Day 7: Free day / AU

Series of drabbles for 2017's Miraculous Angst Week.
Or how I spent an entire week hurting my babies
Originally posted in April 2017

Warning: Major Character(s) Death. AU where Marinette's heart failed her while giving birth. Potential triggers ahead, including death at childbirth and child abandon.

Adrien knocked on the bakery's door, a sharp, short knock. The bundle in his arms squirmed, obviously startled by the unexpected sound, and the blond shifted his weight slightly, hoping with all his might that the slight rocking motion would put her back to sleep. The last thing he needed, the last thing he felt able to handle right now was dealing with a wailing newborn.

A newborn that had cost him his wife.

The bakery's door suddenly opened wide, revealing a worried Sabine, clad in her nightgown. "Adrien? Is everything alright? Come in, dear."

The woman's voice woke up the baby for good, and she instantly started howling in protests. Adrien handed the crying bundle to Sabine, refusing to look at her. "Can… Can you take care of her for a while?"

He didn't give any explanation, he knew he didn't have to. Sure enough, Sabine readjusted the weight of her grand-daughter in her arms, tears pricking in her eyes as she eyed the broken young man standing in front of her. "Please reconsider your decision, Adrien, this is not what she would've wanted."

"I just can't. She knew. She knew all along that her heart might not handle the childbirth, and she hid it from me." Tears were rolling freely down his face, and he carefully averted his eyes from the perceptive woman that reminded him way too much of the love he had lost.

"Adrien, she's going to need her daddy some-"

"She deserves better." he cut in, choking back a sob. "She deserves someone who'll love unconditionally, who won't hold her responsible for what happened to Mari.. I... I can't be that person for her right now... I'm sorry..."

Without sparing his daughter another glance, without giving Sabine time to try to change his mind once more, Adrien broke into a sprint, disappearing at the end of the street.

It was the last time Adrien Agreste was ever seen.

"Nonna?"

Sabine woke up groggily, assessing the little figure standing in the doorway of her bedroom. "Emma? Is everything alright?"

The little girl took that as her signal, her permission. She climbed into her grandparents' bed, wiggling her way between Tom's huge snoring body and Sabine's open arms. She rested her blonde head in the crook of her grandmother's neck, sighing contently. "I had a nightmare."

"What happened?"

"A mean man was trying to hurt you and Pappy."

The older woman nestled her granddaughter carefully in her arms, and kissed the crown of her hair. "You know that won't happen. Your mama and your papa gave Pappy and I a very important mission: we have to take good care of you, because they aren't able to anymore."

The five-year-old smiled within her Nonna's embrace. "Can you tell me about them?"

"Emma, it's three a.m., you should go back to sleep."

"Please…" the little girl begged, planting a kiss on Sabine's cheek.

"Alright," Sabine gave in, "what do you want me to tell you?"

"How they defeated Lady Wifi! Tatie Alya was the best villain!"