A/N: First, I would like to thank Gilbahat and Draxynnic for beta'ing this. You guys are so awesome.
Second, I'm still suffering from writer's block with unstable work schedules so apologies in advance for delay updates.
Lastly, this story was loosely inspired from Be With You by Takuji Ichikawa and Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (both are my all-time favorite novels with beautiful movie adaptations) but with a Miraculous twist.
Enjoy!
Fatherhood wasn't easy for Adrien.
As a baker, he had to wake up before sunrise to proof his bread - which isn't a problem considering the number of early morning photo shoots he had done when he was young - and to start baking those batches he already prepared a night prior. Once done, he would fill in the display trays with his fresh goodies, check the backroom to double-check the inventory, then wait for his assistants to come in before he could climb upstairs for breakfast.
It was a summer break so he wasn't expecting to see Emma lounging in their dining area.
"Going somewhere with Kara?" he asked as he planted a kiss on his daughter's neatly combed hair.
"With Janice," she corrected with a grunt "And Hanson. I swear I'm just third-wheeling every time we hang out! Worst of all, those two are so oblivious to their own feelings! I'm like, am I living in a coming-of-age slow burn fic?"
He chucked at her gesticulations, then began to pull out some ingredients" You know, when your Maman was around your age, she used to third-wheel your Aunt Alya and - "
"- and Uncle Nino every time they hang out until you came along and it became a double date." she interrupted hotly "Papa, I'm only thirteen years old! I'm nothing like Maman, and I don't - I don't have time on those kinds of stuff!"
The blond turned around then pinched her cheeks lightly with endearment "That's why you're my favorite daughter."
"But I'm your only daughter." she pouted indignantly.
"I know." he winked cheekily "Go get Hugo so I can start making pancakes."
"Oui." Emma drawled, pushing herself away from the table then walked lazily towards her sibling's room. A few minutes later, she emerged with a yawning five-year-old in her arms.
"M'ning, Papa" Hugo greeted groggily as he settled himself on his elevated chair.
"Good morning, my little munchkin." Adrien cooed when his son reached out with a sloppy kiss "Want some pancakes?"
Somehow, that perked him up "I want choco-banana!"
"One order for choco-banana, coming up!" the blond announced happily as he poured in the pancake mixture into the heated pan, then side-eyed his daughter who was fetching the plates "How about you, Em?"
"Probably a choco-banana - "
"Copycat!" Hugo interjected.
"- and a blueberry?"
"Can't say no to my little Princess," Adrien chuckled, tossing some fresh blueberries into the smaller batter.
"Papa! Papa! I want blueberry, too!"
"Now who's the copycat," Emma bopped her little brother's nose much to his chagrin.
"Additional blueberry pancake for the little Prince, coming up!"
Adrien didn't mind indulging their notable increase of appetite. After all, he grew up in a very strict diet, and it was something he didn't want his children to experience.
He was about to flip the last piece when he heard a faint alarm sound coming from the other side of the room.
"Em? Why don't you check Louis and see if he has something to do today?"
"As if you can wake Lou up during an apocalypse." the girl muttered between bites.
Turning the stove off, Adrien approached his eldest son's room, but instead of rapping the door, he yelled dramatically "Oh no! It's ten thirty AM! What am I supposed to do now?"
"Ten thirty AM?!" a panicky voice echoed inside, followed by a loud crash "Oh no! M. Leduc will kill me! I'm late, I'm late, I'm…I'm..."
Adrien didn't hide his snickers when the door swung open, revealing a mop of dark hair with furious green eyes "Papa, you liar! It's just six thirty!"
"Good morning, my sleepy Kitten. Want some pancakes?"
.
.
.
Raising three kids alone wasn't easy for Adrien.
Aside from preventing typical sibling brawls, he had to learn how to give them his undivided attention all at the same time.
"...and that's why Mme. Lavillant chose me to represent the class!"
"That sounds lame, Em," Louis commented, "What do you think, Papa?"
Adrien's fork hovered near his mouth. Huh, what was the topic again?
"Papa, are you listening?"
"Of course, my little Princess. You reported a bully from a different class, and your classmates praised you for your actions, that's why they nominated you as their Class President."
A triumphant huff told him that he guessed it correctly.
"What about this Saturday?" Louis probed.
"What's with Saturday?"
"Papa!"
"Of course, of course, my Kitten! How can we forget your fencing tournament!" Adrien chuckled unabashed when his son pouted indignantly "Papa and Hugo and Emma will gonna be there with a megaphone and a huuuge banner that says 'Excel and Power Pointe!"
"Papa!"
"That's parry-fect, Papa!"
"Em!"
"Don't be a sourpuss, Lou!" Emma replied, wiping her happy tears "It's best to foil your enemy with puns!"
Louis couldn't help but slap his forehead then groaned inwardly when his father and his sister shared a fist bump.
The sound of the doorbell caught everyone's attention.
"I think that's Janice," said Emma as she stood up and kissed Adrien's cheek, followed by Louis who slipped his duffel bag on his shoulder.
"I don't want to be yelled again by M. Leduc," the boy said before his father could ask. "I'll try to be back for the picnic."
"Me too!" Emma added.
"If you say so…" Adrien trailed off when he saw Hugo's mess, then winced when he noticed how his clothes were smothered by milk and maple syrup.
"Gotta go now, Papa!" the two said in unison then looked at the picture frame of Marinette longingly with a smile, "See you later, Maman!"
"Don't forget to buy your Maman her favorite flowers!"
They answered him with a noncommittal hum.
"Those kids..." he shook his head with a wistful sigh, then stared at his wife's beautiful image "They really got your stubborn attitude, you know. And your tardiness."
"Is tardiness bad, Papa?"
"Very bad, Hugo," he replied, eyeing the maple syrup that was about to drip to their carpet "But not as bad as your catastrophe. Why don't you get Rubber Ducky for me so we can take a bath?"
"Oui!"
Hugo immediately hopped from his chair then padded towards the bathroom.
"I don't know about you, Mari, but I know for sure I don't eat like Hugo," he muttered audibly despite knowing that no one will give him a reply.
.
.
.
Being an ex-supermodel and a celebrity wasn't easy for Adrien.
He didn't want to use his fame when he took over Tom and Sabine's Boulangerie Patisserie, but people would still identify him even though he hasn't been in the spotlight for years. His marital status wasn't helpful at rejecting his rabid fans either, in which he, later on, confirmed much to his mortification, that him being a 'Daddy' was more appealing to the public than his 'Eligible Bachelor' status years ago.
He had fired five staffs for incompetence and filed two police blotters of Harassment and Invasion of Privacy before he got Pierre, a laid off pâtissier, and Jules who, at that time, was badly looking for a job. Unlike the others that he interviewed prior, they weren't intimidated by his or his wife's status, so he hired them on the spot.
It was a slow afternoon so Adrien decided to give his assistants a break. He also brought Hugo down to the bakery with a promise of a strawberry tart if he conducts himself properly, in which the young boy agreed, while he manned the cashier.
The interiors were slightly altered compared to what he recalled back when he was in collège, with a bit of woodwork on the display shelves and pieces of furniture that weren't sturdy enough to handle the weight. The aroma of butter and vanilla were still permeating the air just like what he remembered, but with a slight whiff of cocoa coming from the tempered chocolate he was yet to be stored in the fridge.
Tom used to call him his protégé.
When his in-laws were still in Paris, he would handle the front while Sabine does the packaging and Tom on the baking. It was a routine that they find more convenient, though overwhelming at certain times, especially during peak season. But once the rush dwindles down, he would go back to the kitchen to learn more about the Dupain's way of bread.
Or according to his father in law, the whey of bread.
Under his tutelage, he learned more about baking techniques, decorating tips and some recipes that were foreign even to his wife. He was proud of how he barely made mistakes or accidents on his first attempts, and his recreations were always better than his previous students.
And that includes Marinette.
When his wife died and eventually inherited the bakery, he promised Tom and Sabine that he will preserve, as much as possible, all the furniture and fixtures as each piece in the building have sentimental values, but his in-laws only laughed at his mushiness.
"You can sell the bakery if you want," his mother in law told him "Marinette wouldn't mind."
As if Adrien would let go of his wife's beloved home.
"Bonjour! How can I help?" the blond greeted when a lady entered the premise.
"I'd like to get five of your pain au chocolat, a box of macarons," she recited upon reaching the counter, then clicked her tongue as if trying to remember something "And...uh, what's your best seller here?"
He smiled toothily "Aside from our croissants that are very well known in this arrondissement, our chouquettes and petit fours are quite popular too. Our Spinach Quiches are in demand especially for young adults, and our brioche - "
"Uh, are you Adrien Agreste?"
Adrien smiled widely as he tried not to wince or show any signs of discomfort.
"I knew it! I immediately recognized you from my daughter's pull-out magazines! Oh, you have to meet her - she just divorced her second husband so she's pretty much available in the market! She's a very charming lady, and has a pleasing personality…"
This is the main reason why I preferred to stay behind the ovens, the blond sighed dismally as he bagged her orders.
"You're an invalid?!"
He barely listened to the lady's ramblings that he almost missed her reference to his condition.
"Got a problem with that, Madame?" he asked, slipping the fifth pain au chocolat into the pastry bag with a tong.
"Well, you can't walk straight," she pointed out bluntly "Can you even bake?"
"Rest assured Madame that all of the bread and confectioneries that you're seeing in this bakery are made by me." he flashed her his best customer service smile then punched her bill "That's €18.35 in total."
"Any special discounts?"
"We don't offer special discounts."
She was mumbling incoherently as she hands in the payment, but before she could accept her purchase, a tug on her sleeve caught her attention.
"Hey, old bag," said Hugo while sporting his best impassive look "Papa is not an invalid, imbecile."
"Hugo!"
"W-why you…" All the blood in her face has been sucked out as she shrieked, then gave Adrien a deathly glare "This bakery is horrible! Worst customer service ever!"
"But Madame, I'm - "
"I will never, ever, set foot on this atrocious place again and I will rate your business a one-star in Yelp!"
"Madame! I think you forgot your - "
SLAM!
"- pastries."
Adrien winced when the lady stormed outside the door and slammed it shut so hard he thought the glass would shatter on the impact.
After a few beats of silence, he hovered his gaze towards his sheepish son who flinched when their eyes met "Care to explain yourself, Hugo?"
"She called you an invalid," he muttered while worrying his lower lip. "And Maman told me that it's a bad word."
"And you think imbecile isn't?"
Hugo shrugged nonchalantly "Google never said that it's a bad word."
The blond took a sharp intake of breath, then pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers "Hugo?"
"Oui, Papa?"
"Just...go upstairs and fetch your things, okay? We're leaving now...for the picnic."
"Oui, Papa," was his glum answer.
Adrien waited until his son was gone before he jerked his head towards his two snickering assistants.
"Who among you taught my son how to cuss?!"
"Not me, Boss," said Pierre with a scoff, followed by Jules who simply shook his head "Besides, kids are too smart nowadays."
"You mean, too smart to know how to access blocked sites."
He squeezed his eyes shut much to their amusement "I think I'm having another headache."
.
.
.
Being a widower wasn't easy for Adrien.
His wife has been a constant presence in his life - his first love, his partner in and out of the mask, his best friend...his soulmate.
He couldn't imagine his life without Marinette.
And now that she was gone -
"Papa!" Hugo's annoyed voice broke his reverie "Hurry up or the bus will leave us behind!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming...geez..." he chuckled, picking up their picnic basket "You know that Papa can't walk that fast anymore, remember?"
His youngest might be stubborn, but he was wise enough not to rush ahead like most kids at his age do in public. He was even considerate enough to stay still whenever they travel together, and not even hesitate to say 'excuse me', 'please' and 'thank you' on strangers who helped them along their short journey.
Louis was already waiting for them at their bus stop.
Taking the basket from his father's hand, he explained "M. Leduc allowed me to leave early when I told him about Maman's birthday," then added "Else I will boycott the competition and he'd lose his best fencer."
"You sure have a big ego, Lou."
"Bold of you to assume that I have a big ego," he countered with a sneer "Besides, where do you think I got that gene from?"
Adrien ruffled his eldest son's hair much to his displeasure.
They were about to approach the cemetery gates when they spotted Emma running towards them with a bouquet of pink and red roses.
"I thought I'm going to miss you, guys," she huffed, trying to catch her breath. "You have no idea how many trips I've made just to find Maman's pink roses."
"And here I thought you went to Grasse to buy her flowers."
"Shut up, Lou."
"Hey, hey. Quit fighting, you two," Adrien admonished lightly "We're here to celebrate Maman's birthday, not to hold a wrestling match."
"Oui, Papa."
As the four headed towards their destination, he listened to his kids random banters. Hugo would join in from time to time, sometimes he would ask them about certain words that they were using, and their interactions warmed his heart.
He couldn't help but see his wife's creativity in Emma, her bravery in Louis, and her wits in Hugo. And in their smiles, he could see the woman he knew and loved.
It's as if Marinette never left him alone -
"Papa?"
"Huh?" he blinked, confounded at their curious stares.
"You were spacing out, Papa," Louis added with apprehension "We've been calling your name several times but you're not responding."
"Are you okay, Papa?" asked Hugo.
"Oui, my beloved munchkin," Adrien responded with a smile "I'm - "
Years of superheroing made his instinct reacted towards danger, that he immediately leapt and covered his three children with his body before they could hear the loud crash.
"W - What was that?!" Emma sputtered when the smoke began to disperse.
"I don't know…" her father muttered under his breath, pulling his kids up as he assessed their conditions "Are you three alright?"
They answered him with a nod.
"Okay, now I want you guys to stay here while I - "
"Papa!" Hugo pointed out a spot behind them "There's smoke coming from Maman's!"
"Wha - Louis! Come back here!" Adrien yelled when he saw his son rushed towards the grave, then choked when his daughter hastily followed "Emma! Why you…ugh."
Why are my kids so ridiculously impulsive?
"Didn't I tell you to stay…" he trailed off when the two stopped their tracks, and when he reached them, he immediately noticed a spotted figure sprawling on Marinette's grave.
It has been years since he last seen Ladybug in her pigtails.
She was sporting the same look back when they were collège, with a onesie-styled red tight suit with black spots and a multi-functional yoyo clinging on her side. He recalled how she despised her first costume, and how she was jealous of his because of the pockets.
Now is not the time for reminiscing the past, he scolded himself as he approached the superheroine.
He barely registered the shock that marred on his children's face when he pressed his two fingers on Ladybug's neck, then sighed with great relief when he felt a steady pulse. He tried not to spill any tears when he cradled her gently and examined the scorching marks on her skin.
"Papa?" asked Louis who was also on the verge of tears "Is that...Is that Maman?"
Adrien shook his head, biting his quivering lip to keep his emotions at bay "I'm not sure, Kitten. I'm not so sure…"
But one thing for sure, he thought fervently, that this Ladybug is none other than Marinette Dupain-Cheng.
The girl he later on married and became Marinette Agreste.