Chapter 1

It's been a decade since Marinette Gippetti had seen the lights of Paris...or even smelled it. She hadn't missed the smell all that much, nor had she missed the rude remarks she received from her french brethren. But, it was the place her father had called home and where her parents met and fell in love. Marinette held Paris in a very special place in her heart...despite her qualms with it and its people. When her Papa had grown sick she and her small family retreated to her mothers home in Italy, the warmth and sunshine had done wonders for him. But that didn't stop the sickness from growing and infecting her beloved father. When he died, Marinette died with him too. As did the loyalty her mother had harboured for her family. Her mama's devotion went out quicker than a flame that had been snuffed. Again, that was over ten years ago and to say Marinette had anything but a happy childhood would be a lie. Her Nonna had raised her after her father passed and her mothers abandonment. Nonna had taught her everything she had needed to know in order to survive on her own. Cleaning, cooking, and even some spells here and there.

The Gippetti family had long been recognized for their works with herbs, potions, and spells. Of course, they were careful to disguise their skills through the family apothecary, but that didn't stop people from talking. On top of the apothecary the family leased, they also owned a very small restaurant. As long as the family served good, warm food, Marinette supposed the town was willing to ignore the truth in front of them. Cooking was one of Marinette's greatest joys in her short and young life. That was another trait she could credit to her Nonna, teaching her to cook and encouraging her to try new recipes. But as the years grew, so did her Nonna. Her wrinkles deepened on her face and her tall stature began to bend from years of hard work. Nowadays Nonna has often called Marinette "Cecelia" her mothers name. Everytime Marinette heard her mothers name she couldn't help but be filled with hatred and rage towards her mother. I was bad enough she'd inherited her chestnut curly hair and forest green eyes from her. The villagers who knew her mother would state that Marinette could have been her mothers twin; if it weren't for her short stature and pale skin.

Marinette hated that with every fiber of her being, her mother abandoned her family for some wealthy merchant. In her last year of living in Italy, Nonna had beckoned Marinette to her side. Marinette had half expected her Nonna to mumble some nonsense as her mind had begun to wander away. But to her surprise Nonna had put a kind and reassuring hand on Marinette's shoulder and stared at her with such resounding clarity.

"You must go to France, there is nothing left here for you. Start a new life, find love, and live the life your father wanted for you." Nonna's voice was soft but weakened from her frail state.

"I can't leave you Nonna, you need me here to take care of the restaurant and you. Love has never been a priority for me either. Look at where it took my parents, nothing but death and desertion." Marinette held her Nonna's hand and looked away.

"My sweet Marinette, your parents destinies aren't your own. You must take fate into your own hands my dear. Go to France and find your fathers sister, here she's written to me and would love to meet you. You even have a cousin who is a year younger than yourself." Nonna handed Marinette a folded letter, sure enough it'd been postmarked from France and her supposed Aunt was desperate for Marinette to come and meet her.

"For the sake of an old woman who can no longer travel, even in her mind's eye. Take this opportunity. If you don't like it you will always have a place in the Gippetti home, no matter what. However, my dying wish is to see you happy and Paris may be the answer to my prayers." Nonna smiled sadly.

"Nonna you're not dying anytime soon, so just let me take care of you. I refuse to abandon you like mother did." Marinette yanked herself out of her grandmother's grasp and made her way out of the room. After that conversation her grandmother had slipped back into her own ways, hardly touching her food at dinner time. The Gippetti household had finally settled in for the night, Marinette found trouble trying to fall asleep though. She hated how things had been left with her Nonna, she knew she had only meant well. As quietly as she could Marinette crept out of the bed she shared with her oldest cousin, and made her way down the hall to her grandmother's small room. She knocked but there was no answer, this was strange because usually Nonna was up, knitting one of her many grandchildren gloves or pot holders. Nonna didn't have a regular sleep schedule since her husband passed away.

"Nonna?" Marinette slowly opened the door, it let out an aged creak and Marinette cringed. There was no answer and Marinette carried on into her grandma's room, her grandma was laying in her small bed. The air in the room was too still and Nonna still hadn't replied. Marinette moved closer to her Nonna, her breath was shallow and nearly panicked. She reached for the hand that had always made her feel so secure and safe. Marinettes fingers grasped the limp hand, finding it cold and void of any life. Marinette felt her body go numb and the world began to spin, the one person she could count on was dead. Whatever part that was left of Marinette after her father died, had died with her Nonna.

A few weeks after Nonna's funeral, Marinette made her good-byes to her remaining family and boarded a train to France. Staying in her Villa was too much for her and Marinette thought it was best to fulfill her Nonna's dying wish. The best part about her traveling was the fact that her mourning clothes staved off any conversation with strangers. France was a fresh start and Marinette could ignore her problems as long as she just threw herself into Parisian culture.

"Next stop Paris."