A Fly's Trap

by Yangu Fuyu

Well, this certainly shows each other who they are when their older selves come through a time portal, and the older selves keep accidentally exposing secrets the younger two have tried so hard to keep, as well as expose some new things they didn't even know at all. Spoilers for Origins up to Volpina episodes

4. Part IV

Chapter summary: Mari can't even. Chloé is an offensive bitch. Like usual. Slight Stargate phone call reference. Adrien becomes Angry-Kitty. Chloé nearly starts Word War III, launch codes included. Don't piss Adrien off, or hurt Mari, it's not a good idea, someone (Chloé) will end up dead. Mari saves the world from exploding. ALL THE FLUFF. More Adrien and Mari talking. Elders are concerned little muffin buttons so much they should be illegal. *Someone* noticed Pyaar missing (uh-oh). Elder's backstory. Pyaar backstory. Elder-Mari is a wizard. Kwami are helpful little cookies. ALL THE DOMESTIC FLUFF. SERIOUSLY. THERE'S 5 PAGES OF THE STUFF IN THIS CHAPTER. HERE, *throws chapter at you* HAVE IT. DON'T HAVE A HEART ATTACK BECAUSE OF IT, PLEASE! I HAD TOO MUCH FUN WITH FOOD!

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And all I remember, is your back, walking towards the airport, leaving us all in your past. I traveled fifteen hundred miles to see you: begged you to want me, but you didn't want to. And all of your words fall flat: I made something of myself, and now you want to come back. But your love, it isn't free, it has to be earned. Back then, I didn't have anything you needed, so I was worthless. Piece by piece I fell far from the tree, I will never leave her like you left me, because unlike you I'm gonna put her first.
- Kelly Clarkson

Part IV:

Chloé had taken up glaring at Marinette, who sighed knowing why.
Marinette wasn't sure that if Chloé confronted her, would she be able to keep her cool, and not whack the girl one.
Adrien had chosen her.
Her!
Her, as in Plain, Simple Marinette Dupain-Cheng, her!
Marinette used all her willpower to keep a very goofy grin from her face all afternoon.
Seeing Chloé glaring at her made her wilt a bit.
But it wouldn't matter how many times Chloé would throw herself at Adrien.
She needn't worry about it anymore.
And if she knew Adrien like she knew Adrien, he would be just as protective over her, as he was as Chat to Ladybug.
That would be nice.

The class breathed a sigh of relief when break between periods happened, it signalled that the end of the school day was one more period away.
The teacher left to switch out with another, given them a five-minute break to get their books (had they forgotten them), or a breather and an allocated bathroom break.
Adrien turned around in his seat, full intent on speaking more to Marinette when another teacher came into the room, catching everyone's attention.
"Adrien Agreste?" He called.
Adrien blinked in confusion, but stood up. "Yes, sir?" He asked.
The teacher beckoned him. "Phone call for you in the office." He told him.
Adrien blinked. "Oh. Yes, sir," He said, giving his things over to Nino, who took them with a nod that he would care for them until he got back, and gave a glance to Marinette, who nodded.

He walked out the room, and she slumped in her seat, and Alya gave her an acknowledging pat on her shoulder.
"You know, it's not the end of the world. He's has to come back, you know." Alya told her, pointing to Adrien's bag that he had left on purpose in Nino's care, it would mean that he would need to come back to class to gather his things if the phone call was less than desirable, (aka his father had phoned for some reason).
Marinette nodded, but it didn't make her feel better.
Nino turned back to the girls. "So, know when we're all free next? There's a new movie out that we should check on." Nino questioned.
This made Marinette perk up considerably. "Oh? Sure! When are you guys free?" She asked, ignoring Chloé's death glare at her.
"How about after school? Or is that too soon?" Nino asked.
Alya gave a shrug. "I dunno, I could be called on." She said.
Marinette gave a glance to the empty door again. "And we don't know what that phone call is about. Does Adrien normally get phone calls?" Marinette asked, she couldn't remember when Adrien was called out before, he normally knew when he was needed inside school times.
Unless it was changed, and it wasn't for extra curriculum activities.
Marinette gave out a worried noise, and her fingers trembled against each other.
Something which Alya noticed. "You alright, girl?" She asked.
"I'm just worried…" Marinette started, but ended up squeaking in alarm when a hand came slamming down fast on her desk.
"So you should be!" Chloé's voice rang out.
Marinette slumped back, tired. "Oh, not again." She muttered.

"So, what's up, Marinette, why are you spending so much time with my Adrikins?" She seethed at her.
Marinette internally groaned.
But Alya and Nino edged further away.
They really didn't want to receive Ladybug's wrath, should Marinette rightfully explode at this girl.
"Are you going to answer, or has your status made you deaf!?" Chloé near on yelled.
Nope.
That's it.

Marinette gave out a perfect version of an angry growl, and stood up.
Chloé looked taken aback that Marinette actually challenged her.
The rest of the class however, shrunk back in alarm that their class rep was pissed.
"Uh-oh," Alya whispered.
"Do you think Adrien'll be back soon?" Nino whispered.
Alya turned to him, incredulously. "Do you want to start the next world war?!" She hissed. "Seriously, Adrien coming back, will make this worse, remember how fiercely Chat protects Ladybug!? Only multiply is by like a million!" She hissed.
Nino groaned, as if he remembered. "Either way, it's not gonna end well, Adrien or no Adrien." He noted.

"You should answer when someone above your status speaks to you, Boulanger!" Chloé demanded.
The class hissed and ooh'd dangerously, slinking further away from a nuclear explosion countdown launch.
Marinette just look taken aback that her being from a baker's family was thrown in her face. "Since when do I need to answer because I'm a baker?" Marinette hissed. "Who decided to roll over and make you queen?" She asked.
Alya and Nino could see Ladybug coming through as she shifted her weight, getting more defensive, and literally ducked for cover.
Chloé looked righteous. "Well, duh. Money. I'm the mayor's daughter, you're a baker's daughter. It's the natural way of things. You have lower status then me. So, I'm ordering you to tell me why you've been taking up my Adrikin's time!" Chloé demanded.

Marinette doubled over and laughed, so hard that she ended up holding her sides.
Everyone looked to each other in concern, while Chloé got angrier.
"You. Will. Answer. Me. Paysan!" Chloé screeched angrily.
Marinette stood up. "Or what? What are you going to do?" Marinette asked, done playing pretty girl to this bitch.
"For starters, I will erase your existence from this school! I can end your families so called business! That's what I can do, you filthy Paysan!" Chloé threatened, holding up her phone already on her father's number, just waiting to be pressed, her other hand flying through the air to slap Marinette.

The room stood shocked when Marinette was actually hit in the face, the slap noise sounding out hard and painful that they all flinched.
But Marinette had not moved an inch, nor had she taken a step back, she just continued to glare at the girl who had hit her.
"I will end you." Chloé seethed, and readied her hand again.
Before she could strike again, the classroom door slammed open, a blur running in to stand in-between the two girls, to literally slam his own hand against Chloé's hand, an angry guttural growl sounded out that came across as threatening, with his back protective against Marinette.
Some recognised it was Adrien. Others who were closer saw it was Adrien, but he looked extremely angry, protective and threatening at the same time. But, to Alya and Nino, he was responding more like Chat Noir, than Adrien Agreste.
"That's enough Chloé." Adrien hissed, throwing her hand away with enough force the girl needed to take a step back.
Chloé stared at Adrien in shock and alarm, along with the majority of the classroom, while several people like Nino, Alya and Marinette were hoping to a favourable higher power Adrien wouldn't start a deadly cat fight.

"…Adrien…" Marinette called, placing one hand on his defensive shoulders.
He quickly turned to her and folded himself to her, nuzzling into her neck. "Are you alright?" He whispered in concern, as he felt her arms wrap around him.
"I'm fine. It didn't hurt that much." Marinette told him.
Adrien gave out a hiss, and held her tighter. "I seriously can't let you out of my sight without you getting yourself hurt, huh?" He asked.
Marinette gave a shrug. "Not as if I can't handle myself." She reminded him.
"True, but I also know you can trip on air, so…" He said.
She whacked him one. "Hey!" She called.
He stood back. "It's true, and you know it."
She sighed, but conceded.

Chloé looked from one to the other, as people came out from where they were hiding unsure whether or not they would need to dive back for cover again.
"What is going on!" Chloé demanded.
Adrien turned to glare at her. "You weren't allowed to do that in the first place, nor are you allowed to continue doing it, Chloé." He stated, his hands curling, like he had pseudo claws defensively.
Chloé looked dumbfounded. "Do what? Talk?" She scoffed. "I'm allowed to do that, Adrikins!" She replied, folding her hands, pouting.
He hissed in annoyance at her always present nickname for him. "I am referring to you hurting people. It's got to stop." He told her.
Chloé scoffed. "Like I did anything wrong!" She said, defensively.
He hissed. "Hitting people is wrong, Chloé!" He said, raising his voice slightly.
Nino and Alya watched in concern as his stance changed to one they had seen in Chat, one where he was about to pounce, claws out protectively in rage.
"Adrien." Marinette called, palming his hand.
They watched as his stance completely changed, his hands loosened their theoretical claws, and looked at her. "Yes, Princess?" He asked, taking hold of her hand fully.
Marinette shook her head, and gave out a sigh. "It's not worth it, Minou." She said.
Adrien blinked at her. "Are you sure?" He asked, his eyes fleeting up to the mark Chloé left on her.
Marinette nodded, and everything violent and threatening about Adrien vanished, like an expelling of air went through him. "Alright, if you're sure." He told her, standing up fully.
But not before turning back to Chloé one last time. "Chloé," He called. She sniffed, but looked to him. "I'm with Marinette." The class looked shocked, some high fived each other, and some money was to be exchanged later, while Chloé looked down right offended. "It was my choice and my choice alone, and I expect you to respect it." He said dangerously.
Chloé was mute, but she sat down in her sit numbly.
The class gave out a sigh of relief, and sat back in their seats proper, just for their teacher to come into the room. Adrien turned his head to regard Marinette in concern, but she just gave a smile and a little nod.
She would be alright.

The class watched with some amusement that once class was finished, Chloé bolted, with Sabrina quickly following behind her.
Marinette finally gave out a sigh of relief, and slumped into her desk, and wrapped her arms around her head, tiredly.
"Princess?" She heard Adrien calling.
She lifted up her head slightly to see his electric green eyes looking at her in concern and worry.
Perhaps, he had taken the earlier fight too far?
She gave out another sigh. "I'm alright, Minou." She told him.
His theoretical cat ears perked up, from their droopy position.
"Truly?" He asked, hope laced in his voice.
Marinette gave out a little nod. "It's okay." She told him.
He nodded to her, happily.

Nino slung an arm around him. "So, dude, what was the phone call about?" He asked curiously, causing Marinette to sit back up and pay more attention.
Adrien looked a little embarrassed, and his hand made its way to the back of his neck. "Apparently same phone numbers can't call each other." Adrien remarked.
Nino and Alya looked to each other. "Um…?" They voiced.
Adrien started to gather his possessions, seeing so, the group did as well.
"It was my elder self." Adrien elaborated. "Ladybug wasn't with him at the time, so he couldn't ask her to call, and even so, with us being in class I would not have been allowed to answer anyway." He told them.
Marinette was the first to understand. "Oh! Did you ask where she was?" She asked.
Adrien shook his head, once he threw his bag over his head. "No, I was a bit more preoccupied with what he was telling me, sorry." He apologised.
Marinette shook her head. "Don't worry. What did he need to tell you?" She asked, hopping down the last few stairs, to come up next to him as they walked.
Adrien chuckled at her. "To tell us that they wanted to talk to us after school, they didn't want to do the meet up at school gates, it'll cause too much attention to do it twice. He said he needed to tell us some things that are important, and couldn't be told over the phone because we both needed to hear it." Adrien told her.
Nino sighed. "There goes the afternoon movie idea." Nino grumbled.
Adrien turned to him apologetically. "Sorry, man." He apologised.
Nino waved him off. "Nah, man. We're cool." He turned to Alya. "Just us then?" He asked.
Alya looked to Marinette who nodded, in turn she sighed. "You're lucky I just got a text from my mother saying I was free this afternoon." She grumbled.
Nino punched the air. "Woo!" He celebrated.
"Have fun, you two." Adrien commented.
Alya glared at him playfully before waving them off.

Adrien and Marinette headed off towards the park that was across the road from Marinette's house.
Adrien looked to her. "Are you sure you're okay about what happened earlier with Chloé?" He asked, still concerned.
Marinette blinked at the fact he still held concern for her, before she broke out in a grateful smile. "I'm alright, but I'm glad you told me before not to worry about her." She told him, happily.
"Yeah…?" Adrien prompted her.
Marinette nodded, and looked pensive. "I know that logically, she's the better one to be with you—" She gave up a hand to pause him, when she saw him become alarmed, and ready to jump to her defence. He pawed his mouth shut unhappily, and let her continue. "She has the same status as you, and she's probably more graceful and less clumsy then I could ever be—"
"But—" Adrien literally pulled her off to stop her, looking extremely worried and concerned, placing both hands on her shoulders to try and stop her.
But she was smiling. It made his head go to one side in confusion.
"But," she continued, echoing him. "There is one thing she doesn't have." She told him, still smiling.
Adrien blinked at her, trying to comprehend his Lady. "…And what is that, Princess?" He asked.
"She's not me, and she's not your choice." Marinette told him, with finality.

Adrien stalled as her words comprehended in his mind.
She understood. His mind told him.
He pulled her close, his arms going around her waist, and he could feel her returning the gesture.
"You chose me, not her. And you knew what you were doing when you did it." Marinette told him, her voice a little muffled across his neck that made him shiver.
She pulled back, and he let her, only to lean their foreheads together. "Though I may find you to be completely insane to choose me, but you did." She said, looking at him with her eyes into his.
He blinked. "And why is that?" He asked softly.
Marinette gave out a small chuckle. "I know there's a huge gap between you and me, Minou." When she paused he gave a little nudge to help her continue. "I'm not Chloé," She reminded.
It was Adrien's turn to chuckle. "Believe me that's a good point." He told her.
She smiled. "But I can never be on her level, Adrien. I'll need to work for the rest of my life, and even then I won't be on her level. She won't need to work a day in her life as long as her father is mayor." She told him truthfully.
Adrien nuzzled into her forehead a little more. "…And this bothers you?" He asked.
She shook her head. "No, I'm bothered it'll eventually bother you." Marinette told him, a little sadly.
Adrien tightened his arms and brought her even closer. "It doesn't bother me, Mari. What would bother me is if that you didn't like doing it." Adrien told her, closing his eyes, revelling in how close he was to her. "The way you live has never bothered me. I like your family and how you live. I would jump at the chance to live life like you do, and to be able to help you in any way I could. Believe me." He sighed against her.
He opened his eyes, to see hers were shining. "Really?" She asked.
He nodded. "Really." He repeated. "I like doing things myself and working for the things I want. It's one of the reasons I like being Chat Noir, the other is freedom. You have a lot of it, so do your parents. They get to choose what they bake, and they love doing it. They could easily set aside a day where they shut the doors and have a day off." Adrien rattled off happily being able to tell her this finally.
She nuzzled into him further happily. "I'm glad."
He gave her a chuckle. "I'd rather live a life like yours, over mine, Mari." He told her, bravely kissing her cheek.
She pulled back and gave him an astonished blink, and watched him back track nervously, as he turned red. "You missed." She reported.
He blinked at her, before her words crashed over him. "Are you…?" He questioned, hopefully he hadn't heard wrong.
Marinette giggled, but nodded. Then watched the boy she still had in her arms, who still had his arms around her brighten up with the hugest smile she hadn't seen in a long time, before he swooped down and drew her up into a kiss.
There were no fabled fireworks behind their eyelids. Only familiarity, and a sense of rightness.
They brought themselves apart to breathe, only for Adrien to nuzzle into her neck.
"Thank you, Princess." He told her softly.
Not that he could see it, but she smiled at him, then brought up one hand to his hair, only to cart them through his locks as she petted him softly.
"You really don't need to thank me, Minou." She told him.
He pulled back, and smiled. "Felt like I had to."
She tweaked his nose playfully. "Well, you don't." She told him.

"You did WHAT!?" They heard a female scream.
They jumped apart, and looked across the park to see Elder-Adrien duck his head and Ladybug hovering near him, looking rather upset.
Marinette and Adrien looked to each other, then rushed over.
"Ow, Milady." Elder-Adrien mumbled, rubbing his head.
"You knew I didn't want you doing that! My limit is zero! It's already over by two. I don't need it over anymore!" She told him frantically, holding her arms close.
Elder-Adrien looked to her in concern. "I'm sorry, I should have told you what I was going to do." He said truthfully.
She gave out a noise of concern. "…Did I hit you to hard?" She asked, her hands carting through his hair once she moved upwards in the air to see.
"No, you're alright." He told her.
She gave out an indecisive noise, which he knew to shut up at.
But he saw that they had drawn in the youngers.

"There you are!" Elder-Adrien stated happily, as if his wife hadn't just whacked him one.
"Um…?" Marinette asked, as Ladybug focused on one part of his head in particular.
Ladybug sighed. "I didn't draw blood." She said in relief.
Elder-Adrien smiled up to her. "I knew you didn't." He said happily.
Ladybug glared at him. "Though, seriously. Don't ever do that again." She said sternly.
Elder-Adrien nodded. "Yes, Ma Coccinelle," He told her.
"What's going on?" Adrien asked.
Ladybug gave Elder-Adrien a glare, before settling her feet on the ground and was able to de-transform, seeing that no one else was around.
Elder-Adrien cleared his throat, but looked to Adrien and Marinette. "I spent today trailing Daddy Dearest." He told them.
They blinked and could very well now understand why Elder-Marinette was cross with him.
Adrien looked concerned. "He didn't see you, did he?" He asked.
Marinette looked worried.
Elder-Adrien shook his head. "No. I've had a few more years on you, on how to avoid him seeing me." He told him.
Adrien nodded. "Okay. But why call me at school?" He asked.
Elder-Marinette looked to her husband. "You called him at school?" She asked, surprised.
Elder-Adrien nodded. "I needed to get them both here, before he went home." He told her.
Both females blinked in alarm, while Adrien felt it creep up his spine. "Why." They all voiced.
Elder-Adrien sighed. "He can't go home. It didn't work. He's noticed the book and that Pyaar is no longer in his safe." He said, with a note of finality.
Adrien and Marinette looked to each other in alarm, while Elder-Marinette looked concerned.
"Won't him not going home make him suspicious of him being the one that took them?" Elder-Marinette wondered.
Elder-Adrien shook his head. "If he weren't his only suspect, sure, I would send him home, but I know what happens after Daddy Dearest trashes my room looking for something." Adrien looked alarmed at this. "It doesn't bring out anything good. He suspects Adrien of both taking the things from the safe, and being Chat." Elder-Adrien confirmed.
Elder-Marinette paused, and blinked, then placed a hand on his shoulder comfortingly. "You never told me he went through your room." She said softly.
Elder-Adrien shrugged. "Eh. Never really came up, I'd rather forget it. Made me stay less at home, though." He stated.
Elder-Marinette sighed. "So that's why I started seeing you on my balcony." She muttered.

Adrien looked from one elder to the other. "So, I can't go home?" He asked, and Elder-Adrien nodded. "…Do I want to know what happens if I do?" He asked, Elder-Adrien raised his eyebrow at him. "…Right." He sighed.
"So what do we do now?" Marinette asked.
Elder-Adrien sighed. "We might need to take out Papillon sooner rather than later. Or there might not be an Adrien to turn eighteen when the time comes." He told them.
They reacted appropriately.
Elder-Adrien sighed again. "I apologize that I sped this up by taking Pyaar." He told Adrien.
Marinette took Adrien's hand in comfort. "When did this happen to you?" She asked, feeling Adrien squeeze back.
Elder-Adrien looked thoughtful. "When did he trash my room the first time?" He asked, and she nodded. "I was perhaps sixteen, seventeen, maybe? We weren't able to find him until after I was eighteen, that's for sure." He said.
Marinette stared. "So you had to live like that for years?" She asked, incredulously.
Elder-Adrien blinked at her in confusion. "Like that? Did you forget that I didn't know Gabriel was Papillon then? I just learnt how to evade him, show face a little, make him see that I was home, then get the hell out of dodge when he got into moods." He stated.
Elder-Marinette shook her head. "No, she knows you didn't know. What she meant is that you had to live a long time while looking over your shoulder to see if you were being hunted down." She elaborated for herself.
Elder-Adrien blinked. "Oh. Well, then, yeah. I guess." He admitted. "Those years, I spent a lot of time at school, making use of homework and projects for excuses, it was the only thing that would allow me to stay in school for prolonged hours at a time. During the nights where I came home and he was in those moods, I made sure that before he either left or fell asleep to stay awake, but once he was, I was no longer at the house, nor was I Adrien. I made sure to get home before the sun rose, and made a point to show face if he were around, as well as to Nathalie, before going to school. Wash, rinse, repeat." He then looked to Adrien. "It's not something I would wish on myself again." He told them sadly.

Before anyone else could say anything, they watched as Elder-Adrien's expression changed, and he rushed into his wife to gather her up, nuzzle into, and made himself appear as small as he probably felt.
Elder-Marinette blinked in surprise at how sudden she suddenly had her arms full of Agreste, before tucking her arms around him. "Oh, mon amour." She murmured to her husband, as she felt him heave oxygen in an attempt to not cry. One hand clasped around his back, her other carting through his hair in comfort. "You'll be alright." She told him comfortingly.
"…Have I messed up, Mari? I didn't want to mess up. I wanted to make this right." They all heard him breathe in a murmur.
Elder-Marinette looked down fondly at his head. "Not when you've tried to do the right thing, Minou. That can never be wrong." She told him.
He nodded into her.
"I wouldn't wish you to go through what I remember living side by side with you during those years again. You barely got any sleep, and you freaked over the tiniest thing. You always apologized for not wanting to leave after fights and patrols. You freaked whenever I left your eyesight, both as Marinette and as Ladybug. I was always glad to awake to find you sleeping in my room, or on the balcony, even though I always left the window unlocked for you. I always looked for you the nights you didn't come." Elder-Marinette told him, while rubbing circles into his back in comfort. "Had I known what you were going through, had I known of anything I could have done, I would have helped, Minou." She reminded.
Elder-Adrien nodded, then pulled back to wipe his eyes. "I know." He said softly.

He cleared his throat. "What's done is done." He said.
"It doesn't sound very fun." Remarked Adrien.
Both the elders shook their heads.
"But because this has happened sooner, and you're under age…I'm not sure what will happen to you." Elder-Adrien admitted. "For me, this happened after I was eighteen, so I was an adult by then." He told him.
Adrien nodded. "I know. But at least I'll be able to sleep at night safely." He said.
Elder-Adrien nodded. "True." He stated, then looked as if he had a thought. "Here," He started, pulling at his collar and taking off one of the peacock pins. "Have this." He said, and held out the pin for Adrien to take.
Adrien stared at it. "Why give it to me now?" He asked, holding it in his palm.
Elder-Adrien shrugged. "When we tried to give back Nooroo and Pyaar. Nooroo flat out refused to go back, and negotiated to stay with Mari, while Wayzz said that Pyaar wanted to stay with me, even though she is dormant." Elder-Adrien explained.

Adrien looked at the pin questionably, even his Plagg came out and poked the pin, he looked up to his elder, who nodded, so he pinned it on the inside of his collar. "Why me, though?" He asked, as his kwami settled on his shoulder.
Elder-Adrien shrugged. "Whenever Pyaar wakes up, I'll ask her." He stated.
"Why is Pyaar dormant, though?" She asked.
Elder-Adrien shrugged again. "Wayzz said it was because there was an accident with her previous holder. Wayzz and Fuu didn't tell us much more, but we got the feeling that Pyaar blamed herself for whatever happened, and didn't want whatever happened, to happen again." Elder-Marinette explained.
"But whatever the reason, Pyaar refuses to wake up, or even leave the pin. We've had her as long as we've had Nooroo, and not once have we seen her or spoken to her." Elder-Adrien told them.
"But we have to keep her?" Adrien asked, touching his collar, in confusion.
Elder-Adrien nodded. "She requested to stay with you, for whatever reason. And I regard her as a second lucky charm. It's not much, but I think she helps." Elder-Adrien said, then sighed. "It's an answer we can only find out when she wakes up, and if she wants to." He reminded, and Adrien and Marinette nodded.

Tikki came out of Marinette's purse.
"Marinette!" The pixie squeaked. Marinette blinked and looked to her kwami. "Your phone keeps going off!" She told.
"Oh!" Marinette remarked, and pulled her phone out, once she unlocked it and read the messages she had missed, her face fell.
"What is it, what's wrong?" Adrien was the first to ask.
"My parents are at a conference… I completely forgot…" She mumbled.
Adrien blinked at her, while the elders looked to each other and looked like they passed silent messages.
"Adrien," Elder-Adrien called, and he looked to him. "Have you told Nathalie that you have group homework to do tonight?" He asked.
Adrien blinked, but shook his head. "We-We don't have…?" He started.
Elder-Adrien nodded. "Oh goodie, you've now got one. Call Nathalie." He ordered.
Adrien blinked, but got out his phone.
"Gimme." Elder-Marinette said decisively, taking up Adrien's phone before anyone could tell her otherwise, Adrien stared, while Elder-Adrien muffled his laughter as she unlocked his phone. "You seriously need to change your pin," She remarked, then was dialling Nathalie.
They watched (Elder-Adrien had his hand over his mouth trying to stop his laughter coming out) as Elder-Marinette put on the sickly sweet persona when Nathalie picked up. "Hello, there Nathalie, this is Sabi! Adrien has a group task with my daughter that they really need to complete for school tomorrow, so I'm calling just to make sure you know where he is, — no, he can stay if they don't finish it, does he need to be anywhere before school tomorrow? — No, that's fine, my daughter can walk him in, we don't live to far — sure you can," Elder-Marinette conversed. "Alright, he'll call you if he needs you, alright? Alright, bye!" She smiled and hung up the phone, only to give it back to Adrien. "Done." She stated, as he took the phone back.
Once done, Elder-Adrien let loose his laugh as he finally doubled over, holding his sides.
Elder-Marinette looked proud. "Alright, let's go home." She grasped both boys and dragged them towards the bakery, Marinette silently following.

Elder-Marinette pushed both youngers into the room, with her husband following her inside still snickering.
Elder-Marinette walked through to the kitchen to check what the adults had left for their daughter. "Hmm…Well, that's no good…" She murmured.
"What's up?" She heard her husband ask coming up from behind him.
She glanced back to him. "Make sure they both have showers, and change clothes," She told him.
Elder-Adrien nodded. "Sure." He told her, then walked back to the two nervous children. "Come on," He told them, and beckoned them around the house.
They watched silently that he went to the linen cupboard, and ruffled through the extra towels, only to hold one out to Adrien. "Here," he stated making sure Adrien took it, once he did he looked to them. "Marinette, off to your shower," Elder-Adrien offered, Marinette silently nodded and scampered off. "And you," Adrien stalled, "Come with me," He said, and walked off.

Adrien followed silently and nervously as they entered a part of the house he hadn't been in before, and recognised it was a bedroom, that most likely belonged to Marinette's parents'.
"Um…" He called.
Elder-Adrien looked around to him and smiled. "There's a shower room in there, give me your clothes once you're in and I'll put them through a wash cycle, they should be alright by tomorrow." He said as he went over to a hamper next to a pair of draws, only to open it and pull out clothing. "This'll tide you over for tonight. Draw strings." He said, handing them to Adrien.
"Who's…?" Adrien asked.
"Père has spare clothing that he doesn't use anymore, they're clean don't worry. Mari sometimes uses them in winter." Elder-Adrien soothed.
Adrien nodded and took them into his arms along with the towel he already had and disappeared behind the door, only for his arm to reappear with his clothing soon after. "See you soon!" Elder-Adrien called, and walked away when he heard the shower going.
He wandered into the laundry, putting his younger's clothes through a cleaning cycle, then walked back to his wife.

Elder-Marinette looked up after she hung up the phone, to see her husband awaiting instruction.
"Sabine and Tom are alright us taking care of them, we have free reign what to feed them." She told him, and he nodded.
"Not as if we're not trust worthy, chéri." Elder-Adrien replied.
She nodded happily, and motioned to the fridge, and he went over to it.
"How's Adrien?" She asked, as he opened the fridge.
"He'll be fine, I gave him some old clothes Père doesn't use anymore, and put his things through the wash." He told her. "What do you want out?" He asked.
Elder-Marinette nodded. "I think we'll start easy, for apéritif, get out the nuts, olives and crackers." She said, as she searched the cupboards for drinks for her and Adrien, and something suitable for the children as well, her Tikki flying off and getting into the areas she couldn't reach.
"Are we gonna have cheese?" Plagg asked, flying out from Elder-Adrien's collar.
Elder-Marinette looked to him, and smiled. "Maybe you should look if we have any." She suggested.
Plagg nodded eagerly. "Sure!" And zipped off to where he knew there should be cheese.
Elder-Adrien gathered what he was instructed to, gathering the necessary plates and utensils. Sliding the nuts into one part of three-piece bowl he had gotten out, the crackers in the middle, and the olives in the other, with toothpicks speared into them for easy pick up, and placed them in the middle of the table, then turned to his wife who looked indecisive. "Mari?" He questioned.
She turned to him. "Think it's too early in the year for mulled wine?" She asked.
Elder-Adrien gave out a chuckle as his shook his head. "It should be fine, Mari." He told her.
She smiled and dashed off to get what she needed for her mulled wine.
"What about what goes with the mulled wine?" He asked, watching his wife bound around happily.
"Pumpkin with bacon quiche for l'entrée and beef stew for le dîner!" She yelled from around the corner.
"Alright!" He replied back happily, getting out what he needed for his part, he watched as Tikki helped get out what she could in the higher shelves, and knew that Plagg was finding every piece of cheese he could find, so he placed out a side board that Plagg was familiar with to put his hoard on.
Elder-Marinette came back with two huge pots, and two baking pans, and they both got ready to fed themselves, their younger counterparts and their five kwami. Flitting around each other to gather ingredients, prepare them, and cook them like an age old dance they had perfected.

Adrien felt himself stall as he came out of Marinette's parents room, he stopped and stared at the lady in front of him, dressed ready for bed, with a little coat on her small frame. Marinette had also froze seeing Adrien in her father's old things.
"Hey, um," He tried. "Older me gave me this to wear…" He tried getting his mouth around his tongue.
Marinette tried restarting her brain. "Y-Yes! Of course!" She frowned. "Where did you put your clothes?" She asked curiously.
"Uh, he put them through the wash…?" He asked.
She giggled. "Fair enough." She said, then pointed to the kitchen. "Shall we see what they're up to?" She asked, and he nodded eagerly.
They jumped in alarm when they heard the washing machine beep out.
"I'll get it!" They heard Elder-Adrien call out happily, they split and held the walls as he came dashing around the corner at a speed that would have probably bowled them over.
Seeing them, he laughed. "Sorry!" He called, as he dashed past them into the laundry happily.
The blinked at him and watched as he gathered Adrien's washing only to place it into the dryer and press enough buttons that the machine beeped at him and started working.
"You know how to do washing?" Marinette asked in a hiss and Adrien gave her a disbelieved look, that read, no, no he didn't. But he would.
"There," He slapped his hands together, he then looked back to them, looked about ready to say something, then stalled. "Plagg!" He yelled, looking out the hall. Seeing the younger Plagg jolt up, he shook his head. "No, not you." He added.
His Plagg materialized out of the wall. "Here!" He called, cheekily offering a salute.
"Where's all that cheese you found?" He asked, with a frown.
"I put it on the cheese board! Mari saw me! Don't worry I know when not to eat it!" Plagg said, insulted.
"Sure you do." He muttered, then looked back to the youngers and remembered what he was going to say. "Right! Apéritif is on the table if you want to eat something before you do any homework you guys have! I forgot to ask earlier!" He said, his hands on his hips.
Adrien brightened at the mention of food. "Sure!" He stated, just as happy.

They came into the kitchen, the TV was on some mundane news channel, Elder-Marinette was glaring at one pot, and Elder-Adrien walked over to the table to snag out a few crackers, while nibbling on one, he walked over to his wife, and gave one to her to eat manually.
"It not submitting to your will, Mari?" He asked, referring to her glaring.
She looked up to him and smile. "I just forgot how long it takes to make this from scratch." She told him, knowing that they were being watched.
Elder-Adrien's Plagg was guarding his cheese board from the other Plagg. "You gotta wait!" He demanded, whacking the younger Plagg on the head.
Adrien and Marinette watched on in silence, picking at the nuts and olives. They watched the butterfly and pixie float around the other pot passing the stirring utensil back and forth between them, flying off towards the fridge when Elder-Marinette changed pots, the butterfly dematerializing into the fridge, while the pixie was fixed on opening the actual door, together they apparently got it open in time for Elder-Adrien to reach in for the water jug, with Tikki floating off to a cupboard only to throw the glasses to Nooroo who gave them to Elder-Adrien.
"Water?" He called.
They nodded silently, seeing them nod he filled a glass for them each while Tikki closed the cupboard and Nooroo put the last glass down.
Elder-Adrien gave them their glasses, then wandered back onto to pour himself a glass. "Mari? Want one?" He asked.
"Sure!" She answered, moving from the pots to check on the quiche in the oven, seeing it was fine, she shut the door, and covered one of the pots, and wandered over to her husband to take her glass and sit down on the table, Elder-Adrien following, chuckling at the cat's hissing at each other, his defending and the other hungry.
Elder-Marinette sighed as she sat down, then looked at the youngers while Adrien took out a few nuts and plopped them into his mouth. "Do you guys have homework?" She asked, and they nodded. "Well, from the looks of things you've got about an hour before l'entrée are done, then about an hour before dîner, then a little longer before I make dessert, and Plagg to give up his cheese. You should be able to get it done in time." She told them.
Marinette and Adrien nodded. "Should be fine." Adrien said, chewing on a toothpick.
Elder-Marinette eyed him. "Be careful not to slice your tongue open," She reminded softly.
Adrien blinked at her, and slowly pulled the toothpick away.
Elder-Adrien chuckled. "If you want we can call you in an hour's time for l'entrée?" He parlayed.
Both teens nodded and dashed out the room.
"Plagg!" Adrien called.
Plagg gave out a hurt noise, but chased after his human.
"There'll be some for you later!" The other Plagg called.
Elder-Marinette fell into giggles once the teens were out the way, causing Adrien to look to her in confusion. "They're so cute. I can see why my parents fawned over us." She stated, it caused her husband to laugh.
"They're so awkward." He admitted fondly.

The two teens and their kwami rushed into Marinette's room, and leant on the door they closed.
Adrien sighed. "It's ironic that us as adults can parent better than my dad?" He breathed.
Marinette breathed out a sigh. "It's weird." She commented.
He looked to her warmly. "It's a nice weird though." He told her.
She smiled at him. "I'm glad you think so." She said, then walked over to their bags, and looked back to him. "…Wanna help me with physics…?" She asked.
He chuckled. "Sure." He answered while walking over to her.
Unadmitted, but truthfully, they'd be good parents, and they weren't so worried about it like their counterparts were anymore.

Their hour was up, and Marinette got through her physics homework just by a hair when they heard Elder-Adrien call for them.
"Entrée is ready!" He called.
Adrien turned to Marinette like an eager kitten on a lunch pad, awaiting signal to launch.
"Alright Chaton, let's go." Marinette told him, and he literally hauled her up and down the stairs.
They were greeted with little pots of quiche. The prep before removed to make way for a punch bowl filled with a steamy cheerful looking mulled wine.
If Adrien hadn't been raised like he had, he would have been drooling.
They sat and looked to their elders, Adrien was already sitting, and Marinette was coming over from turning the oven off, and checking one last time that the stew was alright to be left in capable care of Nooroo and Tikki, who diligently watched over the stew, and stirred occasionally, passing the spoon from one kwami to the other.

Adrien felt like he had died and gone to heaven, he thought the quiche was good, he wasn't sure if there was going to be anything left of him after tasting the stew. Screw the Agreste chief, Marinette's cooking was better.
He turned to his Marinette. "Can you make things like this?!" He asked, knowing he had his mouth near full, he had his hand over to cover his mouth, but he couldn't wait to ask her.
They ignored that Elder-Adrien was snickering where he sat.
Marinette blinked. "Um…yes? I live in a bakery, after all…?" She veered off when Adrien looked as if she had just given him the world on a silver platter.
"You can cook this!" He remarked, holding up his fork, as if he needed clarity that, yes, even his Marinette could cook this good.
Marinette looked embarrassed. "Well…not as good…but I can cook on this scale…" She mumbled.
Adrien looked confused.
Elder-Marinette laughed, and nudged him. "She's being modest. She's left on her own when her parents go to conventions and conferences." She told him, and he lit up again.
Of course Marinette would be modest.
Marinette looked embarrassed. "S'not as if I could replicate this, though." She mumbled. "You had help from like three kwami and a husband…" She continued in a low voice.
Elder-Marinette stared at her, then laughed. "That's mean, Mari. Adrien had to start somewhere, even now he's always wanting to help," both males nodded. "And the kwami help when they can, yes, but they had to start somewhere to. It started with you." She replied.
Marinette went red, but nodded.
Elder-Adrien put his fork down, looking at the youngers. "At the start, it'll feel like you're doing all the work, Marinette, but believe me, I found it worth it. No more chief food. Your food is much tastier." He told her.
Adrien stared. "I just thought of that!" He stated, almost looking ready to bounce up and down in his chair.
The elders laughed. "Work for it." Elder-Marinette teased.
But he took it at face value and nodded. "I will!" He answered honestly.
"It's…It's not good enough to replace a chief!" Marinette back pedalled.
Both males looked to her, incredulously. "YES IT IS!" They near on yelled.
Elder-Marinette glanced at Marinette. "Best to say it is, sweetie, they won't say no. Ever." She advised, helpfully, causing Marinette to mentally moan.

What was that metaphor, about if you feed a stray cat, it'll keep coming back? Marinette just had a feeling she'd picked up her black stray.
Marinette mentally blanched at Adrien's reaction when he was presented with a pot-set cherry, peach and plum clafoutis alongside pot-set crème brûlée, he looked like he had almost melted into his seat and into the carpet, while trying to politely not drool (which the Elder-Adrien did anyway).
She had definitely picked up her stray.
And if she really thought about it, she really didn't care.

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A/N: Head over to this chapter on AOE to see pictures of food!