Marinette stood still as a statue. She could do this. She had to do this.

Just one foot in front of the other. Left. Right. Left. Right.

It had been a week since that horrible akuma attack. There had been plenty since, but that one a week ago will always remain prevalent in her mind. What happened to Chat was her fault, and she honestly didn'tknow if she had the right to visit him. Would he hate her for what happened?

She steeled herself. There was no point in asking such a dumb question.

Marinette stopped once she recognized his name and walked over. She was silent for a long time, unsure of what to say. Finally she took a deep shuddering breath.

"Hey Adrien."

The blond looked up from his uncomfortable spot, sitting up as he noticed her. "Marinette! It's good to see you!"

"It's- it's been a while hasn't it?" Marinette stood there awkwardly, still unsure if this was a good idea. "I should have come earlier, but I..." She trailed off, ashamed that she had waited so long to come see him.

"That's alright, you've had your hands full with me out of commission like this." He said apologetically. "I shouldn't be stuck here. I should be out there helping you." He chuckled, rubbing his neck nervously.

She sighed, a sad smile gracing her lips as she suddenly remembered the rose she was holding. "Oh, I brought this for you." She hesitantly came closer and set it in the vase beside him. Stepping back after she had done so. "I thought it might cheer you up."

Adrien blinked in surprise. It was a beautiful flower. The dark crimson color turned vibrant when the sunlight hit it just right. It was such a touching gesture. "Th-thank you m'lady."

"Roses. They're your favorite, right? I think you told me that once." She swallowed, brushing the wrinkles from her shirt and fiddling with it's hem.

"I'm surprised that you remembered." He grinned sheepishly. He had told her once as Chat how the red rose was one of his favorite flowers. "But I'm glad that you did."

"Well... you always did like the classics, you stupid cat." A chuckled pressed past her lips, but she seemed to be biting back tears. She stared at her feet, not wanting to look up and see the result of her mistakes. "Always have to be the hero."

Adrien frowned at that, he didn't like that she wouldn't look at him. "My Lady is something the matter?" His green eyes furrowed with worry.

"I'm doing alright." She said suddenly. "Alya's been helping me through it all." Marinette pursed her lips, a troubled expression on her face. As she kept her bluebell eyes averted. "Everyone at school misses you. It's... different not having you around. To say the least."

"Understandable." He replied with his best Chat Noir grin. "They probably miss my PAWsitive influence." His grin deflated into a frown when his pun didn't get any reaction from his Lady.

"Nino finished that mixtape he was making for you." Marinette continued. "He's angry with himself for not finishing it earlier. He- he wanted to send it to your house anyways but... Alya convinced him to hang onto it."

"Probably a better idea." Adrien chuckled, glad for the update. "He can just give it to me the next time he comes to visit."

"And Chloe's been acting more civil since she came back to school." Marinette sighed, absently wringing her hands. "We've actually been able to talk more. You'll be happy to know we're on better terms with each other."

"That is good to hear." Adrien smiled. "She's really not as bad as you think."

"Ch-Chaton..."

"Yeah?"

"I... I just wanted- what I really wanted to say-" She stuttered, trying to compose herself before attempting to speak again. Her nails digging into her palms. "To say that-"

He reached for her hand, wanting to lend whatever kind of support she needed. "Say what Princess?" But she made no move to take it, keeping her arms pinned to her sides. That only worried him all the more.

"I- I'm sorry, Adrien." She sputtered, her voice thick with emotion. That's when the tears started to flow. "I'm sorry for everything."

"Marinette..." He blinked, surprised by the sudden burst of emotion. "What do you have to be sorry for? It's fine, I'm alright."

"I should have done more!" She rambled. "I was- I was so stupid. I- I- I shouldn't have let us get separated! And the Akuma got to me first-" She buried her face in her hands. letting her legs collapse beneath her. She didn't seem to have the will to keep standing. "You- you shouldn't have taken the hit for me..."

"Princess don't say that." He swung his legs over the side of his perch and he knelt down in front of her. "Hey hey, It's alright."

"If... If I had just been faster this wouldn't have happened. You wouldn't have had to protect me." She choked on her tears. "You have every right to hate me Chat. For what happened, the way I treated you when I was Ladybug, pushing you away all the time. I didn't realize- I didn't get- I didn't tell you-"

"What are you talking about Bugaboo?" Adrien smiled reaching forward to hold her, to dry her tears. "I would never hate you for anything. Besides, I'm your chaton aren't I?" He set a comforting hand on her shoulder, only for it passed right through her.

Adrien jerked back, jumping to his feet in surprise. All the while staring at his hand in amazement. He clenched and unclenched it several times, not understanding. Then he stared down at his Princess's vulnerable, shaking form as she knelt in the cool grass.

"I didn't get the chance to tell you that- that I-.

That was when he remembered.

"That I love you Adrien."

'No...' He protested weakly.

"And now I'm too late." Marinette let out another wounded sob. "If it wasn't for me you wouldn't have gotten hurt. You wouldn't have-" She choked on the words, struggling to say them. To admit it. To make it real.

'Marinette, please don't-' Adrien shook his head, refusing to acknowledge the tears that were forming in his eyes. 'Don't say it.'

He begged her to stop, to keep those words to herself. To keep them hidden away where neither of them would have to admit to their harsh reality.

He pleaded for her to be silent. For those words to remain unheard.

When in fact his words were the ones that were going unheard.

"You would still be here if not for me." Marinette sobbed. "You would still be alive."

With those words his Ladybug crumbled like a house of cards. His brave, strong, confident lady had been reduced to an inconsolable mess of tears and violent sobs.

Adrien wished for nothing more in this moment than to be able to hold her, to stroke her hair. He wanted to whisper soothing words and dry her tear-stained cheeks. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and protect her from the world, comfort her and reassure her.

But he couldn't.

All he could do was watch as Marinette, his Lady, his Princess, grieved alone in front of his cold, lifeless grave.

He wished he could let her know he was still here. That he was here for her, and always would be. But what he wished for more than anything... was for her to know that he too-

'I love you too Marinette.'

E=N=D

I'M SORRY.

This one-shot was inspired by listening to Feels like Summer by Weezer.

and Legends Never Die by Against the Current

If you go back and ignore the majority of the Adrien parts you'll notice it's actually a one sided conversation.

Thanks for reading leave a review please and tell me what you thought of the fic!