Thank you for the support! I highly appreciate it! I had a bit of trouble trying to get this chapter to play out, so it's kinda like a filler chapter.

I hope you enjoy though!

Unravel

Chapter 02

Ends Meet

Adrien sighed, leaning back in the booth he sat in across from Nino and Alya sitting across from him. The blonde had been spending more time with them lately since Marinette was in one of her moods again. If there was once thing he learned the past three weeks since speaking with Marinette in the library, it was that Marinette had some mood swings that could give Chloe a run for her money.

In total of the six weeks that Adrien had tried to get close to Marinette, knowing he had slowly crept in somewhat, he knew that Marinette was struggling. In total he had always know that sometimes Marinette could be pessimistic, that she had her flaws as did everyone, but he also understood she had this facade of being this perfect girl. A facade so good even Chloe got jealous.

Yet it was a facade, and below that was a person with feelings. When she didn't have her front on for the world to see, see was alone with whatever she thought of in that beautiful head of hers. It was weird, Adrien had to admit, to think her beautiful but Marinette truly was a beautiful person, inside and out.

That was why he was surprised when he asked Alya how Marinette was outside of school, hobbies besides designing and gaming and Alya was struggling for an answer. In turn, Adrien had made Alya realize how much she didn't know, didn't understand about her best friend. It made her guilty, paying so much attention to Nino throughout these years.

"How's she holding up?" Alya asks, knowing Adrien had gone to see her just the previous days, before she told him she wanted to be alone.

Adrien shrugged, sighing out. "Still upset with the world, she's angry at this moment."

"Is that a sign of depression?" Nino asked, earning an elbow to the side. "Ouch! It's an honest question with how she pushes everyone away to isolate herself. Alya, it's getting to the point where her grades are slipping and she skips classes. It's still the first month of school!"

"It's hard for her Nino." Alya quipped back quick for her best friend's defense. "She was close with her mother, and I can only imagine how Tom is taking it. We never felt a lose like that, so we don't understand fully how she feels, so lighten up on her!"

Adrien wanted to agree with Alya badly, yet as much as she was right, she was wrong. Marinette's grades were just fine, Adrien knew this because he made it a routine to take notes and share them with her via google docs, sometimes even meeting Marinette at the local Starbucks. Yet she never invited him to the bakery, and he assumed it was because she wasn't ready to face that music yet with people she knew.

"When I lost my mother, it was like the world was ending. My father grew cold, distant and you both know how that ended." Adrien gave a pointed look. "The emotions, you'd think you could control them but they consume you sometimes, and it's hard to shake it off. Time, it helps, but it helps when people show they care for you. Like how you guys did for me."

It made Adrien wondered how Tom Dupain was doing, since the loss of a spouse wasn't an easy feat. Gabriel had loved Adrien unconditionally before his mother disappeared. Then it all changed, the house family and house dynamic. They honestly didn't know how life was inside Marinette's home now, and they probably wouldn't know for a while.

"I've tried to be there, to take her mind off whatever it's wandering too." Alya groaned into her hand, "She just is never interested. Not with clothing, or gossiping, or even the Ladyblog. In fact, everytime I bring up Ladybug she just shuts down."

"Shuts down how? Sad or angry?" Adrien inquired, finding it interesting that Marinette was resenting Ladybug that much.

"More like... frustrated." She trailed off, scratching her head. "Do you think she's upset with the new heroes? Like they aren't up to parr? That maybe she thinks Ladybug chose wrong?"

There was this twinge of sadness in Alya's voice, but Adrien didn't think this was the reason. Marinette hardly spoke about the heroes of Paris, and it unsettled that Ladybug enlisted others without him. It made him wonder how much of a team and trust they had, and it kinda stung.

"No, I don't think that's the reasoning Alya." Adrien was trying to find a quick excuse, and luckily one came to mind. "I think it's because Ladybug is a symbol for positivity and hope, and Marinette-"

"Isn't in the place for that." Nino finished, earning a nod. "I think we should personally just tell her Alya, that we are dating. She isn't stupid."

Alya fidgeted, taking a deep breath and letting out a sigh of defeat. "She already knows, and she said she was happy for us."

Adrien smiled at that slightly, knowing that it was probably hard for Marinette to say it, but she was trying at least.

"Well enough of this, we'll take Marinette out this weekend even if I have to drag her out of her house." Alya declares as the waitress finally came back around with their food, the conversation switching to things like graduation and prom and trivial things Adrien was kinda excited about once he stopped worrying, just for this moment.

Marinette was trying, god knows she was trying her hardest but it just seemed like everything was getting worse at home. She was watching her own father wither away, because without her mother he didn't know what to do. Marinette could never blame Tom, he lost the love of his life, he didn't know how to do this without her. Which was why Marinette tried to support the both of them, but some days Tom couldn't even get out of bed.

"Papa?" Marinette called gently, holding a tray of food and water as she pushed the door open to what once was her parents bedroom. "I brought you food."

She didn't expect an answer, so she wasn't surprised when she didn't get one. She merely looked over her father's passed out figure in bed, glancing down where there laid an empty bottle of wine. The very bottle that used to be her mother's favorite. In that moment her heart clenched, seeing her father in such a state.

It wasn't a secret that Tom had started to drink more, a coping mechanism to numb that pain in his heart. As much as Marinette wanted to grieve, she knew she had to stay strong for her father. As Ladybug she was able to save Paris civilians, but not her own mother. She'd be damned if she lost her father as well.

Doing research, it wasn't uncommon for a spouse to go into depression after losing their significant other and becoming a widow. It wasn't unheard of widows turning to alcohol or abusing drugs to help cope. The alcohol Marinette could deal with, but if he was to become a drunk or get drugs then Marinette would get him help.

"Oh Papa." Marinette whispered, tucking his arm back under the blanket on the bed and picking up around the room. Placing a kiss on his forehead, she went to the corner of the room and picked up the pile of clothing there to take to the washer, kicking his door shut behind her.

Tikki could only watch Marinette maturing faster than before. She was going into adulthood earlier, trying to take care of her father and herself. It was getting to the point where sometimes Marinette didn't want to go and help Chat Noir, but that was because she worried about Tom. Tikki didn't blame him, the man was a shell of his former self at the moment.

She could only ever imagine a world without Plagg. Sure Tikki hadn't seen him in a few centuries, but she could feel his presence and that was enough for her. Knowing that Plagg was there, always so close yet so far, it was enough.

Tikki only hoped that her chosen would smile more, the smile that once adorned her face hadn't been there in a while. Not since her Maman had first been diagnosed earlier that summer, but Tikki had seen Marinette desperately try. It had broken Tikki's heart as well, because Marinette had officially only let one person know her secret identity, and that had been Sabine.

"Maman, there's something I want to tell you that I haven't told you or Papa." Marinette said softly, holding Sabine's hand as the sat together outside a boba shop in the city where it was empty. It was just the two of them, so Sabine had thought, a rare bonding moment they both knew would be one of their lasts.

Sabine quirked an eyebrow, the same way any mother would when it seemed as if their daughter was about to tell her crimes. Yet Sabine knew her daughter never had a malicious bone in her body, that Marinette was pure and utterly good.

"Please don't tell me you have a boyfriend, your father would have a heart attack!" Sabine teased softly, trying to hide her frown and fight the tears in knowing she wouldn't see Marinette fall in love. She wouldn't get to see her baby girl walk down the aisle or hold her grandchild. She wouldn't grow old with her husband.

Marinette's lips twitched into a smile, a smile that Sabine hoped would be there even after she was gone. "No, nothing that simple Maman. It's a secret I've had for a few years now. Tikki, why don't you introduce yourself?"

Sabine had watched Marinette look down at the pink purse she carried everywhere, and her eyes widen seeing the blur of red fly out and to see a floating creature in front of her. Yet Sabine only smiled at the kwami. "I assume you're the one keeping my daughter safe out there when she's saving the city."

Tikki smiled affectionately at the older woman, knowing that Sabine was wise and that nothing slipped past her. "I will always keep Marinette safe, and be there with her until the very end." Tikki promised, and it gave Sabine a sense of security she hadn't known she needed. "Chat Noir will too."

Sabine couldn't help but grin at that and throw in a wink, "Maybe even get those two together."

"Maman!" Marinette cried out in embarrassment, then frowned. "You knew I was Ladybug this whole time? Why didn't you say anything?"

Sabine could only chuckle, reaching out and caressing Marinette's face lovingly. "You don't think I wouldn't be able to recognize my one and only daughter just because of some silly mask? Honey I knew from the start, and I knew you were always extraordinary. Did I worry? All the time, but you weren't alone and you were okay. You found your purpose, and I couldn't be more proud."

"Maman." Marinette softly says, covering her mother's hand with her own. "I love you so much Maman."

"And I love you more ma cherie." Sabine's and both woman's heart clenched, a dull ache remembering that this wouldn't last much longer. "Promise me something."

"Anything." Marinette answered in a heartbeat.

"No matter what happens, how much you feel like the world is ending- don't you dare give up. I want you to live your life to the fullest. Be who you are, save the city carefully, fall in love, become a designer. Have thirty children." Sabine couldn't help the tears in her eyes. "Most of all, take care of yourself, and move on when the time comes."

Marinette's breath hitched, and she gripped her mother's hand slightly tighter. "I promise Maman, but maybe two or three kids. Thirty is too many!"

"Okay two or three." Sabine laughed, dismissing everything else in the world.

It had been a good day with Sabine feeding Tikki cookies, much to the kwami's enjoyment. Marinette had been okay then, but that was the last time Marinette had truly been okay. The next day Sabine couldn't leave her parent's home, and then Tikki had to watch from afar. Tom and Marinette never leaving Sabine's side once, there with her until the very end. Not even three weeks later Sabine's body became too weak, and she went peacefully.

The house was never a mess though, but Marinette was left alone to pack boxes and move them out. The constant reminder, it was too much sometimes for her and her father, who hardly came out of his room now. No one questioned why the bakery was once again on hiatus, figuring that the newly widowed man needed time.

Yet Marinette found it hard to get her father to do anything, he didn't have the energy to leave bed and in front of her very eyes she felt as if she was losing her father as well. It was understandable though, the grief was eating at Tom, because Sabine had been his first everything.

Luckily her grandmother Gina, was supposed to be coming at the end of the week after some work related things finished up to stay with them for a while. Maybe she could talk some sense into Tom, and get him to get out of bed and to stop drinking himself to sleep.

It was then decided that she would clean the kitchen, throwing the cookies in the oven to bake after making batter. Within time they would lose their customers to the other bakeries in town that had always been in competition with them, but she couldn't make much. Not without Tom having an episode of why she couldn't bake.

Marinette wouldn't be surprised if the reason her father got so angry when it came to baking was because he used to do it so fondly with her mother. For her whole eighteen years of life, they worked in this bakery side by side and now she was gone. If Tom resented baking as of now, then it was acceptable, but how would they get money? The reason the bakery did so good was because her parents cared for their customer's satisfaction, her father couldn't care less now.

Hearing a soft knock on the window to the door, Marinette looked up and Tikki zipped away to hide from lingering eyes. There stood a women, dressed in a casual business suit and it was then Marinette got a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Walking to the door, Marinette pushed it open so the woman could enter. "Hello, may I help you? We aren't open as of this moment."

"I see that Miss Dupain-Cheng, but I'm not here for treats. Is your father around? I'm Mrs. Thomas, from the bank." The women moved a strand of her brown hair out of the way, her eyes scanning the room around her with a scrutinizing gaze.

"No." Marinette tells the woman firmly. "My father is asleep at the moment, not in the shape to see people. I can help you though."

Mrs. Thomas gave Marinette a once over, and then nodded when she seemed to approve. "Alright then, I'll keep it straight to the point. The rent hasn't been paid for this building for about two and a half months. We understand the situation with your mother, my condolences, and we understand the financial impact, but it is concerning that there is no one working to make the money that is owed to the bank."

"You're basically saying if we don't pay it soon, we are getting evicted." Marinette finished, earning a nod.

"Eight thousand dollars is all we are asking for to make up the past payments and the next one coming. If we don't receive the money by the end of the month next month, the bank will take this building and all it has." Mrs. Thomas says, surprising Marinette.

"You can't just own the things inside!" Marinette exclaimed, panicked at the idea of losing the very home she had grown up in, the home her Maman lived in. "That isn't fair!"

"Life isn't fair. I'd think you'd be the one to understand that than most." already was turning on her heel and walking out the door, "End of the month next month, Mrs. Dupain-Cheng."

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