Chapter 24
Lila sat in the waiting room along with four other people at the parish hall waiting for her turn. She held in her hands an envelope and a ticket with a number from the dispenser, showing she was two turns away from her call. The woman observed the number change, the watched one of the guests stand up and make his way to the desks in the front, where clerks were sitting with a client. Lila took out of the envelope the sheet to take a look over the entire thing.
"Thank goodness Luka knew how to help me. Can't believe the secretary didn't show any matter, that I lost my ID at the accident. As if any other person in this situation with amnesia would know it better," Lila murmured quiet. Lila heard another person being called forward and she observed a middle-aged person with light gray hair move further to head to sector C, where the seat had been free now. Lila smiled knowing she would be the next one, afterward she looked out of the waiting room and recognized Marinette Couffaine, which had been carrying a box on her hands, and stopped by the reception, where a woman stood. Lila observed the woman hand out the box to the other woman, which smiled and took out from her vest jacket out two bills and say thank you to the blue-haired woman. Marinette stored the bills inside her purse, while adjusting them inside the wallet and she glimpsed at the waiting room to recognize Lila.
"Good morning, Lila!" Greeted Marinette moving towards the Italian woman, which waved at the woman. "Are you here because of the ID?"
"Yes, exactly," Responded Lila. "If you see, tell Luka thank you from me,"
"I will," Answered Marinette. "Do you need me to go there with you?" Asked Marinette making Lila shake her head.
"It's alright, I don't need it," Responded Lila followed by the device calling the next person, which now was the raven-haired's turn. "Oh, it's my turn,"
"Great, I'm coming with you," Mentioned Marinette grabbing Lila on her shoulder, which sighed a little at Marinette's help, but nodded accepting it anyway.
"Perhaps I could need something," Lila commented earning a smile from Marinette, which held her hand out to let Lila walk first, and both head to the first secretary to encounter a dark-skinned man at the office, which got up to greet the woman.
"Good day," Spoke the man holding out his hand to shake Lila and Marinette's then allowed the two to sit down in front of his desk. "How can I help you?"
"I would like to make a new ID card. I lost mine in a car accident and I filled in the needed information," Lila explained giving the man her sheet, which he took to work with it.
Marinette looked up at the second level, where the resident's registration office was, and spotted Mireille Caquette on it, waiting at the counter to be attended.
"Lila, you have to pass by the wedding room later. I'm pretty sure we'll be able to tickle your memory a little," Marinette suggested, then Lila looked back to see, where the place was located and Marinette pointed up.
"It's on the first floor on the other side. Don't worry, I'll show you," Marinette commented making Lila nod.
The man moved the computer screen at Lila and Marinette, so both could look at the screen.
"Is the data all correct?" Questioned the man, then Lila verified the filled-in content and looked at Marinette.
"Is alleé rouge 28 our road?" Questioned Lila making Marinette nod.
"Yes, it is," Responded Marinette.
"Thank you," Responded Lila earning a nod from the staff member. "So far everything is correct here," Spoke Lila making Marinette nod, then the man got up at the corridor to wait for a document he sent to the large printer standing there.
"You do know your full name from now, right?" Questioned Marinette earning Lila's attention.
"That's the only thing I haven't forgotten yet,"
"Really?" Asked Marinette surprised making Lila nod. "Didn't notice,"
The man returned with two sheets and placed them on the table for Lila , then pointed at the end of both sheets to inform her, where to sign.
"One of them is for you, the other for us. Please sign the two here," Asked the man earning a nod from Lila, which picked the pen beside her to put her signature on them with Marinette observing it. After Lila signed it, Marinette noticed, that Lila had written her full name on it with her current last name making her raise her eyebrows notably pleased, she was right on that part.
"Your signature is pretty," Complimented Marinette watching Lila look at the signature to see the surname Kurtzberg on it and Lila raised her eyebrows up in confusion about it.
"Now the times I practiced writing my name are finally getting paid off" Lila declared signing a sheet, that was in front of her.
"I've signed here something like that before," Stated Lila and looked at Marinette. "Have I been here before?" Questioned the Italian woman watching Marinette ponder about it and nod.
"Yes," Answered the blue-haired woman. "If you can, follow me after we're done here," Commented Marinette earning a nod from the raven-haired woman.
On the floor, near the wedding room, both women arrived at the top of the stairs and Marinette showed the former brunette the entrance to the wedding room, where years ago she along with Nathaniel got married.
"It seems as if there is going to be one soon," Marinette commented from seeing inside the room a groom standing there with a best man discussing the ceremony. Lila walked to the door slowly, then glimpsed into the room to see chairs on the side of the room and at the end the table with three chairs, where the couples would wed officially. Lila observed the place, then closed her eyes as she was trying to remember when it was her last time there.
Lila was standing in front of the entrance to the wedding room remembering her parents, which were standing inside the room along with the mother of Nathaniel, which was on the opposite side. Lila looked at the side to see beside her Nathaniel Kurtzberg standing there looking into the room as well with a rather nervous smile on his face. Lila chuckled, then shove her hand into Nathaniel's to give him comfort.
"You're also nervous?" Questioned Lila making Nathaniel nod once.
"My stomach is tingling about our day. It's an important one, I want it to be good,"
"It will, Nathy. The nervousity always tends to speak louder," The brunette commented making Nathaniel nod and reach his forehead, so both could lean against each other with it. "You know very well how much I want to be called….."
"Lila Kurtzberg," Lila said along with Nathaniel, followed by the woman chuckle.
"He's my husband!" Lila gasped in surprise, while Marinette dropped her mouth astonished at the friend's self-realization. Both women noticed inside the wedding room both the groom and the registry official were looking at the women confused, then Marinette faked a grin at the two men.
"Sorry, we've been here a while ago…..we're…..reminiscing about the old times," Marinette commented, then moved Lila aside to avoid more embarrassment and leaned herself on the wall with Lila standing in front of her. "That was awkward, just imagine as you said that the bride would be in there and get mad," Spoke Marinette, then watched Lila take out her smartphone to look at the display to see herself in the picture with Nathaniel, which had behind each other their one arm.
"I…..wow, I really married one of my best friends," Lila spoke making Marinette nod.
"One of the first ones to understand you the way others couldn't," Added Marinette. Lila embraced the shorter woman tightly, shrieking her, which smiled afterward and caressed Lila's back.
"Thank you,"
"Don't mention it," Was Marinette's response, after she made Lila figure out more about her life before the accident.
At the school, the first grade of Mrs. Donner had sports lessons and were preparing along with the gym teacher the mats for the sport the teacher had planned to play.
"Alright kids, the last mattress you can place here at the corner near the gate," Said the teacher helping Emily, Duarte and Jake carry the thin mat to the edge. The other students returned from the other corners after having pushed the mat across the hall to the respective corner. "If none of you mind, please bring one snag with bands here. Any color you want," Questioned the tan-skinned woman, then Johnny raised his hand up and ran into the storage room.
"Johnny! Bring red! Bring red!" Chanted Rouven making Elliot chuckle.
"We had red last time. We could pick a different color, like blue," Added Elliot making Zheng nod, which walked past them to return to the walls along with the other students.
"Or green," Added Zheng making Elliot nod and join the rest of the class along with Rouven, then waited along with the others for the remaining students to join.
"There's nothing better than playing ball sports," Commented Rouven rubbing his hands together making Elliot nod.
"I love it as well. It's so cool, we can also have a lot of fun together like, and this counting as school too!," Commented Debby making Rouven nod.
"Yes,"
"I like school so far," Spoke Elliot. "It's not as bad as it sounded first when I saw my dad studying,"
"I sometimes don't like the homework part. I'm not very happy with the reading. Math and drawing are okay," Mentioned Rouven.
The gym teacher returned with the rest of the children, then received from Johnny the snag with the bands.
"Thank you. Children, we're going to make two teams. I will make the team by calling first a few of you out to put on the band," Explained the teacher taking out a few bands and looking at the class. "Alright, Jake, Debby, Zheng, Ruby, Eireen, and Elliot. You will be team red, take the band with you and distribute yourself around the field. The rest gather behind the first mattress,"
"Oh no, we're playing against Elliot," Mentioned Cody sad, watching Elliot walk off with his team and waved at his friends with a little smile.
"So are Eireen and Ruby," Commented Nathalie joining the boys making Cody nod.
"Alright, if you all agree I and Johnny go first, then it's Emily and Nathalie. Duarte and Cody will be the last ones," Rouven explained making the group nod.
The teacher returned from the storage room with a hula hoop to drop it a few meters away from the corner, then waited for Jake from the red group to come to the front to stay by the loop.
"You know the rules, if the ball hits the middle of the loop, the turn is over. Who doesn't make it on top of a mattress has to return to the start, who's on the mattress has to wait for the friend's turn," The woman stated making the children nod.
Johnny took the ball from the ground, then looked at Rouven, which nodded, thereafter Johnny threw the ball up in the air and raced along the hall to the first base, while a few of the red team split up to follow the ball.
"Go Johnny!" Shouted Cody along with Duarte watching the blonde reach the first mat, in the meanwhile one of the opposite team's children managed to take the ball and throw back to another team member. Johnny was around the hall and spotted that the ball had been throwing directly at Jake's position, who stood a few meters aside from the loop waiting for the ball. Johnny went faster and jumped in the air at the same time as Jake caught the ball to smack it against the ground on the loop, followed by the teacher blowing her whistle.
"Johnny's out!" Warned the teacher making the blonde groan, then stamped his way back to his team. Rouven received the ball back from Jake, then he got prepared to use the ball. Rouven dropped the ball on his foot to kick it far away at the end of the hall to make the last four students of the enemy team get behind it, while Rouven took the opporunity to cross the hall fast. At the arrival of the first mat, he followed to the second one and Eireen had been the one to catch the ball, then threw it at Ruby, which failed to caught it making Eireen smile embarrassed.
"I'm sorry," Apologized Eireen watching Ruby give it to Zheng, who threw the ball across the hall passing above Rouven's side, which noticed that and went faster managing to arrive at the last base to score for his team. Elliot caught the ball and noticed his friend had managed to get around the hall, then smiled a little glad about his friend's success, then rolled the ball on the floor towards Jake, which waved at Rouven.
"It's your turn, Emily," Mentioned Johnny making Emily nod, which kicked the ball with her feet diagonally and Ruby jumped in the air missing to catch the ball, which flew above her head. Debby ran to pick the ball, then passed it over to Elliot, which gave it back to Jake and crashed the ball against the hole of the loop, followed by making the teacher whistle.
"Safe!" The teacher shouted observing Emily jump happy on top of the second mat. Afterward, Nathalie received the ball from Jake, then she looked around the place wondering, where she should throw the ball. Nathalie threw her ball forward, then departed from her spot watching Debby race along with Elliot towards her direction. Nathalie saw the ball in her way and she jumped above it slightly touching it with her foot making it roll aside to the wall and Elliot kicked the ball against the wall making it jump back, shrieking Debby at the loud crack on the wall and observed the ball roll above the field, so Zheng could take it and send it flying towards Jake, which hit the spot inside the loop again and watched Nathalie stand on the first base waiting and Emily landed on her butt on the last mat.
"Out!" Warned the teacher making Emily groan annoyed from having failed by a little bit and returned to the group along with the thrown ball by the brother of hers.
"Come Duarte, show us your best kick," Cheered Rouven watching Duarte kick the ball high in the air, followed by departing immediately. In the meanwhile he glimpsed up seeing his ball had hit the rings above the hall, which stopped the ball, making it drop behind his back. Duarte continued running watching Nathalie passing above the third mattress and heading to the last one, while Zheng grabbed the ball to throw it at Debby, which gave it to Elliot, which passed to Jake. Duarte stopped at the third base watching Jake hit the ground with the ball and he smiled seeing he had managed to stay safe.
"Safe!"
"Okay, Cody, kick the ball at the other corner and try to go all around the hall for us to get double points. You can do that," Rouven commented making Cody nod, which threw the ball in the air to kick it, thereafter he departed, shortly all began to laugh and Cody looked up to see he had hit the ball behind the board of the basket and was now stuck in there. Cody began to laugh as well, then the teacher went to take a look at it.
"Don't worry, kids. I'll get the bar to get the ball down. You can give it another try, Kodiak," Mentioned the teacher making Cody nod.
"At least you scored this time…...besides it's not the right side of the net thing," Mentioned Elliot approaching his friend, which chuckled.
"This kind of happens with that ball all the time," Commented Debby. "My father at the school had this a lot of times,"
"My father at the school was good at catching balls. This is why he many times was a goalkeeper at soccer," Mentioned Cody making Elliot nod.
"My dad could play well with the team, but he told me two other classmates would have scored for their team. One was also a girl and she was short according to him," The Agreste boy commented making Rouven nod.
"Like my mother," Commented Zheng. "My dad is almost two heads taller than her,"
"Just like my parents," Added Elliot, then Nathalie joined the convo.
"My dad is around a head and a half shorter than my mom. She doesn't even wear the shoes with the sticks on them,"
"I think my parents are the same height," Commented Debby thinking about hers. "What about the rest of you?"
"My dad is the tall one," Commented Rouven making Jake and Duarte nod.
"My parents are almost the same height. My dad is just a few little inches taller than mom," Commented Ruby, then looked at Eireen.
"My new moms have about two heads or three different. My real parents, who I had before my mother looked taller," Spoke Eireen making the students nod. Debby stepped forward and placed her hand on Eireen's arm.
"I'm sorry about your loss. It must be very difficult to handle something this sad," Debby stated making Eireen smile a little.
"Today I have two new people, that will help me. It's a lot different, then what I knew from before, but it's good," Confessed Eireen making Debby nod, thereafter Nathalie embraced her friend along with Ruby.
"We're here, if you need to talk," Spoke Ruby making Nathalie nod. As a third person, Rouven placed his hand on Ruby's shoulder to be able to look at his new cousin.
"Your…...same-old cousin is also here for you. At good and bad times,"
Eireen smiled at the boy, which mirrored her expression back observing the girl trio together.
Durant stood inside the bus holding himself on a pole while using his smartphone. He tapped with one of the fingers on the screen to write down a text, then tightened his grip on the pole as he felt the bus slow down to make a stop and it sank its suspensions to approach the ground and opened the door for passengers to get out. Five people had entered in the middle of the bus, making Durant roll his eyes up and spot Lila Kurtzberg entering along with her friend Marinette, which walked along with her to the front to take a sit behind the driver's cabin. Durant dropped his mouth from recognizing the raven-haired woman then opened his internet search engine to look for the Italian's name.
"That's her," Mumbled Durant looking forward at the two women, then leaned against the wall with the hinged seats to look at them.
"Yesterday on the streaming service we've found that movie Elliot told Rouven about it and we had all watched it together. I was pretty shocked how the movie despite being meant for a young audience kills off easily one of the protagonists," Explained Marinette making Lila curious.
"What? Now that's something I don't see in today's animation. Are you sure the movie was really meant for kids?" Questioned Lila. "I once had set a movie to play for Nathalie, which was animation and it turned out it was rated PG and had uhm…...mature content. My luck was, that Nathaniel saved the day by shutting the electricity down to prevent the scene to go into that topic,"
"What was the movie called?" Questiond Marinette.
"I think Demon Snake," Spoke Lila. "I had seen on the movie cover a kitsune and thought it would be cute,"
"I don't think I know that movie,"
"For teens and older audience it's sure a good watch," Commented Marinette. "About what happened before at the townhall…..how exactly did you remember Nathaniel? What did you remember about him?"
"I had remember standing there in front of the entrance of the wedding room together with him. He was nervous. He was happy, but his nervousity was taking away the best of him at that moment. I had comforted him about it and then….I had remembered how I signed my last name an…..I remembered stating to Nathaniel how much I wanted to be called like that," Inserted the actress making Marinette nod.
"You really wanted that during the years you were together with him. It's hard to admit, but I actually like the ring of it. Dare I say, it's even better than your maiden one,"
Lila chuckled about Marinette's comment, then both looked at the front of the window as the bus stopped at one stop and they were at the road, which passed by the louvre.
"Next bus stop will be my exit, do you want to come with me in for a cup of coffee?" Questioned Marinette watching Lila ponder about the offer, then nodded.
"Why not," Lila replied making Marinette smile.
Durant watched the two women get out of the bus, then he got out a few seconds later and watched them walk on the path.
"Hmm," Murmured the blonde watching the two woman move into the next path, that led to a six-leveled house, that consisted of more appartments. The man followed the women to the path, then observed Marinette take out her key to open the door and he approached the woman normally, stopping by to see Marinette let Lila enter into the building first, then she noticed the man standing by.
"Are you going to visit anyone?" Questioned Marinette making the man nod and step up on the step.
"Yes, I'm going to visit an old friend of mine, his name is…." Durant began, then rolled his eyes at the available bells. "Costas," Added Durant glimpsing back at the woman, hoping to not look any suspicious.
"Ah I think I know who you mean. He's the one who is a pilot, right?" Questioned Marinette making Durant hesistate a second, then nodded.
"Exactly. He's a pilot. A good one," Durant added making the blue-haired woman nod.
"Cool. I don't know if he's around to be honest. Well I don't have to, I just used to see him once in a while, when he left for work, that's all,"
"I will see if he's around," Commented Durant.
The duo went stairs up, followed by the man a few steps behind and he stopped at the second floor to observe the blue-haired woman unlock the door to let Lila enter. Durant stepped at the current floor, then moved to the next step and took a look into the appartment of the Couffaines.
"This is Rouven's room. Mines over there," Marinette commented, then Durant moved his head above the railing to see the door half-open, afterward Marinette moved back to spot Durant gaze into her appartment, shrieking him.
"Uh I was just getting down, I think I'm going too far," Lied Durant making Marinette nod.
"His room is right there in front of mine," Mentioned Marinette making Durant nod, then get to the front of the door waiting for Marinette to enter into the appartment. "You can ring there as well," Commented Marinette making Durant frown as the woman hadn't entered into the appartment, then he looked down at the doorbell moving his finger towards it and had an idea.
"Oh good you have spoken. I just noticed this isn't the door of my friend…..I must have gotten into the wrong road," Made up the man hoping Marinette would buy it.
"Well he's the only one I know named Da Costa, who's a pilot."
"That's funny, cause my friend's name is Costas only," Mentioned Durant walking past Marinette, noticing Lila stand in there looking at him. "Hey, isn't that this actress from the show, that airs every night?" Questioned Durant making Marinette nod.
"Yes, but she's off the work, so there's no autographs nor pictures," Marinette warned making Durant nod.
"Sure, I'll be going and see if my friend lives in one of the other houses and leave. Good day," Durant wished making his way downstairs, thereafter Marinette looked at the raven-haired woman, which observed the guy leave.
"Is it just me or does this man remind you of someone?" Questioned Marinette making Lila shrug her shoulders.
In the afternoon, Kagami sat in the bedroom of Elliot beside the boy reading out loud a small text from a book, while Elliot was writing down, what he had heard.
"The princess took her bow and shot it down," Kagami read making Elliot nod, which was noticing down the sentence.
Into the bedroom Adrien walked in, while holding on his hand his smartphone as he had been on a video call between two old friends of him.
"My son's doing the homework, perhaps he's done now," Commented Adrien, then noticed Kagami looking back at her husband and Elliot was finishing his sentence. "Kagami, do you want to tell Parker and Ulrich hi?" Questioned Adrien making Kagami smile, then Adrien turned his back to his wife and moved the camera towards her, so she would wave at the brunette and the short-hair-shaved man.
"Hey, how are you two doing?" Questioned Kagami making the two men nod. On Ulrich's split screen appeared a child with brown hair looking at his father, then waved at Kagami and Adrien.
"That's my son, Lukas," Introduced Ulrich making Kagami smile. Adrien grinned as well, then tapped on Elliot's shoulder to call his attention.
"Elliot, will you say hello to Ulrich and Parker? They're old friends of mine and your mother," Adrien mentioned watching Elliot look at the adults, then waved at them.
"Hello," Greeted Elliot neutrally, then Adrien patted the son on his head.
"We've met them in the fencing tournament years ago," Inserted Adrien making Elliot nod.
"The one, where you won?" Questioned Elliot making Adrien shake his head.
"No, another one, but we saw each other as well on the one I won," Commented Adrien looking back at the screen to see Parker dissapear from the image to return with a toddler in his arms, which was sucking on a pacifier and held her tighly.
"You've got another baby already?" Questioned Kagami enchanted by seeing the young kid making the Swedish man chuckle.
"That's actually my younger sister, well, step-sister. It's a long story," Commented Parker making Ulrich sink his eyebrows sad, while Adrien furrowed his eyebrows.
"Uh did I miss something?" Questioned Adrien making Parker nod.
"My dad was…..well unfaitful to my mother and got her sister pregnant," Mentioned Parker. "Apparently this affair existed for a few months, but she had gotten pregnant and only figured it out very late,"
"Woah, that's insane," Commented Adrien looking at Kagami, which was surprised as well. "Some people do like to believe, that they're never caught," Adrien commented, then observed above the videocall Marinette's name blend in with capitalized letters. "THE COUSIN FROM YOUR DAD WHO WAS ARRESTED IS OUT!"
Adrien raised up his eyebrows at the comment, then looked at Kagami, which had the same facial expression and looked at her husband.
"I'll call her," Kagami said picking up the smartphone from Elliot's desk and got out of the bedroom, closing the door behind her. She searched up for Marinette's phone number, so she could call her.
"Marinette, it's me, Kagami. What's up with the cousin you're talking about?"
"This guy had been looking inside our building for a friend of him. I had felt like I had seen him somewhere and did some researching. I figured out he was the cousin, that had kidnapped Emilie years ago. It's just after all these years his looks have changed. This is why I didn't recognize him at start,"
"But he doesn't know you right? You two defeated him as you were still Ladybug and Cat Noir, right?"
"Yes sure, just I'm surprised he's already out of jail,"
"He had served his sentence. I don't know the exact number of years he had to do, but if you believe he's out earlier it might be because of good behavior. Not all criminals in jail will stay there forever, at least the ones, who didn't commit such things as murder,"
"I presume he should have changed while he was in there. At least many have started to life and appreciate their free time now more as usual," Marinette spoke. "I was hoping to speak to Adrien about it, since it's his cousin, but this is fine too,"
"I think for now on, just forget about him. He's trying to start his second chance. Maybe if you see him again and he seems lost or anything you can offer him help. There's nothing better, than having somebody to lead us throught life better,"
"Exactly, you've got a good point. Well, I'm sure Adrien or his parents are going to figure out he's out of jail soon or later. Perhaps you two could mention it, in case they surprisingly meet randomly on the outside,"
"Don't worry, I'll talk to Adrien later. Thanks for the message," Said Kagami. "See ya,"
Nathaniel entered the house along with his daughter, then Nathalie raced into the living room to jump on the couch to turn on the TV.
"I'm going to turn on the TV. The series is about to start," Nathalie said.
"Alright, I will go upstairs and see, where your mother is," Nathaniel commented walking them up, while he held on his hand Nathalie's rucksack and dropped it in front of the closed door. He went further, getting by the entrance to the hobby room to encounter Lila sitting on the chair by his drawing table looking into a large photo album.
"I visited along with Nathalie my mom. I'm not sure if you've seen the message I sent," Nathaniel mentioned earning the attention of his wife.
"Uh and good afternoon," Greeted Nathaniel watching Lila get up.
"Welcome back," Greeted Lila approaching the redhead, then leaned her face against Nathaniel's to peck him on his lips. "How was work?" Questioned the raven-haired woman noticing Nathaniel was surprised about her deed.
"For what was that?" Questioned Nathaniel, then Lila grabbed Nathaniel's hand and at him.
"I remembered our talk before getting into the wedding room back at the registry office," Mentioned Lila making Nathaniel sink his chin down slowly.
"When I was worried about the ceremony?" Questioned Nathaniel making Lila nod. "Wait…..so you mean, you remember what happened afterward?"
"It was our wedding," Responded Lila. "We got married on that day,"
"So you know who I am?" Questioned Nathaniel watching Lila show him her hand with the wedding ring.
"You're the one, who had put the ring on my finger," Nathaniel smiled taking Lila's hand to pull in closer to his chest. "I wanted to give you the love you deserved,"
"You're a sweetheart," Commented Lila leaning her forehead on Nathaniel's. Both heard a cough, then looked at the exit to see Nathalie stand there eyeing the duo surprised. Lila chuckled a little at the girl's sight, then Nathalie ran into the arms of Lila to hug her.
"Guess who got to remember your daddy?" Questioned Nathaniel, then the daughter placed her hand on his armmaking him smile and pull her along with Lila into their arms to hug her, giving her an amused smile.