"You want anything from Starbucks?" Adrien asks. We're at the airport, waiting for them to call our flight, though it will be awhile. "Sure, a bagel and iced coffee sound good. Thanks, love." I sit up, putting my feet down as my head was resting against Adrien's shoulder.

"Okay, back in a few." Adrien gets up, takes a few steps and freezes. Immediately, I'm by his side. "You okay?" Adrien blinks a few times, like his was in some sort of trance. "Yeah. Marinette."

Adrien pulls me close, kissing me like its our first kiss, right there in the busy airport. I try to catch my breath as he lets go, his fingers lingering on my cheek. "I love you, Marinette." then he's gone, swallowed up by the crowd, and slump back down in my seat, heart pounding and alderine racing from our kiss.

I wander over to the bathroom to talk to Dussu about it. "Well, naturally, after seeing so many things of his beloved mother, he's bound to be thinking about her." The clothes won't bring her back, I think to myself. "But I'm not or haven't disappeared," I tell my little Kwami. "Right, but for Adrien, you being away for long is hard for him." "I know, and I'll get on with it, soon as we get back to Paris," I promise. "Just remember, to care for yourself too."

I reclaim my spot, Adrien still isn't back yet, so I check my texts, finding one from Simon.

Simon: You have time to meet for coffee soon? I have some plans that we need to go over, and Sophia and Grace are planning a decorating pumpkins party. Hope everything is sunny!

Marinette: Yes, to both! I'll text you once I'm back in France, and only you would say that!

Simon: You have to admit, I would find the perfect shade of yellow.

Marinette: I don't doubt that for a second. How about Buttercup?

Simon: Beat me to the punch, are you?

Marinette: Ha-ha, that's why I'm not bossy, I am the boss.

"Here you go, love," Adrien's back handing me breakfast, and I start to smile as I reach for my food, pocketing my phone, but my hand goes slack when I see his face. He's been crying. Some telepathic connection flows between us, and I can hear him saying the words, "not now."

Our flight is soon called, and the next hour or so is a flurry of activity. "Whew, made it!" I flop down in the window seat. "It will be good to get back to Paris. Just let me know when you want "the goods" and I'll send them over."

"The goods" are code word for the dresses, and I nod. "I might be a bit busy the next day for so," I tell him. "Apparently, Simon needs me, and work is planning a decorating party." Adrien's emerald eyes widened just a bit. "Oh, um, okay."

When the plane takes off, Adrien falls asleep on my shoulder, and I flag an attendee down for a blanket and pillow.

I tuck Adrien in, and since there's no one behind or in front of us, I lower our seats so he can truly sleep. I stroke his hair, his face, finding a new five o'clock shadow. His eyes flutter, and I wonder what he's dreaming about, though I don't have to wait long.

"No, she's not going to disappear! You stay away from her!" Adrien cries, shivering in his sleep and bolts straight up, wide eyed and terrified.

"Princess?" My hearts cracks a little, he looks so scared. I use the same technique he did for me, earlier in the airport, stroking his cheeks softly with the edges of my fingertips. "Did you have a nightmare?" he nods, taking a breath to calm himself. "It felt so real. You and my mother were coming down the red carpet, the spotlight on you, pink and shimmering and then you just vanished and I couldn't…."

"I'm here, I'm here," Adrien buries his head in my shoulder, and I could care less if my shirt is ruined from the saltwater, I just want my love to be okay. Eventually, he sits up, rubbing his eyes. "It just hits hard some times, you know?"

I grip his hand the rest of the way back.

Its late when we get back and we share a sweet kiss in the car, the rain pattering down around us. "Love you," I hear Adrien call as I open my umbrella and hurry out into the rain. I drop my umbrella to make a heart with my hands, then scurry into my home for warmth and dry socks.

Its past noon when I wake the next morning, but I'm determined to meet with Simon, and I shower and dress quickly, hailing a cab to Starbucks.

"There she is!" Simon gives me a big hug at the entrance. "All tanned." I smile. "It was quite an adventure, yes."

Once we're seated, he goes over the plans for the show. It sounds nice, but really, now there's only one brand I want to showcase and it isn't mine.

"I rather show the brand Buttercup instead," I tell him, shuffling through some papers. "Marinette, that's…." I drop my voice. "Emile Agreste's unreleased brand, yes. Adrien and I brought it back with us, as I found the secret hiding spot in a vault."

"The collection's here in Paris?" his voice rises in excitement. "Sh, its a secret. And there hidden away at Adrien's place." "Whatever you and Adrien need, I'll help."

Now its my turn to cry, and Simon looks confused. "Marinette, what's wrong?" "Adrien really needs love right now, as his mother…." I beckon Simon close, at last spilling my hidden secret.

"Oh, Marinette," he lays a comforting hand on mine.

What we both fail to see is a dark cloaked figure close by in a booth, slipping quietly away, after snapping photos.

I feel a jolt of unease, then it passes. Everyone knows I tend to overreact, but what if its not true this time?