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WATCH THE EPISODE "TROUBLEMAKER" BEFORE READING THIS STORY
Chapter 10: New Beginnings
Marinette gently took the blindfold off her eyes. She squinted against the light shining in front of her. Once her vision returned to normal, she gasped, amazed at what was before her. She was on the very top of the Eiffel Tower, standing in front of what she thought was just breathtaking. To the left of her, a maroon blanket lay on the floor with picnic baskets sitting beside it. To her right was a metal-plated stereo system sitting on top of a decorative table with a glass top. Surrounding her were hundreds of twinkling lights, strung onto the fences. Flickering paper lanterns hung from above her, attached to the iron beams of the tower. Marinette was awestruck. She's been to the top of the Eiffel Tower before. However, with everything around her, the view was ten times more extravagant than she had ever witnessed. All her senses were on a joyride, making her feel a wave of nothing but pleasant emotion. It's like the fantasies she has had of her and Adrien were coming to life. She was in seventh heaven and on the verge of tears.
"Oh my gosh! Adrien, did you...did you do all of this?" Marinette asked as she walked around, observing what she thought was a masterpiece.
"Yeah. Do you...um...do you like it?" Adrien nervously asked, hoping that Marinette was satisfied. He worked for hours on end to make sure everything was perfect. His top priority was that nothing would ruin this night with her. He wanted her to be happy. Seeing her run off crying in Varengeville-sur-Mer was something that he never wanted to witness ever again. It tore his heart in two when it happened.
"Are you kidding me? I love it! It's too beautiful for words!" Marinette replied. Adrien didn't expect a response like that. It was a little more than he had hoped.
"Wait, really?" Adrien asked her.
"Of course! Who wouldn't? I mean, a private picnic on the top of the Eiffel tower? Music? A clear starry night sky? It's absolutely wonderful! I'm just hoping you didn't spend every penny you have." Marinette said, overjoyed. "You must have worked really hard setting this up."
"Well, actually, my father paid for everything." Adrien told her. Marinette turned her head in shock. "The decorations, the food, the stereo, reserving the Eiffel Tower for us; this is all because of him." Adrien said with a smile on his face.
"Wait a minute, you're father helped you with this?" Marinette asked, making sure she heard that correctly. From what she knew about Adrien's father, he was the last person she'd expect to give a hand in something like this.
"Yeah, surprising, right? I didn't even ask. He sort of just...offered. After he heard about the whole situation at Varengeville-sur-Mer and after the whole situation with me being akumatized and all, he wanted to do everything he could to give a good start to our relationship." Adrien told her. A smile grew on Marinette's face.
"What?" Adrien chuckled. Marinette waved her hands around.
"Oh! Sorry, sorry, it's just that you said we're in a relationship." Marinette said to him. Adrien smiled back, happily sighing at her.
"Well, aren't we?" Adrien asked her, playfully raising an eyebrow.
"Well, I think we are. Do you...think we are? I mean, we really never made it official." Marinette responded. Adrien laughed, finding her uncertainty a bit amusing.
"Marinette, I kissed your forehead last night. Plus, I'm taking you to this romantic spot on top of the Eiffel Tower. I wouldn't do that for just anybody." He told her.
"You have a point." Marinette laughed along with him. "So we are a couple then?" She asked, a little unsure. A lot of what was going on felt surreal to her. She just wanted to be absolutely certain. She also just wanted to hear him say yes too, just because she liked hearing it. Adrien walked over to her and pulled her into a gentle hug.
"Yeah. We are." Adrien replied. Marinette smiled before taking her arms and wrapping them around Adrien's neck, pulling him in closer. She dug her nose into his shoulder, taking in the smell of his jacket. She felt Adrien squeeze her a bit tighter. Adrien could smell the scent of her shampoo coming from her hair. He sniffed deeply, taking pleasure in it. Marinette suddenly felt the need to say something.
"You know, Plagg told me about how your father doesn't treat you like he should." She told Adrien. He let go slightly so they were face to face.
"He did?" Adrien said, wide-eyed.
"Mmhmm. I think maybe...your father is realizing that he needs to treat you better. He might have done this to show he's going to change." Marinette told him. "Everyone makes mistakes from time to time. Believe me, I know." Marinette began to explain, thinking about everything that's happened in the past few days. "What I've discovered though is that everyone can fix the mistakes they've made. Just like how we fixed ours. I think he's trying to fix his." Marinette told him with a hopeful grin. Adrien felt a sense of optimism.
"You know, you may be right." Adrien said to her. Marinette reciprocated with a smile. Marinette felt good inside, knowing that she had put a spark of faith in him. Adrien glanced over at the picnic area he set up. "You should go take a look at what's inside the picnic baskets." He told her. Marinette let go of Adrien and walked over and sat herself down on the blanket. She turned her body towards the picnic baskets and proceeded to open them. Adrien followed her, sitting beside her. She looked inside, seeing a white box. She took the box out of the basket and placed it on her lap. She looked at the label on the top. She realized exactly where it came from. She knew she recognized the scent she smelled when she first arrived here.
"Wait, these are from my parents' bakery." Marinette said to herself as Adrien looked over her shoulder. She opened the box, revealing rows of delectable macarons. They were all decorated in a rainbow of colors. "Macarons! My favorite!" Marinette turned her head. "How'd you know?" She asked Adrien.
"I kind of didn't. I just took a guess. Tikki loves macarons just as much as Plagg loves his stinky camembert so I thought you would like them too." Adrien told her.
"I do, actually." Marinette chuckled. She pointed at Adrien. "So, do you like-"
"Camembert? Oh, no. I can't stomach the stuff." Adrien replied with his palms facing her. He watched as Marinette took a pink macaron from the box and bit into it. She closed her eyes, moaning from how delicious her parents' baking was. "Wow, you really do like them!" Marinette nodded in agreement.
"It's funny. I've had these more times than I can count but yet, I cannot get over how amazing they taste." She said before she began to wonder something. She pointed at him. "Have you ever had my parents' macarons before?" She asked him.
"I haven't, no. Why do you ask?" Adrien told her. Marinette's eyes grew wide. She took a green macaron from the box and handed it to Adrien. He grabbed it and observed it. He then shifted his gaze to her. "I've had a macaron before, you know." He chuckled.
"Trust me. It's worth it." She said, winking at him. He took the macaroon and bit into it. He froze. His eyes grew wide. This was unlike any he had ever tasted in his life. He was astonished by the taste. He rattled his head, dumbfounded at what he just put in his mouth.
"Woah! How do your parents do it!? These are incredible!" Adrien said, holding his head in disbelief.
"I told you." Marinette giggled. She noticed another picnic basket beside Adrien. She pointed to it. "So what's in there?" Adrien turned to see what she was pointing too.
"Oh, just some stuff to drink." Adrien told her as he opened the basket. He took out some bottles of water and two thermoses. Marinette wondered what could be in them.
"What's in the thermoses?" Marinette asked him.
"Well, I took some time to make some hot chocolate. You want some?" Adrien asked her. Marinette nodded. Adrien handed her a thermos. She opened it, smelling the delectable scent of chocolate and feeling the steam against her face. She took a sip of it. She couldn't believe how good it tasted.
"This is delicious! To be honest, this is some of the best hot chocolate I've ever tasted!" Marinette told him. Adrien's face lit up.
"Well don't thank me. Thank my mother." Adrien said to her. Confused, Marinette quickly turned her head towards him. She thought that his mom went missing.
"Your...mom?" Marinette asked to double check she heard that right.
"Yeah. It's her recipe. I found it while looking for the picnic baskets." Marinette understood now. Adrien tried making it. "She made this all the time for me before she...um…" Adrien tried keeping it together as best as he could. He didn't want to ruin Marinette's night. Marinette noticed he was a little choked up about it. She took her hand and placed it on his right hand laying on the blanket to comfort him. Adrien composed himself and began to speak again. "Anyway, I tried to make it myself. It's not as good as hers, but-" Marinette took her free hand and placed her finger on his lips.
"Adrien, it's perfect." Marinette told him. He smiled.
"Thanks." He said before lying on his back. He patted the empty spot next to him. "Lay down and relax, M'Ladybug." Marinette rolled her eyes and giggled.
"Oh, so now you're gonna call me M'Ladybug now, huh?" Marinette asked him as she put the thermos beside her and lied down next to him.
"Well, I don't think M'Marinette sounds right...sounds like I'm stuttering." Adrien replied. Marinette laughed.
"You're right. Besides, I actually like it when you call me M'Ladybug or M'Lady...even before I found out you were Cat Noir." Marinette told him.
"Soooooo does that mean you're gonna start calling me Kitty Cat?" Adrien said as he moved his eyebrows up and down. Marinette smirked. She shrugged.
"I don't know...maybe." She told him. They both turned their heads to the sky, looking at the shimmering stars above them. The sky was clear of any clouds, making the starlight shine so bright. The moon was full, shining down on the two of them, gleaming splendidly. "You know, you picked the perfect night for this. I have never seen the sky so clear." Marinette said.
"I know. It's breathtaking, really." Adrien responded. Marinette inhaled a deep breath before letting it out, taking in this moment.
"You know, there've been times when I've looked up at the stars and wondered about just how many there are out there in the world. It makes me consider that maybe...there might be that many people that have had a positive impact from you and I. It makes me glad that I get to save Paris. It gives me the motivation to keep doing good." Marinette smiled. "Now that I know who I'm fighting crime with, it makes it all the more meaningful." She told him. Adrien smiled. Marinette shifted her gaze towards him, admiring the way his blonde hair gleamed in the moonlight and how his eyes lit up like emeralds. Marinette had so many thoughts rushing through her head at that moment, like how amazing she felt, how wonderful this night is turning out, and questions; many, many questions.
"Hey, do you mind if-"
"Hmm?" Adrien turned his head.
"Do you mind if I ask what your mom was like?" Marinette asked him. Adrien glanced to the side for a second. He took a deep breath before looking at Marinette once again.
"Not at all." He replied with a smile. He turned his head back up towards the sky. "My mom was amazing. She was humble, caring, selfless...a lot like you actually." Adrien said. Marinette's eyes lit up. "She didn't just make my father and I happy. She gave the whole world happiness. Her joy was literally contagious." Adrien chuckled, thinking about the times he shared with his mother. "I remember how she would walk in the house after work and let out a great big, 'Hellooooooo family!'" Adrien laughed as he waved his arms around in excitement just as his mother did. Marinette chuckled. Adrien continued to speak.
"Then, she would come over to me and give me this gigantic warm hug." His voice grew tranquil. "I remember her telling me something. She said 'If I was offered endless joy and delight, I wouldn't need it. You give me that by being my son; my beautiful boy who I will love and treasure…" Adrien paused for a second, "...forever and always.'" Marinette put her hand over her heart. Those words were beautiful in Marinette's eyes. The way Adrien talks about her made Marinette much more aware of how much she meant to him...what she still means to him. "I really miss her." He said as his voice grew even more somber. Marinette had no idea what it was like to lose someone that meaningful. She tried to hold back tears as she felt a great deal of sympathy. Marinette shifted herself closer to Adrien, resting her head against his shoulder.
"Your mom sounded wonderful. Thank you..for telling me about her." Marinette told him. Adrien felt reassured. He rested his head on Marinette's, feeling a sense of closure. Adrien has wanted to talk about his mom to someone. He felt like he wouldn't have been able to talk to anybody about her. For more than a year, he held it all in, like a diary with a lock and key. Now that he let it out, he felt as if a weight has been lifted; like he could be an open book.
"You're welcome." Adrien replied. He turned his head to look at Marinette. He took in the sight of what he thought was true beauty. Her blue eyes sparkled like ocean water and her midnight hair glowed against the luminous light of the moon.
"You really are the cat's meow." Adrien said without realization. Marinette turned her head to face his.
"Huh?" Marinette wondered. Adrien suddenly blushed in embarrassment. He shot up and started waving his hands around.
"Oh! I uh…it just blurted out! Sorry, I-" Adrien said in a panic. Marinette started laughing as she sat up. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing. It's just that you're Cat Noir side is showing." Marinette replied. Adrien snickered a little.
"Oh, you think this is my Cat Noir side, huh?" Adrien asked her with a playfully raised eyebrow.
"Well...I mean...yeah. I think so." Marinette replied as she shrugged. Suddenly, Adrien stood up and held his hand out for Marinette.
"Come here." Adrien told her. Marinette took his hand and stood up. He guided her over to an empty part of the floor nearby the stereo. He put his hand inside his pocket, taking out a small remote controller. He pointed it directly towards the stereo and began to play some soft piano music. Marinette thought the tune was simply beautiful. Adrien took his arm and wrapped it around Marinette's waist. He took his left hand and gently grabbed her right. He began to sway back and forth ever so slowly.
"What song is this? It's so pretty." Marinette asked softly.
"I think it's called In the Rain. I heard it online and just had to buy it." Adrien replied as he guided her through their slow dance. He suddenly took her and twirled Marinette under his arm as she followed Adrien's lead. He then pulled her back in his arms. They stopped for a moment.
"Okay...I was wrong. Now your Cat Noir side is showing." Marinette said, surprised. She had no idea he could be so smooth.
"Told you." Adrien replied with a wink. They began to swing once again, listening to the sound of piano keys and violin strings coming from the stereo. They grew silent for a little bit, feeling the warmth of each other against their skin. Their eyes were locked, not daring to look away. As the dance continued, Marinette pondered.
"So I was wondering…" Marinette hesitated to ask. "When...did you first have feelings for me? You had feelings for Ladybug ever since I first saw you as Cat Noir so that's why I'm curious."
"Well...remember that one day at school when it was raining pretty hard? It was the day I gave you that umbrella.I was telling you that I didn't put that chewing gum on your seat." Adrien replied.
"That's funny. I started having feelings for you for that same day! That's kind of ironic if you ask me." Marinette told him. Adrien gasped.
"Seriously." Adrien chuckled.
"So wait, if you had a crush on me that soon, why didn't you say anything?" Marinette asked him. Adrien looked down.
"Well, I had a crush on Ladybug too so it made things complicated, not to mention that whenever I talked to you, you sort of acted afraid of me or something. It made me think you didn't like me or something." Marinette became bug-eyed.
"Oh, no, no! That was just me being nervous. I kind of...get at a loss for words sometimes." Marinette explained.
"So when you said 'hot are you' instead of 'how are you' the other day, that was you being-" Adrien asked.
"Mmhmm." Marinette nodded.
"Ooooohhhhh." Adrien let out, coming to a sudden realization. "Anyway, don't get me wrong, I like you just as much as I liked...well...actually like Ladybug, now that I know you're her. I just focused all of my attention on Ladybug because I thought that you weren't interested." Adrien explained as he shrugged his shoulders. Marinette understood why he thought that. She would try to act calm and collected but instead came out acting like a total head case.
"Trust me, all this time I've been interested. Just ask Alya. She can back me up here." Marinette told him.
"I'll take your word for it." Adrien replied. "But anyway, sorry I didn't say anything earlier on."
"It's okay. I actually am sort of glad it didn't happen any sooner. We got to know each other better because of it." Marinette responded. Adrien smiled.
"True." Adrien agreed with her. They continued to sway side to side as the music kept on playing. They grew silent once again. They didn't want this dance to end. The atmosphere made this night much more enchanting, like they were living a fairytale. The weather was perfect, the set-up was perfect; everything was just...perfect. Nothing could ruin it. There were no akumas to worry about, no pressure, and no secrets to be kept any longer. They turned their attention to the moon, staring at its white glow. It cascaded down on them as if a glistening spotlight was pointed right at them.
"Wow." Marinette breathed in awe. "Just look at that moon. It's simply magical. I can't think of anything in the world more beautiful than that." Adrien hesitated to speak, although he knew that he had nothing to be afraid of. He decided to come right out and say it.
"I can think of something…"
Marinette slowly turned her head to face Adrien's.
"...or someone."
They both froze, peering deep into each other's eyes as if they were looking into one another's souls. Nothing could distract them. The world around them turned invisible. It was only the two of them. They could feel their every breath press up against each other. Adrien took the wheel, raising his hand to caress Marinette's cheek. Marinette immersed herself in the soft touch of Adrien's skin brushing against her face.
She took her hands and placed them comfortably on Adrien's chest. She could feel Adrien's heartbeat; it was fast. Then again, so was hers. Their eyes were still locked, turning away all distractions. They both looked down at each other's lips, gradually moving in closer and closer with each second going by. Their eyes gently began to close. Marinette could feel Adrien's hand guide her head towards his until…
Their lips touched.
They became entranced by the feeling of their lips brushing against one another. Their minds became lost in the kiss. Marinette grasped his neck every so gently, pulling him deeper into the kiss. Adrien took his free hand and clutched her other cheek. They had never felt anything so satisfying. A minute went by until their mouths parted. They pulled back slightly; their eyes still closed. They were mesmerized by the thoughts and feeling that had rushed through their heads. Their foreheads settled against one another. They both simultaneously let out a light sigh before opening their eyes slowly
"Wow…" They both said. Marinette and Adrien giggled. They looked into each other's eyes again before pulling one another in for another kiss; this one lasting longer. Adrien took his hands and guided them down Marinette's back as Marinette took her hands and cupped his face in them. There was no holding back this time. The kiss felt much more intense, making both Marinette's and Adrien's emotions run wild. Adrien suddenly felt something crinkle in Marinette's inner-jacket pocket. He slightly pulled away again. Marinette wondered if everything was alright.
"Adrien?" Marinette called to him.
"Sorry, I felt something in your pocket." Adrien told her. Marinette took her hands away from his face to reach inside her jacket pocket. She felt a piece of paper, realizing that she forgot that she had something important to do.
"Adrien? Do you have a pen on you?"
It was 9 PM in the city of Paris. A 9-year-old girl sat in the living room by a window in a little house. She was sitting in a wheelchair, covered in a green and pink quilt. On the right handle of the wheelchair hung a backpack. In it were sketch pads and colored pencils. To her left, an I.V. fluid bag hung by a hook on a metal stand. The little girl peeked out, taking in the moon's light and magnificence. Her father walked in, seeing her stare outside. He walked towards her, putting his hand on her shoulder.
"You ready for bed honey?" He asked her.
"Can I have an eclair before I go to sleep?" She asked her father.
"Sure, let me get it for you, okay?" He said to her before heading to the kitchen. Suddenly, she heard a knock on the front door. The little girl turned her head.
"Who could that be?" She asked herself. She took the wheelchair's breaks off and rolled it through the entryway and towards the door. She grabbed the brass doorknob, turned it, and opened the door slowly, revealing who was on the other side.
"Hi, Madeleine." Ladybug and Cat Noir were standing by the door. Cat Noir held the drawing of the two of them in his hand. Both of their signatures were written on it, nice and neat. Ladybug held the note bearing the address Timothe gave her. Madeleine couldn't believe her eyes. She couldn't help but cry tears of pure joy. She held out her arms for a hug. Ladybug and Cat Noir dropped to their knees, embracing her with all the love they could give. Timothe came out from the kitchen, seeing his daughter cradled by the two people that have helped her battle through her sickness and her doubts. He started tearing up too.
"Thank you Ladybug and Cat Nor...thank you." Madeleine told them. The door slowly closed as the moonlight kept shining and the stars shimmered brightly. For once in Marinette's and Adrien's life, everything was just as it should be...
Miraculous.
THE END
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read my story from beginning to end! I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Please share this with your fellow Ladybug friends for them to enjoy too! Hugs!
P.S. There miiiiiiiiiiiight be a sequel story coming soon GET READY

;) (Wink) — Description
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WATCH THE EPISODE "TROUBLEMAKER" BEFORE READING THIS STORY
Chapter 10: New Beginnings
Marinette gently took the blindfold off her eyes. She squinted against the light shining in front of her. Once her vision returned to normal, she gasped, amazed at what was before her. She was on the very top of the Eiffel Tower, standing in front of what she thought was just breathtaking. To the left of her, a maroon blanket lay on the floor with picnic baskets sitting beside it. To her right was a metal-plated stereo system sitting on top of a decorative table with a glass top. Surrounding her were hundreds of twinkling lights, strung onto the fences. Flickering paper lanterns hung from above her, attached to the iron beams of the tower. Marinette was awestruck. She's been to the top of the Eiffel Tower before. However, with everything around her, the view was ten times more extravagant than she had ever witnessed. All her senses were on a joyride, making her feel a wave of nothing but pleasant emotion. It's like the fantasies she has had of her and Adrien were coming to life. She was in seventh heaven and on the verge of tears.
"Oh my gosh! Adrien, did you...did you do all of this?" Marinette asked as she walked around, observing what she thought was a masterpiece.
"Yeah. Do you...um...do you like it?" Adrien nervously asked, hoping that Marinette was satisfied. He worked for hours on end to make sure everything was perfect. His top priority was that nothing would ruin this night with her. He wanted her to be happy. Seeing her run off crying in Varengeville-sur-Mer was something that he never wanted to witness ever again. It tore his heart in two when it happened.
"Are you kidding me? I love it! It's too beautiful for words!" Marinette replied. Adrien didn't expect a response like that. It was a little more than he had hoped.
"Wait, really?" Adrien asked her.
"Of course! Who wouldn't? I mean, a private picnic on the top of the Eiffel tower? Music? A clear starry night sky? It's absolutely wonderful! I'm just hoping you didn't spend every penny you have." Marinette said, overjoyed. "You must have worked really hard setting this up."
"Well, actually, my father paid for everything." Adrien told her. Marinette turned her head in shock. "The decorations, the food, the stereo, reserving the Eiffel Tower for us; this is all because of him." Adrien said with a smile on his face.
"Wait a minute, you're father helped you with this?" Marinette asked, making sure she heard that correctly. From what she knew about Adrien's father, he was the last person she'd expect to give a hand in something like this.
"Yeah, surprising, right? I didn't even ask. He sort of just...offered. After he heard about the whole situation at Varengeville-sur-Mer and after the whole situation with me being akumatized and all, he wanted to do everything he could to give a good start to our relationship." Adrien told her. A smile grew on Marinette's face.
"What?" Adrien chuckled. Marinette waved her hands around.
"Oh! Sorry, sorry, it's just that you said we're in a relationship." Marinette said to him. Adrien smiled back, happily sighing at her.
"Well, aren't we?" Adrien asked her, playfully raising an eyebrow.
"Well, I think we are. Do you...think we are? I mean, we really never made it official." Marinette responded. Adrien laughed, finding her uncertainty a bit amusing.
"Marinette, I kissed your forehead last night. Plus, I'm taking you to this romantic spot on top of the Eiffel Tower. I wouldn't do that for just anybody." He told her.
"You have a point." Marinette laughed along with him. "So we are a couple then?" She asked, a little unsure. A lot of what was going on felt surreal to her. She just wanted to be absolutely certain. She also just wanted to hear him say yes too, just because she liked hearing it. Adrien walked over to her and pulled her into a gentle hug.
"Yeah. We are." Adrien replied. Marinette smiled before taking her arms and wrapping them around Adrien's neck, pulling him in closer. She dug her nose into his shoulder, taking in the smell of his jacket. She felt Adrien squeeze her a bit tighter. Adrien could smell the scent of her shampoo coming from her hair. He sniffed deeply, taking pleasure in it. Marinette suddenly felt the need to say something.
"You know, Plagg told me about how your father doesn't treat you like he should." She told Adrien. He let go slightly so they were face to face.
"He did?" Adrien said, wide-eyed.
"Mmhmm. I think maybe...your father is realizing that he needs to treat you better. He might have done this to show he's going to change." Marinette told him. "Everyone makes mistakes from time to time. Believe me, I know." Marinette began to explain, thinking about everything that's happened in the past few days. "What I've discovered though is that everyone can fix the mistakes they've made. Just like how we fixed ours. I think he's trying to fix his." Marinette told him with a hopeful grin. Adrien felt a sense of optimism.
"You know, you may be right." Adrien said to her. Marinette reciprocated with a smile. Marinette felt good inside, knowing that she had put a spark of faith in him. Adrien glanced over at the picnic area he set up. "You should go take a look at what's inside the picnic baskets." He told her. Marinette let go of Adrien and walked over and sat herself down on the blanket. She turned her body towards the picnic baskets and proceeded to open them. Adrien followed her, sitting beside her. She looked inside, seeing a white box. She took the box out of the basket and placed it on her lap. She looked at the label on the top. She realized exactly where it came from. She knew she recognized the scent she smelled when she first arrived here.
"Wait, these are from my parents' bakery." Marinette said to herself as Adrien looked over her shoulder. She opened the box, revealing rows of delectable macarons. They were all decorated in a rainbow of colors. "Macarons! My favorite!" Marinette turned her head. "How'd you know?" She asked Adrien.
"I kind of didn't. I just took a guess. Tikki loves macarons just as much as Plagg loves his stinky camembert so I thought you would like them too." Adrien told her.
"I do, actually." Marinette chuckled. She pointed at Adrien. "So, do you like-"
"Camembert? Oh, no. I can't stomach the stuff." Adrien replied with his palms facing her. He watched as Marinette took a pink macaron from the box and bit into it. She closed her eyes, moaning from how delicious her parents' baking was. "Wow, you really do like them!" Marinette nodded in agreement.
"It's funny. I've had these more times than I can count but yet, I cannot get over how amazing they taste." She said before she began to wonder something. She pointed at him. "Have you ever had my parents' macarons before?" She asked him.
"I haven't, no. Why do you ask?" Adrien told her. Marinette's eyes grew wide. She took a green macaron from the box and handed it to Adrien. He grabbed it and observed it. He then shifted his gaze to her. "I've had a macaron before, you know." He chuckled.
"Trust me. It's worth it." She said, winking at him. He took the macaroon and bit into it. He froze. His eyes grew wide. This was unlike any he had ever tasted in his life. He was astonished by the taste. He rattled his head, dumbfounded at what he just put in his mouth.
"Woah! How do your parents do it!? These are incredible!" Adrien said, holding his head in disbelief.
"I told you." Marinette giggled. She noticed another picnic basket beside Adrien. She pointed to it. "So what's in there?" Adrien turned to see what she was pointing too.
"Oh, just some stuff to drink." Adrien told her as he opened the basket. He took out some bottles of water and two thermoses. Marinette wondered what could be in them.
"What's in the thermoses?" Marinette asked him.
"Well, I took some time to make some hot chocolate. You want some?" Adrien asked her. Marinette nodded. Adrien handed her a thermos. She opened it, smelling the delectable scent of chocolate and feeling the steam against her face. She took a sip of it. She couldn't believe how good it tasted.
"This is delicious! To be honest, this is some of the best hot chocolate I've ever tasted!" Marinette told him. Adrien's face lit up.
"Well don't thank me. Thank my mother." Adrien said to her. Confused, Marinette quickly turned her head towards him. She thought that his mom went missing.
"Your...mom?" Marinette asked to double check she heard that right.
"Yeah. It's her recipe. I found it while looking for the picnic baskets." Marinette understood now. Adrien tried making it. "She made this all the time for me before she...um…" Adrien tried keeping it together as best as he could. He didn't want to ruin Marinette's night. Marinette noticed he was a little choked up about it. She took her hand and placed it on his right hand laying on the blanket to comfort him. Adrien composed himself and began to speak again. "Anyway, I tried to make it myself. It's not as good as hers, but-" Marinette took her free hand and placed her finger on his lips.
"Adrien, it's perfect." Marinette told him. He smiled.
"Thanks." He said before lying on his back. He patted the empty spot next to him. "Lay down and relax, M'Ladybug." Marinette rolled her eyes and giggled.
"Oh, so now you're gonna call me M'Ladybug now, huh?" Marinette asked him as she put the thermos beside her and lied down next to him.
"Well, I don't think M'Marinette sounds right...sounds like I'm stuttering." Adrien replied. Marinette laughed.
"You're right. Besides, I actually like it when you call me M'Ladybug or M'Lady...even before I found out you were Cat Noir." Marinette told him.
"Soooooo does that mean you're gonna start calling me Kitty Cat?" Adrien said as he moved his eyebrows up and down. Marinette smirked. She shrugged.
"I don't know...maybe." She told him. They both turned their heads to the sky, looking at the shimmering stars above them. The sky was clear of any clouds, making the starlight shine so bright. The moon was full, shining down on the two of them, gleaming splendidly. "You know, you picked the perfect night for this. I have never seen the sky so clear." Marinette said.
"I know. It's breathtaking, really." Adrien responded. Marinette inhaled a deep breath before letting it out, taking in this moment.
"You know, there've been times when I've looked up at the stars and wondered about just how many there are out there in the world. It makes me consider that maybe...there might be that many people that have had a positive impact from you and I. It makes me glad that I get to save Paris. It gives me the motivation to keep doing good." Marinette smiled. "Now that I know who I'm fighting crime with, it makes it all the more meaningful." She told him. Adrien smiled. Marinette shifted her gaze towards him, admiring the way his blonde hair gleamed in the moonlight and how his eyes lit up like emeralds. Marinette had so many thoughts rushing through her head at that moment, like how amazing she felt, how wonderful this night is turning out, and questions; many, many questions.
"Hey, do you mind if-"
"Hmm?" Adrien turned his head.
"Do you mind if I ask what your mom was like?" Marinette asked him. Adrien glanced to the side for a second. He took a deep breath before looking at Marinette once again.
"Not at all." He replied with a smile. He turned his head back up towards the sky. "My mom was amazing. She was humble, caring, selfless...a lot like you actually." Adrien said. Marinette's eyes lit up. "She didn't just make my father and I happy. She gave the whole world happiness. Her joy was literally contagious." Adrien chuckled, thinking about the times he shared with his mother. "I remember how she would walk in the house after work and let out a great big, 'Hellooooooo family!'" Adrien laughed as he waved his arms around in excitement just as his mother did. Marinette chuckled. Adrien continued to speak.
"Then, she would come over to me and give me this gigantic warm hug." His voice grew tranquil. "I remember her telling me something. She said 'If I was offered endless joy and delight, I wouldn't need it. You give me that by being my son; my beautiful boy who I will love and treasure…" Adrien paused for a second, "...forever and always.'" Marinette put her hand over her heart. Those words were beautiful in Marinette's eyes. The way Adrien talks about her made Marinette much more aware of how much she meant to him...what she still means to him. "I really miss her." He said as his voice grew even more somber. Marinette had no idea what it was like to lose someone that meaningful. She tried to hold back tears as she felt a great deal of sympathy. Marinette shifted herself closer to Adrien, resting her head against his shoulder.
"Your mom sounded wonderful. Thank you..for telling me about her." Marinette told him. Adrien felt reassured. He rested his head on Marinette's, feeling a sense of closure. Adrien has wanted to talk about his mom to someone. He felt like he wouldn't have been able to talk to anybody about her. For more than a year, he held it all in, like a diary with a lock and key. Now that he let it out, he felt as if a weight has been lifted; like he could be an open book.
"You're welcome." Adrien replied. He turned his head to look at Marinette. He took in the sight of what he thought was true beauty. Her blue eyes sparkled like ocean water and her midnight hair glowed against the luminous light of the moon.
"You really are the cat's meow." Adrien said without realization. Marinette turned her head to face his.
"Huh?" Marinette wondered. Adrien suddenly blushed in embarrassment. He shot up and started waving his hands around.
"Oh! I uh…it just blurted out! Sorry, I-" Adrien said in a panic. Marinette started laughing as she sat up. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing. It's just that you're Cat Noir side is showing." Marinette replied. Adrien snickered a little.
"Oh, you think this is my Cat Noir side, huh?" Adrien asked her with a playfully raised eyebrow.
"Well...I mean...yeah. I think so." Marinette replied as she shrugged. Suddenly, Adrien stood up and held his hand out for Marinette.
"Come here." Adrien told her. Marinette took his hand and stood up. He guided her over to an empty part of the floor nearby the stereo. He put his hand inside his pocket, taking out a small remote controller. He pointed it directly towards the stereo and began to play some soft piano music. Marinette thought the tune was simply beautiful. Adrien took his arm and wrapped it around Marinette's waist. He took his left hand and gently grabbed her right. He began to sway back and forth ever so slowly.
"What song is this? It's so pretty." Marinette asked softly.
"I think it's called In the Rain. I heard it online and just had to buy it." Adrien replied as he guided her through their slow dance. He suddenly took her and twirled Marinette under his arm as she followed Adrien's lead. He then pulled her back in his arms. They stopped for a moment.
"Okay...I was wrong. Now your Cat Noir side is showing." Marinette said, surprised. She had no idea he could be so smooth.
"Told you." Adrien replied with a wink. They began to swing once again, listening to the sound of piano keys and violin strings coming from the stereo. They grew silent for a little bit, feeling the warmth of each other against their skin. Their eyes were locked, not daring to look away. As the dance continued, Marinette pondered.
"So I was wondering…" Marinette hesitated to ask. "When...did you first have feelings for me? You had feelings for Ladybug ever since I first saw you as Cat Noir so that's why I'm curious."
"Well...remember that one day at school when it was raining pretty hard? It was the day I gave you that umbrella.I was telling you that I didn't put that chewing gum on your seat." Adrien replied.
"That's funny. I started having feelings for you for that same day! That's kind of ironic if you ask me." Marinette told him. Adrien gasped.
"Seriously." Adrien chuckled.
"So wait, if you had a crush on me that soon, why didn't you say anything?" Marinette asked him. Adrien looked down.
"Well, I had a crush on Ladybug too so it made things complicated, not to mention that whenever I talked to you, you sort of acted afraid of me or something. It made me think you didn't like me or something." Marinette became bug-eyed.
"Oh, no, no! That was just me being nervous. I kind of...get at a loss for words sometimes." Marinette explained.
"So when you said 'hot are you' instead of 'how are you' the other day, that was you being-" Adrien asked.
"Mmhmm." Marinette nodded.
"Ooooohhhhh." Adrien let out, coming to a sudden realization. "Anyway, don't get me wrong, I like you just as much as I liked...well...actually like Ladybug, now that I know you're her. I just focused all of my attention on Ladybug because I thought that you weren't interested." Adrien explained as he shrugged his shoulders. Marinette understood why he thought that. She would try to act calm and collected but instead came out acting like a total head case.
"Trust me, all this time I've been interested. Just ask Alya. She can back me up here." Marinette told him.
"I'll take your word for it." Adrien replied. "But anyway, sorry I didn't say anything earlier on."
"It's okay. I actually am sort of glad it didn't happen any sooner. We got to know each other better because of it." Marinette responded. Adrien smiled.
"True." Adrien agreed with her. They continued to sway side to side as the music kept on playing. They grew silent once again. They didn't want this dance to end. The atmosphere made this night much more enchanting, like they were living a fairytale. The weather was perfect, the set-up was perfect; everything was just...perfect. Nothing could ruin it. There were no akumas to worry about, no pressure, and no secrets to be kept any longer. They turned their attention to the moon, staring at its white glow. It cascaded down on them as if a glistening spotlight was pointed right at them.
"Wow." Marinette breathed in awe. "Just look at that moon. It's simply magical. I can't think of anything in the world more beautiful than that." Adrien hesitated to speak, although he knew that he had nothing to be afraid of. He decided to come right out and say it.
"I can think of something…"
Marinette slowly turned her head to face Adrien's.
"...or someone."
They both froze, peering deep into each other's eyes as if they were looking into one another's souls. Nothing could distract them. The world around them turned invisible. It was only the two of them. They could feel their every breath press up against each other. Adrien took the wheel, raising his hand to caress Marinette's cheek. Marinette immersed herself in the soft touch of Adrien's skin brushing against her face.
She took her hands and placed them comfortably on Adrien's chest. She could feel Adrien's heartbeat; it was fast. Then again, so was hers. Their eyes were still locked, turning away all distractions. They both looked down at each other's lips, gradually moving in closer and closer with each second going by. Their eyes gently began to close. Marinette could feel Adrien's hand guide her head towards his until…
Their lips touched.
They became entranced by the feeling of their lips brushing against one another. Their minds became lost in the kiss. Marinette grasped his neck every so gently, pulling him deeper into the kiss. Adrien took his free hand and clutched her other cheek. They had never felt anything so satisfying. A minute went by until their mouths parted. They pulled back slightly; their eyes still closed. They were mesmerized by the thoughts and feeling that had rushed through their heads. Their foreheads settled against one another. They both simultaneously let out a light sigh before opening their eyes slowly
"Wow…" They both said. Marinette and Adrien giggled. They looked into each other's eyes again before pulling one another in for another kiss; this one lasting longer. Adrien took his hands and guided them down Marinette's back as Marinette took her hands and cupped his face in them. There was no holding back this time. The kiss felt much more intense, making both Marinette's and Adrien's emotions run wild. Adrien suddenly felt something crinkle in Marinette's inner-jacket pocket. He slightly pulled away again. Marinette wondered if everything was alright.
"Adrien?" Marinette called to him.
"Sorry, I felt something in your pocket." Adrien told her. Marinette took her hands away from his face to reach inside her jacket pocket. She felt a piece of paper, realizing that she forgot that she had something important to do.
"Adrien? Do you have a pen on you?"
It was 9 PM in the city of Paris. A 9-year-old girl sat in the living room by a window in a little house. She was sitting in a wheelchair, covered in a green and pink quilt. On the right handle of the wheelchair hung a backpack. In it were sketch pads and colored pencils. To her left, an I.V. fluid bag hung by a hook on a metal stand. The little girl peeked out, taking in the moon's light and magnificence. Her father walked in, seeing her stare outside. He walked towards her, putting his hand on her shoulder.
"You ready for bed honey?" He asked her.
"Can I have an eclair before I go to sleep?" She asked her father.
"Sure, let me get it for you, okay?" He said to her before heading to the kitchen. Suddenly, she heard a knock on the front door. The little girl turned her head.
"Who could that be?" She asked herself. She took the wheelchair's breaks off and rolled it through the entryway and towards the door. She grabbed the brass doorknob, turned it, and opened the door slowly, revealing who was on the other side.
"Hi, Madeleine." Ladybug and Cat Noir were standing by the door. Cat Noir held the drawing of the two of them in his hand. Both of their signatures were written on it, nice and neat. Ladybug held the note bearing the address Timothe gave her. Madeleine couldn't believe her eyes. She couldn't help but cry tears of pure joy. She held out her arms for a hug. Ladybug and Cat Noir dropped to their knees, embracing her with all the love they could give. Timothe came out from the kitchen, seeing his daughter cradled by the two people that have helped her battle through her sickness and her doubts. He started tearing up too.
"Thank you Ladybug and Cat Nor...thank you." Madeleine told them. The door slowly closed as the moonlight kept shining and the stars shimmered brightly. For once in Marinette's and Adrien's life, everything was just as it should be...
Miraculous.
THE END
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read my story from beginning to end! I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Please share this with your fellow Ladybug friends for them to enjoy too! Hugs!
P.S. There miiiiiiiiiiiight be a sequel story coming soon GET READY