Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Marinette waded through the pool, the cool water soothing her aching muscles, easing the strain of carrying so much weight all the time. She let herself linger, fingers tracing idle patterns against the surface, watching the ripples dance outward as she floated, weightless for just a little while.

But the moment couldn’t last forever. With a small sigh, she began to move toward the shore, one hand resting on the heavy curve of her stomach as she trudged through the water. She felt the resistance against her legs, the way even the simple act of walking had become something that required effort and focus.

She wasn’t used to this constant state of exhaustion, this feeling of vulnerability. She had always been strong, always been capable, always been able to fight when she needed to, but now…

A prickling sensation crept up her spine. There was a flicker of gold and black in the dense greenery just ahead.

Her breath caught in her throat as her gaze locked onto the figure crouched just beyond the treeline. A leopard was poised low, muscles coiled beneath its spotted fur, its golden eyes fixed on her with an intensity that sent a bolt of fear straight through her. She barely had time to think, let alone have enough time to get to safety.

Before the leopard could do anything, there was a sharp whistle through the air, and then the sound of a throwing spear piercing flesh.

The leopard let out a choked snarl, jerking back as blood bloomed from a wound in its shoulder. While it was beginning to recover, a second figure broke through the underbrush, golden hair catching the sunlight.

Marinette watched and listened as Chloé’s voice rang out, aggressive and protective.

“Not a chance, beast!”

Chloé moved with purpose, gripping her main spear tightly in both hands as she stepped toward the wounded predator, gaze locked, body poised for the kill.

The leopard let out a low, pained growl, its stance shifting, but it wasn’t fast enough. Chloé lunged forward, driving the sharpened tip of her spear straight into its chest. It collapsed with a final, shuddering breath, its body twitching once before going still.

Silence settled over the clearing, save for the sound of Marinette’s own breath coming in quick, uneven bursts. She swallowed, gripping the edge of her soaked wrap, eyes fixed on the fallen predator, then up at the woman who had just saved her life.

Chloé exhaled slowly, taking a step back, planting the butt of her spear against the ground as she glanced toward Marinette, gaze immediately sweeping over her, checking for any sign of injury. “You’re okay?” she asked, her voice softer now.

Marinette let out a slow breath, nodding as she moved toward her. “I’m fine. Thanks to you.”

Chloé smirked, though there was a warmth to it, something more than just pride. “You know, I have to say, I never thought I’d get so good at stabbing things, but you do keep finding ways to put yourself in danger, so I guess I should’ve expected it.”

Marinette rolled her eyes, sighing as she pulled the wrap around her shoulders as best she could with her belly making even that task a struggle. “I wasn’t trying to put myself in danger, you know. I was bathing. It’s not like I can help it if a wild animal decides I look like a particularly slow-moving snack.”

Chloé huffed out a quiet laugh, stepping closer, her free hand moving instinctively to Marinette’s waist, her fingers brushing against damp skin. “Well, I don’t blame it. You do look incredibly appetizing.”

Marinette’s face flushed, and she shoved lightly at Chloé’s shoulder. “Oh my gosh, Chloé!”

“What?” Chloé grinned, leaning in just enough that their noses almost brushed. “I’m just saying, if I were a hungry jungle cat, I’d probably want a bite too.”

Marinette groaned, shaking her head, but she couldn’t fight the smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “You’re insufferable.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

Marinette huffed, giving in to the inevitable as she let her forehead rest briefly against Chloé’s shoulder. “I love you,” she said softly, and she felt the way Chloé’s body relaxed slightly at those words, the way her arms instinctively tightened just a little, holding her there.

They stood there for a moment, breathing in sync, the tension of the last few minutes melting away.

Then, Marinette shifted, exhaling as she pulled back slightly, eyes dropping to glance down at herself, at the roundness of her stomach, at how much her body had changed over these past months. She ran a hand absently over the curve, chewing on the inside of her cheek.

Chloé noticed. She tilted her head, watching as Marinette let out a small, weary sigh.

“What’s that look for?” Chloé asked, her voice quieter now, careful.

Marinette frowned. She muttered, “I just… I don’t know. I feel different. I look different. And I know it’s stupid, but sometimes I wonder if—” She stopped herself, shaking her head. “Never mind.”

Chloé’s eyes narrowed slightly, her fingers tightening where they rested against Marinette’s hip. “Oh, no, no, no, absolutely not. You don’t get to start a sentence like that and then back out of it, Marinette. What’s going on in that gorgeous little head of yours?”

Marinette let out a short, breathy laugh, but it wasn’t enough to chase away the doubt lingering in her expression. She hesitated again, then finally sighed, resting a hand on her stomach. “I don’t look like me anymore. I feel slow, I waddle when I walk, I can barely bend down without struggling, and sometimes I just—” She broke off, shaking her head. “I don’t know. I don’t feel attractive.”

Chloé stared at her for exactly two seconds before making an offended screech.

“Excuse me?” she said, placing a hand over her heart as if Marinette had insulted her instead. “Are you seriously trying to tell me that you think you’re not stunning right now? Because I’m going to have to stop you right there, sweetheart. That is nonsense.”

Marinette huffed. “You’re just saying that.”

Chloé scoffed. “Marinette, have you met me? I never just say things. When I tell you that you are, without question, the most breathtaking person I have ever laid eyes on, I mean it.”

Marinette opened her mouth to protest again, but before she could get a single word out, Chloé leaned in, brushing a kiss against the corner of her lips, then moving to capture them fully, slow and deep, full of the kind of certainty that left absolutely no room for argument.

When she finally pulled away, she smirked, brushing a damp strand of hair from Marinette’s face. “So, tell me, do I need to fight more jungle cats to prove my devotion, or are you finally convinced?”

Marinette bit her lip, fighting a smile.

“Maybe one or two more,” she teased.

Chloé grinned.

“Anything for you, Marinette.”

~~~

Marinette was lying on the bed, propped up against the soft blankets, trying to rest, but her mind refused to quiet.

Chloé had gone out to check the shore. They didn’t do that often anymore since after years of seeing nothing but waves and endless horizon, hope had faded. But they still went sometimes, if only to be sure.

Marinette exhaled slowly, her hand resting against the firm curve of her stomach, feeling the steady movement within, the quiet reminder that soon they would no longer be just two people surviving together.

Suddenly she felt a sharp sensation. A feeling like something inside her had just given way. There was a warmth spreading, pooling.

Marinette inhaled sharply, instinctively shifting to sit up further, but the moment she moved, she felt it. Her water had broken. Her heart lurched into her throat. It was time.

She had known it was close. Her body had been telling her in a hundred small ways over the past few days, but knowing it was soon and knowing it was now were two entirely different things.

She pressed a hand against her stomach, trying to steady her breathing. “Okay,” she whispered to herself, swallowing against the nervous tremor in her voice. “Okay. It’s happening. It’s really happening.”

She glanced toward the door, heart pounding. Chloé needed to be here. She would be back soon.

Marinette carefully shifted herself into a more stable position, bracing against the discomfort settling into her lower back, the deep pressure that was already starting to build. She and Chloé had prepared for this moment as best they could, but even with all their planning, all their gathering of supplies, all their discussions about what to expect… she had never truly let herself imagine what it would feel like when it finally happened.

Minutes stretched into long, unbearable stretches of time. The pressure in her abdomen grew heavier, more insistent. She forced herself to breathe through it, gripping the edge of their blanket, counting in her head to keep herself from panicking.

Then, finally she heard the familiar sound of footsteps entering the temple.

A few seconds later, Chloé’s voice echoed through the stone halls, casual and unconcerned. “Okay, so there was nothing at the shore, big shocker there. At least I got some nice fresh air out of it, so I guess I can’t complain.”

“Chloé!”

Her tone must have caught Chloé’s attention, because the casual ease in her voice vanished. Chloé’s footsteps quickened from relaxed strides to near running.

She appeared in the doorway a moment later, scanning Marinette’s expression first, then dropping her gaze to the damp blankets beneath her.

For half a second, she didn’t speak. Then, all at once, everything clicked.

“Oh.” Chloé’s eyes went wide. “Oh.”

Marinette swallowed hard, nodding as she let out an unsteady breath. “It’s happening.”

Chloé blinked, then straightened, inhaling sharply. “Okay. Okay. It’s fine. We knew this was coming. We’re prepared. I mean, we’re as prepared as two people on a deserted island can be, but still. We’ve got everything ready. It’s all fine. I’m fine. Are you fine? Of course you’re not fine, you’re literally in labor—”

“Chloé,” Marinette interrupted, reaching for her hand.

Chloé immediately took it, squeezing tightly.

Marinette smiled weakly. “I love you, but please breathe before you pass out.”

Chloé inhaled deeply then exhaled.

She nodded, gaze steadying as she squeezed Marinette’s hand again, this time more reassuring than panicked. “Right. I’m good. I’m here. We can do this.”

Marinette let out a small, breathy laugh. “You better be here. I’m not doing this alone.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Chloé murmured, leaning down to press a quick kiss to Marinette’s forehead before straightening again. “Okay. Let’s get you comfortable. I’ll grab the blankets and water, and then we’ll… well, have a baby.”

Marinette exhaled slowly, her fingers tightening slightly around Chloé’s as the next contraction hit, deep and intense. “That’s the plan.”

Time blurred into a strange, painful haze. Marinette felt every minute of it. The slow, progression of her body working was forcing her through each new wave of pressure, each contraction pulling her further into exhaustion. Chloé was there for all of it, whispering reassurances, pressing cool cloths to her forehead, massaging the tension from her hands when she clenched them too tightly, holding her up when her strength faltered.

“You’re doing amazing,” Chloé murmured against her temple at one point, her voice thick with emotion, her hands steady despite the unmistakable tremble beneath her calm. “So amazing. You’ve got this. We’re almost there.”

Marinette gritted her teeth, sweat dampening her brow, her entire body taut with the sensation of nearly being there but not quite.

Then there was a final pressure she felt. The next thing she was aware of was the sound of a cry.

Marinette’s entire body sagged, relief crashing into her so hard it nearly knocked the breath from her lungs. She barely registered the way Chloé was moving, her hands careful as she worked quickly to do the cut. She secured the small, wriggling bundle, wrapping her in one of their softest cloths, and wiping away the worst of the mess.

Then, gently, she was lowering the baby into Marinette’s arms. Marinette stared at the tiny fingers, the tiny nose. She was a small, squirming person that had not existed before now.

Tears burned at the corners of her eyes. She let out a shaky, breathless laugh, pressing a trembling hand to the baby’s soft cheek. “Oh, hi,” she whispered, voice cracking. “You’re here. You’re really here.”

Chloé made a sound that was something between a laugh and a choked sob as she leaned forward, pressing her lips against Marinette’s cheek, one arm still steadying their child as she let out a breathless, teary whisper.

“We did it.”

Marinette turned her head just enough to brush her lips against Chloé’s. Chloé smiled against her mouth. Marinette closed her eyes, holding their child close.

The raw intensity of what had just happened had all melted away, leaving behind only the steady sound of Marinette’s exhausted breaths and the faint, soft noises of the tiny new life nestled against her chest. Their daughter. The words still didn’t feel real.

Marinette had already fallen asleep, her body giving out the moment the adrenaline had faded. Chloé had expected as much. She had never seen anyone work harder, push through more pain, or fight so fiercely for something in her entire life. Marinette deserved to rest.

Carefully, Chloé shifted, moving to clean her up as best as she could. It wasn’t easy. Marinette was completely limp, lost in the depths of a well-earned exhaustion. Chloé took her time, using warm water and soft cloths to wipe away the remnants of sweat and blood, murmuring little reassurances even though Marinette was too deep in sleep to hear her.

Once she was satisfied that Marinette was comfortable, she moved her slowly over to the spare bed. The moment Marinette’s body settled into it, she seemed to relax even further.

Chloé let out a slow breath, taking a moment to just look at her. She looked so tired. So drained. But even like this with her face flushed from exertion, dark strands of hair sticking to her forehead, she was beautiful.

Chloé reached out, brushing a damp curl away from Marinette’s cheek, letting her fingers linger for just a second before turning her attention back to the tiny weight in her arms.

Clover, their little girl. That was the name they had chosen long ago. They settled on it during one of those quiet, late-night conversations where Marinette had traced lazy circles over her belly and Chloé had absentmindedly been playing with her hair. It was a name that fit the luck theme Marinette as Ladybug had. The name held hope, a name that had felt perfect the moment they said it out loud.

Chloé let out a soft breath, adjusting her grip slightly as she sat down beside the bed, her gaze locked onto the tiny face peeking out from the soft wrappings.

She had expected newborns to be wrinkly and kind of odd-looking. She had braced herself for that. But Clover was the cutest thing she had ever seen.

Chloé exhaled, shaking her head as she tilted her head slightly, taking in every detail on her daughter. There was the little pinkish hue of her cheeks, the faint wisps of blonde hair, and the tiny, sleepy scrunch of her nose.

“You,” she murmured, voice hushed, “are ridiculously small.”

Clover stirred slightly but didn’t wake. Chloé grinned, unable to stop herself. She traced a gentle fingertip over the baby’s soft cheek, marveling at the warmth of her skin, the way she fit so perfectly into the curve of her arms.

“You know,” she whispered, “I was kind of terrified about this whole baby thing. I mean, I had no idea what to expect. Neither of us did. We’ve been surviving on this island for years, but this is completely new.” She exhaled, shaking her head with a small, disbelieving laugh. “But look at you. You’re here, and you’re amazing.”

Clover moved again, her tiny mouth opening in the smallest of yawns, her little fingers flexing against the cloth she was wrapped in. Chloé felt something tighten in her chest. She had never felt like this before. Not even close.

The baby shifted slightly, her hand wiggling free from the blanket. Then, she reached out, grasping blindly until her fingers curled around Chloé’s. Chloé went absolutely still.

A breathless laugh escaped her. “Oh, wow.”

The grip was so small, but it was strong for something so new, so tiny. Clover’s little fingers clung to her own, holding tight, her entire hand barely wrapping around Chloé’s pinky. Chloé swallowed, her heart thudding unevenly.

“I love you already,” she whispered, so quietly she wasn’t sure she had even said it out loud.

Clover stirred slightly, her little fingers tightening, as if she had heard. Chloé let out a slow, shaky breath, suddenly overwhelmed by just how much she felt in that moment.

It wasn’t like when she had fallen for Marinette. It wasn’t like the slow realization that had built over time, shared laughter, and conversations beneath the stars.

No, this was immediate. She had only known Clover for minutes, and she already held her heart.

She was still staring, still utterly lost in that tiny, perfect face, when Marinette shifted with a tired noise. Chloé immediately glanced up, breath catching as Marinette blinked herself awake, her eyes heavy-lidded and dazed.

“Mmmh,” Marinette murmured, her voice scratchy with exhaustion.

Chloé leaned forward slightly. “Hey, sleepyhead.”

Marinette blinked at her slowly, then at the bundle in her arms. Realization flickered through her features, and suddenly, she was sitting up a little, pushing herself against the blankets, eyes focused entirely on their daughter.

“How long was I out for?” she asked, her voice still thick with sleep.

“Not long,” Chloé murmured, smiling slightly. “You needed the rest.”

Marinette nodded, rubbing at her eyes before holding out her arms. “Can I?”

Chloé didn’t hesitate. She carefully passed Clover over, watching as Marinette pulled their daughter against her chest, adjusting her position with a natural ease.

Clover made a small, quiet sound, already searching. Marinette exhaled softly, adjusting herself as she guided Clover to nurse for the first time.

Chloé barely breathed. She had never seen anything like this before. She had spent so long thinking of Marinette as Marinette—the clever, determined, sometimes exasperating girl she had fallen in love with on this island. The girl who had once been her rival, then her ally, then her everything. But now? This was Marinette as a mother.

Chloé’s fingers brushed against Marinette’s where they rested on Clover’s back. “You’re incredible,” she murmured, voice raw.

Marinette looked up at her, eyes soft, tired, overwhelmed in the best way.

She smiled. “I’m so happy,” she whispered.

Chloé swallowed against the lump in her throat, then leaned in, pressing a kiss to Marinette’s temple, then another to Clover’s tiny soft head.

“Me too,” she murmured.

Chapter Text

The temple chamber echoed with the faint cooing noises from the small bundle in Marinette’s arms. She adjusted her grip slightly, pressing a gentle kiss to Clover’s tiny forehead before turning her attention back to the massive, ancient stone door looming before them.

The second locked door that required three people to open. Now they had three people. Marinette took a steadying breath, glancing down at Clover, who was snuggled securely in her arms, one of her tiny fists curled near her mouth.

“This should work,” she murmured, half to herself, half to the baby in her arms. “Tikki’s magic made you so we could open this door. That has to be why this happened in the first place. So if we just—”

Behind her, Chloé let out a long, fond sigh.

“I should have known,” she said, crossing her arms as she leaned against the stone wall, watching Marinette with an affectionate but exasperated smirk. “You gave birth one week ago. One. And here we are. Already back at the stupid puzzle door.”

Marinette glanced over her shoulder. “Chloé—”

“No, no, don’t Chloé me,” Chloé interrupted, shaking her head, though her tone was more amused than anything else. “You do realize most people take longer than a week before diving straight into ancient mystery-solving again, right? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love your ridiculous brain, but seriously?”

Marinette huffed, turning back toward the door, adjusting Clover slightly so she could still keep one hand free. “I can’t just sit around doing nothing if we might have a way home.”

Chloé sighed again, this time more softly. She pushed off the wall and stepped forward, placing a hand on Marinette’s back, rubbing slow, soothing circles. “I know,” she murmured. “And I get it. I do. But, Marinette…” She hesitated, exhaling. “We have been doing just fine here. We can raise Clover here if we have to.”

Marinette swallowed, fingers tightening slightly against Clover’s blanket. “I know. But it would be easier at home.”

That was the truth of it. They could survive here. They had made a home for themselves. They had spent years adapting, building, and thriving.

But that was before Clover. Before the responsibility of motherhood had settled onto Marinette’s shoulders, before the realization that every day in this place meant Clover was growing up in isolation. She wouldn’t have the safety of Paris, doctors or proper medicine.

They had done everything they could to prepare. But preparing here wasn’t the same as having what they needed.

Chloé exhaled again but nodded, moving her hand up to squeeze Marinette’s shoulder. “Alright. Let’s do this.”

Marinette smiled at her, grateful, before turning back to the door. The three handprints were still there, carved deep into the stone. The mechanism had kept this place locked for who knew how long.

Marinette stepped forward, adjusting Clover again so that she could carefully guide her tiny hands toward the middle imprint.

“This should work,” Marinette murmured again, her breath catching as she pressed Clover’s hands against the stone.

Nothing happened. Marinette blinked in confusion. She tried again, repositioning Clover’s fingers more carefully, pressing more firmly. Still nothing. Her heart sank.

Chloé frowned, stepping forward slightly. “Maybe it takes a second?”

Marinette shook her head. “No. The ones that we touched started glowing right away. This one should too.”

She leaned in, brow furrowing as she examined the handprints more closely. Then, she saw the problem. The handprint had an area that was shaded slightly differently. It was meant for a bigger hand, not a baby’s.

Marinette groaned, stepping back as she made the realization. “We have to wait.”

Chloé tilted her head. “Wait?”

Marinette exhaled sharply, shifting Clover back into a more comfortable position against her chest. “These handprints are not for an infant. Your hand has to completely cover the shaded area. It will only work when Clover’s older.”

Chloé blinked at her. Then she let out a loud, exasperated groan, rubbing both hands over her face. “Oh, you have got to be kidding me.”

Marinette huffed a quiet laugh. “Believe me, I wish I was.”

Chloé let her hands drop, shaking her head in disbelief. “So, let me get this straight. We spent years surviving on this island. Then, a magical pregnancy happens because of course it does. And now, after all of that, we still can’t leave because our baby is too small for the ancient magical door?”

Marinette shrugged helplessly. “Pretty much.”

Chloé scoffed, placing a hand on her hip. “This stupid island just keeps finding ways to make our lives ridiculous, utterly ridiculous.”

Marinette smiled softly, leaning into her just enough to brush their shoulders together. “Guess that means we’ll be here a little longer.”

Chloé sighed, her frustration fading into something softer as she looked down at Clover.

“I guess so,” she murmured. Then, after a moment, she smirked. “On the bright side, you’re officially not allowed to stress about this anymore. The door’s not going anywhere. No more mystery-solving for you. You’re on maternity leave, Dupain-Cheng.”

Marinette laughed, shaking her head. “Fine, fine.”

She was about to say something else, but then a smell invaded her nose. She stopped mid-breath, nostrils flaring slightly as the unmistakable odor reached her. Chloé noticed her look immediately.

“What?” she asked.

Marinette turned to her, expression a mix of sheepish and apologetic.

“She, uh…” Marinette shifted Clover slightly, wrinkling her nose. “She needs a diaper change.”

Chloé’s face went blank. Then, slowly, she let out another deep, long-suffering sigh. “Oh, fantastic.”

Marinette giggled, rocking Clover slightly as she looked at Chloé expectantly.

Chloé whined. “Don’t look at me like that, I know what you’re thinking.”

“You did say I was on maternity leave…” Marinette teased, smiling innocently.

Chloé held out her arms. “Fine, fine. Give her here.”

Marinette grinned as she handed over the baby, watching as Chloé carefully held her. Clover wriggled slightly, letting out a small noise.

Chloé exhaled a deep, defeated breath. “You know I’m going to hold this against you when you grow up, right?”

Then, without missing a beat, she started tickling Clover’s belly, grinning as the baby squirmed and let out a soft little noise that was almost a giggle.

Marinette smiled, watching them, warmth filling her chest. Maybe they weren’t leaving the island today. Maybe they still had a long wait ahead of them. But for now this was home.

~~~

Morning light entered through the stone opening in the room. For the first time all night, the temple was quiet. Clover was finally asleep.

Marinette lay curled against Chloé, her head resting on her shoulder, one arm draped lazily across her waist. Chloé had an arm slung over Marinette’s back, her fingers tracing absentminded patterns along her spine, though her movements were slow, sluggish with exhaustion.

Neither of them spoke. They were too tired. Not just the usual kind of tired that came from long days of work or from staying up too late talking about nonsense under the stars.

No. This was newborn parent tired. This was Clover cried for hours and nothing worked tired. This was if she wakes up again, I will actually cry too tired.

Marinette sighed against Chloé’s collarbone, her breath warm against her skin. “So…” she murmured, her voice raspy from sleep deprivation. “Having a baby is a little harder than we thought.”

Chloé let out a weak, half-delirious laugh. “Oh, just a little?”

Marinette groaned, pressing her face deeper into Chloé’s shoulder. “I knew it was going to be hard, but I didn’t think it would be this hard. And it’s only been three weeks.”

Chloé huffed, letting her head fall to the side, her cheek pressing against Marinette’s hair. “People dare complain about this in Paris? They have actual supplies and help. And doctors.” She exhaled slowly. “We have each other and, like, a pile of handmade diapers and some sheep to make stuff with.”

Marinette let out a muffled snort. “At least the sheep are soft.”

Chloé exhaled tiredly. “They are, but they can’t babysit.”

Marinette chuckled, though it was weak, more air than sound. “I don’t think I’d trust them with Clover anyway.”

Chloé chuckled slightly, her fingers still tracing slow circles on Marinette’s back. “I don’t know. Maybe we could train one to rock her crib.”

Marinette lifted her head slightly to look at her. “Did you just suggest we crib-train the sheep on this island?”

Chloé grinned. “You got a better idea?”

Marinette gave her a look. “Yes. Literally any other idea.”

Chloé laughed, but the sound was quickly followed by a long, exhausted sigh. “Ugh. This whole parenting thing is so much. I miss sleep.”

Marinette sighed as well, shifting slightly so she could nuzzle into the crook of Chloé’s neck. “I miss sleeping through the night. I miss not waking up every hour because someone decides to scream like the world is ending.”

They both turned their heads slightly, looking toward the small crib they had built with their own hands, its careful frame holding the very small, peaceful-looking bundle of their daughter.

Marinette narrowed her eyes slightly. Clover was so quiet now, so content. The betrayal was unreal.

“She’s doing it on purpose,” Chloé muttered, her voice hushed.

Marinette turned back to her, raising an eyebrow. “She’s a baby.”

“She’s our baby,” Chloé whispered conspiratorially. “She knows what she’s doing.”

Marinette shook her head, letting out a tired laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”

Chloé smirked, her fingers moving to comb gently through Marinette’s hair. “Utterly ridiculous.”

Marinette hummed, eyes fluttering closed as she let herself sink further into the warmth of Chloé’s embrace. “Mmm. Yeah.”

They just laid there, reveling in the quiet, neither of them wanting to move or do anything that might wake their sleeping daughter.

Then, after a while, Chloé sighed. “You know what else I miss?”

Marinette tilted her head slightly. “Hmm?”

Chloé glanced toward the temple entrance, her expression wistful. “Going places together.”

Marinette blinked, then let out a small, tired laugh. “Oh. Yeah. That.”

Chloé sighed again, throwing her arm over her face. “We never go anywhere together anymore. We used to go on little dates all the time! Exploring the island, having picnics, swimming in the ocean, watching the stars from the cliffs.”

Marinette frowned. “We can’t. Someone has to be with Clover.”

“I know,” Chloé muttered, removing her arm and staring at the ceiling. “It’s just frustrating. I miss it.”

Marinette reached up, threading her fingers through Chloé’s, giving her hand a small squeeze. “Me too.”

Chloé turned her head toward her, expression softening. “Yeah?”

Marinette nodded. “Of course I do. I love spending time with you. And I love Clover, but I miss it just being us sometimes.”

Chloé smiled a little, squeezing her hand back. “Yeah.”

They fell silent again, their exhaustion weighing heavily on them, pulling them further into the comfortable haze of warmth and closeness. After a moment, Marinette smirked slightly.

“Well,” she murmured, voice teasing, “at least we can still kiss.”

Chloé blinked. Then, she grinned.

“Oh, that we can definitely still do.”

Before Marinette could say anything else, Chloé had already shifted, rolling them so that Marinette was more comfortably tucked against her side, their bodies pressed together, their faces inches apart.

Lazily, their lips met. Marinette sighed into it, sinking further into Chloé’s embrace, their exhaustion making every movement slow and unhurried, like they had all the time in the world.

Chloé hummed, tilting her head slightly as she deepened the kiss, her fingers ghosting over Marinette’s waist, tracing small, delicate shapes along her skin.

Marinette smiled against her lips. “We are exhausted, you know.”

Chloé smirked, pressing another slow, lingering kiss to the corner of her mouth. “Mmm. I don’t see you stopping me.”

Marinette chuckled, reaching up to tangle her fingers in Chloé’s hair. “I didn’t say I wanted to stop you. I’m the one who brought it up.”

Chloé grinned, leaning in once more. They kissed again, slow and sweet, letting the warmth of each other’s touch chase away the exhaustion for just a little while longer.

Eventually, their bodies began to relax completely, their kisses slowing even further, their limbs tangling together in quiet contentment.

Then finally, exhaustion won. With one last, soft peck to Marinette’s lips, Chloé sighed, closing her eyes.

Marinette smiled sleepily. “Love you.”

Chloé’s lips curled at the corners. “Love you too.”

Just like that, they drifted into sleep, wrapped up in each other. They were safe in their little family, even as the cries of morning birds chirped in the distance.

~~~

The temple had never felt more like home. Months had passed, slipping by so quickly. Through it all, Clover had grown.

She wasn’t the tiny, fragile newborn they had once cradled in their arms. She had become a bright, curious, determined little thing, always moving, reaching, and making her presence known. Which was exactly what she was doing now.

Marinette sat cross-legged on the soft carpet they had crafted to cover the stone floor of their bedroom. It had been a necessity the moment Clover had started crawling. One hard bump on the temple floor had been enough to convince them both that their daughter needed something softer beneath her.

Clover was currently seated in the middle of the room, babbling happily to herself as she grabbed at the little toys Marinette had made for her. There were small, hand-carved animals, carefully smoothed down so they wouldn’t hurt her fingers. There were also colourful balls filled with dried beans, making a soft rattling sound when she shook them.

She was particularly focused on a little wooden sheep at the moment, grabbing it with both hands and shaking it excitedly before throwing it as far as her tiny arms could manage.

Which wasn’t very far, but she seemed proud of herself anyway, if her happy squeal was anything to go by.

Chloé let out a breathy laugh, leaning back on her hands as she watched. “I still can’t believe she used to be so small.”

Marinette glanced over at her, smiling. “I know. Look at her now.”

Chloé shook her head, her expression almost disbelieving. “It’s ridiculous. I remember holding her in one arm, and now she’s so much bigger.”

Marinette laughed softly, watching as Clover picked up another toy, chewing on it briefly before deciding she was bored of sitting down.

Marinette’s eyes softened as Clover wiggled, pushing herself onto her hands and knees, then shifting onto her feet.

She had been doing this more and more lately—standing up, testing her balance, thinking about taking a step before plopping back down onto her butt.

Marinette instinctively started to lean forward, prepared to catch her just in case, but she wasn’t too worried. She had seen Clover do this plenty of times. She would stand, wobble a little, and then sit back down.

Only this time she didn’t. Instead, she took a step. Marinette froze as Cover took another step. Chloé gasped.

Marinette’s heart leapt into her throat. “Oh my gosh.”

Clover took another tiny, wobbly step forward, her arms flailing slightly for balance, her face scrunched in absolute determination.

Then, as if sensing that this was some big accomplishment, she let out a delighted squeal, looking back and forth between them as if saying ‘did you see that’?!

Marinette did see that. Marinette saw everything.

Her breath caught as she quickly scrambled to her knees, moving just close enough to catch Clover if she needed to. “Oh, Clover. Baby, you’re walking!”

Chloé made a high-pitched noise Marinette had never heard from her before, hands clasped over her mouth, her eyes impossibly wide. “She’s actually doing it.”

Clover took one more step. Then, her little legs wobbled a bit too much, and she tipped forward.

Marinette lunged, but before she could even reach her, Chloé got there first. Clover landed squarely against her chest. Chloé caught her and hugged her.

“Oh my gosh, that was perfect!” she all but shouted, her voice bursting with excitement as she hugged Clover tightly, pressing kiss after kiss to her fluffy blonde hair. “You walked. You actually walked, you little genius!”

Clover giggled, grabbing onto Chloé’s hair, completely delighted with all the attention. Marinette, still breathless from what she had just witnessed, reached forward and cupped Clover’s little round cheeks, her eyes shining with excitement.

“You did so well, Clover,” she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. “That was amazing. You’re amazing.”

Clover made another happy sound, reaching for Marinette’s face, her tiny fingers patting her cheeks.

Marinette laughed, pressing a kiss to Clover’s forehead before wrapping her arms around both her and Chloé, pulling them into a full, overwhelmed hug.

Chloé laughed breathlessly, squeezing them both so tightly. “I cannot believe this. She was just a baby! She was tiny! She wasn’t even doing anything but crying a few months ago and now she’s walking?”

Marinette laughed, resting her forehead against Chloé. “I know. It’s happening so fast.”

Chloé pulled back just enough to look at Clover again, her expression filled with something so deep and warm it made Marinette’s chest ache.

“I am so proud of you,” Chloé murmured, reaching up to tuck a stray curl behind Clover’s ear. “You are so smart. And so cute. And I love you so much, you have no idea.”

Clover babbled happily, giving her a big, drooly smile. Chloé melted.

Marinette giggled, shaking her head. “You’re such a softie.”

Chloé shot her a look. “Excuse you, I am not a softie.”

Marinette smirked. “You literally just called her a little genius and covered her in kisses.”

Chloé huffed, lifting her chin. “That’s not being soft, that’s being factual.”

Marinette rolled her eyes, still smiling, and kissed her on the cheek. Chloé grumbled, but she was grinning.

Then, shifting slightly, she hugged Clover again, kissing her chubby cheeks. “Seriously, though,” she murmured. “You are the best thing ever.”

Clover giggled, grabbing Chloé’s nose. Chloé let out a very dignified squawk. Marinette laughed so hard she nearly tipped over. Clover giggled harder, flapping her little arms like she knew exactly what she was doing.

Chloé, still reeling, turned to Marinette and muttered, “She gets this from you.”

Marinette pressed her hand over her heart. “I will happily take credit for that.”

Chloé huffed while smiling, her arms still wrapped securely around their daughter. Marinette sighed contentedly, running her fingers through Clover’s hair, watching as she babbled happily between them, completely oblivious to how much she had changed everything.

This little girl. This perfect, bright, miraculous little girl was growing up.

Chapter Text

Vibrant petals swayed gently in the breeze, colors dancing like something out of a dream. In the middle of this flower field was Marinette, Chloé and their daughter.

Clover sat between them, her little hands digging into the grass. She was endlessly fascinated with everything around her.

Marinette smiled as she watched her, resting her chin on her hand. “She’s so curious.”

Chloé, lying on her side next to them, propped herself up on her elbow and smirked. “Of course she is. She’s got you as a mom.”

Marinette rolled her eyes playfully. “Like you’re not just as bad.”

Chloé let out an exaggerated sigh. “Okay, true. But still, look at her. She’s memorizing everything.”

Clover was in fact, doing exactly that. Her little hands patted the ground, her eyes darting between the flowers, grass, trees, and the sky. Every time a breeze rustled the leaves above them, she let out a tiny gasp, her mouth forming a perfect little ‘o’ of surprise.

Chloé sat up and scooped her into her lap, kissing the top of her fluffy blonde curls before gently bouncing her. “Alright, little genius,” she said, shifting so Clover could see her face clearly. “Time for your vocabulary lesson.”

Marinette giggled. “Oh, this I have to see.”

Chloé smiled then lifted a hand and pointed toward the nearest patch of flowers. “Okay, munchkin. These are flowers. Say it with me. Flowers.”

Clover blinked up at her, silent.

Chloé raised an eyebrow. “No? Not ready for that one? Fine, let’s try something else.” She turned slightly, pointing toward the big tree. “That’s a tree. Big, strong tree. Tree, tree, tree.”

Clover blinked again.

Chloé pouted. “Okay, one more, and if you ignore me again, I’m officially declaring you just like your mom when she gets stuck on her projects and doesn’t listen to a word I say.”

Marinette let out a loud laugh, covering her mouth. “Oh my gosh, Chloé!”

Chloé grinned, then pointed up at the sky. “Okay, Clover, last one. This is the sky. S-K-Y. It’s big and blue and very important. You love the sky.”

Clover did seem interested. Her gaze followed Chloé’s finger, her tiny lips parting slightly as she took in the vastness of it. But she still didn’t say anything.

Chloé sighed playfully, flopping back onto the grass. “Unbelievable. You’re definitely Marinette’s kid. You refuse to be taught anything on command.”

Marinette giggled, crawling over to nuzzle against Chloé’s side. “I love watching you in teacher mode.”

Chloé gave her a look. “I am not in ‘teacher mode.’”

Marinette raised a brow. “Oh, no, of course not.”

Chloé narrowed her eyes. “I will absolutely tickle you, Dupain-Cheng.”

Marinette grinned. “I dare you.”

Chloé was just about to pounce when it happened.

“Mama.”

Chloé went rigid and so did Marinette. Clover, still seated in Chloé’s lap, was looking directly at her, her little face full of certainty. Her hands were patting at Chloé’s chest, showing her understanding of the word.

Chloé made a strangled noise in the back of her throat. Then, she slowly turned to Marinette, her mouth hanging open.

“Did you… Did I… Did she just—”

Marinette, hands covering her mouth, frantically nodded, her eyes already shining. Chloé sucked in a sharp breath and then she lost it.

“Oh my gosh,” she choked, grabbing Clover and hugging her tight, her arms wrapping so securely around her that it was like she would never let go. “Oh my gosh, baby, you just talked! You said Mama!”

Clover let out a tiny giggle, clapping her hands, delighted by the reaction.

Chloé laughed and cried at the same time, pressing kiss after kiss to Clover’s cheeks, unable to stop. “That was perfect, you perfect little angel. Oh my gosh, I love you so much!”

Marinette let out a breathless, watery laugh, wiping at her own eyes. “Chloé, you’re—”

“A mess?” Chloé sniffed, looking up at her, still completely overwhelmed. “Yes. Of course I am.”

Marinette laughed again, crawling closer, wrapping her arms around both of them. Another word came out of Clover’s mouth.

“Mom.”

Marinette gasped. She pulled back just enough to see Clover’s face.

Clover was looking directly at her now, her little hands reaching for her. Her big, bright eyes were filled with recognition.

Marinette broke. A small, hiccupped sob escaped her. She immediately pulled Clover into her arms, holding her against her chest, tears spilling freely down her cheeks.

“Oh, baby,” she whispered, pressing her face into Clover’s hair. “Oh, my sweet girl. You said it. You said it.”

Chloé wrapped herself around them both, her own eyes still shining, her fingers combing through Marinette’s hair as they both held Clover between them. Their daughter had spoken. She knew them and she loved them.

Chloé let out another sniffly laugh, pressing her lips to Marinette’s. “Okay, I definitely win. She said it to me first.”

Marinette laughed wetly, pulling back just enough to give her an exasperated look. “Chloé.”

Chloé grinned, still wiping at her eyes. “I’m just saying.”

Marinette shook her head, smiling.

~~~

Marinette stirred, blinking groggily as her eyes adjusted to the dimness, her body heavy after having suddenly woken up.

She let out a soft sigh, rubbing her face before rolling slightly to one side, her gaze instinctively drifting toward the small crib where their daughter always slept, curled up beneath the soft wool blankets they had worked so hard to make for her.

Except the crib was empty. For a second, her sleep-fogged brain didn’t register what she was seeing. She blinked repeatedly, but everything remained the same. Her breath hitched, and suddenly, she was wide awake.

“Chloé.”

Her voice came out in a harsh whisper, her fingers instinctively reaching out to shake the warm body beside her.

Chloé groaned softly, her face still buried against the blankets. “Mmm, it’s too early…”

“Chloé, wake up.” Marinette shook her a little harder, her voice laced with urgency now. “Clover’s not in her crib.”

That got her attention. Chloé’s eyes snapped open, her entire body tensing as she immediately turned toward the crib.

She sat up fast, her hands gripping the edge of the bed as she squinted, her voice still thick with sleep. “Wait, what?”

“She’s not there,” Marinette said, throwing off the blanket as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. Her mind was already racing, scanning through every corner of the room for where she could be hiding.

Chloé ran a hand through her hair, forcing herself fully awake. “Okay, okay, hang on. She’s probably just—” She cut herself off, turning sharply as she noticed something.

The door was open. Not all the way, just a crack, but it was enough. Chloé stared at it. Then turned to Marinette, eyes wide. Marinette stared back, equally stunned.

“How did she open that?” Marinette demanded, her voice a harsh whisper as she hurried toward the door.

Chloé groaned, rubbing her face. “Oh, this is exactly what I was afraid of. She’s only two and she’s already inherited your ridiculous problem-solving skills.”

Marinette shot her a look over her shoulder. “This is not the time for that.”

“I’m just saying!” Chloé huffed, rolling out of bed as she grabbed her spear and removed the Clover-proof safety on it. It was more out of habit than necessity, but her mom instincts were screaming at her now. “You literally spent our first year on this island figuring out every single trick to survival. Did you really think your kid wasn’t going to be just as determined?”

Marinette didn’t answer. Mostly because she was too busy thinking, her brain desperately trying to figure out where Clover could have gone.

They had never seen her do something like this before. Yes, she was smart, stubborn, and had a habit of pushing past every single limit they thought she had, but this was much different than anything they’ve dealt with.

“Okay, okay, let’s just find her,” Marinette said, shaking her head as she stepped into the corridor, her bare feet cold against the stone floor.

Chloé was right behind her. “She has to be somewhere in the temple.”

Marinette swallowed, forcing herself to stay calm. They could handle this. Clover was small. She couldn’t have gotten far.

“Clover?” Marinette called softly, turning into the main temple chamber, her eyes scanning every corner, every shadow. “Sweetheart, where are you?”

Chloé moved past her, stepping into the common area where they kept some of their supplies. She peered behind the large baskets, checking the spaces where Clover liked to hide when they played their little games of peekaboo.

“Clover, baby, it’s way too early for this,” Chloé murmured, glancing under the wooden table. “Come on, munchkin, let’s go back to bed.”

There was no response. No giggles or tiny footsteps. Marinette’s stomach tightened.

Chloé exhaled sharply, standing up straight. “Alright. Where else could she have gone?”

Marinette pressed a hand to her forehead, forcing herself to think. “She doesn’t go into the storage room since she’s scared when there’s no light at all. We’ve already checked the common area, the main chamber and we made sure she wasn’t hiding somewhere in the bedroom with us.”

Chloé suddenly stiffened.

Marinette turned to her immediately. “What?”

Chloé didn’t answer. She was looking toward the temple entrance. She was looking at the barrier they had built. The heavy, reinforced wooden door they had placed to keep anything from wandering in without them knowing.

It wasn’t fully closed. Just like the bedroom door, it was barely open. Marinette’s blood ran cold.

Chloé took a slow, sharp breath. “Oh, no.”

Marinette bolted forward. She grabbed the edge of the door, pushing it open a little more, scanning the area just outside. There was nothing out there. No Clover, only the cool night air and the sound of rustling leaves.

Marinette swallowed hard. “She went outside.”

Chloé was right beside her, gripping the edge of the door with white-knuckled fingers. “Okay. Okay, we don’t panic.”

Marinette turned to her, her voice wavering now. “Chloé—”

Chloé reached for her immediately, cupping her face with both hands. “We don’t panic.”

Marinette’s breath shook. Clover was two years old and alone somewhere outside in the jungle in the middle of the night. Marinette inhaled sharply, and forced herself to focus.

She reached up, gripping Chloé’s wrists, steadying herself. “We have to find her.”

Chloé nodded, her own face pale but determined. “We’ll find her.”

Without another word, they both ran after their daughter.

~~~

Chloé’s heart was pounding too hard, her pulse too loud in her ears, her entire body too wired with worry to register anything but the overwhelming need to find her daughter.

Marinette had taken one path, and Chloé had taken another, both of them desperate to cover as much ground as possible. They had barely exchanged a plan, only a quick nod, a shared look of understanding before splitting off, both of them running into the night.

Now, Chloé was searching everywhere. She ran through the moonlit jungle, her feet moving on instinct, avoiding roots and thick patches of foliage. Her hands pushed aside low-hanging branches as she scanned the ground, trees, and shadows. She tried looking everywhere Clover might have gone.

“Clover!” she called, her voice sharp, urgent, desperate. “Baby, where are you? It’s Mama!”

Nothing yet again, only the sound of the wind, and the distant call of nocturnal birds. Chloé swallowed against the tightness in her throat, forcing herself not to spiral. No bad thoughts and no worst-case scenarios.

Clover was smart and she was strong. She was their daughter. She had to be okay. Chloé moved faster, her breathing ragged. Every minute that passed without finding her felt like an eternity, like a blade twisting deeper into her chest.

She checked behind fallen logs, inside thick bushes, beneath the twisted roots of ancient trees. She followed small gaps in the underbrush, paths just barely wide enough for a tiny, determined toddler to squeeze through.

“Clover!”

Minutes blurred into hours. The jungle was massive. She was trying so hard not to imagine all the terrible possibilities. That Clover had wandered too far, fallen somewhere. That something…

Chloé shook her head, refusing to let the thought finish. She couldn’t think like that. She wouldn’t. She just had to keep looking.

~~~

By the time she returned to the temple hours later, her legs felt like lead, her body aching from running, her throat raw from calling Clover’s name over and over again.

She froze at the sight that awaited her. Marinette was standing just outside the temple entrance. In her arms was Clover. She was crying, her small arms wrapped tightly around her mom’s neck, her little face pressed against Marinette’s shoulder.

Chloé’s breath caught in her throat. She didn’t move for a second. She had been so afraid, so utterly terrified. Now, all at once, she felt everything.

Marinette spotted her. She looked up, eyes soft, full of understanding, her own expression tight with leftover fear but infinitely calmer than Chloé’s.

“I found her,” Marinette said, voice quiet, soothing. “About half an hour ago. She was east of the temple, hiding behind some rocks.”

Chloé let out a breath, staggering forward. “Why didn’t you call for me?”

Marinette pressed a soft kiss to Clover’s temple before meeting Chloé’s gaze. “I didn’t want to yell and attract any predators to us. It would be too risky fighting off an animal while protecting her.”

Chloé swallowed, nodding quickly. That made sense. Of course, that made sense. It didn’t make the knot in her chest any looser.

Marinette gently passed Clover into Chloé’s arms, and Chloé collapsed onto her knees right there near the temple doorway, holding her daughter so close, feeling the warmth of her little body, the way she still trembled slightly from crying.

“Clover,” Chloé choked, pressing her lips to her daughter’s forehead, her cheeks, her tiny hands, her nose, everywhere. “Baby, you can’t do that. You can’t just leave like that, you scared us so much.”

“I’m sorry,” Clover whimpered against her chest, small hands gripping her shirt.

Chloé closed her eyes, pressing her cheek against her daughter’s head. “I know, sweetheart. I know.”

Marinette crouched beside them, running a hand over Clover’s back. “She scraped her knee.”

Chloé pulled back immediately, gently shifting Clover so she could get a look at the tiny injury.

It was small. Just a little scrape, nothing serious. But it was enough. Enough to make Chloé’s heart ache all over again.

“Oh, munchkin,” Chloé sighed, kissing her knee lightly before wrapping her up in another tight hug. “You are so lucky you’re cute.”

Clover sniffled. “Mama sad?”

Chloé shook her head, wiping at her own eyes as she pulled back just enough to look at her. “I’m not sad, baby. I was scared. Really, really scared.”

Clover’s lower lip trembled. “No scared.”

Chloé exhaled shakily, rubbing small circles on Clover’s back. “You have to promise me, Clover. You have to tell Mama or Mom if you want to go somewhere, okay? You cannot just leave by yourself.”

Clover sniffled again, nodding. “Promise.”

Chloé let out a long, slow breath before kissing her forehead again.

“Alright,” Marinette said gently, standing up and offering Chloé her hand. “Let’s go inside, clean her up, and get her settled.”

Chloé nodded, standing up while still holding Clover close. Marinette led them inside, guiding them to their bedroom, to the warm blankets and the safety of home.

Chloé sat on the edge of the bed, still cradling Clover as Marinette carefully cleaned her scraped knee with water and a soft cloth, whispering reassurances as Clover whimpered at the sting.

After no time, Clover let out a yawn, her hands rubbing at her sleepy eyes.

Marinette smiled softly, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Time for bed, sweetheart.”

Clover nodded sleepily, already curling into Chloé’s chest. Chloé sighed, closing her eyes briefly before adjusting her grip and gently lowering Clover into her crib.

She tucked the blanket around her, brushing a hand over her hair before leaning down to press a final kiss to her forehead.

“I love you,” she murmured.

Clover’s small voice came out barely above a whisper. “Love you, Mama.”

Chloé’s heart melted. Marinette stepped beside her, reaching for her hand, squeezing gently. Chloé exhaled, leaning into her, exhaustion finally catching up to her now that the fear was gone.

They stood there, side by side, watching as their daughter’s breathing evened out.

Chapter Text

Marinette worked her needle against the sturdy wooden loom. The newly spun wool would be perfect for Clover’s growing body. She slid it through her fingers as she guided each thread into place, weaving the fabric that would soon become yet another set of clothes for her daughter. It was a task that had become routine over the years, a necessary one, considering how fast children seemed to outgrow things.

As she worked, her mind drifted, caught between the steady movement of her hands and the realization that time had moved so quickly. She and Chloé were already twenty-six years old. They had spent over a decade building this life on the island.

It felt like it had only been a few years ago that she and Chloé had been struggling just to survive, constantly at odds and still clinging to the idea that they might be rescued at any moment. Somehow, eleven years had passed. Eleven years of learning, adapting, and growing into something neither of them could have ever imagined.

They found love in the last place either of them would have expected and made a home out of the ruins of an ancient temple. They were raising a child together in a world that had once felt so distant from everything they had known.

Marinette smiled softly to herself, shaking her head slightly as she reached for another spool of thread. Clover had grown so much. It felt like yesterday that she had been a tiny bundle in their arms, all sleepy yawns and helpless little fingers curling around theirs, a small, delicate miracle. Now, at six years old, she was full of boundless energy, constantly running, exploring, and asking endless questions.

She found ways to surprise them every single day with her sharp mind and her insatiable curiosity. She had indeed inherited Marinette’s drive and problem-solving instincts. Unfortunately, she also inherited Chloé’s stubborn streak, which made her a force to be reckoned with, especially when she decided she wanted something.

The sound of Clover’s small, quick footsteps echoed through the temple, her voice drifting through the halls as she played, chattering happily to herself, lost in whatever imaginary world she had built for the afternoon. Marinette barely paid it any mind. There was nothing dangerous inside the temple, and after what had happened when Clover had been two years old, she and Chloé had long since ensured that the temple’s entrance was securely blocked so that no small hands could pry open.

It was safe here. Safe enough for Marinette to sit and work, for Chloé to be outside preparing lunch, and to allow a small bit of freedom now that Clover was old enough to know better than to get herself into too much trouble.

Or, at least, that was what Marinette thought until she heard her daughter’s voice suddenly ringing through the halls, loud and urgent.

“Mom! Mom!”

Marinette’s head snapped up, her heart skipping a beat as she instinctively straightened, the unfinished garment slipping from her lap as she turned toward the doorway.

A second later, Clover burst into the room, her little face lit up with excitement, her bright blue eyes practically shining as she ran toward her. “Mom, you have to come see!” she exclaimed, bouncing on her toes, her entire body practically vibrating with energy. “The hand door. It lit up!”

For a moment, Marinette just stared, her breath catching in her throat as she tried to understand what she had just heard. The door? The one that had refused to open all those years ago?

The one that had been the reason Clover was brought into existence in the first place, that had forced them to wait. Now, it was glowing?

Her heart pounded. She found that she was already moving, pushing herself to her feet, and reaching for Clover’s hand. She gripped it tightly as she turned toward the hall.

“Show me.”

Clover beamed, yanking at her hand as she pulled her forward, practically dragging her toward the central chamber, her little feet bouncing up and down her excitement.

As they stepped into the main chamber, the sound of approaching footsteps made Marinette glance up just in time to see Chloé coming in from the outside entrance, balancing a large wooden bowl in her arms.

“Alright, ladies,” Chloé called, kicking the door shut behind her. “It’s lunchtime, and I—”

“Chloé.”

Something in Marinette’s tone made Chloé stop mid-step, her brows knitting together in confusion before her gaze shifted, flickering between Marinette’s wide eyes and Clover’s barely-contained excitement.

“…What’s going on?”

Clover grabbed at Chloé’s hand and tugged. “The hand door is glowing!”

Chloé’s eyes widened. The bowl in her hands was forgotten, placed hastily onto the nearest flat surface as she immediately moved to follow them, her voice stunned as she stumbled over her own words. “Are you serious? Like, actually serious? It’s been six years, and now it works?”

“She’s old enough now,” Marinette murmured, her fingers tightening around Clover’s.

They quickly headed to the massive stone door that they’ve been waiting to open for so long. Marinette swallowed hard, looking down at Clover, who was still bouncing with excitement, her hands already reaching out.

“Are you ready?” Marinette asked, voice barely above a whisper.

Clover nodded fiercely, her little hands pressing onto the middle handprint. The handprint started to glow.

Chloé let out a small, disbelieving breath. “It’s working.”

Marinette barely heard her. She and Chloé stepped forward at the same time, pressing their hands onto the handprints beside Clover’s.

The glow spread from each of the handprints, light flooding the carvings, racing through every crevice of the massive stone door. The door shook intensely and with a final, thunderous rumble, the door opened.

Marinette, Chloé, and Clover stepped forward, the glow from the carvings slowly fading as the last remnants of the temple’s magic settled into the walls.

The room before them was eerily similar to the previous chamber. There were the stone walls, carvings around the room, and a table in the middle. But unlike the last room, which had been dedicated entirely to Tikki, this one was different.

Marinette’s breath caught as she took in the carvings along the walls. They were of all the other Kwamis. Everywhere she looked, their images were etched into the stone. She saw Wayzz, Mullo, Trixx, Kaalki, and the others. Each one was carved with the same artistry.

In the center of the room, resting atop the table, sat an array of small, glass bottles, each one swirling with a different color of energy.

Chloé let out a sudden breath, stiffening beside her. Marinette turned just in time to see her staring at one of the bottles, her blue eyes wide, her hand hovering just inches away from the delicate glass.

Marinette frowned. “Chloé?”

Chloé inhaled sharply, her voice almost breathless. “I can feel it.”

Marinette’s eyebrows knit together. “Feel what?”

Chloé swallowed, her fingers brushing against the surface of one of the bottles. In particular, the one glowing with soft yellow energy, its golden swirls shifting in slow, steady waves.

She let out a shaky breath, eyes flicking to Marinette. “It’s Pollen’s.”

Marinette’s breath hitched, her gaze snapping back to the table, scanning the bottles with new awareness, recognizing their energies.

Her fingers danced over each one, her lips moving as she named them under her breath. All of them were here, each one filled with raw, untapped power.

Her hands stopped when she reached the end of the row, her brow furrowing slightly as she took in two bottles she didn’t recognize. She had used nearly every Miraculous before. She knew their Kwamis. All except for two.

“…I think,” she murmured, exhaling slowly, “these might be for Nooroo and Duusu.”

Chloé blinked, her fingers tightening around the edge of the table. “Wait, seriously? The Butterfly and Peacock Miraculouses?”

Marinette nodded, her mind racing, already piecing things together. “It makes sense why they don’t feel familiar. Nooroo and Duusu’s Miraculous were always with our enemies.”

Chloé’s nose scrunched slightly. “It’s kind of unsettling to have their power here after all that was done in Paris.”

Marinette huffed a quiet laugh. “Yeah, a little, but it wasn’t their fault that they ended up in the wrong hands.”

Chloé let out a breath, stepping back slightly. “Okay, so we’ve got all the Kwamis’ powers here.”

Marinette suddenly made a realization, her gaze sweeping over the table, checking every bottle again. “There’s no bottle for Plagg.”

Chloé’s head snapped toward her. “What? Why wouldn’t there be?”

Marinette took a step back, scanning yet again to be sure, checking to see if she had missed it, but she hadn’t. It wasn’t here. There was no Plagg.

Chloé frowned, glancing toward the far end of the chamber where a third puzzle door awaited.

“Ugh,” she muttered, placing her hands on her hips, “that’s probably where he is.”

Marinette exhaled sharply, nodding. “That makes sense. Tikki’s power was in the first room. The others are in this one. Plagg’s must be behind that door.”

Chloé let out a whine, dragging a hand down her face. “Great, another door. Just fantastic.”

Marinette’s eyes widened. She turned to Chloé so fast that she nearly knocked over one of the bottles, her hands immediately flying to her shoulders, gripping her tightly.

Chloé stumbled slightly, blinking at her in confusion. “Uh, Marinette?”

Marinette grinned, her entire face lighting up, her eyes shining, making Chloé even more confused. “We don’t need Plagg’s.”

Chloé frowned. “What?”

Marinette’s heart was racing. “Chloé, look.” She gestured to the table, her hands trembling with excitement. “We have Kaalki’s power.”

Chloé stared at her, her expression blank for a few seconds then her eyes widened.

Marinette nodded quickly, gripping her hands. “We can use Voyage.”

Chloé’s breath caught. Her entire body freezing as she finally understood what this meant.

Marinette swallowed, blinking back the tears threatening to form. “Chloé, we can go home.”

Chloé felt like she was dreaming. None of this felt real.

“…We can really go home?” she whispered, her voice so quiet and raw that Marinette felt her heart ache.

Marinette nodded, squeezing her hands, her voice thick with emotion. “Yes.”

Clover, who had been standing quietly beside them, suddenly gasped. Her little hands flew up to her mouth as her bright blue eyes shone with excitement.

Marinette turned to her, letting go of Chloé just long enough to drop to her knees, cupping her daughter’s face in her hands. Her thumbs brushed over her soft cheeks as she smiled, her voice full of warmth and of joy.

“You hear that, Clover?” she whispered. “You’re going to have a new home. A home with lots of people to meet.”

Clover’s hands gripped Marinette’s wrists, her joy barely contained. “Really?!”

Marinette laughed, nodding. “Really.”

~~~

Marinette, Chloé, and Clover sat together outside the temple, gathered around the last meal they would ever eat on the island. Marinette ran her fingers absently over the wooden bowl in her lap, her mind only half on the meal in front of her.

She glanced across the fire at Chloé, who was sitting with her legs stretched out, absently plucking apart a piece of fruit with her fingers, her blue eyes thoughtful. Clover sat cross-legged between them, kicking her small feet against the dirt as she chewed on a piece of fish, her bright eyes darting between them with curiosity. Her young mind was working through the emotions she didn’t quite have words for yet.

They were leaving. After eleven years, they were finally leaving.

Chloé exhaled, setting down the half-eaten fruit before leaning back on her hands, tilting her head up toward the sky, her expression melancholic. “You know,” she murmured, her voice soft, “I always thought I’d be thrilled the day we got to leave this place.”

Marinette watched her carefully, setting her own bowl aside. “And you’re not?”

Chloé let out a breathy laugh, shaking her head. “I am. But…” She hesitated, glancing toward the temple entrance, her lips pressing into a thin line. “I didn’t think it would hurt so much.”

Marinette nodded slowly, turning to look at the stone walls that had sheltered them for so long. “I know.”

Clover, who had been quiet up until now, looked between them with wide, curious eyes, swallowing the last bite of her fish before leaning forward slightly. “Are we really never coming back?”

Marinette glanced at Chloé before shaking her head gently. “I don’t think so, sweetheart.”

Clover frowned, looking down at her plate. “But… this is home.”

Chloé sighed, reaching over to ruffle her hair. “It was home,” she murmured. “But it was never supposed to be.”

Clover scrunched her nose, trying to understand, but after a moment, she simply sighed. She sat her plate down and flopped backward against Chloé’s lap. “I think I’m gonna miss it.”

Marinette smiled softly, reaching over to brush a few loose strands of hair from Clover’s face. “Me too, baby girl.”

Chloé nodded, her fingers running absently through Clover’s hair. “Yeah,” she murmured. “Me three.”

They ate quietly after that, savoring the last bites of their meal, the last taste of the life they had built here. When the food was gone, they stood together, and began their slow trek through the temple one last time.

Saying goodbye to the temple was harder than Marinette had anticipated. She had expected to feel something, but she hadn’t been prepared for how much it would hit her.

The ache in her chest grew as she ran her fingers over the walls. She stepped into the bedroom where Clover had taken her first breath. She traced the edges of the table where they had spent so many nights planning, talking, and laughing.

Chloé wandered through the halls beside her, running her hands over familiar surfaces as well. She stopped in front of the old crib that Clover had slept in when she was younger and let out a soft, bittersweet chuckle. “I hated making this stupid thing,” she murmured, shaking her head. “Took us so long to get it right.”

Marinette laughed, her fingers trailing over the edge of the crib. “Yeah, but it was perfect.”

Chloé smiled. “Of course it was. We made it.”

They lingered in the temple for a good while, memorizing every detail, knowing that after tonight, it would only exist in their memories. When they finally stepped outside and made their way to the shore, the ocean stretched out before them, vast and endless, just as it always had been, just as it would always be.

The three of them stood at the water’s edge, letting the waves lap at their feet, watching the horizon glow beneath the setting sun.

Clover, holding both Marinette’s and Chloé’s hands, looked up at them with wide, eager eyes. “What’s our new home gonna be like?”

Marinette exchanged a look with Chloé, a smile passing between them before she crouched down, placing her hands gently on Clover’s shoulders. “It’s big,” she said carefully, choosing her words. “There are lots of people. So many buildings, so many places to go and things to see.”

Chloé grinned. “And food. Not just fish, fruit, eggs and chicken.”

Clover’s eyes lit up. “Ooooh!”

Marinette giggled. “Our families are there too. Your grandmother, your grandfathers, our friends…” Her voice softened, thick with emotion. “They’ve all been waiting for us. They don’t even know you exist yet.”

Clover’s nose scrunched. “I have more than one grandfather?”

Marinette laughed. “Yes, sweetheart, two of them. And so many aunts and uncles who are going to love you so much.”

Clover beamed, bouncing on her toes. “I can’t wait!”

Chloé huffed, ruffling her hair. “Yeah, yeah, don’t get too excited. They’re all insane.”

Marinette smacked her arm lightly. “Chloé!”

Chloé smirked. “What? It’s true.”

Marinette rolled her eyes, smiling. When they finally went back into the temple, they headed straight to the room that had changed everything.

Marinette approached the table with steady hands, reaching for the bottle that contained Kaalki’s power. She could feel it pulsing beneath her fingertips, warm and alive.

She turned to Chloé and Clover, her heart racing, her voice thick with emotion as she held the bottle tightly in her grip. “This is it.”

Chloé nodded, reaching out to grip her hand. Clover was practically vibrating with anticipation. Marinette took a deep breath and uncorked the bottle.

The energy burst forward, swirling around her, seeping into her skin, filling her with Kaalki’s power. She lifted her hand, voice strong and ready.

“Voyage!”

A portal ripped open before them, glowing. Marinette reached for Chloé’s hand. Chloé reached for Clover’s. Together they stepped forward.

Chapter Text

As soon as Marinette stepped through the portal, her lungs filled with warm, familiar air, thick with the scent of fresh-baked bread from her parents’ bakery below. The comforting aroma was so unexpected, so completely unlike the salty sea breeze she had breathed for the past eleven years. For a moment, she could do nothing but stand there, eyes wide that it actually worked.

“Marinette, we’re home!” Chloé’s voice rang out, full of amazement and disbelief as she took in the sight of the room. “We actually did it! It worked! We’re back in Paris!”

Marinette was drinking in the sight of her bedroom too. The walls were the same, the desk covered in fabric scraps was the same, and the bed that she hadn’t seen in what felt like a lifetime was the same too. It was all exactly as she remembered it. But that was weird, wasn’t it? A decade had passed since she had last been here. Shouldn’t the room be at least a bit different?

Her heart clenched. Had her parents kept everything the same? Had they waited for her? Had they believed she was alive all this time?

Before she could spiral further, Chloé grabbed her hand, her grip warm and real, grounding her. “Marinette,” she whispered, voice tight with emotion, her blue eyes shining. “We made it. After everything, after all those years, we’re actually home.”

Marinette’s breath hitched, her fingers squeezing Chloé’s. “I can’t believe it,” she whispered back. “I thought we’d never make it back.” She broke off, shaking her head as a tear slipped down her cheek. “Chloé, we’re really home.”

Chloé exhaled shakily before pulling Marinette into a tight hug, burying her face in Marinette’s shoulder. Marinette closed her eyes and melted into her, holding on just as fiercely. A tiny voice then broke through their embrace.

“Mom? Mama?”

They turned as one. Clover stood a few steps away, her small fingers curled into the fabric of her outfit, her wide blue eyes staring between them strangely and to the unfamiliar room around her. She took a hesitant step forward, glancing at where the portal was before looking back at them.

“Is this... home?” she asked softly.

Marinette’s heart ached. Clover had never known anything beyond the island, beyond the trees, the sand, the stone temple they had called home for so long. This was a world she had only ever heard about in stories, a world that had always been just beyond reach.

Marinette bent down, opening her arms. “Come here, sweetheart.”

Without hesitation, Clover ran into her embrace, clutching at Marinette’s clothes as though afraid she might disappear. Marinette held her close, pressing a kiss to her temple, whispering, “Yes, baby. This is home.”

Chloé knelt beside them, brushing a hand over Clover’s hair. “It’s going to take some getting used to, but we’re finally here, Clover.” She smiled, her voice thick with emotion. “You’re going to love it, I promise.”

Before Clover could say anything else, Chloé suddenly tensed. “Marinette, look.”

Marinette followed where she was pointing and felt her breath catch. Floating nearby, staring at them in stunned silence, were two familiar figures. One was small and red with blue eyes, the other gray and white with a flowing mane.

“Tikki,” Marinette breathed.

Tikki’s eyes widened. “Marinette?”

Marinette rushed forward, hands reaching out towards her. “Oh, Tikki,” she choked out, her voice thick with overwhelming emotion. “I missed you. I missed you so much, you have no idea!”

Tikki blinked, startled. “You… missed me? I… missed you too?”

Tikki tilted her head, her tiny hands reaching out to cup Marinette’s face, wiping away the tears she hadn’t even realized were falling. Tikki didn’t say anything else, just pressed herself against Marinette, offering quiet comfort.

Marinette let out a shaky laugh. “I just... I can’t believe I’m seeing you again.”

Kaalki cleared her throat delicately. “As touching as this is, I must address an important matter.” She floated forward, her expression equal parts guilty and composed. “Marinette, I deeply regret the incident that led to you and Chloé being transported away. I was overwhelmed by the struggle over the Horse Miraculous, and my power activated without proper control. Had I been more careful, you would never have—”

Marinette shook her head quickly, wiping at her eyes. “No, Kaalki. It wasn’t your fault. Chloé and I were fighting over the Miraculous. If anyone should be blamed, it’s us.”

Chloé, still holding Clover close, shook her head. “No. The fault lies only with me. But if I had to go through all of it again to get to where we are now, to be here, with them—” she glanced down at Clover, her expression soft, “I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Kaalki still looked troubled but inclined her head. “Nevertheless, I offer my deepest apologies.”

Marinette smiled gently. “And I accept them.”

Kaalki and Tikki turned their attention to Chloé then, their eyes cautious, wary. Marinette felt the shift immediately.

“She’s changed,” Marinette said firmly before either kwami could speak. She reached for Chloé’s hand, threading their fingers together. “She’s not the same person she was before. I trust her.”

There was a moment of silence, then Tikki gave a confused nod, followed by Kaalki.

“Mom? Mama?”

They turned to Clover again.

“What is it, sweetheart?” Marinette asked.

Clover’s brows furrowed as she looked at them carefully. “Why do you both look so different?”

Marinette blinked. “Different?”

Clover nodded. “Your faces look younger... and your clothes are weird.”

Marinette and Chloé looked directly at each other for the first time since coming through the portal. To say they were shocked would be an understatement. They both quickly made their way to a mirror to take a look at themselves.

Marinette gasped and Chloé yelped. They weren’t in their mid-twenties. They weren’t in the future like they thought. They were fifteen again.

Marinette pressed a hand to her face, her heart racing. “Chloé, we didn’t come back eleven years later. We came back to the same day.”

~~~

Clover had never seen a creature quite like the one floating in front of her. She had seen the statues and carvings of them, of course. Her mothers had also told her stories about Paris, about Ladybug and Queen Bee and all the magical beings that existed beyond the island. But this was real, not a story.

She took a cautious step forward, her wide eyes locked onto the tiny red creature hovering in the air. Then, with the confidence that only a child raised by two strong-willed parents could possess, she walked right up to her and said, “It’s nice to meet you.”

Tikki blinked. “Oh! It’s nice to meet you too!” She smiled warmly. “Did I hear that right? Are they your parents?”

Clover nodded seriously. “Yes. I’m their daughter.” She pointed toward Marinette and Chloé with a finger, her expression certain, as though there was nothing at all unusual about what she had just said.

“Oh,” Tikki said, as if the realization had just physically knocked into her. “Oh. So that’s why Chloé is acting nicer.”

Chloé made a noise of protest. “Hey!” She placed a hand on her hip with exaggerated offense. “I’ll have you know, I’ve been perfectly lovely for years now, thank you very much.”

Marinette shot her a teasing look. “Oh really? Years, you say?”

Chloé lifted her chin. “Yes, years. That’s what happens when you raise a child with the love of your life while being stranded on a deserted island. You tend to grow as a person.”

Clover, completely unfazed by the bickering, turned her attention back to Tikki. She tilted her head slightly, her brow furrowing. “You’re a lot smaller than the statue of you.”

Tikki gasped, her eyes widening. “Statue?”

Clover nodded. “Yeah! In the temple. You were one of the biggest ones. There were statues of other Kwamis too, but Mom and Mama told me you and Plagg were the most powerful.”

Tikki’s hands twitched at her sides, her wings fluttering slightly in a way that caught Marinette’s attention.

After a long pause, Tikki simply said, “Oh.”

Her voice was quiet, but there was something else there too. It was knowing, as though a puzzle piece had just clicked into place inside her mind.

Marinette straightened, something about Tikki’s reaction making her curious. “Tikki?”

Tikki took a slow breath before turning her gaze toward Marinette. “The place you went to,” she said carefully, “is called Kwami Island.”

Marinette’s brows furrowed. Kwami Island? Tikki looked at Kaalki, who was watching the exchange with a thoughtful expression. Then she turned back to Marinette.

“I can explain,” she said, “but do you want me to do it now, or do you want to wait for Alya?”

Marinette thought about it. She had a million questions. She wanted to demand answers immediately, to know more about the island that had shaped nearly half her life. But at the same time she had to consider Alya.

Alya, who had been there when all of this started. Alya, who had chased Chloé through the street, trying to stop her from taking the Miracle Box. Alya, who was probably still waiting just outside the bakery doors for her to come back. She had no idea that for Marinette, so much time had passed. She glanced at Chloé, who was watching her with an expression of understanding.

“You want to wait for her,” Chloé said. It wasn’t a question.

Marinette nodded. “Yeah. I don’t want to have this conversation more times than we have to. And she was there when we left. She deserves to hear everything.”

Chloé sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Go on, text her. I can’t wait much longer.”

Marinette giggled. “So impatient.”

Chloé crossed her arms. “As if you’re not feeling the same way.”

Clover, still sitting on the floor, beamed up at them. “We’re going to meet someone?”

Chloé bent down to ruffle her daughter’s hair. “Only your mom’s best friend that she’s been missing for ages.”

Marinette smiled before pulling her phone out of her pocket. She wasn’t used to using it again. Just holding it felt strange, like something from another life. She shook off the feeling and unlocked it. She found Alya’s contact and quickly typed out a message.

Marinette: come up to my room

She barely had time to take a breath before her phone buzzed with an immediate reply.

Alya: I’ll be right up

Marinette exhaled. She turned to Chloé, who had been reading over her shoulder.

“She’s on her way.”

Chapter Text

Chloé sighed impatiently, placing her hands on her hips. “Why’s she taking so long? Did she get stuck talking to your parents? ”

Clover tilted her head, an idea coming to her. “We could sing until she comes?”

Chloé let out a laugh. “Sweetheart, I love your voice, but I’m not sure now is the time for a concert.”

Marinette chuckled softly, then glanced down at her floor. She saw the Miracle Box, lying down exactly where it had fallen during her fight with Chloé all those years ago. Or rather, what had been minutes ago in this world.

Her stomach twisted uncomfortably. Even though she and Chloé had long stopped being enemies, the sight of the box brought back the memory of that day. Chloé had grabbed it in a desperate attempt to take control, and Kaalki panicked, creating the portal that swallowed them whole.

Chloé looked down as well, making a small sound of surprise.

“Oh, there it is,” she said, stepping forward and scooping up the Miracle Box with both hands. She turned to Marinette with an apologetic smile. “Here, you should lock it up before anything else crazy happens.”

Marinette barely had time to nod before the trapdoor to her room slammed open. Alya burst in like a hurricane, eyes blazing. The moment she took in the scene of Chloé standing in the middle of the room, holding the Miracle Box, her entire body went rigid.

“You rotten little thief!” Alya seethed.

Marinette let out a gasp as Alya lunged, tackling Chloé to the ground.

“HEY!” Chloé yelped as she crashed onto the floor, the Miracle Box bouncing out of her hands and rolling a few inches away. “Alya, what are you doing?!”

“Seriously?” Alya shot back, pinning Chloé’s arms to the floor, her expression livid. “You’re trying to take away the only protection this city has from a superpowered villain!”

“I wasn’t—!”

“Save it, Bourgeois! I’m not going to listen to anything you say.”

“Mama!”

Alya’s jaw dropped. The small voice cut through the room like a knife. Alya felt something pulling on her arm. It wasn’t strong enough to move her, but insistent nonetheless.

She looked down. There was a little girl that she had never seen before. The girl was gripping her sleeve tightly, her blue eyes wide with fear and determination.

“Leave my Mama alone,” Clover said, her voice wobbly, like she was holding back tears. “She’s not trying to steal anything.”

Alya’s entire body locked up. She turned to Marinette, her mouth opening and closing several times, searching for any kind of explanation. Marinette was already moving, quickly stepping forward to separate them.

“Okay, enough,” Marinette said firmly, grabbing Alya’s arm and gently but decisively pulling her off Chloé. “This was just a misunderstanding. Alya, I should have told you in my text that Chloé isn’t after the Miracle Box anymore. That’s my fault.”

Chloé sat up with a dramatic sigh, rubbing her wrist. “Ugh, I miss my muscles. I’m going to need to start working out. Alya, you tackle like a tiger. Where did you learn to do that?”

Alya was still completely frozen. “Wait,” she said slowly, eyes locked on Clover. “Did she just call you what I think she did?”

Clover took a step back, instinctively pressing into Chloé’s side, but she nodded. “She’s my mama,” she said. “And Mom is my mom.” She pointed at Marinette.

Alya looked as if she might faint.

Marinette sighed, knowing exactly where this was going. “Alya, I promise, we’ll explain everything.”

Alya didn’t even look at her. Her gaze was still locked onto Clover, her expression in complete disbelief.

She pointed a shaky finger at Chloé. “She’s her mom?”

Marinette nodded. “Yes.”

Alya’s voice rose an octave. “As in Chloé Bourgeois?”

“Yes.”

Alya turned her stunned gaze onto Marinette. “And you—” She waved wildly in Marinette’s direction. “are also her mom?”

Marinette fought back a laugh. “Yes, Alya.”

Alya’s entire face scrunched up. “Marinette.”

“Yes?”

Alya stared at her for another long moment, then said, “What on Earth did I miss?”

Marinette did laugh then, stepping forward and wrapping Alya in a tight hug. “A lot,” she said with a grin. “You missed a lot.”

Alya let out a breath, shaking her head against Marinette’s shoulder. “Okay. Okay, you have to explain everything.”

“We will,” Marinette assured her. “But first, we need to sit down, because trust me, you’re gonna want to be comfortable for this.”

Alya pulled back and gave her a look. “I feel like that’s an understatement.”

Marinette smirked. “Oh, you have no idea.”

~~~

Alya sat on Marinette’s chaise, staring at her best friend and Chloé like they had just told her they were actually aliens from another dimension. Which, honestly, would have been less shocking than what they had just explained.

“So let me get this straight,” she said, holding up a hand like she needed to physically stop any more mind-blowing revelations from hitting her all at once. “You two got stranded on some ancient, magic-filled island. And you somehow survived for ten years.”

“It was a little over eleven years actually,” Marinette corrected. Chloé nodded in agreement.

Alya shot them a look. “Eleven years, and then during all of that, Tikki’s magic randomly decided to make Marinette pregnant?!”

Tikki winced. “I wouldn’t say randomly...”

“Okay, explain then,” Alya said, throwing up her hands. “Because I am seriously struggling to wrap my head around this.”

Chloé hummed thoughtfully, absently running a hand through Clover’s hair. “The island wanted there to be three of us,” she mused. “That’s what Marinette figured out when she got pregnant. We needed three people to open the door to Kaalki’s power.”

Alya shook her head in disbelief. “I still can’t believe that. It just... created life? Just like that?”

“It borrowed from Chloé and put it inside me,” Marinette clarified, exchanging a soft glance with Chloé before looking back at Alya.

Alya let out a breath, running a hand down her face. “Man, that is crazy.”

Tikki’s wings drooped slightly. “I’m sorry, Marinette,” she said softly. “I would never want my magic to do something like that without your consent.”

Marinette immediately shook her head. “Tikki, don’t apologize. We wouldn’t change a thing.”

Chloé nodded, her hand settling on Marinette’s knee. “She’s right. I’ll admit, at first, it was a lot to process. But Clover is the best thing that’s ever happened to us. We love her more than anything.”

Clover beamed up at them. “I love you too, Mama! I love you too, Mom!”

Alya squealed, placing a hand over her chest. “Okay, that was adorable, I’ll admit it.” She exhaled heavily, then looked back at them, her eyes still swirling with disbelief. “But seriously, Marinette. You and Chloé? Together?”

Marinette and Chloé exchanged a glance before smiling at each other.

Chloé laced their fingers together, giving Marinette a soft squeeze before looking back at Alya. “What can I say?” she said, warmth behind her words. “Turns out, it’s really easy to fall for someone when they’re the only other person around, and also incredible, and beautiful, and smarter than anyone I’ve ever met.”

Marinette rolled her eyes but was clearly fighting back a pleased smile. “Oh please, like I didn’t drive you crazy at first.”

“You did,” Chloé admitted, laughing softly. “But I frustrated you just as much.” She bumped her shoulder against Marinette’s playfully. “Now here we are.”

Alya stared at them, shaking her head. “I never would have believed this if I wasn’t seeing it with my own eyes.”

Marinette raised a brow. “Sooo?”

Alya huffed. “I see it, okay? You two are, like, disgustingly in love, and it’s kinda freaking me out.”

Chloé snorted. “That’s understandable.”

Alya sighed. “Well, okay, I guess I’m happy for you two.”

Clover tilted her head. “You guess?”

Alya chuckled, reaching out to tap Clover’s nose. “Alright, alright, I am happy for them. But this is just so much to take in.”

Tikki, who had been listening patiently, floated forward. “Now that we’ve gone over that part, I should explain something else,” she said, her expression turning serious. “Kwami Island exists outside of regular time.”

Marinette and Chloé both sat up a little straighter at that.

Marinette frowned. “Outside of regular time?”

Tikki nodded. “It’s a place that one of the guardians thought of a very long time ago. He and the miraculous holders of the era used us to create the dimension, including the temple and its puzzles. The temple is there to house a fraction of our power in case a Miraculous is stolen. It allows the Kwami's power to be used once. The puzzles were put in place just in case someone with malicious intentions got access to the island. The first was meant to be very tricky to frustrate them into giving up. The second was meant to block them if they arrived alone or with a partner. My power being used to bypass it was something that was never considered.”

“We sometimes use the island in emergencies to train new holders, to make plans, or for other necessary purposes. Normally time moves on the island just as it does here. However, if a person is there, then time speeds up to such a substantial rate that it’s close to frozen here. That’s why you both aged on the island, but when you came back, your bodies reverted to almost the exact moment you left.”

Chloé sucked in a breath. “So it wasn’t just magic weirdness. It was actually time weirdness too?”

“Yes,” Tikki confirmed. “That’s why you both look the same as the day you disappeared. But Clover is different.”

Clover tilted her head. “Different how?”

Tikki turned to her with a warm smile. “You were born on Kwami Island, little one. You didn’t exist in Paris before. So when you came through the portal, the universe couldn’t find a previous version of you to return to. That’s why you kept your age.”

Clover blinked. “Oh.” She furrowed her brows, thinking about that. “So... the island made me, but Paris let me stay?”

Tikki beamed. “That’s a very good way to put it.”

Alya exhaled loudly. “Okay, you both aged because the island was outside of regular time, but you turned back to fifteen once you came home because time for Paris was basically still. Clover is special because she didn’t exist here before.”

“Exactly,” Tikki said.

Alya flopped back onto her back. “I’m getting a headache.”

Marinette laughed. “We’ve had years to adjust to all this stuff. You’re just now catching up.”

Alya let out a weak laugh. “Yeah, well, this is a lot to catch up on.”

Clover plopped down next to her, smiling brightly. “Don’t worry! You’ll get used to it soon! My moms say humans are very adaptable.”

Alya giggled. “Now she sounds like a little genius.”

Chloé grinned proudly. “She’s very smart.”

Alya shook her head. “I’m never gonna get over this.”

Marinette grinned, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “You’ll have to. Because this is our life now.”

Alya groaned. “I need so many details.”

Marinette and Chloé shared a look before both laughing.

“Oh, don’t worry,” Marinette said, her eyes shining with amusement. “We’ve got a ton to share.”

Chapter Text

Marinette took a deep breath as she, Chloé, and Clover stood at the top of the stairs, staring down at the bakery. The scent of fresh pastries and warm bread here was so much stronger than in her room. Marinette was home. Truly home.

Clover held tightly onto Marinette’s hand, looking up at her with wide, curious eyes. “Mom?” she asked softly. “Are we going to meet them now?”

Marinette smiled down at her and squeezed her hand. “Yes, sweetheart. We’re going to meet them now.”

Chloé reached out, brushing her fingers over Marinette’s wrist in silent reassurance. “Are you ready for this, Marinette?”

Marinette exhaled slowly. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

With that, she led them down the stairs. The moment her feet touched the floor, her parents turned, their expressions instantly lighting up with joy.

“Marinette!” Sabine gasped, hurrying forward.

“Sweetheart!” Tom boomed, already moving toward her.

Marinette was enveloped in both of their arms, their embraces warm, bringing back memories.

“Oh, my baby, you’re okay, you’re here,” Sabine murmured, pressing kisses to Marinette’s hair.

Tom’s grip was strong and grounding. “You had us worried, young lady! Alya just told us that you and Chloé disappeared for years because Ladybug accidentally hit you two with magic. I thought she was joking until I saw how serious she looked.”

It was the excuse they had come up with. Alya came down a few minutes before them to give an explanation that would satisfy Marinette’s parents without revealing anything about the fact that their daughter is Ladybug. In her explanation, Ladybug was trying out some new magic nearby but lost control and accidentally fired into the skylight in Marinette’s room.

Marinette swallowed the lump in her throat and hugged them tighter. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean for any of it to happen.”

Sabine pulled back just enough to cup Marinette’s face in her hands, eyes shining. “It isn’t your fault, and you’re safe now.”

Marinette let out a shaky laugh. “Yeah. I’m safe.”

Chloé stood a few steps behind, watching the reunion with a soft smile, Clover clinging to her side. She gently nudged their daughter forward, giving her an encouraging look.

Clover hesitated for only a moment before taking a deep breath and stepping closer.

“Hello,” she said politely.

Sabine blinked, just now noticing the little girl standing beside Chloé.

Tom’s eyes widened. “And who is this?”

Clover straightened proudly. “I’m Clover.”

Marinette stepped aside, placing a gentle hand on Clover’s shoulder. “Mom, Dad... this is our daughter.”

Sabine’s mouth opened. “Your... daughter?”

Tom’s face went slack. “You have a daughter?”

Marinette exchanged a look with Chloé, who gave her a slight nod before stepping forward. “Yes,” Chloé said gently. “She’s ours. The island we were trapped on had some magic that gave us a child.”

“Oh my gosh,” Sabine suddenly gasped, clutching Tom’s arm. “Tom, we’re grandparents.”

Tom’s eyes grew even wider. “We’re grandparents.”

Sabine’s hands flew to her mouth. She stood in front of Clover, tears welling in her eyes. “Oh, sweetheart, hi! I can’t believe it. Look at you!”

Clover blinked at her, startled by the sudden attention. “Hi?” she said uncertainly.

“Oh, aren’t you just beautiful,” Sabine gushed, reaching out but stopping herself before touching her, as if unsure if it was okay.

Clover, sensing no threat, tilted her head. “You can hug me if you want.”

Sabine melted. “Oh, honey, come here.”

Clover giggled as Sabine swept her into her arms, hugging her tightly. Tom immediately joined in, practically engulfing them both.

“Oh, she’s perfect,” Sabine murmured, stroking Clover’s hair. “My sweet little granddaughter.”

Tom sniffled loudly. “Clover! What a beautiful name! You must be the luckiest girl in the world with a name like that.”

Clover beamed up at him. “Mama and Mom said I was named after luck!”

Sabine let out a watery laugh. “Oh, that makes perfect sense. Because Ladybug’s magic sent you to that place.” She pulled back just enough to cup Clover’s face in her hands, studying her carefully. “Oh, she looks just like you two.”

Tom nodded. “She’s got Marinette’s eyes but Chloé’s hair.”

Clover beamed, looking up at Marinette and Chloé. “I do look like you!”

Marinette laughed. “Of course you do, sweetheart.”

Chloé, standing beside her, chuckled and wiped at her eyes. “I don’t think I was prepared for this part.”

Tom looked up at Chloé and suddenly his face softened. “And you,” he said, standing up.

Chloé swallowed. “Me?”

Tom’s expression grew serious. “I have to admit, when Alya first told us you were with Marinette when she disappeared, I was worried.”

Sabine nodded. “You and Marinette... well, you were never exactly nice to her, were you?”

Chloé bit her lip. “No, I wasn't.”

She took a deep breath, then squared her shoulders. “And that’s exactly why I wanted to say something.” She looked directly at Marinette’s parents, her expression earnest. “I know I wasn’t a good person before. I know I treated Marinette terribly when we were kids and even into our teenage years. I hate the person I used to be, and I’ll always regret how I acted. But I need you to know that I love Marinette with all my heart. I love Clover with all my heart. They’re my family, and I will spend the rest of my life making sure they’re happy.”

Marinette blinked, stunned by Chloé’s words. Tom and Sabine exchanged a glance. Then, Tom stepped forward and pulled Chloé into a tight hug.

Chloé stiffened in surprise, eyes going wide. “Oh!”

Sabine joined in, wrapping her arms around them both.

“Welcome to the family, dear,” Sabine murmured.

Chloé made a small, surprised sound before hesitantly hugging them back. “I don’t know what to say.”

Tom laughed. “You don’t have to say anything, kiddo.”

Chloé let out a quiet, shaky laugh. “Okay, well, now I definitely wasn’t prepared for this part.”

Marinette smiled, warmth spreading through her chest. Just as everything was getting comfortable, Chloé’s phone rang.

She frowned, pulling it from her pocket. “Huh?”

One glance at the caller ID was all it took to make her wince. “Oh no.”

Marinette raised an eyebrow. “What?”

Chloé sighed, then reluctantly answered. “Hello, Daddy.”

“Chloé Bourgeois!” André’s voice boomed through the phone so loudly that even Marinette and Sabine could hear it. “Where on Earth are you?! Do you have any idea how many calls I’ve made to the school looking for you?! I’ve let you get away with so much, but not this! You skipped half a day of classes!”

Chloé pinched the bridge of her nose. “Daddy, I promise I will explain everything when I see you.”

André’s voice remained sharp. “Chloé, what is going on? I want to know right—”

“Something big happened,” Chloé interrupted, her tone firm but calm. “It’s not what you think, and I will explain, but I need to do it in person.”

There was a long pause on the other end.

Finally, André sighed. “Okay. Please come home soon.”

Chloé exhaled. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

She hung up, letting out a breath. “Well. That went well.”

Marinette chuckled. “You ready to tell him everything?”

Chloé made a face. “I guess.”

Clover tugged at her sleeve. “Can I meet Grandpa too?”

Chloé blinked, then let out a soft laugh. “Of course, sweetheart. He’s going to love you.”

Tom grinned. “Of course he will! What’s not to love?”

Marinette smiled, her heart full.

~~~

André Bourgeois had always thought of himself as a man who could handle surprises.

Being the mayor of Paris for so many years had come with its fair share of shocking moments. There were unexpected scandals, multiple citywide evacuations due to supervillain-related chaos and so much more. But nothing in his years of experience had prepared him for the moment his daughter sat him down, looked him straight in the eye, and said ‘Dad, I have a daughter.’

At first, he had thought it was some sort of elaborate joke. A trick. But the longer he looked at Chloé, he realized this was real. He saw the woman she had become, the warmth and protectiveness in her eyes when she glanced at the little girl beside her. This was not a prank.

As he sat in his room, watching his granddaughter play with a gold pen from his desk, flipping it between her fingers, he let out a deep, slightly disbelieving laugh.

“Well,” he said, leaning back in his chair, shaking his head with a wide grin. “I have to say, Chloé, this is probably the best reason you’ve ever had for skipping school.”

Chloé huffed, crossing her arms. “I rarely ever skipped school in the first place.”

Marinette smirked beside her. “There was that one time when you wanted to go to that one event that started during school hours.”

Chloé shot her a look. “Marinette, I love you, but now is not the time.”

André chuckled again, looking back at Clover, who was now inspecting the Mayor’s desk with curious eyes. He had barely been able to take his eyes off her since she had walked in. It was surreal to see a child who looked so much like Chloé.

He exhaled slowly. “Six years,” he murmured. “You’ve been raising her for six years... on a deserted island, no less.” He shook his head, a note of awe in his voice. “I have to say, Chloé, I’m impressed. Proud of you.”

Chloé blinked, visibly taken aback. “You’re... proud?”

André nodded. “Of course I am! Raising a child is hard enough, but doing it with nothing? You had no money, no help, no anything. And yet, here she is. Happy, healthy, and brilliant.” He gestured toward Clover, who had now climbed onto his chair, spinning herself in circles. “You did that.”

Chloé swallowed, shifting uncomfortably. “Well, WE did that. Marinette and I.”

André nodded again. “Yes, and I’m proud of both of you.” His smile faltered slightly. “I have to admit, Chloé, there was a time when I wasn’t sure you’d ever be able to handle responsibility. I don’t like saying this, but...” He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I was starting to lose faith in you for a while.”

Chloé couldn’t stay silent, not after hearing that.

She stood up, planting her hands firmly on her hips. “Well, of course you were losing faith in me,” she said, her voice steady, but laced with sharpness. “But did you ever stop to think about why I turned out that way?”

André frowned. “What do you mean?”

Chloé inhaled slowly. “I had a lot of time to think on that island,” she said, her voice quieter now. “A lot of time. And do you know what I realized?” She folded her arms, looking him dead in the eye. “You never parented me.”

André stiffened. “Chloé, I—”

“No, listen to me,” Chloé interrupted, her expression serious. “You didn’t raise me, Daddy. You gave me things. Anything I wanted, whenever I wanted, no matter how I acted.” She shook her head. “You never taught me how to be a good person. You just... let me do whatever I wanted.”

André opened his mouth and then closed it. He looked at Marinette, who said nothing. She simply watched.

He turned back to his daughter. “I…” He hesitated. “I just wanted you to be happy.”

Chloé sighed. “I know you did. I thought I was happy... for a while. But looking back, I realize now that I needed more than just gifts and special treatment that nobody else got. I needed...” She hesitated, then straightened. “I needed a dad. Someone who actually parented me. Someone who told me when I was wrong. Someone who punished me when I deserved it instead of covering for me.”

André swallowed thickly. “Chloé.”

She exhaled slowly. “I don’t blame you for everything. I made my own mistakes. But I needed more from you.”

André let out a slow breath. “You’re right.”

Chloé blinked.

He met her gaze, his expression regretful. “You’re absolutely right,” he said quietly. “I should have tried harder. I should have been there for you. Not just as a provider, but as a father.” He shook his head. “I thought I was doing the right thing by giving you everything you wanted. I thought that was what being a good dad was.”

Chloé’s expression softened.

“I failed you,” André admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “And I’m sorry.”

Chloé swallowed. “It’s a little late for that,” she admitted, her voice gentle but firm. “I mean, I’m mentally twenty-six now. A bit past the ‘needing discipline’ stage.”

André chuckled weakly. “Yes, I suppose you are.”

Chloé smiled slightly, then sighed, rubbing her arm. “But... I do appreciate it.”

André exhaled, his expression easing. “Well, I do want to try to make it up to you.” He turned toward Clover, who was listening intently. “I think I know where to start.”

Marinette tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

André folded his hands. “Clover doesn’t technically exist in the system, does she?”

Chloé and Marinette exchanged a glance.

“No,” Marinette admitted. “We just got back. We haven’t even started trying to figure that out.”

André smiled. “Well, I am still the mayor.” He leaned back in his chair. “I can take care of all her documents. Birth records, citizenship, school registration. Whatever she needs.”

Marinette’s eyes widened. “You can do that?”

André chuckled. “Normally, it would be difficult. But thanks to akumas and all the magical chaos that happens in this city, our laws have had to become flexible. I can contact the right people to get it done.”

Chloé let out a breath of relief. “That would be amazing, Daddy. Thank you.”

Clover perked up. “Wait! What does this mean? Do I have to get a new name?”

André laughed. “No, nothing like that. It means you’ll officially be you, sweetheart. You’ll get papers with your name on it.”

Clover grinned. “Yay!”

Chloé smiled, squeezing Marinette’s hand. Everything was falling into place.

Chapter Text

Marinette, Chloé, and Clover stepped back into the bakery. The warmth of the Dupain-Cheng home was like a gentle embrace.

“We’re home,” Clover whispered in quiet awe, her eyes darting around the cozy interior for her grandparents.

Chloé squeezed Marinette’s hand and smiled. “We’re home,” she echoed softly.

Sabine peeked her head out from the kitchen, her face lighting up the moment she saw them. “Perfect timing! Dinner is just about ready.”

Tom appeared behind her, grinning. “We made a feast! We had a feeling you’d be hungry after... well, everything.”

Marinette’s stomach rumbled at the mere mention of food, and she let out a sheepish laugh. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed your cooking.”

Clover tugged at Chloé’s sleeve, bouncing excitedly. “Mama, what kind of food do Grandma and Grandpa make?”

Chloé smiled. “Oh, you’re in for a treat, baby girl.”

As they stepped into the kitchen, Marinette gasped. The dining table was covered in food. There were steaming bowls of soup, plates piled high with dumplings, a vegetable stir-fry, and warm baguettes with butter on the side. It was a meal fit for this celebration.

Clover’s eyes widened. “There’s so much!”

Tom laughed heartily. “Only the best for my girls!”

Sabine gestured to the table. “Go on, sit down. Eat while it’s hot!”

They didn’t need to be told twice. Marinette took a seat two away from Chloé. Clover plopped into the chair between them. As soon as they started eating, a blissful silence fell over the table, broken only by the occasional sighs of delight.

Clover, who had taken her first bite of soup, went still as the flavors hit her tongue. Her eyes went wide, and she let out a gasp.

“This is the best thing I’ve ever eaten!” she declared, slapping her hands on the table for emphasis.

Tom and Sabine beamed with pride.

Chloé, however, turned to her daughter with a playful pout. “Even better than Mama’s cooking?”

Clover’s mouth snapped shut, her spoon hovering midair as she suddenly looked very unsure of how to answer. She looked between her mothers, her expression torn, as she realized too late that she had walked straight into a trap.

“Uh...” Clover’s eyes darted to Marinette as if silently pleading for help.

Marinette let out a laugh and playfully bumped her shoulder against Chloé’s. “Stop that. It’s not a competition.”

Chloé sniffed dramatically. “Says you.”

Clover fidgeted in her seat before turning to Chloé with wide, innocent eyes. “Mama, your food is really, really good too!”

Chloé sighed, pretending to wipe a tear from her eye. “I suppose I can accept that.”

Sabine, watching the entire exchange, felt something in her chest. She had always hoped that, one day, Marinette would find a love that truly fulfilled her. That she would find someone who complemented her, someone who made her smile the way she was smiling now.

Chloé had changed. She had softened, matured. She was still bold, still confident, but the sharp edges had smoothed over. She no longer demanded attention, she earned it.

Then there was Clover. Sabine had never expected to gain a granddaughter overnight, but she wouldn’t change it for the world. Watching the three of them interact with the love they had for each other, it was undeniable that they were a family. A tear slipped down Sabine’s cheek.

Marinette noticed immediately. “Maman?”

Sabine wiped her eyes quickly and shook her head with a soft laugh. “Oh, don’t mind me. I’m just... so happy.” She reached across the table and took Marinette’s hand in hers. “Seeing you like this. Seeing the life you’ve built.” She sniffled. “I’m so proud of you, sweetheart.”

Marinette’s eyes softened, and she squeezed her mother’s hand. “Thank you, Maman.”

Sabine turned to Chloé. “And you,” she said, giving her a knowing smile. “Remember what we said before. You’re part of this family now too. Officially.”

Chloé, who had never been great at accepting affection from anyone but Marinette and Clover, looked down at her plate, her ears tinged pink. “Thanks,” she mumbled. “I really appreciate that.”

Tom let out a booming laugh. “Come here, kiddo!” Before Chloé could react, she was pulled into a warm, crushing hug.

Chloé let out a strangled sound. “Can’t... breathe...!”

Tom released her with a hearty chuckle. “Ah, you’ll get used to it!”

Marinette smirked. “Trust me, I still haven’t.”

Chloé let out a breath and straightened her shoulders, but she couldn’t stop the small smile playing at her lips.

Dinner continued, filled with laughter, stories, and a reenactment of the time Marinette almost got chased off a cliff by a wild boar.

Eventually, as the meal came to an end, Marinette set her spoon down and exhaled deeply. “So what are we going to do about Clover when we have to go to school?”

Sabine waved a hand. “Don’t worry about that, sweetheart. Your father and I will watch her.”

Chloé furrowed her brows. “Are you sure? I mean, running a bakery is a lot of work. Won’t that be difficult?”

Tom smiled. “We did it with Marinette just fine.”

Sabine nodded. “We always prep extra pastries before the workday starts. That gives us plenty of time to take care of things in between. Clover will be just fine with us.”

Clover perked up. “You mean I get to stay here?”

Sabine laughed. “Of course, sweetheart! We’re your grandparents, after all.”

Clover’s face lit up. “This is amazing!”

Marinette let out a breath of relief. “That takes such a weight off my shoulders.”

Chloé sighed. “I still don’t like the idea of going back to school, but at least I won’t have to worry about Clover the entire time.”

Sabine patted her hand. “Don’t worry, dear. We’ll take good care of her.”

Chloé nodded, her shoulders relaxing. “Thank you. Really.”

Tom grinned. “You’re family, Chloé. We take care of each other.”

Chloé swallowed thickly but smiled. As the night wound down, Marinette sat back in her chair, watching as Chloé and Clover played a little game at the table. Clover was trying to balance a dumpling on Chloé’s nose, and Chloé was barely holding still, fighting back laughter. Everything finally felt right.

~~~

The shrill ringing of Marinette’s alarm shattered the quietness of the early morning. Instinctively, she shot out a hand and smacked the snooze button, silencing it as quickly as possible. She held her breath for a second, glancing at the small figure curled up beside her, and exhaled in relief when Clover didn’t stir.

Beside her, Chloé groaned into the pillow. “Ugh... mornings.”

Marinette chuckled softly, rubbing her eyes as she sat up. “I know, I know.” She stretched, looking around the room.

They had all slept on the floor, curled up in a nest of blankets and pillows. Marinette’s bed was still untouched. With three of them now sharing her space, it just wasn’t big enough.

Marinette glanced at Chloé, who was still trying to bury herself under the blanket. “We’re going to need to redesign this room,” she murmured.

Chloé peeked one eye open. “Mmm?”

“For three people,” Marinette clarified, gesturing around the space. “We’re going to be splitting time between here and the hotel (switching every few days so Clover gets used to both), but this room isn’t exactly designed for three people to live in it.”

Chloé sighed, running a hand through her sleep-mussed hair. “Yeah, you’re right. We’ll have to figure something out.” She gave Marinette a sleepy smile. “At least we’re not stuck in a temple anymore.”

Marinette smiled back. “Yeah. At least there’s that.”

She reached for her earrings, fingers brushing over the Ladybug Miraculous. She had missed wearing it. After eleven years, it felt good to have that part of herself back.

Chloé, sitting up beside her, ran a thumb over the Bee Miraculous nestled in her hair. Unlike before, its design had changed, subtly altered to disguise its identity. If anyone saw it, they wouldn’t recognize it as the same Bee Miraculous that Chloé had once wielded.

Chloé glanced at her. “You ready?”

Marinette groaned. “For school? No.”

Chloé chuckled. “Same.”

Still, they got up and started getting ready. Moving around each other in the small space felt so different from their life on the island. Just a normal morning routine in a normal bedroom. Marinette pulled out a fresh change of clothes from her closet, smoothing it out before slipping it on.

Chloé grumbled under her breath as she pulled on the clothes she had brought from her room, tugging at the sleeves as if they offended her. “Ugh, I don’t think this is my style anymore.”

Marinette smirked. “You haven’t worn those clothes in eleven years. Give it time.”

Chloé frowned. “I don’t need to give it time. I know my opinion won’t change.”

Marinette rolled her eyes with a fond expression. Eventually, as they continued to move about, packing their school bags and checking their things, they heard a small yawn from the floor.

Clover was stirring, rubbing at her eyes sleepily. She sat up, her hair an absolute mess, blinking blearily at them. “Mama...? Mom...?”

Marinette immediately smiled, crouching down beside her. “Good morning, sweetheart.”

Clover whined sleepily, flopping over onto Marinette’s lap. “No morning.”

Chloé chuckled, ruffling her hair. “Afraid we can’t stop time, baby girl.”

Marinette kissed the top of Clover’s head. “We have to go to school today, sweetheart.”

Clover’s face scrunched up as she pouted. “School?”

Marinette nodded. “Yep, remember what we talked about? It’s something we have to do. But we’ll be back this afternoon, and you’ll get to spend the day with Grandpa Tom and Grandma Sabine!”

Clover yawned again, sleepily leaning against Marinette. “Okay...”

Chloé smiled, crouching down beside them and pressing a kiss to Clover’s forehead. “Be good for your grandparents, alright?”

Clover nodded. “I will.”

Chloé raised an eyebrow. “That includes not watching TV all day.”

Clover pursed her lips, glancing away just slightly. “I won’t...”

Chloé narrowed her eyes. “Clover.”

Clover sighed. “Okay...”

Marinette bit back a laugh. “You were very interested in the TV yesterday,” she mused.

Clover perked up. “It’s so cool!” She turned to Chloé with an eager expression. “You said it was moving pictures, right? There were stories and people singing and people acting funny.”

Chloé sighed, shaking her head with amusement. “I knew we should’ve eased you into it.”

Marinette chuckled. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. You’ll get to watch TV, but you have to listen to Grandpa Tom and Grandma Sabine, okay?”

Clover nodded solemnly. “Okay.”

Chloé kissed her forehead again. “That’s my girl.”

Marinette hugged Clover tightly, then kissed her cheek. “We love you, sweetheart. We’ll be home soon, okay?”

Clover wrapped her arms around both of them, nuzzling into their embrace. “Love you too.”

Chloé pulled away with a soft sigh. “Alright. Let’s get this over with.”

Marinette nodded, slinging her bag over her shoulder. “Time to go back to school.”

Clover watched them as they headed toward the trapdoor, still drowsy but intrigued by the idea of what school actually was. “What do you do there?”

Chloé groaned. “Ugh, so much work.”

Marinette laughed. “We’ll tell you all about it when we get back.”

Clover waved sleepily as they left. “Okay... have fun...”

Marinette smiled. “We’ll try.”

With one last glance back at their daughter, Marinette and Chloé climbed down the trapdoor ladder, heading downstairs.

Chapter Text

Marinette and Chloé made their way to school, hand in hand. The city was alive with the usual morning bustle, but for Marinette, everything felt different. She had walked this path a thousand times before, but never like this. Never after living an entire lifetime somewhere else. Never while holding hands with Chloé Bourgeois.

She glanced up at Chloé, seeing the easy confidence in her stride, the way she held Marinette’s hand so tightly. It made Marinette’s heart squeeze in comfort.

Chloé must have noticed, because she smirked. “What’s that look for, Marinette?”

Marinette smiled. “Oh, nothing. Just still getting used to all of this in a place people can see us.” She gave their linked hands a little shake for emphasis.

Chloé hummed. “Well, you’d better get used to it fast. Because I fully intend to keep showing you affection in public for the rest of our lives.”

Marinette laughed. “Oh? The rest of our lives?”

Chloé lifted her chin. “Absolutely. And if anyone has a problem with that, they can take it up with me.”

Marinette squeezed her hand. “I love you, you know that?”

Chloé grinned. “Of course you do. I am extremely lovable.”

Marinette snorted, shaking her head. “You’re impossible.”

Chloé chuckled. “And you’re still madly in love with me.”

They turned onto the school’s front steps, the familiar building looming over them. It was surreal walking into this place where time hadn’t moved forward, where their classmates still expected them to be the same people they were the day they disappeared.

Marinette could already feel the looks they were getting. It started in the courtyard. Students turned to stare as they passed, whispering to one another in hushed tones. Some gasped, some gawked outright, and a few even rubbed their eyes as if they weren’t sure they were seeing correctly.

“Wait, is that Marinette and Chloé?”

“No way. Since when are they friends?”

“Are they holding hands?!”

By the time they reached the classroom door, Marinette braced herself for the inevitable. She pushed the door open. The entire room fell silent as soon as they stepped in.

The sight of Marinette and Chloé standing together, hand in hand, was enough to break their classmates’ brains. Their expressions ranged from stunned disbelief to outright shock. Well, except for Alya.

Alya, already seated at her spot, barely glanced up from her phone. “Morning, lovebirds.”

Chloé smirked. “Good morning to you too, Miss Journalist.”

The rest of the class, however, exploded.

“WHAT THE—” Nino stammered.

“What’s happening?! Is this a prank?!” Kim looked all around the room for hidden cameras.

“Marinette?! Since when are you and Chloé friendly?!” Alix asked. She was starting to wonder if she was dreaming.

Chloé’s smirk widened, mischief twinkling in her eyes. “Oh, friendly doesn’t begin to cover it.”

Before Marinette could stop her, Chloé spun her around in a dramatic motion, dipped her low, and pressed a deep kiss to her lips. The classroom erupted in an uproar.

“WHAT?!” Nathaniel yelled.

“OH MY GOSH!” Rose screeched.

“Are they dating?” Juleka wondered.

Alya, to her credit, didn’t react at all. She merely sighed and continued scrolling on her phone like this was old news.

Chloé pulled back, grinning down at Marinette. “Hello, gorgeous.”

Marinette, who had not been expecting to be dipped and kissed in the middle of their classroom, flushed a deep red. “Chloé—”

Chloé pulled her upright again, looking entirely too pleased with herself. The rest of the class swarmed them.

“How long has this been happening?!” Mylène asked.

“Since when are you two a thing?!” Ivan was astounded.

“I thought you hated each other,” Max stated.

“Are you pulling some kind of stunt?!” Alix questioned.

“I don’t know how this happened, but I’m happy for you two!” Adrien congratulated.

Marinette sighed, already regretting not mentally preparing for this.

Chloé, on the other hand, looked delighted. “Oh, relax, everyone. Marinette and I are very much in love, and that’s all you need to know.”

Marinette groaned, rubbing her temples. “We’ll explain later… maybe.”

Alya, finally looking up, snorted. “Pfft. Good luck NOT explaining. You know they won’t let this go.”

“Yeah, we know,” Marinette muttered.

Chloé let out an exaggerated sigh. “So needy, all of you.”

Sabrina, who had been completely silent this entire time, stared at Chloé like she had just grown a second head.

When the noise died down enough for them to actually move to their seats, Chloé made her way toward Sabrina, while Marinette slid into her seat beside Alya.

Sabrina blinked up at her as she sat down. “Um... good morning?”

Chloé turned to her with a warm, genuine smile. “Good morning, Sabrina.”

Sabrina hesitated, as if waiting for a snide remark or a demand. But none came.

Instead, Chloé just stretched her arms and sighed contentedly. “Interesting morning, huh?”

Sabrina blinked again. “You’re... being nice?”

Chloé tilted her head. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Sabrina hesitated again. “I mean... I like it. I’m just not used to it.”

Chloé chuckled. “Well, let’s just say I’ve done a lot of growing up.”

Sabrina studied her for a long moment, then slowly smiled. “I think I like the change.”

Chloé smiled back. “Good. Because I’m not going back to who I was before.”

Meanwhile, at the other side of the room, Marinette let out a long sigh, dropping her head against her desk.

Alya grinned. “What’s wrong, girl? Not used to being the center of attention?”

Marinette whined. “I knew she’d do something, but I still wasn’t ready for it.”

Alya laughed, patting her shoulder. “Welcome back to high school, lovebird.”

Marinette whined again, but despite the attention, the questions, and sheer chaos, she smiled. Because no matter how ridiculous this was, no matter how utterly unprepared she felt for dealing with their classmates’ reactions, she was really glad to be back in school.

~~~

Ms. Bustier’s voice carried through the room, discussing something about 19th-century French literature. Marinette was listening, mostly. It was hard to focus when she could still feel the eyes of her classmates on her.

It had been a long, exhausting day of dealing with stares, hushed whispers, and stunned expressions. After their dramatic entrance that morning, their classmates still weren’t over the fact that Marinette and Chloé were a couple. Some had been bold enough to pass notes, others had sent not-so-subtle texts to Alya demanding answers, and some simply kept sneaking glances.

Chloé, of course, was loving the attention. She had spent the entire day openly flirting with Marinette, shooting smirks at anyone who gawked too much, and generally thriving in the chaos.

Marinette, on the other hand, was just trying to survive the school day. She glanced at Chloé, absentmindedly twirling her pen between her fingers.

Just as Marinette was trying to refocus on the lesson, the classroom door suddenly opened with a soft creak. A small, blonde-haired girl peeked inside, scanning the room with a very serious frown.

Clover was standing in the doorway of their classroom. Her eyes quickly landed on Marinette and Chloé, and her entire face lit up.

“I found you!” she declared, grinning as she hurried inside.

The classroom erupted into whispers. Marinette and Chloé launched to their feet.

“Clover?!” Marinette gasped, rushing toward her.

Chloé was right beside her, her voice tinged with both panic and confusion. “Sweetheart, what are you doing here?”

Clover beamed up at them. “I came to find you!”

Marinette placed her hands on Clover’s shoulders, scanning her quickly to make sure she was okay. “Where’s Grandpa Tom and Grandma Sabine?”

Clover tilted her head. “At the bakery.”

Marinette and Chloé gasped.

Marinette’s stomach dropped. “What?”

Chloé’s eyes widened. “You came here by yourself?!”

Clover nodded matter-of-factly, as if this was the most logical thing in the world. “Yep!”

Marinette’s pulse spiked. “Sweetheart, you can’t just walk across the street alone!”

Clover frowned. “Why not? I found the way.”

Chloé ran a hand down her face, struggling to stay calm. “Clover, that’s dangerous. You can’t just leave without telling anyone!”

Clover’s lower lip wobbled slightly. “But I waited for you to come home, and you never came back.” Her little hands clenched into fists. “I didn’t want to never see you again.”

Marinette’s heart broke at the sight of Clover’s expression.

She immediately pulled Clover into her arms. “Oh, sweetheart, no, no, no.” She hugged her tightly. “That will never happen. I promise.”

Chloé crouched down beside them, brushing a hand through Clover’s hair. “Baby girl, we will always come back to you. Always.”

Clover sniffled. “But you left.”

Marinette’s grip on her tightened. “Only for a little while. And only because we have to. But we’re never going to disappear forever.”

Clover hesitated, then slowly nodded against Marinette’s shoulder.

Ms. Bustier, who had been watching the scene with mild surprise, cleared her throat gently. “I take it this is your daughter?”

Marinette stood up, still holding Clover. She was surprised that Ms. Bustier knew Clover was her daughter. “Yes,” she said softly. “I’m so sorry, Madame, we’ll take her home right now—”

Ms. Bustier held up a hand. “No need. She can stay.”

Marinette blinked. “What?”

Ms. Bustier smiled kindly. “Your parents already notified the school about your return and about Clover, so I already knew.” She gestured to the classroom. “As long as she sits quietly, she’s welcome to stay for the rest of the lesson.”

Marinette stared. “Oh.”

Chloé crossed her arms. “Well, that’s... unexpectedly convenient.”

Clover perked up. “I can stay?”

Ms. Bustier nodded. “As long as you’re quiet and respectful during the lesson, of course.”

Clover turned to Marinette, eyes wide with excitement. “Mom, can I stay?”

Marinette let out a slow breath. “Yes, but only if you promise to listen.”

Clover nodded enthusiastically. “I promise!”

Chloé sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Unbelievable. Second day back and she's already sneaking out of the house and crashing our classes.”

Marinette laughed softly. “She’s your daughter.”

Chloé smirked. “She’s our daughter, Marinette.”

They led Clover over a spot they could all sit, seating her between them. Clover eagerly sat in the middle, looking very pleased with herself.

Meanwhile, the rest of the class was staring. Whispering. Sneaking even more glances at them. As if today wasn’t already wild enough, now they had to explain this.

Alya leaned toward Marinette and murmured, “Girl, you have to tell them something eventually.”

Marinette groaned, resting her forehead against the desk. “I know.”

Chloé rolled her eyes, flipping her hair. “Let them wonder. It’s fun.”

Clover, however, had other priorities.

She was staring at the blackboard, then at the other students’ notebooks, her expression curious. “So... what do you do in school?”

Chloé snorted. “Suffer.”

Marinette shot her a look. “Ignore her. We learn about different subjects like math, science, history—”

Clover perked up. “Like the temple!”

Marinette smiled. “Yeah, kind of like what we taught you there.”

Ms. Bustier cleared her throat, amused. “We’re discussing literature today, Clover.”

Clover tilted her head. “What’s literature?”

Marinette chuckled. “Stories.”

Clover immediately sat up straighter. “Oh! I love stories!”

Ms. Bustier smiled. “Then you might enjoy this class.”

Just like that, the lesson resumed. Clover sat between them, listening with bright eyes, completely enchanted by the idea of learning new things. Throughout it all, their classmates continued to stare.

Marinette sighed. They were definitely going to have to explain this soon.

Chapter Text

Years had passed, and Paris had changed, but so had the lives of Marinette, Chloé, and Clover.

Marinette and Chloé both graduated from university, finally stepping into the careers they had dreamed about. Together, they had launched a fashion label that had already begun gaining serious attention in the fashion world. Their designs blended Marinette’s love for elegant, innovative craftsmanship with Chloé’s sharp eye for style. They had only just gotten started, but their brand had already been featured in several fashion magazines, and whispers of their potential spread quickly through the industry.

Even Gabriel Agreste, now retired from the fashion world, had been rumored to have made an offer to collaborate, but Marinette and Chloé had no interest in working with someone who had caused so much pain in the past.

The biggest change to them was that Clover was now 14 years old. Their baby girl had grown into a smart, confident young teenager, full of energy and enthusiasm. She still had her mama’s golden hair and her mom’s expressive eyes, but she had developed a personality all her own. Today, for the first time ever, she was going to wield a Miraculous.

High above the rooftops of Paris was Marinette, fully suited as Ladybug. Chloé stood beside her, transformed into Honey Bee, her replacement hero form.

Standing between them, bouncing on her feet with a mixture of excitement and nerves, was Manymouse, Clover’s brand-new hero identity.

The Mouse Miraculous had granted her the power to multiply, just like its previous holders. The small ears on her head twitched slightly as she adjusted to the feeling of her mask.

“Okay,” Ladybug said, offering a reassuring smile. “First lesson is movement.”

Honey Bee grinned, crossing her arms. “Time for you to learn how to jump around rooftops like a real hero.”

Manymouse gulped, looking at the vast cityscape in front of them. “Uh... I want to be a hero, but the distance between buildings is pretty big.”

Ladybug chuckled. “Don’t worry too much. With enough practice, you’ll be able to move around just fine.”

Honey Bee stretched dramatically. “Ah, brings back memories. I remember learning to be a hero again after so many years of not using a Miraculous.”

Ladybug gave her a teasing look. “Yeah, and you almost fell off a building.”

Honey Bee pouted. “I thought we were never going to talk about that again.”

Manymouse giggled, then turned back to the rooftops, her nerves returning. “So... what do I do first?”

Ladybug pointed to the next rooftop. “Try jumping over there. It’s not as far as it looks. Just get a running start.”

Manymouse took a deep breath. “Okay. Okay, I can do this.”

She took a few steps back, steeled herself, and then ran. Her heart pounded as she launched herself off the edge. For a moment, it felt like she was flying, but she quickly realized she hadn’t jumped high enough.

“Ahh!”

Her foot slipped on the landing. She yelped as she lost her balance, her arms flailing. In an instant, Ladybug’s yo-yo shot out, wrapping securely around Manymouse’s waist and pulling her safely onto the rooftop. Manymouse gasped, gripping Ladybug’s arm as she steadied herself.

“I slipped,” she mumbled, her voice small.

Ladybug crouched down beside her. “It’s okay, sweetheart.”

Manymouse’s ears drooped slightly. “Maybe I can’t be a hero.”

Ladybug’s heart ached. She reached out, tucking a stray hair behind Manymouse’s ear, her actual ear. “You know, I didn’t think I could be a hero at first either.”

Manymouse blinked up at her. “You didn’t?”

Ladybug smiled gently. “Nope. When I first became Ladybug, I was terrified. I tripped over my own feet, I didn’t know how to use my yo-yo properly, and I almost quit.”

Manymouse’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“Really.”

Honey Bee sighed, placing a hand on her hip. “And I put people in danger when I was Queen Bee.”

Ladybug smirked. “Oh? You admit it now?”

Honey Bee huffed. “I grew as a person, okay?”

Ladybug turned back to Manymouse, her expression soft. “My point is, no one starts out perfect. Being a hero is something you learn. We’re here to teach you.”

Manymouse swallowed. “So… You think I can get better?”

Honey Bee smiled. “Of course you can.”

Manymouse hesitated, then nodded firmly. “Okay. I want to keep trying.”

Ladybug beamed. “That’s my girl.”

They helped her back up. Manymouse took a few extra moments to steady herself. She ran faster than she did before and jumped with more force. This time she landed on the other side properly. It wasn’t perfect or graceful, but she made it.

“I did it!” she gasped, spinning around to face them. “I did it!”

Ladybug and Honey Bee grinned.

Manymouse bounced on her feet, excitement radiating from her. “I want to do it again!”

Ladybug chuckled. “That’s the spirit.”

As the night went on, they continued to train, moving from rooftop to rooftop. Ladybug and Honey Bee watched Manymouse gain confidence, their hearts filling with pride. Their daughter was going to be amazing.

After the training session, they sat together on the edge of the Eiffel Tower. From this height, the sounds of the city were quiet.

Manymouse was between her mothers, her hands gripping the metal beam beneath her as she took in the view with wide, astonished eyes.

“Wow,” she whispered. “This is incredible.”

She had always known about the Eiffel Tower being a popular spot for the heroes to meet, but actually being here, sitting on the very beams that her parents and other heroes had used as a gathering place was something else entirely.

Ladybug smiled softly, watching the wonder on her daughter’s face. “The view is beautiful,” she said. “But it’s also a reminder.”

Manymouse blinked and turned to her. “A reminder?”

Ladybug nodded, gesturing to the city below. “Look down there. See all those people? The cars, the lights, the homes? This is why we do what we do. This is what we protect.”

Manymouse followed her gaze, staring at the vast cityscape beneath them.

Honey Bee hummed. “It’s a lot of responsibility,” she added. “You don’t just get the fun of jumping on rooftops. You have to make decisions that affect people’s lives. You have to be ready for that. Are you sure you want this?”

Manymouse didn’t hesitate. “Yes,” she said firmly. “I want to do this. I can do this.”

Ladybug and Honey Bee exchanged a look before smiling.

“Then welcome to the team, Manymouse,” Ladybug said warmly.

Honey Bee smirked. “You’re officially one of us now, little mouse.”

Manymouse grinned. Ladybug and Honey Bee pulled her into a tight hug. Manymouse let out a surprised squeak, then giggled, wrapping her arms around them.

“You’re our hero now,” Ladybug murmured.

Manymouse squeezed them both. “I won’t let you down.”

Ladybug kissed the top of her head. “We know you won’t.”

Eventually, they decided it was time to head home. The day had been long, and as exhilarating as the training had been, exhaustion was beginning to set in. With one last look at the city below, the three of them made their way down the tower, leaping from beam to beam before making their way back across the rooftops of Paris.

Once they reached their neighborhood, they landed in a quiet alley, tucked away from prying eyes.

With a quick call of “Tikki, spots off!” and “Pollen, buzz off!,” Marinette and Chloé transformed back into themselves, their suits fading into their usual clothes.

Clover followed suit with “Mullo, Unsqueak”, watching as Manymouse disappeared, leaving just her again.

Now just civilians once more, they walked the last few steps home. Unlike in the past, when they had bounced between Marinette’s parents’ home and Le Grand Paris hotel, they finally had a place of their own.

After a lot of hard work, careful planning, and the steady rise of their fashion brand, Marinette and Chloé had saved enough to put a down payment on a beautiful house.

As soon as they walked inside, Clover flopped onto the couch, sighing contentedly. “That was so much fun.”

Chloé let out an exaggerated groan as she dropped onto the couch beside her. “Ugh, you have way too much energy.”

Clover grinned up at her. “Says you.”

Chloé huffed. “Time is passing way too quickly. You’re already 14. I swear, it was just yesterday that you were torturing me with endless dirty diapers on the island.”

Clover let out a horrified whine. “Mama, why would you say that?!”

Marinette burst into laughter, sitting on Clover’s other side. “Oh, sweetheart, you should know that Chloé did say she was going to hold that against you forever.”

Clover buried her face in her hands. “You’re both acting ridiculous, utterly ridiculous.”

Marinette’s laughter doubled. She turned to Chloé with a smirk. “You know where she got that from, right?”

Chloé chuckled. “Oh, I know.”

Clover pouted at both of them, her nose scrunching up in a way that was unmistakably Chloé-like. Before she could argue further, her parents wrapped her up in another hug.

Chloé kissed the top of her head. “We love you, Clover.”

Marinette hugged her tightly. “So, so much.”

Clover, despite her earlier embarrassment, melted into their embrace.

“I love you too,” she murmured. Then she pulled back, grinning. “You’re the best parents I could ask for.”

Marinette felt warmth in her chest from her daughter’s words.

Chloé sighed, resting her chin on Clover’s head. “Okay, now I feel old.”

Marinette snorted. “You are old.”

Chloé gasped dramatically. “How dare you!”

Clover giggled. As the night went on, Marinette and Chloé couldn’t help but both think that this was everything they had ever wanted and much, much more.