Some 'Mom'

This is part 1.5 of one of my other stories, The Queen's Reign. I would recommend reading that before this one, at least to chapter 9. This story takes place sometime between chapter 9 and 10 of The Queen's Reign. (No idea if this is even good, but hey, at least I tried.) Inspired by a comment left by mintyrest on Ao3. Thanks and hope you enjoy! <3

Chloé sat down on her chaise, shaking as she did so. Dinner had just ended, Marinette and her family had left just a few minutes ago. Tears spilled from her eyes, rolling down her cheeks and dripping onto her hands as she brought them up to try and stifle her whimpers.

Of course, she offers to take them to fucking New York with her and only mentions me when she thinks that Marinette might get lonely. She can't even remember my fucking name. Some 'Mom'.

Chloé huffs, raising her head and marching into her closet. She quickly strips off her Royalties, switching them for a nightgown her father had gotten her for her last birthday.

The man was the only parent that ever really stuck around, and even he was barely around, being the mayor and all.

And with Audrey living in New York, she barely even saw her mother.

The woman couldn't even be bothered to come to her birthdays. She never even sent a fucking card.

And yet she comes running all the way to Paris for dinner with the Dupain-Chengs. Chloé thought bitterly.

She sniffed, pawing at her eyes to dry them, and made her way out of the closet, sitting on the edge of her bed. A knock sounded at her door, hesitating a moment, before cracking the door open.

"Mlle. Chloé? Are you alright?" Her butler, Jean, poked his head into the room, a small, concerned frown resting underneath his mustache.

The man was the closest thing Chloé had to a parental figure, what with it being quite nearly his literal job.

"I'm perfectly fine, Jean-Luc. What on Earth would make you think otherwise?" Chloé bluffed, turning her head away from the man, hoping to hide her red eyes and tear-stained cheeks.

Jean opened the door all the way, stepping in and closing it behind him, before making his way into the room and crouched in front of Chloé.

"Look, who's this?" Chloé glanced over at him, hardly surprised to see the butler holding a familiar yellow, black, and white teddy. "It looks like Mr. Cuddly wants to give Mlle. Chloé a big bear hug!"

Jean controlled the bear, making it seem to be stretching its arms out, an invitation for a hug. Chloé glared at him, but accepted the bear's hug anyway. They stayed like that for a while, Chloé cuddling the bear as Jean watched his ward teared up once again.

"Would you like to share what's bugging you, Mlle. Chloé?" Chloé didn't move for a good minute or so, which prompted Jean to continue, "If you'd rather not share, miss, of course, I won't force you, but it's clear that there is something bother-"

"Mom came from New York to have dinner with the Dupain-Chengs, but she hasn't come to any of my birthdays since I was five and stopped sending cards when I was ten. How the fuck is that fair?" Chloe wailed, words slightly muffled by the bear as she cradled it closer. "Why doesn't she love me? Can't even remember my fucking name, even though she named me."

Jean had nothing to say, sitting there in shock for a moment, before wrapping Chloé in a tight hug, just like he used to when she was little and couldn't sleep from the constant nightmares she'd had. Chloé trembled, whimpering, before breaking down and crying into Jean's shoulder.

They stayed like that, Chloé crying as Jean comforted her, until Chloé calmed down and pulled away.

Chloé sniffed, still cuddling Mr. Cuddly. "I know she doesn't love me."

"And you know that has nothing to do with you, correct, Mlle. Chloé? It's her fault, caused by her problems. None of that makes it okay, however, and it is perfectly reasonable for you to be hurt, upset, and angry."

"I know, thanks, Jean."

The butler left, leaving Chloé with one more reassuring hug and Mr. Cuddly, silently knowing she'd need him.

Chloé tucked herself under the covers, squeezing Mr. Cuddly as tears filled her eyes yet again.

She was getting tired of crying on and off, and it was making her exhausted.

So, Chloé went over the things that gave her reasons to be sad.

Audrey racing over at the first sign of hanging out with the Dupain-Chengs, Marinette being the heir to Audrey's 'Queen of Fashion' title, her mother not even giving her a chance to say whether she wanted it or not (she didn't, would much rather follow in her father's footsteps and become a popular politician, but hey, it still hurt. A lot.), only getting to go to New York with Audrey to ensure that Marinette wouldn't be lonely, Audrey not coming to spend time with her daughter, let alone even remembering her name, her parents' crumbling relationship, and the fact that André could barely even give his daughter the time of day, no matter how much he wanted to.

Now, for the things that made her happy.

The Queen's Reign was back, and stronger than ever, Sabrina hadn't fallen for the vixen's lies, staying true to Chloé, Jean-Jacques, Mr. Cuddly, Marinette being her friend, heck, all the court being her friends, she wasn't akumatizing people anymore, making life easier for her favorite heroine, even getting to be Queen Bee on rare occasions, and, surprisingly, the fact that while he may be busy, her father still loved her, and her mother was willing to take her to New York if the Dupain-Chengs decided to take Audrey up on her offer.

Plus, she got to shove it to Rossi, which was a huge bonus.

Chloé chuckled quietly to herself. Yes, this would be a very fun takedown.

And, if things went how they seemed to be going, the Queen's Reign wouldn't go back underground, not for a long, long time.

So, with tears resting trickling down her cheeks, Mr. Cuddly smothered in her embrace, and Jean-Marc standing just out the door, just in case she needed anything, Chloé drifted off into a sweet, peaceful sleep, dreams full of nothing but reasons for her to be happy.

And maybe she dreamt of handing Lila's ass to her, but, well, you couldn't blame her now, could you?