Chapter 16

Adrien had leashed both Labrador puppies to walk inside the park near his family's manor. Currently, around the park, fewer people were strolling around, including the ones who were walking their dogs as well. Adrien came along a man walking his Pointer, which passed by the puppies and one of the puppies stopped to turn around to pick up the scent of the large dog. Adrien observed the puppy continue to use his nose to track then the blonde held his foot under the belly of the dog.

„Hey come on, boy. You two haven't done your job yet," Commented Adrien, then moved further as the puppy went his path along with his twin.

Along the path at a bench, sat Xavier Ramier along with an elder man looking down at the ground, where several pigeons were on the ground picking up from the ground seeds they had received from the two men. Adrien smiled from seeing that man again after a long while, then walked along the grass to avoid passing with the puppies by the flock.

A while later Adrien stood in another part of the park standing beside a bush watching one of the puppies get in the potty position while staring at the human. Adrien cackled amused by the way the dog was standing and removed from the leash a plastic bag to prepare it to pick up the remains.

„Well, well, well, finally a citizen that knows these parks are supposed to be poop-free," Said a voice calling Adrien's attention, which looked back to see Roger Raincomprix out of his uniform, which surprised the blonde a little due to the rare occasions he encounters the father of one of his friends like that.

„Hi Roger," Greeted Adrien, then picked up the poop from the grass, then pulled the bag out over his hand to have the disposal inside the bag and tied it up. „I have heard about Sabrina. You sure must be happy," Spoke the blonde making the lieutenant nod.

„I'm very happy to see my daughter forming her own life. It had been a tough time for me as she left for New York to do a language course," Stated Roger making Adrien nod.

„Chloé…...our childhood friend told me around that time you weren't fascinated with your son-in-law, Delmar," Mentioned Adrien making Roger sigh and nod.

„You know, every father fears their little girl's first relationship. What shocked me the most was, that both had known each other from this one trip to New York back in the 10th grade,"

„Sadly I couldn't attend that trip, because of my father. I had heard from my friend Nino, what went up there all the time. It sounded like fun though,"

„Th good thing about all this now is, that I got to know her boyfriend very well and we're more or less in good terms now," Commented Roger, then looked down at the two puppies and one of them sniffing Roger on his shoe. „Did your mother-in-law's dog conceive puppies or are you training them?"

„I had one day Shiryoku off the leash and he had disappeared for a while. It had turned out, he had gotten in that time a female counterpart pregnant and the female's owner dropped the puppies by us. These two I have up for adoption," Explained Adrien watching Roger get down reaching his hand for the puppy, which sniffed and licked it afterward. „He seems to like you," Commented Adrien as he watched the dog wag his tail while licking him.

„Oh, I had eaten a while ago a turkey sandwich. He must have caught the meat's smell," Reminded the agent the blonde, afterward Adrien picked up the puppy and held it to the man.

„Are you interested in keeping him? Labradors make good police dogs as well," Stated Adrien. „With training, of course,"

Roger pondered about Adrien's offer, then chuckled at the blonde's idea.

„You know, I could use a new friend in my life as well and I'm sure, he's going to be a great addition to our team," Said Roger tickling the puppy under his chin making him lick himself. „Besides Belgian shepherds and a few Bavarian hounds, you're gonna be the first of your breed,"

„Cool, he sure will get along with the others,

„Sure…...I think I'll name him…..Hunter," Spoke Roger making Adrien nod. „Good for a future police dog," Commented Roger making Adrien chuckle.

„My son would want to have named him Chase after a dog from a cartoon show on TV," Commented Adrien making Roger smile.

„We have a Malinois named after him in the unit. The niece of the owner suggested the name from there so far I know," Explained Roger making Adrien nod.

„Great…..Do you want to take him now with the leash or shall we take care of it on another day?" Questioned Adrien.

„Tonight I'll be dining at the house of my daughter, if you have time, you could bring me him after dinner," Suggested Roger, then Adrien held out his hand to give it to Mr. Raincomprix and sealed the deal with a handshake.

"Don't worry, I'll get everything he needs," Adrien assured.

The Kurtzbergs hang in the living room after they had eaten dinner before. Nathaniel lied on the couch watching the news, while on the ground sat Nathalie building a path with the dominos.

Lila got into the living room carrying a large book, then sat down on the couch in front of the husband's feet.

„I found this book together with my old collection. Is this yours?" Questioned Lila watching Nathaniel look up at the book, then shook his head.

„That's yours, actually," Corrected the redhead watching the raven-haired woman open the book to see her maiden name on it. „I think you wrote your name on it,"

„It seems," Commented Lila. „That's a photo album," Lila commented moving to the first page, which contained a few images of Lila sitting along with Kagami, Rose, and Juleka inside a cabin of the Ferris wheel. The next two pictures showed the capital as seen from above the Ferris wheel. One of them the cabin was at the middle height with a decent view of the Louvre's pyramid. „Oh cool I have been at the Ferris wheel by the Louvre," Commented Lila surprised making Nathaniel nod.

„We were all there once too," Mentioned Nathalie getting up to place his hands on Nathaniel's arm. „Remember?"

„I'm not sure if I'm the one with the images," Commented Nathaniel getting up to look for his smartphone.

Lila switched to the next page, then rolled her eyes towards the TV to see the journalist Alya Lahiffe on screen doing a report.

„A collision between a train and a car at the railroad crossing near the central station led people to stay in traffic for over two hours. The driver of the car has been badly injured after the impact and had to be taken by the air rescue to the nearest hospital. The traffic by the accident location has been blocking as well the entrance for the ambulance due to plenty of cars turning around to leave the area, thus only made the chaos grow,"

„I've seen this face somewhere…..." Mumbled Lila pondering about the woman's face on the flat screen. Lila looked back at the album, moving on to the next image to see four next images, then noticed her class picture from the 10th grade and encountered Alya on the image standing behind the entire class between Ivan and Sabrina. Lila found herself standing in the middle row behind her friends Kagami and Myléne, while beside her stood Nathaniel only followed by other of her classmates. „She's the….she's…..she was responsible for that school blog at the school!" Remembered Lila, then looked back at the image to spot Marinette on the first row in front of Adrien Agreste. „And Marinette's her best friend, of course!"

Nathalie clapped as her mother remembered two more people, making Lila grin and held her hand out at the girl.

„Thank you, oh I have to write that down on the list," Mentioned Lila watching Nathalie get up.

„I will bring it to you," Offered Nathalie walking out of the living room and Lila switched to the next page, where each of the images was Lila only but in each one she was together with one of her best friends. Each of the images had under it a small phrase, which Lila had recognized as her handwriting and read the first one, where Rose stood beside her.

„Rose Lavillant, one of the most positive girls I have ever met,"

Lila moved her finger to the next image of herself with Kagami to read it as well. „Kagami Tsurugi, the very first friend here in Paris to have stood up for me despite my past compulsive lying habit,"

Lila moved to the next picture with Juleka on it, seeing the caption of her as well.

„Juleka Coufaine, one shy but a very fashion-oriented girl. One heart of gold,"

The last image Lila read was the only one with a boy on it, the one who's today her husband.

„Nathaniel Kurtzberg. The most kind and reserved friend I'll have ever known. I can always count on him, whenever I needed it,"

In the image, Lila had her arm placed around Nathaniel's back and smiled together with him at the camera.

Nathaniel returned with the smartphone, then sat back on the couch and held out the smartphone to the woman.

„Here are a few images from the ride at the Ferris wheel. There are other different pictures you see yourself in it as well. You can see them as well, if you want," Nathaniel offered when his wife took his smartphone to look at the images.

„Oh uh I remembered these two girls here," Commented Lila moving the page back to show the class picture from the 10th grade. „Marinette and Alya. They're both best friends and Alya used to lead the news blog at the school,"

„Awesome. You will have to write that down on your notebook," Commented Nathaniel, then watched their common daughter get into the living room to get between her parents on the couch.

„Here,"

„Oh good job, Nathalie," Complimented Nathaniel earning a smile from the daughter, which moved closer to her father, then watched her mother fill in the notice. Nathalie turned the pages of the album of her mother to see an image of teenage Kagami and Adrien wearing their fencing clothes and standing together with Rose Lavillant and Juleka Couffaine, which wielded their sports clothing. Nathalie remembered Elliot had spoken about his parents, then glimpsed up at her father.

„Dad, can I ask you something?" Questioned the daughter making Nathaniel nod. „When you and mommy have become me. Were you happy about it?" Questioned Nathalie making her father nod.

„Of course. You're one of our biggest treasures we've been blessed with," Answered Nathaniel. „Why would you ask this? Did something happen?"

„Elliot told me he heard his parents say, that eventually because of him having come so early his father can't focus on his exam and that's why he didn't make it," Explained Nathalie. „I told him he could ask his parents, but maybe he thinks he can't do it because he's afraid,"

„I know what you mean. Elliot should ask his parents. I know very well, that this all is a misunderstanding. Kagami and Adrien wanted him. He just came right at the moment they were still going into university studying to get farther in life. Despite being near the final exams, they both together did a break, so they could focus on Kagami until Elliot would be born. You've seen Elliot along with his parents when both of you were at the creche. They adore Elliot with all their heart,"

„Yes, I remember," Stated Nathalie, then Nathaniel placed his hand on his daughter's shoulder.

„Do you know how your daddy felt when he knew mommy was expecting you?" Questioned the redhead looking at the daugther, which shook her head. „I was afraid,"

„Afraid?" Questioned Nathalie curious, while making Lila switch her eyes away from the smartphone to look at the man. „How is that possible?"

„You know, I'm or I was at that time, that sort of person, that has it terrible with dealing with responsibility. Being a parent would mean it would be a lifetime deal. I didn't have anyone I could look up to, better said a real father I could look up to. You see your grandfather….my dad, never was present in my life and that since I was a baby. What made my pain go away was, because I spoke with your mother once in a while, gaining confidence through her. Luka as well leaned me his hand and near your birth your grandmother and your great-grandfather,"

„Are you still afraid?" Questioned Nathalie making Nathaniel shake his head.

„You know, after you were born, I suddenly felt no fear. I felt joyful, overemotional, fortunate as I had seen you for the very first time. I had no idea, what was coming at me. I felt like I would know what to do as the time went on," Answered Nathaniel, then Nathalie got up on her father's lap to embrace him.

„You're the best, dad," Commented the brunette leaning her head next to his cheeks. Nathaniel beamed wrapping his arms around his daughter and pecked her on the forehead.

„Thank you," Whispered Nathaniel.

Lila smiled at the conversation between the two, then looked back at her photo album again and through her head passed a conversation, she felt was familiar.

„Where's daddy?" „He will be back soon, don't worry, darling," „But he promised me to be here before my birth time," „I know honey. You know your dad will do everything to not let you down. And you know that,"

Lila groaned placing her hand in front of her forehead, then looked to the side to see Nathalie point at the TV screen, which showed down a dark-red bar showing a cut-out from Lila Kurtzberg, who played the character Isabella in a Sci-fi show. Nathalie pointed at the screen, then glimpsed up at her father.

„Can I see it? It's been very long since I watched a bit," Commented Nathalie at the father, then placed her hands together to plead. „Please"

„Alright…..you've brushed your teeth, right?" Questioned Nathaniel making his daughter nod. „Alright, around 10:20 you should get up to bed. Is that alright?" Questioned Nathaniel making his daughter nod.

„Yes, dad," Answered Nathalie, then sat between him and his mother to look at the commercials waiting for the start of the new episode.

Marinette had the day off from the work and took the opportunity to do the shopping for the week. Marinette stopped in a corridor, where the milk products stood and picked up a cartoon field with a dozen of milk packs.

„This will be sufficient for the next week," Marinette commented, then looked at the smartphone held on her shopping cart and ticked the word milk off the list. „Orange juice is on the other corridor," Commented Marinette walking to the end of the corridor to make a U-turn into the next corridor to spot in front of her two carts blocking the corridor. Marinette placed the cart on the side and passed beside the first cart, where a woman was picking along with another one a carton with red wine making Marinette smile at their choice, then the blue-haired woman encountered fewer variations of orange juice sorts, afterward bowed down to pick up a package and looked at the other ones. „That one looks very tasty," Spoke Marinette followed by a chuckle, then she looked up to see Rose stand behind Marinette with a shopping basket over her arm.

„I didn't expect to see you here today, Rose," Commented Marinette holding the pack under her arm. „Are you off work today?" Questioned the woman making the blonde shake her head.

„I have to work today. I just came here to buy a bit of cheese and bread for us at the work," Responded Rose. „And you're off today it seems, right?"

„Exactly. I'm doing now the shopping for the next two weeks. Anything else I can't get yet here or anything else Luka will take, when necessary,"

„Juleka and I go at least once a week to have everything. Now with Eireen around we have to make sure we can all make fresh meals for us all, mostly her. According to some analyzes, kids should avoid convenience products and have more freshly made meals. You know because of their growth and immune system. It takes more time thought,"

„That did Luka read in one of the magazines Jagged held an interview. There was an article about convenience food and something about healthy forms of living," Mentioned Marinette. „At least when he's fully grown we should focus more on the meals,"

„That's very good," Commented Rose, then glimpsed above Marinette's shoulder after the one person left with her cart Adrien was coming along with his shopping cart searching on the shelf while moving further for something. „Hey! Adrien is here too!" Yelled Rose causing Marinette to cover her ears while making Adrien jerk off his head in fright from hearing the voice. Adrien encountered the two women, then sighed relieved, and moved his cart towards them.

„Hello, you two," Greeted Adrien. „I wasn't expecting to see you here,"

„Rose went to buy snacks for the salon and I'm doing the shopping for the week," Explained Marinette. „Oh by the way….I've heard from Alya about your exam, I'm sorry about it,"

„It's okay, I'll try it next year or I'll see what else I can do," Commented Adrien. „I will focus for the next weeks on being around my family,"

„You really should take the free time you got and go out with your son to spend some great father-son moments or even go out with Kagami to do something. Have a date or something alike,"
„Thanks for your suggestions. I really want to do something with both. I didn't give them so much attention lately. I could eventually turn into my dad at some point and I won't even notice it,"
„Getting at your dad's level is nearly impossible. Right now at Elliot's age spending time with him is the most important thing,"

„Those are the best years of your life. You have seen besides the Hawk Moth issue your dad barely was around for you. He had those fewer hours to be with you, but yet they weren't enough or got wasted somewhere else," Added Rose making Marinette nod.

„Where did you know about the story before his life as Hawk Moth?"

„You told me and the other girls about it back in the 9th grade, remember?"

„Right, right. Now I remember. I wish I couldn't remember certain moments'" Commented Marinette embarrassed, then Adrien placed his hand on her shoulder.

„Each of us did strange things back in the past. There's nothing to be ashamed of," Assured Adrien, then noticed inside Marinette's handbag Tikki glimpsed out at the blonde and he waved at the red kwami.

„Plagg is doing well as usual?"

„Yep," Answered Adrien. „Fun fact just last week ago Plagg misheard me talking and transformed me nearly in front of a foreigner into Cat Noir. I wasn't at the outside, but it was a close call,"

„I had no idea this could happen or well. I never had this issue. Perhaps I was just lucky," Stated Marinette making Adrien shrug his shoulder. „By the way…..we used to be partners back in our old days as the protectors of Paris. Have you got any idea about, how I should hide the miraculouses?" Whispered Marinette making Adrien ponder about her question.

„You've tried to buy a safe, where you could put a code and lock the box inside there?" Questioned Adrien making Marinette shake her head.

„No, but that sounds like a good start. You know which ones are ideal for it?"

„Hmm not really. Perhaps one of those, who have a large gap only for the entire box to fit in and then you lock it with a code or I think there are ones with fingerprint," Explained Adrien.

„Perhaps I'll have to look with Luka together. One thing for sure is, that we're going to take one with a code. Like in case of an emergency I can't just have one fingerprint. A code would be better,"

„That's good. I'm not sure, what your ideal idea is, but get a loose one. Don't have it installed anywhere in the house," Suggested Adrien making Marinette nod.

„No don't worry. I think we're not allowed to build something into the apartment without permission"

„Oh okay," Responded Adrien, then he heard his smartphone ring and took it out to see his mother was calling. „Oh I have to attend it," Adrien said moving on with the cart and attended the call.

Rose looked at the time, then back at Marinette.

„It is really okay, that I gave you Pollen back before the summer vacation?" Questioned Rose making Marinette nod. „In case you can't keep them all at home you can give her back to me. I and Juleka will make sure she's okay with us."

„Thank you for the offer, but for now on everything is okay. Luka, Kagami, Nathaniel, and Adrien still have their miraculouses in case it gets serious.," Assured the blue-haired woman making Rose nod, which moved further and picked out of the shelf a bottle with berry sirup, in the meanwhile Marinette taped on the display of her smartphone to write down a note.