Runaway 🌑 (A Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction)

Chapter 20 | I Love You For Giving Me Your Eyes

The runaway spun around fast. "Mom?!" she questioned with wide eyes. Without another thought, she grabbed the backpack and raced across the room, leaping to the ladder attached to her loft bed.

"Marinette, wait!" Sabine jumped forward and grabbed her arm, pulling her back and into a hug. Her arms tightened around her as she cried into her daughter's shoulder. "My baby... I thought you were gone forever..."

Marinette threw her arms around her mother as she sobbed, too. She hadn't seen her in months. She dreamed of this moment every single night.

"I wanted to come home so bad, Mom," she whispered with a sniffle, then cleared her throat. "But I couldn't."

"I'm just glad you're home... and safe..."

"Wait, what are you doing here?" Marinette asked, confused. "I thought you and Dad were staying at the hotel."

Her mother pulled back, wiping under her eyes. "We are, but I needed to get more clothes for your father. I was about to leave when I heard a noise from your bedroom. I hoped... I hoped it was you... and it is... and you're here."

Sabine reached out and gently cradled her daughter's face. Marinette smile and eased into her mother's warm touch.

"You're here—and alive—and that's all that matters."

"You don't..." the runaway pouted. "You don't believe what everyone's saying about me, do you?"

"Of course not!" Sabine assured her. "My daughter is not a killer!"

Marinette smiled. "I missed you so much, Mama."

"Where have you been staying all this time? Are you warm? Are you safe?"

I really don't want to admit to my mother that I've been living in the sewers. It'll make her feel bad, and incredibly guilty, and that's the last thing I want her to feel.

"Yes, Mama. I'm safe, but it's best if I don't say."

Sabine sighed, defeated. "Well... will you at least stay for a bit? Let me cook you a hot meal?"

She hesitated. It wasn't safe for her to be here. If anyone found out...

"Please, honey," her mother begged. "I haven't seen you in over three months. I need..." She reached for her daughter's hand. "I don't know what you've been through, what's happened to you, but I'll be damned if I don't make sure my daughter isn't fed properly."

Marinette slowly smiled, then nodded.

-----

Adrien slid out of the backseat and turned to his driver. "Don't worry about picking me up later. I'm exhausted, so I'll just stay in a guest room here."

His driver nodded, then drove off.

The model entered the hotel and walked through the lobby, waving at a group of fans by the counter. He stepped into the elevator and checked the time on his phone: 5:47PM.

He was supposed to stay late and start working on plans for the fashion show, but he didn't want to do that, and decided to leave it for tomorrow.

Adrien walked into Chloe's room without knocking—as usual—and found his friends in the living room. Alya and Darla are painting each other's nails. Chloe is reading a magazine on the couch. Nino and Sabrina are sitting in front of the TV, battling in a video game.

"Sabrina, you're actually playing?" he asked, shocked and excited to see this shy girl finally coming out of her shell. "That's awesome."

The redhead glanced over and smiled. "It looked like fun... and it is!"