Sorry for the hiatus! I am back, and slowly working on the active stories to try and get them finished. I hope you are all doing well in these troubling times, and remembering to wash your hands, keep your distance, and are staying connected to friends and family.

Take it easy!

Lady Rhi X

Sabine was just settling down for the night, Tom already in a deep slumber next to her, as an unknown number lit up her phone. The irritated Asian woman debated answering it for a moment or two, but decided that it could be important, especially after the news Marinette had given her earlier. With a sigh, Sabine suspected she knew who was calling, and answered the device, bringing it to her ear.

"Hello."

"Hello Mrs Cheng, I hope you do not mind-"

"Mr Agreste what can I do for you?" Sabine cut him off shortly, pursing her lips as she attempted to rouse Tom silently. "You are lucky to catch me, I was just about to turn my phone off."

"My apologies Mrs Cheng-"

"Call me Sabine," she interrupted again, "your son is currently passed out in my daughter's bed, there is no need for formalities."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone, and Sabine could not help the amused smile which appeared momentarily on her face. Tom's eyes shot open, his wife assumed he heard "son" and "daughter's bed", which would wake any protective father. Sabine gestured for him to be quiet as he shuffled to sit up while she put Gabriel on loud speaker.

"Very well Sabine, please call me Gabriel if that is the case," a resigned sigh followed before he spoke once more. "Is your husband with you now?"

"Yes Gabriel," Sabine answered curtly, "he is next to me and you are on loud speaker."

"Very well," he paused, "I have spoken to Marinette-"

"No you haven't," Sabine once again interrupted Gabriel. The petite woman finding it hard to keep the smugness out of her voice. "My daughter has told me everything."

Another silence met her words, Gabriel had obviously not anticipated Sabine knowing anything about what had gone on. Feeling the need to clarify, she continued:

"You sent Tikki," Tom pointedly looked at his wife with confusion, "and TIkki has told you how Adrien is. What Tikki was not able to tell you, however, is that your son is welcome to say here as long as he wants. We are more than happy to have him here with us, and you can be rest assured that he is safe here." She paused waiting for him to respond. Gabriel did not though, so Sabine mentioned: "all we would ask is that you could get a bag of his clothes together, along with anything else he needs if that is possible."

Gabriel hesitated for a moment, "O-of course, I can get it dropped off first thing in the morning-"

"Also, I would like your permission to keep him off school if he is not up to attending."

Gabriel cleared his throat, the conversation was not going in the direction he was predicting. "Yes," he eventually answered, "I think that would be wise."

"Very good," Sabine smiled, "now Gabriel, if you don't mind, I do need to get some sleep as we are up very early in the morning."

"I understand," he replied, "I would however, ask, that we discuss a few things tomorrow, if that would be possible?"

Sabine shared a look with a very curious looking Tom, "yes, that will be possible, but I would probably wait until Adrien is either not around or he is happy to see you."

"Thank you Sabine," Gabriel let out a levelling breath, "I appreciate what you are doing for Adrien."

"He is always welcome here Gabriel," she smiled, "and although I don't approve of your methods," she hesitated before speaking with emphasis, "I understand to some degree. I cannot say for definite what I would do, if I was in your situation."

Gabriel spoke quietly, "thank you Sabine, we can talk more tomorrow. Good night."

"Good night."

Sabine ended the call and turned to a slightly irritated looking Tom. The palm of his hand propping up his tired head. "We're not going to sleep are we?"

His wife smiled apologetically at him, "I'll go and pop the kettle on."

Kim was buzzing.

He was waiting at the school for Marinette's to show up, all the while Alya and Nino were monopolising Lila's time.

Apparently, Adrien had been with her last night after he had gone walkabouts, but the burly jock seriously doubted that. Even her lame excuse of "of course he won't one anyone to know, so if you ask he will deny it...you know how his father is…keep it out of the media…"

Kim rolled his eyes so hard he almost ended up a week ahead when Alya told him.

Phone in his hand, he was instructed to send an inconspicuous text message when Marinette showed up to allow Nino and Alya time to separate from Lila. The morning bell was fast approaching however, and he was still waiting. Alix approaching to tell him to get his ass to class was the moment he had to turn around and head into class, sending a text as he went.

Kim: Mari is a no show, heading up now..

Alya: Lila reckons Adrien's dad has kept him home as punishment. Has he arrived yet?

Kim: I wasn't looking for blonde boy Al.

Alya: Did you see him or not?

"No."

"AH! Kim!"

Alya jumped as Kim spooked her from behind, earning a slap on the chest and an amused chuckle from Nino. "You might regret that man!"

Kim shrugged smuggly, "meh, it was worth it."

"So he hasn't arrived either?" Alya brushed off Kim's antics as he shook his head, her eyes narrowed. Turning to her boyfriend, she asked: "have you tried him?"

"No answer when I tried to call earlier with the plan."

Perplexed, as none of the trio believed Lila's explanation for one second, they headed into class. Taking their seats and trying to engage in the lesson, they waited to see if either Marinette or Adrien showed up for the lesson. Finally, their wait was over, when the classroom door opened and Marinette hesitantly made her way into class. Handing the teacher a note, she managed a small smile at Kim but blanked everyone else in the room. He hoped that she would send him a text or some form of communication, to explain why she left a moment after with the teacher following. After all, she had changed her mobile number, but had failed to text him the evening prior like she said she would.

It was a good ten minutes before the teacher returned, and almost simultaneously he received a text from an unknown number.

Unknown: Sorry I didn't text you last night, things got a bit crazy. I'll text you later. MDC.

At least Kim had her new number now, but it did not explain why she left so abruptly, or what that note said. Grey eyes connected with hazel, and silently the two concerned classmates decided to investigate at lunch, with Kim sending a text back to Marinette as soon as he was able to.

The three classmates still had their plan, and it looked as though it was about to be thwarted, as Lila made an excuse to leave to retrieve something from her locker. With no option but to sit tight and wait for the bell, they hoped to god that nothing happened in the meantime.