Marinette

Marinette was drained. The jet lag, the emotions, the arguments, the cold shoulders...she was just about done. When she'd left Paris, she hadn't exactly had the best intentions — she just wanted to get out of there and separate her two lives. And it was coming back to kick her, not so kindly, in the butt.

She hadn't considered exactly how much her choice would have affected everyone else. Alya didn't know what to say to her. Her one time best friend had sat opposite her like an absolute stranger, unable to look at her or keep the conversation flowing—at first anyway. They didn't know each other anymore. Four years really had torn their once woven destinies apart. But she couldn't feel more grateful for the olive branch Alya extended out to her. The chance to make amends.

She arrived at the next stop on her tour. The Liberty. A soft reminiscent smile took over her face as she remembered the times they'd spent there. So much love and friendships had developed. Juleka and Rose. Ivan and Mylène. Even her and Adrien.

Adrien.

Why did she ever think being in the same continent with him again would be easy? He was embedded into her skin, rising to the surface every time she heard the word Paris. He was the reason she hadn't been back in so long.

Stepping up onto the gangway, Marinette crossed the plank only to stop as she noticed someone about to walk into her. Luka was looking down at his phone, his arm half in his jacket as he shrugged it up onto his shoulders.

She pulled her strength together to speak. This couldn't go any worse than what had happened with Alya. 'Hey, stranger.'

He froze. Slowly, his eyes left his phone and met hers. He looked a lot older than the last time she'd seen him, his eyes lined with crinkles as he smiled at her and hair both shorter and darker than she remembered, with stubble framing his jaw. Each part of him reflecting a memory she didn't know, a memory she wasn't part of. Luka was all man now, not a teenager trying to figure out his life. He looked good, wonderful, and she was gutted she missed watching him grow.

'Oh, woah! Marinette, hi!' He stepped forward, wrapping her in a tight hug, and she couldn't help but take the moment to absorb it. This had been the most friendly response she'd had all day.

'How are you?' she asked.

'All the better for seeing you. When did you get into Paris?'

'I arrived earlier today.'

Luka smiled, and a ton weight was lifted from her shoulders. A true smile. 'Why didn't you tell me?'

She struggled. 'It was a kind of...a last-minute decision.'

'And how long are you staying for?' Luka started walking, Marinette turning to move alongside him.

'The next two weeks.'

Luka nodded before turning his head to smile at her, but something reflected in his eyes. Remorse, maybe? 'It really is great to see you and I wish I had more time to catch up, but there's something...'

It was only at that moment Marinette realised how fast he was walking, and with such sheer determination, he had somewhere to be, and she was holding him back. She hadn't thought this through. Of course Luka would have plans. He had a whole life she didn't know about, a whole life that didn't include her. When had she become so self-centred? Johnny's voice whispered in the back of her mind that she always had been, that he'd noticed it and loved her anyway.

'Maybe, if you're free over the next couple of weeks, we could go out for a drink sometime?' Why was she continuing to push?

Luka grabbed his phone from his pocket and tapped around on it before quickly putting it away. The action caused her gut to clench. 'Definitely. Do you have the same number? I'll message you tomorrow or something?'

'Yeah, I do.' She nodded.

'Excellent.'

Before she knew it, they were standing outside the boulangerie. They had stopped and Luka was smiling at her in that familiar, calm way. 'I'm glad you're home, Marinette. I'll speak to you soon.' Kissing her on the cheek, he jogged off around the corner, and she'd never felt more alone.

With a sigh, she pushed open the door to the bakery.

Her father was the first to greet her as he scrubbed down the work counters in the shop. 'What's up, sweetheart?'

'It's just been a hard day.' She placed one hand to her head and rubbed across her eyebrows. She could feel a headache coming on already, and that's all she needed after such a crappy day.

'Carry on upstairs, your mother's cooking your favourite for dinner.'

The thought made her smile. It was as though her mother knew exactly what she'd need. 'Thanks Papa.'

Walking past her father, she placed a chaste kiss on his cheek and patted his shoulder before following the glorious smell up the stairs and into the apartment.

'Maman?' Marinette walked into the apartment. She needed a hug. Today had really taken it out of her and she needed some TLC to keep going.

'In here, sweetheart.' Her mother's voice pulled her in deeper, Marinette finding her on her hands and knees at the bookcase, digging for something at the back.

'What are you doing?' Marinette asked with amusement.

'Oh, just looking for something I'd lost a while ago. It's nothing to worry about. So, how has your day been? Happy to see Alya?'

Marinette sighed, slipping off her coat and hanging it next to the door. 'It wasn't exactly as I expected. You forget how much can change in four years.' She made her way over to the kitchen breakfast bar, slipping off her boots and settling on the stool. 'Everyone really has moved on with their lives.'

Her mother stood, brushing her hands over her clothes. 'So have you. You were certain last week Johnny was going to pop the question over Christmas.'

'Yeah!' she sighed, rubbing her hands over her eyes.

She could feel her mother staring at her through her hands. Nothing sneaked past Sabine Cheng, and as Marinette moved her hands she was met with the quizzical look from her mum. 'Is everything okay with you two?'

'I - um - I...' Her fingers locked on the table in front of her, her head dropping down on top of them.

Her mother approached and sat opposite, gently taking her hands in a way only a mother could. The tenderness in her touch brought tears to the corners of Marinette's eyes. She had missed her family immensely. Unlike Johnny's mother, who only cared about the company's bottom line, her mother was there to clean her wounds and listen to her concerns.

She took a deep breath, finally answering the truth which she'd never allowed herself to think about. 'I think so.'

Her mother looked into her eyes as though she were reading everything. 'Maybe this time apart will do you good. It's been a whirlwind of a love story, Marinette. Your doubts are more than justified.'

'You know what,' Marinette said, standing up, too tired to think any more. 'It's been a long day. I think I'm just going to sleep.'

Her mother stood with her, enveloping her in a tight, protective embrace. 'Goodnight, sweetheart,' she whispered, her voice thick with concern. 'Just remember, we'll support you in whatever choice you make. We love you and only want you to be happy.'

Marinette smiled sadly, stepping back away from her mother. 'I love you both, too.' She made her way up to her room, exhausted and ready to crawl into bed. She placed her phone on her desk, plugging it into the charger and looking to see if she had any messages.

None.

She still hadn't heard from Johnny. She'd called and messaged him so many times that she was starting to annoy herself, yet he hadn't bothered to respond. It was clear he was upset with her, but this silence was ridiculous.

'Some fresh air might do you good.' Tikki's soft voice was a reassurance Marinette didn't know she needed. It had been so long since she'd had time to spend alone with her small kwami. Their friendship had become a shadow of what it once was, just like all the others.

Marinette made her way up the ladder, collapsing onto her old bed and looking at her old corkboard. The pictures from her teenage years remained prominent on display.

'Why did you put that one up, Marinette? I look like a chipmunk!'

She laughed as Adrien pulled a face similar to that in the photo. 'It shows the goofball of a boy I fell in love with.'

Her nose prickled with prolonged feelings—feelings resurfacing that she'd spent years burying down. Crawling onto her knees, she pushed open the skylight, she hoisted herself out and onto the rooftop, finally stretching tall into the cool night air. The garden was bare. Not a flower or plant in sight. Just another change to a life without her. The small sky garden was her little project, her oasis, and something neither of her parents wanted to keep maintaining when she'd left. She couldn't blame them, really. Climbing up to the bed and then lifting yourself through the skylight was quite the challenge.

She made her way to the balcony edge, resting her arms on the railings before focusing out over the distance. Her eyes locked on the rooftop opposite, the one Chat Noir would occupy as he waited for her to climb out into the night. Marinette wondered where he was now. Was he in the country still? Was he with a girlfriend, a wife...a husband? Was he even still alive? More than ever, not knowing his identity hurt. She had no one to speak to about Fu, no one who would understand. But he would. He always did.

Memory after memory replayed, tearing what was left of her heart to shreds. She didn't belong anywhere any more. She didn't feel like she had a home or a base. Johnny hadn't called her. Her other friends had things which didn't involve her. She was alone and useless. Everything Johnny had said. Maybe she should just go back to New York, go back and apologise to Johnny, begging for his forgiveness.

The wallowing in her own self-pity only increased as the sound of laughing and cheering pulled her attention to the opposite side of the balcony. She moved, wiping her nose on the sleeve of her cardigan, and ducking down — dropping onto her knees as she looked through the iron bars.

There must have been something going on at her old collège. Crowds flittered out of the building in their droves. She spotted a tall, burly man standing beside a smaller woman — Ivan and Mylène. They were quickly joined by a few other recognisable characters. Alya and Nino. Luka. Alix and Max. Kim and Ondine. Félix and Kagami. Everyone was there, well, everyone except her and Adrien.

Then, everything inside of her threatened to turn itself inside out, as Adrien walked down the stairs with a woman, a pretty blonde with impeccable fashion sense. But it was what stood proudly between them which knocked the air out of her lungs. There stood a small child, no older than four-years-old dressed in a beautiful red coat, and pink ballet tights poking out underneath. Everyone ran towards the small girl, hugging and kissing her before Adrien lifted her up and onto his shoulders, the woman wrapping her arm around his waist as they slowly made their way down the staircase and onto the pavement.

She couldn't watch any more. She didn't want to. Instead, she kept low and clambered back into her room, grabbing the photo she loved of Adrien and hugging it to her chest. As she cried in heartache and sorrow, she didn't hear the soft sounds of boots dropping onto her balcony, and she was fast asleep by the time the glowing green eyes looked through the window.

*****

Adrien

When Adrien returned home he felt restless. Emily had been amazing in her first dance show, so amazing that she'd fallen asleep in his arms as they walked back to the mansion. He'd put her to bed without any hassle, leaving her with her ladybug comforter before heading back downstairs to where Luka and Sophia were congregating in the kitchen.

'Did she go to sleep okay?' Sophia asked, handing a mug of hot mulled wine to Adrien and taking a swig out of her own.

He smiled. 'Out like a light.'

Adrien perched himself on a barstool, his head still back at the collège and the boulangerie. He swore he had seen a shadow looming between the railings on Marinette's balcony, almost certain she was watching them. He needed to go and see her, just one little peek. Dramatically, Adrien stood up and patted around his pockets, looking at Luka with an apologetic smile.

'Would you two mind just hanging around for a little while? I think I've left my wallet at the collège.'

Luka looked at him with inquisitive eyes. He didn't believe a word Adrien just said. 'Are you sure you even took it?' Luka knew full well Adrien tended to just use the cards on his phone instead of the cards in his wallet.

'Yeah. But it's okay. I'll be as quick as I can.'

Sophia smiled and walked towards the fridge, finding what was left of their Yule log and putting it on the counter top. 'That's fine. I have nowhere to be.'

Adrien was almost certain she was looking at Luka as though this is exactly where she needed to be.

Luka glanced at Sophia before turning his attention back to Adrien, obviously torn between the two. 'I'll walk you out.'

Feeling like he was being walked by a teacher to the principal's office, Adrien turned to Luka and raised an eyebrow. 'Go on then. Say what you've got to say.'

Luka peered behind him before quickly turning back, his voice low. 'Don't do anything stupid.'

When it came to Adrien and decisions, that was definitely something easier said than done. He couldn't control the snort, which only seemed to infuriate Luka more. 'Adrien!'

He held his hands up in defence. 'I just need to see her, okay? I promise I won't do anything stupid.'

Making his way to the back door, Plagg flew out to join him, only it seemed his kwami was taking sides with Luka. 'Don't do it.'

'I'm not doing anything,' he sighed, crossing his arms tightly over his chest. 'I just want to see her. It's been years and...'

I miss her!

The words he couldn't say hung between the three of them, gradually breaking Luka down. He knew the effect of Marinette leaving, it had hurt Luka almost as much as it had him.

Luka rolled his eyes. 'Fine!'

'What?' Plagg screeched, causing both Adrien and Luka to wince. 'You're going to allow him to do this?'

Luka shrugged. 'I get it. I felt better for seeing her earlier, I'm sure Adrien will feel the same way too.'

Adrien ignored the painful jolt in his heart from Marinette making a trip to her ex-ex-boyfriend first.

'Yes, but you know as much as I do, Adrien won't be the one visiting Pigtails, it'll be Chat Noir.' Adrien rolled his eyes. Of course, it would be Chat Noir. Adrien couldn't just turn up on her balcony like some modern day Romeo, spewing monologues about how his heart had been broken since the day she left. That, however, was Chat Noir's forte.

'If it'll make you both feel better, I'll just look. I won't go to her. I won't speak to her. I just want to see her. Come on guys, you know how much she means to me.' He glanced between them before pulling out the big guns. The pleading cat eyes. 'Please.'

Luka and Plagg seemed to have gone into a silent conversation before finally giving Adrien the verdict (like they could stop him anyway). 'Fine, but you don't talk to her. Not yet.'

'Deal.' Adrien held out a hand, Luka taking it sceptically.

'Promise me,' Luka said.

Adrien called his transformation, holding his hand up with three fingers together. 'Scout's honour.' With that, he launched himself up onto the window before climbing out and unhooking his baton.

'Wait! You were never a scout!' Luka hollered at him. 'Adrien!' he shouted, 'Adriennnn!'

Adrien laughed as he launched up into the night sky with a playful 'wee'. Even after all the years of transforming, he still loved the thrill, and Luka was right, he was never a Boy Scout.

Chat Noir had taken a detour past a flower cart, grabbing a single yellow rose and continuing on to his destination.

The first thing he noticed was the lack of light coming from the skylight into Marinette's room. Trying to move as quietly as possible, he dropped to his knees and looked down. There she was. Marinette Dupain-Cheng, all grown up and still, if not more, gorgeous.

Something bloomed in his heart as he watched her sleeping. Her face was still and doll-like, and all he wanted to do was kiss every inch. He sat by the window, watching for a little while longer, as everything hit him. She wouldn't ever be his again. He was still a superhero, and now came complete with a ton of baggage. The only way this could work was if he wasn't Chat Noir, or she was Ladybug.

He couldn't ignore the timing. Marinette's return, just when he'd felt at his lowest, when the weight of raising Emily was nearly too much to bear, felt almost... convenient. Like fate was dangling something just out of reach. He tried to shake the feeling, knowing how selfish it was, but he couldn't help it. Maybe, just maybe, she was back in his life for a reason, or two.

Marinette was back at the same time as Master Fu's death. The coincidences just seemed to be piling up and up.

Finally, he tore himself away. Marinette Dupain-Cheng was out of bounds and once again, the dark clouds loomed over his head. Maybe someday he'd finally land on his feet. After all, he was a cat and cats always land on their feet.