“Who’s this handsome little man?” Luka asked as he pulled to the stroller towards himself. “Wait, don’t tell me. You’re a Laffie kid, aren’t you?” 

    Chico laughed and held his palms out. Luka unstrapped Chico and pulled him out. He held the chubby little hands and the raven head helped the baby balance himself on his thighs.

    “Is it really that obvious?” Marinette pondered she pulled out plated from the cupboard.

     “Those big beautiful hazel eyes are a dead give away.” Luka cooed. “Just like his mother’s.”

        Marinette couldn’t help but feel a giddy warmth spread through her. She paused, remembering the last time she felt like this that wasn’t within the last two weeks. It had to be high school. Back when things seemed complicated but weren’t.

     Everything had been perfect back then. Sure she and Adrien were being oblivious idiots, but everyone was so naive. If Ladybug flirted with Chat Noir, then it was okay. He understood that she wasn’t ready for a relationship. Their late-night patrols were so fun, they’d laugh to no end and actually enjoyed themselves.

    “Mari?” Luka asked, pulling her out of her thoughts. 

    “Hmm?” She hummed, walking over and resting glass cups on the table.

   “Are you alright?” Marinette smiled and looked at him. His eyebrows were pulled together in concern. She thought about it for a second before letting out a laugh.

    “I could never be better.”

------
    The movie ended and the credits rolled, bringing the flickering colors on the wall to an end. Luka stared at the screen for a few seconds taking in the near silence. He turned his gaze to Marinette who was snuggled to his side with one of his arms wrapped around her. Chico was resting in the small place between them, snuggly held between Marinette’s arm.

    Luka smiled. A perfect picture. He wanted nothing more than to keep everything like this. Marinette would have been such a good mother. Compassionate, fair, an amazing friend. Everything a child would look up to in a parent.

    He reached for the remote and turned the tv off. Picking Chico up slowly, Luka adjusted their positions so that Marinette was laying on top of him and her legs were between his. His brace jutted out from the edge of the couch. Chico was between him and the couch cushions.

    Marinette groaned as she shifted, causing the blanket to fall off her. Luka pulled it back on her and kissed her forehead. 

    Just as Luka had been dozing off, rumbling came from outside his window. Luka blinked as he craned his neck to see. He knew it was an akuma. And there was nothing he could do about it.

     Marinette started shifting, and he could tell she was waking up. Luka closed his eyes and turned his face into the cushion. She pushed herself off the couch, and for a moment, Luka wasn’t sure if she was still there or not. That was before he heard a content sigh and the shades drawn back.

     When Luka was sure she was gone, his eyes fluttered open. The street light poured through the window that was barely cracked and Marinette was nowhere in the apartment.

    “Sass,” Luka said calmly.

    “Yesss, Luka?” The snake yawned before shaking his head.

    “Go tell Master Fu that Ladybug will be needing assistance.” He paused before offering a smile. “I won’t be much help.”

   “Yesss.” Sass bowed his head and went through the crack in the window.

     Luka glanced at the clock. Three in the morning. Sliding Chico off his body, he surrounded the baby with pillows and made sure he was covered with a blanket. 

      Luka grabbed a crutch and hobbled over to the kitchen, grabbing what was needed to make peppermint tea. He sent the kettle on the stovetop and turned the tv back on. 

    “Another akuma attack. Ladybug appears to be fighting alone. Where’s her partner, Chat Noir? All of Paris would like to know. Our beloved cat wasn’t here yesterday either.” Nadja’s voice floated through the house and Luka felt guilt swell in his chest.

        Hours passed and Marinette still wasn’t back. Where had she gone? Chico woke up with a cry, and Luka was quick to pick up the baby and comfort him. He warmed up some formula and fed Chico. Sass came back and sat on Luka’s shoulder as the man tried to do his normal morning routine with a crutch.

     It was around nine when Marinette came back. Her shoulders were hunched and bags under her eyes like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. She began to cough and she wobbled on her feet.

    “Marinette.” She looked up with a glazed look in her eyes. Her fingers trembled as she pulled her coat off. “Marinette, sweetheart, are you alright?”

         The bluenette didn’t answer as she sat next to him. Luka didn’t pry when she rested her head on his shoulder. She would tell him when she wanted to. 

     “Adrien.” Marinette rasped after minutes of silence had gone by them. “I had heard the akuma, I had to make sure he was okay. And when I got there...” Her lip began to tremble and she flinched into his side.

     Luka took a look at the girl that was leaning into him for safety. He felt anger boil from the pit of his stomach. A woman should never feel like this. No one deserved it and especially not Marinette.

    “What did he do to you?” Luka quietly asked, attempting to hold her gaze. Her eyes darted away, and he noticed how glassy they were. Teeth gritted, Luka forced himself to remain calm.

     “He kissed me,” Marinette whispered. “And he wouldn’t let go and he had me pressed against the wall even with me begging him to stop.” Her body shook. “He only stopped because a friend dropped by for a few minutes.”

       Luka slowly took her hand, making sure she understood she had the chance to pull away. He intertwined their fingers and used his other hand to pull up her sleeve. An ugly blue bruise peeked out from the fabric, fitting the shape of a hand. 

      “Marinette.” Luka’s voice cracked. He was angry anybody could treat Marinette like this. Upset that anybody would cause Marinette to look and feel so broken.

      She began to cry, violent sobs wracked her body. Luka wrapped his arms around her and gently pulled her small frame towards him. He stroked her hair as she sobbed her heart out.

   “He- I. He hurt me.” Marinette gasped. If possible, she quivered more. “And I don’t-”

     “Shh…” Luka soothed. 

    Chico was rattling a toy happily. He looked up with wide confused eyes at the two and made a noise. Luka looked down at him and gave a weak smile. Chico laughed and tossed his rattle down.

     After some time, Marinette’s breathing slowed and her body stopped shaking. She sniffled and relaxed into him. 

   Luka wondered how’d he would proceed after this. Adrien couldn’t get away with treating her like this. It was as if he wasn’t already on a tight string. Upsetting Marinette, in general, made Luka angry, but this? Forcing her to do things she didn’t want to? Hurting her? That was something more than breaking up with her. It was downright inexcusable.

   “We better make sure he doesn’t try to come to us.”  Marinette sniffled, pulling away from the warm body. “Alya will kill us if Chico begins to crawl without her being here.”

     Luka gave a chuckle and rubbed her back, feeling a little bit of the tension be released. She leaned back into him and closed her eyes.

     “Thank you for being such an amazing friend.” Marinette murmured.

      “Thank you for trusting me,” Luka responded. “It means a lot to me.”

     They shared a smile before both of their stomachs rumbled. The bluenette’s face flushed and Luka laughed. 

    “I do believe it’s time we get some food.” Marinette nodded in agreement. Luka used the armrest of the couch to push himself up and focused his weight on the right leg. “I’ll get Chico ready and you can change if you need.”

     Marinette nodded, and walked to Luka’s room, closing the door behind her. Luka picked up Chico, leaving his toys and such on the floor. He pulled out a grey Adidas coverall and switched the baby’s clothes after making sure he didn’t need a diaper change.

           He hopped over to the shoe closet and tugged out a white jacket. Luka normally tried to dodge wearing anything white. It wasn’t because he thought it messed up his “bad boy goth” exterior, nothing like that. White clothes just got dirty too quickly for his liking. 

     “Okay.” He heard Marinette’s shy whisper. He turned and felt his eyes widen.

     Marinette had on a white long sleeve shirt and a black vest on top of his. A red scarf wrapped around her neck, hiding the blush that had crept down in. Blue jeans hugged her hips tightly, and her boots stop an inch or two below her knees. 

   “How long was I out here?” Luka asked, bewildered it took her only a few minutes to look so gorgeous. 

    “Quite a while you know, I think Chico is ready for college.” Marinette joked. She noticed him flinch when he took a step toward her. She rushed to his side. “You shouldn’t be up and around so much, you’re slowing down the healing process.”

     Luka sighed and gripped the counter. “I know, and I swear I’ll relax later. But if you could grab my bag and the other crutch, I’d love to take you out for breakfast.”

      They shared looks and Marinette shook her head. “You’re really something, you know?”

     “I know.” Luka grinned. “I try to be.”

    Marinette took Chico from Luka and put him in the baby carrier.  She picked it up and Luka’s bag. Opening the door, she waited for Luka to walk out.

    “Thank you.” He nodded.

    Once they got outside, Luka called for a taxi. One pulled up and he opened the door for her. 

    “You’re the injured one, you should be the one getting special treatment.” Marinette pointed out as she hesitated. 

     Shaking his head, Luka continued to hold the door open.
  
    “No matter. A gentleman always holds the door open for a lady.”

      The bluentte sighed dramatically but crouched into the seat. Once they got settled, Luka leaned forward. 

      “To the plaza.” 

      When they got to their destination, Marinette got out first as Luka paid the driver. The baby carrier had the fabric pulled down so Chico wasn’t exposed to the cold, and the two adults shivered once they left the heat of the cab.

   “Alright.” Luka huffed when they were standing on the sidewalk. “Where would you like to eat?”

     Marinette shrugged as she looked at the buildings. It was a cloudy day, there was no sun to bring the illusion of warmth. The wind ripped through them with no mercy. Luka ducked his head, fighting the sting in his eyes.

   “Anywhere that’s not here.” The blunette chattered, walking to the closest building to them. 

   The warmth washed over them as bells jingled over their. Marinette sighed in relief and they took a seat at a booth.

    “I don’t know if I’ve been here before,” Luka mentioned as he took in his surroundings. The walls were painted a chocolatey brown and the table was grey wood. It was kind of a cute place, he noted. His fingers fumbled with the little game of tic tac toe. “I should take Weylyn next time I have him.”

    “How can I help you two today?” Luka and Marinette looked up and saw the familiar place of Mylene. She was beaming.

   “Oh my god, Mylene!” Marinette exclaimed. She hopped up to hug the shorter girl. “When did you get back in town?”

    “Only a few weeks ago. My aunt actually owns this place, she offered me a job until I find what I really want to do.” The blonde sat down next to Marinette.

    “How have you been?”

   “Could be better.” The bluentte admitted, rubbed her arm sheepishly. Luka noted it was right where the bruise was and promised himself once they got back to his place, he’d get some ice to put on it.

   “How about you, Luka?” The girl’s gaze turned to him and nodded his head, turquoise bangs bobbing.

    “Great, thanks for asking.”

    Silence lapsed before Mylene leaned forward with a sparkle in her eyes. “You know.” She began in a low whisper. “In high school, Alix and I were rooting for you to get together.”

    The blonde had a giddy smile as Marinette’s jaw dropped from shock. Luka kept his composure. He was well aware Marinette’s classmates had a bet on whether or not she would choose him or Adrien. He had left after graduation to make it easier for her. Luka didn’t want to get in the way of the two love birds, their hearts were singing a similar melody at the time.

    “Anyways, I better get back to work. What did you guys want?” Mylene giggled. She briefly cooed at Chico as she waited for a response. 

   Luka and Marinette exchanged a look. Luka with his eyebrows raised and Marinette with her lips pressed together. Her eyes widened and she snapped her head to Mylene.

   “That’s Chico!” She exclaimed. “Alya and Nino’s son.”  Mylene and Luka laughed.
  
    “I know hun, two blue eyed people can’t have a brown eyed son.”
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              Author's notes:
  Hello lovely little readers! Look who's posting a chapter! Update is amazingly late, I know. Speaking of which, thank you guys for being so kind and supportive! You all were really nice when I had to take a break for a while and that meant the world to me.

      A special call-out for the people was especially understanding. Just making sure you knew how much your reassurance meant. ChangMubs pillowblue123 KuramaKyubbi snowVantas69 princessp289 AuthorofKillingPeopl
Ray_Ray7938  DeathReaper260 sagiepie caramelcoffees PolarBPrincess Spacey_Girl NothingtoseeKatHD  @wuttup1 sorry if I spelled your user wrong.

  Don't forget to vote, any fluffy ideas you want in this scene? I love hearing what you have to say! Have a great day/night and see you next update!