{+}{+}{+}

Marinette carried out Tikki's suitcase from the guest room. Bluebell eyes glanced back into the room, seeing Celine and Sabine continue packing bags.

The end of the visit arrived. Tikki and Celine will be flying back to Italy tonight. Sometimes, it's sad to see the two redheads leave after getting used to seeing their faces around the house.

   "At least, I'll have fewer morning people bargaining into my room and rudely wake me up," the bluenette mused in her thoughts, heading towards the front door with Tikki's suitcase. Tikki sitting on the couch, preparing her dolls for the airplane ride.

   "Scrump, I'm going to put you in last since you've recently had surgery. Francois, I need you to take care of Scrump since you've been through the same eye surgery. Hey, Lotso! Watch your language, mister! Also, stop being a meanie!" Tikki talked to her dolls.

Marinette placed Tikki's suitcase in front of the open door, readying it to be taken downstairs. They've been working most of the morning packing while her uncle is downstairs, preparing the bakery to open. It's been a little messy but it's to be expected.

"Good morning, Marinette."

The bluenette stumbled back in fright, tripping over a small bag. She landed on her butt before turning towards the open door. Kagami and Luka stood at the doorway. Marinette blinked for a moment to process the two standing at the door before her eyes widened in surprise.

   "Wh-What are you two doing here and so early in the morning?" Marinette questioned. She's slightly uncomfortable, remembering the last time Kagami was here a few days ago...and the thing that happened.

The two Chengs explained everything to Kagami.

   The fencer didn't say a word the entire time and kept a straight face. Sabine and Marinette nervously waited for some sort of reaction or response. Suddenly, Kagami spoke up.

   "I have heard about Uncle Shan but I've never met him," Kagami admitted, "My dad used to tell me stories of his younger brother...but he never mentioned anything about a sister. How do I know this isn't a trick?"

   Sabine sighed, standing from her seat and disappearing into the back for a few minutes. She returned with a photograph and handed it over to Kagami.

   "This was the last picture taken before Mei died," the baker explained. Kagami stared down at the photo of her father, who she assumed was her Uncle Shan, and a pregnant teenage girl that's strikingly similar-looking to Marinette.

   "I remember this photo. My dad had it hidden away in his keepsake box," Kagami said, "He never told me who the girl was. I just assumed she was Shan's girlfriend or something."

   Kagami left a few minutes later, needing to leave before her mother realizes she is missing. She bowed in appreciation before walking out of the bakery.

   "So, I have another uncle you decided to keep from me," the bluenette spat.

   "I really was going to tell you about Poe, I swear," Sabine genuinely spoke, "I just wish I told you sooner before you knew about Kagami being your cousin."

   "Why?" Marinette asked, crossing her arms.

   "You see...Poe died a few years ago...from a drug addiction. Law enforcers found out that the guy he was dealing with was Slade. So, it's a bit of a complicated situation with Kagami's mom and the Chengs. If there was one thing we all agreed on, it was to keep all of this secret from you girls," Sabine explained, sadly.

   "I'm sorry we hid our past from you three. We thought—I thought we were protecting you. Now, I see we only hurt you by not saying anything. I'm so sorry, Marinette."

   "Are you okay, Marinette?"

   The bluenette snapped out of her memories by a hand presenting itself to her. Luka's face is contorted in worry when Marinette suddenly spaced out. He isn't sure what exactly was going to happen after Kagami revealed that the two recently discovered that they're cousins. He's the only person who Kagami told, afraid of confronting her mother.

   "Oh, yeah. I'm alright and thank you, Luka," Marinette answered, grateful for the offered hand pulling her back onto her feet, "Anyway, what are you guys doing here and so early?"

   "It's not that early, actually it's lunchtime," Kagami informed, "and I was wondering if you'd like to join us. I'd like to hang out and get to know you better. Yet, it looks like you're busy."

   This is the last thing Marinette excepted. She thought Kagami would hate the bluenette and never speak to her ever again. She should have known better than to be paranoid and think the worst of things. Yet, she judged the same situation through her own eyes instead of Kagami's perspective.

   This might not seem as bad to her as it did to Marinette. Yet, the question remained if Kagami knew who was involved in her father's death and if it would change anything. Her mother held a grudge, who is to say she won't.

   "You can go, Marinette. We can handle the rest of this stuff," Sabine said, appearing out of nowhere and placing a bag down, "If you want to go, that is."

   Marinette grimaced, wondering if this is a good idea, "O-Okay, sure. Let's go get some lunch!"

{+}{+}{+}

   "Why did I agree to this?" Marinette thought, awkwardly twiddling her thumbs under the table. The three had just arrived and seated themselves in a booth. Not much has been said, trying to start a conversation that never seemed to happen.

While Luka and Kagami are great at keeping on topic, Marinette merely nodded or agreed with everything they said.

"I hope you don't mind, but I invited Adrien. I've noticed you two have grown really close," Kagami said, making Marinette perk up. A wave of warmth washed over her body and adrenaline kicked in.

   "Y-You in-invited Adrien!" Marinette stuttered, gaining knowing looks from the couple.

"Yeah, I invited him to come hang out with us and so you don't feel left out of the group," Kagami explained, a bit of a poor excuse on her part but convincing enough for the oblivious bluenette. She is too busy freaking out.

"Hey, guys!" Adrien greeted.

Marinette gasped a little, going as still as a statue. Both of her brain and heart imploded on her in her time of need. At least, she has enough sense to keep her mouth shut from saying anything stupid.

The blonde noticed the only space left is next to Marinette. He kindly smiled, asking, "Is it alright if I sit next to you, Marinette?"

"Uh, no—y-yes! Seat is taken...b-but by you that is!" She responded, making room for Adrien and patting the empty spot like a buffoon. Adrien gratefully sat down, making Marinette even more nervous than before.

Yet, she didn't notice Adrien's flushed cheeks and rattled demeanor either.

Kagami bit down on her bottom lip to hold in her amusement. Luka smiled at his two mutual-pining friends. He kinda felt bad for them, each other's feelings going over their heads. Luka supposed he is also guilty for overlooking Marinette's feelings for himself. Yet, he honestly thought all the nervousness was from being shy.

Now that Luka knows the aspiring designer better, he understands it's more than that. He still feels guilty about leading her on as he did but is glad they're starting to become friends.

What better way to help a friend than hooking up their crush, who feels the same way? He'll have to thank Alya later for helping out with some of the plan too, letting Marinette's favorite cafe "slip."

The four ordered their food and began to wait for it to be prepared.

"I'm curious," Luka said, "How did you two meet? You've never mentioned one another before but it seems like you both have known each other for a long time."

"It is peculiar," Kagami admitted, "We've been childhood friends but I've never heard you mention once of Marinette. Let alone, that you met anybody because of...you know who."

Adrien and Marinette blinked before glancing at each other, wondering if they should spoil their little secret. Adrien kinda didn't want to share something that held special between him and Marinette. Yet, he didn't see the harm either.

"Well..." Marinette started, recalling a memory, "We met...at my parent's bakery! Yeah, he sorta bumped into me when I unknowingly was carrying an open bag of flour. It made quite a mess."

   Marinette remembered Adrien told her about how he went to his first bakery—her parent's bakery—when they went to the movies that one day. They both soon came to a realization that they were the ones who bumped into each other.

   "Really?" Kagami questioned, turning to the blonde.

   "Uh...yeah. Yeah! That's how we met!" Adrien said. Kagami and Luka didn't seem to believe them but let it go.

   "Here you go!" The waiter said, appearing before the teens and gave them their requested meals.

{+}{+}{+}

   "So, they're leaving today?" Adrien asked.

   After they all ate lunch, Kagami and Luka had to leave. Evidently, Kagami has fencing practice with her mother in an hour and needed time to sneak back into the house. This left Adrien and Marinette by themselves, standing in front of the cafe without knowing what to do. Neither wanted to leave but didn't know how to continue.

Eventually, the bluenette gained the courage to invite Adrien over to her house for video games.

Obviously, the blonde agreed without hesitation.

"Yeah, my...aunt and Tikki will be returning back to Italy tonight. They won't be back until next year," Marinette replied, unsure how to describe Celine, "It's a tradition to celebrate in uncle's memory after he "passed away." Yet, it was all an elaborate plan just to keep Tikki and me together. So, I'm not sure if this tradition will continue or not since we know the truth..."

   Marinette felt her heart sink in realization. She never really thought about it but will things change? Will Celine and Tikki come back next year for a month? Marinette began to sag, suddenly going quiet.

   Adrien watched the bluenette's demeanor fall into a slump. He frowned, feeling bad for his friend. He isn't sure what is happening with her family's situation (hoping she'll explain that part later). Yet, he doesn't want Marinette to be sad either.

   Green eyes traveled away from Marinette's face and down to her hand. His face immediately flushed red and looked away. The urge didn't leave though. The blonde decided he'd risk it...only for Marinette's well-being and nothing more than that!

   A feeble excuse but not entirely a lie either.

Gathering his courage (along with even more nervousness), Adrien blindly searched for Marinette's hand. He was unsuccessful about two times until skimming the back of her hand.

A brush of skin snapped Marinette out of her daze. She didn't have time to process what happened until feeling her pinkie finger being locked with a soft, warm one. Her breath got caught in her throat and her stomach is doing many flips.

"No, this isn't real...Adrien isn't locking pinkie fingers with me," Marinette thought, her gaze glancing down at her hand in disbelief and began internally freaking out, "Oh gosh! He is holding my pinkie finger!"

"Stay calm, Marinette," she continued, "It'll be okay. It's just your crush adorably linking her tiny finger with yours! It's no big deal...okay, that's a lie! It's a major deal!"

"I think, you have nothing to worry about."

The red-faced bluenette turned her attention towards Adrien, after he spoke. He seemed just as flustered too. Plus, he's scratching the back of his neck. Marinette knows well enough that he does that when he's nervous. She wondered if these two things mean anything, keeping note of it for the time being.

"Like you said, they did it to keep you two from being separated. So, why would they stop?" Adrien wisely spoke, "I might not know what's happening with your family but I don't think it will affect anything."

Marinette stared at him in awe before looking ahead with a small smile.

   "He's right," she thought, "Why am I worrying so much? They made of the tradition to keep Tikki and me together. Even if we know the truth now, it doesn't mean they will tear us apart."

   Adrien felt Marinette's pinkie finger unwind from his. The warmth drew away, saddening him the farther it strayed away. His heart broke on the spot from the rejection. He's faced rejection plenty of times in his life but this somehow hurt the worst.

   Then, the voices come and tell him how "unwanted" he is. A dark place in his mind that sometimes almost consumes him.

   Yet, there's always a light at the end of the tunnel.

   The warmth returns but is more intense this time.

   The blonde can feel his hand being held in a way it hasn't in a long time. An embrace of fingers weaved together.

   It took all of Marinette's bravery to fully hold Adrien's hand.

   It was so worth it when he grasped it back.

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Y'all, we have two chapters left and a special little thing of things that happened throughout the book! Dear Bugaboo is almost over! We're almost there!