miraculous children

Chapter 10

Lillian's view

We went to bed not long after this chat and woke early the next day to have a marathon of movies start after breakfast. It was a lovely time catching up with the girls. Thankfully by the time we decided to go swimming my bruises and cuts had all healed and had healed well thanks to Lucian applying the pawpaw when he did. It was nice going swimming. Its funny though, the guys were there - Louis, Lucian, Elijah, Sebastian, and Jack.

I was immediately hugged by Louis and Lucian. I was so pleased to see them, that I reciprocated the hugs. Marjorie, feeling courageous after our talk last night, hugged Elijah, causing the boy to blush.

Annette hugged Jack who hugged her back and wouldn't let her go for a long while. The two had a private conversation at the which the pair had shiny, very happy eyes and expressions.

Sebastian looking left out looked like he hugged what he thought was the cutest girl of the two who were left and earning him a surprised blush from Marcel. It looked like she wondered if she should be attracted to my brother or not. Either way I felt some questions needed answering when we went home again.

We all decided to have a fish and chip dinner in the park for something different. After which we played a game of football breaking into teams. I was in the Louis, Lucian, Marjorie, Marcel and Diana team playing against Elijah, Sebastian, Jack, Annette, and Emma team. After 2 games I sat out and became referee as I made the team too strong. The games were more balanced in their wins and losses after that.

The girls and I retired back to Diana's house just after 7 only to gossip about what had happened. It turned out that Jack asked Annette to be his girlfriend when they first hugged, and she accepted. Same went for Marjorie and Elijah, but Elijah asked Marjorie out after the game of football. I hoped it works out for them. When I was quizzed on whether or not the boys had asked anything of me I shook my head. I still could not decide.

When we returned home Sunday afternoon, Macy was relieved to hand back my miraculous and I found myself sandwiched between the two males again. It felt like they had missed me the last 2 days, even though they had seen me only a day ago at the pool and park.

Macy's view

I was relieved to hand back the miraculous to Ladybird. The summer heat was starting to get to me so I decided to cut Marinette's long hair short. I did not realise it but Adrien would have been extremely disappointed that I cut her beautiful hair if he had seen it. But he didn't see it, as I left before he could. Truth be told, not only was the hair too hot, I could not look after it by myself and, I did not want to ask for help either. I ended up cutting it into a short bob that needed little care. I felt it matched my age and image of a successful designer.

I found a fully furnished place to rent on the outskirts of Paris that overlooked most of it. The small modern cookie cutter house was near a train line that ran straight into town near my work place. It cut little into my wage so I decided to rent it and move out.

"Sorry Alya" I say "I need to get away and find who I am away from Adrien and Luka. Do you mind being the only responsible female in the house again?"

"Nah, you go girl, I understand. The kids will be fine!" Alya said, she must have seen my worry about Lillian "Lillian will be fine with those two. Nino and I will make sure. As for Adrien and Luka, well I can't help much there, they will react as they will react."

"Thanks, Alya, you're the best!" I say as I grab my bags and head out the door. I catch the train to my new house and unpack. I was surprised how lonely I felt. I missed everyone. It took me awhile to settle in and get use to my new routine. I don't know how but I did not even see Adrien at work. I missed his quirky humour.

I would get up super early every day and go for a run and practice forward and backward flip, I then did the things that were rostered, for example work and joining a tai chi class. Having no contact with anyone enabled me to be me again. I even went to church...I went to The American church in Paris as I hoped that the service would be in English. It was bi-lingual so I at least understood something.

I joined the soup kitchen they ran to help the homeless and ended up helping travellers with accommodation as they had run out of money and had none. I enjoyed the interactions and started to feel more like me.

I couldn't help but worry about the kids I had become responsible for in this world, the only one who really worried me was Lillian. I knew the signs of depression well from my own troubled childhood where I was bullied. I also knew it from my real son whose depression was caused by too much gaming as a child before I knew better.

I had sheltered my other 3 kids from overuse of the screens at a young age, but had failed my oldest. Sad thing was most people don't know about the dangers of excess screens being like a drug. I was glad that in this world I didn't need the screens. I really enjoyed the energy and drive that Marinette had and tended to overwork her to feel the same level of tiredness that I got by just existing in the real world.

I could only pray and trust that they would be ok with the 4 remaining adults. Even though I thought constantly about reaching out to the families who I had been swapped too, I did not call or contact anyone. So, I was surprised at the first person to contact me. It was Luka about Ladybird.

If you enjoyed this chapter, please vote.