Chapter 56

Char Noir quickly crossed the rooftops, finally touching down in a quiet alley. "Plagg, claws in." he said then walked over to a door and knocked.

"Come in, come in." Master Fu said when he opened the door. "So, Chat Noir, what brings you to me today?" he asked, then startled when he saw that he was carrying Marinette's bag. "How is it that Ladybug is without her kwami?"

"Tikki's been hurt, Master." Adrien replied. "Marinette was also hurt and has been taken home to recover."

"I see." Fu said. "Bring Tikki in here and let me see."

Adrien followed the old man into a back room and set Marinette's bag on the counter. He opened it and very carefully slid his hand in and withdrew it, cradling Tikki in his hand. "Master, can you help her?"

Fu, glanced over at Adrien with concern as his voice cracked at the end of the question. "You were right to bring her here, Adrien. While it is true she has been hurt, her recovery will be swift. There is tea in the kitchen. Go, have a cup and try to relax. I will join you shortly."

"Yes, Master." he replied and left the room. Entering the kitchen he found a kettle on a warming plate and he poured himself a cup. Taking it over to the small table, he sat and simply stared at the brew.

"Kid, she's gonna be alright." Plagg said floating up in front of his chosen. "Both of them."

Adrien nodded and took a healthy swig of the tea. As he expected it was an herbal mix, and almost immediately he could feel himself relaxing.

"Plagg, there's a span of time that I can't remember." Adrien said. "I remember coming over the edge of the roof, and seeing that brute swing Mari's bag against the wall, and I heard Tikki's cry of pain." he related. "The next thing I can remember is Rena calming me down, and Kira and Jake looking at me as though I was demon or something." He looked up at his kwami. "Do you have any idea what happened?"

Plagg sighed sadly. "You protected Marinette." he said simply.

Adrien opened his mouth to ask another question when Master Fu came into the room. "Master, how is she?"

Fu sighed. "Tikki will recover, as I'm sure Marinette will as well, however I have some concerns about you." he said. "I am uncertain as to why you are so concerned about Ladybug's kwami."

Adrien blinked a few times. "I'm Chat Noir, I'm supposed to protect her, and Marinette as well, or so I thought."

"That is so, but there is something changed about you." Fu said.

"Master, they have been together." Plagg said softly.

The old man looked surprised, then chuckled softly. "That explains much." he said. "Is Marinette aware that Tikki was injured?"

"Yes." Adrien replied, the scene of the one mugger swinging Marinette's bag against the wall, while Marinette tried to break free of the other playing in his mind. "And I can't help but feel that it's at least partly my fault."

"No, Adrien, you did nothing wrong or to cause this." Plagg argued.

"Perhaps you should tell me from the beginning." Fu suggested.

Adrien sighed, and poured himself another cup of tea. "As you know, about a month ago Marinette revealed to myself and Alya that she was Ladybug. After Alya had left, I let her know that I was Chat Noir." he said. "After that I asked her to be my girlfriend." he related, then went on to run over the events of the last month. "When Plagg told you that Marinette and I had. . .made love, you said that it explained things." he said when he was done. "Now I've discovered that I can tell if she is transformed or not and a general direction of where she is. I know Plagg could do the same with Tikki, and vice versa. How can I do that?"

Fu sighed. "Have you noticed that when you were both transformed and battling an akuma that you and Ladybug seemed to know what the other wanted or was going to do without having to say anything?"

Adrien nodded. "As we knew each other better that became easier." he said.

"Just so." Fu said. "As you grew to know each other and grew closer the bond between you strengthened." he explained, and saw the realization on Adrien's face.

"So now that bond is strong enough that we don't need to be transformed to feel it." Adrien said, drawing a gentle smile from the older man as he nodded.

"Very good, Adrien." Fu said. "How is she now?"

"I don't. . ." Adrien began, but trailed off at the look Fu was giving him.

"Think of her, and you will know."

Adrien closed his eyes and cleared his mind of everything but Marinette.

Fu saw him smile. "She's awake, but still upset and arguing with Alya." Adrien's smile faded. "She's still angry at me."

"The proof that those pictures are fake is firm, correct? Fu asked, and Adrien nodded. "Then it is simply a matter of time for Marinette to realize that and come back to you."

He was about to say something else, when he saw Adrien's face brighten and he looked toward the back room.

"Tikki." he said softly, and a moment later the red kwami phased through the door and headed over to him.

"Adrien, thank you for bringing me here, and for protecting Marinette." Tikki said, nuzzling against his cheek.

"You're welcome." he replied. "But to be honest I don't remember protecting her."

"As I told you before, it is probably best that you do not." Fu said. "You were correct, the main responsibility of the black cat is to protect and assist his Ladybug." he stood. "Now with Tikki recovered, all she needs is rest, and to be with her chosen."

"Then it's time that I faced her." Adrien said.

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It was about an hour later when Adrien entered the bakery and saw Alya instead of Sabine at the register.

"Adrien, where have you been?" the redhead demanded when he walked up to her.

"One of those animals smashed Mari's bag into the building, hurting Tikki, so I took her to Master Fu." he replied holding up the bag in question. "How is she?"

"Well, she has a huge headache." Alya replied, then her shoulder's slumped. "and she's still upset." she said softly. "I'm sorry, Adrien but she's told me that she doesn't want to see you yet, Sabine is with her."

Adrien nodded sadly, "I know." he said softly. "This should help with her mood." he said, handing the bag to Alya, then headed for the back of the bakery, taking an apron from a hook as he passed. He stopped at a sink and washed his hands. "Do you have any bread that needs to be kneaded, Tom?"

"Proofing rack one." he said softly. He watched sadly as the young man took a ball of dough from the rack, and started working it. He noted that although Adrien was upset, he did the job properly.

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"Adrien." Sabine called softly as he was finishing up the last dough ball.

"Sabine, Tom, I'm sorry." he said rolling out the dough into a baguette, then scoring the top with a knife, not turning around. He continued talking as he set the log on a cooking sheet. "I know this is the part of my lifestyle that you don't approve of, and I understand completely. I've never had a problem like this from the media." he said. "Sure they would follow me around sometimes, and insinuate that I was having a relationship with one of the models, but nothing this. . .hurtful and vicious. When Alya showed us those pictures, I would have done anything to take that look off Marinette's face. I want to personally assure both of you that those pictures are fake, and even if my father won't help, I'm going to make sure they print a retraction, and . . .well I don't know what else, but my lawyers will know what to do." he hung his head and sniffled. "I'll understand if you want me to stop seeing her. I. . .I don't know how, but I'll abide by your decision."

"You'd give me up that easily?"

Adrien spun at the sweetest voice he'd ever heard. "Mari!" he gasped. He would have run over and hugged her, but the look on her face held him back. "No, Marinette, it wouldn't be easy, but I have to look out for your well being. Stories like that, even if they aren't true could destroy your chances at becoming a designer, besides, they are your parents."

"So Alya was right, those pictures were fake?"

"Of course they are." Adrien replied. "You have doubts after last night?" he asked then swallowed nervously when he saw Tom tense.

"What about last night?" he asked. "What happened?"

"He stayed in the same room as I did." Marinette answered, crossing over and wrapping her arms around Adrien's upper arm. "and nothing happened that I didn't want to, or didn't start."

"And they were careful." Sabine told her husband. "Marinette told me about it upstairs." she added.

"And you're okay with it?" Tom asked. "But they're so young."

"We'll both be turning eighteen this year." Marinette argued. "Not much younger than you and Maman were when you met."

"But how do you know it'll last? What if you get tired of each other?"

"We don't know if it'll last." Marinette replied. "But I know love isn't something you can wait for the perfect time for. I tried waiting for the perfect time to tell Adrien how I felt, and almost didn't get to tell him. The same goes for my telling Chat Noir about how I really felt about him as Ladybug. It took my almost losing him to an akuma to make me take the steps to be truthful with him and reveal my identity." she looked up at Adrien. "I love him, Papa, and I know he loves me." she lowered her head. "I should have trusted that love and known he would never cheat on me."

"Sir, I know we're young, but we both feel that our love will endure." Adrien said. "Do we know for certain? No, but were you certain that you and Sabine would still love each other after twenty three years?"

Tom sighed heavily taking Marinette's hands in his. "It's just that I worry for you, baby. You're such a giving caring person, I just don't want you to give your heart away and have it broken." he gave his daughter a sad look. "and it turns out that I'm going to be the one to break it." he said.

"Papa?" Marinette asked.

Tom looked over at Adrien. "Adrien, I like you, I really do, and I've seen how happy you've made Marinette."

"But." Adrien prompted softly.

"Adrien, I saw her when Rena Rouge brought her in." Tom said. "Bruised and unconscious all because some thugs recognized her and thought they could get some money, because she was your girlfriend. I'm sorry, but I forbid you to see her anymore, for her own safety."

"Tom?!" Sabine gasped.

"Papa, no!" Marinette wailed, tightening her grip on Adrien's arm. She looked over at him when he cleared his throat.

"Tom, you are her father, and as such I have to. . . (ahem). . .have to abide by your wishes."

Marinette stood numbly as Adrien freed his arm from her grip, and he turned to her. She looked up at him and had to blink away her own tears to be able to see his face, and the tears sliding down his own cheeks.

"Princess, I'm sorry." he said, then kissed her forehead. "I love you, ma souris." he added, his voice cracking, then drew himself up. "Tom, Sabine, your daughter is an exceptional person, even without her miraculous. Tom, I hope your relationship with her recovers." he added, then walked away.

Sabine watched her daughter closely, waiting for the explosion she was certain would come. It was just a matter of when.

"It's for your own good, baby." Tom said softly, putting a big hand on Marinette's shoulder.

"NO!" she shouted, slapping the hand away. "DON'T YOU TOUCH ME, DON'T YOU TALK TO ME, DON'T EVEN LOOK AT ME!" she shouted. "I HA. . . ." she pulled up short, her expression changing from one of anger to one of fear. "Adrien!" she gasped, looking in the directions he had gone. "Nonononononono!" she cried as she started heading after him.

"Marinette, hurry, he needs you!" Plagg cried as he came floating towards her, carrying Adrien's ring.

"Plagg, what. . .?" she began but trailed off when she caught sight of Adrien.

"Marinette, what. . .oh no!" Sabine gasped as she came up behind her daughter.

Adrien was on his hands and knees, the glowing outline of a butterfly in front of his face.

"No, I don't want your help." he grated out. "He's her father, and she's her mother, I won't harm either of them, and I certainly won't fight Ladybug or Chat Noir to get their miraculous for you, now leave me alone."

"They took the love of your life away from you, I can give you the power to get revenge, and her back." Hawk Moth soothed.

"No." Adrien said. "They are her parents they are only doing what is in her best interest." Adrien argued, and Marinette saw his head come up, a look of determination on his face. "Far better that you have done for me." he said.

Marinette gasped realizing that he just told Hawk Moth that he knew he was his father.

Suddenly the butterfly in front of Adrien's face pulsed brightly and he cried out in pain before falling to the floor unconscious.

"Adrien!" Marinette gasped, moving toward him. She watched as the akuma oozed from a small box he was carrying, then turned white as it flew away.

"Sweetie?" Sabine called when she saw Marinette's shoulder's slump.

"He's just unconscious." she said as she rolled Adrien over and supported his head and shoulder's in her lap.

"It went back this way." a feminine voice said.

"Are you crazy, those akumas are dangerous." a male voice argued.

"I'm sorry, but customers aren't allowed back there." Alya's voice said.

Marinette turned her head just in time to see Kira, Jake and Jenna come through the door followed by Alya.

"Oh no." Alya gasped softly.

"Adrien!" Kira cried as she knelt beside him and Marinette. "Is he alright?"

Marinette looked over at the model. "He will be. The akuma was for him, but he was able to resist it."

"That's Adrien for you." Jake said.

"Guys, do you think you could help me carry him up to the couch?" Marinette asked.

"Umm, I. . ." Tom began but was cut off.

"This happened in our home!" Sabine snapped. "Hospitality and honor dictate that we make him comfortable."

Alya was surprised at the sharpness of Sabine's voice, and the angry glare Marinette was giving her father.

"I agree." Tom said softly. "I was going to suggest that he be seen by a doctor, but, now that I think of it, seeing as it was an akuma, that wouldn't be a help.

"What's this?" Alya asked picking up a small box.

"It's Adrien's, the akuma came out of it." Marinette replied.

"Oh, wow." Alya gasped when she opened the box.

"What is it, Alya?" Sabine asked, as the redhead took a small folded paper from the box.

"It's a promise ring." Alya said. "For Marinette." she added, then read from the paper.

"My Dearest Marinette, with this ring I promise to be ever at your side, and to have your back, protecting you with all my strength. That I will never judge you. That I will trust you implicitly, and that I will love you unconditionally, as long as you will have me. This ring signifies my giving myself to you, until you accept an engagement ring from me. With all my love, Adrien."

Alya looked over at her best friend and saw the tears on her face. "Mari?" she called softly.

Marinette cleared her throat. "Please, let's get him upstairs."

Adrien was picked up and taken up to the family room. Marinette sat on one end of the couch and had them lay Adrien down so his upper body was in her lap with his head on a pillow on the arm of the couch.