Chapter Text
Marinette sat at her desk with her head on her forearm. She was successful, she was beautiful, she was confident and strong, but she didn't have any romantic interests. Well, none that were interested in her, anyway. Her twenty-third birthday was fast approaching and she didn't want to be an 'old mom.' Her mind had been made up. Plus, she'd never really thought she needed a man in her life. Ever since she'd given up on Adrien she'd resigned herself to being a bachelorette for life. There were no other options because no one else could compare.
She'd thought about asking Chat to help out, but that was crazy. That would have been awkward, you know? 'Hey, Chat, I'm at a point in my life that I don't want to be lonely forever as my civilian self and I've decided to have a baby.' Yeah, that would go over well. He'd either 1) turn her down or 2) want to be a part of it. Which would never happen because they really shouldn't reveal themselves.
Her phone beeped and she noticed there was a text message from Alya.
Alya: You still thinking about going through with it?
Marinette: Yes.
Alya: Can we have lunch and discuss this before you make any big decisions?
Marinette: There's not much to discuss, Alya. It's pretty straight forward.
Alya: I was meaning the after, silly. Plus, I might have a cheaper option.
Marinette frowned. She trusted her friend, she did, but she could imagine her 'have a cheaper option' message being finished off with a conspiratorial wink.
Marinette: Alya. I don't have to save money. Money isn't a problem these days.
Alya: Just hear me out, girl! Please! Come out with me. Trust me!
Marinette: Okay. I can't really do it today, anyway, but I'll see you at lunch. Where are we going?
There was a moment Marinette waited and shrugged. Perhaps Alya had gotten distracted. There was a lot going on in a newsroom.
Alya: Becco's. It's the new place out by your parents' place.
Marinette: Yeah, I know it. I'll meet you there. Usual time.
Alya: See ya!
Alya ran as fast as her feet could go to Francois DuPont. She ran by the office, grabbed a guest pass, and zoomed to the office of one Adrien Agreste. It was the lunch break and he HAD to talk to him. There was NO WAY she'd let her have a random guy father her best friend's child. Plus, Adrien would be perfect! Not only would he be willing, because he's a sweet guy like that, but it would make Marinette SO happy should she ever want to find out.
"Alya?!" his surprise was thick, "What are you doing here?"
Out of breath, she leaned down to place her hand on her knee, "I...wanted...to ask...if you...could talk."
"Um," he flipped through the grade book he'd been scribbling in, "Can you give me a few minutes? I'm almost done here."
"Sure!" she grinned.
She sat out in the hall and waited for Adrien to leave. He locked shut and locked his door.
"Shall we?" he gestured towards the hall. There were a handful of high school age girls who giggled as he walked by and gave him shy waves. Alya chuckled.
"Just like old times, huh?"
Adrien groaned, "I'm used to it."
"I never would have imagined you teaching college, Mr. Agreste."
He chuckled, "Neither did my father."
"Yeah, how did you manage that?"
"I specialized in science education and business management with a focus in economics," he smirked.
"So you are going to take over the company some day?"
"If Marinette doesn't get there first," he nodded.
"Hey now, do I sense that you're jealous of my girl?"
He shrugged, "No. I mean, my father loves her," there was a flinch when he said those words, "But I'm really proud of her and how much she's accomplished."
Alya smiled, "Then, speaking of Marinette, she's in a really momentous place in her life and I wanted to see if there was any way you could help her out."
Adrien side eyed Alya, "Do I detect a hint of nervousness, Mlle. Cesaire?"
"Ugh," she groaned, "Marinette has given up on finding Mr. Right and is going to start a family without one. Is there ANY way you could help?" She nudged him with her elbow and gave him the *wink-wink.*
"ME!?!?!?!" He pressed his hand to his chest and fell back against the nearest wall, "You want ME to do what?!"
"Shhh," she approached him like he was a caged animal, "Keep it down. No, you don't have to...sleep with her, although I'm sure she'd be perfectly okay with that, but she's going to a fertility clinic and going to buy some random guy's swimmers. I can't let my girl do that! Come on, dude, she needs you!"
Adrien's head was spinning. He put a hand against his forehead and groaned, "This is a big decision, Alya."
"Well, she's going tomorrow. You can help her out, and take one for the team, or let her make a baby with some unknown bozo who could mess up her kid. Hey, at least you'll know it'll be cute."
"Alya," his voice got soft, "I always wanted to have kids, you know? This isn't how I wanted the first one to be born."
Alya put her hands on his shoulders and smiled sweetly at him, "I get it. I do. I completely understand. I would ask Nino, but that would ruin any chance of Marinette's kid and my future offspring getting together and joining our families; should that ever happen. Marinette needs you. I need you. For the love of God, Nino needs you."
"Okay," he nodded, "I'll do it. What do I have to do?"
She glances at her watch, "Hold that thought. I'll be back!"
Alya approached Marinette on the patio seating at Becco's with a grin to rival the sun.
"What are you so happy about?" Marinette smirked.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Alya giggled, "Girl, I just did you THE biggest solid. I found you a donor."
"WHAT?!?!" Marinette spit her lemon water all over the concrete, "Alya! I said I wanted to do this on my own."
"I know, I know, I know, but I couldn't let you get some random dude's DNA for your spawn."
"He's not going to be that random. I'll get to look over his profile and pick."
"No," Alya shook her head, "You can't do that, Marinette. What if I PROMISE, on my future child's life, that he's PERFECT would you PLEASE just trust me and do this?"
Marinette squirmed in her seat, "You'll know who he is?"
"Yes," Alya nodded.
"I don't know if I can do it then. I don't want to know who it is."
"You're killing me, girl. I SWEAR I won't tell you. I won't. Not unless you ask me to."
Marinette groaned, "All right. All right. Sure."
"When do you want to do this? I'll have to give him a heads up so he can...ahem...get his heads up," she chuckled.
"AL-YA!" Marinette whined, "Do you have to be so crude?"
"Sorry. I'm just excited you said yes. I have to go. We have to plan."
"How does tomorrow sound?" Marinette asked.
"Why tomorrow?" Alya quirked an eyebrow.
"Um, my window is kind of starting today. I have four days and tomorrow would be optimal."
"Yes, tomorrow will work!"
With that Alya was off with a flash.
"Hey, what about lunch?!" Marinette called after her.
Alya held up a hand behind her, "RAINCHECK!!"