~THE NEXT MORNING~

"Felix."

He stopped by the front door and turned back to find his father standing atop the stairs. The picture of them in black after his mom's funeral haunted him each time he laid eyes on it – but not nearly as much as his father's expression did today.

He was smiling.

"…Yes, father?"

"I have some news for you that I'd like to get out of the way before you leave for school."

His father's news usually related to his business with Papillion, and was saved until their ever silent dinners. There was something different about this news, though, and Felix could sense it. Something…off.

A door upstairs opened, and down walked a thin blonde woman in a dark blue blouse and black dress pants, her white heels clicking against the tile. She stood beside his father, giving him the same smile his father had.

A match made in Heaven…wait…

"Felix," his father wrapped his arm around the woman's waist, "I'd like you to meet Christine Prince. Or, as she will soon be known…Christine Agreste."

"…You're…getting married…seven months after mother died."

Christine sighed. "I know this is all so sudden to you, Felix. It's felt like a roller coaster to me, too. Spending so much time with your father as his website manager, however, has shown me that…he's the one."

Just when he thought it couldn't get any stranger, the front door opened. He turned to find Dianne standing before him, backpack over her shoulders. "Oh, hey, Felix…oh, mom! What're you doing here?"

"Giving the good news, of course."

Dianne gave him a shrug. "Aw, and I was gonna tell you at lunch."

"You knew? This whole time?"

"No, she just told me last night." She wrapped her arms around him in a big hug and whispered into his ear.

"Nice to see you, brother."

…I have a mother and a sister…just like that…the real question is: does this fall under the control of my bad luck, or…?


The walk to school had been…awkward. Dianne tried to keep the conversation lighthearted, but Felix was still having trouble wrapping his head around what was happening.

My family's suddenly grown, and father didn't bother to tell me beforehand? Why was I the last one to know?!

"Hey, guys," Denzel and Alya walked up beside them as they reached the big apple tree out front, "I didn't know you tow lived so close together. Do you always walk to school together?"

"Starting today we are," Dianne winked, "can't go ignoring my poor step-brother, now can I?"

They both blinked in silence for a few seconds before gawking. "STEP-BROTHER?!"

"My mother's secretly been dating Mr. Agreste for months now. They made the announcement this morning, and without a doubt the news will hear of it tonight."

Alya jumped around. "This is wonderful! What's the wedding going to be like? Ooh, ooh, do you need a photographer? Cuz I'm so available!"

As the girls chatted and Denzel hung beside them Felix continued towards the school. "Like I need all this drama…?"

He spotted Marinette standing near the entrance. She swayed on her heels, looking towards the sky.

…I wonder if she'd still talk to me. I was a bit harsh with my refusal of the tickets the other day…nah…

He turned away from her.

"F-Felix!"

"Hm?" He found her staring at him now. The top of her hair seemed to spin into a big heart as she blushed.

…Uh?


There he is!

Marinette sighed as Felix caught her staring. She had given his reaction to the tickets some thought, and realized that she was the one who had overreacted. After all her time with Chat Noir, Felix's attitude was no problem.

He's the son of Agreste. He's bound to be kind underneath that rough exterior!

She jogged up after him, catching sight of Dianne, Alya and Denzel nearby. "Felix, wait!"

I just need to apologize!

He stepped next to the tree trunk, and she swore she could hear him whistle a short tune. He placed his hand against the bark.

I wonder what he's do-

BONK!

"Ow, ow," she rubbed her head, "what the-?"

She found an apple beside her feet. "How'd that happen?"

Felix glanced back, frowning. The others turned their way. Whatever had happened they had seen.

"…Uh, oops," she grinned, "my bad…?"

The tree began to shake. Felix stumbled back as every apple fell from the branches, bombarding everyone underneath with a barrage of hard fruit. Marinette covered her head, but as the apples stop dropping she could feel large bruises growing on her arms.

"Ow!" Alya looked up at the branches. "Okay, how?"

"The tree is pretty old," Denzel reminded them, "maybe it should have been cleaned off earlier?"

Marinette turned to Felix again, who was dusting off his clothes. He locked eyes with her, and for a moment they were both silent.

And then, much to her surprise…she heard him give a chuckle.

…He…he laughed…not at me, but with me…!

She returned the gesture with a hearty laugh. "Ha-ha, guess it was just feeling weighed down, right?"

"…Indeed," he replied with a smirk, "such a waste."

…Wow…just, wow…he's so cool!


I can't believe I just did that. I just wanted to scare her off a bit. I...but why?

Felix mentally smacked himself as he and Marinette joined the others. A teacher came out to survey the damage as they walked into the school. "Good thing we left," Denzel wiped sweat form his brow, "if we'd stayed out any longer we would have been forced to clean up. I mean, it wasn't our fault, but still."

Well, not any of your fault, but as me for me…

"I've got to get to class early," Dianne nudged him, "see you at home, Felix."

"…Yeah. See you."

She walked off with Denzel as Alya caught a young blonde girl by the arm. "Rose, can we talk more about our project before class?"

"Sure, come on!"

"I'll see you later!" She gave Marinette a high-five and left them together.

Alone.

"…Well," she waved her arms around, "guess I'd better get to class before I'm late again!"

Not before…

"…I'm sorry."

"H-Huh?!"

"About the other day, when you offered me a ticket," he gave a small bow to her, "I spoke too harshly to you. It's just…I was dealing with some issues at home, and didn't want to bother you."

"…Felix, you'll never be a bother."

He looked up at her to find her expression serious but content. Very unlike the Marinette he had come to know. "You know…the offer still stands."

"…I think that'd be nice."

Her face melted before him as she spun around. "Yippee! I-I mean…great. So…next Thursday?"

"We can meet at my house."

"P-Perfect!"

Ring-ring-ring!

"The bell. We'd better get to class, Marinette."

"Of course!"

He led her up the stairs as she seemed to be in a trance.

I can't hide behind my bad luck forever. It's time to put myself in control. How else can I win of Ladybug's heart?

It's felt like forever, but we're finally at the penultimate chapter of this story. It's been so much fun writing an anime version of the series, and I can't thank you all enough for your support. These characters have really grown on me, but I hope that wit the story coming to a close more attention will be given to the old characters. They might not be canon, but they make some great story material!

Until the next chapter!