Sorry it's late! I became distracted by 'Glee' and I just could not stop watching it last night. Anyway, I hope you enjoy :)

Once Marinette had spoken with Nathalie, and Hugo had confirmed that 'yes, you will face her, and yes, it might be awkward at first, but Grandma understands… I promise it will be fine… mostly.' The woman downed her brandy and turned her attention to the two Agreste men who had not said much apart from sobbing out the occasional 'sorry' and 'I understand'. Hugo seemed to be happy with the outcome so far, but kept looking at the door which Marinette furrowed her brow at.

"Su-Han should be here any minute," the dark haired young man explained to a silently enquiring Marinette, causing her to nod slowly in understanding. "I'm sure we've done everything we were meant to up until this point."

Adrien stood up gingerly and offered a hand to his father who took it gratefully, and they both wiped the moisture from their cheeks only for it be replaced by more stray tears. Marinette and Hugo made their way to stand either side of the blonde, Marinette holding his hand and Adrien leaning into her for strength while Gabriel kept his head down. It took Nathalie a moment to join them, but when she did, the woman cleared her throat nervously and placed a hesitantly comforting hand on the older man's bicep.

"Where do we go from here?"

With Nathalie's words, Hugo clicked his fingers as he remembered a vital piece of information, "that's it! I was meant to let him know when we'd got to this point."

Marinette looked past Adrien, who was currently finding comfort in her arms, to give Hugo a pointed gaze and huffed with annoyance. "Do you have a checklist or something? We don't have to do everything immediately, maybe we can take a breather?"

Her son from the future at least had the decency to look slightly sheepish by averting his gaze and rubbing at the back of his neck. "Sorry, it's, uh, just been drilled into me how this is supposed to go down… yeah. This is how it happens." He nodded his head overly enthusiastically as he finished, and Marinette recognised the behaviour as something from her own repertoire. Instantly, the ravenette hero felt that her son was hiding something from her, and she twisted her lips while narrowing her blue eyes in his direction.

"Kit-Adrien," Marinette pulled her partner away a little to look into his glistening green eyes, "will you be okay if I go and get Su-Han with Hugo please?"

The blonde cleared his throat and blinked his bloodshot eyes to try and stem the tears that wanted to continue. "I-I, yeah."

Marinette could see he was lying and stood on her tiptoes to place a reassuring kiss on his cheek. "I just need to check something," she whispered, "I'll be back as quickly as possible, I promise."

"You're keeping something from us."

Marinette crossed her arms as soon as the double doors were closed behind them. She tapped her foot impatiently while watching him become flustered, and Marinette recognised what he was doing: he was thinking of a convincing tale to placate her and her suspicions.

"The truth please, Hugo."

The teen before her stopped faffing and let his arms slump to his sides. Looking into his pleading green orbs, Marinette could see her black clad partner staring back at her and her stomach somersaulted as reality set in:

Her and Adrien were the heroes of Paris; they had children together; they would be happy; Hawkmoth would be no more; Adrien's mother was going to see all of it-

And then Marinette remembered she would be able to freak out and squeal excitedly about what all this meant later: there were currently more pressing matters at hand.

"Well?"

Hugo held himself self consciously with one arm crossing over his body and his hand clutching at his bicep. "You remember," he gulped, "do you remember what B-Bunnix said earlier?"

The young woman's brow furrowed as she tapped her chin in thought, "about you giving us too much information?"

Her son bit his lip and let out a frustrated huff, "no, about Nathaniel-"

Before Marinette could question him any further, Su-Han landed soundlessly next to the bottom of the steps and began to make his way up to them at the top.

"I gather you are ready for the next part?"

"Master," Marinette bowed her head, "it is good to see you again."

"Yes," the man noticeably shifted his feet and bowed his head with a small smile, "I am happy to say that so far, from what I have observed, you are doing a very sufficient job, but I do have one question for you."

Marinette smiled at the compliment, "of course, what do you need to know?"

"Where can I get some more of these? " He gestured to the footwear which were looking rather worn on his feet, "I have looked everywhere but I am yet to find some as comfortable, and I could really do with another pair."

"Are you sure you don't want to see your mother before she goes?"

Adrien refused to go into his father's lair with Gabriel, Su-Han, Nathalie and Hugo. Marinette stayed by his side while the others went to transport Emilie Agreste to the temple, and the ravenette was uncertain if he was making the right decision.

"I never want to think of my mother in that, that thing…" he shook his head and sat on the bottom step of the staircase, "let alone see her in there." Marinette was quick to sit on the step just above the blonde and wrapped her arms around him, placing her chin on his shoulder. Adrien whispered: "do you really think she's gonna come back?"

"I do."

"Is this even real?"

"As real as we are."

"I can't believe it," Adrien spoke quietly while trying to keep his breathing even. The young man was holding onto the arms hugging his shoulders and rested his head into the side of Marinette's. "This is so weird."

The ravenette could not help the little snort that escaped her, "which bit?"

Adrien let out an ironic chuckle, "all of it." He sighed and turned his face to rest his forehead against her cheek, "it will be okay, won't it."

Marinette cradled his head to hers, "I hope so," she leaned away and brought him to look at her, "I trust Hugo, and Bunnix seemed to know what was going on."

"She did, didn't she." He agreed and wiped some loose strands out of her eyes. "I can't believe you were right under my nose this entire time."

The ravenette cocked a brow while trying to suppress a smile, the blush she could feel rising in her cheeks was not to be mentioned. "Of all the things that have happened so far today, that is what you can't believe?"

"That is what I am concentrating on right now, yes," he smiled genuinely, though tearfully. "My father tried to speak to me but… it's going to take time." Marinette smiled softly at Adrien while cupping the side of his neck. "Marinette, M'Lady, just promise me you'll-"

Marinette cut him off by placing a finger on his lips, and she enjoyed the blush that tinted his tear stained cheeks when she removed it slowly. "You don't even have to ask Minou, I'll be here for whatever you need okay?" He nodded and Marinette smiled and bit her lip, "I don't know how long they're gonna be, and hopefully they won't be too long, why don't we go for a walk to clear our heads to process what today has actually done for us both?"

"I'd like that," Adrien smiled and stood up, offering a hand to help his lady up to her feet. "Ice cream? We can leave them a note to call us when they're back, and this can be like, y'know…" he bashfully reached for the back of his neck, "our first date, maybe?"

The ravenette's face heated up under an intense blush as Marinette tried to calm her beating heart. "I-I, yes, please…"

"Awww," Adrien teased and bumped her shoulder as he laced her fingers with his and began walking towards the desk where there was a pad and pen, "I said you wouldn't be able to resist me without the mask, didn't I."

Marinette mumbled childishly while keeping her head hidden in his shoulder with embarrassment. "Shut up."

Thank you for reading! And for the comments, follows and faves =^.^= Pleas let me know your thoughts on how the fic is going, your comments make my day :)

Take it easy!

Lady Rhi X