Hey guys! What's up? This is going to be a shorter chapter that leads into a chapter directly relating to this chapter, but read until the end to figure out what it is. Enjoy the chapter and I should have that chapter in question out very soon! Ok... maybe not soon, but soon enough!

"Mr. Agreste..."

"No please, call me Adrien," Adrien quipped as Louis and the twins sat with Adrien at the bakery, a couple of days after the incident. In that time, Adrien was so distraught and depressed from what he said and what transpired that he couldn't bear to face the shame. Kagami, on another note, was away on a fencing exhibition in God knows where. Marinette had set up this meeting at the bakery for the kids-specifically Louis- to apologize for what he said from before.

"Alright... Adrien, I'm truly sorry about what I said about you not being everything my mom said you'd be, I was out of line... but truly, when I told you that the other day when you took us out to lunch, I did mean it. I was just... extremely mad by what you said that I retracted it and dismissed it. I know that broke your honor or pride sir..." Louis said truthfully as the twins nodded in agreement with what he said. Adrien had a fixed sad smile on his face as he processed what he said.

"No... you had every right to be mad, but thank you, for the apology. But god damn it... I called her... a gold digger, how could I?" Adrien gritted his teeth as Hugo and Emma just made things worse with their commentary.

"Gotta admit, that was a low blow," Hugo chimed in as Louis shot him a look.

"Not really the brightest thing you've said Mr. Agreste... but if Mommy can make an exception...then I'll try to forgive you, key word is "try"," Emma commented as Adrien had a nervous but apologetic look on his face. The group then heard the bell to the bakery chimed and a very tired looking Marinette came in with several bags. Marinette immediately brightened and turned towards the group and looked at all of them and interrogated them with her eyes alone.

"Louis, did you apologize?"

"Yes Mom, I did, again... SO sorry," Louis added on quickly as Adrien gave him a smile and nodded quickly in understanding. The kids thought it was strange that Adrien didn't apologize to Marinette first since Marinette held the meeting two days after the incident. It was already late afternoon so all the kids were free. However, what they didn't know was that Adrien and Marinette already had a private conversation before hand.

Earlier...

"Marinette I just want to start off by saying how sorry I am, I truly had no right to call you what I said when now I know what you said was a joke. I feel horrible, we just became friends again and now this," Adrien murmured as Marinette looked at him with remorseful eyes. She noted that his personality has also changed, even though she can recognize that charisma and charm of his anywhere, he's become more... irrational, regretful, less composed. Marinette wondered why that was...

"Thank you Adrien, I appreciate the apology, but it was a really bad joke, I'm sorry I even pulled that on you," Marinette chuckled nervously as she continued sipping her tea, "It was my fault, I..." Marinette started to say but she felt her mouth close again for the sake of... she doesn't know.

"Thank you, but... can we still go back to normal after this? What I said was so insulting... I don't..." Adrien said as continued to keep his gaze upon Marinette, who narrowed her eyes at her tea and felt her shoulders relax.

"Well... I've already forgiven you, we can just let it be water under the bridge don't you say? Besides, you have a lot of explaining to do for the kids because right now, they kinda... dislike you," Marinette murmured quietly as Adrien let out a groan and rested his head into his interlaced fingers which were propped up on the table.

"I know... I want to be able to make it up to them..." Adrien huffed frustratingly as he continued to stare into the table and after a moment of silence, he spoke again, "you know Marinette, you have amazing kids... they're willing to stand up for you and they have your back as much as you have theirs. It's quite something to watch. I've seen their bond over the few times I've met them... they're great kids."

"They are... it means so much to me to hear you say that... they helped me through so much," Marinette replied wistfully as she stared aimlessly into the liquid that was her drink, following the shine of the light reflected on it, "It's fine."

Presently

"So why don't we start over," Louis decided as he held out his hand to Adrien, who looked at it, perplexed. Louis flashed his million dollar grin that somehow filled the void in Adrien's heart, where his past mistakes were, "Hello! I'm Louis Dupain Cheng, nice to meet ya!"

Adrien felt his lips tug into a genuine wide grin that was different from his model grin, it was a truly happy grin, "Nice to meet you Louis, I'm Adrien Agreste, a friend of your mother's. I hope we'll always be in each other's good favor and I'll be the man you always thought I'd be." Louis grinned wider as Hugo and Emma joined in and out their hands over Louis and Adrien's.

"I'm Hugo Dupain Cheng, I hope we're always close even if I can be a little difficult to talk to, Mr. Agreste," Hugo mumbled as he suddenly flinched from Emma's outburst of energy.

"Hiya Mr. Agreste! I hope we can start over and be the best of friends!" Emma chirped as Adrien smiled warmly with all of them.

"I would love that," Adrien replied as Marinette let out a sigh of relief and set her things down. Tom and Sabine looked on at the family from behind the counter, eyeing Marinette with a fearful expression as Marinette caught their eye and nodded. Marinette then went behind the counter with them and left Adrien and the kids to talk.

"Sweetie, how did it go? Did he take it badly?" Sabine asked as Marinette looked grimly at Sabine and replied with a curt nod.

"Of course he took it badly, I don't blame him. 15 years... I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have believed me either," Marinette sighed as she started putting desserts into the display window as she saw Emma's smushed face pressed up against the other side of the glass, blowing hot air onto the glass. Marinette smiled sweetly through the glass.

"One day he'll come round, you just gotta trust in him," Tom said as Marinette felt his presence beside her, helping her assort the pastries and desserts into the display window. Marinette tilted her head to the side slightly as if she was contemplating his words with a look of confusion on her face.

"I guess so... but for the time being, I just want him to bond with them," Marinette said as she looked up to find Emma showing Adrien her drawings and Hugo criticizing her drawings with Emma shooting Hugo a annoyed look now and then. Just seeing them together was enough for her. Louis rested his head on his hand and him and Adrien together looked at Emma's drawings, comedically trying to make sense on them. It was like everything was at peace again, even if it was just for a while.

"I guess that looks like...Alice from Wonderland?" Louis asked as he looked closer at what seemed like a person with blond hair and a blue dress. Emma pouted and replied:

"No you dummy, that's you!"

"Me?" Louis asked in exasperation as Adrien let out a laugh, "Then why am I wearing a dress?"

"Oh, that's just how I always draw shirts."

"Then what's with the hair?" Louis asked as he noted the blond hair that looked like it was a bunch of circles and loops drawn together. Emma looked up at Louis' hair and frowned slightly.

"Hmmm.. it is a little hard to draw the curled fringe that's framing your face, but my picture does kinda make you look like a girl," Emma laughed slightly as Louis scoffed and folded his arms.

"Hey, the picture's not enough to capture the handsomeness that is me, but I guess it'll do," Louis winked at Emma, who rolled her eyes and laughed as she sat in Louis' lap and continued to show him and Adrien pictures. Hugo, on the other hand, was staring out the window and Adrien eventually noticed and scootched his chair so he could sit closer to him.

"You okay kiddo?" Adrien asked he leaned down to be face level with Hugo, whose face didn't move an inch. The only acknowledgement he made towards Adrien was just a flicker of the eyes in his direction.

"You tell me, how can I know that I can trust you? Louis and Emma seem to trust you enough," Hugo whispered indifferently as Adrien looked at him in surprise. Adrien then looked out the window with Hugo, he didn't know what to say.

"You know... I really am sorry... for what I said about your mom? You guys are quite protective about your mom, I envy that sort of bond," Adrien murmured as he felt Hugo tense beside him and looked over to see Hugo staring intently at him.

"I know you are sorry... but... even though it doesn't show, Maman is hurting inside. She's been through more than what you can imagine," Hugo said slowly as Adrien caught a hint of hope in his eyes, as if he knew something he didn't, but Adrien didn't say anything further. Instead...

"How do you know?"

"I may be quiet... but I am VERY observant, there's a lot of things I've noticed about Maman and you. I know more than you think I know," Hugo instantly replied as he nodded his head in the other direction and Adrien followed his nod to find Marinette discreetly looking at them.

"What exactly is she hurting inside about?" Adrien asked curiously as Hugo looked back at the window with slight uncertainty.

"That, I don't know, she wouldn't tell me, but I know it's something big that's hurting her inside, why else would she disappear for 15 years?" Hugo asked conspicuously as Adrien felt the cogs in his head turn when he heard it. Why else would she disappear? It had to be something big.

"Thank you Hugo, your words do mean a lot," Adrien smiled warmly as Hugo reciprocated that smile, and that smile lessened for a moment as he thought about something.

"After what happened yesterday, it may take me a while to trust you, but don't mention it. There will come a day... where I can trust you like Louis and Emma do. Hmph... those two... they're too easily trusting, I guess that's what sets me apart," Hugo murmured as he looked back at his siblings who were talking to Marinette happily. Adrien looked at him questioningly before smiling.

"Hey, sometimes, being a little mistrusting is good. It means you have a good sense of judgement, it's rare to find that in an eight year old kid," Adrien said as he ruffled Hugo's hair causing Hugo to smile brightly.

"Thanks... Mr. Agreste, but you know... and I know you're curious to know, if you wanna start looking into why Maman left and this is just a suggestion, take a look into what happened the night she left or when you realized she was gone. There might be something that will give you a clue," Hugo said mysteriously before standing up and walking back to where his family was. He was immediately scooped up by Tom and placed on his shoulders, laughing with everyone else. However, Adrien sat there thinking... what stood out to him when he realized that she disappeared? And suddenly it came to him and boy did he feel like he hit the jackpot with his revelation. He remembered that she left something behind as a final goodbye.

The letter she wrote before leaving... or per say... the collection of letters she made.