This chapter finally brought everyone together!


After school, as promised, Tom and Sabine took the three worried friends to the House of Misplaced Children. They were going to attempt to fight for custody of Adrien once more.

Once inside Tom couldn't hide his joy at seeing the annoyed grimace on the social worker's face. So he smirks, "we promised we be back."

The woman behind the desk rolled her eyes, "so you did. Well, the baby moth is gone."

Sabine placed a hand on Tom's shoulder before he completely lost it. She genitally asks, "Where is he?"

She answers by saying "I'm not at liberty to say."

Tom threatens, "I swear to god let me find out you people hurt that kid. Tell me where he is right now. I am not leaving here until I see Adrien."

"Well it's not going to happen, so suit yourself." And she walked away from the counter.

Tom yelled, "get back here and tell me where Adrien is right now!"

A simple "no" was shouted at them.

Sabine pushed the button that requests service. After Sabine pushed it once, he pushed it a 'million' times in a row.

Sabine rolled her eyes, "you think pushing the button that many times is going to make them move quicker."

Tom, still pushing, says "no, but maybe it will annoy them." Tom pouts, "maybe."


Walking down the street, Krissy says to Adrien, "you ever go camping?"

Adrien shakes his head 'no.'

Krissy admits, "well your going tonight. I'm thinking I'll have to get your grandparents here, and then they'll stay with you until we can take you home. My dad said he'll bring a tent though." Krissy wraps her arm around Adrien's shoulder.

"We have to sleep like on the ground?"

Krissy uses her other hand to rub the back of her neck. "Yeah, I'm sorry about that Kiddo, but even if that cracker box I visited had the room, there is no way I could afford a long-term stay."

Adrien admits, "I always wanted to try a smore?"

Krissy grins, "oh, my favorite. You never had one before?"

Adrien shakes his head 'no.'

Krissy declares, "we will have to fix this injustice right away."

Adrien suddenly asks, "think they'll like me?"

"Who?"

Adrien says, "uh your p-I mean my grandparents?"

Krissy says, "they are going to love you, kiddo. My mom wouldn't be willing to sleep outside for just anybody you know. After I go yell at these people, I'll give my parents a ring. Tell them to get their asses here. Everything is going to be okay. Okay?"

Adrien asks, "are they like the grandparents you see in the movies?"

Krissy licks her lips and scratches her head, "um, tell me what you gots in mind?"

"Do they bake cookies?"

Krissy nods, "oh yeah. Bake and cook we all do's. My parents and I throw down in the kitchen."

Adrien got excited, "really?"

Krissy says, "yeah, but we be cussin' the whole time."

Adrien snorts, "what?"

"Like, where the fuck is this? Where the fuck is that. I just had that damn lid, where the fuck did it go? And then we be yelling at the appliances. Like, my hands are full. I'm coming. Don't beep at me. Don't you boil over now! I'm coming. I swear to fuck, if you don't stop beeping at me."

Adrien starts to really laugh and Krissy smiles. Glad she was able to make him laugh. She rubs the back of her neck, sheepishly. "Once we get you back to the house I will cook a feast. You'll get to see it first hand."

Adrien, still chuckling, "I think I'll like that."

Once they approach the door, she says "give me the phone, Adrien."

He hands her the phone. She walks in first, followed by Adrien who was surprised to see Tom and Sabine. Marinette and Alya. And Nino. They didn't notice them just yet.

Krissy nearly laughed at Tom's attempts to bring one of those workers back.

Tom shouts, "I know you heard me."

Krissy makes her way next to Tom. Adrien remains by the door.

Krissy says, "Nah my man. They are straight-up assholes here. I was here a few hours ago and almost caught a case. You just gotta help yourself around this joint." And she proceeded to make her way around the desk.

Sabine says, "I don't think you can go back there."

Krissy takes a seat on the wheeling chair. She rolled back a little bit but pulled herself closer to the desk. "Nope. But these assholes ain't helping us." Then she puts her feet up on the table. She starts playing with the computer. "Look this dumbass left his computer open too."

Adrien could contain his amused smile from creeping its way onto his face. She's funny. To him anyway. Sabine looked mortified.

And a gentlemen came out red in the face. "Who do you think..."

But then Krissy turned slightly so he could see her face. She gave him a friendly, sarcastic smile.

He screamed, "you? What are you doing?"

Krissy admits with a shrug, "playing on your unlocked computer. I'm working on finding your payroll."

He says, "get up. Are you crazy?"

Krissy smirks, "why you ask? You scared?'

He rolls his eyes, "of visiting America."

Krissy smacks her lips, "good. America doesn't need any more dickhead pieces of rude shitbags."

He asks, "what are you doing back here? Returning the brat already?"

Krissy sarcastically laughs. She turns to Tom, "see what I mean. He's trying to catch me a case." Then back at the social worker, "I recommend you watch yo' mouth when speaking about my nephew." Then she places the broken phone on the desk. "This is a cell phone."

The man glared, "okay?"

She says, "You need to replace it. The punks yo' weren't watching broke it on my nephew and it ain't his and I ain't got money to replace it for yo' dumbass' negligence."

The man says, "we do not need to replace it. If he broke it..."

Krissy stands up. And almost gets pleasure from watching the scrawny french man back up a step. "let me stop you there. My nephew was jumped before I came and got him."

The man reclaims his seat, "you complain an awful lot." Then he sees Tom and Sabine, "oh you are still here."

Tom glares, "I told you, people, we weren't leaving until..."

The man says, "not interested. You can stay. But that doesn't mean I'm going to help you."

Krissy says, "You rude as hell."

The man says, "and you know the way out."

Krissy knocks a bunch of paper onto the floor.

The man groans, "oh come on. Stop."

Krissy knocks a few more items onto the floor.

The man moans, "what is wrong with you lady?"

Krissy says, "nuttin' wrong with me, mofo. You don't even know. You fucking rude! Rude as hell!" She grabs the phone about to storm off.

The social worker says, "like brother, like sister?"

Krissy stops and gets in his face, "don't you dare compare me to stupid brother. He had to hide behind a mask. I'm willing to fuck you's up without a mask." With a huff, Krissy walks past everyone, "Adrien let's get out of here before I do something stupid."

Then everyone noticed Adrien. Relief washed over them. Marinette squealed, "Adrien."

Krissy instinctively put her right arm around Adrien from the front. Pushing him behind her and blocking people from him. She holds her left hand in a fist.

Adrien pushes himself out of Krissy's grasp, "no. It's okay, these are my friends."

Krissy relaxes, "oh a'ight." Then she noticed Nino. "Hey ain't you's the kid that helped yesterday?"

Nino nods, "Yeah, I am. Did you find a hotel?"

Krissy laughs, "no." Then explains, "You know you ain't even gots a Walmart here in France, so I had to sleep outside."

Nino asks, "a what?"

Tom explains "a supercenter founded in the United States."

Krissy sighs, "a 24-hour supercenter that I could have slept in their bathroom."

The man behind the desk says, "you all got to leave. You're blocking the entrance."

Krissy and Tom were both equally annoyed, but before either could say anything Sabine offers, "how about we take this outside?"

She led the group. Tom and Krissy were the last ones out. Tom even stuck his tongue out at the gentlemen behind the counter. Krissy laughed. She rolled her middle finger out at the gentlemen and gave Tom a laugh.

Sabine called, "Tom."

Tom complied. Krissy laughed, "A'ight, I dig. French men get whipped just like American men. Huh," She softly hits his stomach with her backhand, "big guy."

Sabine asks, "who are you exactly?"

Krissy says, "his aunt." She points at Adrien.

Adrien rubs the back of his neck, "yeah apparently my father has a sister he never told me about."

Sabine asks, " and are... Um, you live in the states?"

Krissy confirms, "yeah. Born bred New Yorker."

Sabine was confused, "but your brother... Was he adopted?"

Krissy snorts, "no. I wish sometimes. He was born in New York too. Same mom-sey and Dadd-sey."

Tom asks, "so your parents are..."

Krissy cuts him off, "not french. Dad lived in New York his whole life and ma been in New York since she moved there from Italy."

Tom was shocked, "wait, so Gabriel Agreste is an American?"

Sabine says, "Agreste is not neither American nor Italian."

Krissy says, "Jordan." Then explains, "our last name is Jordan. He wanted a fresh start. Wanted to forget where he came from. Wanted to pretend he was something else."

It was silent. No one could believe it. Krissy wraps Adrien in a side hug, "whelp, we better get going."

Sabine was quick, "wait, going? Where are you going?"

Tom was quick, "you don't have anywhere to stay, right?"

Krissy says, "of course, we do's. I found a litt spot last night. No peeps mean no cops." She does two-finger guns, one with each hand, toward Tom. Then she quickly adds, "plus my daddy going to bring a tent when he comes up. Gonna be a-okay." Then looks at Adrien, "and I'm going to teach the kid the art of smore assembly. It's almost a crime he's never indulged in the marshmallow goodness."

Sabine looks at Tom before offering, "okay, um... Not that- that plan isn't great, how about instead of all that you and Adrien stay at our house."

Krissy says, "oh you think... I'm broke. I can't- and my brother's assets are froze so even if he wanted to he can't give me shit. So, still broke."

Tom's eyes widen, "oh no-no. Ma'am, we would be happy to help. And of course without charge."

Sabine adds, "yes, please stay with us." Sabine places a hand on Adrien's left shoulder, "would you like to stay with us, Adrien?"

Adrien looks at Krissy, "can we?"

Krissy says, "whatever you want, kiddo." Then shrugs, "plus big guy said free." Then she smirked at Tom, who returned it with a small smile.

The four kids walked slightly ahead.

Krissy whispers, "thanks. I don't think he really wanted to sleep outside."


Once back at the bakery, Krissy was pleasantly surprised. "A bakery?"

Tom proudly states, "best in the city."

Krissy smirks, "maybe you shows me a thing or two."

Tom asks, "you bake?"

Krissy shrugs, "here and there. Not professional like. But a little bit. My sugar cookies are sugary and killer. Don't get me started on the chocolate chips. And can't be Italian without knowing how to make Zeppolies and Cherry Almond cookies. And my Garlic knots are to die for."

Tom lights up, "can you teach me? I never had a chance to study Italian cuisine."

Krissy smirks, "as long as you teach me some french tricks."

Tom smiles, "deal."

Krissy asks, "so, you got Ricotta?"

Tom pouts, "I don't think I do."

Krissy says, "well, good thing we got kids." She pulls out her card,

but Sabine said, "please, let us." And then handed Marinette her card.

Krissy smiles, "gladly

Alya offers, "I'll go with Marinette."

Krissy says, "sounds good, just wait a second." She turns to Tom, "you have Garlic powder? Fresh Garlic? let's see, um salt. Eggs. Flour. powder sugar and regular sugar. Baking soda and Powder. Yeast. And olive oil?"

Tom says, "all but Olive Oil."

Krissy says, "we going to need some olive oil too."

Once the girls were gone, Sabine offered "Adrien, would you like me to draw you a warm bath?"

Adrien smiles, "that sounds really nice."

Sabine leads the boys towards the stairs. She then said to Krissy, "once you two are done playing in the kitchen, I can draw you a warm bath too, Krissy."

Krissy could only say, "I love you." Then she shouts, "yo, kid. Marry they'damn daughter, maybe they'll let us live here forever."

Adrien chuckles nervously.

Krissy turns to Tom, "can my nephew take your daughter's hand in marriage?"

And Adrien's face heats up. "I'm sorry, sir. She just um..."

Krissy laughs, "relax, Kiddo. Tom knows I'm joking. Go with Salmon-Simon... What was yo'damn name again?"

Sabine chuckles, "Sabine."

Krissy says, "got it. Go with Sa-bean."

Sabine shakes her head playfully and whispers to the boys, "at least she tried."

Krissy washes her hands in the sink and then Tom follows suit.

Krissy turns to Tom, "so we cannot make the Zeppole batter yet until the kids gets back with the ricotta. So I figured why not make some Garlic Knot dough."

Tom says, "wait, the ricotta is for those Zep-poes? They are a desert, no?"

Krissy agrees, "they are. Fried dough. Like a doughnut the Italian way."

Tom asks, "Ricotta is cheese."

Krissy smirks, "very good. So get the eggs."

Tom does get the eggs out, but continues the prior conversation, "we are going to put the grossest cheese in a dessert?"

Krissy scoffs, "grossest? Ricotta is delicious. The most delicious right after mozzarella." Then says "we need the flour. If you have self-rising, that's preferred, but if not we just double the yeast and put an extra pinch of baking powder."

Tom says, "I have flour specifically for bread making?"

Krissy asks, "you have regular?"

Tom nods, "of course." And slaps a large bag on the counter.

Then Krissy says, "I need a cup of boiled water."

Tom pulls out a pot and measures a cup of water and places it on the flame.

Krissy measures out the flour directly on the counter. She makes a separate pile on the counter, but off to the side. Makes a bowl shape and cracks her eggs directly into the flour. Krissy starts to mix together the flour and eggs with her hands. Tom look unsure. This was not what he would do to make bread and that's what he assumed they were sorta making. Once the water was boiled, Tom took the pot off the flame. Krissy had Tom measure out the yeast and then instructed, "do not pour all of it, pour a little bit and then I will tell you when to pour again." Tom did as asked. Krissy used her second pile of flour and got her hands re-floured and then sprinkled a little bit onto what was starting to look like dough.

After the entire boiled water was poured onto the dough, Krissy told Tom how much sault to measure out and then he pour the salt into the mixture and Krissy continued to kneed. She told Tom to measure out certain ingredients here and there, but eventually, the dough was kneaded and needed to rest. Tom pulled out his bread box.

Krissy was impressed, "a real bread box."

Tom inquired, "you do not have one? How do you let your dough rest?"

Krissy explains, "old containers. Wash 'em out and re-label them."

Tom pouts. But he shakes it off. "How long does it need to sit?"

Krissy says, "the longer you let it rest the better. Because we leave for over two hours. And then my grandfather taught me this secrete, get the dough smeared with Olive oil."

Krissy looks at the mess, "better clean this up." She starts placing dishes in the sink.

Tom says, "no, Krissy darling. I'll clean up. And then I will show you how to make a Crème brûlée."

Krissy's eyes widen. "Ooo, I hear that is so good. Always wanted to try it."

Tom gasped, "you never had before?"

Krissy shakes her head 'no.'

Tom says, "now we really need to make this." Tom says, "just let me clean up..."

"I'll help."

Tom scoffs, "nonsense, you're the guest."

Krissy continues helping. With a chuckle, "yeah, but I made the mess." Then adds, "if we both clean it, it will get done quicker. And then you can teach me all about that creamy Carmel thingy."

Tom chuckles, "you remind me of..." Then stops himself.

"Of...?" Krissy started to scrub the counter.

Tom worked on the dishes and smiled at her, "an old friend." Then says, "I think you're exactly what Adrien needs right now."

Krissy stops for a moment. "I hope so."

Tom and Krissy spent hours in the kitchen baking different concoctions. Some French. Italian, and even American (thanks to Krissy) and Chinese (thanks to Tom).

They were just finishing the Zeppole batter.

Krissy says, "and then we would roll them into balls and fry them in some oil when ready to consume. But until then we can refrigerate the batter. Very important. It's not a dough, it needs to remain batter-like. So it will be messy when we make some balls."

Tom snorts, "well I think the kitchen can handle it."

Krissy notices the kids enter with Sabine, "hey Soybean, can I take you up on that bath now."

Sabine giggles, "sure."

Krissy says, "after I wash up, you and I are going to make those garlic knots."

Tom nods, "oh yes we are, but we might need something else to go with them. Any ideas kids?"

Adrien says, "I think Aunt Krissy wanted to try Escargot."

Krissy teasingly scoffs.

But Tom's eyes lit up, "my absolute favorite."

Krissy teases, "don't make me kill this kid." She softly ruffles Adrien's hair.

Adrien couldn't hide his giggle.

Krissy says "I specifically told Adrien no snails." Then quickly adds before Adrien can say what he was going to say, "and if you's about to drop something with testicles in it, that's a no too." Krissy ruffles his hair again. Smiling the entire time.

Adrien chuckles.

Tom smirks, "Yeah that sounds about right. Most Americans can't handle real cuisine."

Krissy's turn to laugh. "Like that's going to work." Then adds, "tell you what Tom, make those snails and sheep balls. I'll try it. I'll put it in my mouth, but I promise you it's coming right back out along with anything else in my stomach."

Tom laughed at the thought, "okay, okay. Take your word for it. I think I can whip something up that your American stomach can handle."

Krissy snorts, "oh you think you's funny. A'ight. Let's see what can whip up. I'll be down to help shortly."

Sabine comes back into the room, "bath's ready.

Krissy says "I may cry. I'm so excited right now." She turns to Adrien, "was it nice?"

Adrien nods.

Krissy turns to Tom, "you better be treating her right."

Tom appreciatively nods, "everyday."

Krissy smirks, "good otherwise im's stealing her from you's."

Tom laughs, "your sense of humor is refreshing around here."


After her bath, she came down to help Tom with dinner. It was time to tie her knots. She saw Tom place something in the oven and asks, "ready to tie them knots?"

Tom almost jumped for joy, "I have been looking forward to it." He quickly washes his hands before pulling the dough from the box. He slaps it on the table.

Krissy grabs the olive oil. She washes her hands and asks Tom, "yo, you gots some rollers?"

Tom nods. He grabs two rollers and then washes his hands again.

Krissy pours olive oil on the dough and rubs it in.

Tom questions, "more olive oil?"

Krissy nods, "secrete family weapon. We gonna keep the dough moist. And as long as you did everything right, the dough won't stick." She peels off two tiny pieces. One for her and the other for Tom. She says, "like this." She rolls the dough out flat. She waited for Tom to do the same. Then she puts the roller aside. "Then you are going to roll it into a snake-like this." She then explains, "we use the roller to get the dough even and it makes the garlic knots fluffy. Once you have a snake, pick it up, you are going to tie it like this." And she proceeded to tie a perfect knot.

But Tom broke his.

Krissy giggles, "just squish it and start again. No harm done."

Krissy started her second knot and Tom re-did his first one. By the time Tom flattened his dough, Krissy tied her second Knot. Krissy had her fourth knot done by the time Tom rolled a snake. And when he broke it again, Krissy had a fifth knot done.

Krissy chuckles again. "It's dough. Stop trying to tie it like it's horse rope."

Tom pouts, "this is harder than it looks."

Tom noticed she had, "how did you get nine done so quickly?"

Krissy shrugs, tieing her tenth one. "I make them a few times a month. I can tie them in my sleep."

Krissy starts working on her eleventh knot. "Look, Tom. I start with a small ball of dough. I roll it until it's flat."

Tom does the same and then asks, "and that's easy. Why can't we serve it like this?"

Krissy snorts, "if the name was garlic pancakes, that would be totally awesome. But, since they ain't, now you roll it into a snake."

Tom does that. "Also simple, so why can't this be how we serve them?"

Krissy rolls her eyes, "if we was making breadsticks, you'd be much closer." Krissy says "since this is your first time, try tieing it on the table. Like this." Krissy makes the initial knot on the table. "Do not pull hard. It's dough, you still have to be soft." Still, on the table, she makes the knot.

Tom tries it that way but still manages to break it. He growls, "you make it look so easy."

Krissy chuckles, "again I be making them for a long time a few times a month. You'll get the hang of it. Tying them is the hardest part. Once you master it, you'll be faster than me."

Tom looks at her uncountable pile, "I doubt that."

Eventually, Tom does make a knot, but Krissy was just finishing up the last of the dough. Krissy noticed Tom was finally able to tie that knot, she handed him the last piece of dough, "want to try one more time?"

Tom says, "you should just do it. If we wait for me, we'll never eat."

Krissy pours some oil into a pot. Now we fry these bad boys.

It didn't take long for them to fully fry each garlic knot. Krissy showed Tom how to make the garlic sauce to place on them. Tom liked that part much better. It was so much simpler. Krissy explained all the things you can place on garlic knots after the buttery sauce, but it's not necessary.

Tom's dish was ready too, he pulled it out of the oven.

Krissy's eyes lit up, "is that chicken?"

Tom says, "close. Rabbit."

Krissy laughs, "that's not close to chicken. Chicken is a god. But looks good. AT least it ain't snails."

Tom snorts, "you really should give it a try."

Krissy smirks, "maybe one day never."

"Clever. Whatever. You do not know what you are missing, young lady."


Once they all finished, Nino thanked Tom and Krissy, "that was really good." Then turned to Krissy, "what were those things again,"

"Garlic Knots. They are one of those Italian-American creations. Garlic-based bread recipes primarily came from a delicious dish called Bruschetta. Which I would love to make for you guys one day. But Garlic Knots are my favorite because they are crunchy and because they are more Americanized they have garlic soaked in they blood." Krissy then declares, "garlic is my favorite flavor."

Marinette asks, "American-Italian creation?"

Krissy explains, "when Italian immigrant cooks settled in the states, they like made do with what they had. Like, of course, things are different now, but we got many good dishes that came from that experience. Like New York-style pizza. Even my home made pies do not compare."

Sabine asks, "are you kids sleeping over?"

Alya asks, "can I?"

Tom says, "just ask your parents."

Krissy, with her fist in the air, "a'ight, girl night. I dig. Am I invited?"

Marinette chuckles, "we don't really do much. But I guess?"

Krissy says, "I know the rule is normally no boys aloud, but my nephew gonna have to come too." Then turns to Tom, "don't worry big guy, I'll make sure no sex-ing happens on my watch."

And everyone had different reactions. Tom was ammused, while Sabine (knowing her daughter) had to chuckle.

Marinette's face heated up so face,

as did Adrien's, who groaned, "oh my god." as he covered his face with both hands.

Nino and Alya both shared a look, equally amused. Big grins on each of their faces as they look at each other.

Sabine shakes her head, "you are going to take some time to get used to."

Tom, still chuckling, "look at those faces."

Sabine noticed Adrien still beat red, covering his face with both hands. Marinette is red to her ears, afraid to look at Adrien. Sabine does let out another giggle before saying, "it was just a joke, you kids are fine." Then turns to Nino, "Nino? Are you staying as well, you are more than welcome since Adrien will be here too."

Nino sighs, "I should head home, but thank you for the offer."

Krissy pouts, "are you sure, kiddo? It's late out there, you should call your parents and tell them you're staying here."

Nino shakes his head. "No. I uh really have to head home."

Krissy stands, "then I'll walk you home."

Nino shakes his head, "that's not really necessary."

Krissy says, "yes it is. The lord is pushing on my conscious saying I can't let this kid walk home alone."

Tom says, "she's right, someone should walk with you. The city is booming with tourists again. Anything could happen. But Krissy you won't know the way to get back, I'll walk Nino home."

Krissy says, "nonsense. I got gps if I need it." She waved her phone around. "It's the least I could do."


As they got closer to Nino's house, Nino grew silent. Once his house was seen in the distance, Nino says "that's me over there. I got it from here, but thank you for walking me."

Krissy giggles, "okay-okay. I get it. I stop here." But she doesn't move.

Nino notices and turns back around, "aren't you going to head back to the bakery?"

Krissy nods, "After I see you enter your house." She smiles, "I want to make sure you're safe."

Nino nods, pretending he understands. He slowly turned back around to make his way to his front door.

Krissy tilts her head when she notices Nino's pace got slower when he got to the steps, 'what is the kid doing?'

Then she watched as he slowly gripped the doorknob, but the door was flung open. Krissy knows Nino said something, but can't make out what he said. But the body language didn't sit right with her. The woman said something back. She looks mad. And then it happened, she slapped Nino across the face. Krissy looked around, unsure of what to do. Then she started dragging him into the house by his hair.

Nino caught a glimpse of Krissy's horrified face. He shut his eyes. She flinched at the sound of the door closing.

"Walk away girl. This ain't your business." And she turns to walk away, but something inside her stops her. "God, what is wrong with me. This ain't my business."

Krissy takes a deep breath and finds herself walking closer to Nino's house. She stops herself. This struggle is real and Krissy doesn't understand why she can't leave well enough alone. "Holy shit, this is not your problem. Walk away." She couldn't help but berate herself.

But then she hears shouting. A man's voice. Screaming at someone to stop. Krissy bites her lip. 'Your no hero. Walk away.' Thinking that reminds her of silly childhood dreams of being a hero. But she's not. She knows that. 'So why can't I just walk away."

She felt an invisible force push her closer to the house. She jumped. Startled. No one is there. She sighs with relief.

But then she hears that man again shout, "stop it. I mean it."

And a screech, "stop protecting that worthless bastard."

And Krissy ran up the driveway and before she could realize what she was doing she knocked on the door. A man answered the door, "hi?"

Krissy didn't know what to say, "where's Nino?"

The man of course squinted his eyes, "who are you?"

"A friend."

The man glares, "you realize he's only sixteen, right?"

Krissy was insulted, do I look like some pedo creep to you?"

The man rolled his eyes, "some creepy foreigner."

Krissy takes a deep breath, "I walked Nino home because he... I'm Adrien's aunt and it got late and he wanted to go home and I didn't want him walking home alone."

"Thank you, but he isn't supposed to be talking to that kid."

Krissy asks, "Adrien? Why? They are like best friends."

The man pushes his way outside and closes the door, "because he isn't. I need you to leave. You'll make things worse if she realizes who you are."

Krissy looks around before saying, "listen, I can't. I can't leave. I need to see Nino first."

The man says, "that's not going to happen. Listen he's fine. I'm his stepfather. Before I came around, she did a number on him. I make sure that doesn't happen. Got it."

Krissy couldn't believe her ears, "what, you's wants a Nobel prize?" She sarcastically says, "like thank you good sir for stopping child abuse, but why is the child abuser left on the streets?"

"It's not like that, now go. Worry about your own kid."

Krissy says, "Adrien's fine. Adrien is safe with good people right now. I'm worried about Nino right now. Don't you dare say it ain't like that! I know whats I saw. You gonna promote it, don't lie about what's happening. It's abuse, and I want to see Nino."

The man says, "just go." He opens the door back up a crack, to walk back in.

Krissy shouts, "no. I want to see the damn kid. And Now!"

The woman approaches, "what's going on out here?"

Krissy says, "I want..."

But she is cut off, "nothing. Let's go back inside."

Krissy snarls, "no. I want to see Nino."

She had the nerve to ask, "who are you?"

Before she can tell her, the man cut her off "nobody."

"I'm somebody who about to lose my shit if I don't see that, that damn kid is okay!"

The woman glared at Krissy, "the brat is fine. You need to get off my property before I call the cops."

Krissy snaps, "oh please call them. I would love to tell them how you abused a little kid."

The woman was insulted and gasped, "it is not abuse. Discipline. He deserves. He was late. Probably out hurting that girlfriend of his because that's who he is."

Krissy was confused. She looked at the man for a sign that this woman has some kind of mental illness. The man could not even look her in the eye anymore. He covered his mouth and looked off to the side.

Krissy asks, softly, "what the fuck are you talking about?"

The woman explains, "he should count the lucky stars I didn't abort him for what his father did to me."

Krissy got it. "You were raped?"

The woman didn't answer, but Krissy knew. But the man did nod giving Krissy clarification.

Krissy wasn't mad yet, "you didn't have an abortion? Why not?"

She was flabbergasted, "it's murder. It's wrong."

Now Krissy had the fuel she needed to be mad, "so beating the shit out of the kid his a better option?"

The woman explains, "I am protecting him from himself. He has the gene. And I will not allow my mistake of giving him life to affect another woman."

Krissy shakes her head, "you sound like a goddamn mental patient. What gene? They ain't no rape gene. Like what the hell is...

"Listen, I am pro-life. I don't think abortion should be used as birth control. It ain't birth control. You right. It is murder. But if I was raped. I'd probably abort the baby with a funeral cause I'm catholic. I don't know if I'd be able to give the baby up after they were born. But, f I didn't abort, I know it be the right thing to do to put the baby up for adoption. Because I don't think I'd be strong enough to love that child like that child deserves to be loved.

"See, no one is born with sins. We start fresh at birth. And many people don't get it. God works with the Devil. God allows Devil to put impure thoughts into our minds like ever want to kill your boss, I know I have, but I don't act on it. That's what God wants. Once you act on it, you commit the sin. You fall for Satan's trap. You ain't predestined to sin. God gave us all free will and it's up to us to make the right choices.

"That's a good kid you got there and it's a shame that you are so blinded by rage that you can't see it. And I understand why you can't forget what happened, but that kid don't deserve to pay the price."

Krissy was out of breath by the end of her rant. What happens next shocks her. It shouldn't though because this is in her M.O.

The woman (Nino's mother) was crying. She knows what Krissy said made so much sense, but she can't...

The stepfather steps in, "she's right. You can't love Nino, can you?"

She remains silent.

So he continues, "it's time we give up parental rights..." She was about to argue, but he spoke louder and firmer "and if you fight me on this, I will commit you. I don't want to. I love you, but you can't let go. Especially not with the reminder in the house and this lady right, Nino doesn't deserve any of this. You're a great mother to Chris and if Nino was gone you probably be better."

Krissy speaks up, "I can take him."

The woman glares, "Why? What's your game? Money? Why do you want our headache?"

Krissy thinks about the first night she met him. 'He's just like me.' He was willing to let a stranger in his house and the lord know Krissy had done that before. Many times. "No game. No money. Just sign custody over to me. I'll take him in if he wants to come with me. Can I talk to him about this?"

The woman doesn't say anything. She turns and walks back inside. But the gentleman opens the door wider for Krissy. His bedroom has a poster of headphone on it. Right up the stairs. Can't miss it."

Krissy nods. She slowly makes her way upstairs. She spots the door almost right away. She approaches and timidly knocks. No answer. She knocks slightly louder this time. No answer. She checks to see if the door is unlocked. It is. She presses her ear to the door. She hears him talking. Actually about what happened. She figures that he's talking to himself, "probably trying to make sense of it." She opens the door and still knocks, "Nino?"

Nino quickly jumps to his feet and approaches the door. "Uh hi?"

Krissy smiles, "can I come in?"

Nino moves out of the way. Once Krissy was inside, Nino shut the door. "Sorry for the mess."

Krissy snorts, "mess, what mess? My room is messier than this." She notices a few articles of clothing in the corner, near the hamper (she knows hers is overflowing), and a few papers that missed the trash, but Krissy's room needs a vacuum and a carpet wash that she just hasn't had the time to do. And she knows the dust probably caked on her desks and fans because it's been over two months since she last cleaned. But Nino's room did not have an ounce of dust. 'No animals though.' would explain it.

Nino chuckles, "what are you doing here?"

Krissy plops down on his bed, "yo momma hit you! Was I supposed to walk away?"

Nino guesses, "yes?"

"Wrong. You okay?"

Nino nods, "I'm fine, I deserved it."

Krissy scoffs, "why? Because yo momma crazy and she had some perversion thought about you rapping your girlfriend."

Nino was shocked.

Krissy nods, "yeah. I had a long-ass conversation with your parents." She asks, "and they are willing to give me custody?"

Nino shoots his head straight up and stares into her eyes, "what?"

Krissy smiles, "if you want? I don't have much. But it would be a roof over your head, I'd feed you, and you would have more love than you would know what to do with. But I live in the states, you'd have to come there. If you don't want to, that's fine. I just wanted to offer because you deserve that. I know Alya and you are really close, but there is face time and maybe you guys can visit. You'd have Adrien."

Nino declines, "I can't be a burden. Adrien needs you and..."

Krissy stops him, "no such thing as an underage burden. And Adrien needs you too. You need to be okay. You need too... I mean, it's fine if you prefer to stay in Paris. I get it. But you can't stay in this house. Your stepfather gets that too. They are going to give up custody. And I don't want you to end up in that shitbox that Adrien got stuck in."

Nino asks, "you really want to take me in?"

Krissy nods, "let's pack some bags, and then we can go impose on the bakers."

Nino asks, "now?"

Krissy says, "I can't leave you here. And if Tom Salomon does not want you, we got camping."

Nino chuckles, "okay, let me um... He looks around the room, overwhelmed."

Krissy says, "I don't know what you need. But I'm willing to pack this entire room up. Maybe we can come back with Tom and Salavan. Just grab some clothes right now?"

Nino nods. He grabs his book bag and pushes some clothes into the bag.

Krissy says, "take your time. Imma speaks to your parents."

Nino found the stepfather in the kitchen. "Nino's going to grab some clothes right now. Imma be back for the rest of his stuff."

The man nods, "alright. Sounds good. Where you staying, maybe I can pack it up into my truck and bring it to you."

Krissy says, "at their friend Marinette's house."

The man knows exactly where that is. "I can have it brought there by the end of the week. I'll have the paper drawn too."

Krissy says, "if I ain't there, give it to Tom or Solven. Or if my parents are there, give it to my mother. Not my father."

The man smirks, "okay." Once Nino was down the stairs, 'I have never seen him that happy before.'

Krissy beamed, "you ready kiddo?"

Nino nodded eagerly.

The man stopped Nino, "wait." Nino paused but did not look him in the eye. Krissy was uncomfortable around Nino's obvious discomfort when his stepfather stopped him by placing a hand on his arm.

"I just wanted to say, sorry. For everything."

Nino smiled at him, now ready to look him in the eye. His eyes water as he says, "your letting me go with her, so that makes up for a lot."

The man turned to Krissy, "God bless you. You're a saint, aren't you?"

Krissy snorts, "hardly, but thank you."


I just think it's adorable the idea of Tom struggling with a simple garlic knot. And him becoming best friends with Krissy is kinda cute to me. I know I put a lot of people in her weird dynamic. I hate oc's, but it's the only way to fit this story. I love the idea of people with the least, but the biggest hearts. And this is so her. And I wanted to adopt Nino off too. I can't keep anything nice. So I know his side story is a little rough, but I got him out of there.

(I just wish we can meet his parents next season and get more bromance. I would love if he figures out Cat Noir's identity by seeing him de-transform because I don't think Adrien would tell him because he wants Ladybug to know first. And he respects her rules even though she told someone. Like me, I will be like you told someone, Imma tell someone too bleep-bleep you guardian.)

Well, anyway R&R! Until next time.