(A/N): Oh wow it's 2019.
Welcome back!
Happy Reading!

Chapter Four

"It'll be okay." Adrien whispered, giving her a brief hug as the car arrived.

Marinette tried to nod. She was only mildly anxious, aware that it was silly to doubt her friends.

"I'll be there as soon as I can." he grinned as he pulled away, hitching his satchel further up his shoulder.

She smiled as she watched him wave, stepping backwards with a smile and mouthing words she knew to be cat's honour. Though she could see Alya's curious expression in the corner of her eye, her friend said nothing. Everything would be fine. Alya could keep a secret. Nino had been keeping her secrets for years. They just had to work out where they went from here, that was all. She and Adrien, Plagg and Tikki had talked about it long into the night, and Tikki had reassured her after Cat had left. The kwami had told them it wasn't ideal. They were supposed to stay secret. It was dangerous for others to know. But she was optimistic. What else was there for her to be? Tikki had a plan. Marinette would just have to trust in her. And trusting Tikki was easy.

With Nino and Alya on either side of her she turned away from Adrien's ride home, checking the road as she stepped into the street, feeling the awkward silence around them.

She watched her feet as they walked, her fingers curled tightly around the straps of her school bag, feeling the burning of their eyes on her, boring into her.

It was a very long walk home. Nobody spoke, nobody even had to to know there was no way that Alya and Nino were going to go to their own homes, now. Not when they knew something this huge. When Marinette opened the door to the Dupain-Cheng bakery they followed her diligently inside.

She mustered up a smile for her mother when she greeted them, kissed her father's cheek when he scooped her into a bear hug in welcome.

Her parents, of course, warmly welcomed her friends, extending offers of staying for dinner, plying the three with treats and mugs of tea. Despite her anxiety Marinette was filled with warmth. She'd always loved how welcoming her family was.

But she couldn't put it off any longer, inevitably she found herself climbing up into her room, Alya on her heels and Nino just behind them, closing the trap door behind. She walked to her desk, dropped her rucksack by the chair. She took off her little bag, so aware of Tikki inside, wondering if the others could hear her screaming thoughts.

She set the bag gently on the desktop, and when Tikki didn't pop the latch open like she usually did, Marinette took it as a sign.

"So… you're even cooler than we knew."

The giggle surprised her as she turned to look at him, ill-fitting nervous laughter. But Nino was smiling at her, and she reddened, unable to keep his eye.

"Surprise." she answered weakly.

And then Alya had scooped her into a fierce hug, squeezing her tightly. Marinette hugged her back as her eyes began to water. Everything was overwhelming her. Fear, anticipation, adrenaline. And excitement, nerves. It was just a little too much for her.

"I'm sorry that I couldn't tell you." she spoke into the wild curls filling her vision.

"Thank you." Alya whispered sincerely, her voice watery.

"What?"

"Thank you." the girl squeezed her tighter, voice cracking, "For everything you do. For all those times that I- that."

Marinette realised Alya was crying, and her heart squeezed.

"I, uhm, I-" Alya crying was making it way harder to fight back her own nervous tears.

"I know I- I get in the way. I'll be more careful, I promise." Alya sniffled. "You've had to save me so many times and I- I didn't think-"

"Oh, Alya." Marinette hushed her, laughing, "It's okay, really. Like I'm not going to save you. Come on."

Alya laughed and drew away, wiping her wet eyes and flushing across her cheeks.

"You're amazing." she said simply.

"Wicked amazing." Nino added, a little awkwardly, making Marinette laugh.

"Really." Alya nodded. "Wicked for sure."

Marinette shrugged, red in the face and feeling awkward, but her chest was filled with warmth and relief too.

"What's it like?"

And then, it was like a weight was lifted as Marinette chuckled again. Nino nudged Alya with his elbow, rolling his eyes half-heartedly. Alya only produced an innocent expression, mouthing what?.

But Marinette felt better than she had in days. These were her friends. The best in the world. Goddamn was she lucky.

"Well," she started, dropping into her desk chair as Alya and Nino dumped their bags and took up the chaise, "it's never boring."