Cat lay on his bed, looking at pictures of his mother. Though the ache would always be there, spending time with Marinette, had begin to heal the hole. Cat loved her parents too, who had always been kind to him and Ladybug, and had attended a few of Adrien's fashion shows.

He jumped as his baton buzzed with a message.

Marinette: Hey, my family is going on a picnic and a leaf-walk after. You want to come?

Cat: does a cat meow?

Marinette: Is that yes?

Cat: I'll be there soon.

Cat carefully put the photos away, then leapt to the rooftops taking the usual route to Marinette's. His heart thumped in eager anticipation about seeing her, but when he touched by the bakery door, a jagged hole had wormed its way to the surface.

"Cat Noir, my boy!" Tom bellowed, coming from behind the counter. "Good to see you, son!" Son? Cat lost it then and there, and Tom put his arm around him. "Sorry," Cat sniffled, wiping his eyes. "My mother passed not long ago, and my father and I don't have the best relationship."

Oh, it felt good to get that off his chest. Tom put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Your family here, Cat. Remember that you are welcome anytime, and you can talk about anything." "Thank you, Papa. Now, what's this about a picnic?"

Mama Cheng and Marinette clattered into the room. "I think Mama made enough sandwiches for an army," Marinette whispered to Cat, slipping her hand into his. "Oh, they won't go to waste. Saving Paris can really work up a appetite!" He rubbed his belly, emphasizing his point. Marinette laughed. "What about napping?" "Oh, you'd be surprised."

They all clambered into the bakery van, and Marinette warned Cat that when you hit a pothole, you flew. "Ouch!" Cat's head thunked against the roof, and Tom looked in the mirror. "Sorry about that!"

"No worries, I have a plan," Cat turned to Marinette, looking at her expectantly. "My Princess, would you give this poor wounded Kitty a kiss on the head to make it better?" "Your just asking for kisses," Marinette joked, but she did as her partner asked.

As Cat straightened up, Marinette caught sight of Cat's lips, blushing furiously. She turned her head away, hoping that he hadn't noticed, but her partner caught everything. "I know you what a kiss," he whispered, and he leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her lips.

Gone. The pain was gone when he was loved, and Cat sighed happily as they broke apart. Even Marinette looked thoughtful.

It was a wonderful picnic, and a fun leaf walk, especially when Cat and Marinette both jumped in the leaves, claiming the Leaf Monster made them do it after.

Cat fell asleep with his head on Marinette's lap on the way home, and she stroked his soft hair. The wheels were turning in her mind about revealing her identity as Cat was clearly not just a friend, but so much more to her.

But how do you tell the most important person in your life your Ladybug?