Vulnerable

19

Adrien swore he had fallen asleep while standing in the shower. After he had watched the sunrise with Chloe, he was convinced to go home to sleep and shower. He took it as an opportunity to finally breath from the grim situation.

He couldn't stop thinking about his daughter, how cute and perfect she is and how much joy it would bring to the happy couple. Though the thought Emma helped him calm down, but seeing Marinette awake and holding their baby would make him feel relieved upon sight. Until then, he could only worry about his wife.

As he was rubbing a towel through his hair and walking into the living room, he read a text from his father informing him that Marinette is allowed visitors but not many at one time. She's going to be unconscious for a couple more days due to the medication. Adrien thanked his father and encouraged everyone to relax until after the examination to determine her condition. He forwards the message to Alya and Nino, then to Chloe who was starting to worry over Marinette as if they were suddenly friends.

He placed his phone back on the charger on the kitchen counter and laid down on the sofa in the living room. He stared at the ceiling, alone with his thoughts until he fell asleep again.

Four hours later, the blonde woke up to his ringtone he had set for Nino. The sound made him groan as he rubbed his eyes. Slowly, he stood up and walked to his phone in the kitchen, removing the charger, and answering his best friend. "What's up?" he asked.

"Hey, did I interrupt your nap? I called three times over the last two hours." Nino laughed.

"Sort of." Adrien yawned and stretched. "How's Mari?"

"Same since last night," Said the DJ, "Alya and I were wondering when you were going to come to the hospital to visit Mari and Emma."

Adrien glanced at the clock on the stove, realizing it's already two o' clock in the afternoon. "I'll be around soon. I'll buy something to eat for us, and we can hang out at the hospital. I really want to spend time with Emma and visit Mari."

"Alright. We'll see you soon." Nino said, then hung up his side of the call.

Adrien noticed that the bakery was finally opened, guessing that Mr. and Mrs. Dupain-Cheng had gone home to relieve some stress of the situation. When he entered to intentionally buy croissants and other baked goods, he noticed the regular customers gushing over the picture of the newborn baby in a picture frame with information next to the register.

"What a cute little granddaughter they have!"

"Look at those eyes!"

"I'm sure Marinette will recover smoothly soon."

He couldn't help but smile over the positivity in the small room. He spoke up and announced how grateful to have a healthy daughter and how Marinette's recovery is going well.

A few women said that the condition was rare, and how unfortunate it happened to a young woman like his wife. He tried not to take it as bad as it sounded, but he didn't want his anxiety to make him break again like last night.

He tried to keep a smile and thanked everyone for their comments and tips as he attempted to order some snacks.

Seeing families and friends visiting with fast food bags in their hands was apparently normal in the hospital. So walking around with a huge paper bag of baked goods and a drink tray with three large coffee cups was the most normal human thing Adrien could do.