Does he remember?

Chapter Sixteen

"So", Alya began. "That was...awkward."

"Tell me about it", Marinette rolled her eyes, glancing around her daughter's room. "Emma where is this spider?"

"There wasn't one", Emma smiled sneakily.

Marinette's arms dropped to her side. "Emma, why would you lie?"

"I wanted to see him", Emma shrugged. 

"Emma, you could've just said that", Marinette pinched the bridge of her nose. "You didn't have to lie to see him, I would've introduced you regardless."

"Is he my dad?" Emma tilted her head.

Marinette and Alya shared a glance. "Emma, no. He's not."

"Where is he?" Emma pouted. 

Marinette let out a sigh. "Sweetie, he's not here. Probably no longer in Paris, I don't know. But it's okay because you've got you family here."

"Why did he leave me?"

Marinette's eyes burned with oncoming tears. Hearing her daughter so upset she didn't have a father in her life hurt worse than him leaving. She didn't know how to explain it to her without telling her what happened. "He didn't leave you, he left me."

"Why?" Emma glanced between Alya and Marinette.

"It was for the best, Emma", Alya cut in, kneeling next to Emma and placing a hand on her shoulder. "You are incredibly lucky with the mother you have. And, of course, the best aunt and uncle in the world."

Emma smiled. "Yeah, but Grandma and Paps are the best."

Marinette laughed. "That, they are."

Emma's eyes filled with wonder. "Can I meet my dad someday?"

Marinette raked her fingers through her daughter's hair. "Someday."

"Okay", Emma ran out of her room, but not before stopping in the doorway. "Gonna help Nino."

"Alright", Marinette placed her hands on her hips. When Emma was no longer in the room, Marinette's smile dropped as well as her head. A deep sigh escaped from her lungs. 

"You're doing great", Alya reassured her best friend. "She's doing great."

"She's going to want to meet him", Marinette glanced up at her friend. "I can't let that happen."

"I know", Alya nodded. "She'll understand when she's older."

"Will she?"

"Yes", Alya hugged Marinette. 

Marinette sighed as she let the embrace of her best friend calm her nerves. After Marinette was able to clear her thoughts of Chat Noir, she let the embrace slip and had thought of Adrien. "Hey, this may sound crazy, but, did you notice how Adrien was looking at me?"

Alya gave her a knowing look. "It was hard not to see the way he was looking at you."

"I can't explain why he was looking at me like that", Marinette shook her head, standing up to sit on Emma's bed. "He looked at me like he just saw something he had never seen before, like he made a discovery that would shake the world."

"Probably because he hasn't seen you in 5 years and thought you somehow became more beautiful than before", Alya smiled. 

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"I think I need to transform", Adrien said to Plagg, once they were alone. "The world hasn't seen him in 5 years. They miss him, don't you think? I bet Ladybug missed me, maybe she's mad at me."

"Slow down", Plagg shushed. "Are you sure it's a good idea to open that door again? You're only here for a month and then it's back to the states."

"But", Adrien sighed. "I...should."

"Because you want Marinette to know you're back", Plagg didn't ask, he already knew the answer.

"She hates me", Adrien shook his head. "And I don't blame her."

"If she knew the reason", Plagg began. "She may reconsider."

"She can't know why", Adrien whispered, glancing out the basement window.

"You didn't do anything wrong", Plagg sat on his owner's shoulder. "All you wanted was a life with her, and of course, your father had to take it away from you. But you did it to protect her."

Adrien thought for a moment. "I want to talk to her. As Chat Noir."

"That's gonna go great", Plagg said sarcastically, moving away from the conversation. "I'm sure she's going to love that."

"Plagg", Adrien warned. "I know she hates me, but I have to try."

"Fine", Plagg reclined on a pillow. "Let me know how it goes. Oh, and please tell the chef to make popcorn."

Adrien rolled his eyes, fighting a laugh. "Real funny, Plagg."

"I'm not being funny", Plagg glanced up at Adrien. "I'm serious, I want popcorn when you tell me all about it."

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Marinette had gone for a walk around the park to clear her running thoughts. Moving her body always helped her when she felt her nerves taking control of her. Suddenly, everyone around her starting pointing upwards, almost like they were pointing to a roof behind her. 

Someone a few feet away from her shouted, "Look! It's Chat Noir!"

Marinette's heart sank to her stomach. Her knees seemed to buckle and give out beneath her. Her ears pounded from the pressure of her own running heart, even as she stood frozen. She was unable to move her feet in any direction, but if Chat Noir was really behind her, then she had to somehow get herself to move out of there. A voice over and over in her head kept reminding her not to turn around, it wasn't worth it. It wasn't real. It can't be real.

Without even turning back, Marinette kept walking and she kept it up until she was on the Eiffel Tower, now going up on the elevator. Once she was up there, she glanced at the city below, desperately hoping it wasn't true. Hoping he wasn't there.

But a part of her almost wanted him to be there. Just so she could see him one last time in her life. Last time she saw him, she didn't know it would be the last time. And that had bothered her for the past 5 years.

She wanted him to see her now. All grown up, making a life for herself, moving on. Seeing that she's doing just fine without him. 

Marinette had always wondered what it would be like to see him again. Wondered how the conversation would play out. She always seemed to feel anger every time she played it out in her head, and knew the conversation would turn to argument. At least from her side.

She didn't have any idea what they would talk about besides the fact that he decided to leave her alone 5 years ago without a single explanation why. Maybe he'd be begging on his knees for forgiveness or-

"Marinette", an all too familiar voice crept behind her. Was it a figment of her imagination? A trick of the wind? The voices returned, still telling her not to turn around. Because she knew that if she did, her heart would sink to her stomach and disintegrate into nothing once again.