CatWalk

Twenty-Seven

The ten-year-old Emma rubbed her eyes with one had and dragged her catbug doll/backpack she called Louis with the other. The exhausted little girl was following her mom back to their apartment. Marinette had originally wanted Emma to stay with Tom and Sabine but after the earlier events of today she just needed to cherish the time she had with her baby girl.

"We can stay up as long as you'd like and watch whatever you want."
Marinette smiled and rubbed the top of her daughter's head before unlocking the apartment door. Usually, Emma was more active during the night but she probably saw the news and was worried about her superhero mother. Emma always wanted to see her mom be Ladybug since Marinette told her many stories.

"I wanna... watch Ladybug." Emma said tiredly. She had watched the anime show many times over but it was her favorite. Marinette knew that her daughter would probably fall asleep in the middle of the first episode but Marinette turned it on despite that fact.

After Emma unloaded all her stuff in her Catbug backpack and put on some ChatNoir themed pajamas she joined her mom on the couch who had put strawberry macaroons on a plate for them and the little red kwami to enjoy as they watched the show.

Marinette laughed at the part of the show in where Felix the character who is ChatNoir in the show finds out his father was Papillon the entire time. She thought about how it was a kid show and the creators had to make it understandable to their young viewers. Nothing too complicated even know a lot fans thought that maybe Papillon was the curator of a museum or the principal of the high school.

As the second episode was starting to play Marinette looked over and Emma already sound asleep hugging Louis while wrapped up in a blanket. She put the show on pause to take a moment to capture her snug as a bug with a photo. Marinette couldn't resist taking a picture of her adorable kid. She had a collection over the years of Emma either sleeping in weird places or being adorable as she slept. Pictures that could become blackmail in the future if Marinette so desired.

Marinette picked her up to take her to her room. Ten-year-olds are a little odd to be picked up and taken to bed but Marinette used to be able to carry a full grown man. A child in a man's body if Marinette wanted to get technical.

She lifted Emma up Catbug and all. She was so precious and small. Her bundle of joy now so big and tall. Not a flaw in sight, green eyes shut tight. Marinette protects her but why bother? Doesn't she need both mother and father?

"Goodnight, my little kitten."

Her tucked goodnight flowed by a kiss on her baby girl's forehead.

"She you in the morning." she said as she turned off the lights and closed the door.

She headed back into the living room to turn off the lights and pressed play on the television remote. She noticed the balcony door was open. She could have sworn the doors were closed maybe the wind blew it open.

She closed the door and came back to the couch as Tikki continued chowing down on the Macaroons. Tikki hid confusing Marinette then a noise was heard from the kitchen which was hidden with pure black darkness.

"Hello?" Marinette questioned knowing that if there was indeed a person there she could hold her own. The events earlier that day proved it. Of course she was less likely to kiss a intruder.

There was no response. Maybe she was imaging things but Tikki wouldn't hide like that if it was just Marinette and Emma. Marinette shrugged thinking it was just her being a little off from jumping into hero work again.

She sat back onto the couch once more and continue watching the second episode in which ChatNoir hands Ladybug a bouquet of roses but Ladybug turns him down because she's obsessively in love with Felix who is ChatNoir but she doesn't know that.

"I wish my ChatNoir had given me a bouquet of roses." Marinette joked. She always liked ChatNoir's flirtatious nature it's just too bad that Marinette didn't think a man with a Playboy attitude was good enough father.

"Your ChatNoir?" ChatNoir himself slyly added before plopping himself next to Marinette. Startling her as she figured out why Tikki hid.

"What? No, you're not my ChatNoir and why are you even here?" Marinette asked hoping for a descent.

"Call me selfish but I don't want you to marry." His sincerity could be heard with every word.

"I thought with Ladybug back you'd be chasing after her." Marinette replied trying to make light of their situation.

"She is Ladybug sure but I am pretty sure she is not my Ladybug. The Ladybug I knew was more careful but this one seems...."

"Independent because there is a slim chance that she is the same Ladybug you knew but grown up."

"I would know if it was her."

"Would you?" Marinette questioned. He was so oblivious to everything.

"Of course I would. I would know as soon as I saw her that she was my Ladybug."

"I guess she's not your Ladybug."

'At least not any more' Marinette thought.

"Marinette, I want to apologize."

"What for?" Marinette could probably write a book on things he should apologize for but they were in the past and should stay there.

"About that night and not visiting you afterward. I deserved that slap in the face and I'm also sorry I came here late at night and then proceeded to tell you not to marry. You probably think I'm a jerk and yes I am. I'm a selfish jerk whose in love with you." He confessed.

ChatNoir had debated whether or not he liked Marinette for awhile but hearing how Luka was going to ask the question. ChatNoir couldn't help but get Marinette first. He was fueled by jealousy, love, and lust emotions that can have a poisonous effect.

Marionette sat there shocked. She didn't know what to do. Adrien was the man she always wanted to be with, Luka was there for her through thick and thin, and then there's ChatNoir the man, she was always destined to be with. Three opinions yet Marinette didn't want to choose who she wanted. She was afraid of her choice so she wanted to choose who would make the best father.

"I don't know how to reply ChatNoir. We share attraction I won't deny that."

"But you think attraction is all that this is and that is what it is forever going to be."

"We proved that ten years ago. We aren't compatible."

"Really?" He questioned before putting one of his hands behind her head. He kissed her with more passion then she excepted.

'How long has he held let his emotions build up?' She questioned but her thoughts were soon faded as ChatNoir slowly pressed her body horizontally onto the couch without breaking the kiss.

ChatNoir slowly let his hands wonder. He let one entangle into her short dark hair while the other one rolled up her tank top wanted to reach for a item of clothing that she didn't have on since girls don't normally sleep with bras on. She wrapped her legs around his slender body. She knew that he couldn't really do anything himself unless he transformed into his civilian identify.

"Chat... stop... our daughter is asleep."

She quickly covered up her mouth hoping ChatNoir didn't catch her saying 'Our' instead of 'My'.