Today's story is by MalcomReynolds.
Author's Note: MR here. Yeah. This one is definitely T rated for some (implied) sex and the sheer evilness of the author. This is actually a prequel to one of my other works No More Ladybug. It is also aged up. Marinette is 22, Luka is 24.
Lyra: People definitely need a warning of your sheer evilness.
Marinette sat on the cool tile of their bathroom floor, a white stick clutched in her trembling hand. Two pink lines stared back at her. She hadn't thought… hadn't even suspected, and she knew her fiance hadn't either. She'd been talking to her mother yesterday, telling her how she seemed to have a bug that she couldn't shake, when Sabine had suggested she take a pregnancy test "just to rule things out". She hadn't said anything to Luka before he'd left for the recording studio that morning, preferring to indulge in her foolishness alone. She wasn't sure if he'd be excited or upset, this close to their wedding, finding out that they'd be parents soon, on top of everything else.
They'd talked about having children, but it had always been a 'someday' discussion. They were both still so young, with Marinette about to graduate, and Luka recording his first solo album, barely more than kids themselves. They'd been careful, it wasn't in either of their natures to be any other way, but life makes its way, especially when you have a tiny goddess of creation on your side.
Looking down at the stick again, just in case the results had changed, Marinette called out to Tikki when they hadn't. Phasing through the door, Tikki looked at the stick in her companion's hand, and gently tugged it free from her numb fingers. Beaming ear to ear, Tikki cheered her congratulations. When Marinette failed to respond, she flew up to nuzzle Marinette's cheek. Marinette jumped slightly, then brought her hands up to cradle the little kwami, giving voice to all the jumbled thoughts that were tumbling through her brain.
She'd eventually pulled herself up off the tile, and taken a shower, thanks to a pep talk from Tikki, and dressed comfortably, not having classes until late that afternoon, and heading to the kitchen to stress-bake.
When Luka came home at lunchtime, it was to find his fiance covered in a fine dusting of flour, and mounds of baked goods. Croissants were piled up on two plates, while the macarons were just waiting to be filled. Her back to him, Marinette was belting out a Jagged Stone song along with the radio, pulling what looked like bread rolls out of the oven. She placed them on top of the oven to cool, squeaking when she turned and saw him, her eyes going wide.
"Unless we're having a party that I've forgotten about, something is bothering you. What's going on, Marinette?"
She walked over to him, burying her face in his chest, and just hung on. Scooping her up, Luka carried her to the couch in their tiny living area, and sat down with her cradled in his lap. He hummed into her hair, stroking her back, glancing around for Tikki to give him some indication of what was going on. Tikki was having a whispered conversation with Sass, and at one point he saw them both glance over at the coffee table. Glancing over at it himself, he saw that it was bare, except for a white piece of plastic, about the size of a pencil, but about twice as wide.
Looking at it curiously, he saw that there was an oval cut out of it, with two dark pink lines crossing it. He squinted to read the writing next to the window, and he gasped when he realized what it was. His grip inadvertently tightened on Marinette, as he sucked in a breath.
She sat up and followed his gaze to where it was locked on to the pregnancy test. "Luka." When her voice came out quavery, she cleared her throat and tried again. "Luka? Are you mad?"
That snapped him out of his shock, and he turned his eyes to her. "Why would I be mad? Marinette, this may not be when we planned, but I would be thrilled to have a child with you. Am thrilled." He corrected. He pulled her tightly to him, mind reeling, but happier and more terrified than he'd ever been before, even when he was proposing to Marinette. He turned his head burying his face in her hair.
They stayed like that for a few minutes, before Marinette shifted, getting a bit more comfortable, facing him, her legs either side of his. Her face was still buried in his shoulder, and he just held her, stroking her hair. In his mind, he was thinking through the logistics when he felt Marinette starting to kiss up the column of his throat. His head dropped back to rest on the back of the sofa, a low moan escaping when she started mouthing along his jawline, teeth occasionally scraping against his stubble.
He turned his head and caught her lips, his hands teasing the skin just under her shirt, sliding up her back when she pressed against him in encouragement. Soon they were both panting, bodies pressed together, hands and mouths reaching for every available patch of skin. When Marinette started tugging his shirt off, Luka chuckled. "I'm pretty sure this is exactly how we ended up in this situation in the first place."
Marinette paused for a moment, then tossed his shirt over her shoulder. "Well, it's not like you can get me pregnant again right now." Then cut off anything else he had to say by sealing her mouth to his.
Luka was very late getting back to the studio, but he couldn't honestly say he minded. Marinette had asked him not to tell anyone, at least until after they'd received confirmation from the doctor, but he was still thrilled.
She'd also had a long talk with Tikki this morning, and wanted to alert Master Fu. She wanted to make sure that it was safe to transform while pregnant, but said that she was going to wait until after the doctor's appointment the next day. Tikki had said that it shouldn't hurt the baby at all, but all of them were understandably nervous.
Viperion showed up to patrol with Chat Noir that night, and when questioned said that Ladybug had talked to him earlier that week, asking him to cover that night. Since they were getting older, and sometimes had real-life issues come up, Chat didn't think anything of it.
The next morning, Marinette had her doctor's appointment, which Luka accompanied her to, although all they did was draw some blood and give her a list of pregnancy do's and don'ts.
Luka kissed Marinette as they split off, her to visit Master Fu, he to the studio. They wanted to tell their family first, then their friends. They had their monthly gathering of Alya, Nino and Adrien coming over the next weekend, so they'd decided that would be a good time to tell them. They had dinner with their families on a regular basis, so inviting them over wouldn't tip their hand.
Marinette was filled with happy thoughts as she entered Master Fu's shop. He was alone, and came out to see her, Duusuu his companion once again, now that the peacock miraculous had been returned, and Wayzz was living with the Lahiffes. They made small talk for a little while, while Master Fu made them a pot of herbal tea. "Now tell me, Marinette. Why have you come to see me?"
"Well, you see, my fiance and I just got some great news. We just found out that we're going to have a baby!" Marinette's smile broke over her face, and Duusuu squealed happily and flew over to hug Tikki, but Master Fu's face remained serious.
"This is very happy news for you, Marinette, and I am glad that you and Luka are having a child together. You are also getting married soon, are you not?"
"I graduate in 22 days and we're getting married in 26!" Happiness radiated off of her in waves.
"It sounds like you have a lot of changes coming up. A lot of new responsibilities."
"Well, not that much, really." Marinette considered. "I mean the baby is a huge change, but I'll be working at the place I've been interning at this past semester, and I already live with Luka, and have done for a couple of years." She shrugged. "We've been together for seven years, almost eight. This decision isn't sudden or life-changing. It's just a celebration of our love and making it legal."
Master Fu shook his head. "Marinette. You have been a fantastic Ladybug. One of the strongest I have ever heard of. However, even with your great mental and physical fortitude, I am going to have to ask that you return the Ladybug Miraculous to me."
Marinette goggled at him in utter disbelief, and even Tikki and Duusuu stared at the guardian wide-eyed and silent. Their eyes met, and Master Fu watched as Marinette came to terms with what he'd said.
Eventually, she sighed. "Of course, Master. I will set up a 4 man patrol rotation instead of a 5 man one, and let everyone know that I will be out of commission for a while. Luka, Viperion, already knows, obviously, we talked about the possibility of me having to become inactive, especially in the latter stages of my pregnancy, but if you feel that it is important for me to not transform, I understand."
"You do not understand, Marinette. It is imperative that you return the Ladybug Miraculous to me today. I will give you all the time you need to say goodbye to Tikki, but I cannot let you leave here with those earrings."
Marinette gasped in horror, looking at Tikki with wild, terrified eyes. Her tiny companion flew over to the girl she'd watched grow from a terrified teen to a confident young woman, and turned to face Master Fu.
"Master! You cannot just take me away from Marinette. She's right. She needs to be given a chance to organize everything. Even a few days. There hasn't been a threat for a while, and none of our sources have detected anything magical on the horizon."
"Tikki, you know this needs to be done. The sooner we find a replacement Ladybug the safer Paris will be."
Marinette's blood ran cold at the phrase "replacement Ladybug", and she fought down a panicked sob. Tikki turned to her, and rested her tiny forehead against her. "I'm so sorry Marinette." Marinette placed a soft kiss on the kwami's head, and they just stayed together, holding on for just a little while longer.
While she still could hold it together, Marinette cupped Tikki to her cheek, snuggling the way they did when she was younger, and in need of comfort. "Goodbye my friend." Whispered words as she slid out first one earring, then the other, the first tear, that she'd fought so hard to contain, sliding down her cheek. She dropped the earrings into Master Fu's outstretched hand before fleeing from his house, the tears falling faster now.
About halfway to their apartment she pulled out her phone and dialed Luka's number, sobbing incoherently when he picked up. He couldn't understand a word that she was saying, but the sheer fear and sorrow and loss in her voice had him bolting from the studio.
As he had much further to travel, Marinette was curled up on their couch sobbing as if her heart was breaking. Dropping to his knees beside her, Luka pulled his fiance into his arms, cradling her, much as he had only a day before. He looked her over for any sort of physical injury, but Sass noticed moments before he did. "She isssssn't here. Tikki. She issss gone."
Reaching out to tuck her hair behind her ears, Luka saw her empty earlobes. He softly ran his finger over one, then the other. "Oh, Angel. What happened?"
In garbled fits and starts Marinette tried to explain to him what Master Fu had said, but ended with a wail. "How am I going to tell Chat Noir? How will I tell Paris? Everyone will think I abandoned them!"
He held her reassuringly, his heartbeat returning to normal now that he knew she was in no physical danger. "If nothing else I can tell Chat. Bring him here if I need to and let you two talk. Can you think of any way to call him to you? To set up a meeting with him somewhere? I know that this is something you would rather do on your own, but I you know I will always be here for you."
He repeated the words that had become their mantra, whenever either of them was having a rough time. "You can tell me everything. Or you can tell me nothing, if you prefer. You can be yourself with me. I will always love you."
Marinette leaned into him, holding him tightly. "I love you, too, Luka. Thank you for being you."
They sat together, holding tight, missing Tikki and worrying about the future, until Marinette suddenly sat bolt upright and cried, "Croissants!"