Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

He hadn’t recognized her at first.

Focused on taking out the men that had cornered her in that alley, Chat Noir hadn’t even thought to glance at her face, hadn’t needed to see who he was fighting for in order to do so. She was a citizen of Paris and he was its protector. That was enough of a reason to help.

Turning to reassure her once he’d knocked them out and tied their hands behind their backs though, Chat Noir came face to face with his reason for fighting in general. His reason for living, too.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

She’d been missing for over six months, right along with Hawkmoth and his akumas, but he’d know her anywhere. Those dark strands of hair he used to wrap around his fingers now spread across her shoulders, no longer contained in those pigtails he’d always adored and tugged at whenever he’d seen fit to annoy her. Her eyes, as blue as ever, stared back at him, taking in his face as he took in hers, as he took in the way her hands, trembling, lowered to her abdomen. Fluttering fingers pressed against taut skin, Chat Noir’s eyes widening at the realization.

She’d been strong until that moment, standing tall against the men that had cornered her. But then, alone in the alley with him, her legs shook and threatened to give out on her, one hand quickly slapping against the brick wall at her side to keep her upright.

“Marinette.” He spoke, finally able to find his voice. “M’Lady. What-“

She flinched at the name, at the reminder, and he hurried to her side, hands grasping gently at her arms to pull her close.

“God, Marinette. Everyone’s been looking for you.“ Incapable of controlling himself in his relief, Chat kissed the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her as she allowed herself to be held. “Where have you been?” He demanded, before quickly taking it back. “It doesn’t matter. I’m taking you home. Fuck. Your parents have been worried sick. You-“

“No.” She whispered, pushing herself out of his grip. “I can’t go back.”

“What?” He questioned, pulling away to examine her face. “Why not?” Eyes dipping lower, he asked, “Because-“

“Can you help me to my apartment?”

“Your…apartment?”

The words came out haltingly, full of confusion.

Guilt was clear as day on her face as she nodded, taking hold of his arm and gripping it tightly.

“Please. I can show you where it is but I- I can’t get back on my own.”

He nodded numbly, scooping Marinette into his arms and following her directions to an old apartment building only a couple of blocks away.

She was heavier than he remembered her, but still so light in his arms that by the time he set her on her own two feet to unlock her door, he was more than ready to launch back into their conversation.

“Why are you here, Marinette? Your friends and family are worried about you! The last time we talked, I thought you were moving in with your boyfriend. Next thing I know you’ve disappeared off the face of the earth and now you’re-“

She swept past him into the apartment, the tote bag on her shoulder hitting the coffee table with a small thud as he closed the door behind him.

“He threatened my family.” She answered, the words coming out low and strained as she dug through her tote bag, pulling out a bunch of towels, a pair of kitchen scissors and a fuzzy looking blanket.

At his look of confusion, she continued.

“After my identity was revealed-“ Her voice broke at the words, Chat remembering the battle like it had happened yesterday.

An akuma had snagged her earring. Just one, and he’d gotten it back to her as soon as he could, but surrounded by news crews there’d been no chance of keeping her face from being seen.

She’d been recognized so quickly-

“Hawkmoth came to me. Privately.”

His blood ran cold as Marinette hesitated before moving into the kitchen, pulling water bottles from the fridge and moving them to the coffee table. She glanced around nervously before settling onto the couch, sitting right at the edge as if she thought she might need to run at a moment’s notice.

Crouching down in front of her shaken form, Chat took her hand.

“What happened, Princess?”

“He- He threatened them. Told me if I didn’t give him my miraculous, and yours, that he’d hurt them. I told him I couldn’t help him. Even if he took my miraculous he wouldn’t be able to find yours. We- we fought and I got away. I told him- I told him as I left that I was leaving the city, the continent. That our miraculous would never be on the same side of the globe again.”

“But you’re here…you’re still in Paris.”

“Of course.” She replied, her eyes screwing shut as if she were in pain. “I didn’t know if he’d believe me, or if he’d try again. I had to be close by in case-“

The hand he held in his tensed and Chat frowned, searching her face for answers.

“Are you okay?”

“Fine.” She whispered, nodding once. “You can go.”

“Go?” He repeated incredulously. “Marinette, I just found you.”

“And now you need to un-find me.” She urged him. “I- Fuck.” The last word came out as a whimper and she leaned into him, Chat holding her gently as she let out a ragged breath.

“Are you in pain?” He asked, eyes searching her face for the truth while she hesitated to answer. For a long moment he thought she’d ignore him, but then finally, in a voice so quiet he wouldn’t have understood had he not had the enhanced senses that came with wielding the black cat miraculous, Marinette whispered back to him.

“I’m in labor.”

He startled backwards, brain suddenly comprehending the towels and other supplies she’d laid around the room.

“You’re not going to the hospital.”

She breathed out an agreement and he stood, anxiously shaking his head.

“Marinette, you have to go to a doctor. Have you seen one at all since you- How did you- Who?”

She looked up at him, no answers leaving her lips, and he settled for one question at a time, heart pounding as he tried again.

“Have you seen a doctor?”

“I’ve been going to a couple of different clinics under different names. The baby and I are both healthy.”

The baby.

“Who- how did this happen?”

Her face flushed and he felt his follow after, Marinette looking down at her fingers as she replied.

“I was moving in with my boyfriend, you know. He-“

“Adrien’s the father?” Chat blurted before he could stop himself, Marinette looking up at him in confusion.

“Who else? You know he’s- that he was Buttercup. The other boy.”

“I- I figured, but-“

A baby.

“Why didn’t you go to him? Why haven’t you told him?”

“Chat-“

“You think he wouldn’t want to know? That he wouldn’t have helped you!”

Marinette flinched and Chat forced out an apology.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell, but we need to get you to a hospital.”

“I can’t.” Marinette argued, wincing and gripping him tighter as another wave of pain must have swept through her. “What if the hospital notifies him? Or my parents? What if I put his name on the birth certificate and his father finds out and comes for the baby? What if-“

“Marinette,” Chat argued, gently taking hold of her shoulders. “Adrien and your parents have been beside themselves looking for you. They’ve looked everywhere for you. They’ve fought the police to extend your case, they’ve been out looking and sharing your photo with anyone who will listen for the last seven months, who cares what Adrien’s dad thinks? They’re- they’re all going to be so relieved to see you safe.”

“Adrien’s dad is Hawkmoth.”

It was like being slapped across the face, the way those words invaded his ears.

His father-

His father was…

And he’d threatened her. He’d threatened Marinette. Father was the reason Marinette was here, hiding away from the world while pregnant with his child.

“If you know he’s Hawkmoth, why-“

“He still has his miraculous! If I said anything he could retaliate. He could go after my family before I could get the team together to stop him. I can’t fight like this! I couldn’t even get home like this, I- I’m going to have a newborn, Chat. I can’t-“

Her head fell back against the couch cushions, a groan escaping as tiny beads of sweat formed at her temple.

“I’m taking you to the hospital.”

She tensed as he plucked her off the couch, rapidly shaking her head.

“No, please. I’m okay here.” She promised, though her grip on him was weak. “I can’t let them find out. If Adrien finds out he’ll-“

“He’ll what, Marinette?” Chat ground out, fighting the anger building in his veins as he carried her from the apartment and debated on the quickest route to the hospital. “He’d do the right thing.”

“Of course he would.” Marinette whimpered, eyes shut as she turned her face into his chest. “He’d be perfect, but it’s- it’s not fair. He’d be stuck with me and I- I’d ruin his relationship with his father. I’d be the reason his father doesn’t get to wish his mother back to life, I’d be the reason his father ended up in prison or- or worse, his father would come for all three of us and-“

“Let me worry about my father.” He kissed the top of her head. “And assembling the team. And I’ll call your parents too. Right now all you need to worry about is this.”

He dropped down in front of the hospital, Marinette’s gasp as she processed his words quickly morphing into a shocked cry as his transformation faded and he stepped into the lobby, Marinette trembling violently in his arms.

“What brings you in today?” The woman at the front desk asked, eyes quickly scanning the both of them.

“My girlfriend is in labor.”

Marinette stared up at him, eyes wide and full of tears as the nurse hurried to them with a wheelchair.

“It’s okay, Princess.” He whispered. “I’ve got you now.”

••••••

“Ch- Adrien?” Marinette whispered the second they were alone, her hand tightly gripping his.

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry. A- About your father. And about not telling you. About not telling you anything. I-“

“Shhh.” His lips on hers forced her into silence and Adrien reached out, lovingly caressing the side of her face. “I’m upset, but I understand. We can talk more once this is all over.”

“If you hadn’t found me tonight-“

“Marinette,” Adrien scolded gently as tears welled up in her eyes. “Don’t-“

“I couldn’t transform.” She blurted on a sob, snuggling in when he reached out to hold her. “If I had they might have told the police that I was the one to stop them. Then Gabriel might have found me, found us. I couldn’t-“

Another contraction took hold and at the beeping on the monitor that accompanied it, a nurse pushed open their door and stepped inside, instantly engaging Marinette in a conversation that Adrien didn’t really understand.

God what he wouldn’t have given to have done some sort of research before bringing her here. If he’d had the time- if he’d known-

“Papa,” The nurse asked gently, as if he were a frightened animal. “You doing okay over there? Feel like you’re going to pass out?”

“No.” He promised, snapping back to reality as Marinette glanced up at him, her hand still held firmly in his. “No, I’m okay. Just- just nervous. Worried.”

“Everyone’s doing just fine.” The nurse promised him, nodding to a monitor at her side. “This is the baby’s heart rate. Looks nice and steady. And we can see maman is doing fine, despite the circumstances.” She smiled at Marinette who nodded back, though her smile wavered as she did so.

“It’s fast.” Adrien whispered, staring at the monitor. “Is it supposed to be that fast? What if the baby is in distress?”

“That’s a normal heart rate, dear.” The nurse assured. “If the baby were in distress you’d have a whole team in here, not just little old me.”

“Can she have something for the pain?”

“Are you wanting the epidural, hun?” The nurse asked, Marinette nodding immediately.

“Please.”

“I’ll get the anesthesiologist. You hold tight, okay?” She patted Marinette’s arm and then left the room, Marinette’s head moving to rest on Adrien’s shoulder as her eyes fluttered shut.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” He questioned, trying not to give away his own trembling as she cuddled into his side.

“Being here. Being worried about us. Taking care of me.”

“I would have been doing that this whole time if I’d known, Marinette. I never would have let you do this alone.”

“I know. That’s why I’m-“

“Marinette-“

“I’m so scared.” She continued as if she hadn’t heard him. “If he knows about her, he’ll use her. You know how many times he akumatized August? How many times he went for children? What if he uses her against us? What if-“

“I won’t let my father anywhere near her, Marinette.”

Her.

Her?

“It’s- We’re having a girl?”

Marinette opened her mouth, paused then shut it, looking up at him as she nodded.

“I forgot you didn’t know already.”

“I won’t let anything happen to her, I swear to you, both of you.” Adrien promised, squeezing her hand as he bent to kiss her again. “I’d rather let Plagg use his cataclysm without me than let anything hurt either of you.”

“And I’d do it too.” Plagg spoke from his pocket.

“And I’d let them.” Tikki piped up, appearing from within Marinette’s hair. She nuzzled against Marinette’s face. “We’ll keep her safe, Marinette.”

“And as soon as she’s here and you’re both settled I’m going to call in the team. And your parents. We’ll find a way to take his miraculous.”

Tikki agreed, lovingly patting her holder’s forehead.

“It’ll all be over soon, Marinette.”

••••••

The first thing Adrien learned of his daughter was her cry.

Each set of lungs in that delivery room took a collective sigh of relief as it pierced the air, Marinette bursting into tears next to him as the nurses gathered around their screaming infant.

“Marinette?” Adrien panicked, glancing between them in indecision.

Who needed him more?

Surrounded by nurses, his daughter was as safe as she’d probably ever be and so he turned to Marinette, brushing her hair out of her eyes as she bawled.

“Are you alright? What hurts? What do you need?”

“Everything. Nothing.” She breathed, staring past him as the nurses wrapped their baby in a thin white blanket. “She’s here.”

“Yeah.” He grinned, leaning down to press a kiss to her cheek. “She is. You did it. You’re okay.”

“I didn’t think I could.”

“I believed in you.”

“Someone’s ready to meet Maman and papa.”

Marinette turned to look at him, motioning to the little bundle with a smile.

“You want to go first, Kitty?”

He looked between her and the baby, slightly in disbelief and slightly afraid.

“Me?”

“I’ve had more time with her. She knows me already. She should know you too.”

Adrien took his daughter in his arms, the nurse ensuring he held her properly, and he looked down at her, heart beating rapidly as it all seemed to sink in.

He’d missed it. He’d missed everything up until that moment, but he- he couldn’t even be upset anymore because here she was, all wrapped up and perfect in his arms and-

“I’m a papa.” He whispered to the baby, glancing back at Marinette for confirmation.

She giggled weakly, nodding in his direction, and he pulled their daughter closer to his chest, leaning down to feel her forehead against his cheek.

She was real.

“I’m your papa.” He repeated gently. “And you’re-“ He looked back to Marinette who rolled her eyes at his dramatics.

“Your daughter.” She filled in.

She was being purposefully obtuse, he knew, but he couldn’t care less.

His daughter!

“Her name, Marinette. What are we naming her?”

“Emilie.” She finally conceded. “Emma for short.”

Looking down at the newborn, Adrien let out a shaky breath.

“Hi, Emma.”

••••••

“Adrien?” Sabine called from down the hall, her eyes meeting his as Tom and their friends followed behind. “Marinette- She’s- she’s here?”

Tom looked around at the hall they’d ended up in, eyes narrowing at the signage.

“What’s going on, son?”

“Come in,” He offered, opening Marinette’s door. “Quietly. They might still be sleeping.”

“They?” Nino questioned, sharing a look with Alya as Adrien stepped inside, holding the door open.

Marinette looked up as they entered, their daughter hidden under a blanket as she nursed, and Sabine burst into tears.

“Marinette? Marinette, darling, where have you been?”

Marinette looked to him for help and he moved to her bedside, carefully taking Emma as Marinette fixed her shirt and lowered the blanket.

“I- I’m sorry, I-“

Sabine’s hands flew to her mouth at the sight of her granddaughter, Tom’s eyes widening as Alya squealed and Nino let out a curse.

“What the fuck-“

“After her identity was revealed Hawkmoth confronted her, threatened to come after us if she didn’t give up her and Chat Noir’s miraculous. She left to keep us all safe.”

“I- I didn’t know I was pregnant at the time. By the time I found out I didn’t think I could come back. Not without putting you all in danger.”

“I found her late last night, in labor.”

“How?” Tom questioned, taking a hesitant step towards his daughter.

“That’s not important.” Marinette evaded, whether to protect his identity or to save them the worry he didn’t know, but he answered them regardless.

“I was out on patrol.”

“Pa-“

“I’m Chat Noir.” He confessed as Emma yawned in his arms. “Marinette didn’t know until yesterday. If we’d both known we could have fixed this sooner, come up with a plan…So now we’re telling you, because Hawkmoth is my father and we can’t let him hurt her.”

“Your father.” Tom replied, shaking his head. “Should have known.”

“Can I hug you?” Sabine questioned Marinette gently. “Are you hurting? Did- did everything go well?”

“I’m okay, maman.” Marinette nodded, Sabine hurrying forward to hug her immediately.

“Oh you poor girl. You did this all alone?”

“Adrien stayed.”

“Of course I did.” He moved a sleeping Emma into her bassinet, Nino and Alya watching the movement in disbelief.

“So now what do we do?” Nino was the first to ask. “If we know Hawkmoth is your father-“

“We take his miraculous. And nobody in Paris has to live in fear of him again.”

Chapter Text

“I don’t know if you remember it but this is- this is it.”

Adrien swung the door to his apartment open, one hand on her back to keep her steady as she carried Emma across the threshold.

“I remember.” She assured him, glancing around the entry way.

They’d just signed the lease when she’d-

“Sorry, that’s not-“ Adrien laughed nervously, scooting a large pile of baby paraphernalia out of her way. “They went a little overboard, huh? I- I swear this place is usually tidy. Clean. It’s safe for Emma. I’ll get on baby proofing too. There’s- oh wow, I don’t think I ever realized how many sharp corners there are in here.”

“Adrien.” She whispered, doing her best to avoid waking their sleeping newborn. “She’s not going to be mobile for months, it’s okay.”

“Right, of course.”

“And I know the big pile of baby stuff Alya and my mom dropped off isn’t always there, because there hasn’t been a baby until now. It’s okay. I’m sure your place is great.”

“Our place.” He reminded softly. “Come on. You can get settled in bed while I put her crib together.”

“I can help.”

“You can rest.” Adrien instructed.

“But-“

“You just carried my child for months and gave birth all without any help from me. Let me put the damn crib together.”

“Okay.” She whispered, a smile worming its way onto her face.

“Okay.” He agreed.

Leading her down the hall to the master bedroom, Adrien was silent, Marinette taking the time to examine what he’d changed in the apartment since she’d last seen it.

He’d fully furnished it and decorated too. Paintings, plants, photos-

Her eyes narrowed in on each of those, taking in how many portrayed her own image back to her.

“You kept photos of me? Of us?”

“Of course I did.” He stopped in the middle of the hallway, turning to look back at her. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“I left. I just assumed you’d move on after-“

“No.” Adrien shook his head. “Never. I meant what I said about us looking for you.”

“What if I’d never come back?”

“Then at least I’d be surrounded by memories of you instead of alone.”

“Adrien-“

“Shh.” He bent and kissed her cheek. “I love you, Marinette. Learning your identity didn’t change that, leaving didn’t change that-“

“Keeping your baby from you?”

“You thought you were keeping her safe, didn’t you?”

“You too.”

“Then no. I was upset, angry that I’d missed so much, but you were doing what you thought was best for her. I’ve always loved how protective you are of the people you care about, I’m not going to let that change my opinion of you now.”

“You’re giving me too much grace.”

“Maybe I’m still in shock.” He hedged. “Ask me again tomorrow. For now,” He swung open the bedroom door. “Get in bed. I’ll put her crib together and maybe we’ll both get a little sleep tonight.”

As if on cue, Emma’s mouth opened in a loud wail, her eyes opening a moment later as Marinette tried to soothe her.

“Maybe not.” He chuckled, escorting Marinette into bed. “Think she’s hungry?”

“And probably due for a change soon.”

“I’ll grab diapers and wipes first, put the crib together once you’ve got everything you need. Want a glass of water? A snack?”

She tried to send him a grateful smile as she positioned Emma to feed, pulling Adrien’s comforter up and around her waist.

“Please. Thank you.”

He lingered, fingers brushing hers and eyes taking her in as if he was afraid she’d disappear again, before slowly pulling back and leaving the room.

“I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll be here.” She promised.

••••••

Arms full, Adrien padded back into their bedroom, Marinette yawning as she looked up at him.

“You didn’t have to carry it all at once, you know.”

“Easier than going back and forth.” He grinned, carefully setting her water bottle and packet of cookies on the bedside table. “She finished eating?”

“Mhm.”

“Here.” Adrien dropped the packs of diapers and wipes onto the bed and scooped his daughter from Marinette’s arms, holding her close. “Eat, I’ll get her changed.”

She looked for a moment as if she’d argue but she eventually gave in, opening the water bottle and taking greedy gulps of water as he gently lay Emma on their comforter and changed her diaper.

She fussed, but the moment he’d put her up on his shoulder and cradled the back of her head in one hand while he tossed the used diaper in the trash with the other, she quieted completely, Marinette looking up at him with a strange expression on her face.

“You’re good at this.”

“I always thought we’d have kids eventually.”

It was like he’d triggered a bomb with those words. One minute she’d been looking up at him with love and admiration in her eyes and the next she was bawling, breaths coming in shallow, heaving sobs as an ocean’s worth of tears poured down her cheeks.

“Marinette?” He questioned, laying Emma carefully in the middle of their bed and moving to take hold of her arms. “Marinette, what’s wrong?”

She shook her head, no words forming through her wails, and Adrien panicked, heart picking up its pace in fear.

“Are you in pain? Should I call someone? I-“

And suddenly she was giggling, tears still present on her cheeks but laughter spilling past her lips as she leaned into him, her head falling to his shoulder in defeat.

“Mari-“

“I’m so relieved!” She cried, whimpers replacing her humor as her emotions seemed to do a total one-eighty once more. “I- I’m scared, I’m so scared to be here but I feel the safest I’ve felt in months and I’m- I’m hurting and I have a newborn I don’t know what to do with and you’re here and- and you’re so good at this. Why wouldn’t you be good at this? I-“

“Whoa, whoa. Slow down.” He encouraged, pulling her into a light hug. “Slow down, Marinette. It’s okay.”

“It’s not okay!” She shook her head against his shoulder, the warmth of her tears seeping through his shirt and onto his shoulder. “I- I thought it’d just be the two of us, that I’d be doing all of this on my own. I thought you’d never get to meet her or hold her or- or-“

He pulled her into a kiss, Marinette’s trembling hands moving to cup his face as they held onto one another, only releasing slightly when Emma began to squeak in discomfort.

“You’re not doing this alone.” He swore, gently moving Emma into her arms. “You’re here now. I’ve got you, I’ve got both of you. Hold her, let me put the crib together, then I’ll hold you, okay?”

Marinette nodded, clutching their daughter to her chest, and Adrien pressed another kiss to her forehead before hurrying to the box in the entry way.

He couldn’t let her become too emotional. Couldn’t let her get too upset. If his father found out-

Taking a deep breath, Adrien pulled the box into their bedroom, putting it together while keeping an eye on her.

She finished her cookies in silence, Emma sleeping peacefully in one arm, and before long he was finished, staring at the crib in distrust.

He was sure he’d put it together correctly, but what if he’d missed something? What if it wasn’t as stable as it looked? At the hospital he’d had Tom and Sabine to check the car seat that’d been hastily installed in his backseat, but now they were on their own. Now he had to just…be a dad.

“Adrien?”

He turned back to Marinette.

“Yeah?”

“What are you doing?”

Had he been standing there staring at it for too long?

“N-Nothing.” He promised. “I’m going to transfer her to her crib.”

He said the last part with false confidence, carefully taking Emma from her mother’s arms and rocking her as he slowly lowered her into the crib. He let her go but hovered, hands inches from her body in case it all came crashing down, and when she’d laid there sleeping peacefully for a long moment he pulled back, taking hesitant steps away as Marinette’s eyes followed his every move.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” He promised, crawling into bed beside her and opening his arms. “Just a little nervous. It’s my first time being a dad. I don’t want to mess it up.”

Marinette scooted across the bed and into his arms and reflexively he let out the breath he’d been holding, eager to remember the feel of her, the way she smelled, the way he always relaxed with his girlfriend by his side.

It’d been so long-

“All parents make mistakes, Adrien.” She whispered, her head tucked under his chin as his hands roamed her back, caressing the skin there lovingly.

“I know. I just…”

Don’t want to be my father. Don’t want to hurt her. Don’t want to-

“You won’t.” Marinette spoke as if she could read his mind. “Promise.”

And then, like just being wrapped up in his arms was enough to soothe her, she was asleep, Adrien chuckling as he ran a hand through her hair.

“Goodnight, M’Lady.”

Even knowing Emma wouldn’t hear him, he whispered,

“And goodnight to you too, Little Lady.”

••••••

Crying.

Someone was crying.

Adrien’s eyes popped open and he was out of bed in a second, eyes widening at the sight of an empty crib.

Where was-

“Right here, Papa.”

Marinette.

He shuddered at the sight of her in bed, Emma in her arms.

“I’ve got her.”

“You should have let me-“

“I gave birth, Adrien. I didn’t break my legs. I can get her out of her crib.”

He knew that. He did. But-

“I could use some more sleep.” Marinette suddenly spoke, sensing his need to help. “If you want to take her when she’s done feeding-“

“Of course.”

They’d both woken every couple of hours to Emma’s cries and quickly they’d fallen into a routine.

Emma cried. He took her to Marinette. Offered Marinette snacks and water. He rested his eyes while Marinette fed her, then changed Emma’s diaper and rocked her for a few minutes before placing her back in her crib.

When all was said and done, he’d probably gotten more sleep than her, solely based on the fact that he didn’t have functioning breasts and was incapable of providing his daughter with nutrition.

He was tired, but he’d do anything to make this easier on Marinette.

“All done.” Marinette cooed, brushing her finger against Emma’s cheek before looking up at Adrien in thought. “Do you think she could feel it?”

“Feel what, Bug?”

Marinette’s smile dropped at the nickname, but she quickly recovered it, eyes scanning him for a long moment.

“How much I missed you. How afraid I was. Do you think she was afraid too?”

He wasn’t sure so he dropped his lips to Marinette’s head and promised her something else instead.

“I’m sure she could feel how much you love her.”

Marinette’s eyes never left Emma’s face, but he could practically see the gears turning in her head as she contemplated his words.

“If you want to talk about it-“

“I don’t.” She snapped, then quickly softened her tone. “I mean there’s not really anything to talk about. I left, I found that apartment, got by with the money I made from commissions…then ran into you.”

“How did you find out you were pregnant?”

“Morning sickness gave it away. Tikki made me buy a test.”

“Did you consider coming back?” He asked before he thought the words through. “I’m sorry.” He apologized immediately. “That was-“

“I did.” She answered, stopping his reply. “I did, Adrien. I wanted to. But…I- I wasn’t sure I could handle giving you the news. Good or bad. Either I’m telling you I’m pregnant or I’m telling you your father is a terrorist. Or both, at the same time? I was afraid to try. What if Emma existing clouded your judgment and you felt like you were forced to give up your father in a couple of years and resented us for it? What if she didn’t and you sided with your dad and then I had to fight both of you?”

“That would have never happened, Bug. You should know me well enough to know that.”

“I do.” She swore. “But she’s defenseless. If I make the wrong decision at any moment I could lose her.”

“We’re not going to lose her, Marinette. She’s here for good. I won’t let anything happen to her.”

“I know you won’t.”

“Let me take her.” He instructed after placing another kiss to Marinette’s lips. “Get some more sleep. We’ll get breakfast going.”

Marinette passed Emma into his arms and he changed her diaper before strolling out into the kitchen, Emma content momentarily in his arms.

“Let’s make some breakfast for maman, huh Emma? You want to help Papa make some food?”

“May we interact with Emma?” Tikki questioned, peering at him from the countertop where she sat, cookie in hand.

“Of course you can.” Adrien replied. “Why wouldn’t you?”

“Some of our past holders have been…hesitant to allow us near their offspring.” Plagg informed him, curled up at Tikki’s side. “Sugar cube usually gets a pass. Me? Not so much.”

Adrien frowned at that information, bending slightly toward the countertop to allow the kwami a better view.

“Emma, meet your god parents.”

Tikki giggled at the pun, but was quickly distracted by the opportunity to fuss over the baby.

“Hello little Emma! Remember me? You used to like to try to kick me off your maman’s belly, didn’t you? Such a strong baby. Such a cute baby.”

She snuggled up against Emma’s cheek, Adrien smiling at the interaction even as tears welled up in his eyes.

Her kicks. He’d missed those too.

“Thank you.” He whispered, clearing his throat as Tikki looked up at him in confusion.

“Whatever for, Adrien?”

“Being with Marinette when I couldn’t. Being there for Emma when I couldn’t. I- I don’t think it’s really set in yet, just how much I missed. But you were there.”

“Would you like me to tell you about it?” Tikki asked as Plagg peeked at Emma, slowly uncurling from the little ball he’d been on the counter top and hesitantly floating closer.

“Please.” Adrien agreed breathlessly.

“Start breakfast.” Tikki encouraged. “I’ll tell you everything.”

••••••

 12 weeks 2 days.

That’s how far along Marinette had been when she’d taken a pregnancy test.

October 26th.

His daughter’s due date. She’d come two days early.

20 weeks.

When Marinette had found out Emma was a girl and picked the name. Though- according to Tikki -she’d had the name in mind long before their daughter’s conception.

A healthy pregnancy. No complications. No concerns.

A healthy baby.

Emma.

He carried her into the bedroom and placed her carefully in her crib, waiting to make sure she didn’t cry out and wake her mother before returning to the kitchen to grab their plates.

Both slept peacefully as he moved their plates and cups of juice into the bedroom, Marinette only stirring when he pressed a kiss to her temple.

“Breakfast.” He informed, gesturing to the bedside table.

Marinette sat up, looked at the plate of food and then back to him, her lips curving upwards into a soft smile.

“Thank you.”

“Feeling any better?”

“As well as I can.” She nodded, eagerly reaching for her juice.

“Anything else I can do?”

She shook her head, gulping down orange juice like she’d been deprived of hydration for days as he started in on his breakfast.

When her cup was empty she placed it back on the bedside table and then let out a breath of relief.

“If you wanted to keep an eye on her later so I could take a shower-“

“Yes.” He answered before she’d even finished the word, Marinette raising an eyebrow as she looked at him.

“Do I smell that bad?”

“No!” He laughed. “Of course not. Jesus, Marinette.”

“You agreed to that shower way too quickly.”

“I agreed to spending time with my daughter.” He clarified. “What you said in the hospital…about how she already knows you. I feel like I’m behind. She- What if she’s spent this whole time thinking she doesn’t have a dad?”

“I don’t think she knows what a dad is.”

“Exactly! Because I haven’t been there for her or for you and-“

“No, Adrien.” Marinette put her hand against his chest to shush him. “Because she’s a newborn. All she knows is the love we’re giving her right now, right?”

They shared a look, then a glance at their daughter.

“I hope so.”

The doorbell rang, breaking through their moment of worry, and Marinette looked to him in fear, Adrien quickly reaching out to reassure her with a gentle squeeze of her hand.

“Just Alya and Nino. We all need to talk, figure out a game plan.”

“Oh.”

“It’ll be alright, Marinette. We’ll beat him. We’ll fix all of this.”

She nodded, though her eyes were still full of anxiety.

“I know.”

It was a lie.

Adrien vowed to fix that too.

Chapter Text

“How is she?”

Alya burst through the front door, Nino making eye contact with Adrien and offering an apologetic nod before following after his wife.

“Nervous.” Adrien answered, shutting the door behind them. “Sore, emotional.” He added with a heaving breath. “Trying to focus on Emma.”

“Can’t believe you’re a dad.” Nino breathed. “How are you holding up?”

He debated momentarily, wondering if he should spare them his inner conflict but deciding in the end to be truthful.

“If I wasn’t pushing it down because I can’t afford to be akumatized I’d be seething right now. I want to kill him.”

“Right there with you, dude.” Nino put a hand on his shoulder and Adrien’s control cracked, just a bit.

“He’s- He’s-“

“Easy, kid.” Plagg spoke, resting on his other shoulder.

“I’m okay. I’m not going to lose it. I just- He’s been ruining my life as long I can remember. He had to take this too?”

A long silence filled the room and he found himself blubbering on, anger and sadness both battling for dominance.

“I missed everything. I’ve been a dad all this time and I had no idea she existed. I missed the pregnancy test and her kicks and all of those appointments and I- I missed so much of Marinette too. What if she’d lost Emma and I wasn’t there? Didn’t know? What if we never get to do this again and the experience of it all is just gone? What if I never get to be a real dad? From the beginning? I-“

Soft lips pressed against his cheek and Adrien turned, realizing for the first time that he’d been sobbing as his eyes met Marinette’s.

“Where’s-“

“It’s Auntie Alya’s turn.” Alya cooed from the couch, Emma in her arms. “She’s precious, Adrien.” She ran her fingers through the tiny wisps of hair atop Emma’s head. “A blonde, blue-eyed little ray of sunshine.”

“Just like her papa.” Marinette gripped his arm gently, pulling his attention back to her face. “You’re a real dad, Adrien. It’s not like you walked out on us. You couldn’t have known. I didn’t know.”

“I-“

“And I didn’t lose Emma. She’s here and she’s okay. And I’m okay. And- and when this is all over, when your- when Hawkmoth isn’t a threat, when Emma’s older and we’re ready- I wouldn’t mind if we-“

He scooped her up into his arms, holding her close as she wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder.

“Thank you, Marinette.” He whispered into her hair, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

She didn’t say a thing, but she snuggled closer into his chest and that was enough to strengthen him for what lay ahead.

“Okay.” He breathed, forcing himself to push his emotions aside for just a little longer. “Let’s figure out how to fix this.”

••••••

“Adrien!” Nathalie exclaimed, stepping back into the foyer of his father’s mansion. “What are you doing here?”

It’d been a long time since he’d been in his father’s house. Since he’d seen them. The second he’d moved into the apartment he’d hoped to share with Marinette, Tom and Sabine had become his only family.

He’d always felt slightly guilty, leaving his father without a son.

Now it felt like preemptive payback.

“I need to speak to Gabriel.”

“I’m afraid he’s out of town right now on business, if you-“

“Is he?” Adrien questioned, Nathalie clearly surprised at his tone. “Is he?” Adrien repeated. “Or has Hawkmoth just taken his place?”

“Adrien!” Nathalie exclaimed, face suddenly pale. “What on Earth are you-“

“Cut the bullshit, Nathalie. I need to speak to him.”

“Adrien-“ Nathalie reached out to touch him and Adrien yanked himself backwards, Nathalie pausing before relenting.

“It was for your own good, Adrien.”

“So is this.”

Nathalie cried out in surprise as Carapace‘s shelter appeared around her hands.

“Duusu-“

“I’ll take that.” Carapace grinned, plucking the peacock miraculous from its place on her chest. “And you’ll keep these for now.” He nodded to the green make-shift handcuffs he’d formed around her hands. “The police are on their way.”

“Where is he?” Adrien demanded. “How do I get to him?”

“The painting.” Nathalie cried. “of your- your mother, in his office-“

Adrien eyed the door to Gabriel’s office, then turned to Carapace.

“You’ll stay with her?”

“Until the cops arrive.”

Adrien nodded, the steps towards Gabriel’s door feeling like they took a life time as he truly comprehended the fact that he was going to fight his own father.

No, that he had been fighting his own father. For decades.

But it was almost over.

One more time.

One more day separated from the love of his life and his newborn daughter.

One more fight to end this all for good.

••••••

An elevator was not what he was expecting.

Sure, he knew logically that Hawkmoth’s lair would have to be hidden. It being underground made sense.

But he still found himself reeling over the unexpectedness of it all as the elevator doors opened and he stepped out onto a large catwalk, the only sound the reverberation of fluttering butterfly wings.

There were hundreds of them. Everywhere. In the air, on the railings, on the ground, perched on the various flower boxes that lined the edges of the walkway…

It was almost depressing, Adrien thought, to realize his father had given the butterflies more freedom than he’d ever had.

Adrien stalked past the butterflies, the sound of his father’s voice slowly reaching his ears.

Was he talking to himself? Or the butterflies? Adrien wasn’t sure, not until he got close enough to see his mother’s face, blurred slightly by clear glass.

His-

His mother.

In hindsight, it all made sense.

Marinette had said something about his father wanting to revive his mother. But he’d never thought-

He’d just assumed that Gabriel had assumed she was dead because of how long she’d been missing, not because she wasn’t missing at all.

“Father.” He choked out, Gabriel startling from his place beside his wife’s coffin.

“Adrien. What are you-“

“She was never missing. Was she?”

Gabriel looked between the corpse at his side and his son, indecision keeping him motionless for only a moment.

“You were a child, Adrien. I thought it best to protect you from the truth.” Before Adrien could reply he continued on. “She did it for you, son. She’s in this state because she used a damaged miraculous, the peacock miraculous, to give you life, to birth you as our own. You’re the reason she sleeps. We owe it to her to fix this.”

“I didn’t ask to be born.” Adrien spoke, too shocked by his father’s shift of the blame to be angry. “It’s not my fault she’s here. I owe it to Paris to fix this, all of this.”

“What has Paris done for you?” His father growled, moving toward him so quickly that Adrien took a hurried step back. “You’re no better than I am, Adrien. A man, alone, because the world has taken the woman he loves. A man with nothing to lose because he has nothing. You are nothing, Adrien. A social recluse who thrives only in his own apartment, with no family to speak of. Paris will see you that way for eternity. They have me. But I can change that. With Ladybug and Chat Noir’s miraculous I can-“

“Paris didn’t take Marinette, Gabriel.” Adrien replied tersely, eyes searching the ceiling.

Timing. He had to stay calm. Focus on timing.

“You did.”

Gabriel reared back.

“I haven’t any idea what you’re-“

“And I have a family.” Adrien told him. “You aren’t around to see me leave my apartment but that doesn’t mean I hide away like you do. I have dinner with Tom and Sabine every night. I see my friends at least once a week, most times more. I’ve been working in the bakery with Tom. He’s been teaching me all he knows so one day, a long way in the future, when he’s ready to retire, I can take over the family business. My family’s business. And, no thanks to you, I have Marinette. She told me what you did to her.”

Gabriel eyed him, thoughts churning behind his eyes. Would he try to deny it?

“I did what I had to do. Would you rather your mother die?”

“My mother has been gone for over ten years!” Adrien yelled, tears welling up in his eyes. “I’ve mourned her! I’ve grieved! She’s already dead to me. I loved her. I still love her. And if I could choose, her for you, I’d make that choice in a heart beat. But bringing her back wouldn’t be a controlled decision. It would take someone’s life, Gabriel. And if I can’t guarantee that it would be you, I could never choose that path. I have people to protect.”

“Marinette Dupain-Cheng,” Gabriel spat, rolling his eyes. “Does not need your protection. Whatever she’s told you is a lie. She and Chat Noir both were children when they received their miraculous. Do you trust them so blindly? Do you think the people keeping my wife from me, your mother from you, are in the right? I know you once felt as if you loved Marinette, but knowing she fights to keep your mother here? How could you abandon your mother in that way? Why don’t you join me? Together we could save her.”

“I can’t do that. Because unlike you,” Adrien spoke as a shadow appeared over his father’s shoulder, Gabriel turning to face Chat Noir as the hero yanked the butterfly miraculous from his chest, claws tearing through Gabriel’s dress shirt and tie with little care.

“I couldn’t give up a lifetime with my child for anything.” Chat Noir finished as Rena released the mirage of his civilian identity and ended the recording she’d taken to ensure they had proof of Gabriel’s crimes.

“You can’t do this!” Gabriel yelled. “My wife-“

“That thing off?” Chat Noir asked, Rena nodding immediately.

“Got everything we needed.”

“Great. Claws in.”

Bright green light flooded the room and Gabriel stepped back, eyes widening in shock. He looked to where the illusion of him had once stood then back to him again.

“Adrien. You’re- But I-“

“Careful, Sunshine.” Rena cautioned, though her tone indicated she didn’t mean it as Adrien pulled back and punched his father in the face.

As Gabriel stumbled, Alya grinned.

“Nice one. Nine out of ten for me. You could probably hit him a little harder. Remember you don’t have claws so even with your extra strength you’re not as deadly out of the suit.”

“What are you- You-“

“The police don’t know we’ve actually caught you yet.” Alya informed him. “They think we’re down here having the fight of our lives. And since the recording is done, and they sure as hell aren’t going to risk coming down here to interrupt the battle…We have some time to…chat.”

“You insolent little-“

Adrien punched him again, just to remember what it felt like.

“Keep talking, Gabey.” Alya taunted. “Adrien’s got a lot to work out, you know. Never told the truth about his mother or the miraculous, isolated and neglected him for years, treated him more like an accessory than a child…You’re the reason he lost his partner who was also his girlfriend, his best friend, really, all in one giant swoop. And oh, there’s that other thing too. What was that, Adrien?”

Gabriel turned to look at him, eyes flashing with fear for the first time in his life.

“My daughter.” Adrien growled, stalking towards Gabriel as the man managed a few shakey steps backwards.

“What? You don’t- I didn’t-“

“Marinette was pregnant when you threatened her.”

“I didn’t know!”

“She went on the run while pregnant with my child!” Adrien tackled Gabriel to the ground and sent another fist into his face, his father’s nose giving a satisfying crack as Adrien hit him again, words coming out faster than he could control them as the anger took over.

He could be angry. He could be angry and no akuma would stop him or threaten the world or the people he loved.

He could just be angry!

“She could have died!” Adrien spat in his father’s face, every few words accompanied by another hit to another part of his father’s body, another bit of comfort to the part of him that grieved all the time he’d missed. “I could have never known I was a father!” He yelled as his father curled in on himself from the force of the punch Adrien had delivered to his stomach. “I could have lost her! You kept her from me! I almost missed her birth because I didn’t fucking know!”

The last blow, harder than the others, sent Gabriel’s head bouncing off the concrete under their feet, knocking him unconscious as all the anger seemed to slowly leak into the background, no longer the driving force to his actions but still there, ready to resurface when needed.

“Let’s get him to the police before I kill him.” He spoke, grateful for the moment of rational thinking.

As much as he wanted to, Marinette wouldn’t be happy with him if he’d let that part of him take over. And Emma didn’t deserve a murderer for a father.

“I’ll take him.” Rena offered. “You get cleaned up and then we’ll get you home.”

Home.

His apartment hadn’t felt like a home at all in the time Marinette had been gone. He’d tried, he’d decorated, he’d kept the memory of her there as best as he could, but he’d preferred the bakery. He’d kept himself sane with Tom and Sabine’s presence, with Marinette’s pink bedroom and the cool air on her old balcony.

But thinking of them both in his apartment, Marinette and Emma, waiting for him…

He’d never been happier to go home.

••••••

“Emma,” Adrien called over his shoulder, hurriedly pushing the baking sheet he’d just lined with vegetables back into the oven. “It’s almost six o’ clock!”

He opened the baby gate, stepped out of the kitchen and made sure the gate locked behind him before walking to Emma’s room and peering inside.

“Emma?”

She sat at her desk, coloring in a Ladybug and Chat Noir coloring book, with a bright smile on her face.

“Yes, Papa?”

“Did you hear me? It’s time to clean up now. Your dolls and blocks are all over the hallway. Pick them up before Maman gets home.”

“So she doesn’t trip and fall? Because she’s clumsy?”

Adrien chuckled at his daughter’s addition and nodded.

“Yes, Maman is madly clumsy. So please, please go tidy up your toys.”

“Okay, Papa.”

Emma pushed herself down from her desk chair and set about cleaning the hallway, carrying armfuls of blocks and dolls back to her room as she sang to herself.

“I’m cleaning up! I’m cleaning up so Maman doesn’t die!”

“Morbid.” Plagg laughed from the kitchen bar, leaning over to playfully bat at Emma’s hair as she walked below him. “I knew I liked this kid.”

“You’re messing up her hair!” Tikki scolded, hovering over Emma to gently push her hair back into place.

“The kid still eats her boogers.” Plagg pointed out, Emma gasping and putting her hands on her hips as she yelled at him.

“I do not!”

At their laughter, Emma frowned and stomped her foot.

“Only when I was a baby!”

The sound of Marinette’s key in the door sent all emotions but joy skittering out of existence, Emma hurriedly picking up the rest of the toys as the door swung open.

“I’m home!” She called, lugging her work bag through the door and into the hallway. The door shut behind her as she glanced around, purposefully keeping her eyes off Emma as Adrien pulled the baking sheet back out of the open and sat it on top to cool. “Where could my Emma be?”

“Right here! Right here!” Emma squealed, jumping and giggling for her mother’s attention.

“The booger eater? Haven’t seen her.”

Emma huffed and turned a glare on the kwami, Plagg sticking out his tongue in return.

“No, no.” Marinette cooed, putting a hand on  their daughter’s shoulder as she took a threatening step towards the god. “What did Maman teach you?”

Emma had to think about it for a long moment, but then she grinned and told Plagg, with pure satisfaction and enjoyment in her eyes.

“No cam-ena-bear for a week!”

“Camembert.” Marinette corrected gently, laughing as she pressed a kiss to Emma’s forehead. “How was your day with Papa, hm?”

“We saw Auntie Alya and Uncle Nino and baby Adira and we all had lunch and played on the playground.” Emma told her, pulling Marinette further into the apartment. “Adira can climb the big ladder now!”

“Can she?” Marinette replied, sounding completely interested in what their two year old niece was up to.

In fairness, Adrien thought, it had been pretty cool, although slightly terrifying. Adira was growing fast, just like their little four year old. He could still remember the first time Emma had climbed that ladder. Marinette had just stood there, watching with raised eyebrows as he’d hovered, coaching Emma through every step like her life depended on it.

He was maybe a little too protective, but he was working on it. And Emma never seemed to mind. She stuck to him like glue too.

“Uh huh.” Emma answered, already off to another train of thought. “Did you talk to the fancy people today?”

Fancy people was Emma speak for Marinette’s clients. Rich people who wanted custom made clothing and nothing less than the best person to make it for them.

“No, no fancy people today.” Marinette joked, though it was accompanied by a weary sigh as she slid into her seat at the dining room table. “Just the plain normal ones.”

She’d taken the fashion world by storm. One moment it had been Gabriel and Gabriel alone at the top. The next he’d been convicted as a terrorist and sent to prison and Adrien and Marinette had inherited a mansion and an entire company.

They’d sold the mansion, but she’d been set on keeping the company alive and, with a lot of sleepless nights, she had. Under a new name of course.

And Adrien- Adrien was living the dream.

Being a stay at home dad to the cutest, sweetest, brightest little girl in all of Paris?

Best job ever. And he wasn’t biased a single little bit.

Plating their food and setting the table, Adrien pressed a quick kiss to his wife’s lips.

“How are you feeling?”

“Tired.” She replied, though her eyes were filled with stars as she grinned up at him. “I think it’ll be soon.”

“Yeah?” He placed a loving palm on her rounded abdomen, rubbing gently until their son kicked against his hand. “Any contractions?”

“Not real ones.” She shook her head. “But he’s definitely dropped. I feel like a penguin with all the waddling I’m doing.”

Emma burst into giggles over her dinner plate.

“Maman’s a penguin.” She giggled to herself, a little quieter, though she snorted halfway through.

Adrien couldn’t help but to laugh along, Marinette playfully scowling up at him as he leaned down and kissed her again.

That’d been a dream too, finding out he was going to be a dad to two. There hadn’t been any of the traditional signs, not right away at least. Her period had barely been late when they’d taken Emma to Tom and Sabine’s for dinner and Marinette, who had always had an insatiable sweet tooth, had turned up her nose at a freshly baked macaron.

He’d known right then. She’d been harder to convince. But when he’d persuaded her and she’d allowed the idea to take hold, she had sent him to the pharmacy and he had picked out the pregnancy test.

He’d sat on the edge of their bathtub while she’d taken it. He’d been the one to look because she’d been too nervous. He’d been the one to tell her the news. And she’d let him run with it.

••••••

“She’s pregnant!” Adrien cried, the door to the Dupain-Cheng’s apartment slamming against the wall at the force of his entrance, Tom and Sabine looking up from their places in the kitchen with wide eyes as his chest heaved from the excitement.

Marinette, Emma on her hip, stood beside him, mouth curved into a sheepish smile.

“Only like six weeks. He was dying to tell someone and-“

“Oh my goodness!”

“Congratulations!”

••••••

“Hey Sunshine.” Alya greeted as she and Nino stepped into their apartment, Adira in Nino’s arms. “Ready to go? Where’s-“

“She’s pregnant!”

“Adrien!” Marinette shrieked from the other side of the apartment where she was fixing her hair. “At least wait until I’m in the room.”

Nino laughed but Alya fixed Marinette with a look as she emerged from the bathroom, Emma at her heels.

“Really?”

“I’m not that far along. He’s just very excited.” Marinette pressed a kiss to his cheek, though he was sure she rolled her eyes as she turned back to Alya. “We’ll be back by ten. Emma in bed by-“

“Eight. We know.” Alya assured. “Emma, want to show Adira your toys?”

“Yes!” Emma cheered. “Come on! This way!”

Emma led her aunt and cousin down the hallway, Nino clapping Adrien on the back.

“Congrats, dude.” He glanced at Marinette. “And dudette. Let us know if you need any more babysitting for appoints and stuff. We’ll work it out.”

“You guys are the best.” Marinette hugged Nino around the neck and then took Adrien’s hand. “Come on, we’re going to be late for our reservation if you stop to shout the news from any more rooftops.”

He paused, fingers linking with hers.

“I didn’t mean that literally, Adrien. We are not-

••••••

“She’s pregnant!” Chat Noir shouted off the Eiffel Tower, Ladybug covering her face with her hands as multiple civilians below stopped and looked up in surprise.

“Woohoo!” Some random guy shouted from the street below.

Chat grinned to himself.

Damn right. Woohoo.

••••••

“Don’t forget we have an appointment tomorrow.” Marinette reminded him later that night as they settled Emma into bed, Adrien grabbing a few of the dolls that hadn’t quite made it back to Emma’s toy shelf and setting them back in their places. “They’ll probably check to see if I’ve dilated any, make sure we’re ready if he decides this week is it.” She paused, biting at her bottom lip. “Are we ready?”

“So ready.” He kissed her cheek. “I even know his name and everything this time.”

“So confident. Imagine how prepared you’ll be for number three.” She quipped back, the last word muffled by his lips on hers.

“Don’t test me, Marinette. I’ll hold you to that.”

“Not a test.” She brushed her nose against his. “A promise.”