Several years into the future, Manon is baby sitting for Adrien and Marinette. After all, how hard can it be to wrangle three kids?

It doesn't take long for her to realise she's in over her head and she calls for backup: Chris, Ella, and Etta.

But the four teens might have met their match for troublemakers. 

Written for the Miraculous Fanworks Discord.

•••••

"How can you look so good after having this many kids?"

Manon looked around the room as Louis and Hugo dived over the sofas only for Emma to come charging full pelt at the boys with a cushion. Smacking them twice, Hugo attacked back; using his feet, he pushed his sister away and dived over the back cushion of the sofa.

Marinette's gentle, sweet laugh made Manon wonder how she'd given birth to the trio of monsters currently demolishing anything in the way.

Tables.

Chairs.

Glassware .

A sudden smash was heard in the hallway, along with a rather loud growl.

Both women turned their heads to the doorway, not at all surprised as Adrien came bounding in with very damp Hugo over one shoulder. Not exactly the best movement for his crisp white shirt.

Giving Manon a heartwarming smile and nod, he continued to carry the wrestling child up the staircase and into his bedroom. Obviously the smash had resulted in something more than just a slight accident, and a slight mess.

"Marinette!" Adrien's voice boomed down the staircase making Manon jump.

For someone so placid and calm, he'd proved in the years since having kids that the normal smooth attitude of Adrien Agreste was a lot more of a rocky road than anyone thought — except Marinette that was. For some reason she didn't even flinch when Adrien's temper hit 100. Instead, she would stroke her fingers through his hair and calm him right down in the matter of seconds.

Etta always described it to Manon as taming a territorial lion.

"I'll be right back." Marinette ran up the stairs to where a high pitched screaming was coming from the very grumpy toddler.

Pursing her lips, Manon looked around the Agreste house. It was warm and homely — and perfectly Marinette. You could tell she'd been the one to decorate, Adrien giving her free reign to do what she wanted and probably just asking for one or two little ornaments — such as the random Ladybug statue in the corner. It was news to no one that Adrien Agreste had a soft spot for the heroine, he'd even admitted numerous times he was her number one fan — much to Chat Noir (and Alya's) dislike. Nobody was forgetting that Twitter war anytime soon.

"Hi."

A sweet, young voice sounded behind her, causing Manon to turn in the direction of the hallway and come face to face with the devious glare of the twins — Louis and Emma.

"Oh, um, hi! I'm Manon, what's your name?"

Giving an awkward wave, Manon attempted to smile at the two of them. She hadn't seen them for three years due to experiencing university outside of Paris. She was studying in teaching, now back in Paris to start her extended training period.

In great need of some extra cash and had visited the bakery only to hear Sabine was ill and couldn't look after the children that evening. Asking for Marinette's number, Manon called and offered her own babysitting services. Ironic really considering Marinette used to babysit her.

Wanting to work with children in the near future it seemed like a good opportunity to get acquainted with the little munchkins.

"We know all about you," Louis said. He was the spitting image of Adrien, yet everything about his personality seemed as chaotic and unhinged as his mother. Emma, on the other hand, took after her mother in the looks department but her swag was pure model — pure Agreste. "Maman used to babysit you when you were our age."

"She said you were the devil reincarnated."

Manon let out an open strangled laugh, unsure whether they were kidding or telling the truth. She knew she was a little of a nightmare in her childhood but would Marinette really have said that?

"Papa said Maman only thinks that because she hadn't met us yet."

The smile Emma gave her sent a shiver down her spine. She could have swore having parents like Marinette and Adrien would have created the most sweet and caring children... these two — right at this moment — seemed everything but. The twins in 'The Shining' seemed a lot more hospitable than the Agreste twins were.

The pounding of footsteps down the staircase had Manon's head turning quickly, a slight tremble of her hands as she half expected Hugo to appear on his little tricycle mumbling 'Red Rum'.

"Are you okay?" Adrien hopped down off the bottom step neatening up his tie and messing with his collar.

" Pfft, of course!" Manon said, faking bravery as much as she could. "Why would you think something was wrong?"

Adrien took his jacket from the coat rack and shrugged his arms into it, his eyebrows frowning as he studied her face.

"You just look a little pale –"

"I'm fine," she quickly responded, waving Adrien off with a flick of her hand. "You and Marinette go and have a nice time, don't worry about me. It's all under control."

Adrien stepped forward and placed a hand on Manon's shoulder. The younger girl would never admit it, but she could totally see the appeal of Adrien Agreste. He may have been 8 years older but she wasn't blind. She was tempted to ask him for a quick selfie to send to her friends, knowing full well they wouldn't believe her link to the once world-famous supermodel.

"You know, you can ask Chris around if you need some support," Adrien said, Manon concentrating back in the moment and away from her swooning at her old babysitter's husband. "I think Ella and Etta are back from university too. Order a pizza from Leon's and put it on our tab. Just don't break anything, and tell Ella to stay away from the camembert."

A laugh sounded from the top of the staircase followed by an infant's squeal — Hugo was ready to come back and join the party.

Marinette came down the staircase complete with a clean and changed toddler, and placed him on his feet. He headed straight in the direction of the living room and a quick look behind her revealed an empty hall... no Louis and Emma in sight.

Turning back, she watched as Marinette slipped her heels on and threaded her arms through the coat Adrien was holding up to her. Seriously, why were none of the guys at her university like this?

"We'll be back in a couple of hours. Order whatever you want in; there's some cash on the side and a list of restaurants we have tabs at. Make sure Hugo doesn't eat any sweets, and Emma and Louis have some maths homework to do before they can watch tv." Marinette began talking at the speed of light, Manon nodding and shaking her head in response to Marinette's ramble.

"Kids!" The designer suddenly yelled, a stampede following swiftly as the Agreste trio came barrelling into the hallway.

Marinette and Adrien moved forward kissing each of the children on the forehead before moving towards the doorway. "Listen to what Manon say's and we'll be back later."

Adrien trailed behind his wife and kissed his children on the heads, finally giving her a thumbs up and a quiet good luck before leaving the house and slamming the door shut.

Turning back to the children Manon mustered up her most enthusiastic smile and clapped her hands together.

"Okay, who's up for some fun?"

The children looked at her unimpressed; Emma's arms folded across her body as her brothers both looked more interested in the spider slowly crawling down the wall.

This was going to be a long night.

"Hugo! Hugo!" Manon walked around the house calling her youngest charges name to no avail. Wherever the youngest Agreste was hiding there was no way she was going to find him. It was as though he'd disappeared into thin air.

"Incoming!"

As though in her own personal version of Home Alone; six toy teddies and a Barbie doll flew down the stairs. A quick dart and duck had the Barbie miss her by inches, yet she was no match for the teddies, as the biggest one (with huge plastic eyes) hit her square in the face.

Looking up to the bannister, she wasn't at all surprised to see the terrors had already evacuated the scene. Damn them!

An unexpected growl left Manon's lips. If she was going to survive the rest of this night she needed backup. Stomping over to her bag, she reached in for her phone — only to find it was gone.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Moving her hand around the contents of the bag was futile when she carried so much inside there. Instead, she lifted the bag, tipped it upside down and dumped the whole thing across the floor.

Lip gloss.

Mirror.

Hairbrush.

About 50 receipts.

A McDonald's Monopoly token.

No phone!

"Are you looking for this?"

Looking from where she was currently kneeling on the ground, her head turned and came face to face with a smirking Emma Agreste, one who had an electronic device in her hand.

"Har har!" Manon rolled her eyes and pushed herself to stand. "Give it back please. I need to check to see if your Maman has called."

Making a rather dramatic display of it, Emma held the phone in front of her and tapped the screen.

"Nope," she smiled. "Nothing from Maman or Papa; however, why is uncle Nino's brother your screensaver?"

Lunging forward, Manon attempted to grab the phone only for Emma to squeal, drop it and run in the opposite direction.

"Manon and Chris, sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Emma's voice faded into the background as the little monster made her escape.

Manon threw her head back and groaned before looking at the picture beside her in the hallway. A picture of Adrien and Marinette's wedding day.

"I'm so sorry for my younger days," she said, shaking her head and pulling up her WhatsApp group.

It was time to call in reinforcements.

•••••

Thirty minutes later, Manon was hiding in the kitchen; a colander on her head and spatula in her hands. She crouched down behind the work counter and prayed the little demons wouldn't find her.

Looking around she winced. The kitchen was splattered with flour and wet patches sporadically placed on the ground — evidence of each and every water/flour bomb that had come her way. She was damp, sticky and had an uncanny resemblance to a snowman.

Where the hell was her back up?

The sudden sounding of the doorbell was the single most greatest sound of her life and, hopefully, brought with it her saviours. This was it... she was ready to finally come out victorious and hopefully get the little critters to bed.

Stretching one arm up behind her, she tapped around on the work surface for anything she could find to use as part of her armour.

A spoon.

A fork.

Some strange brush thing.

Aha! She thought. A baking tray.

Holding it in front of her, she decided to make her way over towards the opening into the hallway. Keeping low to the ground she stepped forward: one step, two steps, three steps...

A creak of the staircase behind her halted her in her tracks.

Freezing, she stood as still as a statue waiting to see if the noise happened again. Her surroundings suddenly made her feel as though she was in the middle of no man's land, completely vulnerable to an attack. The creek happened again, this time prolonged, her heart thudding against her chest and her palm's beginning to sweat.

Without waiting another second, Manon bolted straight to the doorway, yanking it open and grabbing Chris by the neck of his tee. She pulled the bewildered guy in, before ushering Etta and Ella quickly behind.

"Hide!" Manon whispered, slamming the door shut, running into the living room and diving over the back of the sofa, sticking her head up and above the backrest to signal the others over with her hand.

"What are you –" before Ella could finish her sentence, a balloon came sailing from behind them, Manon holding the baking tray up to save her from the incoming attack of flour.

Smacking Ella in the back of the head, Hugo howled in laughter and Emma and Louis shared a celebratory fist bump. A pounding was heard as little feet scurried up the staircase and back to wherever their base was.

"What the hell was that?" Ella squealed, brushing her top down and scattering flour all over the place in puffs of little white clouds.

"Flour bombs. Just be glad they didn't hit you with a water one too – they must have run out of them."

The three teens looked over at Manon finally noticing her matted hair and unflattering stains all over her top. She looked awful.

"Manon? Do you need to go –"

Without warning, another bomb came sailing down and hit Chris in the back of the head, the rambunctious laughter of children echoed through the halls as Chris's hand met with a paste. Flour and water. They'd reloaded.

The influx of more balloons flew down the staircase hitting the teenagers, the floor, the wall and a wedding picture of Marinette and Adrien. Oh man, she was so dead!

Chris, Etta and Ella scurried around to hide with Manon, all four of them resting on the carpet with their backs to the sofa.

"These kids are meances'! I know our sis said they could be a handful, but I didn't realise they were satan's spawn." Ella's voice was a harsh whisper. The girl obviously hoped if she kept quiet they wouldn't be found.

"Satan's spawn?" Chris laughed. "They're not that bad. Can you remember what we were like when Marinette babysat us? Her poor Grandpa was cleaning up our mess for two weeks."

They all laughed, remembering their time with Roland watching 'Ladybug and Chat Noir: The Movie', and what they put the old guy through. Akumatisation included.

"At least we can't get akumatised... I suppose. But how are we going to get out of this?" Manon asked. "I've tried everything!"

Silence engulfed the four as they remained on the ground. Oh man! This was impossible.

"Divide and conquer?" Etta inquired. A slight shrug of her shoulders told them she believed in the idea as much as they did; which was not a lot.

"We'll be too weak separate," Manon stated. Her voice sounded desperate in the moment.

"Okay, we work as a team," Chris started. "Taking them down one-by-one."

Manon nodded slowly, it was possibly the only option they had. It had been an hour, and she was tired. So much for thinking babysitting would include putting the children to bed and then binge watching Netflix and eating pizza all night.

"Which one do we go for first?" Ella looked to Manon; a look of hope in her eyes that Manon had the answer.

"The youngest," she replied. "We take down Hugo first."

•••••

Chris walked up the staircase talking to himself – loudly . He stopped half way, stretching his arms up over his head and yawning.

"If only there was a bed to lie down and sleep in."

He carried on walking up the staircase, stopping at the top and looking around the hall. Putting on his best 'child friendly voice' Chris spoke up again.

"I might just go and have a look behind some of these doors and see if there is a nice, comfy, race car bed for me to sleep in. Maybe I can drink this hot chocolate too, and read a story."

A creaking of the floorboards behind him alerted him to someone else's presence. The footprints were soft, barely making any noise, which could only mean his target was near.

"Oh, I know," Chris continued. " I'm going to go on a Bear Hunt." Creeping on his tiptoes towards Hugo's bedroom, he began to sing the rhyme knowing full well it was one of Hugo's favourite stories. "We're going on a bear hunt, we're going to catch a big one. It's a beautiful day..."

"We're not scared." Chris looked down beside him and into the bright green eyes of the youngest Agreste. Oh yes, this was a very well conceived plan.

"Look," Chris said, placing an arm out and halting Hugo in his steps. On the floor in front of their feet was a vast array of Lego pieces; pieces of all shapes and colours. " We can't go over it, we can't go under it, so we'll have to go..."

"Through it!"

The small boy began to bounce with excitement, grabbing hold of Chris's arm and pulling him forward.

Carefully, the boys placed their feet in the gaps between the small pieces of plastic. Finally in front of the smallest Agreste's bedroom door, Chris started his chant again, exciting Hugo.

" We're going on a bear hunt, we're going to catch a big one. It's a beautiful day..."

"We're not scared."

"Uh-oh!" Chris said, looking down towards Hugo once more. " A cave!" he gasped. "A dark, scary cave." Pointing to the door, Hugo began to move forward.

"We can't go over it, we can't go under it, so we'll have to go..." the young child began to sing.

"Through it!" Giving the boy a tiny push, Hugo was ambushed by Etta and Ella waiting for him — pyjamas in hand — in his bedroom. Once the boy was safely in their arms, Chris closed the door and Manon came next to him to stand guard.

"Excellent plan," Chris congratulated, holding a fist out for Manon to pound.

They met each other in a silent celebration as the sounds of singing and giggling came from the other side of the bedroom door. Obviously, Hugo was happy enough with everything happening; however, the twins had other ideas. Both moving forwards and staring one teen down each. The look was quite intimidating considering both were barely over 3 feet tall.

"Where's Hugo?" Emma said, her eyes flicking from Manon to the door as a wild, happy laugh came radiating out.

"He'll be asleep any minute," Manon replied, smugly. "You're one soldier short now. What are you going to do about it?"

"You think you're so clever," Louis spoke up next, eyeing Chris down.

"We are clever," the older boy laughed.

"Oh yeah?" Louis continued. "Beat me at the times table challenge and we'll go to bed straight away."

"You're o—"

"Wait," Manon yelled. " If you beat Chris at the times table challenge we'll clean the house. If Chris beats you, then you clean the house." She handed out the first challenge waiting for them to bite.

"Fine," Louis said, holding his hand out in a gentleman's agreement. Chris shook it before turning back to the girls. "And for Manon's challenge?"

Emma's eyes glistened with terrifying mischief. "Ultimate Mecha Strike. First to three wins."

"What's the wager?" Manon asked, folding her arms. Both the twins looked at each other confused.

"What's a wager?" They asked at the same time.

"Oh! A wager is what happens if I win?"

"Oooo" the twins said together before Emma took the lead. "We go to bed, no fuss. But if we win..."

"We get to watch whatever we want for the next two hours." Louis finished, folding his arms and puffing out his non-existent muscles. "Films for 10 year olds included," the 6 year old said smugly.

Challenge accepted.

•••••

Etta slapped Chris around the back of the head. The male teen wincing as he rubbed the spot which had just been assaulted.

"What is wrong with you?" she hissed. "It wasn't exactly a hard challenge."

"Why didn't you nominate yourself then?" Chris retorted. Looking down at the app they'd used for the times table challenge and seeing Louis had beaten him by a few hundred points. It was abnormal how smart that child was!

"Okay, so you losers are going to be tidying up all this mess and I'm about to win myself and Louis an extra two hours tv time." Emma swung her arms in the direction of the broken balloons and explosions of flour on the walls. Manon tensed her jaw as she examined the scene. Not ideal but now it was time to get the pests in bed before fixing the house.

"Bring it on."

The two sat down, controllers in hands and loaded the game. It was agreed that first to three would win, and thanks to her many, many years in the care of teenage Marinette and Adrien there was no doubt she had it in the bag. She just wanted to play with the monsters a little first.

Sitting beside Emma she button bashed to her heart's contempt, Louis and Emma both slam talking to her as her Mech spiralled out of control on the screen.

"Boom!" Emma reached up towards Louis, high fiving him with so much pizazz, her twin almost tumbled off the sofa.

"2 — nil!" Louis stated, both him and Emma laughing to their heart's content. They had no idea how the tide was about to turn on them.

"Oh dear!" Manon faked defeat as she hit the start button on her controller. "Whatever will I do?"

Allowing Emma to make the first move, Manon calmly took the next three, KO'ing Emma's Mech in record time.

"Oh! Would you look at that? How lucky am I!"

Emma glared at Manon before looking back at her own controller. "Very lucky!" she grumbled, hitting start and watching the countdown for the next round to begin.

Giving Emma the edge this time, Manon charged in at the very last moment pulling out a couple of special moves and claiming the win again.

"I'm starting to think we were hustled," Louis grumbled alongside Emma's growl as she pressed the start button one last time.

Winner takes all.

This time both girls played their hardest. Throwing special moves and gaining power ups, but someone had to win and with one last kick Manon's Mecha celebrated with a backspin and cheer, only enhanced by the rapturous celebration within the lounge.

"And that, children, is how it's done!" Manon stood and took a bow. Chris headed over to pick her up and spin her around in a circle. Ella and Etta curling together — tears in their eyes.

"Right," Manon coughed, her feet reconnecting with the floor and moving to the twins. "Time you two troublemakers went to bed."

Gracious in their defeat, both moved out of the room muttering goodnight to the other teens.

"You know," Emma began, "usually Maman and Papa leave us with boring babysitters who spend all night talking on the phone to their boyfriend or girlfriend."

"They never play with us like you have," Louis continued.

Manon continued to walk them both to their bedroom door, silently creeping past Hugo's and making sure the toddler wasn't awoken

"My Mamans out at Auntie Alya's baby shower next week and Papa's got a meeting late at work." Louis began to tangle his fingers together just like Marinette used to when she was nervous.

"Oh, right!" Manon said, a twitch pulling at the corner of her lips.

"And... we don't mind all four of you being here," Emma added, a slight shrug of her shoulders.

"Oh, that's good to know."

They all stood outside the doorway, both twins refusing to enter.

"Off to bed now. Let me know if you need drinks or anything?"

"We're good," they said in sync before launching forward and wrapping their arms around Manon.

What a way to end the evening!

•••••

Epilogue

"I can't believe the house is still standing!" Adrien said, walking in and placing his overcoat on the stand near the door.

"I think it all looks cleaner in here," Marinette laughed, eyeing up the once troublesome quartet.

"All part of the service, M. Agreste."

Marinette stepped forward and took them all in a group hug. "Thank you for your hard work."

Breaking away, each put their coat on and headed for the doorway, Manon stopping at the back and turning to Marinette.

"I'm free all next week, just in case you need any help with anything."

"You must have won them over," Marinette mused, Manon only shrugging in response.

"They're good kids."

Closing the door behind her, Manon met with the others at the end of the pathway, Chris swinging an arm over her shoulders as they headed in the direction of their homes.

"So, next week then?" he asked. Ella and Etta high five each other letting out an enthusiastic 'yeah!'

"If you're up for it. I'm thinking Nerf guns and silly string?"

"You don't have to ask us twice!" The twins responded.

Walking away from the scene of the crime, a text message rang through the air and a notification that there services would indeed be needed next week. But what made Manon more curious was the sign off on the text.

Marinette: Hi Manon, are you around next Friday evening at all to babysit the children again? Also, there's something important I'd like to talk to you about, something Miraculous x