aftershock

Part 7

Unknown if to her, the employee had just made Adrien's day go from amazing to even more amazing. The fact that Marinette had agreed to dinner and staying the night shocked him. Wouldn't her lover not approve? If she didn't even bother to consult him that must mean... she's single. Adrien gapped at his own thoughts, "No, no, no" Adrien exclaimed out loud. They were just going to hang out and he was going to help with the baby as friends. He repeated the words just as friends over and over in his head, but deep in his heart, he knew he yearned for more.

Marinette's POV

After Adrien left her apartment it felt more empty than she'll like to admit. It just felt so right to be with him. Obviously, he felt the same way because he invites her over for dinner and a sleepover. Marinette stopped herself, sure he was her 1st love and she still loves him but not that way anymore. Chat Noir was her true love, her soulmate. "Tikki spots on," Marinette remarked in her bedroom. she flipped on her bug phone and called Chat Noir. It rang and rang but only the vainly go to voicemail. She sighed and decided to leave him one, "Hey Chat, how are you doing? I've been doing fine, but it hurts without you. I had our daughter a couple of days ago. Her name is Emma and she's a sweetheart but is very energetic. For some reason, she always puts up a fight when I try to put her to sleep but when Adrien puts her to sleep she doesn't even cry. Oh yea Adrien is one of my best friends that had been helping me, yes I know he was hawkmoths son but he's nothing like him. Anyways I just wanted to tell you that I'm having a hard time without you. It's already been like 8 and a half months since you disappeared and I just want to know if your okay," Tears started to stream down her face. "I love you soo much Chat but I can't help but start to lose faith that you'll come back. I not going to stop looking and neither will Rena or Carapace. I at least want you to meet our daughter." She sighed. "I love you Chat, please come back to me." She ended the voicemail and sent it to him. She sighed and detransformed. She face-planted onto her bed and continued to cry, but of course, Emma decided she needed to cry right then too. Marinette sighed and got up to take care of her.

Next night...

Adrien was pacing in his entrance hall. Would she want Thai food or burgers? He groans and thought back, What would she always suggest? She would always say Chinese food but she made it clear that she eats it way too much. He suddenly got an idea. "Jesus christ Adrien you're an idiot."

texting

A-Hey Mari, how's it going.

M- Oh you know the normal

A- Haha ok, what are you in the mood for.

M- Sleep.

A-LOL, I bet but I meant food.

M- Thai

A-Ok what do you want then?

M- hmm, maybe Pad see ew?

A- Cool thanks!! See you later.

M- Ok. see you later.

texting over

"hmm." Adrien said to the empty air, "That was easier than I expected." He suddenly got an overwhelming urge to talk to his friend in the safe. We walked up to his room and his safe. He enters the code and the door popped open with a crisp pop. He took a shuddering breath and reached out for the intricately designed rosewood box. He felt the cold wood again on his skin and his hand shook on its own. He reached to pop open the box and but he couldn't bring himself to make that simple action. He quickly threw it back into the safe and closed it gently. "Not yet Plagg... but I promise," He sat down leaning on the door of the safe. "I'm making progress and I will buy you a mountain of Camembert," Adrien promised to the empty air. He sat there for a minute, leaning his head against the door, Absorbing the empty and silent atmosphere. Suddenly a loud bing rang through the house. Adrien just up and a huge smile plastered across his face. Marinette was here. He raced down the stairs to answer the door.

He opened the door and let her enter. He decided to give Marinette a tour of the mansion, But whenever they were near it, her eyes wouldn't leave his father's office. He suddenly asked, "That where it happened. D-do you want to see it?"

Her eyes glided up to his and he found them glassy, "Only if you're okay with it." Marinette answered. He walked over to the room and opened the door and looked inside it.

"Wow," Adrien exclaimed. "They did a good job."

"Wait," Marinette said, "you haven't even been in there since?"

"I couldn't bring myself to it," Adrien responded simply.

"You know, You can't move on until you make new memories." Marinette said, "Right now it only reminds you of that day because those are the only memories you have of it. If you make new happier memories there, they will drown out the bad ones."

Adrien laughed, "You know Marinette, You are really wise for being so young. What are you, a reincarnated old monk?" Marinette stiffened at his words, He wasn't exactly correct but close enough to make her identity alarm go off in her head.

"What me wise?" Marinette laughed nervously, "I know a couple of people who would disagree with you."

"Sure Marinette, but you really are wise, and smart, and special," Adrien said with a wink. They continued to talk the entire night, laughing over dinner and card games. Finally, Adrien gathers the courage to ask Marinette the question that has been bothering him since Emma was born. "So Marinette," Adrien started. He had no idea how to phrase it, "What the deal with Emma's dad?"

Marinette froze. Even SHE didn't know the answer to that question. "Um, well what do you mean by that?" She grabbed her glass and took a sip.

"Well I mean the whole situation, Where is he? Does he know you're hanging out with me? Are y'all still together? Does he even know about Emma?" Adrien asked.

"Ok, um so what happened was I had something important to do with him and some friends the day that I found out, we were going to meet up later and I was going to tell him then, but he never showed. I've been calling him at least 5 times a week since but not once was a call returned." Marinette gulp and her eyes started to water. "I'm so worried, it's like he disappeared off the face of the planet. I love him soo much too. I don't want to give up on him but I don't want to waste my life chasing after someone who is physically avoiding me. But I would forgive him if he waltzed into my life again because I love him"

"Marinette," Adrien said he didn't know what to say. He felt bad, Is this LB feels? He thought. For some reason, he couldn't shake the pang of jealously rippling through his body. "If he left you, he doesn't deserve you. You are so amazing, he is an absolute and udder idiot if he can't see that. You are the most deserving person of love no matter what. I can see how much you love him and if he loves you a fraction of how much you love him, Something probably came up that made him leave and he may not even know you were pregnant. I admire that you're not giving up on him but don't hold onto false hope for too long."

"But how do I know when to let go," Marinette asked as her body racked with sobs.

"Trust me, you will figure it out," Adrien said as he comforted him."Life will help you answer that question."

Marinette's sobs slowed and came to a halt. "Thanks, Adrien, you knew exactly what I needed to hear. Do you want to watch a movie now?"

"No problem Mari, I go check on Emma while you pick?" Adrien asked

"Ok sure," Marinette responded and Adrien walked to the next room where Emma was sleeping. He stood over her cradle and watched the baby sleep. He smiled as he looked at her. She looked so peaceful. Deep in his heart, he wished that Emma was his but he was more than ok with being Uncle Adrien. He walked back and he saw that she put on the movie Moulin Rouge. They watch the movie while unsuccessfully fighting sleep. Marinette fell asleep halfway through the movie and Adrien fell asleep right before it ended. They slept in each other arms until they woke up the next morning.

thanks for reading guys I hoped you enjoyed it. Plz leave your thoughts in the comments and any feedback are suggestions you want to make. Have an amazing day, BYEEE!