If chat thought Marinette looked beautiful before now she was positively ethereal. Light forming a halo across her midnight tresses while the breeze played with the straps her night shirt. Green shorts peaked below the hem barely allowing Chat to see the little black cats adorning it. She still wears my colors… His heart pounded in his chest as the intimacy of the situation dawned on him. "See something you like?" pulled from his ogling he met her eyes and that little smirk! Those lips were even more deadly when paired with an adorable messy bun and it just wasn't fair! Well two can play that game. "Why yes I do. I see that in my absence my little princess has become quite the queen." Drawing closer with each word like a moth to a flame and he's been in the dark for far too long. Caging her between the door and himself, "How could I not like it?" THIS IS NOT HOW IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN! Mind going into overdrive as to why this was happening or even excuse of some kind, a squeezing of his torso brought everything to a halt. She was hugging him. After leaving for so long and the way he did she was hugging him. It was too good to be true. "I missed you kitty." His world crumbled with those words, how could he have left her. Returning the hug "I missed you too princess."

Too soon the hug came to end as Marinette slowly backed away, bottom lip adorably captured between her teeth, "Wait here okay?" Dumbly he nodded as the light chased her through the doors. To try and calm his racing heart, coupled with genuine curiosity, Chat decided to tour the little garden. Mari's green thumb knew no bounds. Plants from all over found their way into her tender care with each one more beautiful and eye catching than the last. That is until some interestingly placed cattails caught the blonde's eye. It was amazing. She had, somehow, managed to create a marsh-like habitat for them. "You know, in flower speak cattails mean peace and prosperity." He turned from the display to find the petite designer holding out two mugs with a blanket draped over her arm. Smiling she set the cups down and laid the blanket out, "Care to stay awhile?"

It was just like when they were teenagers… like he had never left. Everything just fit together so perfectly and it hurt. How did he leave this? What in the world convinced his heart that he could live without her laugh? That he could just forget the best night of his life if he ran far enough? His heart really needed to rethink things. Here she was. A young woman well on her way to fulfill her dreams, laughing with him like they were teenagers. Her midnight locks the envy of the hour, freckled shoulders the brighter than any moon and blue eyes that could drown the ocean. Dang it! He was falling in love with her all over again… and he was strangely okay with that. Time passed but the conversation never died, sixteen years left a lot of room for catch-up after all. Marinette had brought all his favorite snacks and it left him with a few questions. "Princess?" a hum, "Why do you have all my favorites?" her sky locked him in place as mirth and something darker danced, "I always have them." turning to the sky she laughed a bit, "After all feed a stray and he'll keep coming back… right?" Tears drifted down her cheeks, "Gotta keep my kitty feed after all." he was stunned. She waited for him? He left her but she waited? Keeping his favorites on standby for when he'd come back. Now he really needed to have a word with his heart but that was later. Water fell down her face like rain. Each drop a bullet to the chest as pulled her too him mumbling apologies into hair.

Nothing quelled the pain in his chest. No matter the number of apologies that spilled from his lips, it wasn't enough. Plagg was merciful, retreating to the farthest recesses of their link as his kitten tried to work things out. The tables turned rather quickly. Clutching her like a lifeline, Marinette began to hum a silly little lullaby they had made and saved for the worst of days. She wiped his tears away while smiling through her own. "I love you." Chat swears he heard the world around them shatter as those words passed her lips. "I don't know when it happened," her thumb caressed his face gathering a few strays, "but I never stopped." Delicate hands cupped his face, "So please don't cry." Tears continued to fall but chat was too shocked to care or respond. Marinette's eyes glazed over, "I meant to tell you that night," a giggle "but I got a tangled up in something." Humor played across her features. Chat just turned red, really red. Attempting to swallow down the lump his throat he tried to speak. Life wasn't done with him though. "I was going to try again the night after…" she looked at him, "So Chat Noir, I love you." Her smile put the moon to shame stopping his heart for the hundredth time that night. "Mari," her finger pressed against his lips silencing him. "I've made peace Chat." She gathered everything heading for the door, "Don't be a stranger okay?" And she was gone.

Chat laid on the balcony for who knows how long. Just thinking about the past 24 hours. Focusing on the girl's he loved confession. She loved no loves him… and he left her. Nothing made sense in his brain. His ring beeped, a reminder that Plagg doesn't want to stay in the ring longer than necessary. Sighing he made his way back to the hotel oblivious to the little vixen watching him go. A growl escaped the little kwami as violet eyes chased the cat across the roofs. "Trixx? Come inside I need help with my blog." Reluctantly the little god returned to the apartment.

Light gently crept through the open window as Plagg's snores echoed through the suite as muddled thoughts danced around Adrien's head. Now that he knew how she felt everything was so obvious. All the kind gestures, staying up at all hours, that night so many years ago… she laughed at his puns! Gosh he felt like such an idiot. The most amazing girl, Woman, she's a woman now. The most amazing woman he had ever known had loved him, actually loved him. "Kid stop trying to burn a hole in the ceiling. It won't work." The whining of his Kwami brought the blonde back to himself but he wouldn't let the little devil bring his mood down. A smile planted itself on his face as a love-struck sigh put every teenage girl to shame. Plagg just rolled his eyes, "I know where this is going and I want none of it!" Unfortunately, his attempts to turn over and go back to bed were thwarted as his chosen decided to dance with him around the little room. Why? No one really knows for sure. Something about Adrien being a princess? Anyway, Adrien danced around the room with the little grump of a kwami humming to himself with a big dopey grin. "You're not gonna put me down until I ask, are you?" The blonde just continued to hum, "Fine!" Plagg crossed his arms not at all caring why his chosen was acting like an idiot but resigned to his fate, "What's got you all gross today?"

Adrien somehow managed to smile even bigger and danced with the cat even more, "Oh nothing much." Plagg shot him an annoyed look, "I just found out that the most amazing girl in all of France loves me!" He fell back on the bed releasing the little being allowing him to hover above as the blonde cuddled a pillow like a school girl. "She actually loves me… she loved me even while I was gone." Adrien didn't know what he was expecting but it definitely wasn't silence. Maybe a 'you're an idiot' or 'not this again!' It just hung there, suffocating him until he finally turned to the Kwami. The silence was unexpected, but the heaviness of Plagg's gaze was like an electric shock. "Plagg? What's wrong?" Adrien watched as his friend set himself down on a pillow looking away from him. He was about to ask again but Plagg beat him too it, "Just, don't hurt her."

Taken aback Adrien didn't know how to respond at first then he remembered last night. "Plagg what do you mean?" the little guy didn't turn but his ears started to lay flat. "You knew?" Anger and hurt stormed in his chest blinding him to action. Wrapping his hand around the Kwami, Adrien brought him to his face, "You little shit! Why didn't you tell me!"

The room went cold, something dark igniting in his eyes, "And if I had!" Fear gripped the blonde. This wasn't his annoying little friend, "Would you have stayed?" this was something ancient, "Would you have told her the same thing?" something ancient and angry. Darkness crept through the room extinguishing the morning rays. "You were the one who loved her," Lights shook before turning off, "but I was there for her!" The room was shaking, furniture toppling, Adrien lost his grip falling back on the bed and then it just stopped. He watched as the shadows retreated allowing the morning to shine again retreating. Plagg, who barely gave any human being a second thought, was crying. Perched on a fallen pillow his little shoulders shaking as the darkness crawled back to him. "Do you have any idea how much she loves you?" The little cat turned, "I know you follow your heart kid but how could you do that to her?" Adrien's eyes widened, each question piercing his very being. "I didn't tell you because I thought it was pretty damn obvious that she loved you." Striking the final blow, he spoke, "The heart is fickle kid. Did you even think about her while we were gone?"

Everything in him shattered, questions circling him like noose, their weight crushing him in uncertainty. Last night was something he had dreamed about for years. How dare that little shit accuses him of such a thing! "Of course, I thought about her!" He hefted himself off the bed, "Last night was a dream come true!" facing Plagg's dejected form his anger rose, "I've think of her every second of every day for the past sixteen years! She's my moon! She's my princes! She my…" The little cat's growing glare halted his exhalations. With a sigh Adrien turned away, fingers running through his distressed hair. "I swear I love her Plagg. I really do." Plagg just blinked at him, "Well you have a really shitty way of showing it."

An hour had passed since their argument as Adrien just sat in the uncomfortable desk chair every hotel seems to have, head in his hands rethinking everything. Plagg's voice echoed within the chamber of his memories planting questions where certainty lied… supposedly. Maybe Plagg was right… maybe he really didn't… "Let's get some food." The fog cleared from his mind as a comforting weight settled on his head. "I'm hungry" With a small smile, shaking free of the chains of uncertainty Adrien headed for the door and out onto the crowded Parisians morning.

Despite the dark air of a few moments ago Adrien found himself positively grinning as he mindlessly wandered to his favorite place in the whole world. Too bad he never got there. With every step the pent-up tension was released and the argument was all but forgotten. In this relaxed state, the blonde completely forgot that this was Paris and there is no rest in the city of lights. Before he could even realize something was wrong something wrapped around his torso pulling him back just as a large fist crushed the pavement of where he'd been standing.

"Well that was close." He turned to face the peacock hero, "are you all right?" Adrien tried to answer but the troll had different ideas.

The fist grew tired of waiting and decided that simply grabbing the abused man would be better. All the air was forced out his lungs as the shadow like creature waved him about as it lumbered down the street to who knows where. Thankfully the little peacock was just as good a fighter as the cat if not better. Ribbons tied around the wrist of Adrien's captive as a brilliant blue boot connected with its face. The hand opened but before the very thought of falling could form he was whisked away by the young hero. Now don't get him wrong, there were many times in his youth where ladybug, and Marinette a time or two, got to carry him like a blushing bride without so much as a hint of embarrassment on his part. But this was different, a grown man of thirty-five was being carted off by some young hero of maybe 15. Oh, yes there was a lot more humiliation this time around.

The mortification must have clogged his ears because at some point chick had set him down and was apparently trying to talk to him. "Sorry, say that again?" the hero's blue mask rose in an imitation of an eyebrow, "Okay, I was just asking if you're all right." At that point, his face probably looked worse than tomato, "I'm fine!" His squeak of an answer caused the boy to wince, "You sure M. Agreste?" Adrien was about to try and answer again but a thought occurred, "How do you know my name?" Chick was trickier than most gave him credit for, "Let's just say I know some things." With a wink, he was nothing but a streak of blue racing over rooftops into the fray.

A minute had passed since little blue disappeared from view before Chat Noir followed the same path doing an impressive barrel roll into the fray. Chick gave him an acknowledging nod while taking down what looked to be his fourth troll. Minutes passed as the heroes fought. Just as the last monster faded away the fox joined them. The partners talked for a bit as chick made sure Lomri knew he wasn't mad at that she couldn't make it. Chat smiled at the scene before him reminiscing about similar moments between him and ladybug. Now there's a thought. When the two returned little miss was rather obvious in her scrutiny but he hardly noticed, "Hey kittens you wouldn't happen to know what happened to my old team would you?" Caught off guard the two just blinked at the question, "I mean it's kinds obvious what happened to foxy and me but…" realization dawned on the little chick first, "You wanna know what happened to LB and queen bee." Chat just nodded and waited for them to have their silent conversation until blue seemed to win, something that he guessed happened a lot. "We can't tell you everything cause that's not our place…" he could feel his ears drop at that, "But both are active."

The joy on his face must've been too much because Lomri stepped up then, "Just don't scare away our mentors you old cat." And with that she was off leaving the two alone again, "Sorry about her. Honestly, it's okay Ladybug already knows your back and couldn't be happier." A ghostly familiar smile painted his face as the little bird flew from the scene. "Welp, guess I'm not going to the bakery today."

Hours passed and soon the night hour was upon Paris once again, not that anyone could tell. It isn't called the 'city of lights' for nothing. Once again Adrien was on the beat walking down memory lane on his way to the welcome home party Nino had demanded by thrown for him at another old hangout. A quaint little bar that allowed Nino to DJ during terminale. Ah there were so many memories that floated through his mind of that little pub alone most of them requiring Adrien to restrain himself on nights Marinette looked especially ravishing.

You know what they say about the devil… Marinette was waiting for him right out front and, poor boy, he just could not catch a break. As wonderful as her pajamas had been, her party ensemble was absolutely killer. A simply elegant sleeveless cocktail dress, a brilliant royal blue danced across her shoulders as it faded into an inky midnight just above her knees. His heart caught in his throat as a simple silver chain cradled a bell in the hollow of her neck. She still has it. Before his brain could berate him for leaving her a large mass tackled him. "Bro! you back!" Adrien smiled while the girls just chuckled, "I see know but am I getting a turn or are you just gonna cuddle with him all night?" Marinette's giggles were like music in amidst the loving banter, "But babe!" Nino's inner drama queen had risen, "He's my bro! Back from War!" "I didn't go to-" A calloused finger cut him off, "Don't ruin the moment." Adrien crossed his eyes sending everyone into a fit, "Move over Bromance man. Mom and baby coming through?"

Alya was a vision. While Marinette had taken the opportunity to dress up the feisty girl was much more casual. Her baby bump just showed through her green blouse, while her jeans were just ripped enough to be stylish when paired with converse. She managed to get Nino off of him just long enough to give him a hug and welcome him home. Mari smiled at it all forcing a blush to his face. "Bumble got caught in something so she'll be by later." Adrien just smiled, too caught up in drinking her in to really wonder who this 'bumble' was.

This has to be one of the best night of his life. Even after being away for so long it was like nothing had changed. He bantered with Alya, his and Nino's bromance was stronger than ever and Marinette was enrapturing them with tales of her adventures in Shanghai. Their little booth was like a ray of sunshine and laughter in the dim pub which set alight something in Adrien as well. But life is a bitch and it liked to punch Adrien in the face every so often, quite often actually.

Through the laughter and bad jokes, a splash of blonde caught his eye. In no less than ten seconds the once famous model was cowering under their table to hide from his former friend. What is she doing here?! Nino just shrugged while Alya peered down at him curiously. Before he could even think about sneaking out through the men's bathroom window his princess' sweet voice had sentenced him to an awkward situation. "OH bee! What are you doing here?" well that picked his curiosity, not only did Marinette callout to her former bully but had a nickname for her? The curious cat popped right back up startling everyone at the table only for his former childhood friend giving him the stink eye. Yeah, you heard right, him and Chloe could barely even be called acquaintances anymore he left on a really bad note.

The blonde ignored him to completely focus on Marinette, "Oh just leaving one of the most sexist pigs I've ever had the displeasure to entertain." All three women winced at that, "yeah it was pretty bad." Alya smirked and crossed her arms, "Dump or drop?" Chloe just narrowed her eyes with a smirk that could give the cat a run for his money, "Both." Everyone, besides a confused former model, gave a quick inhale, "That bad?" She just nodded, "That bad." Before Adrien could ask what Alya meant Marinette spoke up, "Well would you like to join us?" Chloe smiled a look of love, Wait what, on her face she shook her head. "I kinda just want to go home and cuddle with my little bugs." Marinette smiled and let her go.

Adrien was beyond confused at this point and it must have showed because Nino finally spoke, "About two months after you left Mari helped Chloe from a really ruff situation and they became friends because of it." He must have stilled looked confused because Alya spoke next, "Only Mari knows what happened but she's really grown and changed. I mean she's still a bitch but a lovable bitch." The blonde processed this but one thing still nagged him, "What did she mean by 'her little bugs'?" Marinette giggled an answer, "Ah, those would be her kids." A shock turned his brain to mush and causing loud laughter from the other three. "Yeah she kinda went on an adopting spree after Tom was born." A potato skin hit Nino's cheek, "He's name is Qiang. I don't care what he says, I pushed that little turd out of my vigina he can sure as heck go by the name I gave him."

To say Adrien's world shattered in the moment would be an understatement. Marinette, the girl he loved and who just last night admitted to loving him had a son. His heart hurt and bitterness was slowly creeping in, "You have a son?" Everyone turned to him, probably taken back by the coldness in his tone. Alya and Nino shared a look before she spoke, "Of course she does. She literally talks about him non-stop." Nino picked up after her, "In fact little tom is what got Chloe on her adoption kick." Adrien's eyes never left Mari's, "How's your husband?" That was the stupidest thing he had ever done. His princess looked at him with ice in her eyes and a challenge on her tongue, "I'm not married Agreste." Yep, definitely stupid, "I only saw Qiang's for the first time since he was conceived last night." Nino and Alya quickly turned to her, "That mange cat what?!"

That was the tipping point. All the anger left as disbelief clogged his throat. "I love his father but I couldn't just wait for him to come back." Marinette got up at left as three words racked his brain; I'm a father.