Hey everyone! New chapter for the holidays, and I'm so happy to be able to start writing again. A little note in this chapter, I know the Kwamis technically do not have a gender, but it felt odd writing them using pronouns like "it". So, for writing purposes, I've written them with the pronouns according to their voice actors from the English version of the show.

Happy readings!


Chapter 8: The New Trio

Alya was thrilled to be reunited with Trixx and begin her new life as a full-fledged superhero. Marinette knew it was hard for her to give up the Miraculous the first time around but had been immensely proud of her friend for doing so. Now, Alya would get to fight side-by-side with Adrien and herself to help protect Paris.

"Trixx! I missed you so much!" Alya squealed, hugging the small Kwami.

"I missed you too, Alya! I'm so excited to be your Kwami for a while!" The small creature flew around excitedly, unable to hide her joy.

"Tikki! Plagg! I get to spend time with you too!" Tikki gladly flew into a hug with her friend, and Plagg was reluctantly drug into the group embrace.

Alya, Marinette, and Adrien looked at them and smiled, knowing how much the Kwami's all missed each other.

"Plagg, haven't see you since Atlantis. Have you destroyed anything else since then?" Trixx teased, and Plagg nervously rubbed the back of his neck.

"There was an incident with the Eiffel Tower a few years ago, but Ladybug's Lucky Charm fixed it. Someone," Plagg gestured towards Adrien, "got himself turned into a glitter statue by a crazy lady. Ladybug needed help and so I helped in my own special way." He proclaimed, looking proud of his decision.

"Aw I wish I had been there. Next time we'll have to do something together."

"Oh no, the two of you need to be supervised at all times. You know exactly how Master Fu feels about either of you using your powers without a holder." Tikki interrupted.

"Wait, you're the reason Atlantis is now called The Lost City?" Alya questioned.

"I am the God of Destruction," Plagg answered, shrugging his shoulders.

"I so wish I wasn't sworn to secrecy, because I could write so many amazing articles of this stuff." Alya sighed, but quickly smiled again. "Maybe I can read up and make a book for Master Fu with all of this information in it. I know the old one went missing years ago."

"I think that's a great idea. Just be sure no one can find or read it while you're working on it. If that information gets out, we could be exposed, and Hawkmoth could track us down." Surprisingly, Adrien was the one to speak.

Since they got their Miraculous, Marinette had always been the one to ensure the secret stayed a secret. She was careful to make sure no one could track anything she did or said back to her, except for the missing textbook incident, and even when Alya started to use technology to figure out her identity she stressed to her friend that she should stop digging to protect the heroes and their families.

"I know, I know. Marinette told me how dangerous it is to reveal identities when we were all still in high school. I'll be careful, and maybe my research can lead me to Hawkmoth's identity. I came close several times to finding out who Ladybug was, it shouldn't be too hard to figure out Hawkmoth's."

"That would be amazing! I was working on tracking him before all of this happened, but now I need to stay hidden as best I can until the baby comes. I'll give you everything I've come across so far. Just keep us updated and stay safe. Baby Agreste needs their Aunt Alya." Marinette teared up, hugging Alya tightly.

"Don't worry girl, I'm always careful. I'm gonna go and start investigating and get used to running around the rooftops again. If Adrien or you need anything, just give me a call. Love you both!"

Once Alya left, Marinette collapsed on the couch and sighed.

"I already feel useless." She said, running a hand through her loose hair.

"You're not useless, Mari. You're the team leader. You keep us all from messing up and cheer us up when we're not feeling the best. You saved my life more than once, and now it's my turn to help you." Adrien brought Marinette a cup of tea, which she gratefully took.

Ever since Adrien had met Marinette and became friends with her, he knew a cup of hot tea always helped to calm her down or make her feel better when she was sad.

"Thank you. I know I have you guys to help me, I just hate feeling like I'm not doing anything. I've been so independent my whole life, but it's not just me anymore. I'm responsible for the life inside of me, and that means being a little less independent."

"That's why I'm here, to pick up the extra slack. Like when you're sick I'll be there to hold back your hair and get you crackers."

"Yeah, you're right. The ultrasound is tomorrow, and Dr. Sandeska should be able to tell us exactly how far along I am and a due date. Then we can plan when we'll tell our parents and friends." Marinette was looking forward to telling her parents for the most part.

She knew they would dote over a grandchild, and in a few years, they could teach him or her the family trade. They both loved children, and despite the sudden circumstances, they would be thrilled Marinette and Adrien would finally be officially together and starting a family.

"We can tell your family first, right?" Adrien ventured.

Since high school, he'd only become more distanced from his father. They still spoke regularly, but since he became an adult he no longer had been forced into constant photoshoots and fashion shows. Conversations were limited to his grades and general news about the company and never strayed towards his extracurriculars or what he was doing with his life beyond University. It was hard to tell how his father would react.

"Whatever you want to do, I'll support you. Will he be okay with the fact we're not married?"

"I'm honestly not sure. Those kinds of conversations weren't really a topic in our house or anything concerning relationships. I once got a lecture about who I choose to date because it could show up in the tabloids, but beyond that nothing."

"So, he might be mad if the news ends up on the front cover of the magazines. We actually might be able to head that off by letting Alya publish an exclusive when we decide to go public with the news." Adrien perked up at Marinette's idea.

Alya would publish the truth, and in a way that the other tabloids would focus on the newly public couple and their unborn child rather than the lack of a marriage.

"That should ease any anger he has about the public's image of me. Plus, he really likes you. Even if we don't talk much, I know he keeps his eye on you and your designs all the time. He'll probably say something along the lines of you being a suitable partner." He joked, making Marinette laugh.

Then as suddenly as she started laughing, Marinette started crying. At first, Adrien thought she had just laughed too hard, but then he saw the tears streaming down her cheeks and ran over to her.

"Hey, hey. What did I say to make you upset?"

"No, you didn't do anything, I was just thinking about high school. I'm so sorry I stood you up on the roof that night, and then made you pretend to be with me to defeat Andre. Then I told you I didn't love you even though I knew you loved me." She was sobbing now.

He remembered the day she was talking about, but the sting of it had long passed. Soon after that, he'd begun to fall in love with Marinette too and it was easier to deal with Ladybug's rejections. Now that he knew the loves of his life were one in the same, all the heartache he felt seemed trivial.

"We were young and looking back I think that I needed your honestly. Plus, I met a lonely-looking girl standing on her balcony that night and started to fall in love with her too."

"I was lonely because I wanted to share Andre's ice cream with you!" She wailed, her sadness suddenly turning into anger.

"Huh?" The dumbstruck expression on Adrien's face was enough to snap Marinette out of her sudden mood swings and she began to laugh.

"I'm sorry, I just felt like I needed to cry then I got angry and words kept spilling out of my mouth."

"Did you mean the thing about Andre's ice cream?" He asked, taking a seat on the couch with her and abandoning his laptop for the evening.

"Yeah, my parents believed in the magic of his ice cream. Dad proposed to Mom with it, and I grew up hearing that story and believed in the magic too. When everyone was going together to find Andre's cart I was so excited to share an ice cream with you, so the magic could bring us together. Then your Dad said you couldn't go, and I was so upset I accidentally turned Andre into an Akuma."

"We can always get ice cream, Mari. Do you wanna go after the ultrasound appointment tomorrow? I have a hot tip where he might be."

"I'd love to. I'm suddenly craving ice cream now." She laughed, snuggling in tight to Adrien's side. His arm wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her tighter.

"There's a carton in the refrigerator at my apartment. I can go get it if you'd like."

"That's very sweet, but right now I just want to stay here with you."

"Alright."

It didn't take long for them to both doze off, the events of the day catching up to them. Marinette dozed off first, her head suddenly slipping from his spot on Adrien's shoulder to his chest. Adrien smiled at the sight, closing his own eyes for a few minutes. Between the stress of telling Alya and his full belly from the food, he was beat.

Eventually, a noise outside the apartment woke him up, and he gently prodded Marinette to wake up too so they could go to bed. She didn't stir, only mumbling something incoherent. With minimal effort, Adrien shifted Marinette so he could stand with her in his arms and made his way to the bedroom.