When Marinette woke up the next morning and stretched. She changed into her human form and went outside for some air, it was pretty early the sun was just rising. She walked through a field until it led her to a farm where a chicken coop was.
Now Marinette was not a thief but it had been awhile since she had eaten and she was starving. She carefully and quietly crept into the chicken coop, took off her sweater, and filled it with a few eggs. "I'm sorry." She said. "But you have something I need." She felt bad about stealing from the farmer so to pay for the eggs she pulled out of the jewels in her collar and left it there. The farmer was pretty surprised to find a tiny ruby in the coop but he didn't complain.
When Marinette got back she found a fireplace and an old skillet. She started fire using some sticks and left over coal in the fire place. After that she began to cook the eggs on the skillet. The smell of breakfast cooking woke up everyone else.
"Morning." Marinette said.
"I didn't know you could cook." Nino said.
"Well I've watched the baker and his wife cook plenty of times. So how do you like your eggs?"
"Scrambled." Nino said.
"Where are the others?"
"They all have homes in other places it's just me, Plagg, and Adrien who live here."
"Where's Adrien?" Marinette asked.
"Out." Plagg said.
"Doing what?"
"No one really knows for sure." Plagg answered. "Probably to rob the local butcher again."
Just then Adrien came in and just as Plagg had predicted he had brought back a hunk of meat which he stole from the butcher. "Did you steal that?"
"Yes." He answered.
"You shouldn't steal."
"Oh yeah? Where'd you get those eggs?"
"I took them from a farm but a left something to pay for it."
"What?"
"Nothing that concerns you." She said.
"Well strays don't exactly have money. We gotta eat to live and we gotta steal to eat."
"I see."
Adrien went upstairs leaving the meat for everyone to enjoy.
"Where's he going?"
"To finish grooming himself." Nino said. "He may be a stray but he likes to keep up with his image for the ladies."
"You should see him when he first wakes up." Plagg said. "He's a big hairy mess, he has the his whole routine when he gets ready."
"What if he's in a hurry to be somewhere?"
"Then he'll just be late."
"What if it's a girl?"
Everyone burst out laughing. "Oh that's a good one!" Nino said.
"The only way Adrien would ever come for a girl without grooming himself first is if he was in love." Plagg snickered.
Marinette cooked the meat up with the eggs and ate along with everyone else. After breakfast she looked around and saw what a mess this place found an old broom closet and began to clean up around the house.
"What a mess. For a cat and a dog they live like pigs."
Tikki tried to help but being a mouse made it very difficult.
"Are sure you can wash dishes?" Marinette asked her.
"No problem." Tikki said. She started jumping on the handle until it went down filling the sink with water. She added in some soap but she slipped on it and fell right inside.
"Tikki be careful." Marinette said pulling her out. "Why don't you go dust in the corner?"
"Okay."
Soon the old house was clean. Once that was done Marinette decided to rest outside for a while with Tikki after awhile she felt like she was being watched. Then out of no where an orange Siamese cat appeared taking the form of a girl.
"You again!" She gasped. "What do you want?"
"I see Adrien has a new maid." She laughed. "I guess a pampered pet like you isn't used to living like this."
"I don't mean to be rude but I think you should leave."
"Oh really?" She brought out her claws.
"Lila!" Adrien said quickly running out. "How nice to see you. What brings you by?"
She pulled her claws back in and smiled. "Just wanted to see what you were up to. I heard you gave my boys a litte beat down the other day."
"Sorry Lila but I just couldn't let them hurt this innocent kitten, she's valuable. I did give them a warning but they just wouldn't listen. Of course you know I meant no real harm."
"No but I would like to talk with you."
"Nothing would make me happier but unfortunately I'm very busy at that moment you should come by another day and I advise you not to worry about my little friend here because she's nothing to me but a meal ticket."
She looked at him with disbelief. "Really? Then you wouldn't mind if I scratched her up?"
"Be my guest."
"What?!" Marinette cried.
"Do what you want. I know what makes her so valuable now so go ahead."
"Hmm..." She said still suspicious, then she gave him a sneaky look. "She really does mean nothing to you. See ya around."
With that she changed into her cat form and sprinted away.
"Don't mind her." Adrien said to Marinette. "Her hiss is worse than her scratch."
"Who is she?" Marinette asked.
"Just an old flame." He said. "We were an item but I don't like to stay tied down."
"We're you going to let her hurt me?"
"Maybe, Lila gets so jealous and possessive sometimes. If she thought I had a soft spot for you she probably would scratched your face to pieces."
"So you were trying to protect me." She said.
"It would be a sin for someone to destroy your beauty." He said rubbing his knuckles gently against her cheek. She blushed and shuddered. "Besides I'd hate to lose a free maid." He gave her a smile and went back inside. "Good thing I groomed myself extra a good she likes it when I look nice for her."
"Do you still have feelings for her?"
"No but I gotta impress the ladies."
Marinette rolled her eyes and giggled to herself. "A little vain isn't he?" Tikki said.
"What flirt isn't?"
