"Adrien, I don't know if I want you going out there alone," Mother says. I look at her confused. Mommy has always let me play in the backyard, as long as I don't leave the house. "But I want to pick some flowers. And look for ladybugs." "Okay, but I'm going with you."
We head outside, but I keep looking back at Mother who is looking pale and gnawing at her lip. "Are you okay, Mommy?" Mother starts to answer but a purple and black butterfly flies towards her and suddenly there's a puff of smoke… "Mommy! Mommy!" The smoke stings my eyes and makes me cough. When the cloud clears, Mommy is gone….
I sit bolt upright in bed, drenched in sweat and when I look down my hand is shaking. Looks like the dreams are getting bad again. When Mother first disappeared when I was eleven I kept thinking she'd come back night after night. But she never did, and Father disappeared with her, no longer offering hugs or words of comfort. There was no Marinette or Plagg to help me on those tough days, and I was glad Father wouldn't let anyone in, for fear of seeing my tears.
A hot shower should calm me, and it does, and when I come back out, Marinette is combing her hair at the vanity mirror. "Good morning, love. Sleep well?" Marinette continues brushing her hair, but I know she's paying attention. "I had a nightmare about Mother again. I used to have these a lot when I was younger too." "You need anything?" she asks, securing her ponytail holder. I smile softly at her. "You."
We climb into bed, and I snuggle into Marinette, listening to her heart. The steady rhythm beat comforts me, but suddenly the beat changes into a ticking clock. We only have so long left, and the ticking sound intensifies. Marinette, my baby and I will be destroyed if we can't cure Mother. My own heartbeat starts to pick up and Marinette looks at me. "Adrien, your heart is beating so fast. What's wrong?"
I can't answer, only a strangled cry rips from my throat. I can't lose her. "I can't live without you, and I'm so scared." Where is my mother? I need my mother, and its getting hard to breathe. Marinette's voice fades away, and I start to slip into darkness.
"What's wrong with him?" A familiar voice rings out, sweet and full of love, but in this state I am unable to place it. "I think he's having a panic attack. Adrien, honey, you need to breathe. Take deep breaths." "Adrien, stay with me. You can't give in, don't let the darkness overtake you. I know you want to protect Marinette, but you need to fight for yourself."
My lips are moving, but in a heavy and sluggish fashion. Its such an effort. "But I want to sleep and I want Mother. I need to show her the ladybug."
A sweet scent fills the air, and as well as smelling it, I can taste it on my tongue. No, there are a myriad of scents, each one more calming the last. At last, I slip into a dream, and find myself on a rooftop back in Paris.
Ladybug stands on the rooftop, close by. "Cat, I need you come back to me. Reach out your hand, love." The wind ruffles her raven black hair, the sun shining on it. "But M'lady, what if I lose you?" "That's not going to happen. But I need you to take my hand."
Step by careful step I inch towards her. My breath is short and its hard to breathe, but I make it, collapsing in front of her. But as I go down, I grasp her hand, and suddenly strength flows back into my body.
"Here, drink this, and know that I love you."
I open my eyes to find my family, my new family (Mama and Papa and Felix who has always been family) around the bed. "Bugaboo?" Her hand is soft as she strokes my cheek, but its solid, warm and real. "I'm here. We're all here, and we love you." "What happened?" "You had a panic attack, but everything's okay now." "You mean, I fought through it and I won? Ladybug wanted me to reach out my hand." "You are safe, you are loved, and we will never abandoned you. We will get through this."
"I just want you and Emma to be safe." "Cat, I have powers of my own, and not even you have seen all the power I'm capable of." I give a breathy laugh. "Just let me when your Lucky Charm happens to be a coffeepot." I hear her laugh softly, but then feel my hair getting a bit wet.
I sleep most of the day, but the next morning, I'm started to feel like my old self. "I think I'll walk down to the river. I'll be back in time for lunch." "You want me to go with you?" Felix asks. I shake my head. "I need some quiet time, but enjoy the temple." "Don't worry, Sumac wants to give us the guided tour," Marinette grins.
Once I'm a little ways down the path, Plagg comes to fly beside me. "I'm glad your okay, Adrien." I let him sit in my palm and I cuddle my Kwami to my cheek. "Did I frighten you?" "I wasn't sure what was going on, you kept saying you miss your mother." "I'm glad I'm better, Plagg. But I would even more so if she would wake up."
"Just keep holding on to hope, Adrien."
We reach the river's edge and I kick off my sandals and lower my feet into the water. The water bubbles and chuckles, keeping secrets. Closing my eyes, I banish all thoughts of doom and gloom from my mind, and just use my senses.
The first is smell, the fresh smell of the pine forest reminds me of Christmas and red birds. Marinette and I have a tradition every year to look for red birds. What kind of traditions will we make when we're married and Emma is born?
The second of my senses is touch, the cold water running over my feet keeps me alert. Then I smell another smell, and I sit up and frown at Plagg. Ugh, that smell stinks! "Plagg, how old is that cheese?" I ask, glaring at him as I plug my nose. "Actually, my dear Adrien, its not cheese, its a hundred year old tofu!" I sigh and lay back down on the bank. Maybe I'm seeing things. I think I doze off with the sun as warm as a blanket, and the gentle lullaby of the stream.
I wake to see Plagg shoveling a huge hunk of cheese. "Plagg, have some manners!" "She has manners," Plagg points to up the hill, where Marinette and her family and Felix are walking towards us.
"We know you wanted some quiet time, but we thought you might enjoy a picnic." My stomach growls loudly, and I blush with embarrassment. "Yeah, a bite to eat would be good." "You should have seen Marinette at breakfast, Adrien," Felix chuckles. "All she wanted was dumplings and yogurt. You would have thought coffee didn't exist anymore." Marinette glares at him. "Maybe they'll come up with coffee flavored dumplings." Marinette stalks over to me so we are nose to nose, but her eyes are sparkling. "You better watch it, fur ball." I lean forward, whispering. "Oh, yeah?" "Adrien…." Marinette's voice is soft and seductive, and we both know we need to be alone for a few minutes.
"Be back soon," I call to my family cheerfully, scooping her into my arms. "Adrien, we've talked about carrying me when people are around!" "Oh, there's that angry little pout. I've missed that."
I check to see that we're alone, and as I set her down she slides down my body, feeling all those muscles. "Kiss me," I whisper, and Marinette does, our lips colliding and wanting to domonite the other. "Let me in, love," I want access to her mouth and she grants it, and oh, how sweet she tastes! Like sunshine and strawberries… "Marinette, look," I say, when we pull apart. "A strawberry bush." "Well, no one said we couldn't eat dessert first." "Wait, I have a idea."
Slowly, I unbutton her shirt so her bra is exposed, and pluck a handful of the bright red berries. "You want the berry, Princess?" I murmur holding it to her mouth. She bites down, juice gushing out and a bit of juice squirts onto her skin. "Oops," I grin wickedly at her, and begin to lap at the juice. "Who knew strawberries could taste so good?" Marinette blushes. "Adrien Agreste!" She walks past me, "accidentally" brushing my arm. Oh, my little flirt. "I think you've been a good kitty today. Would you care for a berry? But that's a nice shirt, wouldn't want to get it dirty."
I peel off my shirt as Marinette feeds me the berry. "If we eat to many, we'll spoil our dinner." I rest my forehead against hers. "As much as I want to spend the day alone with you, we should get back."
"Did you have a good time, dear?" Sabine asks, as we join them on the picnic blanket. I dare not look at Marinette for fear of laughing. "Yes, Mama, We went berry picking." I can't help the sharp intake of breath, and I gaze at her admiringly.
The picnic is nice, but the air seems to be growing chilly. Marinette shifts on the blanket, looking at sky. Dark clouds are rolling in, and it looks like we're in for a snowstorm or blizzard.
"Good, your back just in time. I don't like the look of those clouds." No one seems to concerned yet, but everyone gathers for hot tea in the evening.
Its not until after midnight that power goes out and there's a banging at the door. "Cat Noir! Ladybug!Your to be summoned immediately!" Marinette and I change and sprint for the door. All I know now that this is no ordinary snowstorm.
