One Way or Another

A Business Call, Five Minutes, and A Blush

Adrien stared at his father disapprovingly until he caught his eye. Noticing his son, Gabriel sighed and turned back to the screen. "This better be fixed by tonight!" he barked at the person on the other side of the call. "I have to go." Then he disconnected the call without another word.

"Seriously?" Adrien asked, walking up to him. "You're working during Annabelle's birthday party?"

"It's an emergency," he argued.

"You have a very strange definition of the word 'emergency,' you know."

Gabriel groaned and finished pressing a few buttons on his computer. "Alright, I'm done here."

"Good," Adrien said, leading him out of the study. "You need to actually spend some time with your family for once."

Unamused, Gabriel followed him outside.

"Father! Nathalie!" Annabelle yelled, running over as soon as she saw them. "Come watch this." She grabbed their hands and pulled them backwards over to the inflatable slide.

Adrien smiled before looking around for Marinette. And he found her talking with Alya and Nino, so he quickly went over to join them.

"Hey dude, thanks for inviting us," Nino said.

"Yes, thank you so much," Alya repeated, trying to contain the squirming toddler in her arms.

"Hey buddy," Adrien said, waving to the boy.

"Say 'hi,' Raiden," Alya chimed.

He blew a raspberry.

"Sorry," Alya continued as the group laughed. "He really wants to go in that bounce house."

"Ounce ounce ounce!" Raiden cried, trying to get down.

"I'll take him, babe," Nino said, grabbing his son and bringing him over.

Alya exhaled once they left. "Ugh, he never stops! And now he won't even take a nap for me anymore."

"I'm sorry," Marinette said, chuckling. "But you know that you can always drop him off at our place whenever you need a break."

"Thanks for the offer girl, but he's been a lot to handle recently."

"We really don't mind," Adrien added. "You know that we love watching him."

"Thanks. You guys are the best."

Marinette turned to her husband. "Well, I think that it's almost time for the cake," she said cryptically. "I'm going to go help things get ready."

Adrien nodded. "I think that's a great idea."

And she smiled at him before going inside the house.

Left behind, Adrien and Alya continued their own conversation until a big commotion broke out.

It all started when Annabelle noticed a red and black spotted superhero land on top of the gate. "Ladybug!" she screamed, jumping up and down.

A few squeals of surprise and excitement were heard as the party guests turned that way. Some people grabbed their phones and started taking pictures.

The woman swung down from the gate and landed in front of the girl. "Hi there sweetie," Ladybug said. "I was wondering if you could help me. I'm looking for a little girl named Annabelle. I ran into her father the other day and he told me that his beautiful daughter is my biggest fan in the whole wide world and that she's turning five years old. So I wanted to stop by to say 'Happy Birthday' to her. Do you know where she is?"