Does he remember?

Chapter Twenty

Ladybug stepped back. "Okay, maybe I can't process everything right now."

"I'm sorry, but I had to do this now. Especially because I'm living with you and I knew you were going to ask me to stay over so..yeah", he gave her a thumbs-up. She should've hated that, but she found it adoring.

Her mind had too much today. She was on overload. This wore her out and she knew she had to sit down. "I mean, how? H-how? My gosh, you're right. I also fell in love twice with the same person."

Adrien smiled at the memory. "Yeah, I remember telling you the same."

Her hand clapped her mouth shut. "Wait. Gabriel...he's.."

Adrien nodded. "Yeah."

She stood up and took him in for a hug. "I'm so sorry. It all makes sense now. I should've known. I've never seen anyone so controlling of their kid more than your father is with you. Oh my gosh, and you were in New York City working for his brand. Gosh, it's all coming together now."

"Can we please go home? I just want to be with you right now and make sure you're safe at home", he reassured her, but she felt his heart jump at a realization. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting to say that to you."

She laughed. "Yes, let's go."

He transformed into Chat Noir once again and they quickly found their way to the house. They detransformed before walking in. When they walked through the door, they found Alya and Nino sitting at the kitchen table together, giving them puzzled looks. 

"Adrien?" Nino questioned.

"Marinette?" Alya questioned. Her and Nino exchanged a look. "Did you two find each other in Paris or something?"

"Umm, yes. We did", Adrien played it off. "We went for Andres ice cream and caught up with one another."

"Yeah, um, where's Emma?" Marinette changed the subject. Adrien tensed, forgetting about that detail in her life. He felt a storm in his stomach, raging with jealousy. He wondered who she had been with and who left her.

"She's in her room", Alya answered, trying to hide her expression. Marinette knew better, though. She knows her friend is suspicious.

"Okay, thanks", Marinette smiled, kicking off her shoes before heading back toward her daughter's room. 

"So", Nino rested an arm on the top part of the chair. "How was the date?"

"What?" Alya flicked her attention to Nino, her eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. "She wasn't going on a date."

"Why else did they walk in together?" Nino gestured toward the door, looking at Alya. 

"Oh, no. You've got it all wrong", Adrien shook his head, his hands up in defense. "Why do you think we were on a date?"

"You two were wayyyyy too happy when you walked in together", Nino pieced together. "You guys look very much in love."

"Okay, that part I'll agree with", Alya pointed at Nino. "You two look like you guys are in a new-found relationship. That's how happy you guys seemed."

"We're just happy we caught up, that's all", Adrien shrugged. "Marinette would tell you the same."

"Well, duhhh. Cause you guys are both hiding it. Just admit it, already. We all know what happened", Nino smiled.

"Nino, honey, they'll tell us when they're ready", she placed a hand on his wrist and patted it gently. "On the other hand, Marinette can't lie to me so I'll just have to ask her." Alya got up and walked toward Emma's room.

"Oh, hi Alya", Marinette's darted to the door when she saw Alya appear in the doorframe. 

"Mama, can I watch TV? Alya and Nino said no", Emma crossed her arms, displaying an angry look at Alya.

"Okay, but only for a little. And don't be mad at them, they did the right thing", Marinette patted her daughter's head before Emma bolted out of the room and toward the living room.

"So", Alya began, taking a step inside the room. "Anything interesting happen today?"

"I know what you're getting at", Marinette shook her head, picking up her daughter's toys and placing them in the toy box. "There's nothing to be talked about."

"You realized, didn't you?" Alya smiled.

"Realized what?" Marinette froze and met Alya's eyes.

"You're still in love with Adrien", Alya crossed her arms.

"Oh, um", Marinette rubbed the back of her neck. "Yeah, that's it."

Alya let out a laugh. "No, it's not."

"Yes, it was. You guessed right", Marinette faked a smile. 

"But, it's not. Because if that were the case, you wouldn't have agreed to it so quickly", Alya smirked, sitting on the edge of the bed. "You forget I know you so well."

"What else would you rather me say?" Marinette stood up, pacing the room.

"Okay, fine, don't tell me", Alya stood up to leave the room, but Marinette quickly grabbed her wrist pulling her back in and shutting the door. 

"Fine, you wanna know what happened?" Marinette panted. "I just found out that the last 5 years of my life have been a complete lie."

"Excuse me, WHAT?" Alya's eyes widened. "You're gonna need to explain this, girl. You know what else we need? Popcorn and wine."

Marinette took a deep breath. "Chat Noir left me because he'd been blackmailed by his father, who is Monarch, and was forced to move to New York City to work with his father and he had to cut off all ties with people in Paris. Monarch found out who I was and threatened to take my miraculous but Chat Noir promised his father that he'd do anything he wanted as long as he didn't do anything to me. So, his father made him break up with me and ensure that we would never speak to each other again. Now, he's back because he couldn't stay away and the last 5 years of his life have been a living hell. He wants to do something about his father being Monarch."

Alya didn't move a single muscle. Her jaw was wide open during the story and it had been left to hang there for moments after. "I'm sorry???? What did I just hear?"

"It's a lot, I know. I haven't even processed it yet. I don't think I ever will", Marinette rubbed her eyes, exhausted from the information overload. 

"Just when I thought Monarch couldn't get anymore evil", Alya shook her head. "Okay, well, that still doesn't explain you and Adrien walking through the door like you two just came back from Disney."

"That doesn't have anything to do with it", Marinette shifted her eyes, unable to look at her best friend as a lie slipped through her mouth. "I was just really happy to see him after everything I just went through."

"Hmm", Alya pursed her lips. "So, what about you and Chat Noir?"

"What about me and Chat Noir?"

"Are you two doing to date again?" Alya questioned. "Or was that just an overload of information dumped on you and you two will just never speak again?"

"Alya", Marinette smiled. "I don't know."

"Okay", Alya shrugged. "Well, that's that. I'll be up all night thinking about everything you told me even though it has absolutely nothing to do with me,"

"Great", Marinette nodded, opening the door so they could go back into the kitchen. 

"Well, we were just about to have dinner", Alya said to everyone. "Let's do that. And, I want Adrien and Marinette seated next to each other."