Marinette

Marinette had woken early, again. Grumbling more than Plagg when he has to eat mature cheddar instead of Camembert. She made her way down the stairs and into the kitchenette of her parent's home. Freezing just before she placed her foot on the bottom step, she couldn't help the curiosity of why her mother was, once again, on her hands and knees reaching under the bookcase.

'You know if you have mice, it would be easier to set a trap than use your bare hands?'

Her mother scoffed but ignored her, instead lying flat on her belly and continuing her search under the bookcase with the torch on her phone.

Marinette made her way down the last couple of steps and strolled over to her mother, mirroring the position and glancing at the dust bunnies and goodness knows what else sitting under the bookcase.

'I always thought you were a clean freak,' Marinette said, pulling out a stray cheerio. She held it aloft, raising one eye at her mother before tutting. 'You're letting yourself down, Mrs Cheng.'

Sabine laughed, pushing herself up onto her knees. 'Well, it seems you're in a better mood this morning.'

Marinette scooted around and smiled. 'What can I say? A good night's sleep can work wonders.'

The way her mother scrutinised her caused the hairs on the back of her neck to stand on edge. She was not going to enjoy this conversation.

'Now, we both know that's not true.'

Marinette scrunched her nose, glancing away, yet feeling every inch of her mother's stare burning into her. So instead of denying it, she shrugged. 'I had an...enlightening night, that's all.'

'That's all?' Sabine scoffed. 'You came in at two this morning humming Santa Claus is coming to town. Now, I know it can't be from going out drinking because you're not a big drinker. So, my guesses are: you've been doing drugs, you've heard from Johnny or you had a good catch up with an old boyfriend last night.'

Oh, have mercy! Her face was suddenly lighting up brighter than Rudolph's nose and the expression on her mother's face almost had her climbing up the chimney and begging for Santa to come and save her.

'Adrien it is then.' She expected her mother's face to have some sort of smug expression for guessing correctly, however, there was no grin to be seen, she actually looked quite mellow. 'I'm sorry we didn't tell you about Emily.'

Ahh, we were going straight into it then.

'Why?' Marinette asked. 'Why didn't you tell me? I would have come back. You know Adrien means the world to me.'

She avoided the fact she had said means and not meant. Now was not the time to think about the meaning of her unconscious slip.

'You didn't want to know about him. Every time we mentioned his name, you told us you didn't want to hear, and he didn't want you to know either. What did you expect us to do?'

'Maman, you know how I feel about Adrien. I should have been here with him. I should have been supporting him with Emily.' Her voice was laced with anxiousness, and she was almost certain she was on the verge of a panic attack. She still couldn't believe her parents had kept such a thing from her. Not when it was this important.

'You would have suffocated him, Marinette.'

They remained staring at each other, her mother's words ringing in her ears. Would she have suffocated him? Maybe. But she'd have wanted to support him the best that she could, to be there and hold his hand through the hard times. But, what she couldn't grasp the most, was why she didn't know about this? How had they managed to completely block this from reaching her? It was like she was in some alternate reality.

Her mother sighed, reaching out and taking her hand. 'We know you love him, and you would do anything for him. But he needed to be alone. So much has happened in that boy's life, having someone thinking they knew what was best for him wouldn't have helped. Yes, you would have loved him and been there for him, but he wouldn't have had the chance to grow. This was for the best at the time, Marinette. We were all here to support him. We made sure we were, because we know how much you would have wanted to.'

Marinette deflated, every inch of her dropping as she looked down at where her hands had become twisted pretzels. 'I should have been here. I should be here.'

The silence was almost suffocating. Marinette felt the weight of her mother's gaze, the unspoken concern that hung in the air between them.

'Is everything okay at home, Marinette? I don't want to speak out of turn, but you arrived Wednesday like a girl we didn't know, and then one night with Adrien, and suddenly we seem to be getting the old you back. Please, let me in. Let me help.'

Marinette swiped underneath her eyes, not even realising when the tears had started to fall. A silent one slipped down her cheek like a snowflake drifting gently from the sky, unnoticed amidst the glow of Christmas lights, melting away before it could be felt.

'I... I...' The words tangled in her throat. She felt like a stranger to herself, lost somewhere in the shadows of her own mind. But when she thought of Adrien, a flicker of light sparked within her—one she hadn't felt in so long. 'I think Johnny's cheating on me.' The words escaped before she could stop them. She didn't fully understand why she had said it, but as soon as the truth was out, a weight lifted from her chest, as though speaking it aloud made it somehow more bearable, more real.

'Oh. Marinette,' her mother said softly, squeezing her hand tighter, her voice filled with a tenderness that made the tears come more freely.

She huffed, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. 'It's not like it's unexpected. I've never been good enough for him. I've never been enough of anything. Not only that, but I can't get anything right, so I've stopped trying.'

Her mother didn't speak, but the way she held her hand—calm, steady, and gentle—was enough to break down the walls Marinette had built around herself. The floodgates opened, and the tears came without warning. 'I feel like I've lost myself. That I'm not me any more. And then I see Adrien... and what he's been through, how far he's come...' She trailed off, unsure of how to finish the thought.

'Marinette?' Her mother's voice was soft but steady, with a seriousness that pulled Marinette's attention fully back to the moment. 'How does Adrien make you feel?'

Marinette paused, her breath catching in her throat as she turned the question over in her mind. How did Adrien make her feel?

The answer was complicated, tangled with emotions she hadn't fully understood until now. She thought about the way his presence had always been a balm to her heart, even in their darkest moments. How he had always seen her—really seen her—even when she couldn't see herself.

'Adrien...' she began softly, her voice shaky, as if just saying his name carried more weight than she was ready for. 'He makes me feel... like I'm not invisible. Like I matter.' She swallowed hard, her chest tightening. 'When I'm with him, it's like everything else fades away. All the things I've been carrying around, all the mistakes, all the doubts... they don't feel so heavy. When I'm with him, I can breathe again.'

Her mother's grip on her hand tightened, not in worry but in solidarity, as though urging her to continue, to unravel the layers she had been hiding from.

'But it's not just that,' she continued, blinking rapidly to keep the tears at bay. 'He... he makes me want to be better. Not for him, but for me. When I see how much he's grown, how much he's overcome, it makes me believe maybe I can do the same. Maybe I can find myself again, too.'

There was a long pause, the air between them heavy with emotion. She wiped at her eyes, the words tumbling out faster now, as though once she started, she couldn't stop.

'But I don't know if I deserve it, Maman.' She let out a shaky breath, her voice breaking. 'I've spent so much time being afraid of failing, of not being enough, that I... I don't know if I can believe I'm worth anything more.'

Her mother exhaled, squeezing her hand tighter, but there was something else in her gaze now—a quiet strength that radiated through her touch.

'You are worth it, Marinette,' her mother said firmly, her voice full of conviction. 'You are worthy of love, of happiness, of all the things you think you don't deserve. No one, least of all you, should ever doubt that. Adrien sees you for who you truly are, and that's someone incredible. You don't have to prove your worth to anyone—especially not to yourself. If you feel like you need to be a certain way, it's not worth it.'

Marinette let the words wash over her, feeling the truth in them, even if it was still hard to fully accept. She glanced up at her mother, her face softening despite the tears that still clung to her cheeks.

'Do you really think that?' she whispered, her voice small, as if asking for permission to believe.

Her mother smiled, a gentle but knowing smile, and nodded.

'I know it. And Adrien, he knows it too. He's been waiting for you to see it, to realise that the love you're looking for starts with the love you give yourself.'

Marinette sat back, absorbing her mother's words, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself to believe them. There was a light flickering in her chest, faint but steady, and she felt the first stirrings of hope. Not because of Adrien, not because of Johnny or anything else—but because, maybe, just maybe, she could find her way back to herself.

And that thought, that small, quiet spark, was enough to make the world seem just a little bit brighter.

She took a shaky breath, her lips trembling, but this time, it wasn't from sadness. It was from something deeper, something more real.

'Maybe I can try,' she whispered, as if saying it out loud made it more possible.

Her mother smiled, brushing a strand of hair from Marinette's face. 'I know you can.'

Marinette walked slowly to her room, her mind still spinning with the conversation she'd just had with her mother. She felt like she had taken the first step toward reclaiming something she thought was long-lost: herself. But that relief was quickly overshadowed by the heavy weight of what she had to do next.

She sat on her bed, the soft glow of the Christmas lights flickered through her window, casting a warm, faint glow across her room. It was beautiful, comforting, but it only made the task ahead seem even more difficult.

She grabbed her phone from the night stand, her hands feeling oddly numb as she unlocked the screen. She hesitated for a moment, staring at Johnny's name in her messages. She could almost hear his voice in her head—the sweet, sometimes-too-smooth tone that had once made her feel special, made her feel like she was enough.

But not any more. Adrien had opened her eyes last night, helping her see clearly without telling her what she thought.

With a deep breath, Marinette began to type.

Marinette: Johnny, I can't do this any more. I've been holding on to something that doesn't exist, and it's not fair to either of us. I think you've already made up your mind about where this is going, and I can't keep pretending everything is okay when I know it's not. I deserve better than this. I deserve someone who values me, not just when it's convenient. Goodbye.

She stared at the screen for a long moment, her heart pounding in her chest. She hated this. She hated the cold finality of breaking up with someone over text. It felt like a coward's way out, a betrayal of all the times she had wished for something more, for real closure, face to face. But the truth was, Johnny hadn't given her that. He hadn't been present, hadn't treated her with the respect she deserved, and at this point, she wasn't sure she even cared enough to explain herself in person.

She exhaled shakily, feeling a lump form in her throat. It was hard to let go of something that had once felt so important, but the relief was already beginning to seep in, like the first rays of sunlight breaking through the clouds.

Before she could second-guess herself, Marinette pressed send. Her stomach churning as soon as she heard the whoosh.

Her phone flashed almost immediately with the delivery notification. She stared at it for a few seconds, as though waiting for some kind of response that might change everything. But there was nothing. Not yet. And maybe, just maybe, that was for the best.

Tikki appeared beside her with a quiet flutter, landing on the bed. She could feel the small kwami's presence, the quiet reassurance that always seemed to settle over her when things got difficult.

'You did the right thing, Marinette,' Tikki said, her tiny voice filled with quiet understanding. 'I know it feels hard now, but you made a choice for yourself. Sometimes, walking away is the bravest thing you can do.'

Marinette glanced at her, wiping her eyes, surprised by how much comfort the little kwami's words brought. Tikki was right. Breaking up with Johnny—breaking free from the weight of a relationship that had drained her—was hard, but it wasn't cowardly. It was necessary. She had tried. She had hoped. But it was time to stop pretending, to stop holding onto something that no longer served her.

'I hate doing it like this,' Marinette murmured. 'It feels wrong... but it's like I'm just not worth enough to him to do it face-to-face. So maybe this is what he deserves. A clean break.'

Tikki hovered near her face, her small wings flickering. 'You're doing this for you, Marinette. You're finally choosing yourself. That's all that matters.'

She took a breath, the tears that had welled up earlier finally starting to subside, replaced by a quiet sense of resolve. For the first time in a long while, she felt a weight lifting off her shoulders.

She stared at her phone, willing herself not to check for any immediate reply from Johnny. She couldn't dwell on his reaction. This wasn't about him any more. It was about her.

'You're right,' she said, a faint smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. 'I am choosing me.'

Tikki gave her a little nudge with her tiny paw, her eyes sparkling with pride. 'And that's all that matters, Marinette. You deserve to be happy. You deserve someone who sees you for all that you are, not just when it's convenient for them.'

Marinette nodded, her heart a little lighter. She felt like she was taking control again. She was no longer a passenger in her own life, letting things happen to her. She was the one steering the ship now.

As she laid her phone down on the bed, she glanced at the Christmas lights through her window once more, her fingers lazily trailing over her earrings. There was still so much uncertainty ahead, but for the first time in a long time, Marinette felt like she could face it—head held high, heart open, and ready for whatever came next.

Maybe, just maybe, she wasn't as lost as she had thought.

*****

Adrien

'Emily, where is your other boot?' Adrien called, moving through the hallway as he stuffed Emily's backpack with spare clothes, snacks, an extra hat, a drink, and a backup toy. Naturally, it was the Encanto backpack—he wasn't about to risk the meltdown that would come from using the Frozen one, even if Emily still insisted Elsa was her favourite.

'I don't know,' the toddler said. Adrien stood from where he'd been bending over the bag and looked at his sister who was playing The Floor is Lava with the comforter haphazardly balancing on her head.

Give me strength!

He wasn't in the mood for this. He was tired, so, so tired. After his conversation with Marinette last night, Adrien had barely slept, everything replaying endlessly in his mind. From what he'd said to what he should have said—and everything in between. He knew he'd put Tom and Sabine in a tough spot by revealing that they knew; but he was done with secrets and lies. What weighed on him the most, though, was everything Marinette had shared about Johnny. He knew she was smart—she was Ladybug, after all—but it seemed like she'd been completely blind sided, even brainwashed, by her so-called boyfriend. He couldn't shake the worry he felt for her. The Marinette he once knew seemed to have been buried beneath all the changes. There were still moments, small signs that the old her was still there, but it was as if the time away from Paris had taken a deeper toll than he realised.

He watched Emily wander around as if she had all the time in the world, and he couldn't help but marvel at how Sophia put up with it. The woman was a saint.

'Emily! Come on!' Adrien called again, wincing as he watched her spin in circles, letting out one of the most ear-piercing, high-pitched noises he'd ever heard. He grimaced, then turned to start his own search for the missing shoe. He moved from the hallway into the lounge, throwing cushions, blankets and many cuddly toys out of the way.

Finally, as he dropped onto all fours and looked under the sofa, he came victorious. One small boot lying underneath. Yes! And something sticky! Ugh!

Taking the shoe back into the hallway, Adrien gritted his teeth, searching desperately for where the tiny terror had gone. He scanned the grand foyer, but she was nowhere to be seen. 'Emily!' he called, his patience hanging by a thread. 'Come on! We haven't got time for this!'

He had a meeting at Fu's parlour at nine, and then they had their monthly brunch date and ice skating. Brunch reservations around Paris were few and far between this time of year, and if they didn't make it they'd lose it–and his deposit.

'Emily!' He shouted out in frustration, almost unable to keep the groan that followed after. 'Fine! I'll carry on without you.'

With more force than necessary, he yanked her bag off the staircase and stalked toward the door, hitting himself in the head on the way. 'I'm going!' he muttered. 'I'll eat all the waffles myself and ask for extra chocolate sauce.'

A couple of steps towards the door, and she still hadn't made herself known. This was worse than usual. 'Bye, Emily,' he shouted, looking over his shoulder one last time. Still nothing. Damn, this kid was infuriating. Time to bring out the big guns.

He stopped and pulled out his phone, making sure he gasped dramatically slamming his hand to his mouth for extra effect. 'Uncle Félix is having an ice cream and a unicorn party! But only for those who leave the house now, with two shoes on! Oh, wow! Well, I'll definitely be there. I can't wait to ride a magical unicorn, with a rainbow horn and ribbons tied in its hair.'

That earned a giggle from behind the Christmas tree, but still no Emily. Maybe he'd over done it a tad. Admitting defeat and running out of ideas, there was only one thing left to do: bargain with a three-year-old.

'Emily, please! I need to get to Marinette in...' He glanced at his watch. 'Ten minutes.'

'Nettie!' Emily shrieked, nearly toppling the tree as she shot towards Adrien at the front door. In one swift motion, she yanked the shoe from his hand, sat down, and shoved it onto her socked foot.

Once the boot was on, she sprang to her feet, grabbed his hand, and yanked him towards the door with surprising force. 'I love Nettie. Nettie is my favourite.'

Me too! Yikes, if he wasn't careful, his internal monologues were going to get him into trouble.

Instead, he smiled gratefully at his sister and edged her out of the door, closing it behind them and ushering her down the steps.

By the time they made it to Fu's Parlour, Emily had collected six different types of leaf and had persuaded Adrien to give her a "little carry", which meant from outside the mansion's gates all the way to the parlour. He had to make sure he thanked Plagg for busting his balls to continue training. Not only for his mental health, but physically too.

As they rounded the corner onto the street housing Fu's parlour, Adrien could see Marinette and the attorney standing outside, looking things over. She looked gorgeous. Every inch the girl he fell in love with. He steadied his heart. He shouldn't be thinking about this now.

'Sorry, I'm late!' he hollered from a few feet away, picking up speed to get to them quicker, but with the tiny backpack on his back, and toddler on his hip, the progress was slow.

'I'm here,' he said through a gasp. Emily giggled as they made their way closer to the others. He hoisted her up higher to keep his momentum going, causing her to scream loud with joy.

'Again,' Emily hollered, laughing in such a way he couldn't help but smile. Why could that small thing infuriate him one moment, fill him with such undying love the next?

'We had a boot emergency,' he said through deep breaths.

'My boot disappeared!' Emily announced dramatically, flinging her arms out. One of her hands smacked Adrien in the head, and he let out a startled yelp.

Marinette laughed, a warm, bright sound that made him forget the sting for a second. 'That's the worst kind of shoe emergency,' she said, her eyes sparkling with amusement. In the crisp winter sunlight, she looked just like the old Marinette—her face glowing, younger and more carefree than she'd been last night.

Adrien set Emily down and stretched with an exaggerated groan, hoping to unknot the tension in his back. 'Finally, something we can all agree on,' he said, grinning.

They exchanged a look, and he couldn't resist taking her in, maybe a little longer than he should have. She wore a big, black parka with a fur collar that looked almost comically oversized on her, like it was trying to swallow her whole. She was still so tiny, practically drowning in the coat. His gaze drifted down her figure, landing on her boots—bright orange, almost exactly like the pair he used to wear when they were teenagers.

He glanced back up to find her watching him, a pink blush dusting her cheeks. She looked away quickly, fiddling with her scarf, and he felt his heart do an annoying little flip.

'Nice boots,' he teased, raising an eyebrow.

Her eyes flicked to his, and she rolled them, trying to play it cool. 'Thought it was time for a pop of colour,' she shot back. Then she grinned, and he swore he felt a spark in the chilly air between them.

He leaned in, his smile turning a little sly. 'So... you missed me so much you had to start dressing like me, huh?'

Her cheeks turned pink, but she held his gaze, a spark of confidence in her eyes. 'Oh, please. You think these boots are all for you?'

'Maybe,' he teased, grinning. 'I wouldn't blame you. After all, I did rock that look first.'

She rolled her eyes, lips twitching up in a half-smile. 'Keep dreaming, Kitty.' But then, almost shyly, she looked away, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her scarf. 'Maybe... maybe I do have a few things that remind me of you.'

His heart gave an unexpected tug at her words, and for a heartbeat, he thought he saw something fragile in her gaze, like a part of her hoped he'd say more. But she quickly shook her head, letting out a light laugh to brush it off. 'Not that it means anything. It's just... you know, fashion, right?'

'Right, just fashion,' he echoed, forcing a laugh to match hers.

But he couldn't stop himself from leaning in just a little more, his gaze drifting over her. 'Still... you look great in these,' he murmured, and his voice dropped, almost involuntarily. 'I bet you'd look amazing in one of my T-shirts too.'

Why, on Plagg's Camembert, had he said that! Now would be the perfect time for an akuma...if there was still a villain around.

Marinette's eyes widened, and for a moment, he saw something bright and hopeful flicker across her face. Her mouth opened, as though she wanted to say something, but then she closed it, pulling her scarf up higher as if to hide. 'Don't get too cocky, Agreste,' she mumbled, her voice softening, uncertain. 'I don't need your clothes.'

'Who said it was a need?' He chuckled lightly, trying to keep the moment easy, but his own words echoed back at him, a subtle sting beneath them. She didn't need him... didn't need his empty flirtations, especially when things were already so complicated.

Because as much as he felt his heart tugging him closer, he knew he should be stepping back. After all, he wasn't really free to be offering her anything—not when Johnny was still part of the picture. And though Johnny seemed all smiles and charm, Adrien couldn't ignore the unsettled feeling that had started gnawing at him from last night. Like there was a shadow there, something Marinette never quite said.

She glanced back up at him, smiling but hesitant, as though trying to read something in his face. He felt a wave of guilt creep up, and the smile faded from his lips. He was always the one reaching, asking her to share moments she couldn't trust.

He forced a laugh, hoping to dispel the tension he'd created. 'Sorry, terrible habit, I know,' he joked, his tone more casual. 'I'll try not to make it a regular thing.'

She laughed softly, though her gaze lingered on him, studying him like she couldn't quite figure him out.

A cough sounded beside them, interrupting their moment and bringing them back to the present. 'Thank you for joining us, Monsieur Agreste.'

Jean-Luc pulled two keys out of his pocket and handed one to each of them, resulting in Emily's second strop of the day, all because she hadn't been given one.

As Emily screamed the unfairness, Marinette knelt down beside her. 'Would you like to look after my key?' she asked. Emily stopped the scream fest instantly.

With a squeal, she launched herself around Marinette's neck and nuzzled into her. 'Thank you, Nettie.'

Arms secured around Emily, Marinette glanced up and caught his eye, almost looking for reassurance that what she'd done was okay. As Emily jumped on her, and Marinette giggled with the small girl, something inside him snapped. The internal butterflies danced crazy in his stomach. There was no other woman who'd ever done this to him, and knowing now that Marinette was Ladybug, well he didn't think he'd ever get them back in the cage again. He was so far gone, he may as well have been on the moon.

Adrien knelt down with them. 'You don't need to pander to her. If you're too nice, she'll never let you go.'

'She's so cute though. How could you ever say no to this face?' Emily squished her face next to Marinette's, both smiling at him with wide eyes and pouty lips. These two together would be the death of him.

'It's quite easy really.' He turned to look at Emily. 'No!'

Marinette covered Emily's ears. 'Shhh! Don't be so negative.'

Rolling his eyes, Adrien stood up. 'Thank you,' he said to Jean-Luc. 'Is there anything else you need from us?'

'No. That's all. If you have any questions, you have my number. Once again, I'm sorry for your loss.' With a quick goodbye to them all, Jean-Luc walked away, leaving the three of them outside Fu's Parlour.

They stood in silence, looking at the building as memories ran through his head. He never had the best of relationships with Fu, not like what Marinette did. But seeing this abandoned building empty still hit him harder than he thought it would. Fu had come at a time in Adrien's life where he'd lost his way, giving him something to live for. Just like Marinette coming back now. Adrien had struggled a lot since Emily had been born. Trauma. Stress. Anxiety. Depression. He was dosed up on medication, and he'd never seen a clear way out of it. He had the support of friends around him, but this was an effect which was deeper, and he knew it was to do with the girl standing beside him. Marinette was more than just another friend. She was an elixir. His elixir of life. Having her here only made him fearful for when she finally left.

He heard a sniff beside him, his attention jolting from his own thoughts to the woman standing beside him holding his sister tightly in her arms. Her chin resting on Emily's head.

Adrien stretched out unconsciously, brushing a hand over her arm. 'Are you okay?'

She sniffed, holding Emily tighter as though she was a safety blanket. 'I - um - yeah! Yeah, I'm fine. Just emotional you know. I can't believe he's gone. It was one thing when he lost his mind, but now–' she trailed off, and he could completely understand what she was trying to say.

'It's so final.' He finished her sentence and she gave him a grateful smile.

'I'm sorry. This is nothing compared to what you two have been through. I'm being selfish only thinking about myself.'

Adrien frowned. 'How can you be selfish for feeling? Yes, it's been hard for us to lose Nathalie, but that doesn't mean your feelings for losing Master Fu are less worthy. You have a heart, Marinette, you're human. If you weren't upset, I'd be more worried.' He chuckled, but she didn't seem to have the same response. She looked at him as though he had two heads.

'Marinette?' he asked.

She shook her head, her eyes filling with tears.

'Marinette?' he said again.

He watched as Emily placed her hands on Marinette's shoulders and looked into her eyes. The toddler's small hands brushed over her face, before wrapping her arms tightly around her neck and pulling her in. 'We're here with you, Nettie. Mr Fu is in heaven with my mummy and daddy. They're in a place where they can look after us more.'

Adrien felt his heart being torn into shreds. They'd said a few different things to Emily over the years about her mother and father, especially when they'd hit the tricky stage of her referring to him as "Dada". The pain of that first spoken word was like nothing he'd felt in his life. Not when he'd lost his mum or Nathalie, and most certainly not when he found out about his father's dark and corrupt past. Hearing his little sister call him that name had driven him down a dark, slippery slope. If it wasn't for Kagami and Félix, he was worried what might have happened. When it came to his makeshift family, he'd fallen squarely on his feet. His friends were his saviours, they'd been there through the rough patches and the triumphs—and all he ever wanted to do was to pay them back for their never-ending kindness.

She still hadn't spoken, and he knew she was taking what she needed from Emily's hug. The tight grasp of a small child seemed to be an antidote to most problems. On stressful days, everyone should be sent a warm hug from a toddler, it really did wonders.

Finally, the two broke apart and Marinette placed Emily down on the ground, her hands coming up to wipe under her eyes. 'Would you mind if we left it for today please? I don't think I'm strong enough to go in. This has affected me more than I thought it would.'

'Sure,' Adrien replied, hoisting Emily's bag back up on his shoulders. He felt a tug on his arm. Once. Twice. Three times. Until the assaulter took on a more aggressive approach and attempted to pull his arm clean off. He looked down to Emily, who'd let go of him and placed her hands together under her chin. Oh, this wasn't going to be good!

'Can Nettie come with us today, pweaseeee?' She pouted her bottom lip, and widened her eyes, almost looking like Plagg begging for fermented cheese.

If he was being honest, he wanted nothing more than Marinette to come with them. But he couldn't play that card yet. He needed to act aloof, test the waters to see if she was actually interested in spending time with them. There wasn't long until she went back home, and he wasn't willing to let her go with bad memories about him.

'Oh, I'm sure —'

'I'll come.' Her sudden outburst had them tilting their heads in synchronisation.

Adrien creased his forehead. 'I know she's cute, but you don't need to fall victim to this tiny dictator.'

'I no dick!' Emily exclaimed, making them both laugh.

Marinette wiped the tears from under her eyes and continued to chuckle. 'Seriously, Kitty, I couldn't think of anything better than to spend the day with you both. If you'll have me, that is? I don't want to intrude.'

'My want you. Tell her, Adrien. Come Nettie! I like to skate. I can go weelie fast.' She ran around his leg, his hand reaching out to snatch her hood before she tripped and ended face down in the road.

'The tiny one has spoken,' Adrien laughed. 'So, Marinette. Would you like to spend the afternoon with me and my kid?'

Marinette snorted. Emily stopping and staring at her obviously waiting for the answer.

'I would love to...as long as she won't eat my hat. I hear goats can be a little feisty,'

'I don't eat hats! That's silly!'

He couldn't help the pull at the corner of his lips. 'Don't worry, M'Lady. She's house-trained.' He stretched down to lift Emily up, when Marinette stopped him.

Carefully, she walked around his back and pulled the backpack off him, before flinging it up onto her own shoulder with a bright smile. He grinned back, like the lovesick fool he'd always been and always would be around her. And just like that he was heading into the centre of Paris with his two favourite girls, ready to spend the day like a family—a family he wanted more than anything else, and one he could never truly have.