One Way or Another

A Business Call, Five Minutes, and A Blush

Five months later, and after much anticipation, the biggest event of the year arrived.

At least, it was the biggest event of the year for Annabelle Agreste. It was finally the day of her birthday party.

Despite Adrien's numerous and not-so-subtle suggestions, Annabelle was adamant about only having a 'Ladybug' theme. So finally he had to give up trying to convince her otherwise.

On the afternoon of the party the courtyard of the mansion was decorated with red balloons to go with the theme. And the birthday girl was wearing a head-to-toe Ladybug costume.

As soon as Marinette and Adrien arrived at the party, Annabelle ran up to them.

Marinette covered her mouth with her hands as they walked through the gates. "Oh my gosh!" she exclaimed. "I can't believe it! Ladybug is here! Oh, I'm such a fan!" she said, kneeling down to the girl. "Can I please have your autograph?"

Annabelle giggled. "Marinette! It's just me Annabelle!"

"What?" Adrien asked, playing along. "There's no way that you're my sister. You're Ladybug!"

She removed the mask from her face. "It's just me!"

Gasps of surprise. "Oh, you had us fooled Annabelle," Adrien continued. "I thought for sure that you were the real Ladybug!"

"Well, since you're Annabelle, I guess that you should have this then," Marinette said, handing her a present.

"Thank you!" she squealed before grabbing it and running over to her mother. "Mama! Look what Adrien and Marinette got for me!"

"How wonderful," Emilie said. "But we're going to wait until after the party to open your gifts." She took the box from her and placed it on a table filled with other presents.

Then Annabelle ran off to play with her friends while Adrien and Marinette went up to his mother.

They exchanged hugs before Marinette spoke. "I can't believe that she's five already."

"I know, time is going by way too fast," Emilie replied. "It seems like just yesterday that she was born."

Looking around and finding that someone was conspicuously absent, Adrien had to ask the obvious question. "And where's Father?"

Emilie pursed her lips. "He's in his study on a business call," she said in annoyance.

Adrien sighed, not surprised at all. "Let me go talk to him," he told his mother. Then he made his way inside of the mansion and went into the study.

Nathalie was by the door holding her tablet while Gabriel was standing at his computer, yelling at someone on the screen.

"Hey Nathalie," Adrien whispered to her. "What's going on here?"

"I guess the manufacturer screwed up the latest order for the photoshoot on Wednesday. So it's been complete chaos at the office trying to find an alternative."

"This couldn't wait until later?"

"You know your father," Nathalie sighed.

Adrien frowned. He knew his father well. Too well. He knew that he was always choosing work over his family. And sadly he knew that from first-hand experience.

But at least Gabriel was easing up a little bit with the restrictions on his second child. Undoubtedly Annabelle would eventually start taking various lessons; piano, fencing, and Chinese, among others. But at least she was allowed to go to preschool and have friends. Plus she got to have a birthday party; a luxury that Adrien never received growing up.