eyebrow. "Yeah...STYLE!" Odd shouted as he balled his fists in enthusiasm. "Secretly I've been training our very own genius in the art of waltz! And today is finally the chance to see all his hard work, and my expert training, put into action! Our princess won't know what hit her!"

Giving way to a sigh I felt a little bit of my composure crumble. "That's what I'm worried about..." "Aw hey relax Jeremie," Ulrich began as he wrapped a comforting arm around my slumping shoulders. "You're gonna do fine...even with Odd as a teacher." I smiled a little at him before admitting the feelings that had been dancing inside me all morning. "I'm happy...but somehow even when I try to calm down I still feel like I'm close to having a heart attack..."

Ulrich's grin softened gently as his eyes turned a little distant. "That's just how it feels good buddy..." Nodding I let go of another small sigh. I already knew what I had to do, so gathering all my courage I took a few steps out of my bedroom doorway before turning to look back at my two best friends. "I know it's still early...but there's something I have to do first..." What I really meant was there was some place I needed to go first, but by the understanding look in their eyes I figured they already knew what I was meaning.

The place was special any-day of the year for us...but this day...this day made it all the more so. On the drive over the three of us barely said anything, but honestly I couldn't find the words to describe my feeling regardless. I knew the way by heart and when I finally stopped by the riverside neither of them seemed surprised. Our factory stood just in the distance on this beautifully clear morning. Softly Odd placed a hand on my shoulder as a large smile filled his face. "We'll be here Jer." Nodding as I returned his smile, I opened my car door and slowly I started to pace toward that bridge that had always served as a gateway to our adventures.

The peaceful silence was amazing today, with only the gentle sounds of birds and the subtle lap of water beneath my feet. Slowly running my fingers along the slightly chilled railing I closed my eyes and whispered what I felt overwhelming me. "Hello again...old friend..." I smiled as I felt a small breeze twirl a few locks of my hair. All those years ago today I had finally met her face to face... We were breathing the same air... And more than anything else I watched as she was overjoyed by one seemingly ordinary wonder of earth after another. She was, and had always been the most beautiful person I had ever met, but to see her so happy over something I had helped to accomplish...

Back then I promised myself that if I ever got the chance...that if somehow she ever thought I was good enough I'd do everything I could to make her happy. Nothing else mattered to me... Opening my eyes again I walked to the end of the bridge, stopping only when the darkness of the factory's entrance loomed in front of me. The musky shadows should have seemed anything but inviting, but to me it was a place that would always hold a special spot in my heart. Taking a deep breath I slowly focused my mind on everything I knew I needed to say.

Everything I knew I needed to say to him... Bracing my hand against a metal beam at the doorway entrance I swallowed hard as I started to speak. I knew he couldn't hear me, but if only for my own sake I needed to tell him. "Franz Hopper..." I said loud enough to cause the sound to echo within the empty place that had become the brilliant man's grave. "I know we never really met properly sir...but..." Hanging my head slightly I let my eyes fall shut. "But I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry...sorry I wasn't smart enough to save you... And that..." I clenched my face tighter as I felt a wave of bitter emotion shoot through my veins.

"I tried my best sir, but I know it wasn't good enough! And I realize it was selfish of me to expect Aelita to face this day without you but I..." Slowly lifting my glass frames from my face I brushed away the tears clinging under my eyes. "I can't say if you'd be happy that she's ending up with someone like me or not... But the truth is sir...I've loved your daughter for nearly my entire life..." Slowly I reached to unpin the tiny rose blossom from my suit. "I promise you...I'll protect her with my life." Gently extending my arm over the edge of the factory's top floor I let the flower fall from my grip and into the deep darkness below. "Thank you for giving her to me sir..."

A smile gently came to my face as the wind rustled past me again. I didn't want to pull myself from this moment but I knew that it was time to leave. So after giving one last look down into the dusty vault of memories below, I turned to walk away. Beside me I could almost hear her innocent laughter filling the air the same way it had so many years ago...

That sound didn't seem to want to leave my mind. No, not on the short drive that followed, or the seemingly never ending wait before the ceremony began. It only vanished when I finally saw her walking toward me. Never would I have imagined at a time like this that all my nerves would suddenly disappear, but they did... Right along with all the memories I had been replaying in my mind all day. Maybe the truth was that, even if it took me until now to realize it, the past, no matter how wonderful, couldn't compare to the future.

Our future...

My breath caught somewhere in my chest as I looked at her, she was more beautiful than I ever would have imagined. I knew she'd probably never believe just how beautiful, so I didn't try to tell her, I simply held her hand all the tighter when at long last she reached me. I wasn't too sure I looked even half as wonderful, but I took her tenderly elated smile as all the reassurance I needed. And somehow...yes somehow as the second miracle I had ever witnessed on this special date, I watched Aelita Schaeffer become my wife...

The hugs and celebration of all ours friends was almost more than I could manage to return. I was overjoyed that I had surprised myself and made it through the ceremony without passing out or otherwise embarrassing Aelita, but I had to admit that a twinge of nervousness was returning to the pit of my stomach once at the reception.

"I mean it, you look absolutely beautiful Aelita." Yumi said reassuringly with a smile as she quickly hugged Aelita's neck. Aelita shrugged with a grin as I, surprisingly, noticed a slight blush appearing on her face. "That's what everyone keeps telling me anyway..." Gently reaching for her hand, I smiled shyly at her. "That's because it's true Aelita..." She let her smile softly widen as she averted her eyes to the floor. It wasn't very often Aelita seemed almost as awkward as I usually felt, but it was plain to see she wasn't used to all this praise and attention.

Ulrich grinned as he slapped my shoulder playfully. "Hey you know you clean up pretty good yourself Jeremie." He then glanced toward a table in the distance where Odd could be seen loading his plate with at least two of everything we were catering. Ulrich gave way to a sigh. "I hate to admit it, but I guess all of Odd's personal training helped you after all, you didn't even seem nervous this morning." "Personal training?" Yumi asked with one eyebrow raised. Ulrich nodded. "Well the story goes Jeremie asked Odd to teach him how to dance or something."

Yumi choked back a laugh that soon spread to Aelita. "Should I be worried Jeremie?" Aelita asked playfully. I huffed a rather embarrassed sigh, as my stomach tied itself into a nervous knot. "Um...I don't know..." Grinning warmly at me she squeezed my hand a little tighter. "Then why don't you show me?" "Now!? Uh I mean...right now...?" I asked trying in vain to stall the inevitable. "Why not now?" Aelita asked with a simple confident logic I couldn't refute. So swallowing my heartbeat I nodded hesitantly. "Um okay...now is fine..."

"Good then let's go." She said with a smile as she pulled me through the crowd and onto the now emptying dance floor. I couldn't seem to think as the next thing I knew, the music had changed to a slow romantic song, and the mass of guests had silenced their conversations to stare attentively at the two of us. Somehow everything I was supposed to remember had suddenly left my mind all together. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Odd give me two enthusiastic thumbs up from the sidelines. Looking at Aelita I saw she was waiting patiently for me to lead her. Taking a deep breath I tried not to think at all as I knew, ready or not, this was it.

Aelita had always trusted in me, believed in me, and though I was most surely an awkward nerd, I was determined not to let her down. Not now...or not ever. So gasping in one last deep breath, I gently took her into my trembling arms. And then I took a single first step. I hesitated for a split second as I waited for something to go horribly wrong with even that simple motion, but no...instead she followed it. She smiled softly at me as she gave a slight reassuring nod. Gaining a little more confidence I went on as best I could remember from what I had practiced.

Gradually I felt my tense muscles slowly relax as our movements turned into a smooth…well…dance. The more I gazed into her green eyes the less I found myself noticing anything else going on around us. My heartbeat slowly calmed until a soft smile drifted to my face. A smile I meant for no one else on earth but her... The one and only woman I had ever loved. All those years ago I had to admit I must have had this dream hundreds of times... But as things went on and Aelita came to earth and grew more and more into her own person I...well I started to believe in this dream ever becoming real, less and less.

At times I knew my overprotectiveness must have gotten on her nerves, and I could really understand that. But more than she would ever know...protecting her had, from the beginning, completed me. After spending so many years all alone...someone at last needed me. Her hands seemed so small inside my own, and yet the strength I felt there was unbelievable. I was leading her in this dance, but I realized that she was holding me up as much as I was her. I lost track of all time as we glided along so in harmony with one another, but as I heard the music gently fade out I slowly drifted to a stop in the middle of the floor.

Our eyes stood locked on each other for a few long lingering moments before, closing my eyes, I slowly leaned to meet her lips. Like a sudden wave, ripples of applauds resounded all around the two of us. Yet somehow I knew...yes unquestionably...both of our hearts were much too far away to truly notice...

FIN

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