They had another meeting the next day. With how emotional they both felt, Friday's meeting was rushed and very few details were actually discussed.

"You said you already have someone you trust?" Chat Noir asked. Ladybug nodded. They both sat atop the Eiffel tower, far away from any curious listeners.

"Yes, I trust her to do well."

"When would the handoff occur?"

Ladybug pursed her lips, "I'm not sure. The sooner, the better. I need to train her properly."

Chat wasn't sure how he felt about it. He was going to miss working side by side with his lady. Sure, he'd still see her. If she kept the baby, he'd know her civilian form and interact with her. But it just wouldn't be the same. It was, however, the best alternative. They weren't quite sure how much protection the suits offered. Tikki had very little experience with previous Ladybug's holding onto the earrings for their full pregnancies. The suit might protect her the first trimester when she wouldn't show, but it would be harder for the second and especially the third. He'd never forgive himself if anything were to happen to her or the baby.

The baby.

Chat felt tingling in his stomach whenever he thought about it. He couldn't tell if it was butterflies or nerves. Maybe both.

"I'm just... nervous," she muttered. "I'll have to tell her why I'm giving up my miraculous temporarily."

"She doesn't know yet?" he asked.

Ladybug shook her head, "No, I'm terrified of telling her."

"I'm sure it'll be fine. Do you think she'd judge you?"

Ladybug shrugged, "I'm not sure how she'll react. I'm... not exactly in a relationship with the father."

"No?"

She blushed, shaking her head, "It was more of a one-time thing. B-besides, I wasn't in civilian form, so I couldn't tell anyone."

Chat feigned surprise, "Wait, so you were Ladybug when you were with him?"

She sheepishly nodded. She expected Chat to say something, but he stayed rather quiet. Too quiet.

Ladybug stood up, feeling uneasy and wanting to go home.

"I'll try to let you know before the switch happens, but things are moving so quickly that I can't guarantee anything."

Chat simply nodded, not given the opportunity to say anything as she quickly left. He was honestly at a loss for words the second she willingly admitted she was Ladybug when she got pregnant. He wondered why she gave him that information. Perhaps it was because he was the only person she could talk to.

.

Adrien walked into school the following Monday, unsure of how to approach Marinette. It was possible that he was overreacting and overreaching with his assumptions on Marinette and Ladybug finding out they were pregnant on the same day. It could be a coincidence, but there was a little voice nagging him in the back of his mind.

They could be at different stages of pregnancy. He could vaguely guess how far along Ladybug was, but he had zero information on Marinette's pregnancy. As far as he was aware, Marinette wasn't even seeing anyone. He knew she had previously dated Luka when they were younger, but she hadn't mentioned any boys after that. Marinette's pregnancy might have also been due to a one-time thing, but that didn't add much valuable information. It didn't narrow any possible fathers.

He briefly considered just straight up asking her, but then he remembered Ladybug's reaction and scratched the idea immediately.

From where he was standing, he noticed Marinette walk into the school. It was still a few minutes before class, so he decided to approach her.

She nearly jumped out of her skin when he said hello to her.

"A-Adrien!" she stammered. "W-what are you doing here?"

He tilted his head slightly and smiled, "Waiting for class to start?"

"Oh, right," Marinette awkwardly laughed.

"I wanted to talk to you before class."

"W-what about?"

"Well, you. How are you doing?" he asked.

Marinette felt her heart speed up and her cheeks heat up.

"I'm f-fine."

"Have you... have you talked to anyone about-"

"No," she cut him off quickly. Adrien blinked in surprise at her sudden response.

"You haven't told the father yet?" he asked quietly, looking around to make sure no one else was listening.

"N-no..."

"Not even Alya?" he frowned. Marinette quickly shook her head.

"Why not her, at least? Isn't she your best friend?" he asked.

Marinette continued to shake her head, "Adrien, I don't want to talk about this."

"But-"

"Drop it, Adrien!" she snapped. Marinette felt hot tears form in the corner of her eyes. Why did Adrien care so much about her pregnancy? It made her feel worse.

Adrien's eyes widened.

She looked just as surprised at herself for snapping at him. She muttered a quick apology before running to class.

Adrien stood his in spot, unsure of what to do next.

Marinette made it clear that she didn't want to talk about her pregnancy with him or anyone for that matter, so his only option was to get more information out of Ladybug.

That was exactly what he planned to do when he met up with Ladybug again that Friday.

.

He met up with Ladybug at the Eiffel tower once more after patrol. She tensed up as she sat down.

"Are you alright, Ladybug? How have you been holding up?" he asked.

"I honestly don't know, Chat. It feels like my life's falling apart."

"Have you tried talking to the father?" he tried. He already knew the answer to this, but he wanted to get more information out of her. Plus, he wanted to nudge her into telling him as Adrien. That would make it easier for him to comfort her. He knew it was terrifying. He was terrified. He may have seemed calm on the outside, but he was freaking out internally. It had to be worse for her, as she was going to be affected more than him. He didn't like that she was going through this alone. He could offer her the comfort she needs.

Ladybug bent her knees and buried her face into her knees.

"I c-can't!" she sobbed. This caught Chat off-guard.

"What? What do you mean you can't?" he asked, scooting closer to her. He tried reaching for her but she flinched away. "I thought you said you needed to tell him?" His ears drooped. Why didn't she want to tell him?

"B-because, it'll r-ruin his life!"

Chat frowned. Ruin his life?

"Ladybug, what are you talking about? Ruin his life?"

Why on earth would she assume that? A baby wouldn't ruin his life. Sure, it would make his life more difficult, but not ruin it!

"It takes two to make a baby. You didn't do it on your own; he played a part too. Where the hell did you get the idea that this would ruin his life? He made a conscious decision when taking that step with you."

"I-It's his father. His dad is very strict. If his dad found out he got a girl pregnant..."

She couldn't even finish what she was saying as she burst into more tears.

"H-his dad w-wouldn't allow the p-pregnancy," she cried.

Chat felt his heart drop seeing her cry like this. It didn't help that she was right. Gabriel Agreste cared a lot about image.

But Adrien Agreste didn't.

He was about to say that he didn't give a shit what his dad thought, but refrained when he remembered he wasn't Adrien Agreste at that moment.

He placed a hand on her shoulder. This time she didn't flinch or pull away, and he took what he could get.

"How do you know he won't stand up against his dad? Do you think he'd let his dad do anything to you or the baby?" he frowned.

Ladybug looked up, sniffling.

"No, he wouldn't let his dad do anything to me," she smiled softly. "I know he'd be there for me."

This piqued his curiosity. How did she know that? She wasn't wrong, but she said she hadn't talked to him yet.

"How are you so sure about that?" he asked, curious.

"Because he told me himself."

"He... told you?"

But she hadn't talked to him? When did he tell her that?

It took her a second to process what she had just said.

"I thought you said-"

"W-wait, no," she realized her mistake.

"Ladybug, does he know you as a civilian?"

Her eyes widened. Her mouth opened and closed, trying to think of something to say. Why did she say that? Why was Chat asking her so many questions? She began to panic. She needed to leave. She felt uncomfortable. She gave out too much information. What if it was enough for Chat to deduce who she was? She didn't want that. She didn't even like the idea of revealing herself to Adrien!

Chat was now really confused. She just told him she couldn't tell the father, but then says he said he'd be there for her?

It didn't make any sense. Why would she lie to him?

Unless she told him as a civilian.

And the only person he knew was pregnant was...

Marinette.

Before he could get his thoughts together and process the new information he just figured out, Ladybug took out her yoyo and left in a hurry.

Chat sat there frozen.

It was Marinette.

Ladybug was Marinette.

Marinette was carrying his child. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Marinette is really skittish so I can definitely see her freaking out over little things lol. From her pov, it doesn't seem like she's giving out too much information, but she's such a wreck that she doesn't realize.

Although bc love-square shenanigans, she actually *is* giving out a lot of information lol.

I'm having fun with this story.