A Family Apart

Chapter 3

*Marinette's POV*

37-year-old Marinette pulled down the blinds and let out her breath. "Tikki, you can come out now," she said, pulling out a batch of cookies from the oven.

"Okay, Marinette," Tikki said as she flew to where the cookies were. Tikki grabbed a piece with her small hands and looked up at Marinette, "What are we going to do today Marinette?" the Kwami asked, as she bit into the cookie.

Marinette looked around, "I was thinking of designing something I never made before, something special," 

The Kwami looked at her, "Why not go to the place you always go to when you want to design something?" Marinette looked at Tikki with a smile, "You're right," Marinette said, as she got her sketchbook and pencil, "Besides, I've never been there in a while,"

"I always loved that place," Tikki said. "Me too," Marinette said, smiling, "It's where Chat and I spent most of our time fighting akumas." 

I wonder what Chat Noir is doing right now? Marinette thought, Probably with his family or flirting with somebody.

Marinette's thoughts got interrupted as she remembered that she had to leave. "Let's go," she motioned for Tikki to get into her purse.

Tikki grabbed a cookie and flew into Marinette's purse. "We better hurry," Tikki said, "It's best to go there in the afternoon because that's the time when you usually get inspired,"

"Alright," Marinette said, as she opened her front door and walked to the place that held so many memories for her.

*Adrien's POV*

Adrien looked at his phone, which was ringing. It was a call from his father, a call he always ignored. Ever since he and Marinette divorced, his father always called him and tried to tell him to get back together with Marinette. 

Since when did he ever care? Adrien thought as he denied the call. He was never going back to Marinette and that was final, no matter how much convincing anyone gave him.

Adrien looked at the physics papers he had to grade and sighed. It was a weekend and he didn't even grade the tests yet. Adrien looked down at the papers, wondering what grade Emma had gotten on her test, after all, he did teach at Emma and Louis's middle school.

"Why did you want to become a teacher, Dad?" Emma asked the last time she visited. Adrien smiled, "I'm great at physics and being a teacher means I have more time at home with you and Louis rather than being stuck in an office all day."  

"Why do you like spending time with us?" Emma asked, curious. Adrien looked at her, "Well, my dad never had time for me when I was your age and that's what I promised I'd do with my own kids." Adrien said, smiling.

Adrien looked at the papers, he had to grade them by the next day and it would be quite boring sitting down in his home office grading the papers. That's when he had it, he would go to the one place that helped him relax, the one place where he could be who he was.

"Emma, Louis," Adrien yelled out as he headed towards the door, papers in hand, "I'm going out, and you both can go visit a friend's house!" 

"Okay, Dad!" Adrien heard Emma and Louis say in chorus, excitement clearly in their voices. Adrien almost stepped out the door until he realized he forgot something, Plagg. 

Adrien ran back to his room. "Plagg? Where are you?" Adrien asked, whisper-yelling. Adrien suddenly heard a voice coming from the bathroom and ran in. Inside was a familiar, yet disgusting smell, Camembert.

"Plagg, I'm leaving," Adrien said, as Plagg flew towards him, "I'm coming!" the Kwami said as he flew straight into Adrien's pocket. Adrien smiled, Plagg had become more willing to leave the house after Emma and Louis always ruined his "cat naps" due to their constant fights and running around the house. 

Adrien took in a breath and walked out the front door of his mansion.  He couldn't wait to go to the place he hadn't been to in a long time, his most favorite place, the Eiffel tower.