"C-Chloe?"

Adrien couldn't believe the blonde friend of his was watching him while he was having an emotional moment with his newborn daughter from the hallway. Then again, he could believe it now.

"Um...h-hey, Chloe...I didn't expect you to see you here tonight." He said, recovering from his shock and changing his stance as they stood in the same hallway together.

Chloe shrug a bit, holding a red throw blanket tighter around her arms. "I didn't want to go home while someone special was here for observation." She said without the harsh bullying tone everyone knew. Instead, her tone sounded hopeless, drained and tired.

Adrien didn't want to ask about who was in the hospital Chloe was waiting for, he thought that would be rude. He noticed Chloe's appearance and wondered how long she looked like she hasn't slept for a couple of days. Had she been crying?

"I'm glad you and Marinette have life figured out." Chloe started to break the silence. "That little girl of yours is one of a kind."

"Yeah...she is." He sighed, his back pressed into the railing on the wall. "I wish Marinette could see her...and hold her."

"I...overheard Alya talking to Nino." Chloe said. "Is it true...Marinette is unconscious and- "

"It's none of your business, Chloe." He spoke harshly, gripping the railing. "Both of us need to rest until morning, and I don't want to share private information with you about Mari- "

"I thought we were all friends now?" she interrupted his thoughts, then noticed how mean it came out. "Sorry...I can't say I understand the complication, but I can see that you're upset."

He tried to deny himself the truth, but he sank to the floor and hide his face in his knees and arms again like earlier. He wasn't in the mood to talk about it. He was shaking as he finally cried, letting go his built up fear.

He wondered why his wife didn't tell him she was going through an illness that lead to this point, wondered if he did something wrong once again, this time life-threatening. He wondered if he would've gotten more time off to go to those appointments with her. He wondered if she was truly okay with everything she was working for. He wondered if she was overly stressed until she was able to go on leave from work.

So many thoughts that he started gasping through his sobs.

"Adrien...don't overthink it." Chloe said softly, kneeling in front of him and patting his knee. "I remember what happens when you overthink things."

"Can't help it..." He whispered. "Something major is...out of my control...again." He tried taking a breath to calm down, but struggled to find his breath.

"She is going to be okay."

"How do you know?" he snapped with anger and fear in his eyes, but then quickly apologized and put his head back down. "Marinette...is unconscious...and I could have prevented her from getting sick."

"Adrien, she's going to be okay." She watched him through his emotional attack. She sat in front of him and rubbed his knee. She listened to him ramble on and on with the same words. "It is not your fault." She would say after a minute or so. Last time she saw him go through a meltdown was when his mother never came home, and that was many years ago now.

She placed the blanket around him for something to run his fingers through rather than watching him claw his jacket and pants. She ruffled his hair a couple times, then wondered if she would have to call a nurse for when he passes out on the floor. After a couple minutes, she hugged him tightly to comfort him.

"I don't want Marinette to die..." he muttered into her shirt. "I can't...raise her...alone...I won't be able to with my insanity."

"You're not insane. Hey, quit talking like that." Chloe said, petting his head. "She's not going anywhere else. She'll wake up...tomorrow...maybe the next day." She said gently, then found a digital clock down the hall with bright red numbers. "Listen...How about we go outside. Text your family and tell them we are going to the courtyard. You need some fresh air."

Adrien wanted to deny the offer, already on the verge of passing out. But if he doesn't stand up and move, the possibility of fainting on the floor was more than likely. He finally lifted his head and rubbed his eyes.

"I know it's almost 4 am...we have plenty of time to catch some fresh air. Maybe see the sun come up like old times?"

"If I make it past another hour." He sighed and gave the blanket back to her. "Sorry...that I'm a complete mess, Chloe. You have someone important in the hospital so you should be with them."

"He's asleep. He's not going anywhere until we go home tomorrow." She laughed lightly. "Come on, I'll buy you snacks in a bit."

Adrien accepted the offer and walked with Chloe to the courtyard. He quietly texted his father first before texting Tom and Sabine about going outside to clear his head. He didn't expect a text back, so he locked his phone and slid it into his pocket.

Chloe lead him down the hallway to a set of double doors. Lamp posts brighten the area to make it seem available for the patients. "I've been here a couple times. It's a comforting place to be outside during emotional times."

"So...You've been coming to the hospital recently?" Adrien asked, confused why his friend would know where this sanctuary would be.

"My dad had been checked in and out a few times this year." She said as soon as they entered the courtyard, which was decorated with a variety of flowers, a fountain, and a few benches in honor to someone memorable in Paris. If he remembered right, the café was the middle of the fork in the hallway. A decorated brick-wall with obvious child chalk writing and drawings lined across from the door to the café. A patio swing was behind the fountain, which where Chloe lead Adrien too.

"My dad had been sick for a while, so I help take care of him." She said once they sat down on the swing. "He's had a few tests already, but I think he's about to...you know."

"Yeah, yeah...I get it, Chloe." He said, leaning back into the swing. He used his foot to make the swing rock back and forth. "I was wondering how he was."

"Well now you know...unexpected, yeah...but I'm glad I told you." She smiled a bit.

Adrien was surprised that she hasn't broke in tears yet, but if he knew how long his first friend has been suffering with the news of her father, he would have thought she cried enough to smile through it. "So...how's the dating life for you?" he asked to change the subject.

"Good, I would say." She sighed, leaning back and pulled the blanket close again. "Supposedly it's a courtship with a suitor my father thought would be great for me. Smart, rich, handsome...Sabrina says we look good together. But my insecurities are what I'm struggling with no matter how many compliments the guy gives me."

"Chloe Bourgeois...actually insecure?" he asked.

She nodded and starred at the pavement. "Reason why I was a big bully to everyone. Marinette was the worse one I bullied because she seems to have it all without looking pretty."

"I thought she was beautiful back then."

"That's you, but I hated her. After all those grade school years, I hated her because she has two parents, a family business, a dream, talent...and all I did was knock her down and tell her she will never be anyone if she wasn't popular." She sighed and gather her thoughts again. "Other than the parent situation for us, I'm actually afraid to be alone. I wanted attention on me from my peers and Paris. Maybe I was looking at the situation the wrong way when I met Ladybug and Chat Noir. Every hero has a missing part of their heart. I saw their hatred towards me, debating if they want to help me. They didn't want to be near me. After you two came out as my favorite super heroes...I was beyond angry. I shut myself in because who I thought was my best friend hated me, and that everything Marinette said as Ladybug was actually true. I was nothing but a spoiled brat."

Adrien couldn't say he was guilty for giving her the dirtiest looks and running away as soon as his lady called. As Chat Noir, he seen Chloe happy with her father alone. Maybe she is afraid to be alone, and cry and scream to one of the few people she always felt protected around.

"I don't expect you to take anything away from my situation. I'm just scared to get really close to this guy in this courtship, you know?"

"I get it, and you deserve it, Chloe."

"But what if he gets too...touchy?" she shivered.

"Only you can give him that sort of consent." He smiled warmly at her with tired eyes. "You don't have to pretend to love him. A courtship is a test of rather or not you two can be in a relationship." He said.

Chloe nodded and smiled. "Thanks, Adrien. I wish I can call you more since I missed you and Marinette at the party for the baby."

He laughed a bit. "Text me and Marinette anytime. We can get together, hang out, whatever."

She nodded as if she liked the idea. "Will do. I'm sorry for how clingy I was. I was really scared of losing my first best friend."

He sighed and contemplated a statement in his head. "You don't know how many times I was actually mad at you. It was always when you were attacking Marinette or any of our friends. You caused a lot of problems- "

"I know, and I already apologized to everyone." She interrupted. "I just thought I owe you the biggest one."

He nodded in understanding. "I think our friendship will get better." He said.

Chloe smiled more and checked the time on our phone. "Can you believe it's been over and hour already?" she asked. "Do you still want to see the sunrise before you go see her?"

Adrien nodded and looked up at the sky. "I wish I was out here with the stars, but the sunrise will help me hope for a new better day."

Chloe looked up at the sky with him and sighed happily. "That's a good way to put it." She said.

"No more calling me, Adri-kins, deal?"

Chloe laughed and nodded. "I know better now, Adrien."