Marinette's POV

"Something's going on with my mother."

"Yeah.  Is she usually like this?"  I glance at Adrien. He's half-focusing on the checkerboard, his shoulders slumped.

"Well... her personality's the same.  She's still elegant and sweet, but she seems to care about Father more than us.  And she definitely has something she's hiding."

I move a red piece to the end of the board.  "Hmm. I don't know if she cares about your father more.  She really seems to love you. Maybe she just supports what he's doing because she thinks it's best.  Um... king me."

Adrien puts another red piece on top of the one at the end.  "And why does she think it's best? We got hurt! Paris is unsafe!  The world is unsafe!"

"I don't think she quite understands.  Maybe we should talk to her."

He slides one of his black pieces into an open square.  "You think that'll work?"

"It's worth a try.  Everything's worth a try."  I smile gently at him, taking his hand in mine.

He smiles back.  "Marinette, your optimism is wonderful."

"We'll get through this.  I know we will." I lean across the checkerboard and kiss his cheek.  "We're strong, Adrien. We've made it this far."

"Remember what I told you?"

"What?"

"That being a superhero is about what's inside?"

"Yeah."  I'm starting to see what he means.

"Do you believe it?"

"Yes.  I think now I do, Chat Noir."  I wink at him.

He beams.  "Pawsome, my lady," he replies, winking back.

I cringe.  "Really? Puns?"

"Come on.  I know you love them."  He smirks.

"Terrible," I groan, then giggle as he pulls me close.

Adrien kisses my forehead and sighs.  "We should go find Mother and talk to her."

"Yes."

We get up and leave his room, going down the hallway and downstairs.  Adrien squeezes my hand as we go. We can hear footsteps going down the hallway, accompanied by a lovely voice softly singing an old tune.

"Mother," Adrien says.

She turns around.  "Hi! Do you kids need anything?"

The way she calls us kids irritates me.  It makes me feel like she thinks we're immature or something!  But I'm sure that wasn't her intention. I take a small deep breath.  "Emilie, may we talk to you?"

"Of course."  She steps closer to us to listen.

"What Father's doing... it's unsafe.  For everyone," Adrien says.

"What do you mean?  He's just trying to provide for us."

"Well, there's a law in the universe that states that things must be balanced."  I explain, thinking of what Master Fu told me once. "Anything that we create, something is destroyed."

"Marinette," Emilie says gently.  "I'm sure everything is okay. We're only creating objects or enhancing them.  It's nothing important. Chairs, for example. Or televisions."

Chairs and televisions?  Really?

"Mother, I'm sure you understand that this is a big problem.  One person shouldn't be in charge of the universe." Adrien folds his arms.

"Listen, Adrien, your father isn't dangerous.  He's not focused on hurting anyone or taking over the world or anything like that.  He just wants us to have good lives."

"Please consider the costs," I say.

"The costs have been considered, and they are outweighed by the benefits."

Adrien stomps his foot. "Marinette and I were almost killed!  Twice! Do you think that's not a big deal?"

Her eyes widen.  "It is a big deal.  Well, it was. It's over now.  Just look at all you have."

"We don't care about what we have!  We just want our normal lives back!" I tell her.

"But this one is so much better."

"No it's not!  I haven't seen my parents or any of my friends.  I can't protect Paris. I haven't even seen what things are like outside.  I'm not happy!"

She looks at me in shock, but I'm not sorry for my outburst.  She needs to know. Slowly, her expression turns from pride to sadness.  "Marinette..."

"It's true," Adrien says.  "We aren't happy, and we aren't going to be until everything is set right."

Emilie looks at him, then at me.  "I have an idea. Tomorrow, Marinette, Gabriel will take you to visit your parents.  Adrien, you and I will have a mother-son day. Everything isn't as terrible as you think.  I promise."

But it is.  She needs to understand that it is.

Adrien puts a hand on my shoulder.  "Fine, then," he says to her quietly.  "We'll see you tomorrow."

And so we leave her there and retreat back to our apartment.  Once inside, Adrien and I hug each other tight, both thinking the same thing.

At least we tried.