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Beau and the Beetle	By : Cat_Eyes Category: +M through R > Miraculous LadyBug Views: 3721 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug. Miraculous Ladybug is the intellectual property of Thomas Astruc and released by Zag studios. No profit was made writing this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Prologue: Alya
- 2-Adrien
- 3-Felix
- 4-Bridgette
- 5-Adrien
- 6-Sabine
- 7-Bridgette
- 8-Alya
- 9-Adrien
- 10-Felix
- 11-Sabine
- 12-Bridgette
- 13-Alya
- 14-Felix
- 15-Adrien
- 16-Alya
- 17-Felix
- 18-Bridgette
- 19-Adrien
- 20-Sabine
- 21-Felix
- 22-Alya
- 23-Bridgette
- 24-Adrien
- 25-Sabine
- 26-Adrien
- 27-Felix
- 28-Alya
- 29-Bridgette
- 30-Adrien
- 31-Sabine
- 32-Bridgette
- 33-Felix
- 34-Alya
- 35-Adrien
- 36-Felix
- 37-Sabine
- 38-Bridgette
- 39-Adrien
- 40-Felix
- 41-Adrien
- 42-Felix
- 43-Adrien
- 44-Adrien
- 45-Adrien
- 46-Epilogue
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Marinette spent a quiet week acclimatising to her new residence. But the following Monday, she was ready to announce her presence to her friends, much to Adrien’s consternation.
‘Are you sure?’ he asked again, as he accompanied her outside.
‘Yes,’ she stressed.
He could tell her patience was wearing thin, but he couldn’t help worrying.
Bridgette had not said anything of Marinette's return, instead going home to her own family without saying goodbye. Most of his classmates were stunned, but as Caline reminded them, Bridgette's time with them was never meant to be permanent. Most of them accepted this explanation, but Alya seemed hurt that Bridgette had not said anything, and Felix was bereft. He kept turning to an empty place, his hand half extended, before realising that Bridgette was no longer there. His hand would drop, and his face would shut down, as if he were sliding back into bad habits now that she was no longer there to temper him.
That day, Adrien walked to school with Marinette, holding an umbrella up between them to ward off the fitful spits the clouds half-heartedly dropped on them.
Marinette was withdrawn, her hands clenched around the handle of her schoolbag in a white knuckled grip, twisting nervously. Neither of them knew what to expect, but Adrien was cautiously hopeful.
They arrived late, the bell ringing as they crossed the final road. Marinette spared a glance at her former home, then closed her eyes as she turned her back on it. Adrien noted that the bakery was closed, before he turned to follow Marinette inside.
They ascended the stairs slowly, Marinette pausing half way up to take a deep breath.
‘You can do it,’ he murmured in her ear, giving her shoulder an encouraging squeeze.
She nodded, then continued climbing. They paused once more, just outside the classroom door. They could hear their classmates, chattering noisily as they waited for Caline to begin the lesson. Adrien turned to Marinette, taking in her pale face with concern.
‘You don’t have to do this today.’
‘I do, or I’ll never be brave enough. Ok, let’s go.’
He watched as she pulled her shoulders back, straightened her spine, then he pushed the door open.
Only a few turned to look as he entered, Nino raising a hand in welcome. But Adrien didn’t take his seat, instead turning to watch the door expectantly. The rest of the students quieted, one by one, as they turned to see what he was waiting for.
Marinette stepped inside, raising her hand in a shy wave. ‘Hello, everyone. I’m back.’
Pandemonium erupted. The girls all screamed in various degrees of shock, Kim pointed at her, yelling a string of profanities, Nathaniel stood on his desk to point as well, demanding explanations, while the rest just stared. Caline looked close to fainting.
Marinette waited out the initial shock with patient understanding, then Alya hurdled the desks to launch herself at Marinette, crying openly, and wailing long, unintelligible sentences.
Eventually, they quieted, then Alya stood back to hold her at arm’s length.
‘Where the hell have you been?’ she demanded, though her eyes were still watery.
Marinette gave them the abridged version, leaving out the part where her parents had forsaken her, and how Felix tried to have her shot.
Her audience was suitably outraged on her behalf, then they all gathered around her for a massive group hug. Adrien hung back, letting them have their moment. Finally, Alya backed away, letting Alix take her place, to approach Adrien.
‘You knew where she was and you didn’t even tell me?’ she asked with mock severity, punching him in the arm.
He rubbed the spot with a pout. ‘She asked me not to.’
‘You’re just lucky I’m too relieved to have my girl back to really be mad at you.’
She dived back into the huddled mass, just as Nino extracted himself. He stood next to Adrien, slinging a companionable arm over his shoulders.
‘She says that, but she doesn’t mean it.’ He looked fondly at the mass of bodies, Alya’s bright head bobbing around near the middle. ‘Thanks, man.’
Adrien turned to him, surprised. ‘For what?’
‘For looking after our girl when none of us could. Good job, dude.’
Adrien flushed at the praise. ‘Thanks, Nino.’
Students continued to swarm around Marinette all morning. By lunch time, she was looking tired and overwhelmed, so Adrien suggested a quiet lunch at home.
Alya and Nino overheard.
‘Hey, mind if we come?’ Alya asked, springing up behind Marinette.
Adrien looked to Marinette for guidance, and she nodded almost imperceptibly. He led the way back to his place, Alya and Nino expressing their confusion and pointing out the bakery was in the other direction. Once again, Adrien deferred to Marinette.
‘They’ll have to find out sooner or later,’ she reasoned.
With a nod, he herded their friends in the right direction promising explanations once they were inside.
They did not take the revelation well, promising swift and brutal retribution, until Marinette stayed their hands.
‘I don’t want revenge,’ she told them. ‘I mean, I get it. I had no quality of life down there, and I was so miserable. If Adrien hadn’t come along, I probably would have welcomed death.’
‘But?’ Alya prompted, after Marinette had paused for too long.
‘But it still hurts, I won’t deny that. I can’t even bring myself to look at them, knowing what they tried to do. So, I'm taking some time away from them. Monsieur Agreste has kindly allowed me to stay here, until I can go home, or find other arrangements.’
‘You can move in with me,’ Alya offered.
‘Your house is full as it is,’ Nino scoffed. ‘She can come stay with me. Consider it an open invitation, Mar.’
She smiled tenderly at them both. ‘Thank you, that’s very generous of you.’

Felix remained in his room most of the time when he was home. At first, Adrien thought he was avoiding Marinette, until one day, he came downstairs with his bags packed.
‘What’s going on?’ Adrien asked, as he stood in the dining room doorway. Marinette peered over his shoulder, still not entirely comfortable in Felix’s presence, though she hid it well.
Felix set his bags down. ‘I’m moving out. I want to be closer to Bridgette, so I’ve asked Father to refurbish the house in Nice. I’ll be living there from now on.’
Marinette and Adrien stared at him, their mouths hanging open.
‘Father allowed this?’ Adrien asked.
‘Yes, but only on the proviso that Gorilla accompany me as my guardian and chaperone. If you will excuse me, I need to get my things in the car.’
Marinette turned to Adrien, still in shock. ‘Are Bridgette and Felix still in contact?’
He shrugged. ‘I have no idea. If they’re not, Bridgette’s in for a hell of a shock.’
After that, Felix departed without fanfare, leaving Adrien to pass on his goodbyes and well wishes to their classmates.
A week later, they received a letter, stating that Felix had arrived safely and was settling in without incident. Enclosed was a photo of him and Bridgette, looking cosy on a picnic blanket. Regular updates informed them when the pair became romantically linked.
He and Marinette were genuinely pleased for them both, and sent a return letter, offering their congratulations.

School calmed down in that time, and life began to take on the beginning sheen of normality. The fragile peace was disrupted by the advent of Lila, who attempted to ingratiate herself with Adrien, at the expense of his existing circle of friends. Marinette in particular was overset by the new girl’s aggressive flirting style, and refused to spend time with her outside of the classroom.
In a move that surprised everyone, it was Chloe who gave Lila a public dressing down, denouncing her for attempting to prevent a budding romance. Adrien and Marinette both blushed profusely at that, but it did not stop Lila from trying to convince him she was the better option, or from tormenting Marinette.
Adrien did not approve of Lila’s tactics, and was offended on Marinette’s behalf when she flirted with him. He rebuffed her advances, gently at first, then with more force when she refused to give in. Eventually, she conceded defeat, albeit with poor grace.
She became a sullen presence in the back of their classroom, but nothing more came of it.

Marinette confided to Adrien late one night that she felt bad for staying at his place without contributing to the household. He advised her to put together a portfolio to present to Gabriel, and see if he would let her take on an intern role within his company.
Marinette got to work the following morning, and Adrien was pleased to see she had included her sketches from her chamber walls, tidied up and presented in a neat, near professional, art book.
Gabriel humoured her by agreeing to critique her designs, but Adrien knew the moment when he went from indulging an adolescent girl, to examining the real potential therein. His eyes narrowed, and he pursed his lips, and the crease between his brows eased. It was a strange expression, to be sure, but one that boded well for Marinette.
The following week, he set her up to study the business under his favourite designer’s watchful eye. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoon, she was to head to Gabriel's, and report in with her new supervisor, and learn everything he had to offer, including submitting her own designs for critique and advice on how to improve.
After that, Marinette thrived.
Adrien felt a thrill of pride every time she boasted about her successes in the workplace. He was sure she would be promoted to head designer within the next decade.
Despite achieving her lifelong dream, Marinette still made time for her friends. She arranged to spend every second weekend at Alya’s place, giving Gabriel some peace, Adrien time to miss her, and Alya the chance to reaffirm their friendship.
Alya had been profoundly remorseful for giving up on ever finding her, despite Marinette’s constant assurances that she didn’t bear any grudges. So, their sleepovers had been born, an event that pleased both girls immensely.

Marinette eventually re-established contact with her parents, though it was strained. She wasn't quite able to forgive them, even if she did understand their reasoning, and they were too afraid to push her in any direction in case they drove her away entirely.
A letter from Bridgette and Felix revealed that Tom’s and Sabine’s actions had been exposed, Bridgette outing them to her parents and grandfather after she had some time to process all she had learned. Bridgette’s family were no longer talking to Tom and Sabine, and Bridgette predicted the rift would never be healed.
Added to that was yet more heartfelt apologies, but Marinette wrote her back, stating that none of the blame lay with Bridgette. She was a victim of circumstance, just as Marinette had been.
Not long after that, Adrien and Marinette were on their way to school when they noticed the bakery had shut down, the doors locked, and with no forwarding address. Marinette had been conflicted, angry at her parents for abandoning her a second time, and distressed by their sudden disappearance, worried for their safety.
Adrien was inordinately mad about their flight, cursing them for the stress they caused Marinette. Her fears were allayed, however, when she received an email stating they had simply moved to another neighbourhood. They still awaited her pleasure, and would welcome her back warmly should she decide to return to them.
Marinette cried in his arms long into the night, when she couldn’t figure out what course of action she should take. Adrien stroked her back soothingly, and advised her to take her time.
When she expressed concern that there might not be time, he suggested she write a letter, reminding her they had included their new address in their email. A letter would force her to consider her words carefully, so she wouldn’t just send them an angry rant which could be in their inbox with the push of a button. Marinette considered this, and agreed, drafting a letter first thing in the morning.
After that, a tentative rebuilding of their relationship began.
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Beau and the Beetle