A/N: Hi everyone! So here is my late start of Day 3 for AU Yeah August. This is just the first chapter. This story will have a minimum of 5 chapters and it was the first thing I wrote for AU Yeah August. So I am super excited. Please enjoy!

Day 3: Single Parent AU – Does Anybody Have a Map?

Summary: It's been six years since Adrien left Paris to study abroad. It's been five years since Marinette adopted Hugo to raise as her own son. Now that they are back in each other's lives, can Marinette forget her teenage crush? And can Adrien work out why he feels so strongly towards one of his best friends?

"Hugo, come on, we have to get going!" Marinette called down the hall.

At twenty-four, Marinette had changed a lot since her teenaged years. She had grown out her hair and now wore it in a ponytail most of the time. She was constantly on the move between meetings with possible investors for her fashion start-up, designing, and sewing her own fashion line. But the biggest change in her life was the new addition.

Her son, Hugo.

Hugo wasn't actually her son, but she had adopted him right after he was born so it was close enough. She would never forget how it had occurred. She had overheard her mom on the phone with her dad's sister. Her aunt had been explaining how Marinette's seventeen year old cousin had gotten pregnant and wasn't handling it well.

"Her boyfriend wants nothing to do with her and has left her to deal with it all on her own. She told her mom she doesn't think she can keep the baby. She doesn't think she can be a good mother when she feels like the baby is a part of something negative for her," Sabine had explained.

Marinette had gone to bed feeling horribly concerned for her cousin and the unborn child. It hadn't been a far leap for her to tell her mom what she wanted to do. So six months later, when her cousin was still feeling the same about the situation, Marinette had driven the seven hours to Toulouse to be there for the baby just hours after he had been born.

It hadn't been an easy adjustment, adopting a baby at the age of nineteen, but it had been made easier by having her parents' and Alya's support.

Now, nearly five years later, Hugo was the center of Marinette's world.

Hugo poked his head out of his room, sandy blond hair and green eyes peeking out at her. "But, Mama, I'm not done playing yet!" he complained.

Marinette tapped her foot impatiently. "Come on, Hugo. You know I have my meeting. I can't be late." She gave him a smile, "Besides, aren't you looking forward to spending time with Aunt Alya?"

Hugo's eyes lit up at Alya's name. "Auntie Alya? She's babysitting?"

Marinette could only nod. Then she watched amusedly as her son ran through the apartment in a whirlwind to put on his socks and shoes.

"I'm ready!" he announced not five minutes later.

She pulled his backpack onto her shoulder before grabbing her purse and heading toward the door.

"Marinette!" Tikki called from within her purse, "Don't forget your folder."

Marinette spun on her heel and grabbed a light pink folder from the counter. "Thanks, Tikki!"

"Thanks, Tikki!" Hugo repeated, grinning at the kwami.

Marinette had figured out early on that with Hawkmoth still very active in Paris, and Chat Noir out of the country for the last few years, there was really no hope in keeping Ladybug a secret from Hugo. Luckily, Tikki and Hugo had become fast friends after a few shared chocolate chip cookies.

The bluenette drove down the street in her car before parking outside of Alya's apartment building. She got Hugo out and they made their way to the correct flat.

Alya opened the door only a moment after their knock and scooped Hugo into her arms. "Hey, Half-pint!" she said, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

He laughed and Marinette felt a warmth spread through her at the thought of how close the pair had become. Alya had helped her so much in the beginning. Babysitting when Marinette had exams to study for, staying up to listen to her worry over her parenting decisions, and of course, she'd been a huge help with potty training the previous year. And now, Alya was one of his favorite people.

Marinette dropped Hugo's backpack just inside the door and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. "Thanks again, Alya! I'll be back around one, and I'll bring you guys lunch."

She turned and hurried out of the building, not hearing when Alya called after her.

Alya sighed, stepping back into the apartment with Hugo. "Guess I'll have to save Mama's surprise for later."

Hugo jumped up and down excitedly. "Mama is getting a surprise! What kind of surprise?"

Alya chuckled to herself as she grabbed her own car keys. "You'll see soon enough, Half-pint. We have an errand to run."

Adrien Agreste stood awkwardly in the middle of the baggage claim at the Orly Airport. He was trying to simultaneously search the crowd for Alya and remain inconspicuous.

He checked his phone again. No messages. "C'mon, Alya. If you were just gonna be late then I wouldn't have argued about my dad sending the Gorilla," he muttered.

"Stop your whining, rich boy. I'm here," came Alya's voice from behind him.

He spun around in surprise to see his friend grinning at him. He pulled her into a hug, excited to see a familiar face after nearly six years abroad.

Alya laughed. "Save the hugging for Nino," she teased, pushing him away gently.

And that was when Adrien had spotted the little boy hiding behind Alya's legs. He didn't look anything like Alya or Nino and he was pretty sure they hadn't mentioned anything about adopting a kid while he was away. Although, to be honest he hadn't been very good about keeping in touch.

No, he had been too focused on being perfect while studying abroad, knowing that the first toe out of line could send him on a red-eye flight back to Paris all too soon.

"Who's this?" he asked giving a small wave to the boy peeking out from around Alya.

Alya glanced down at the child. "Oh, this is Hugo." She ruffled the boy's hair as she guided him out in front of her. "Say, 'Hi', Hugo."

Hugo looked down shyly.

Adrien crouched in front of him and waved again. "Hi, Hugo. I'm Adrien." He held out his hand for a high five and grinned when the small boy obliged.

"You got your bags?" Alya asked as Adrien stood again.

"Yeah," he held up a backpack and pointed to a rolling suitcase behind him. "Everything else was shipped last week. I figured I had the space in my old room to store most of it for now."

"At least your huge room is finally proving useful," Alya teased.

The group then began heading for Alya's car. It wasn't until Hugo was in his car seat and Adrien was placing his bags in the trunk that he thought to comment, "I didn't think you had a kid."

Alya laughed. "Oh, Hugo isn't my kid. He's Marinette's."

Adrien paused for a moment, his hand frozen on the door handle. Then he pasted his model smile back on his face and nodded. "Well, he's a sweet kid."

It was an awkward drive as Adrien waited for them to get to the apartment where Alya and Nino lived. He had decided staying with them until he found a place would be less suffocating than staying at his family home. They arrived and he unloaded all his things inside.

Alya gave him space to get settled while she read a story to Hugo. Adrien wasn't sure he really wanted the space as it meant thinking about everything he had missed during the time he'd been abroad. The most perplexing thing was the fact that Marinette had a child.

He knew she hadn't been seeing anyone before he'd moved, but…

Hugo is four or five I'd guess. Which means Marinette must've started seeing someone fairly soon after I left. But, then why didn't she tell me?

There was a knock on the door and Adrien quickly opened it to see Alya holding out a can of soda and plate with a sandwich. "Thought you might be hungry after your flight."

He smiled and followed her back out to the kitchen so he could talk to her while he ate. He noticed Hugo laying on the floor before the television playing with some toy cars. Adrien was halfway through his sandwich when Alya's phone rang.

"This is Alya." She hummed in response to something said on the other end of the line. "What? No, that wasn't supposed to be due until next week."

After a few more minutes of heated discussion, Alya hung up with a frustrated groan.

"What was that about?" Adrien asked.

Alya's eyes drifted over to him and a mischievous grin lit her face.

"Whatever you're thinking, no."

She rolled her eyes, huffing in response. "C'mon, Agreste. That call was my boss, they need an article from me today that wasn't supposed to be due until next week. I have to go in and take care of it. Can you watch Hugo until Mari gets back?" She watched as his gaze moved over Hugo. "She'll be back in about an hour."

Adrien hadn't answered yet when Alya began gathering her things. "I don't know, Alya. I'm not sure if Marinette would be okay with it."

Alya laughed, "Of course she won't mind. She trusts you."

Adrien watched as Alya gave Hugo a hug, "I have to go into work for a bit. Adrien is going to watch you until Mama gets back. Okay?"

Hugo looked up at Adrien through curious green eyes before nodding.

"See you boys later!"

And with that, Alya was gone and Adrien was all too aware of the fact that he had never not once babysat a kid before.

Time passed, and Adrien was surprised at how easy it seemed to be to watch Hugo. The little boy was content to watch television and play with the pile of toys he had dumped from his little red and black backpack.

Adrien grinned as he observed the pack. "Is this a Ladybug backpack?" he asked.

Hugo nodded, "Ladybug is my…" he paused a moment, the words he had been going to say pausing on his lips. "My favorite superhero!" he said excitedly.

Well, at least we have something in common.

"You know, Hugo? Ladybug is my favorite superhero too." Adrien watched the boy's eyes light up at this piece of information.

Hugo dug around in the backpack and pulled out something very familiar to Adrien. Handmade Ladybug and Chat Noir plush dolls, along with a few of the akumas they'd fought in the past. He couldn't help but get a little emotional at the thought of his partner.

Ladybug had been very understanding when he had told of her of his opportunity to travel and not the least bit bitter that due to her duties as Ladybug she couldn't do the same. Paris could do without Chat Noir, but not Ladybug.

Hugo saw how Adrien looked down at the Chat Noir doll and he quickly picked it up and handed it to him. "Here, you can be Chat Noir!"

Adrien quickly accepted. He'd always be willing to be Chat Noir.

Marinette sped down the street like there was an akuma on her tail. Not that she had a tail, that would only be her partner.

Her meeting had run long and even with the promise of food, she doubted Alya would be so forgiving of the fact that it was nearly two o'clock.

"Almost an hour late," she groaned, "Way to go, Marinette." She parked the car and hurried up to the apartment, purse and lunch in hand. She opted to use her key instead of ringing the doorbell in case Hugo was asleep.

As she pushed her way through the door, she dug through her purse for her phone that she had neglected for the last few hours.

"Hey, Alya. Sorry, I'm late. Like really super so-" her words cut off as she took in the sight on the living room floor. Hugo had toys strewn everywhere and was currently holding the Lady Wi-Fi and Dust Storm akuma dolls in the air. But what caught her eye was the fact that the person acting as Ladybug and Chat Noir was not her best friend. Instead it was her long-time crush. The one who she hadn't seen in nearly six years, and oh gosh, how did just seeing him make her heart stop.

Adrien jumped up quickly, brushing himself off in the process. "Hi, Marinette," he greeted with a wave.

Marinette waved back, phone in hand. "H-hi, Adrien."