Author's Note:

Set somewhere in the epilogue of Glaze.

S'mother

Sabine was no stranger to odd sights. Mother, baker and wife, and witnesser to the many, many akuma which plagued Paris, there was nothing much that could surprise her anymore. Not even being the mother of one half of the dynamic duo of Paris.

Finding that out had been a shock, but brought with it a lot of joy, happiness and pride for her daughter.

It also brought worry. Worry for the future. Worry for the bruises and the pain which lurked in her daughter's eyes. Worries late at night when the call had come in. Worries for Ladybug and for Chat Noir, as Sabine and Tom clung to each other while glued to the news.

A winter of worries and Sabine was knee-deep in them.

They'd been doing it all alone, and Sabine didn't even want to think about the time she didn't know. Now, she could look after her daughter. She could watch over them both. Make sure they ate. Make sure they slept. Make sure they had time for each other and time for their friends. A safe haven, where they could be themselves without hiding.

Any other mother might have been surprised the sight currently residing in her living room. Her daughter; curled up into a ball as tight as she could go, burying beneath layers of blankets and only her exposed face told Sabine she was there. Her daughter's boyfriend; on his back as he sprawled over her, his arms as wide as he could go, his legs and torso twisted in what should have been an unnatural position for a human boy, but perfectly suitable for a cat, and his shirt riding up his belly to be exposed to the sunlight.

Any other parent might have freaked out. A few months ago, Sabine might have too. If it weren't for the two kwami on the edge of the sofa draped over each other in almost an exact copy of Sabine's children.

The fact that all four of them were still fast asleep in spite of how much noise Sabine had made opening the door, told Sabine how comfortable, and how safe, they all felt.

Sabine would do anything to help them keep that feeling.

As quietly as she could, Sabine put her shopping bags on her counter and stowed away the shopping. When she was finished, she set about preparing the lunchtime soup.

Once the smell of chicken noodle soup had filled the living room, Sabine crossed the room to the sofa. The sunlight had moved and Adrien had scooted along with it. His back curved almost into a u shaped as he draped over Marinette, his head lower than his chest and down near where Sabine guessed Marinette's feet would be. She wondered how many cricks he'd have in his back when he woke.

"Adrien," she called. "Marinette. Time to wake up."

A noise of protest from the cuddlebug at the bottom of the pile.

"It's lunchtime," Sabine said. "Something warm, then you can go back to sleep."

"Kind've smothered," Marinette mumbled and the whole bundle jostled.

Adrien didn't move so Sabine put her hand on his chest and shook him. "Adrien. C'mon sweetheart, time to wake up."

His head came up, green eyes blinked open, complete with the startled kitty-mew.

"Lunchtime," Sabine said and lifted her hand from his chest.

Adrien, in his half-asleep sun-kissed kitty delirium, rubbed his face against Sabine's hand in greeting. Sabine smiled and gave him a scratch behind the ear. "Are you hungry?" she asked as Adrien's purr rumbled. "We have chicken noddle soup."

"Yum."

Smiling, Sabine turned and headed for the kitchen to dish up the soup.

"Can't move," Marinette called. "Squished. You'll have to feed it to me, Mom."

Adrien rolled, sliding off her and onto four limbs. Scooping his glasses from the coffee table, he turned around and crawled so he could see Marinette's face in the tiny opening of the blankets. "More for me," he teased and scrambled for the kitchen.

Blankets flew as Marinette tried to wrestle free and pounced on the kitty before he could get too far. They mock-fought with each other, wrestling as they both tried to be first to get their lunch.

Adrien reached the kitchen first, even with Marinette clinging to his back and offered Sabine a bright smile. "Thank you!" he chirped. "Smells delicious."

"Thanks Mama!" Marinette said, grinning over Adrien's shoulder before he plopped her down on a stool.

Sabine studied them as they ate. Such a different Adrien than what she's seen of him in his own home. Here, he laughed and had fun carting Marinette around on his back. Wresting and playing games with Tom. Learning how to cook and clean. Taking part in a family. Love and laughter to fill up the void that existed in his own home.

His father didn't seem to notice the beautiful flower which was blooming in the shadows of his neglect. Well, Sabine saw him. The Dupain-Cheng's had enough light and warmth to add a kitten to their family.

Sabine hoped it would be enough to keep them both safe in the days to come.

Author's Note: Short and sweet