"Adrien!" I shift in my bed, wishing the voice would stop calling because it would be confusing, wondering if it's my mother calling my name, or someone else. "Adrien!" The voice is loud now and closer, but still I don't answer. Maybe if I shut my eyes I go back into the dream….
"Adrien, I've been calling for five minutes! Are you sick?" Before I can answer, Nathile places a cool hand upon my forehead. Not that I could have answered anyway, as my mouth feels as dry as cotton.
"Its time to get up for school," she says, and I shift swinging my legs over the bed. Pain ripples through me, but its not a physical pain, its a emotional one. The dream I had was so lifelike and vivid, and once a year or so, I have days like this, were I just want to curl up in a ball, thinking of mother and how much I loved her. "I'm fine, I'm fine," I feel say, and I stand then wish I hadn't. Sweat breaks out on my forehead but I put a brave smile on for my audience. After all, I'm a model and superhero and I can mask all my emotions.
Its almost as if I have cotton stopping up my ears as I enter school, and everything sounds pericing and to loud. I walk as quickly as I can to the classroom without drawing atteion to myself, my steps quiet and catlike.
Thank goodness Marinette's out of school today, because she would be the first one to notice the pain behind the mask, and she knows me even deeper then that, as were partners. Its hard to concerate today, and I know if Plagg could he would whisper the questions that missed, daydreaming of happier times.
Its such a relief to flop down on Marinette's pink bed after school, and at last I don't have to pretend. Pain whips through me like a whip, why does Father keep secrets from me, is there one I can trust?
I claw the sheets, ripping them in agony until the pain subsides, and I fall asleep. "Cat?" My eyes snap open and Marinette is sitting here next to me, a concerned look on her face. Its not everyday I destroy her bedsheets, is it? I wipe my eyes and sit up. "Is it one of those days?" she asks, and I nod. She knows about these days. "Is there any way to see her, Bugaboo? Please, I'm begging you." My short request as me laying back down on the bed, exhausted. I stare at her beautiful face, as she chews on her lip. "Cat, it's dangerous…." A flash of hope white hot pulses through my system. "Please, Ladybug. Please, Marinette." She takes a deep breath. "All right. But we must stay hidden and not interfere."
The pain fades into a numb feeling as I sit up, and climb down the ladder after her. The pain was easier to bear, because when I'm numb, I feel nothing. "Burrow," Ladybug says, and I follow My Lady into the burrow.
The size of the burrow always overwhelms me even though I've been here before, and Ladybug frowns as she rewinds time. She stops and I see the picture on the screen is frozen. "Take my hand and follow me."
Where in the backyard, hidden behind some bushes and the younger even is sitting by some bushes. I turn and my mouth is darkened with bluish-purple juice. I hear Mother laugh and a fresh wave of emotions sweep me away. "Adrien, honey, if you want me to make a blueberry pie later, you have to leave some blueberries on the bush," Mother says, sitting down besides me, taking out a wet cloth.
Father is dressed in his white bee-keeping outfit, but I can hear his chuckle. Father kept bees before he got to busy being a fashion designer. He takes off the helmet, and I stare.
Gone is the flat icy stare. Gone is the gray hair, and he has a good ruddy color. "You know how I love your mother's pies, Adrien. Let's look for ladybug's so she can get started."
We creep closer, still hidden but now we're able to hear better. Mother is so close to me I could reach out and touch her, and the longing is so strong a soft meow escapes through lips. Mother stops and I back up into the trees. "Did you hear that?" she asks, and for a moment, time stands still as she stares directly at me. I don't know if she can see me, but she smiles softly. "Its probaly the wind. Come on, sweetie, you can help me wash the berries."
Ladybug and I tumbled back into her room, tangled up in a pile. I pull her into my arms, holding her close. "Did I do the right thing? Or did that hurt to much?" she asks. "No, my love. It was excatly what I needed."
I find her lips and kiss her softly, then deepend the kiss. A soft sound comes from her throat and she opens her mouth for better access. Pain and pleasure are wrapped up togetehr in this moment. I don't know if I'll ever see my mother again, but at least I have her memories. The pleasure is the one I'm holding in my arms, if I ever fall apart she's the one to put me back togetehr again.
"Thank you, Ladybug," I whisper after our kiss, laying my forehead against hers. With my senseitve cat ears I can hear her heart beating and I listen to its gentle sound.
The pain is slowly fading out, replaced with a soft feeling called love. Ladybug grabs a soft blanket andd wraps it around my shoulders, humming. "Just rest and hear, Adrien."
A soft purr escapes my lips, and I feel my eyes slipping closed. She weaves her fingers through my hair, until the pain is gone.