The next morning, they all congregated in the hotel lobby. Each one with their bags packed and ready.
"You sure you can handle this," asked Felix who was in Adrien's signature black shirt with purple green and yellow stripes, white over shirt, jeans and orange sneakers.
"Yes, bro, I got this," Adrien wearing Felix's gray button up and black vest and tie with black slacks and black dress shoes.
"If you're gonna switch places at least try to speak like the other," admonished Plagg.
The two boys rolled their eyes, but knew he had a point.
""Alright, just remember you gotta be cool. I don't normally express my emotions all that much," said Felix with a relaxed tone.
"I promise to keep my emotions in check," said Adrien with a more serious tone.
The two grasped hands and shook.
"Good luck, bro," smiled Felix.
"Good luck to you as well, brother," answered Adrien.
"Alright, boys, we'd best be off," said Tikki.
With one last goodbye, Adrien flew back to Paris with Marinette and Plagg on a fancy private jet while Felix rode first class on a commercial flight with Bridgette and Tikki. When the jet arrived in Paris, it was late in the afternoon. Adrien was already dead tired and ready to sleep if not for the stiff looking woman approaching them.
"Plagg, glad to see you back safely," she said in a serious voice.
"Thanks Nathalie. We'll head back to the manor to get some rest. I understand there's an event tonight at Le Grand Paris," asked the man.
"Yes, Miss Bougiose is having a small gathering and has requested Felix's presence."
Adrien didn't feel quite comfortable with the idea of being immediately trusted into Felix's life like this. He thought he'd have at least a day to adjust himself, but it seemed like he wasn't going to get it. Marinette noticed the slight grimace and thought best to step in.
"Can't we let him skip it this time? He's probably jet lagged and he looks like he might fall over any second."
"But I'm not...," he began till he saw the look Marinette gave him. "I would like to just return home and sleep tonight, Nathalie. I've had a long flight and need more time to rest. I'm sure Chloé will forgive me."
Adrien was glad he remembered the girls name thanks to what Felix and Marinette told him about what Felix dealt with and Chloe Bougoise was a pain in the neck from what he gathered and he was sure he wasn't ready to deal with her right now. Nathalie reluctantly agreed and made a call. She knew she'd hear about this later but Felix was her top priority and not some spoiled rich brat. They all climbed into the limo for the Agreste manor. They dropped Marinette off at her home, which was settled on top of a bakery. Adrien loved pastries and couldn't wait for the chance to try them. As Marinette was getting out, Adrien offered to help her with her bags.
"Ad-Felix, I can get these myself."
"It's alright. I want to help."
"You normally don't," she hissed, hoping he would take the hint.
"I can make exceptions," he retorted.
Knowing it would be pointless to argue, Marinette accepted his help. She led him to her front door and up the stairs to the apartment. The door was already opened and her parents were their to greet her.
"Welcome home, sweetie," said a short Chinese woman.
"Felix, good to see you," greeted a big burly man with a smile and a mustache.
Adrien racked his brain for Marinette's parents names as he tried suppress a gulp at the sight of her father but he smiled politely.
"Good to see you as well, Tom."
"Thank you for helping our daughter with her things. Would you like something to eat," asked the woman again.
Adrien looked at Marinette and she shook her head no. A silent signal to suggest he better get home.
"As much as I would like to Sabine, I need to get home. Perhaps another time?"
"That sounds great," beamed Tom.
While Tom and Sabine left them alone, Marinette addressed Adrien.
"You need to be more careful. You can't act like Adrien when people think you're Felix."
"Hey, cut me some slack. I am jet lagged after all," he deadpanned.
"Sorry, I just figured you'd need more time to prepare you for Chloé. Although, no one is ever really prepared for Chloé."
"From what you and Felix have told me, I don't doubt it."
"Well, you better get going before Nathalie or Plagg come after you. I'll see you tomorrow and I'll see if I can sneak you a croissant."
"Really? That'd be great." Adrien took her hand and kissed it. "Au revoir ma princesse."
Adrien then turned and walked back down the stairs, smiling about the blush he saw that formed on her face.
Back in LA, Felix took in the warm evening air and the smell of salt from the ocean. He rode in a car with Tikki and Bridgette to Santa Monica, where he assumed is where Adrien and them lived. He saw that the house was a decent size and typical architecture of most of the homes in the area. Grant it it wasn't as big as his house in Paris but, he wasn't going to complain. Bridgette opens the door.
"Aunt Emily! Are you here," she called out, but there was no answer.
"Adele must be at the gallery," said Tikki.
"Wait, is my mother's name Adele or Emily," asked Felix.
"Her full name is Emily Adele," said Tikki. "Adele is her business name."
"So why do you call her Aunt Emily," Felix asked Bridgette.
"Our moms are friends and I've always called her Aunt Emily."
"Bridgette, why don't you show Felix where Adrien's room is and I'll get dinner started."
After helping Felix get settled and had dinner, the two of them settled on watching a movie, one of Adrien's favorites; Felix wasn't a fan.
"He actually likes this garbage," he complained.
"I know, the plot makes no sense, the characters are dull as rocks and the love interests have no chemistry!"
While that was happening, someone came in through the door.
"Tikki! I'm home!"
"In the kitchen," she cried.
Both Felix and Bridgette tensed when they heard her. Bridgette turned off the movie and just looked over at him only to find Felix looking back at her. She could tell he was nervous so she smiled at him and stood up first. She entered the foyer.
"Hey Aunt Emily!"
"Hi Bridgette, are you doing alright after what happened? You did leave rather suddenly."
"I'm fine. I did bring back someone though."
Felix took that as his cue to walk in. He couldn't believe what he saw. His own mother stood before him. Her golden blonde hair shone just like in the picture he had. Her green emerald eyes went wide and her smile grew big at the sight of him.
"Hey mom," Felix breathed out.
"Adrien! You're home," she cried out.
Emily rushed to hug him and he slowly hugged back. He learned at a very young age to hide his emotions under a stoic mask. But getting to actually see her, to hear her voice, to touch her after all these years of only able to stare at a picture and imagine all the things he's experiencing right now. Before Felix realized it, tears were actually falling and had tried to suppress his sobs but a few escaped and his mother noticed.
"Honey? What's wrong," she asked as she pulled back and wiped her son's tears.
"I'm sorry. I just...I missed you," he choked out.
Emily smiled and hugged him again.
"Oh sweetie, I missed you as well."
Felix let his emotions out as his mother just held him. Both Bridgette and Tikki hid out in the kitchen giving them privacy. They had a pretty good feeling that Felix needed that comfort only a mother could give.
Hey everyone. Sorry this took so long to update. Been going through some personal stuff and I'm not 100% there yet but it was enough to write again. Thank you for being patient and I hope you enjoyed this part.