aftershock

Part 6

Adrien woke up to the intro song of Demon Slayer, He reached over to his phone and looked at the caller ID. It was Marinette. Adrien smiled as he answered the phone, "So already taking up on my offer?"

"Yes..." Marinette said tiredly. "Emma wouldn't stop crying after you left and I couldn't get her to fall asleep. I've tried everything, Singing, feeding her, rocking her." She sighed, "I don't know what to do."

Adrien giggled, "She just as stubborn as her mother I see." He could feel Marinette's glare through the phone. "So you need an extra pair of eyes to sleep?"

"Yes," Marinette said. You could hear Emma crying in the background and she sighed in defeat. "Please..."

"I'll be there in 10," Adrien responded and quickly got changed into something appropriate. He pulled up to her apartment and knocked on the door. The door flew open and he was met with a zombified version of Marinette.

"Thank you," Marinette said wearily, "soo much."

"it's no problem," Adrien said. "I love kids, especially yours." He kicked off his shoes and walked to Emma was and Marinette wandered off to her bed. Adrien picked Emma up and her sobs quietened and slowed immediatly but didn't stop. Adrien decided to talk to her. "You know I was once really close to Ladybug." Emma stopped crying and looked at him. "Yup she is amazing I loved her from the first day I met her, not for what most people may think, I don't love her because she is wonderful and amazing and brave." He paused and chuckled. "Well I do, but that's not why I fell in love with her. When I 1st met her she tackled me..." As he continued to tell her the story of their 1st battle, their 1st day as superheroes and she fell asleep peacefully. "She was just about to give up too, She was so down because the officer blamed her. I said a few encouraging things to her and then hawkmoth decided to introduce himself. Everyone was frozen but her. After his monologue she walked up to him a told him no definantly, and cleansed all the akumas. Then she assured all the citizens of Paris that she was there to stay. I didn't fall in love with her because of all the amazing things she is but instead because she was able to bounce back like that because that's what makes a person amazing. Just like your mom." He looked at his watch and read 1:00 pm. He gently laid Emma into her cradle and tiptoed out to see that Marinette was still sleeping. He continued to make lunch as quietly as possible. Marinette woke up half an hour later and walked out to see Adrien finishing up lunch. he looked at her and said "Good Afternoon sleepyhead. Did you sleep well?" Marinette looked at him confused then to the nearest clock and her eyes widened to be as big as saucers.

"It's 1:30," Marinette said, "I'm so sorry Adrien you came over at 8. I didn't mean to sleep for that long."

Adrien chuckled and said, "It's okay Marinette, I didn't mind. I thought you would be hungry."

"Thank you, Adrien and I'm sorry." She paused for a moment, "You got Emma to sleep. How?"

Adrien set the served pasta in front of them. "Well, I guess she was as tired as you because fell asleep to my voice."

"Ahh." Marinette said, "So I just need a man with a deep voice to serenade her to sleep."

"Yup." Adrien said, "She loves me."

"Well, she a girl isn't she?" Marinette asked, "All girls love Mr. Model Adrien Agreste."

Adrien's face flushed red and he said, "Does that extend to her mom?"

It was Marinette's turn to become a cherry, "You're my friend, so of course I do." Their meal continues with light conservation and laughing. Adrien didn't realize how much he missed Marinette and how lovely she was. Emma woke up an hour later just as they finished their meal.

Adrien was just about to leave when He stopped in the doorway and asked "Marinette, do you want to do dinner tomorrow? Maybe stay the night so little Ms. Emma can let you sleep."

Marinette hesitated, "I don't know Adrien. I don't want to be a bother."

"Marinette!" Adrien gasped in pretend horror. "You are never a bother. and plus it'll be like a sleepover."

"Ok.." Marinette said, "Tomorrow at 6 pm?"

"Sure, " Adrien responded, "At my place."

"Ok. I'll see you then," Marinette said.

"See you then," Adrien responded in agreement and almost closed the door then quickly opened it. "Don't worry about Emma's sleeping situation. I'll take care of that." And closed the door.

Adrien pulled into the target and threw on a sweatshirt and sunglasses. He didn't want to get mobbed while shopping for Emma. He went in and bought a cradle, some baby blankets, and then walked past the stuffed animals. The moment he saw them his eyes lighted up. 3 caught his eyes. A small pink elephant, a baby tiger, and a black cat with a polka-dot bow on his ear. Personally, he liked the black cat one the most it reminded him of his lady but Emma will love all of them. He walked over to the register. As the employee scanned the stuff, she kept studying him.

She came upon the stuffed animals and finally asked, "Are these your little one?"

Adrien shook his head, "Nah, I'm helping out a friend who just had her baby. She is the cutest baby I've ever seen."

"Aww, that's cute, what's her name?" The employee asked

"Emma," Adrien responded with the biggest smile on his face.

"That's a beautiful name." She interrupted herself. "That'll be $54.78" She studied him for a minute as he took out his wallet. "Do I know you?" He froze.

For a minute he was too scared to even move, he gathered all his strength to say, "uh-N-no"

"That's too bad, You feel familiar." She said disappointed. She grabbed the receipt and studied it for a moment. Her eyes widened when she read the name he used for the card. Her eyes flicked up to him.

"I get that a lot" Adrien answered, Adrien hadn't noticed that she realized who he was until he looked at her eyes. They were a mixed between shock and... he couldn't tell if it was fear or something else but he realized what it meant. She found out who he was. His eyes widened and he quickly grabbed his receipt, threw it into a bag. He grabbed the bags and said, "I'm sorry, Thanks you helping me. Have a good day." He continued to run out of the store all the way to his car.

He heard a, "WAIT" as he ran to his car. He didn't know who it was but he didn't want to get harassed. He fumbled with the trunk to get it opened but once he got it opened the person had caught up to him. It was the employee. "I said to wait and all you did was speed up." She panted. "Where did you learn to run like that?"

"Y-you learn to run fast when people are either are chasing you for autographs or to jump you," Adrien said taking off his sunglasses there was his favorite pair and he didn't want them to get broken. Panic was flowing through his veins. what did she want? "Listen I don't want any trouble. I got places to be, It wasn't my fault-"

The employee cut him off and he winced, "that's not what I came out here for." Adrien relaxed a little. He let out a little oh and a sigh in relief. "You forgot this when you blasted out the door." She held up the black cat with the red and black polka dot bow.

"Oh, I'm sorry..." Adrien looked at her name tag "Stacy I just assumed that-"

She cut him off again, "I know what you assumed and it ok. If I was in your position I would be too." She paused and sighed, I'm actually in the same position as you.-" She cuts herself off. "Anyways that's not important, just know that it's going to get better I promise."

He smiled and thanked Stancy and got into his car and pulled away happier than when he pulled in.