All Marinette could think about the next day was the strange flying boy. Who was he? Where did he come from? Was he even human? In class she drew a picture of him which didn't go unnoticed by the teacher.
"Miss Dupian-Cheng what is this?" She asked holding up the drawing.
"A boy." She answered. "A flying boy who visited me at my window last night."
"What childish nonsense." Ms. Mendeleiev was an impatient woman who did not approve a students losing focus. She wrote a letter to Mr. Dupain-Cheng and had the post boy deliver it immediately. As Marinette walked home with her brothers and Tikki and Plagg. She saw the post boy and tried to stop him.
"Wait!" She called running after him. "Stop!"
"Marinette come back!" Erik said.
The post boy headed for the bank, Marinette ran after him as fast as she could. Not noticing that Plagg and Tikki were following her.
Tom was a banker and had a very important meeting with the bank's president. If he impressed him it could do wonders for his job. The man was as nervous as a tick and praying nothing will go wrong.
"Good evening sir." He said.
"Good even Mr. Dupain-Cheng. Glad you made it on time."
"Of course...I...couldn't be late to this."
The bank doors burst open, the post boy ran inside with Marinette close behind.
"Papa! I can explain!" She said.
Tikki and Plagg also ran in but they slipped and skidded across the floor smashing right into Tom and the bank president. Now Tom had never been known to be real angry but the humiliation in front of his boss made him very cross.
"I have been humiliated for the last time!" He said chaining up Plagg and Tikki outside.
"Tom please." Sabine said.
"Tom the neighbors will hear." Caline said.
"Let them hear! Let the whole world here!" He said. "This is not a nurse! This is a dog!" He said to Tikki. "And Plagg is a guard dog so he'll guard outside."
"Please dear remember your blood pressure." Sabine said calmly.
He took a deep breath released it and faced Marinette. "I'm sorry for going off darling but enough is enough. You've been so busy telling these stories and playing with your brothers that you've been neglecting your chores and your grades are slipping."
"I'm sorry Father." She said.
"Tomorrow you will leave the nursery and begin lessons with Caline." He declared. "I'm sorry but it's time for you to grow up."
Poor Marinette, she didn't want to grow up. But there was nothing she could do to stop it. The children were also upset to see their beloved nurse and guard locked out in the cold tonight, Marinette felt guilty for getting them in trouble.
That night Tom and Sabine would be leaving for a party with Tom's colleagues. Tom wore a fine suit while Sabine wore a beautiful gold dress and gloves. Caline would be watching the children while they were gone. Before leaving Sabine went to say goodnight to her children and close the window like she did every night. She went upstairs to find Nino wearing his gray striped pajamas and reading before bed like he always did, Erik in yellow footie pajamas hugging his teddy bear, and Marinette wearing her same pretty, vintage, long sleeved white nightgown looking out the window.
"Time for bed my lovelies." She said closing the window.
"Please don't go Mother." Marinette said.
"Yes stay here with us." Erik said.
"Father can go by himself." Nino said.
"Children you're father is a brave man but he'll need my support tonight." She tucked them into bed and gave each one of them a kiss goodnight.
"Mother I don't want to leave the nursery." Marinette said. "Why is Father making me?"
"He can't make her stop playing with us." Nino said.
"Poor Plagg and Tikki." Erik said. "Out there all alone. Why did he lock them out?"
"Now children try not to be angry with your father." She said. "He loves you all very much and only wants what's best. He's made many sacrifices for you and me."
"Sacrifices?" Marinette said.
"Yes dear. Some of his greatest dreams he's had to let go. Because when you really love someone you must sacrifice things for them but love is always worth it."
She turned off the lights.
"Mother!" Erik said fearfully.
"Oh silly me." She said turning a small lantern on. "I forgot the night light, to keep the bad dreams away."
Erik laid down relieved.
"Good night. I love you all so much." She lightly closed the door then left with Tom for the party.
Tom really should not have chained up Tikki and Plagg outside because had they stayed in the nursery like they did every night they would have been able to keep away the strange boy in leaves that was coming back tonight. He waited until the couple left and then sent Chloe to unlatch the window. The boy and fairy flew inside as quietly as possible.
"Okay Chloe help me find my shadow." He whispered to the pixie.
"Right." She nodded.
They looked around the nursery then flew into the hallway and looked there. Chloe saw something moving in the drawer. Looking through the key hole she saw the shadow rolled up and beating around.
"Adrien over here." She said pointing into the key hole.
He opened the drawer and the shadow flew out as quick as air. He slammed the drawer shut unintentionally trapping Chloe inside and grabbed on to the ankle of his shadow.
"Gotcha!" He said. It squirmed and wiggled trying to get loose. "Hold still! Stop it!"
The shadow got free and flew through the house. Adrien flew after it.
"Adrien? Hello! Adrien! Come back and let me out!" Chloe squeaked angrily.