May 25: BLEP
Lyra: Apparently, this month, I'm all about my fave duo being parents.
MR: It's all this Family Togetherness we've been experiencing.
Ep: Maybe. But the endless rounds of Go Fish are starting to get to me. Unrelated: Lyra, do you have an eight of spades?
Lyra: Go fish.
Today's chapter is by LyraMaeArcher.
He fought akumas for years. Defeated Hawkmoth 1.0 AND 2.0. Recovered from the trauma of discovering his father had been the source of all things terrible in Paris. Stood at the front of a church with his heart in his throat as his bride appeared at the end of the aisle in a vision of white. So why was this tiny little thing in his arms the single most terrifying thing he had ever faced?
Everything about her was breathtakingly perfect. A button nose. Little wrinkled fingers curling over the edge of the swaddle. Tiny lashes brushing against the softness of curved cheeks. A downy tuft of dark hair.
This child. She was his. His! Adrien couldn't help the way he trembled a little staring at the small body wrapped in a soft pink blanket. He didn't know if he could be a good father, but more than anything he wanted to be.
His eyes slid over to where Marinette lay sleeping peacefully after the amazing work she did to bring their daughter into the world. She deserved to rest. A quick check of the door confirmed it to be closed - the hustle and bustle of the hospital hidden on the other side.
"Plagg?" he whispered, relieved as his kwami instantly zipped out of his shirt and hovered over the baby. "What do you think? This is Emma."
Plagg made a funny little noise. "Cute kitten." Adrien didn't expect the swell of pride that came with those words.
"Thanks." He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"What if I'm a terrible father, Plagg? What if I end up being just like MY father? What if she hates me?" Plagg shot him a sideways glance before floating into Adrien's face, the tiny clawed paws taking hold of his owner's cheeks.
"Listen, Kid. You aren't your father. You never have been. You never will be. You will always be better than him. And, if I ever see that you are neglecting this kitten, I will cataclysm you myself."
The weight practically fell off. Daring to pull an arm out from under his tiny cargo, Adrien scratched Plagg's ears with quiet thankfulness.
Emma responded at the shift of movement, wiggling slightly his arms with a quiet cry of complaint. Adrien froze, eyes instantly snapping to her face as his other hand dropped back to position underneath her. Her tiny face screwed up in a frown, mouth opening to let out another cry - this time much more insistent. Exchanging slightly panicked looks with Plagg, Adrien quietly breathed his transformation words. Plagg yelped as he vanished into the ring, the green light of power rippling over Adrien giving him a boost of confidence his civilian self never seemed to feel.
The baby in his arms continued to fuss. Rocking didn't work, neither did the soft singing of a lullaby, nor patting her on the back. Maybe she needed food? He looked at sleeping Marinette again, knowing she needed to rest. If he could somehow keep Emma quiet for a little longer.
It was his nose that led him to a startling and awkward realization first - the subtle smell of urine wafting from the bundle. His heart stuttered. A diaper change? On something so small and so fragile? Could he do this?
For the briefest of moments, he considered waking up Marinette for help or buzzing the nurse. But no. This was his first test of fatherhood. Taking care of the needs of his child. He could do this. Carefully, he laid her down on the little table in the room, pulling back the blanket to unwrap her from her swaddle before grabbing an incredibly tiny diaper.
Marinette wasn't quite sure if she was awake or dreaming as she opened her eyes to find Chat Noir leaning over a changing table, his tongue sticking out just a little with concentration as he gently snapped up the front of the baby's soft pajamas.
"There we go, my sweet little kitten. We did it. That wasn't so bad, was it?" he purred quietly, pulling the knitted blanket around her again just as the nurse had shown them how. "I promise I'll get better at this. I don't know how to be a good papa but I'm going to try." His movements were slow as he scooped her up, very intentionally cradling the baby's head as he pulled her close to him.
He turned then, glancing towards her and freezing to find her awake.
"Marinette? Oh no. I didn't mean to wake you. I'm sor-"
She cut him off with a smile.
"You are a great papa, kitty." He practically glowed at her words. "Can you bring our daughter here?" He was at her side in an instant, placing the baby into the crook of her arm. Reaching up with the other hand, she ruffled his hair around his cat ears.
"As much as I know being Chat is your way of feeling confident, I think we need Adrien back before the nurses show up." He flushed in embarrassment before releasing his transformation. Plagg looked annoyed for the briefest of moments before grabbing the cheese waved in his direction.
Marinette's fingers dropped to weave together with his own.
"Now," Marinette murmured, looking down at the wide grey-blue eyes that stared back at her with untold wisdom. "I think our daughter needs to hear the story of how her mama and papa met."