Based on Art_the_f_up's Paediatric Adrien AU 

Adrien had been non-stop most of the day, the burning sensation in the balls of his feet a clarification of the thousands of steps he'd already done. Why, oh why, had he agreed to a double shift again?

Because you love your job, you idiot!

And he sure did! When he was younger, he always fluctuated his dreams between being a teacher, being a doctor, or being a Charge nurse. His father had scoffed at everything except for the doctor. So, he'd begun training. As he progressed through his exams (with flying colours), and then went on to do his PhD, his desire to complete his training slowly dwindled away. As much as he loved helping people, especially children, his head was turned in another direction — a paediatric nurse. Though not to his father's standing, just like everything else in his life, Adrien didn't allow his father's snobbery get in the way. So here he was 26 years old and finally living a life away from his father's clutches. It's just a shame it was precisely 5 years too late.

Treating kids was his passion, they understood his humour and he loved cheering them up on such hard days. He wasn't in a position to have his own (the single life did that to you), and he wasn't sure that it would ever be on the cards for him, so for now double shifts were his life.

"Nurse Agreste to the children's ward! Nurse Agreste to the children's ward!"

A smile pulled on Adrien's lips as he replaced the lid on his dinner and popped it back into the fridge. Another meal missed but for a worthy cause.If he was needed, he'd be there.

Adrien walked out into the corridors greeting passing nurses and doctors as he headed towards the elevator and up to the third floor.

Bounding out, he headed towards the receptionist ready to grab the paper work. Reaching the desk the nurse in charge handed him the clipboard complete with the patient's details. It was a young one. Only 4-years-old.

"He's having his tonsils removed. Why did you call me?" Adrien asked as he flipped through the chart.

"The boy's a little scared and of course we had to call the best clown here to cheer him up before we sent him down for surgery."

Adrien chuckled as he continued to flick through the notes attached to the clipboard, it seemed pretty straight forward, just a couple of routine checks and some Tomfoolery and the young man would be ready to go.

Taking the stethoscope from the nurses desk, Adrien swung the cord around his neck and focused on his patient. If there was one thing he could do, it would be cheer up the little dude. The best part of his job.

A quick flick back to the front of the chart, Adrien memorised the boy's name before heading off to meet him. He always remembered when he was around 5-years-old and had to go in for surgery. It was his doctor at the time who had made him feel comfortable; the fun loving attitude calming his nerves as he was about to go down to the operating theatre. He never forgot that man. Someone who cared for him more than his own father did.

Spotting the young boy sitting on the edge of the bed, Adrien took a couple of minutes to study him, the small guy looking out the window, a black cat being suffocated in his arms — one similar to what you would win at a carnival. A memory flashed through Adrien's mind, one he quickly pushed back out – too painful to relive.

Placing on his usual 'professional smile' (thank you years of modelling) Adrien walked forward as though he was going to walk past the small child only to stop and turn back.

"You're Hugo, right? Hugo Couffaine? Oh, man, I've been dying to meet you!" Saying the word dying in a hospital might not have been his greatest choice of words right at this moment.

The little boy looked up to Adrien, silver streaks making paths down his cheeks before he returned back to clutching his black cat tighter. Obviously this one was going to be a little harder to crack.

Adrien moved forward, and seated himself on the visitor chair beside the bed. The little boy twisted around, placing his back firmly to Adrien.

Oh man, tough crowd!

"That's a nice cat you've got there. I've got a cat at home which looks exactly like him. He's getting a little old now, I've had him for 10 years, but he's my best friend. His name is Plagg."

The boy shuffled slightly towards Adrien, glancing quickly over his shoulder before turning back to face the wall.

"Kitty's called Plagg too." His voice was small, shy and sweet. The corner of Adrien's lips turned up.

"Oh, yeah? Well, that is a great name."

Silence encompassed the room again. Adrien looked for any indication of the boy feeling more comfortable... anything. A couple of minutes later, the boy twisted a little more, his kitty still clutched in his arms.

"What does Plagg eat?" The soft voice spoke again, a curious look in his eyes.

"He's a strange cat, you know why?"

Hugo shook his head side to side.

"Because he eats stinky cheese which makes his farts smell."

A moment passed as Hugo just stared at him wide eyed, then the child fell into roaring laughter, Adrien chuckling himself at the response to a fart joke. Young boys were so predictable.

"Is it really stinky?"

"Mega! I have to leave the room if he does it!"

"No way!!! My mum sometimes says I smell so bad she thinks I've eaten rotten eggs!" Suddenly the little boy became over excited, crawling up onto his knees and turning to face Adrien. "I farted really loud in class the other week, Melissa Johnson laughed so hard she wet herself!"

"She didn't?" Adrien gasped, only for Hugo to overdo his nodding and almost tumble off the bed.

"She did!!"

"Poor, Melissa." Adrien laughed, standing back up. "Would it be okay if I just check your heartbeat?" Adrien held up the end of the stethoscope and waved it for Hugo to see.

"Is it cold?" Hugo asked, picking up Plagg from where he'd dropped him.

"How about I warm it up first?" He placed the metal bell and diaphragm in between his hands and gave them a quick rub. "Okay, I'm just going to place this over your shirt. Is that okay, kitten?"

Hugo started laughing. "I'm not a kitten! I'm a boy!"

Adrien moved backwards and looked him over. "You don't look like a boy, you look like the smelliest Kitten I've ever seen."

Hugo continued laughing as Adrien pretended to cross something out on his board. "Oh dear! There's been a big mistake here. See, I'm a vet, not a nurse. I don't think I'm going to be able to help you. But you..." He pointed to Plagg. "I can help you." Adrien placed his clipboard down before placing in his earpieces.

Stretching forward, he placed the chest piece onto Plagg and faked shock, quickly moving the object all around the stuffed cat. "Nurse!" Adrien shouted, continuing his examination of the cat. "Nurse!"

Placing it flat on the bed, Adrien began giving the stuffed toy CPR, the young boy crying at him to stop through full belly laughs.

"Nurse! Help!" Adrien shouted again, placing his ear to the cat's chest, before continuing the chest pumps, Hugo once again screaming that it's only a toy.

Like a tornado blown in from the East, a sister appeared at the doorway looking frazzled and as though she'd just broken the world record in the 100m sprint.

"What's wrong, Adrien? What do you need?"

He shook his head, pulling the earpieces out and placing it back around his neck. "I don't think there's anything that can be done. I checked and there's no heartbeat." Adrien placed his hand down beside Hugo and pretended to cry. "I tried everything! But... but..." Adrien grabbed the stuffed toy and held it up in front of him. "He's dead!"

Hugo howled with laughter and fell backwards on the bed, the sister giving Adrien a rather angry glare before huffing and walking away.

"Why won't you help me?" Adrien shouted after her, only for Hugo to grab the cat and give it a big hug.

"It's just a toy," Hugo laughed. "Plagg's not real!"

"What?!" Adrien exclaimed, placing the earpieces back in his ears. He checked over Hugo swiftly, the little boy following the instructions like they were the instructions to deactivate a bomb. "All done!" Adrien said, filling in the details before sitting back down, this time beside him on the bed. "You're the best patient I've ever had, Plagg too of course. So, how are you feeling?"

Hugo screwed up his lips and looked Adrien in the eye. "Can you call me Kitten again please? I liked that! It's what my maman calls me."

Adrien glared into Hugo's eyes, it wasn't very often he saw someone with turquoise eyes. A bizarre mix of green and blue that, for some reason, just drew him to the boy even more.

"Of course, Kitten." Adrien bumped his shoulder into Hugo's, the boy smiling and bouncing as he sat up against the pillows.

"I'm a little scared. I don't want to leave my maman alone."

Adrien would like to say that was an odd thing to say but his profession as a nurse brought up loads of weird and wonderful responses, mixed with those that broke his heart.

"Well, it's a good job you're a secret superhero then. I promise I won't tell anyone your secret identity – Kitten Noir."

"I wish I was a superhero."

"Anyone can be a superhero. You just need to do the right thing, that's what makes a hero a hero."

"Isn't saving people what makes a hero a hero?"

Adrien shrugged. "Sometimes, but it's also being true to yourself, and being the best you can be."

Hugo grabbed Plagg and placed the toy beside him in bed. "You must be a superhero, you save a lot of people."

"I am," Adrien said. "I am Chat Noir! The defender of all smelly, cheese eating kittens."

Hugo chuckled, but this wasn't like the others. His laugh was low and... fake.

"Hey, little man, what's wrong?"

Hugo shrugged, all joy from the conversation gone. "Can you keep a secret?" Hugo asked.

"It depends what the secret is," Adrien replied. "I can't promise I won't tell, Hugo."

"It's nothing bad. It's just every now and then I wish I had the power to make my maman happy."

Adrien's heart both swelled and broke from the small child's announcement. "I'm sure you already make your maman very happy."

Hugo shrugged. "Sometimes. I just wish she could find her one true love, just like in the fairytales. Then they would look after her the way she looks after me. She's the best maman in the whole wide world."

"Where's your papa?" Adrien queried, suddenly asking questions he knew could tear his heart apart, and having him fill out extra paperwork. But there was something about this boy which pulled on his heartstrings in a way that made him reconsider his own life, he wanted to know about him. He wanted to understand the sadness in such a young child's eyes.

"My one papa doesn't see me very often anymore. He and Maman got a vorce!"

"You mean a divorce?"

"Yeah. I spend a Saturday with him, and see my Nanna. He dopted me, but he and maman argued a lot so decided to just be friends. My real papa, I've never met. My maman seems to think I don't want to know about him, but I hear her talking to Auntie Alya all the time about my papa. I just wish he wanted to see me as much as I do him."

Adrien reached up and stroked a hand through Hugo's thick black hair and gave it a little ruffle. "You're the coolest 4-year-old I've ever met. Your papa is missing out on not getting to spend time with someone so pawesome as you."

"Will you be my papa?"

Adrien laughed and stood up, gathering his things and preparing to leave.

"Unfortunately it doesn't work like that, Kitten. But maybe one day, you will have the most wonderful papa who loves both you and your maman like a Queen and Prince."

"Plagg too?" Hugo asked, Adrien smiling at the innocence of the request.

"Plagg too!"

"Even if he smells?"

"Even more so! Smelly cats are the best cats."

Hugo nodded, his little brain obviously taking the information in and sending it to circle on his cognitive hamster wheel.

"Is it true I get to eat as much ice cream as I want after I've had my opp – opeeea – opentent –"

Adrien smiled. "After your operation, of course. What flavour do you want and I'll see if I can find some for you?"

Dramatically, Hugo tapped a finger on his chin. "Passionfruit."

"That's my favourite too," Adrien gasped. His eyes raised to the doorway where a shadow was standing. A shadow of his past and what he thought would be his present and future. A shadow he hadn't seen in 5 years. The smile fell from his face as he stood himself up straight and looked into the sky blue eyes and blushing face of Marinette Dupain-Cheng. His first – and only — love.

*****

Marinette was making her way through the maze-like corridors of the hospital looking for the vending machine. She hadn't slept the night before worrying about Hugo's operation. Even though it was just a routine tonsil removal, she'd done the most stupid thing of Googling possible problems with such operations. She was now worried Hugo was going to be used as an experiment for Zombies. She knew reading that Walking Dead fanfiction would come back to bite her in the ass.

Finally locating the machine, she took a moment to relax; to close her eyes and just think about what was happening. Her little boy, her pride and joy, was going in to have surgery. He was too small, too sweet and wholesome — just like his father.

Digging through her bag, she found a couple of euros to place into the machine and went to select a coffee, stopping herself at the last moment and selecting a mint tea instead. The last thing she wanted to add to her anxiety was a caffeine kick – even if she was walking dead on her feet. Damn the Walking Dead!

A blast of noise sounded out in the hallway as her phone began to ring, Marinette fumbling inside her bag to find the dreaded object. She'd been waiting all day on a call from Luka, anything from Luka. Though they'd been divorced for just over 9 months now, she thought he would have at least made the effort to call her and check in with Hugo. He knew about the operation, and he knew how worried she was. She'd cried on his shoulder enough over the past couple of weeks. Lifting the phone from her bag she closed her eyes and threw her head back in exasperation.

Maman.

"Hey Maman," she answered, trying to sound as cheery as she could.

'Is everything okay, Honey? We haven't heard from you in a while.'

"Hugo's operation has been pushed back a little. Sounds like the surgeon got called in on an emergency," Marinette sighed. She watched the tea bag drop into her cup before the boiling water followed, steam flying everywhere.

'Well, let us know as soon as he goes down to theatre, okay? We'll come straight over to you. Have you heard from Luka?'

"Nope, nothing. I thought he would have at least messaged."

'Don't worry too much about it, love, you know he's busy with work. He's probably on his way over as we speak.'

Yes, but he should be here now! She wanted to say; instead, she smiled through the handset and removed her tea from the machine. She found a seat nearby and sat to finish her call, positioning the cup next to her feet.

"I know he's not Hugo's biological father, but he did spend two years being a father figure to him. Hugo adored him. I just feel bad I can't..." she trailed off. The truth of the fact was she was the reason Luka divorced her. Everything had been a quick movement. The dating. The engagement. The marriage. The adoption of Hugo. She wanted a stable family for her child. Luka wanted her. It was a win-win situation at the time — until the discussion of more children came up.

Where Luka was ready to start a family and add to the Couffaine clan, Marinette just couldn't commit. She blamed it from Hugo starting school and that he had to cope with that change, before moving it on to her boutique being overrun with orders.

'I'm sure he'll be there Marinette, Hugo means the world to him, you both do. Just because you're divorced doesn't mean he stopped caring, if anything, he divorced you because he cared too much.'

"Thanks for the kick in the gut there."

Sabine chuckled over the phone. 'You know what I mean.'

"I'll be glad when you and Papa can get here. I'm a nervous wreck."

'You're just being a mother sweetheart, and a very caring one at that. Listen, I need to go and help your father. I'll speak to you later. Don't forget to message me.'

Sabine ended the call, Marinette placing her own phone in her bag before picking up her tea and heading to the store to grab him a comic. He'd recently become fond of the show 'The Tales of Chat Noir', much to her displeasure. The whole thing created raw memories. Memories of a past which should have been her future.

Finding the latest instalment a shiver ran down her spine as an announcement was called throughout the hospital.

"Nurse Agreste to the children's ward! Nurse Agreste to the children's ward!"

Agreste! Just the word caused her to go into high alert, her heart racing and her body radiating heat like it was going out of fashion. She looked around the area and then chastised herself.

She hadn't heard that name in years — 2 to be exact. 8 years ago she fell head over heels for an Agreste. 5 years ago their secret relationship was torn apart. 2 years ago, he seemingly disappeared from the face of the Earth. But Adrien Agreste was a model, an actor, he wouldn't be here, not in a hospital and most certainly not as a nurse. His father wouldn't support it — just like he didn't support her.

This couldn't be her Adrien... her Adrien! She had no right thinking about him. He was the reason Luka had given up on her — on them — and she couldn't blame him, there was always Adrien in the background.

Hugo couldn't learn the guitar, it had to be piano because that's what Adrien played. He couldn't play soccer because Adrien fenced. Even without the model being there, Marinette had wanted to bring Hugo up in a way that if Adrien ever did reappear they'd have something to talk about — like them being father and son wouldn't be enough. She never wanted to keep Hugo away, she just wasn't given a lot of choice in the matter.

She paid for the comic, before heading up towards the children's ward where her little boy was being such a strong little cookie. He was the main man in her life. Everything was about Hugo and she wouldn't have it any other way.

As she arrived at her son's room, a combination of two male voices reached her ears, her curiosity getting the better of her as she hid beside the doorway.

"So, how are you feeling?" The older voice said, the care in it melted her heart.

"Can you call me Kitten again please? I liked that! It's what my maman calls me."

A hand shot over her mouth as she felt overwhelming emotion. Kitten had been his nickname since he was in her tummy. An ode to his father. She felt her cheeks warm. Who was this person and why was Hugo so trusting? He wouldn't even let Luka call him Kitten. A wave of red hot liquid circulated through her body before turning into ice. It couldn't be... could it?

"Of course, Kitten." The humour and joy in the man's voice had her swooning, she always had a soft spot for jokers.

"I'm a little scared. I don't want to leave my maman alone."

If her heart wasn't already reacting like a flutter of butterflies, hearing that would have caused it. Leave her? Why would he be leaving her? Had she unconsciously spread her fear onto him? Had he been reading The Walking Dead too?

"Well, it's a good job you're a secret superhero then. I promise I won't tell anyone your secret identity – Kitten Noir."

"I wish I was a superhero," her son replied.

"Anyone can be a superhero. You just need to do the right thing, that's what makes a hero a hero."

"Isn't saving people what makes a hero a hero?"

"Sometimes, but it's also being true to yourself."

"You must be a superhero, you save a lot of people."

"I am," the man replied. "I am Chat Noir! The defender of all smelly, cheese eating kittens."

She smiled until she heard her son laugh. His fake laugh that he used when he wanted to pretend he was okay. The laugh he used when she and Luka had had an argument, and he pretended to understand it wasn't his fault. She closed her eyes, resting her head back on the wall. He always thought it was his fault.

"Hey, little man, what's wrong?" Marinette couldn't believe the nurse had picked up on the fakeness. Luka never did. When Hugo laughed, Luka laughed with him.

"Can you keep a secret?" Hugo suddenly asked. Marinette biting down on her bottom lip, aa a nervous disposition took over her body.

"It depends what the secret is. I can't promise I won't tell, Hugo." The nurse replied honestly, Marinette happy he took his job seriously, though what left her son's mouth might not actually be good for her.

"It's nothing bad. It's just every now and then I wish I had the power to make my Maman happy."

Her heart broke. Her beautiful little boy was once again the most caring and sweet child she'd ever met. His constant need to help her.

"I'm sure you already make your maman very happy."

Yes, he does! He was the main and only man in her life. She stepped forward wiping under her eyes and glaring into the room.

"Sometimes. I just wish she could find her one true love, just like in the fairytales. Then they would look after her the way she looks after me. She's the best maman in the whole wide world."

"Where's your papa?" The adult queried, Marinette biting her lower lip and praying Hugo didn't disclose her failure of a love life.

"My one papa doesn't see me very often anymore. He and Maman got a vorce!"

"You mean a divorce?"

"Yeah. I spend a Saturday with him, and see my Nanna. He dopted me, but he and maman argued a lot so decided to just be friends. My real papa, I've never met. My maman seems to think I don't want to know about him, but I hear her talking to Auntie Alya all the time about my papa. I just wish he wanted to see me as much as I do him."

If she wasn't already broken from the words of her baby, these last ones would most certainly have done it. She knew, if Adrien knew he had a kid he would be the most caring, kind and considerate father on the planet. He would have adored Hugo, just as he had adored her.

"You're the coolest 4-year-old I've ever met. Your papa is missing out on not getting to spend time with someone so pawesome as you."

"Will you be my papa?"

The man laughed and Marinette saw that as her moment to enter the room and stop this conversation carrying on any longer, who knew what else would come from her babe's mouth?

"Unfortunately it doesn't work like that, Kitten. But maybe one day, you will have the most wonderful papa who loves both you and your maman like a Queen and Prince."

She saw Hugo nod before her eyes were taken by the colouring and structure of the man beside him. The golden blond hair, the perfect bone structure... the masculine frame...

"Plagg too?" Hugo asked, her blast from the past smiled at Hugo's innocent request.

"Plagg too!"

"Even if he smells?"

"Even more so! Smelly cats are the best cats."

"Is it true I get to eat as much ice cream as I want after I've had my opp – opeeea – opentent –"

The nurse smiled and she knew that smile. She knew that smile so well. She knew it first thing in the morning and last thing at night. She knew it when he was telling jokes and when she made him fresh macaroons.

"After your operation, of course. What flavour do you want and I'll see if I can find some for you?"

Dramatically, her son tapped a finger on his chin, and she knew exactly what was about to come next. "Passionfruit."

"That's my favourite too," her lost love gasped.

His eyes raised to the doorway — to her. The light that had been cruelly ripped from her life 5 years ago. She watched as his perfect carefree smile fell from his face, his sparkling green eyes losing their fun and instead grew serious.

She took a deep breath before puffing the air from her lips.

"Hi!"

*****

Adrien couldn't decide whether this was a dream or a nightmare. Seeing Marinette always came in the version of one or the other. Was Hugo about to transform into a fluffy teddy bear and start singing the many hits of Lewis Capaldi, or a new variant of Venom and rip out his heart once again?

They stood staring at each other, Hugo too busy playing with his cat to worry about the adults in the room.

"Marinette?" Adrien questioned, knowing full well he probably sounded like an idiot. Of course it was Marinette, he'd recognise those beautiful eyes anywhere. They were the star of his dreams most nights, ever since he'd been forced to leave her. "I thought you'd moved to England."

"Adrien, I –"

Before Marinette could say anymore a tall man appeared behind her placing a soft, gentle kiss in her hair, a man he'd seen on television and heard on the radio. Luka Couffaine. Now it made sense!

"Melody! I'm so sorry I'm late. My phone ran out of battery and then the traffic was awful. How's our little man doing?"

Adrien attempted to remember what Hugo had said about his family, but the pain in his heart was taking all his energy.

"He's fine." Her eyes didn't leave Adrien's as Luka moved forward, Hugo obviously happy to see his father. Adoptive father?

"Nice seeing you again, Marinette." Ducking his head, Adrien exited the room, unsure what to do next or where to go. All he knew was there was a wilful wish in his heart that seeing her again was a case of good luck, until the unease took over, like venom, and caused him to turn and look back.

A picture perfect family cuddled together on Hugo's bed — a family which didn't include him.

That should have been me...

*****

This is supposed to be a one-shot... however, if anyone is interested in it continuing let me know and I'll see what I can do (I can't promise a posting schedule though)