"Honey—what do you mean you don't want to go to school? You were so excited to sign up yesterday!" You took another, long, sip of your black coffee.

"I never said that." Dakota crossed his arms and squinted his eyes as he made a 'humph' sound.

It was way to early for the bratty attitude.

"Dakota dear." You forced a smile, knowing he was just tired. "You have to go to school—I legally have to send you." You walked over to him and pushed the eggs you scrambled closer to him. "Now eat."

You began to saunter towards the couch when he spoke up again. "Mom what does legal mean?" He asked and you sighed in relief when you saw he was shoveling the scrambled eggs into his small mouth.

"Why do you ask?" You questioned as you sat on the couch, pulling a large blanket over you.

"I've heard a bunch of people use that word talking about daddy. It's a weird one." His words were a bit muffled but you still understood each one.

"Well-"

"Good morning my favorite grandson!" Your mother entered the room, almost perfectly timed.

Again, you were sighing in relief as you slumped further into the couch.

The two of them were over by the counter whispering about you, but you couldn't care less. You did however begin to smile when you heard your son's infectious giggle.

You downed the rest of your coffee and shook out your arms as you walked back over to your son and mother.

After kissing her on the cheek, you turned towards your boy and titled your head to the side. "Ready to go little man?" You asked.

With a renewed confidence, Dakota nodded wildly before running off to grab his new race car print shoes.

**

"Its July—how can it be to late to register a five year old?" You groaned as your hands made their way under your large black sunglasses and you rubbed your eyes roughly.

"I'm sorry ma'am it's just—hold on." You perked back up as the front desk lady began to inspect your face. Your entire body stiffened as she pieced together who you were.

"Are you really Y/n Cheng?" She questioned excitedly, forgetting part of your name.

You laughed slightly. "Last I checked that's part of the name on my license."

She didn't even mind your snarky comment. "My daughter and I love you! Could I get a signature?" Her eyes were so bright and you wanted too say yes immediately.

"Could you get my kid enrolled in school?" Your expression was smug and her mouth hung agape.

"Touché."

"Have to use that celebrity privilege somewhere am I right?" You grinned, sunglasses now resting on your head.

She nodded. "As long as you don't tell anyone." She put a finger to her lips and you nodded knowingly.

"Oh I understand—I can keep a secret."

She began typing Dakota's information into the computer. "I had no idea you had children—I wonder if my daughter does, she loves to Instagram search you for outfit inspiration." She chuckled as she waved her hand and you tried to ignore the low key creepiness of it.

"She doesn't—we—I have tried my hardest to keep him private." You glanced over your shoulder at the happy boy playing with a Barbie and a race car. "If you wouldn't mind doing the same I would greatly appreciate it. You know how fans can get about celebrity children."

"I swear I get a weird news notification about it all the time." She laughs.

You nodded, not finding it quite as amusing. "You won't tell right?" Your voice was a bit more serious and she made firm eye contact with you.

"Not a soul." She smiled.

You sighed in relief. "Thank you so much."

She nodded. "But I am curious—is his father Adrien Agreste? Or maybe even that handsome man you performed a show with? Or maybe even—"

Quickly, you grabbed Dakota's hand as you slipped your sunglasses back over your eyes and waved a good day to the nosy woman behind the counter.

**

"Honey?" Your mom creaked the door open to your old—though the one you were currently using—bedroom.

"Yeah?" You asked, typing away, only taking a break to take a sip of your coffee.

"Don't you think it's time for you and Dakota to um—get a little more space?" She gently questions you, prepared for you too respond full-fire.

"Yeah probably. Didn't think you would kick me out so soon." You chuckled as you sent the email you were working on, closed your laptop, and walked back over to your mom.

"You know it's not that dear—you're welcome here anytime. You've just been back in Paris for two weeks now, the trial is starting soon, and I think it would be beneficial for Dakota to have a place he knows his dad will come back too." She explained as she soothingly rubbed your head that you were laying on her shoulder.

"You're right mom—always right." You hummed sleepily. "I did plan on apartment shopping today—I was just looking at a few actually. Zoe and Jess are flying in later today." You reminded your mother who had a skeptical look on her face. "They'll be staying at the Palace of course."

She sighed in relief, anxious to host any more guests.

"You know I love having them dear, I'm just tired." She spoke as if she had read your mind.

"I understand. If you'll just watch Dakota for a while, I'll go see if I like this apartment." She nodded excitedly.

"I love my time with that boy."

You smiled as you kissed her head. "Don't take it for granted." You warned. "He grows a bit more everyday. He's ever changing."

Sabine laughed as she watched her daughter scoot by her and walk down the stairs to find her son. She couldn't believe that she just received advice about children, but it all seemed full circle.

She was never around enough to watch you grow.

You knew that, acknowledged it too.

Instead of holding a grudge,

you just ensured that she didn't make the same mistake with her grandchildren.

She didn't feel she deserved by all of the love she received from her family, but she was eternally grateful.

**

You hopped out of your car and ran to your best friends, the three of you squealing like school girls.

"I swear—it's been forever!" You groaned as you hugged the two of the again, nearly choking them.

"Y/n!" Jess laughed as she gently pried you off her and her wife. "We missed you too, don't tell me though that touring around the world made you forget personal space?" She scolded as she playfully hit your head.

You rolled your eyes. "Forever mothering me."

"Well someone had to do it"

"The shade." You glared.

"How's my favorite little nephew?" Zoe asked with her beaming face, throwing her arm across your shoulders as she walked you back to your car.

"Chloe would be pissed if she heard that." You laughed as you opened your door, climbing into the drivers seat. Jess sat in the passenger, and Zoe pouted as she crawled into the back.

Zoe placed her chin on the back of her wife's seat, crossing her arms around her and smiled. "She can handle it. Her son isn't even born yet."

You nodded. Chloe had gotten married young. She met her husband when she was eighteen on a yacht party and married him only ten months later. They had a daughter who was Dakota's age and a son on the way.

"She hates being pregnant." Zoe was speaking to you and Jess now. "I don't understand why she keeps having kids."

Jess snorted. "Well honey—when a man and a woman love each other very much—" She couldn't contain her laughter when Zoe poked her cheek out of annoyance.

"Don't come at me with that!"

"Have you guys made any other decisions on adopting?" You asked, slyly, slowly stopping at the stop sign.

"Well I still want too." Jess crossed her hands behind her head and smiled when Zoe's hand met hers. "This one back here is going through a child hating faze."

"She was always like that."

"Stop talking about me like I'm not even here!" Zoe exclaimed and the two of you up front laughed.

"I hope you guys don't mind." You began as you pulled into the lot of the apartment complex. "But I scheduled an appointment to look at an apartment here. Moms kicking me out and I have yet to find out I like." You groaned, this being the fourth showing this week.

"Well it took no time to get you to move out as a teenager—you think she'd appreciate you latching back on to her." Jess grinned and you rolled your eyes.

"Shut the hell up and just come inside." You grunted.

The three of you walked up the large stairs of the C-building in the complex. Like always, you walked with your black sunglasses adorning your face. You felt entirely basic but the more the public learned your name—the more necessary they felt. They were the only thing that gave you comfort outside of closed doors—your only sense of protection.

The three of you met with the man who would be showing the apartment to you. The second you walked in, you knew.

"I love it."

**

"Good afternoon ma'am." You walked into the precinct with your jacket hugged around you tightly. To say you were anxious would be an understatement.

"I'm here to see Adrien Agreste." Your voice was a low whisper and the officer's eyes widened ever since slightly before nodding his head.

"Relation?"

His question threw you off guard. "Urm—friend." You stammered.

He stood and waved you on to follow him. He explained how you could be in the same room as Adrien since it had yet to be deemed if it was necessary to put him under maximum security.

You entered the solid color room and your eyes darted across the area as you saw many people meeting with their loved ones.

Adrien was alone in the farthest corner of the room, he looked up ever so slightly, as if he sensed your presence. His eyes widened but fell back to normal in an instant.

He almost looked—disappointed.

"You have thirty minutes." The officer said as he allowed you to sit down, before going back to his desk.

There were guards stationed at every door. Adrien was silent for a moment, which gave you time to anxiously search the room.

"Y/n." The sudden sensation of his voice against your ears startled you.

Your eyes met his and you couldn't help the tears that began to fall.

"Adrien." You whispered.

He shook his head and leaned it against his hands as he took in three, you counted, deep breaths.

"I thought I asked you to stay away." The words hurt, but he delivered them with ease.

"Marinette told me I should come." You admitted more easily than you had expected.

He shook his head disapprovingly. "That woman—" he grumbled. "She still doesn't know how to butt out." He scoffed, but began to laugh ever so slightly.

"Adrien—I'm worried about you." Your voice was still a whisper and you reached for his hands.

He was hesitant at first, almost drawing back from you, but he sighed and allowed your hand to take his. He had to stop himself from sighing and falling immediately into your touch. He had to stay focused—had to keep you safe.

"I'm okay Y/n." He assured, and you shook your head hard.

"You're not. No one in here is." He reached up and wiped the tears that began to spill from your cheeks. "I want you home with us."

"I want to be home with you guys too—more than anything, I promise." His hands were in yours again and he squeezed them gently, but firm.

"Do you have any news? Did they find anything against you?"

"Nothing new." He admitted. "Mom's condition hasn't changed and they found his hideout. Those are the only connections they have to me." His voice was chilling and you couldn't believe how easily he was talking about it.

You leaned your head foreword and met the cold metal table, sending shivers down your body.

"He needs you Adrien." His eyes grew more pained with every breath you took. He knew all of these things you went there too say, but it didn't stop your need to remind him.

"He needs you to keep him safe while I'm gone." He smiled gently though his eyes couldn't fool you. "You always do a good job at that anyways, even without me."

You dragged your arm back and forth across your eyes to rub your tears against your sweater sleeve. "I need you too."

"And you have me." He was leaning towards you now once he was sure all eyes were off the two of you. His hand laced through your hair and the other cupped your cheek. Unlike him, you leaned into his touch instantly and allowed yourself to fall completely back into him. As your eyes began to close he leaned in and kissed you softly. Your heart was pounding against your chest as it reminded you of the first time he ever kissed you like this—it felt like so long ago.

Before you knew it, you were being pried off each other. "Times up ma'am." A guard grunted at your resistance.

"Stay away Y/n—promise me. Stay away and keep him safe." Adrien's eyes were begging as he was being dragged out of the room.

"Wait-!" You called. "I didn't tell you about-" the door slammed shut before you had the chance to finish.

"The...call." You whispered as the door you were being pulled out of shut behind you.