Dear Journal,

So I've been thinking a lot of about my family lately, and you may be thinking if I'm thinking of Father.

Even if I can see him, he has disappeared into his work, and as much time as I spend at Marinette's, I'd say her family is becoming my family.

At first, it was just casual visits as Cat Noir, playing videos and the like. Even if I can't quite put my finger on it, I'm there almost all the time now, if I'm not with Ladybug. You already know I work in the bakery with Tom, and the funniest and possibly scariest thing happen with Mama Cheng.

Tom likes to sing along to the radio as he decorates the cookies, or brews the coffee, and even without my cat ears the sound can float up to the aparment. Which Mama Cheng heard and was not happy about it.

She had finally taken a break from all the painting classes she's been doing lately, in fact she was a guest at school just the other week. So, she told us she was going to go upstairs, make a pot of tea and put her feet up. Sabine is smaller then Tom, but when I peeked out to see what was going on, her anger towered over Tom. That, and she was holding a rolling pin. To top this off, it couldn't have happened at the worst possible moment because that's when Bugaboo stopped in. I skirted around them, hiding a bit behind Ladybug. "All I needed were some cookies, and I come in with Sabine holding a rolling pin," she whispers. "Tom was singing. Again."

"Tom Dupain, I have one day off for the entire month, and that-that noise! I could hear it so clear I'm surprised the teapot didn't shatter. I don't mind if you sing, but please, for my sake, and for Cat's, please keep it down."

"And I thought I had a temper," Ladybug whispers to me, taking my hand. "Yours comes in at a close second, my love," I tell her, and I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing. Tom looks so disappointed. "I'm sorry, Sabine. Cat, you'll help me right?" I nod, and Ladybug walks over to him, giving him a hug. "Its not that she doesn't love you, but she needs her peace and quiet."

Ladybug gets her cookies and walks out the door, and gives me a wink. The next hour or so is quiet, and soon we close the shop.

Marinette comes home, bubbly and excited, she loves her sewing class so much. Even if I'm a fashion model, the talk of buttons and fabrics goes over my head at times, but I like to see my Princess so happy.

I help Mama Cheng set the table, and I try to keep my mouth from watering. Lately, she's been cooking more Chinese dishes, and I especially love it when there are noodles involved.

This has to be my favorite time of the day when we go around the table, telling each other about our day, good and bad. Marinette laughs at the story that Mama Cheng tells her, about Papa singing.

"I must confess, I do get enthusiastic," Tom says, reaching for the bowl of steamed veggies. After the supper dishes are cleaned away, as long as Marinette and I don't have to much homework, we like to play board or video games.

Tom challenges me to a game, which I readily accept. When I first starting playing games with Papa, it actually scared a little because Tom can get so competitive. Oh, well, I can be that way as well.

We usually bet on whoever wins has to make the coffee in the morning, or something silly like that. He beats me, because I'm distracted tonight how pretty Marinette looks, and he whoops in victory.

I don't know the last time I laughed so hard, and I thought only Mom could make me laugh. Soon, its time to leave, and there's hugs all around, even if I don't want to go.

I don't like that empty feeling when I get "home" as I don't think of Father's mansion as home anymore. If someone asks me what I thought a home was I would tell them its where people that love you are and give you hugs.

There's another thing. Ladybug didn't usually hug me when we parted ways for the night while on patrol, but now we do. Not that I'm complaining about it. I do hope she's Marinette under the mask. She's so special and sweet.

I usually walk Marinette to school as Cat Noir, and today since it was chilly Mama Cheng invited me in for oatmeal. How does she make everything taste so good, Journal? The other week she made me mac and cheese and tomato soup when I wasn't feeling well, and it had to be one of the best meals ever. I asked her about it and she told me this.

"When food is made with love,

You don't just fill up on carbs and protein,

you fill up on love."

Love is the secret ingredient to her cooking, and it shows. Is that why the food I've been eating at Father's tastes bland to me now?

Marinette and I got a special surprise in our lunch boxes one day recently as we opened our peanut butter and jelly.

"Bluebell flowers and Bluebell eyes,

Marinette, you are as sweet as a flower.

Your imagination is like the petals,

happy and dancing and creative."

"Puns and jokes are his specialty,

Is that why you never see me frown?

You have a gift, Kitty,

Bringing smiles to everyone around you."

Mama Cheng

How did a Black Cat get so lucky to have these people in my life? Maybe Ladybug's Luck is rubbing off me, she isn't called Lady Luck for nothing.

I love being part of this busy and creative family, and that's what we are are.

A family.

Adrien Agreste

-Cat Noir