"So, tell me Who did you get as your partner for this project?" Sam asked her. "My partner is Adrien Agreste who I am hoping is with Alison at the moment instead of looking for me."
Marinette said while looking down at the ground. "Why would he be out looking for you?" Sam asked. "Something happened at school today." Marinette said. "Like what?"
"Chloe said something about the memorial that they had up for Lilly and then she went on how I should have been the one to go missing because no one would miss me or put a memorial up for me." Marinette explained as she felt tears going down her cheeks again.
"I can't believe she would say something like that. I mean she has always been a bitch to you, but I never thought she would go thar far." Sam said as he shook his head. "After she said that I ran out of the classroom and have been walking around town since lunch time not sure on what to do about life and this note that I found in my locker yesterday." Marinette said to Sam.
"Oh Marinette… wait what note?" Marinette took the note out of her purse and passed it over to Sam. Sam took the piece of paper from her and opened to read what it said. 'Meet me where we used to hang. Tomorrow night at 10:30 and come alone.'
"Do you know who wrote it?" Sam asked her. Marinette shook her head. "And what do they mean by 'where we used to hang'?" Sam said thinking out loud.
"I don't know Sam. But..." She started say but was cut off by Sam. "But what Mari. You can't tell me you were actually thinking off going on your own.
When you don't know where you are actually going?" Sam asked. When Marinette didn't answer him, he knew he had his answer. "Are you crazy."
"But what happens if it was from Lilly then I know where I am going." She stated. "But we don't even know if it is from her. All I know is that it could be a trap." Sam argued.
"You are maybe right it could be a trap but what if it isn't and Lilly reached out after 3 years and what if she needs help again like last time." Marinette argued back. It was quiet for a few minutes later when Marinette suddenly stood up then she said,
"I should get going, it is getting late." She said. Sam nodded know that the conversation that they were having is over. "Marinette don't go to that meeting tonight. Go home to your daughter and to Adrien." Sam told her. "I will."
Marinette told him knowing that she was going to go to the meeting spot anyway. Then she gave him a hug before leaving. As Marinette was about to walk out the door when Sam stopped her, "Mari come back and visit soon."
"I will. I promise." Marinette said then she left Sam's places and walked down the street. When she got around the corner and knew that Sam was not watching her anymore, she changed paths and started walking the other way.
"Marinette where are you going?" Tikki asked as she flew out of her holders' purse. "I am going to the meeting spot." Marinette told her Kwami. "But Marinette you promised Sam that you would go home."
"I know Tikki. But I have to know if it was Lilly that wrote that note." She explained. Tikki went back into her purse leaving her alone as she carried on to the meeting spot at the riverbank.
Half an hour after Marinette left Sam's place Sabine, Tom, Adrien, and Alison arrived at Sam's and Tom knocked on the door. "Hello Sam." Sabine said once the door opened to reveal Sam. "Sabine, Tom." Sam said. "Sam is…"
"You're looking for Marinette aren't you?" Sam asked the group. "Yes, was she here?" Sabine asked him. "Yes, she was here about half an hour ago. Please come in." Sam said as the four of them stepped into the house. Once they were in the living room, they heard a voice call out.
"Daddy I can't sleep. Can Mari read me a story?" Aria asked coming out to the lounge. Sabine and Tom sat there and stared at the wee girl that came into the living room. "Aria, Mari left half an hour ago." Sam told his daughter as he picked her up and turned to face his visitors.
"Sabine, Tom this is Aria. Mine and Lilly's daughter." Sam said introducing Aria to Sabine and Tom. "She looks so much like Lilly." Sabine said. "She has more of her Mother in her than she does of me." Sam said. It was silent for a few minutes before Adrien decided to ask Sam,
"Do you know where Marinette went?" Sam turned to look over at Adrien who was sitting on the couch with Alison on his knee. "You must be Adrien and the this wee one must be Alison." Sam said. "Yes, it is nice to meet you Sam." Adrien said. "To answer your question Adrien, I told Marinette to go home and not to go to the meeting place."
"What meeting place?" Adrien asked. "Marinette told me that yesterday she found a note in her locker saying 'Meet me where we used to hang. Tomorrow night at 10:30 and come alone.'" Sam explained.
"Who is she meeting Sam?" Tom asked. "I don't know I told her not to be silly and go alone and don't go at all as it could have been a trap. But she obviously did not go home as you guys are sitting here talking to me." Sam stated. "Who could she be meeting at this time of night?"
"Marinette thought it could be Lilly reaching out to her. So, she probably went to their hang out space." Sam explained. "Why would she think it could be Lilly for? And where is this spot?" Sabine asked confused.
"I don't know why she thinks it might Lilly, but she does, and it would be easier for just to take you guys to the spot." Sam said. Then they all got up and followed Sam out of the house to go and find Marinette and see if they can see who she is meeting.
Marinette was waiting in the spot where her and Lilly used to hang all the time before she disappeared. 'what if Sam is right and this is a trap?' she thought to herself.
She decided to sit down by the river that her and Lilly used to go to when they were kids and wait to see who shows up. While she was waiting, she pulled into a flashback that happened when they were younger.
Flashback
Lilly and Marinette were sitting on the riverbank trying to find shapes in the clouds when Lilly asked her, "Mari, if you could run away where would you go?"
"Why do you ask for Lilly?" Marinette asked her cousin. "I am just wondering. If I could run away, I would love to go to England or just another city on France. Come on Mari tell me, where would you go?" Lilly asked again. "I don't know. I never really gave it much thought.
But I guess I would go to America or maybe I would go home to China." Marinette said. "But why America?" Lilly asked her. "I don't know why America I just always wanted to at least go there one day." Marinette said.
Flashback over
"I see you didn't forget about our spot." A voice said from behind Marinette. Marinette gasped and turned to look behind her. When she did, she saw someone that she never thought she would see again. "Lilly?" She asked in a whisper. "Hello Marinette." Lilly said as she sat down beside her cousin.
Marinette then pulled her cousin in for an excessively big hug. "Oh, Lilly I have missed you so much." Marinette said through her tears that were falling once again. "I know I have miss you so much too Mari." Came Lilly's reply.
"Why haven't you come home. You have a beautiful daughter who needs her mum." Marinette said to her. "I can't come home not just yet." Lilly said. "But Lil why can't you come home." Marinette asked. "I can't explain it Marinette." Lilly said. "You are not making any sense Lilly."
"Marinette listen I don't have much time and I wanted to say thank you for helping Sam with Aria and that you are right she is beautiful." She said. "This is a Burner phone that I want you to keep on you. It will be the way I get in contact with you. But when I do contact you, you must "not tell anyone, including Sam." Lilly added as she passed Marinette the phone.
"I understand Lilly. But how did you know I told Sam about your note that you left me?" She asked her cousin. "Because you think of Sam as your older brother and I knew you would have told me and that he would try and talk you out of it. It is just the way he is. But I have to say goodbye and leave before someone finds you." Lilly said.
"I love you Lilly." Marinette said. "I love you too Marinette. until next time." Lilly said before kissing Marinette on the head and giving her one more hug then she got up left Marinette sitting there all alone.
10 minutes later Adrien, Alison, Sabine, and Tom had arrived at the riverbank where Sam showed them where to go. As they were walking along the riverbank Alison said, "Mummy." They all looked to where Alison was pointing to.
That was when they saw Marinette sitting on the edge on the riverbank by herself. "I think we should let Alison go over to her first then Adrien before any of us does." Sabine said to the group. Adrien then put Alison down and kneeled to her height. "Alright Baby, off you go. Go to Mummy." Adrien told Alison.
Alison nodded then started to walk towards her Mother. Marinette was staring into space and she did not hear her daughter come up behind her. "Mummy." Alison called out to her Mother. Marinette snapped back to reality when she heard her daughter's voice. "Mummy." Alison said again. Marinette turned to see her daughter standing there.
"Ali." She said as she reached out to grab Alison and pull her in for a hug. "What are you doing here? Where is your Father?" Marinette asked her while hugging her daughter close to her. "He is here too." She said as she pointed to where he was standing. Marinette looked to where her daughter was pointing and saw Adrien standing not fair from them.
Adrien started to walk over to her and Alison. When Adrien got closer to Marinette she pulled away from Alison, she stood up and faced Adrien. "Adrien, I…" Marinette started to say but then looks down at her feet. Adrien takes a step towards her. "Mari." Adrien said, but Marinette still would not look at him.
Adrien placed his hand on Marinette's chin and lifted her head up gently so she could look at him. Adrien saw tears sliding down her cheek which he wiped away then she clasped into him as her knees gave in. AS Marinette sunk to the ground, Adrien followed with her and held her close to him. "Adrien, I'm…" Marinette tried to say through her tears.
"I know Mari. It is alright." Adrien said trying to calm her down. Adrien then pulled back from the hug and rested his forehead against hers. "Mari, we are all here for you. I am here for you." Adrien told her. "Please Marinette, let me in." He added. Marinette nodded, then Adrien leaned down and kissed her.
Marinette froze when Adrien's lips touched hers. Even though they have kissed each other before but never out in public. After a minute they both pulled back from the kiss and Adrien bent down to pick Alison up then said, "Let's go home." Marinette nodded as Adrien wrapped is other arm around her and started to walk back to the group.
Once they got over to the group, Marinette left Adrien's side and went over to her parents who gave her a big hug. "Are you alright Marinette?" Sabine asked her daughter. "I am fine Mum." Marinette replied. "How did you know where I was?" She asked her parents and Adrien.
"Ayla found your box full of diaries and we found one that was from 4 years ago. We know everything Marinette and how Lilly came to you for help 9 months after she disappeared." Tom said. "You are not mad that I did not tell you about Aria?" Marinette asked her parents.
"No, we are not mad. But Sam said you were meeting someone here and that you did not know how it was. Did you find out who you were meeting?" Tom asked his daughter.
"No, they did not show up. I guess I will never know who left me that note." Marinette said lying to her parents and Adrien. "Okay I am only glad you are safe my Dear. Let's go home now." Sabine said.
As they were walking away from the riverbank, they heard a voice say from behind them, "Well, well, well. Fancy seeing you here." When Alison heard the voice, it caused her to freeze up in her Fathers arms. Adrien noticed that Alison had a scared expression on her face and so did Marinette.
They both turned around to find the women that has been following them around standing in front of them. "Who are you?" Adrien asked in a calm voice. "Oh please. I know that you know who I am. Just I know who you are." Said the women. "Then I am guessing your Lisa." Adrien said. "And you guessed correctly." Lisa said.
"What do you want Lisa?" Marinette asked Lisa. Lisa took a step closer which made Adrien and Marinette to take a step back. "I came to collect what is mine." Replied Lisa. "Alison my Dear, come to your Mummy." Lisa said while holding her arms out.
"NO!" Alison yelled. "How dare you yell at your Mother like that." Said an angry Lisa. "Hey! You can not speak to her like that." Marinette said. "I will speak to her however I like. Now if you come with me now then we can go home and forget this ever happen. I won't even punish you."
"Liaw." Alison yelled. "That is it when we get home I am going to punish you like you have never been punished before." Lisa said screaming as she took another step forward.
Which made Adrien and Marinette to take another step away from her. "Do not scream at my daughter like that." Marinette said in a stern voice. "She is not your daughter and she belongs to me. So, just hand her over."
"She will never go with you and you lose the title of being her Mother after what you did to her." Adrien said wrapping is arm back around Marinette and pulled her away from the situation as they followed Marinette's parents back to the car.
"We are not finished here. I will have her back and I will take her from you. If it is the last thing I do." Lisa yelled out as she watched them walk away from her. Once they got back to their cars. They said their goodbyes and went home.
Gabriel was waiting on the steps for them when they got home to the Mansion. "Marinette. I am glad that you are back and safe." Gabriel said coming down the stairs and helping her out of the car. "Thank you, Gabriel. But please excuse me I am going to go upstairs to bed. Goodnight Gabriel." Marinette said taking Alison from Adrien's arms then she walked inside to go upstairs.
"Goodnight Marinette." Gabriel replied back before facing Adrien once she was out of sight and hearing range. "Are you alright Adrien?" Gabriel asked his son.
"No not really Father. After we find Marinette at the riverbank and after we were leaving. We then had an encounter with Alison's Birth Mother, and she told us that she will find a way to get Alison back." Adrien said with a sigh.
"Right I see. I will organise a full-time bodyguard for Marinette and Ali." Gabriel said. "Thank you, Father." Adrien said thanking his Father. "Now you have had an eventful day, so you probably should be off to bed."
"Goodnight Father." Adrien said as he walked inside. "Goodnight Adrien." Gabriel replied then followed his son inside then he went to his office to do some more work for a bit.
When Adrien got upstairs to his floor where Marinette and Alison were also staying on, he went to his room to get change into his PJ's then went to check on Alison. The time he got to Alison's room she was already asleep. He kissed her then walked out of the room leaving her door ajar a bit.
Adrien then walked to Marinette's room to see if she is alright. When he walked in, he saw her already in bed. Marinette looked up to see who walked in and saw Adrien standing at the door.
"Well, are you not going to hop in?" She asked him. Adrien chuckled at her before turning the lights off then making his way to the bed so he can hop in beside her. "Thank you, for coming to find me today." Marinette said placing her head on his shoulder.
"I did not mean to make you worry about me." She added. "It is alright Mari." Adrien said pulling her closer to him. "Just promise me you won't go running off like that again. And if you feel upset and down please talk to me."
"I will. I promise Adrien. At least it is Saturday tomorrow." Marinette said. "Yea, I think we should spend the day at home tomorrow." Adrien suggested. Which Marinette nodded to agree. "And maybe tomorrow night, I could take you on that date that we have meaning to go on?" Adrien asked Marinette.
"I would love to go on a date with you tomorrow night." Marinette answered. "But what will we do with Ali?" She asked. "Well we can ask my Father if he could look after her." He said. "I am sure he would love to look after her." Adrien smiled at her answer then kissed her on the forehead.
"Night Mari."
"Night Adrien."