The bakery was silent.

A few dim lights were left on in the kitchen to easily guide you back inside the house.

You smiled at the consideration your parents gave, and turned off the lights and guided your way up the stairs with the flashlight on your phone.

The closer you got to Marinette's old room, the louder the house got.

You opened the hatch to her room and as soon as they heard the creaking sound the noise stopped.

"Hide!" His tiny voice shrieked and as you popped your head in—the two of them were laying on the floor, pretending to be asleep, laughing ever so slightly.

You rolled your eyes, reminding yourself not to let your sister babysit again.

"Oh well thank goodness they didn't stay up too late. I didn't want Dakota to be too cranky when we go sign up for school tomorrow." You were shaking your head as you closed the door and stood there with your hands on your hips, waiting for a reaction.

"I won't be tired mommy!" Dakota shot up almost immediately and you nodded.

Marinette looked floored that Dakota would so easily reveal their 'cover.'

"Oh, you won't now, will you?" You had an unconvinced look on your face as you tapped your foot.

"You look so pretty mommy." He grinned as he tugged on your silver sparkly dress that you were wearing under your long black coat.

"Come here you little rascal." You grabbed your giggling son and turned to your sister. "I'll be back in a bit." Dakota was still laughing as you carried him back down the stairs.

"Shh! Grandma and Grandpa are sleeping." You whispered and he nodded as he wrapped his arms around your neck quietly.

You opened the door to your old bedroom. It had been a while since you had been in there. Most of your decorations were gone, and the old full bed was replaced with a queen so you could comfortably share it with your son.

You walked over to the bed and placed your squirmy boy on it. You walked to the closet and pulled out your fluffy blanket you used to sleep with and put it over him once you managed to get him to lay down.

You sat on the edge of your bed and rubbed his hair back soothingly as you saw the tired begin to take over him.

"Now Dakota." You began and he cringed at your tone. "I'm glad you had fun with Auntie M, but you can't stay up super late like this anymore, alright?" You asked with a calm smile and he nodded.

"Yes mommy."

"Good. Now I have to go talk to your aunt, but I'll be back soon to snuggle you, promise." You said as you began to stand but his small hand grabbed your fingers.

"Please, just one song."

You smiled. "Fine, but a short one!" You laughed softly as you sat back down and sang him an old lullaby.

**

"I'm sorry Y/n, I really didn't mean to let him stay up that late! I just haven't seen him in so long and Mom and Dad really enjoyed playing with him too—just please don't yell at me!" She had been pacing back and forth and you couldn't help but double over in laughter.

"Marinette!" You laughed. "I am annoyed that you kept him up so late, but that's not what we need to talk about."

"It's not?" She asked with a slight tilt of her head.

You shook your head. "I wanted to talk to you about that night." You whispered and she nodded knowingly.

"This is the first time you've been back since we caught him." She was now sitting on her floor cross-legged. You sat down in front of her and leaned forward and held your face in your hands.

"I know. Trust me, I wanted to come back sooner. These last three shows have been torture." You sniffed as you wiped back tears.

"You were doing the best you could to protect him." She whispered as she pulled you in for a tight, reassuring hug.

"I know! That's what Adrien keeps saying." You laughed, irritated. "I just don't see how us staying away makes the situation any better. Adrien hasn't explained hardly anything and I've gotten minimal phone calls from him."

Marinette nodded. "I have the answers for that."

Your eyes widened. "Please—tell me. I can't fucking stand it anymore."

Marinette nodded. "Let me explain."

Marinette paced around the rooftop the two of them were supposed to be meeting.

"Heyo Sistaboo." His cheeky voice greeted her and she turned around in a panic.

"Chat—I need you to sit down for this." Adrien gave her a confused expression but nodded and complied nonetheless.

Marinette continued pacing in front of him. "I got an anonymous tip today. It said that Hawkmoth was your father and it gave me detailed instructions on how to find his lair inside of your house." She blurted.

It took a moment for the weight of her words to hit him. "What?" Was all he could manage to say.

"I got an anonymous tip-"

"No, I got that!" He was angry but he wasn't sure if it was directed at her or himself. "How are you just going to trust that so easily?"

"I'm not which is why I called you the second I received it."

Adrien was frozen. "I don't know, I don't—I need to talk to Y/-" His face fell. The two of you hadn't seen each other since you had left for Italy, the night he screwed things up.

Marinette now stood in front of her partner with her hands clenched tightly on his shoulders. "Adrien." She whispered his name. "I can't even begin to imagine how you are feeling. Let's check this out, we would be fools not too okay? Then after you can call Y/n and the two of you can work things out like you planned."

Adrien took a in a deep breath and his eyes were clenched shut. His head fell to her shoulder and she felt the fear trembling through him.

She grabbed his hand. "Come on kitty, let's go prove his innocence."

And even though he nodded like he believed every word she said, Marinette would never forget the look on his face when they were proven wrong.

**

The fight seemed like it was over before it had even started.

All odds were against Gabriel.

The bug and cat heroes had only gotten stronger, but he also had a greater evil teamed up against him.

As soon as the miraculous of the butterfly was in Marinette's grasp, two dark figures ran out of the shadows and attacked her instantly.

Chat Noir and Ladybug threw the brooch back and forth as they fought their new opponents, but ultimately they were left alone without the miraculous.

So while Gabriel was now behind bars, two new potential villains were on the loose—

and Marinette had no idea where to even start to find them.

"You—" Your hands were trembling. "Didn't get the miraculous?"

"No." She shook her head. "Adrien was terrified for you and Dakota as soon as the reality settled on the both of us. We only stopped Gabriel, but these new villains outsmarted us and Gabriel Agreste. We have to be wary of them."

You clenched your shirt above where your heart lay. "Paris is in danger...again—Oh god I brought my son back too!" You were crying. At this point you had suppressed it for so long, there was no stopping it.

Marinette pulled you in once more and let you cry against her. She ran her hand down the back of your head, hoping to be comforting.

"You should go see him Y/n."

"And what? Bring more attention to myself? Isn't that exactly what he didn't want me to do?" You asked.

Marinette nodded. "Adrien needs help. He is putting his family first, but how is he supposed to keep protecting you if he ends up in prison?"

You stared at her, still shaking. "God! You're so manipulative, you know that? Saying shit like I don't already know!" You stood and crossed her room and began pacing again.

"Y/n, I have something I need to ask you."

You refused to look over at her again, but you paused nonetheless to hear her out.

"If these new villains do attack, and Adrien isn't free yet, can I trust you with the cat miraculous?" She asked your eyes were wide as they shot over to her.

"You have it? You have Plagg right now?" You stammered out your confusion as you sat back in front of her again.

Plagg flew out of the wild miracle box and was soon followed by the rest of the kwamis.

"Sorry we didn't say hi Y/n—we didn't want to scare Dakota." Plagg smiled sadly and you stood up clumsily and hugged the tiny kwami.

"Gah-! You better have brought me some cheese if you're going to be all gross and clingy with me like this." Plagg exclaimed, but Marinette saw the truth the cat hoped to hide, he was crying and clutching to you with as much force as he could exert.

"Marinette." You wiped your eyes. "Whenever you need it, I'll fight alongside you."

She smiled and allowed you a few moments to reconnect with Plagg. "Thank you."

**

You tried your hardest to stop tossing and turning.

Dakota slept soundly beside you but you were unable to put your mind to rest as you held the small boy tightly to you.

Everything Adrien had been experiencing was hitting you hard now that all the pieces were finally put together.

"Y/n." It was evident he was crying. Adrien had been at the county jail for only four hours before he had the chance to call you again.

"Adrien?" You scrambled to your feet and walked back into the living room of your hotel.

"Hey honey—sorry for calling you so late. I just couldn't sleep without telling you what they found out. You haven't been watching the news—have you?" He asked gently.

"No." You spoke softly. You hadn't been able to bear it after seeing all of the wanted broadcasts for Adrien.

"I'm glad. Things are getting messy." Where he sat he was still cuffed and waiting to be interrogated, but he was able to hear the gossip of the guards surrounding him. The feeling was brutal.

"What's happening Adrien?"

He was crying again, but you weren't sure if he ever stopped. "They found—they found my mother Y/n."

It took all your might to not let your phone fall to the ground. "Your—Adrien I'm coming home right now. I'm getting you out of there and we'll-"

"No Y/n." His voice was firm and louder than you had heard it in a long time. "I need you to keep him safe. Please."

The two of you just sat there crying, wishing to be holding each other instead of the only connection being two phones in two different countries.

"What do they know? About your mom?"

"She was really sick before she died—disappeared I don't even remember what he told me right now." He groaned. "They found her body in this weird casing that reminded me of Snow White. They have yet to tell me if what it was being powered by was keeping her body to appear alive—or if she actually is. I'm terrified Y/n—neither answer sounds good."

You choked out a sob, your heart breaking for him. "Please keep me updated—I love you." You cried, not caring about the break the two of you were taking.

Adrien sighed. "I love you too Y/n, always."

You laid there, thinking about that night and how it was one heartbreak after another. You didn't hear from Adrien for a while after that—he simply wasn't allowed too.

You played another show before you found out the truth about his mother.

Emelie had been alive the whole time, but something unidentifiable and horrible had broken her insides.

The doctors weren't sure if there was anything they could do—but they kept her on life support as they brought in their best team of scientists.

"Dammit." You whispered as you clasped your hand against your forehead.

You reached over your son and grabbed your phone off the charger. You turned off your do not disturb, and you were immediately met with a notification.

You had a missed call and a voicemail from a similar number to the county jail.

"Hey gorgeous—I thought this was your number. Adrien refused to tell me but I'm glad I finally guessed it. I'm back in town, don't get too excited now." The voice chuckled. "Anyways—I'm sure they don't have and real reason to connect me to my uncle, but when my name is cleared how about we catch up? I mean I do look just like my cousin so I know you always adore being around me-"

You shut off the voicemail before it could finish running through.

You shuddered as you pulled Dakota close too you. Felix being in town could only mean trouble was brewing.

We're celebrating my birthday this weekend so this is the second chapter for the week :)