There were times Marinette would have fainted, snapped or had a panic attack in a certain situation. Like meeting one of her idols or a project that's due tomorrow. Heck, she would probably straight up beat the akumatized person who decided to annoy her on one of her bad days.

But this? She doesn't know how to react. Should she scream? Faint? Maybe a bit of both?

When her girlfriend told her that her mother would like to meet the person dating her daughter by having lunch at their home, she didn't know how to react.

Was she scared? Sure, considering that her mother could cut her up in half with just her stick alone. She was a strict woman who wanted nothing but the best for her daughter.

Marinette wasn't scared of her, no, not at all. She's been fighting super powered people for the last two years as Ladybug and it was more complicated compared to her current situation. Although, she has to admit the woman can be scary if she needs to be.

Kagami reassured her that it would be fine. By reassuring she meant making it a little worse. Sure, she's good at many things like fencing, skating, advicing, etc. but she's not exactly the right person to talk to when you need reassurance.

"Calm down Mari-hime. The worst thing she could do is force me to break up with you and have a restraining order against you. But that'll never happen because she likes you."

Marinette knows her girlfriend didn't mean to scare her, but it's kind of hard not to think about it.

Wearing a baby blue dress with a denim jacket hung over her shoulders, all custom made by her, of course, and black sneakers.

Her hair was missing her signature pigtails and instead sported a fishtail braid that's placed on her right shoulder.

She was waiting for Kagami to pick her up in front of her parent's bakery. Her foot tapped nervously against the pavement as she kept checking the time on her phone.

Finally, she spotted the red car nearing toward her. When Kagami got out of the car, the two embraced and shared a sweet kiss.

"Are you ready to face my mother?" Kagami asked as they broke the kiss.

Marinette was a little hesitant to answer but she managed to find the words. "That depends. Is she going through a bad day?"

"Not really. She's most likely having her tea right now so you're good."

For now... She thought as both entered the red car and drove to Tsurugi Mansion.

XXX

The car stopped as they parked just outside the doors. Marinette sat and stared, thinking of endless possibilities on how to act and say to the Tsurugi matriarch until Kagami snapped her out of her stupor.

"Marinette? Marinette. Snap out of it Marinette!"

"Huh? Wha一oh, sorry! I一I zoned out again didn't I?"

"Yup."

Marinette groaned in exasperation as she melted onto her seat. Kagami had to force her smile from forming on her face as she looked on amusedly. "Calm down. Remember what I taught you back then?"

The bluenette nodded and followed along her instructions. "Breathe in… breathe out. Do it again. Breathe in… breathe out. There. Was that better?"

"Yeah, yeah it made me feel a little better but…ughh!"

Kagami had to let a giggle out of her girlfriend's antics and an idea came into mind. "Mari-hime… did I ever tell you about the day when I met you parents?"

Marinette looked at her and pondered for a while. "I don't think so…we got separated at that time when an akuma attack took place at our bakery and I forgot to ask you about that."

"Well, let me tell you one thing, your parents are terrifying."

"What? Wait, don't tell me my parents一"

"No, no. It didn't happen like that. All they did was give me the 'treat my kid right or you'll regret it' talk. Your mother can be terrifying yet be sweet at the same time if she wanted to. More so than my own mother and that's saying something."

"My mom is more terrifying than your mom? That almost sounds impossible."

"Trust me. You inherited some of those traits from her."

"What? Do I?"

She nodded and recalled an old memory. "Remember when… Kanojo wa akuma came back to Dupont a few months ago?"

She scoffed and crossed her arms, her expression morphed into annoyance and anger. "How could I forget? As soon as she came back, everyone started to believe her lies again! I mean, seriously, a quick Google search can tell you that it's all lies!"

Kagami nodded, sharing the same thoughts and emotions as her other half. "I can't fathom how you can survive in that class. I'm not sure if they were dropped or thrown to the wall when they were born but that's just a whole new level of stupidity. Even the principal was a bit…"

"Much?"

"I was going to say deluded in his own mind. But much is a more merciful thought."

"And Miss Bustier's class was dubbed the 'akuma class' which is true on so many levels. Most of them have already been akumatized more than once. The only ones who weren't are me and…"

"Adrien." The vermilion eyed woman finished for her. She took her hand into her own and caressed the back with her thumb. "It was his choice, you know. He wanted to follow the herd and look where that got him, but we're getting off topic. You showed that two timed liar you're not to be messed with."

"Was I really that angry?"

"Does threatening her to hell and back and acting all sweet and innocent like nothing happened after your classmates found you sound familiar to you?"

"...Touché." Marinette sat straight and looked at the mansion, still a little apprehensive about what might happen. "Okay, I can do this. If I can beat Lila with her own tricks and handle myself in any situation while under stress and pressure, then I can do this."

"That's the spirit, Mari-hime."

She encouraged her and kissed her on the cheek making the bluenette blush in the process. Getting out of the car, both stood in front of the two doors. The only thing that's stopping them from going in was Kagami looking at Marinette, waiting for her signal to ring the doorbell.

The former took a few deep breaths before steadying herself and nodded. They heard the chime faintly ringing inside and after a few seconds a butler opened the door, greeting them.

"Ms. Tsurugi, welcome home. I see you've brought a guest with you." He bowed a little before recomposing himself.

"Hello, Sato. I take it, mother is still in the living room?"

"Yes, Ms. She's enjoying a fresh cup of brewed Genmaicha right now."

He moved aside to let the girls enter. Marinette may have visited the place multiple times but she is always amazed by the sheer design and structure the house was built. There was also a lot of history from the artifacts the family has placed all over the mansion.

As they arrived in the living room, Marinette saw Tomoe sitting on a couch with her tea settled in her lap. Kagami greeted her mother with a bow.

"Hello mother."

"Ah, Kagami you're here. Your girlfriend is with you, yes?"

"Yes mother, she's standing right beside me."

Marinette stood beside her and gave a bow in greeting as well. "Hello Ms. Tsurugi, it's nice seeing you again."

"It's nice to see you again Marinette, especially as I am now meeting you as my daughter's partner. Why don't we head to the dining room and have lunch?"

XXX

After the pleasantries were finished they ate in silence with the occasional short conversations flowing through the room. Kagami started a conversation that had her mother took interested in and Marinette slowly relaxed as time went on and the three had a wonderful discussion about their cultures and traditions, mainly the food.

"My uncle taught my dad to make the pecking roasted duck. It took a while for him to master it but his tasted almost as better than my uncle's."

"Your uncle's the once who won the cooking competition, yes?"

"Yes, he's the one."

"His soup is delicious. Me and Kagami tried it when we visited one of his restaurants in China and it was beautiful as well as delicious."

Marinette's phone vibrated in her pocket and she checked to see what it was. The time 3:04 stared back at her and she forgot that she promised to help her parents with a few orders. She coughed politely and the two Tsurugi women stared at her.

"Umm, sorry to cut this short but I have to go. I forgot I needed to help my parents with a few orders."

"No worries dear. It is getting a hit late and I need to meet with a few business partners of mine. But before you go, may I have a talk with you? Alone?"

The blind woman kindly asked the girl and in return Marinette froze. Kagami gave her a nod of encouragement before leaving the two women alone to discuss.

XXX

"So, how was it?" Kagami questioned her as soon as they entered the car.

"It was… surprisingly pleasant, at best."

As soon as Kagami left the room, the blind woman's face turned stern, any ounce of kindness that was held in her face now gone. Tomoe held a conversation that almost shook Marinette to the bone.

She understood of course, that when it comes to relationships there would always be a parent talk with your significant other. Tomoe was just looking out for her daughter, the same as Marinette's parents. That's what parents do.

"Did mother threatened you? If she did then she and I are gonna have一"

"No, no, no! She didn't一well she somewhat did but she and I just had a stern talk. Nothing more."

"You sure?" Kagami asked her girlfriend with a brow raised.

"I'm sure. I'm just glad your mother approves of me."

"I'm glad too." Kagami was elated that her mother accepts Marinette.

The former stared at the latter lovingly as she hums to a tune on the radio. Someday…

But right now, she's just glad she's right beside the girl she loves.

Kanojo wa akuma - she devil