“How is he doing?” Chloe asked.
Sitting across the table, her friend Marinette looks up then back down. “You would know if you visit him,” she answered.
Chloe sighs and she slides down in her chair. “You know I can’t.”
The truth is she doesn’t want to see him like that. It hurts her heart just thinking about it. If she sees him like he is now, it will break her heart. Even though she understands, Marinette thinks Chloe should still visit Nathaniel.
“You can still see how he’s doing,” Marinette’s tone is a mix of anger and frustration.
“It’s been three months since the accident, and you haven’t visited him at all. I know this is hard for you; it’s hard for us all. Nathaniel is a great guy. We all love and care about him. He has improved,” Marinette pause.
“I talked with the doctors. They said that there’s a good chance he’ll never return to normal,” Chloe fights back her tears.
“He is still the same Nathaniel,” Marinette was going to yell but stopped.
Chloe is losing her fight with her tears. They form in her eyes, then fall down her cheeks. Marinette's anger fades away. Making her way over to Chloe and wraps her arms around her pulling Chloe into a tight hug.
“What’s the point of seeing him if he doesn’t even know who I am?” Chloe cries hugging Marinette back.
Right now Chloe could use a friend for support. She knows she can’t go through this alone. Marinette ignores the ringing of her phone. “He does remember you, Chloe. Nathaniel knows who you are,” Marinette tries to calm her down.
Sadly it didn’t seem to work. “He only remembers the old me. The bully me. The evil, rotten spoiled me. Not the current me. The nice lovable, kind, caring me. The one he fell in love with.”
“You were never evil Chloe. Even as Antibug and Queen Waps you were never evil,” Marinette raised her voice a bit, not of anger.
Marinette’s phone finally stops ringing, only for Chloe’s phone to start. That's also ignored. The tears eventually end as Chloe release herself from the hug.
“I….I will see him, not visit him. Just going to check. I guess I should do more than just talking with his doctor,” Chloe sighs.
Marinette smiles, “I’ll be there for you if you need me to.”
“When are you going to visit him next?”
“Tomorrow. Would you like to come? Adrien can watch Nicole.”
“Nicole,” Chloe whispers. “Do…..Do you think I should bring her?”
“I would ask the doctor first.”
Chloe nods, that is a good idea. Marinette returns to her original spot. She singles to the waiter that they are ready for their check.
“Natalie was there last week. Nathaniel did remember her and surprised that his little sister is getting big.”
Chloe half smiles. “She is seven months pregnant with twins.”
Taking a sip as the check is placed between them, Chloe grabs her purse while Marinette hands her card to the waiter. Seeing the waiter walk off Chloe puts her purse away.
“I’m not sure if that’s the reason he’s surprised. It took him some time to remember her. Now he thinks she’s too young to be pregnant. Even though she’s only a surrogate.”
Chloe smiles, “Nathaniel was worried at first when Natalie told us she was thinking of saying yes. She’s doing this for a cousin they hardly know. Over time he got less worried. Even as adults Nathaniel still overprotective of his younger sister.”
Marinette laughs as she puts her wallet in her purse. They both stand up and head outside. Chloe has her back towards Marinette. “I'll come with you to see Nathaniel tomorrow.”
After saying that Chloe walks off towards her car. Marinette laughs, she will text Chloe when she will pick her up later. Right now she has some errands to do and not much time.
Queen Bee is flying through the air as she carries Royal Blu. “After all these years we have a new enemy to fight. I hope we’re not rusty,” Royal Blu laughs.
Queen Bee almost drop her when she turned. “Hey, none of that. It’s been a while since I’ve done this. I need to concentrate,” she picks up her speed.
“Sorry, my queen.”
Royal Blu was silence for the rest of the trip. They met up with Ladybug, Cat Noir, and Rena Rouge on top of the Eiffel Tower. Carapace is on his way.
“What’s going on?” Asked Royal Blu.
“I’ll explain all when everyone is here,” Ladybug checks something on her yo-yo.
“That man of yours better hurry up,” Queen Bee crosses her arms.
Rena Rouge did everything she can to not snap back. One thing Rena Rouge has is patients. She will never talk back unless she feels like she needs too. Soon Carapace arrives out of breath.
“Sorry, I got here as fast as I could,” he says between breaths.
“Now that’s everyone here, you can tell us why you called us, my lady,” Cat Noir purred.
“I’m sure you all know about all these people disappearing. How could you not when it’s all over the news,” Ladybug looks right at Rena Rouge when she spoke the last part.
“Last night when they were giving us an update I notice something.”
She holds out her yo-yo as everyone gathered around her to see. Ladybug hits play on the video, and it starts. About half a minute in Ladybug pauses it. Everyone leans squinting their eyes. “Do you see what I did?” Ladybug asked.
It’s hard to notice, in the background they were showing a playground full of kids playing as their parents watching very closely not taking their eyes off their kids. It was on for a second, but Ladybug paused it at the right spot. A jogger that was stopping to take a drink disappeared. Near where he was stood Hawkmoth!
“Hawkmoth!” Yelled all the heroes.
“That’s what I thought at first also. Look closer,” Ladybug told them.
Looking closer it looks like Hawkmoth. Same mask and color outfit. Instead of a suit Hawkmoth is wearing a long dress split on both sides to the thigh. With knee high heeled boots. She’s leaning against the cane. Ladybug closes her yo-yo and places it back on her hip.
“Somehow there is a new female Hawkmoth, and she’s kidnapping people. We as heroes need to stop this and free all those people,” Ladybug slams her fist into her other hand. “I asked you all here tonight to come up with a plan.”
That night felt like it was yesterday not six months ago. It plays over again every night for Chloe. Every single night since it happened. Every night she cries herself to sleep over it. She knows she has to be brave, act like nothing’s wrong. Not for her, but for Nicole, her daughter. When she called the doctor, he said to wait until she brings Nicole over.
It turns out the doctor did try to call before. Nothing’s wrong just giving her his daily report on Nathaniel. Chloe’s unsure how much longer she can handle this, or even if she can handle seeing him tomorrow. Going over how everything went and worrying about the visit Chloe almost burns dinner.
Chloe didn’t eat much that night. Not because it was a little burnt, but her mind won’t let her get over the visit until it happens. She plays with her food as she watches her two-year-old daughter eat hers. With a sigh, Chloe takes a few bites.
“Are you ready, Chloe? We’ll be there soon.” Marinette called Chloe around ten. With breakfast done Chloe is in the living room waiting for them to arrive.
“I’m ready. When you two get here just stay in the car. I’ll come out once Adrien enters,” Chloe sighs.
“Sounds good to us,” Marinette ends the call.
Chloe places her phone in her purse and closes it. She sighs again, preparing herself for whatever waits for her. ‘You’ll be fine Chloe. You’re not going to talk to him. You’ll be fine.’
She not so sure of herself right now. The front door opening snaps her to life.
“Uncle Adrien,” Nicole runs over to him for a hug.
By the time Adrien looked up to greet Chloe, she was already gone. In the car, Chloe ever spoke a word. Neither did Marinette, until they arrived at the hospital. “Are you ready for this?”
“It’s either now or never,” Chloe gathers up all her courage just to open the car door.
“Seatbelt!” Marinette was able to yell.
Lucky she did before Chloe tried to exit the car. It seems the thought of seeing Nathaniel is taking its toll on Chloe. A few deep breaths and she was able to unbuckle herself. In the hospital, the doctor was surprised to see Chloe there.
“I never thought I would see you here. We talk on the phone all the time, now I finally get to see you,” the doctor laughed.
Chloe didn’t think it was funny, Marinette kind of did, she doesn't hide it. The doctor leads them to Nathaniel's room. There is a window on the door, and Chloe peeks in. Nathaniel is sitting in his bed drawing. Chloe remembers how he would do that before bed. At first, Chloe didn’t like it, but after a while, she wonders why she hated it.
Marinette and the doctor enters the room, while Chloe stays outside. Not yet ready to join. “Baby steps,” Chloe whispers.
“Hello, Nathaniel. How are you?” Marinette chirps with a smile like she always does when she visits Nathaniel.
“Hello, Marinette. Hello Dr. Tumble. I am doing fine. Thanks for asking,” Nathaniel smiles.
He puts his drawing on the table next to him and gets out of bed. “It’s always good to see you, Marinette. How is Adrien? Is he here with you?” Nathaniel doesn’t stop smelling.
“Not today. He’s babysitting. I did bring someone with me,” Marianette points with her head and faces the window.
Nathaniel looks, but no one is there. Once Chloe heard Marinette said she wasn’t alone, Chloe ducks and dives out of view. Chloe isn’t here to visit just see how Nathaniel is doing. Chloe is cursing at Marinette under her breath. Along with some threats.
“There’s no one there,” Nathaniel sounds confused.
He’s even more confused when he sees the look of anger on Marinette’s face. “What’s wrong, Marinette?”
She faces him again. “Sorry about that. What are you drawing?”
Changing the subject did work. It brought Chloe back to the window. Nathaniel grabs his sketchbook.
He shows Marinette what he was working on. She takes a closer look and notices something. “I’ll be right back,” she announced before heading out.
Nathaniel’s eyes followed her, and he saw someone else by the window. When he moved his head to face the window the person was gone. Thinking nothing of it, Nathaniel goes back to working on his drawing. “You have to visit him,” Marinette orders grabbing Chloe’s arm.
“I’m here aren’t I,” Chloe spat back.
Chloe Bourgeois never goes down without a fight. Right now neither is Marinette Dupain-Cheng. “You should talk to him instead of hiding,” Marinette said before she stormed off.
“Besides he knows I have someone here anyways,” Marinette speaks over her shoulder.
Soon she was back in the room with Nathaniel. Once again Chloe watches through the window. “Sorry about that, Nathaniel,” Marinette is full of smiles once more.
Nathaniel smiles with her. “Who were you talking with? Was it Dr. Tumble?”
Marinette glances at the window. It looks like Chloe is shaking her head. Marinette is going to give Chloe the push she needs. “Chloe is here with me today.”
Before Chloe could hide Marinette and Nathaniel, face to see her. Marinette has an evil grin on while Nathaniel is confused and shocked. “Why is she here? Doesn’t she hate like everyone?”
Chloe looks down in shame and hugs herself. The tears are coming back. She doesn’t want Nathaniel to see her with tears. “Chloe is different now. She’s nice and gets along with everyone. I know you may not believe it. Just talk with her you’ll see. Besides if she hates everyone then why is she here?”
Chloe was unsure of what to say. She wipes a loose tear away and smiles. Nathaniel is also speechless, but seeing her with a smile like this is rare. “The last thing I remember about Chloe she tried to scare off Lila when she got too close to Adrien. Those two never got along. Then again most people didn’t get along with Lila when we found out she lied to everyone for attention,” Nathaniel thinks back the best he can.
“Chloe didn’t have to embarrass Lila the way she did,” he finished.
Chloe will admit she did go overboard, but she was mad that Lila’s lies have hurt her friends. Lila also tries to steal Adrien from Marinette. At that time they were just starting their friendship. Chloe felt like she had to protect Marinette and Adrien’s relationship.
Shortly after that Chloe started patching things up with everyone. She remembers Nathaniel being one of the hardest because he was always so quiet and liked to be alone. That’s what she thought by the way he avoids everyone. In reality, he was just avoiding her.
Once Nathaniel realized that Chloe is genuinely trying her best to be nice and making new friends, he stops avoiding her. Right away he noticed how well she’s been treating Sabrina. Nathaniel’s no longer shy even now. He lets people see his drawings, also loves to talk about them.
More deep breaths before Chloe enters the room. “Hello, Nathaniel. Hope you don’t mind me coming in,” she speaks with a smile and a shaky voice.