Now
The last place you wanted to be was on that train.

Living in London wasn't working out for you, but that didn't mean you were excited about returning to Paris.

The ride was always fast—but the dread made it feel like an eternity.

"We have now reached the station. Please remain seated momentarily as we ready for your departure."

You sighed, it felt faster this time.

Your phone must've regained signal. As soon as the train slowed down you had a handful of messages reveal themselves.

Marinette, 12:03 p.m
Hey! Just wanted to check and see if you made it to your train!

Marinette, 12:05 p.m
Okay since it's not delivering I'm going to assume you're already on

Marinette, 12:05 p.m
Or did you block me

Marinette, 12:06 p.m
You couldn't have blocked me right? You promised you were coming hahahaha

Marinette, 12:30 p.m
Ok I've calmed down. Please just message me back as soon as you see this.

Marinette, 12:31 p.m
I need you Y/n, they need you

You couldn't help but laugh.

She had always been so sporadic.

Y/n, 1:30 p.m
Arrived at the station. Will be there ASAP.

You felt a pang in your chest once you noticed the message you had deliberately not opened once you made it to the station.

It was Marianne, sending you a picture of her and your grandfather.

All they were doing was wishing you a safe ride.

That's all but it fueled the loneliness you were bringing back to the place you grew up.

They should've been on this train with you.

It was breaking your heart that they weren't.

**
You were absolutely livid.

"What took you so long?" Marinette basically fell out of the door to her family's bakery. "I've been freaking out!"

You were so angry that you couldn't even take the time to notice how drastically she had changed.

You had made it a point not to return to Paris, even when your grandparents did—so it had been years since you saw her.

You missed it, but your old friend had matured so much. She was tall and lean like always. Her face had thinned out and her eyes were as bright as ever.

Her hair was up in two little space buns and had grown out much longer.

Her hands were gripping your arms tightly. "Earth to Y/n!" She was desperate for your attention.

"What?" You didn't mean to sound as snappy as you did.

"What's the matter?" She asked gently.

You sighed as you set your bag on the ground. "I thought I had a place to stay but it turns out I don't."

"What do you mean?" She always hated how vaguely you spoke.

Your jaw clenched. "I was supposed to be living in an apartment for the rest of the final year of high school, but they won't let me stay in it since I'm not eighteen."

Marinette's brows furrowed. "Seriously? How do they even know that!"

You shrugged. "I'm sure my grandfather mixed up the paperwork. It wasn't paid for either like they said it would be."

Marinette looked more worried than you did for a moment until an idea sparked. "How about you stay with us? It makes the most sense anyways! That way you will be here whenever I need you to help me out."

You blinked. "I wouldn't want to intrude."

She shook her head. "You wouldn't be! Promise!" She was so frantic. "Things have been crazy. Chat Noir has been growing strange and I've given out so many miraculous' that I can't keep count! I just need the structure and training that I know you grew up with."

You sighed, patting her head awkwardly to try and comfort her—you were never quite good at that. "Okay. As long as your parents don't mind."

Her lips curled into a grin. "Of course they won't! As long as you help out in the bakery." She added quietly. "I'll have them pull my old bed into my room and we can share."

You were surprised at that.

It was just you and Fu for so long, you never had to share a room before.

"Okay." You choked out. "Can I see the kwamis?" You asked quietly, mindful of the surroundings outside.

Her eyes lit up. "Of course!"

**
You were definitely surprised that she allowed the kwamis freedom to roam in her room.

You had never seen how she handled the miracle box, since you left soon after she became guardian.

"Y/n?"

You lifted your head and saw the one kwami who truly held your heart.

"Stompp." You greeted him with the brightest smile Marinette had ever seen sprawl across your face.

She watched happily as the ox kwami fell into your chest and you cupped him with your hands.

You had left him behind all those years ago.

You hadn't realized how much you missed him.

Once the two of you let go he flew up and flicked your forehead with his little hand.

"Ow! What was that for?" You asked as your brow's furrowed.

"That's for leaving me behind you big meanie!" He leaned in close to your face. "I wanted to live with you and Master Fu in London!"

You shook your head. "I thought it would be better for you to stay here with Marinette and the kwamis. What if they needed your power?"

He stuck his tongue out at you. "I'll only ever give you powers. No one else!"

Marinette watched intently as the two of you bickered. She smiled, just like old times.

"Yes you would have she is the guardian and you need to listen to her!" You flicked him back, gently.

"Oh you're going to get it now!"

"You promise?!"

**

"Marianne? Hello?" You were standing on Marinette's balcony, finally getting space from the frazzled girl.

You had originally came out here just to enjoy the weather and admire the beautiful night sky.

It was always gorgeous at night in Paris.

That was one thing you missed desperately.

"Oh sweetie! It's so good to hear your voice." Sweetie. You had always hated when she called you that. You were anything but sweet.

"It's good to hear yours too." Where's Gramps? You wanted to ask.

You wanted to get this over with.

You didn't dislike Marianne, you thought she was a very nice woman.

Though you didn't like having to share your grandfather with her. You knew it was selfish and they both were in love—but it was just you and him for the longest time.

You weren't even one when he found you.

He was the only family you'd ever known.

The adjustment was hard.

"Did you get settled into the apartment alright? Your grandfather was adamant about setting you up in a nice place where you could see the stars." She beamed.

You internally sighed as you worked up your best cheery voice.

"Yeah. It's perfect, thank you." How could you tell her he messed it up?

They needed the money for themselves anyways.

"That's so great dear. Oh your grandfather just came down I'll put him on the phone-"

"Oh you don't have to-"

"Y/n."

Your breathing hitched in your throat.

"Gramps. Are you having a good evening?" You asked, feeling a small tear roll down your cheek.

Being here in this city without him was the hardest thing you've had to do since he lost his memory.

Knowing that you were doing this without him felt so wrong.

"I am dear thank you." He hummed. "She said you settled in nicely?"

"Very. I miss you already."

"I miss you too. Every moment. I keep looking around the corner expecting you to show me a new piece you made. I'm trying to be like you and keep up the painting."

Your heart warmed at that.

When you were young and first discovered your love for art, you would hurry around the corner and show him every piece you ever made.

He cherished them, that memory.

So when you moved to London you were sure to do the same thing.

That was the one thing you could keep up for him, because you knew how much he loved it.

"I'm proud of you." You whispered.

You knew he was grinning at that. "You hear that Marianne? My girl's proud of me." He was clearly trying to whisper but you could hear him clearly. "You get some sleep now. We'll talk to you in the morning."

"I'm back in class tomorrow so I'll call you after school." You assured him.

"Alright sweetie, we love you."

"I love you too. Have a good night."

You slumped over the railing that lined Marinette's balcony. "That's never easy."

You knew he loved you and cherished the time he had with you as much as he said.

You knew that, but it was so hard having conversations with him when you knew all of these moments that he would never remember again.

You knew this was going to happen one day, but you wished you had been better prepared.

You wished you had more to give him other than old photos and diary entries.

You wished-

"I heard you were coming back to town."

The vaguely familiar voice sent shivers down your spine. The feeling was quickly replaced by a boiling anger that spread all throughout your body.

You didn't want to face him.

You couldn't.

"Oh don't be like that Y/n. It's been a few years since we've seen each other. I'm sure you're mature enough now to handle being around me."

"Are you implying I wasn't mature—" You froze when you saw him.

You weren't sure if it was the way he leaned so slyly against the wall, twirling his belt around with the widest smirk spread across his lips.

Or the fact that he had grown a lot.

The boy you once knew was replaced by a tall man with the same blonde hair only shorter. He had chiseled out over the years, his face sharper.

He had acquired a lot of muscle—but you didn't allow yourself to gawk at that for to long.

You crossed your arms firmly. "You were just screwing with me. Unchanging I see." You scoffed.

"And you still have that same stick up your ass."

Your eyes widened. "Go to hell."

"Only if you come with me."

"I'm serious. Go away."

"Since when do you control who gets to stay at Marinette's house?" He asked smugly.

"Since I live here now too. I'm serious, buzz off."

"Whatever you say." He waved a hand at you dismissively before jumping off.

There was a lot about Paris you were dreading.

You thought your memories with your grandpa would be number one on that list,

But your equal hatred for Chat Noir and Adrien Agreste truly was the worst.

Hello!
This story will be uploaded once a week, alternating with "The One Who Lived"
-AG :)