Lila stumbled out of her bed, her eyes half-closed.
She'd thought about Nooroo's words all night long and had still come to no answer. Every single possibility had crossed her mind and by now she was beyond trying. But she still wanted to. She had to. Even if Celeste hated her guts, she was still her mother and they were more alike than she knew.
Lila chuckled at the thought. The brunette's shoulders shook as she laughed. Her own daughter didn't even know what she'd become.
The female dragged her feet to the bathroom and washed her face. She then showered and returned to her room, where she changed. She then brushed her long brown hair, before tying it into a ponytail.
The house was silent. Not a single sound was made. The female chewed her thumbnail. Silence made her antsy, she didn't like it. Even in her butterfly room, she could hear the fluttering of insects' wings. She needed some sort of noise. Her stomach had a bubbling sensation and her eyes darted from left to right. Something didn't seem right. She needed to check if everything was ok.
Wandering down the hall, Lila traveled towards her daughter's room. It was easily recognisable with a sign on the door saying 'Celeste' with stars dotted on the dark blue background. She knocked on the white door and waited for an answer.
"Celeste?" The brunette called.
Nothing.
"Don't ignore me!"
Nothing yet again. The feeling in the woman's stomach grew and she could feel it bubbling and bubbling until it felt like it would explode.
Lila pushed open the door and burst into the room. Her olive eyes scanned the scene before her as her brain tried to work out what had happened.
The room was empty, the light still on from the night before. The teen's drawings were scattered everywhere and some of her star maps were scattered across the floor; clothes were strewn about and her wardrobe door was flung open. Everything in Celeste's room was the embodiment of disarray.
The young woman's green eyes drifted over to the paper on the teen's bed. It had writing and looked as if it had been rushed. Smudges had formed from where tears had fallen and blended with the ink, and the paper was ripped in places.
With a shaky hand, the brunette picked it up. Her bottom lip quivered as she read the paper, tears forming at her jade eyes.
She never knew she was doing this. She didn't know what her actions had done. She'd just done what she thought was best...
Her eyes continued to read over the paper, the urge to cry almost taking over. Lila sniffed as she finished reading. A few tears broke free and slid down the contours of her cheeks.
She was the one who was doing this. Not anyone else. She'd let her obsession overtake her, and now her daughter, the one person she had left in the world, had had enough.
Self-hatred began to boil in the woman's veins as her vision became clouded in red. Her gaze narrowed and her fists began to clench and unclench. Her green eyes darted from left to right, searching for a target. She needed to hurt something, she needed to let out her rage... Her eyes spotted a picture.
Smirking, Lila walked up to the picture and picked up the frame. All was still. She then threw it to the ground, shattering the frame. Glass fractured and wood splintered.
The sound of breaking glass echoed around the room. The brunette blinked before she gasped. Her gaze focused on the now mangled frame.
"Oh no, no, no, no, no, no.." She crouched down beside the broken frame, as tears formed. Her hands shook as she took in shaky breaths.
She turned over the frame and looked at the picture. It was from a few years ago and she could see a smiling Celeste hugging a younger version of herself. The smile was genuine and innocent, not fake and melancholy like in most recent pictures she had. A small smile crossed her face before it was replaced with a solemn one.
'Back when things were simpler,' The female thought.
Once again silence filled the house. The sounds of Paris could be heard from outside as Lila crouched there, nursing the broken frame. Tears escaping her jade eyes. She couldn't cry, she couldn't break down. Hawkmoth was a ruthless villain, who didn't care for his son. So why should she care for her daughter?
Lila's expression wobbled. She struggled in a ocean of emotion, the waves wild and unpredictable. They didn't wash over her, they tried to push her under. Tried to submerge her. The inky waves swirled around her as her form tried to escape.
The female stayed in her position, a still statue.
A cold wind blew. The sky darkened. Rain pelted down on the water and she could feel something dragging her down. The waters grew angrier and the waves larger, it wouldn't be long until...
A wave crashed over her causing her to sink. The water pushed her down, no matter how hard she tried to surface. Her hand stuck out on the surface before she was fully submerged.
Lila fell to her knees, not caring about the broken glass or wood. Her body shook and her chest vibrated as her sobs overtook the silence. Tears fell to the floor as the woman cried and cried. She'd screwed up and now she had to deal with that.
The ocean continued to submerge her and she sunk deeper and deeper into her emotion.
Her tears continued on and on, until denial arrived. Her mind began to blame others, anyone she could blame instead of herself. Someone to project her self-hatred onto. Someone who was worse than herself. That person was someone she blamed for everything.
Lila clenched her fists, her nails biting into her skin. The brunette's tears had halted and her gaze had narrowed. Her blood boiled in her veins as she began to growl.
Anger replaced denial and sadness as the ocean continued to consume her. Her thoughts focused on that one person, focused on their deeds, focused on their demise.
The young woman stood up, still clutching the broken frame. She'd screwed up, but she knew exactly who to blame.
Celeste groaned as she sat in a the assembly hall. All of the school had gathered there already and were bursting with excitement about the prize draw. Each student spoke with their friends, saying what they would do and how they'd dress. The teen just rolled her eyes.
She was exhausted from whatever her akuma side had been doing, and now she could feel the sleepiness taking over her form. She just wanted to get back to her grandma's before dark. The teen's eyes fluttered before she pinched her wrist.
She had to stay awake. If her mother had come to the school to get her, then she'd be caught. She'd be forced to go back home and endure the yells and shouts from her mother. She had to escape before she could fall down the rabbit hole again. She couldn't go back to that cycle.
The teen sighed as she shook her head. She was being irrational. Celeste was certain her mother wouldn't do that. It wasn't like she'd shown any concern recently, so why would she now? The teen nearly facepalmed. She was just getting lost in her own thoughts.
Celeste turned her attention to the stage and spotted the principal walking onto it. Mr Damocles was an ancient teacher at the school, he was known to have been Chloe Bourgeois-Bisset's (A/N: Decided to make Chloe's name double barrel), Adrien Agreste and Marinette Agreste's, as well as Nino Lahiffe's principal.
He was well known around the school and had quite a few grey hairs. His once thick brown beard was now white and grey and his bald spot only grew larger over the years. The only thing that didn't change was his owl-like features.
Beside him was the school's array of teachers, as well as the P.E teacher Alix Kubdel. She wasn't known to come to assembly often, so when she did it was a huge deal. That was one of the most basic things to know at the school, besides the fact that she disappeared quite frequently as well.
Ms Kubdel had her usual pink short hair and sports clothes on. She wore a slight smile and there was a glint in her eyes. Celeste had seen it before when Ms Kubdel was about to give an embarrassing punishment: like doing star jumps or packing away all the cones while everyone watched. Sometimes the teacher had that look when a student spoke back to her.
Celeste knew it meant trouble. Putting her head down, the teen hid in the crowd. She just wanted this to be over and done with so she could leave and go to sleep.
"Settle down! Settle down!" Mr Damocles spoke, "I'll announce the winner of the prize draw once you are silent."
The entire hall fell into a deathly silence. All of the students' heads were turned to the stage.
"Thank you," Mr Damocles cleared his throat, "Now, Ms Kubdel the winning number?"
The P.E teacher stepped forwards a wide grin on her face.
Celeste knew this was trouble. Her nerves were screaming for her to run, but she stayed put. She played with her hair as she waited for the result.
"The winner of the prize draw is..." Alix drew out her sentence, "Number Forty eight!"
"Forty eight?" A groan echoed around the hall, "This has to be rigged!"
"Anyone with forty eight?" An English teacher called out.
Everyone shook their heads, making Celeste raise a brow. She searched her coat pocket for her ticket, pulling it out anxiously. The brunette looked at the ticket, her eyes widening. Her mouth formed an 'o' shape and she nearly cried out in disbelief; as staring her right in the face were the numbers four and eight.
Marinette sighed as she managed to dress Emma with no disasters whatsoever. Anyone who knew the bluenette, knew that she was extremely clumsy and often left a mess behind her. Usually Adrien would've helped her, but he was at work so she had to manage as best she could.
Marinette smiled as she looked at her daughter. She'd dressed the infant in a white dress with a blue bodice and had given her blue flats. A white headband was in her hair which was left out.
Emma clapped as she saw herself in the mirror. She pointed at her reflection.
"Pretty!" She smiled.
Before Marinette could answer, she heard someone knock at the door.
The bluenette sighed as she approached the door. She was exhausted and by now she just wanted to get the day over and done with. Marinette opened the door, her brows furrowed, only to smile as she spotted Alya.
"Alya? What are you doing here?" Marinette eyed her friend.
"A little bird told me you were going to Audrey Bourgeois' show," The brunette shrugged.
"How did you know?" Marinette raised a brow, "I didn't tell anyone except Adrien."
"I was assigned to report it. Surprise!" Alya smiled sheepishly, "But I forgot about this little detail."
Percy stepped out from behind her. The toddler smiled at Marinette, before he spotted Emma. He then ran towards her and the two began to play.
"Let me guess, Nino's working?" The bluenette looked at her friend expectantly.
"Yep," Alya grinned, "So I thought we'd get ready together since both of our husbands seem to busy for the evening."
"I don't see why not," Marinette shrugged, "But you're watching them first."
"That's fine with me," Alya smiled, "Who wants to hear a story!"
Both children squealed and ran up to the young woman who smirked.
Marinette rolled her eyes. Alya always had to rub it in that she was better with kids. Sometimes it was so annoying it made the bluenette want to wipe that grin off the brunette's face.
"I'll be back in a few," She sighed but they didn't hear her.
The three were already lost in the mystical land of Rispa, where Alya was a supposed unicorn.
Celeste sighed as she turned the key in the lock. She didn't think she'd ever return here, yet here she was standing right there. The one place she vowed to never return to. Lasting only one day away. All because of that stupid prize draw.
"It'll be fine Celeste," Duusu encouraged from the girl's pocket.
"I hope so," The teen sighed as she pushed the door open.
For the second time that day, she was surprised.
"Mom!" Celeste rushed to the woman's side.
She'd come back home to find her mother in shambles. She sat on the stairs, her head buried in her arms. Her body shook as sobs echoed through the building.
The teen had never thought she'd have that effect on her mother. She thought her mother would be celebrating that she was gone. The one nuisance in her life.
"Mom?" The teen tapped the woman on the shoulder, causing her to lift her head.
The woman's usually perfect makeup was smudged; her brown hair was tangled and her clothes stained. Her green eyes were empty and hollow, showing no life. Lila stared ahead at the mess she'd created.
Pictures and clothes were scattered everywhere, the floor littered in the teen's possessions. Wallpaper was ripped, paintwork ruined and lamps broken. It looked as if a giant baby had thrown a tantrum.
"What happened?" Celeste looked at the woman, concern in her eyes.
"Celeste?" Lila sniffed before she turned away, her tone suddenly cold, "I thought you left. You said I was a bad mother."
"I did leave," The teen spoke softly, "But I came back."
"Because you couldn't find a place to sleep?" The woman snarled, "Or somewhere to eat and stay clean?"
"No, because grandma convinced me to," Celeste sat beside her mother.
"Of course she did," Lila sighed as she shook her head.
"Well, I also came back to apologise," The teen continued, "I had a lot of time to think at grandma's and I thought I could try and make things better. I know I haven't been acting the best these past few days. I've been secretive and I can understand why you're mad. I always go missing and come back late. Grandma told me that you call her most nights."
"I always do," The woman looked at her daughter, "I care about you Celeste, even if I don't show it much."
The two sat in silence.
"Anyway...I was wondering if you'd like to go to the fashion show tonight with me?" Celeste smiled sheepishly, "You know, the one Audrey Bourgeois is doing? Marinette Agreste will be there too, and a bunch of other celebrities! I was just thinking it'd be fun. Plus I have one extra ticket from the prize draw."
Lila was silent for a moment while the cogs in her brain spun. The fashion show tonight? The one Marinette will be at, probably with Emma. The one that Adrien won't be able to come to because of work? The one that gives her the perfect stage?
Lila smirked before quickly hiding it with a sweet smile.
"Of course it'll be fun," She hugged her daughter, "I'm sorry for getting mad. Work's been stressful these past few weeks and I didn't mean to ignore you. I didn't have the best childhood, so I never learnt how to be a good parent. My mother was always absent and my father ran off with a younger woman. I just wanted the best for you, nothing less."
"You want the best for me?" Celeste peered up at her mother. Part of her doubted her mother, while the aching side wanted to believe her. She'd spent so long craving for her mother's love that it often overclouded her judgement. She didn't want to make a mistake like that again. If she did, she didn't know if she could live with herself.
"Of course I do!" Lila placed a kiss on her daughter's forehead, before letting go, "Now, what should we wear to this fashion show?"
Marinette, Alya and the two infant arrived at the show in one piece. All were dressed to meet the status quo of the fashion show and were sat in their seats up front. There were a few photographers around them, who took pictures every so often of passing celebrities.
"It's a shame I'm here for work," Alya groaned, "Seems like the perfect opportunity to relax."
"You're not the only one," Marinette giggled as she tucked a stray hair behind her ear.
"I know, but it really takes away from the fun," The brunette sighed as she watched her son play with his tie, "Percy, no!"
The infant smiled as his mother scolded him. His brown eyes glinted with mischief as he reached for his tie, teasing his mother.
"I mean it," Alya's gaze focused on him. The infant laughed before he stopped and went back to waiting for the show to begin.
Audrey Bourgeois then came up to them with Chloe, her husband and the twins. The twins smiled when they spotted Emma and Percy before sitting next to them.
"Hey," Chloe greeted before sitting beside the twins.
"Hey," The two other females smiled.
"Long time no see Marinette and Alya," Chloe's husband smiled.
"I've been busy," Marinette offered sheepishly.
"Same," Alya shrugged, "Plus you haven't visited us in a while. So you're just as guilty!"
The male chuckled before responding.
"Touche," He smiled, "But I'm busy enough with Chloe and the twins."
"I heard that!" Chloe nudged her husband.
"Hey!" He smiled.
The blonde just rolled her eyes.
"Marinette," Audrey smiled at the bluenette.
"Hi, Audrey," She smiled back.
"Are you ready to talk about that collab?" She raised a brow.
"During the show?," Marinette raised a brow.
"Of course! It's the only free time I have," Audrey sighed before smiling, "Sorry. The past few weeks have been stressful."
"I can agree with that," The bluenette got up before turning to Alya, "Can you look after Emma for me?"
"Don't worry, Mari, I won't lose her," Alya teased.
"Thanks!" The bluenette replied as she chased after the designer.
A/N: Sorry this is a little late guys. I've been super busy this weekend and luckily I pre-wrote this during the week! Hopefully there are no grammatical errors etc. Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed!
Till next time,
D.L.D
P.S. Chat Blanc had be in pieces! It made and broke my heart at the same time. But I kinda feel like Marinette and Adrien need to fall in love with the other half before they get together, cause it seemed like Adrien only liked Marinette because she was Ladybug. Not that he didn't like her but he liked Ladybug more? Ok, I'm just writing gibberish. I'm so tired! forget it!