Marinette opened the door to the very tired eyes of Alya. She swore this girl wasn't sleeping at all, and not just because of the baby.
Adrien and Marinette had decided that this morning they were going to find their intel. They were going to find out as much as possible from the desired parties before they began operation 'Kiss-mass'. With Adrien making another appearance at the bakery this afternoon, Marinette had precisely four hours to get what she needed out of Alya.
Marinette had thought long and hard over night, thinking about how she wanted to play this. There were a number of questions her best friend had yet to answer. Number one, if she knew it might not be Nino's why was she keeping the baby? Number two what was the argument about?
Speaking on the phone to Adrien last night pulled up two possibilities, firstly the argument was something horrendous therefore any type of reconciliation would be impossible and secondly, that they can help the two push past their differences, and if the child was Nino's help him accept that and hopefully the two could at least be civil for the sake of their child.
"Hey." Alya greeted Marinette by falling into her arms. How Marinette wished she could take away the pain for her friend.
"Hey yourself, are you sleeping at all?" Alya let out a laugh, but it didn't reach anywhere near her eyes.
"The baby's very active in the evening, and I can't sleep in the day. I'm still working freelance to try and get some money together ready for when the baby arrives."
Marinette looked her friend over and shook her head. She should not be doing this to herself.
"Alya, anything ... and I mean anything I can do for you please let me know."
Alya nodded and wrapped Marinette into a huge hug.
"Before we begin discussing my horrendous situation, how was seeing Sunshine boy again?" Marinette laughed at the nickname remembering Adrien's response to it on Thursday at their meeting.
"It was great. He's still amazing and I'm still obsessed. Seriously, it's completely messed me up. I came back ready to let Chat into my heart and finally settle down with someone I love, then boom! Welcome back super handsome and super buff Adrien Agreste. Geez, what has he been doing since I was away?"
Alya smiled at her friend knowing exactly what she meant. Adrien was no longer the lean teenager with slight muscle, he was now full on cut. However, the main point of the conversation didn't push past her best friend.
"You want to be with Chat Noir? Romantically?"
Marinette sighed. She was glad she had someone to talk to about this as it was driving her insane.
"Yes, Alya. Chat Noir and Ladybug will finally be a couple ... I think ... but then Adrien and grrrrrr ..." Marinette sits down on the couch grabbing a pillow and covering her face so she can scream.
"Have you stopped to think whether Chat has a girlfriend? You've been away for almost a year. He might have found a new bug."
Marinette shot her head to look at her friend.
"Do you think he has? Oh my - what if he has? Then we'll never get married and have a team of mini superheroes."
"I'm sure it'll be ok girl." Alya let out a chuckle and Marinette couldn't help but smile at her best friend finally showing some of her teenage sass.
"You and Chat Noir are meant to be. I mean look at the two of you. Running around in tight fitting clothing, grabbing onto each other in a very more than just friends way and he puts his life on the line for you constantly. I doubt he would move on without seeing you again."
"I know!" Marinette squealed. "This is the issue!"
"I think you two are overlooking something." A voice appeared from the kitchen of Marinette's parents apartment. Tom Dupain walked over to sit opposite the girls with his coffee in his hands.
"Marinette, sweetheart ... hear me out." Marinette looked at her father and gave him a nod to continue.
"Chat Noir would be the most perfect husband for you ..."
Marinette snorted.
"I'm only after a boyfriend papa."
"Yeah, whatever! You're loyal. Whoever you get with you'll be with until you're... well now you're a guardian who knows? Anyway that's not the point I'm trying to make. Haven't you wondered why you're drawn to the two boys? Are there any similarities which pull you in?"
Marinette thought for a moment and compared her two blondes. Hair - check, eyes - check ...
"They both have the same attributes and they're both a little dorky." Marinette smiled to herself. It was the dork factor that she loved the most. They made her feel happy. They made her feel whole. They made her feel equal.
"Have you ever thought you might be drawn to both because they're the same person?"
"What?" Marinette's eyes widened in shock. There's no way they could be the same person. Could they?
"I've been watching Adrien a lot when he comes over and I can see a Chat Noir side to him. That would explain his infatuation with you whilst you were gone and it would explain your love for the two boys. Just think about it Mari. Perhaps you don't need to choose, sweetheart." Tom stood up taking his cup, and making his way down to the bakery.
"I agree with your papa, you know." Alya pulled Marinette out of her thoughts. "Whilst Adrien's been looking after me I've noticed something about him that we never saw in lycée. Maybe you could date them both?"
"What?"
Marinette couldn't believe what Alya was saying, especially with the mess she's got herself into. That was a bad friend thought, and Marinette scalded herself for even thinking it.
"Just give them a chance Mari. They're both perfect for you ... perhaps they're both him."
"Ok we're not here to talk about me, we're here to talk about you. This conversation is over."
"Fine, but at least speak to Chat and decide what you think would be best." Alya pulled out her phone and pulled up the Ladyblog. "Need me to post a message?"
Marinette looked over at her friend and covered her face again with her pillow.
"Fine. Tell him tomorrow, normal time, normal place. He'll understand."
Alya typed away on her phone as Marinette stared into space. The prospect of meeting Chat again sent her heart into exciting spasms. She really had missed that cat, but what her papa said wouldn't stop playing in her mind. Could her two loves be one? Did she really think she could ever stop loving Adrien? It was all too much. Perhaps she should just be a spinster for the rest of her life.
"Done." Alya turned off her phone and placed it on the coffee table in front of her before lounging back with her hands placed protectively over her incredibly swollen stomach. "Fine then Mari. Hit me!"
Marinette looked at Alya and decided what she should start with.
"What was your argument with Nino about?"
"You're going to think we're stupid."
"Most likely," Marinette responded "but I think you need to let me make that judgement."
Alya sighed and lent her head back over the top of the sofa. Her auburn hair flowed freely over the sofa top and down the back.
"We were putting a deposit down the next day for that beautiful apartment complex near to Notre Dame. Adrien knew the developers and managed to get us a steal on a two bed flat. So obviously we were both excited. It was going to be our first big steps to our future. Anyway, we were discussing the second bedroom and I mentioned turning it into a work space for me when I'm freelancing, but Nino wanted it to be a nursery. He really wants kids and couldn't wait to be a father. We got into a huge argument and he went back to his dorm. I know it's a stupid thing to do, but I got drunk and ended up hooking up with Luka. He was just so sweet and kind. I fell for it. Hook, line and sinker."
Marinette nodded and reacted as Alya told her woeful story.
"Why Luka?" Marinette wasn't angry at Alya, even though her and Luka had been together multiple times in the past. She really liked Luka, it's just the love that wasn't there.
"I'm so sorry Mari. I know there's a history between the two of you, but we were both so down and one thing led to another. You know he's a great comfort when you need someone to talk to, he was what I needed at the time. It was nothing romantic, just comfort."
"Why was Luka down?"
Alya let out a sigh. She wasn't sure now was the best time to throw a third name into Marinette's hall of love.
"He was missing you. He was saying how he'd tried to constantly ring and message you but wasn't getting any reply. He was broken Marinette. Where Adrien looked on the positive that you would come back Luka was more pessimistic, and to be honest I think he blamed Adrien for you leaving."
Marinette stared at Alya. That was too much information to take in right now. Yes she did have feelings for Luka, he was one of her best friends. It just wasn't as strong a feeling as what she felt for Adrien and Chat.
"So why did you keep the baby if you were so against having children yet?"
"Truly? I pray everyday that it's Nino's and he'll come back to me." Tears slowly escaped Alya's eyes. "But I've got it completely wrong Mari. He wants nothing to do with me or the baby! I can't blame him really. I messed up ... so so much but I can't get rid of the baby incase it's the only piece of Nino I can keep." Alya was now fully crying and Marinette sided up to her friend, placing a supportive arm around her shoulders. This was bigger than they thought and to be honest, she sided with Nino. What Alya was doing was toxic, and unhealthy for both of them.
She reached for her phone in her pocket and pulled it out. She searched for the last number she'd text and was greeted by Adrien's name.
Mayday! This is worse than we thought. I don't think Operation Kiss-Mas is going to work. Perhaps just Operation civil conversation would be a lot more of a possible goal, maybe even just get Nino to agree to a paternity test. Adrien, it's not good. I'm worried for them xxx
Marinette sent the text to Adrien and sighed. For once in her life, Marinette thought that even her Miraculous Ladybugs couldn't fix this.