When in Paris

Chapter 1: the new and the old

(4 years later)
Marinette_
The alarm made my ears sting, and a pounding to begin in my head. I groaned and clenched my eyes shut tighter, almost refusing to be dragged from my dreams. But when reality set in, and I realised I had stuff to do, I sat up with tired eyes.

I could tell my hair sat up in different places, and I probably looked like a truck hit me. I looked to my right, and as usual, found no one there. I sighed and got up smacking the alarm to stop. And lazily stretched my arms above my head. Looking around, my mood sank a little. He was never here in the mornings, there was barely any evidence of him in this bedroom. I rubbed my face, groaning a little. A sudden crying made me wake up, my eyes springing wide.

I shook my head quickly, and rolled my shoulder. Time for work I guess. I rushed down the halls of the house, nearly slipping on the polished floors. My night gown clung tightly to me, I was lucky to keep my shape after having a baby, I still looked twenty five. Not that Adrien ever cared or noticed anymore. I gripped the doorway and swung into the room rushing over to the cot.

I picked him up hugging him close to my chest, gently shushing him and whispering his name. He quieted down and hugged me the best he could, moaning and tucking his face close to my neck. I smiled and began patting his back, bouncing him a little and humming a lullaby. His mood lightened, and I started to bounce him in a goofy way making silly faces at him. He laughed at me, and waved his hands in the air. I smiled and set him on my hip, brushing his thick black hair with my fingers.
"Okay Hugo, lets get you dressed so mama can go to work"

I laid him down on a changing table, and quickly changed his diaper and dressed him. After I was done I he gripped my finger and brought it to his mouth, I smiled softly, and tilted my head admiring his green eyes. I hefted him back onto my hip, and rushed back down the halls to my bedroom. Gently setting him on the bed, I walked to the closet and dressed into work appropriate clothes.

After pulling my hair back into a neat bun, I slipped on some stockings and small healed shoes. Quickly packing some papers, sketches and pencils into a bag, I slung it over my shoulder and walked back over to Hugo. Picking him back up, I hurried back down the hall, down the stairs and into the kitchen. Something caught my eye on the fridge, and I turned around reading it.
"You've got to be kidding me"

The nanny took today off, now what am I supposed to do? There's no way I can leave him here, and I can't drop him off at anyone's house. I looked to Hugo, and watched him play with the loose collar of my blouse.
"You have to promise to behave for mama today okay?"

He smiled widely, and I packed some baby bottles into my bag. Sighing, I hurried out of the house and locked the door behind me. Setting Hugo into the baby seat and getting into the drivers seat, I started to drive to the company I worked at. Adrien's company.

__________
I set Hugo down comfortably on my desk top, being sure to hide away anything he could throw or bite. Instead, I gave him a string of material to play with. My office consisted of manikins, material rolls mounted on the walls, kits of sewing equipment and countless fashion sketches. I set to work where I left off yesterday, adjusting the size fitting on a dress that was expected to be fit for runway in a week. Adrien and I worked on the same floor, but we might as well have been in different states.

A knock sounded on my office door, and I groaned silently already knowing who it was. Muttering a 'come in' a young woman walked in. Slender, lean and rosy. I didn't envy her, but I didn't particularly like her. As she walked eagerly into my office, I took a glance at the two rings on my left hand.
"Oh you brought your baby!"

I looked over my shoulder to find her playing with his hands and hair.
"Please don't touch him, he doesn't like strangers"

She smiled and stepped away from him, and I sat straight turning on my small chair to face her. Christina, adrien's 'assistant'. She was about twenty six, her brown hair was straightened and reached her shoulders. I knew, that it was an attempt to look like me. But as soon as she cut her hair to match mine, I began growing mine back out. It now reached my shoulder blades when it wasn't tied up. She smiled at me, and I crossed my arms smiling back.
"Can I help you Christina?"

"Oh, yes. I was just wondering if you had finished that report I asked you to do"

I smiled, slumping my back a little.
"Christina, it is not my job to get you closer to my husband. I don't work for you, I don't even work for Adrien, I work for myself"

"Oh no I-"

"I know you wanted me to do that report because you wanted to know more about Adrien's personal life, you're his assistant. I think you should stick to the boundaries of an assistant, and nothing more"

Her words caught in her throat, and I smiled again. I stood up walking over to Hugo and picked him up on my hip. She stared at him, and she decided to change the subject. There were only a few moments, where she felt sorry for me.
"How old is he?"

"...one year"

"He has adrien's eyes"

"That he does, when he was born Adrien wouldn't stop gloating about it"

"I never really see him leave the office, does he...make time for you often?"

She saw the look of my face, and quickly tucked her hair behind her ears. Smiling politely, she waved me goodbye.
"I should be getting back, I'll tell Adrien you're here"

Oh I'm sure she will. She walked out, and closed the door behind her. To a stranger, she'd seem polite. But I'd seen her one too many times flirting with Adrien. Or at least trying to. I smiled at Hugo, brushing his hair with my fingers again. Another knock on the door sounded, but this time they didn't wait for me to answer before barging in.