From Superhero to Cinderella

Chapter 1

Marinette's POV

Marinette Dupain-Cheng stared at her father, Tom Dupain-Cheng, in shock at the words he had just spoken.

"You want to marry who?" she asked, not sure she had heard correctly the first time.

"Audrey Bourgeois," Tom stated calmly.

"But, why? I knew you were dating someone, but I didn't know it was her," Marinette said.

"What's wrong with Audrey?" her father asked, a slight frown pushing down the corners of his mouth.

"Nothing," Marinette said hastily. "It's just that, she's the mother of Chloe.  Chloe hates me, remember?"

Her father nodded.   "Yes, but Audrey has made me happier than I've been since, well...since your mother died," he finished quietly.

Marinette was silent for a moment.  Her mom, Sabine Dupain-Cheng, had died a couple years earlier from a car accident.   She'd been in a taxi on her way to visit her mom when an out-of-control semi-truck had barreled down the main street and smashed into the taxi.  Both Sabine and the taxi driver had been killed.   Marinette pulled herself out of memory lane and refocused on her dad, who appeared to have more to say.

"And, there is something I need to tell you.  The bakery has been struggling.   We have had less customers and I am behind on bills.  With the money Audrey has, she'll be able to save the bakery.   Please, will you think about it?   I can't bear to lose the bakery."

Marinette sat there, processing the information she had been given.  

The bakery is struggling?  Why didn't papa tell me this before?   I could have gotten a part-time job to try to help.  Marinette looked into her father's nervous-filled eyes.  "I'll think about it," she assured him.   The nervousness in his eyes faded and was replaced with relief.

"Thank you," Tom said.

"But, how come you didn't tell me that the bakery was struggling until now?  I could have gotten a job to try to help," Marinette said quietly.

"I want you to focus on your schooling.  This is your last year in school," Tom said.

Marinette sighed, knowing full well that school took up much of her time. Between secretly being the red-and-black spotted superhero, Ladybug, and having school, Marinette did not have very much free time.

"I need some time to think about this," Marinette said, standing up.

"Of course," Tom said understandingly. "I'll make us some dinner."

Marinette nodded before heading up to her room and flopping on her chaise.  Her kwami, Tikki, floated over to her.

"What did your dad want to talk about?" she asked Marinette.

"He wants to marry his girlfriend," Marinette stated, staring at the pillow on her chaise.

"Did he finally tell you who she is?" Tikki asked.

"Yes. It's Audrey Bourgeois, Chloe's mother," Marinette said, looking at Tikki with an unhappy expression on her face.

Tikki's small face filled with shock.  "But Audrey is so..." Tikki trailed off.

"I know," Marinette said, then she sighed.   "Dad says that the bakery is struggling and he's behind on bills.  He says that Audrey would be able to save it."   Marinette fell silent.  Tikki floated there, momentarily silent, sensing that Marinette had more to say.  "With everything that's been going on the past couple of weeks, I'm not sure I want to tell my dad that it's okay for him to marry her.  But, I don't want him to lose the bakery either.  He'd be so sad without it, and so would I," Marinette told Tikki.   First, Adrien and Kagami almost kissed.  Then, all but me and Cat Noir's identities were revealed to Hawkmoth.  And then, Master Fu named me the new guardian and forgot everything about the miraculous.  Then he moved.   And then, Adrien shared ice cream with Kagami.   I don't know if I can handle having Chloe as a step-sister, Marinette thought.