The week went quite slowly if you asked Marinette, nothing had changed really over the summer break, the abuse was the same, her and Cassie met again after school, her daily calls continued and the akuma's became somewhat calmer.

It was finally Friday and the school was gathered in the assembly hall for the weekly assembly. None of her class wanted to sit next to her but everyone else in the school would bicker and fight over who would sit with her, they all still loved her and saw her as the old bubbly girl she was; seeing people still care for her made her feel better and even laughed watching kids in her year fight over her, her small giggle, no matter how quiet or short it brightened up everyone's day.

Today she had the pleasure of sitting in between Marc and Aroure, the boy gained confidence after partnering up with Nathaniel but lost it all again and went back to his shy old self after Nathaniel left him due to another of Lila's lie's but no matter how much Aroure was judged by Lila, she never lost herself and carried on with her weather presenting career.

Mr Damocles walked onto the stage and gave his normal announcements with a few notices but added something new to his presentation.

The whole year was informed of the essay competition set up by Mr Wayne and most participated besides her class, or so they thought. Lila took this as an advantage saying she personally knew the man and was considered a daughter despite dating his youngest son, this got on Marinette's nerve as no one used her family in that sort of way no matter who they were; She tried defending herself but was met with several punches in the face. The class wasn't informed of their president taking part but didn't mind, if the 'bully' entered a competition she was sure to loose anyways, she's pathetic.

"Many of you entered Mr Wayne's competition but only one class won from our school, they didn't just get in the top three but won first prize earning two weeks away in America." He straightened himself while swapping the hands that held the microphone, everyone was now intrigued, one of them could be in America for two weeks, that class surely did good!

"I have the pleasure of saying that Class A15 won first place!" His voice got louder as if the hall would go into a frenzy but it stayed in a pin drop silence.

The class was confused, they never entered but what the heck! A two week trip to America who could turn it down?

Lila whispered to her BFF besides her, "I secretly entered without any of your knowledge to surprise all of yous!"

Alya's eyes went wide and hugged the girl while the rest of the class sent thank you' s her way.

Marinette sat in her chair, she felt everyone in the hall stare at her but not her own class, they were too busy praising Lila. None of the students in François Dupont liked class A15, they were given the name 'the akuma class' as they were all akumitised at one point besides Marinette and Adrien, however, Adrien was akumatised for the first time a few months back leaving Marinette being the only one in the class who hasn't been akumatised.

They all pitied the girl, yes, she needed a break but with them by her side constantly could definitely lead to disaster, Aroure decided to speak up "Congrats, I'm guessing you entered the class? you are president after all." she nodded slightly and let out a light sigh, she wanted this trip after all.

Looking at the blonde on her left who she considered a good friends, she put her mask back on "They all deserve a break, it's the least I could do." the bluenette gave a small smile, it seemed quite genuine if you asked and it put smiles on the children around her, even a few teachers; the girl was selfless and too caring for her own good, it could seriously become the end of her.

The school day went by particularly fast and the teens of François Dupont were now at home doing what they pleased, most staying up and hanging with friends but Marinette sat in the Bakery selling a few baked pastries.

She was just as good as her temporary guardian's and learnt majority of the treats they sold, there was still a few traditional recipe's yet to perfect but they could wait another day. Putting a batch of chocolate chip cookies in the oven, the classic bell chimed indicating someone entered the bakery, the girl brushed her hands on her white apron designed with red and pink blossoms she was gifted by Sabine before putting on her classic happy smile greeting the customers with nothing but warmth.

A woman with a pixie cut walked in with a ten year old girl that had her hair in familiar pigtails, Mrs Nadja Chamak and Manon Chamak, old time friends of the bakers and the girl who Marinette used to babysit and still looked after from time to time.

"Mrs Chamak, Manon, it's lovely to see you again. What brings you here?" she went to one of the clear cases, picking up Manon's favourite cookie.

"Just wanted to check up on you dear, and to buy a little something. Manon got 85% on her test."

Upon hearing this Marinette's smile became real and less forced, she wasn't the best with tests and was particularly fond with acting and despised sitting down for too long so Manon actually doing and passing a test was great news.

Not giving a verbal answer, the TV presenter carried on, "How are you holding up Marinette?"

The sudden question made the bluenette freeze on the spot. She knew exactly what the woman was talking about and always tried to forget as much as she could but the memories always seemed to crawl back, the night still seemed so clear, it didn't matter if it was 2 months ago.

"I'm not using the pills anymore, tried to get my diet up and running" her voice was barely over a whisper but was still easy to hear "It just gets really hard sometimes..." tears started to well in her eyes but were forced back.

When the announcement of their death got out to Marinette she was never able to grieve, too scared of Hawkmoth. She couldn't even let one tear slip out without fearing the consequences because no matter what happened, she couldn't let herself get akumitised no matter how bad she wanted the pain to go away and to get revenge on that stupid person.

Parisians who went to the Bakery often watched as the happy go lucky girl let herself slip away, she stopped talking to anyone and the Bakery became cold and isolated; they all felt the same way, the bakers were amazing people and she lost them. They were and caring and wherever they went, happiness and warmth was always something they carried around with them. Sometimes it felt wrong when they weren't being as such.

And now they were no longer around.

No one to spread the happiness through what they loved, baking. They weren't able to be there to watch Marinette as she graduated and watch her go off back to America, they weren't going to be the ones to bid her goodbye. They had cared for Marinette as if she was their own blood and flesh, knowing that she very much wasn't. Everyone lost the couple and with their murderers still walking around idly somewhere in Paris, no one would rest easy.

The funeral was busy, lots of people went giving their regards to the pair and to comfort their daughter, all of them ready to take control of anything if she needed help, the bakers treated them as family. So, if need be, they would do the same with Marinette, even if they didn't know her like that.

"Aw Marinette, come here."

The older woman swept her into a hug, it was full of one emotion, comfort.

It was the type of hug you would be given by your mother when she showed you how much she loved you and when she showed you that she would be there for you through thick and thin

Nostalgia hit her like a truck as more tears wanted to be set free but were once again forced back, Marinette leaned into the motherly touch never wanting to leave it, she couldn't help but want to feel the embrace of someone who loved her.

"It's okay, I felt the exact same when my husband died and it took years to get over his death. Me and Manon are doing well now but he'll forever be in out hearts and so will your parents." Mrs Chamak lost her husband quite a while back and despite all the grief, kept her late husbands last name also giving it to her new born daughter, he died in a car crash just a few days after her birth.

Two other hands wrapped around Mariette's waist, Manon must've felt left out or wanted to help comforting her one of her favourite babysitter she's had.

They stayed in each others embrace for a little longer before a phone went off, Marinette went to check her phone and saw her fathers number.

Now Marinette was in a bit of a predicament because no one knew that Marinette wasn't the bakers biological daughter, not even their close friends like Nadja. Nadja only became friends with Sabine when Marinette started high school in Paris, and everyone thought the girl was their biological daughter.

"I left the cookies upstairs but I should see you soon."

She waved them off with a smile, the short amount of time she received something she hadn't felt in a while improved the girls mood.

The Chamack's left the bakery before Marinette answered her phone, picking out the tray of cookies that finished baking, "What's up Papa?"

She munched on the warm cookie a smile still on her face, she hadn't eaten since the morning before and man were these good.

It wasn't all the time Bruce saw his youngest smile like this and he couldn't help but have a small one too at the sight, whatever she was just doing obviously left its mark on her.

"Nothing much, just sent in the results for the essay competition. Did your school by any chance announce anything?" her smile didn't falter but it actually got bigger, this seemed to please the man on the phone,

"My class won first." her father faked a shocked reaction, his brows widening.

"Well, whoever wrote that essay did a good job" he looked as if he was remembering something.

"Does anyone else besides you know who won?" Marinette asked as she finished the chocolate chip cookie.

"Not to my knowledge, why?" He had a small idea but couldn't be too sure about anything with any of his children.

"Can you keep it a secret? I would love to see their reactions and depending, hold it against them for the rest of their lives."

Marinette didn't even try to hide her smirk that appeared on her soft lips at what she said. Having something like this could come in handy in the future, she wasn't too sure when but it certainly would at one point.

And soon enough, the two drifted into a comfortable conversation like how they do every night.

*****

True to his word, the secret was well kept despite the number of times the competition or Marinette came up in a conversation. However, most of it was complaining about spending four weeks with French kids.

The first week came around and a class from a small town on the coast of Paris arrived, they won third prize and were staying for a week, the kids were all well behaved and payed close attention during the tours.

The second week came up next and the class left before the next could arrive, it was a group of rich kids that attended a private school, they weren't all obnoxious but all shared a sort of attitude that wasn't particularly pleasant but the teens themselves were a delight to host: perfectly well mannered, educated and never overstepped boundaries.

After their week stay, the tour guides were given the weekend off from the same boring routine before having to deal with another class but for two weeks this time, at this point they all dreaded it and hoped they were blessed with angels.

Everyone but Bruce complained, why exactly?

That's the thing, no one knew why; he kept his lips sealed tight with a stoic expression whenever the topic was raised.

All the brothers were kept in the dark about the winners and the classes that entered but were probably doing more work than Bruce himself.

It was Saturday evening in Paris, the next morning the class would be off on their 9 hour flight. Marinette was currently wrapping things up in the bakery humming the melody from the new song Jagged Stone released. She was actually in quite a good mood despite fighting an akuma, she was finally going to be out of Paris and to see her family, nothing could ruin the night, and that's what she firmly believed.

She was currently on call with her father who was watching the girl sweep the tiled floor humming to some song he couldn't recognise and swaying with the rhythm acting as if the broom her dancing partner, the scene put a soft smile on his face, the same smile he had whenever one of his children were in a good mood or when they did something they were proud of. It was something that was quite rare depending on the situation but no matter how many times they held any sort of smile, he had that one smile firmly planted on his face.

Seeing Marinette in such a mood was maybe one of the best things he's seen so far from the entire week and if he was being truly honest; it was one of the happiest he'd seen his baby girl in what could've been years.

He too thought nothing could ruin the moment she was having because if anyone ruined his babies mood, he was sure to murder them to preserve her happy smile and giggle she let out every time she spun the broom as if in a classical dance despite the rock music ringing in her head.

She let out another small giggle after spinning herself acting as if the broom was a someone in a formal dance before the door swung open quite aggressively for any normal customer but it was too late for anyone to buy anything, the bakery was officially closed 20 minutes ago.

The once dancing bluenette stopped catching sight of whoever was standing at the door. The phone was set on a shelf that shook when the door made contact with it, it fell forward making the screen go black and preventing Bruce's view of his daughter; Her mic was still on though so he could at least listen to their encounter.

No one made a sound and it didn't sound like Marinette was in danger or was struggling in any way but he wouldn't be sure of anything till Marinette started talking again and he could see what was actually happening.

"Marinette, are you okay?"