In Another World (Miraculous Ladybug)

(Storyline C) Chapter Nine: My Heart is With You

"It's Paris." Her voice was so soft yet so strong. Nino almost didn't hear her.

"What do we do?" He squeezed her hand tightly.

"What do we want to do?" Mari looked around her.

"That's your home isn't it?" Edwards's voice broke the silence.

"You two should go home, raise your baby with your families," Maryweather spoke softly.

What about Adrien and Alya? Mari looked at him with panic.

He took a deep breath, he knew he had to be strong for his wife, We can only hope it's been at least seven years there.

What about... Mari's hand went to her stomach.

Alice knelt next to Mari, "You've been the best friend I could ask for Mari, but I think you need to risk it, you have to believe your baby will be fine." Alice hugged Mari, "I'll miss you though." 

"No, No you won't." Mari stood even though her ears burned she took Nino's hand and pulled him close. Her forehead pressed against his. I want to stay here. 

Nino looked at her. I love it here. Our life is so perfect. 

I don't think I'll regret staying. She squeezed his hands. "I love you Nino and I don't want to lose you or our baby it's not a risk I want to take."

"I agree Dotty. I don't want to risk our life. It's been eight years Love. I miss them but we've learned how to live life without them." 

They turned and looked at their friends, "We are staying. This is our home." Nino smiled at their friends and they were in a group hug. And with their fate chosen the portal closed.

One Year Later

Mari stood watching her and Nino's dance class, her baby girl sleeping in the bassinet they bought for the studio. She seemed to sleep better with music playing, she wasn't surprised Nino was always working on new songs and she played music when she working, and well she and Nino were always dancing. This was her favourite night. She couldn't wait for Addie to grow up and see what dance if any she took up. Would she love music or dance or baking or sewing or any of the other many hobbies that she could find?

Four Years Later

Mari and Nino walked through their favourite park with their almost five-year-old holding both their hands and their three-year-old son Kevin riding on Nino's shoulder. They walked to their spot and after letting Kevin out of his carrier and the two kids ran to play in the grass and watched the ducks in the pond, with the constant reminder to not get too close to the water. Mari laid out the picnic blanket and placed the food from the market. She and Nino sat and watched their kids. Nino leaned against the tree and Mari against his chest. 

Four years ago just before Alice went on mat leave for her second daughter she had made Mari a co-owner of the Alice Boutique thanks to all her help in making it successful. However, they did change the name to Dream Big Boutique because they still wanted to help new designers to find a start at their store. Nino had mostly gone to producing over Djing but still had a gig every two weeks at Vikis Bar. 

"You know love it's been four years, but do you ever wish we had gone back?" Nino ran his fingers through her hair. 

"I mean I'd love for mom and dad to meet the kids and see how Alya and Adrien turned out, and learn if they ever stopped Hawkmoth, but I love this world that the kids get to grow up in."

"Ya, this world is so wonderful. No fear of your emotions making you turn into a literal monster." He laughed.

"That is nice to know that my daughter's temper tantrum isn't going her into a huge baby." Mari giggled. "Why did you bring it up, are you missing Pairs?"

"Yes, and No, we just hitting the five-year anniversary of when we could have gone back so I was just thinking everything." He hugged her close.

"With Addie's hair cut that way, she looks like the perfect combo of our mothers eh? She's got your mom's skin tone and my mom's hair. And your perfect eyes." She giggled and kissed his cheek. 

 "I kinda hope Kevin does not end up being as built as your dad, he'd end up bigger than me." he shook his head.

"Ya, as long as he's taller than me, I think I'm okay." Mari never did get taller, she was always short, she didn't mind, but she imaged her son would like to have his dad's height. Sure Nino wasn't tall tall but he was at least average height. 

"Mommy! Daddy!" Their two little children came running to them.

Addie tried to talk but was too out of breath to talk. "Addie breath, slow down." Mari took her hand. 

"Me and Kevin want to feed the duckies now!" She smiled and tapped her little brother. 

"Please!" The two kids said together with big doe eyes.

"Not till after supper little ones. Are you hungry?" Nino brought the food closer to them. 

"Me am! Me am!" Kevin clapped and smiled. 

"I am too!" Addie smiled and proudly showed off how she used the right words this time.

"Alright then sit down and we will eat and then we can feed the ducks." Mari opened the different foods and let the kids dig in. 

"Mommy?" Addie asked between bites of her sandwich. 

"Yes, baby?" 

"This is where you asked daddy to love you right?" 

Nino nearly choked on the food he was eating and Maris started to giggle, "Not quite baby, I asked him if wanted to stay here with me. He asked if that meant we were together, and we agreed to take it one day at a time." She smiled and got lost in the memory for a moment, "Nino, do you ever get tired of waiting? Do you ever wish we could just fully commit to life here?" ... "So where does that leave us?"

Her hand on top of his and gave it a squeeze, "Let's take it slow, one day at a time, we both still love them, but have to let them go."

"One day at a time, I like that. No more waiting, just living." He squeezed her hand. 

"Oh! I like that!" Nino and Mari smiled knowing their kids didn't understand yet what their parents went through to be here with them. 

"Alright let's clean everything up, and go to the pond and give the duckies some feed." It didn't take long to clean and soon Addie and Nino ran full speed to the pond, while Kevin took his mom's hand and trodded along. 

I love watching you be a dad. Nino had just caught his daughter up in his arms and tossed her in the air. He looked over to his wife, the biggest smile on his face. 

And it makes my heart glad to see you be a mom. She knew she and Nino gave up a lot to stay here, but she was so happy to have the love she had found here.