A/N: So a friend's father recently died and it made me want to write a fanfic about it. It made me think about how death happens and we need to make the most of our time together.


Don't cry for me

I'm not gone.

The raindrops fells softly around Adrien. He used to like the rain, the freshness it brought after. His favorite memories of his mother and him playing and splashing. Now it only made him remember. He walked down the street, lost in thought of the happy day he had been having. But it had come with a terrible price.

His day in the rain had been lively and fun with Marinette and Ladybug. But then, just like that, things changed. It hadn't been Hawkmoth. Lightning blazed against the gray sky. The wind picked up and the rain intensified. He had suggested they call it a night when they saw a building go up in flames. It had been Marinette's bakery. She screamed as she saw her house, her home burst into a glowing inferno. Even the rain couldn't mask the tears streaming from her face. WIthout thinking, she had plunged inside, not waiting for the fire department. Her parents didn't survive.

She came stumbling out, covered in black ashes and burns. Her breath was choked and raspy. She had fallen to the ground, coughing and choking. Tears streamed down her ashen face. He had run to comfort her and saw how injured she was.

"Don't cry for me, Cat Noir. I'll never be gone. Help Master Fu train the next Ladybug." she had choked out. "Tikki, spots off!"

He sobbed as he realized that Ladybug was Marinette.

"I love you Marinette! Don't leave me! Please! Please…" he pleaded with her, willing her not to leave him.

"I'll always be with you. I love you too, my Chaton…" was all she had said before her broken body went limp.

"I'm sorry Adrien. She's gone," squeaked poor Tikki.

Her glazed eyes stared as the rain poured down around them. She was… gone.

My soul is at rest,

my heart lives on.

I never told her I was Adrien. I never knew my partner was behind me then entire time. I was so blind! Adrien mentally punched himself. I didn't recognize my true feelings for her. I loved her! He sobbed at this realization. She had started to love both sides of him, Cat Noir and Adrien.

He had been blinded by Ladybug's perfectness to notice Marinette. How she loved him as much as he loved Ladybug.

Marinette had been so sweet and kind. Sure, she was clumsy, but she was Ladybug through and through. She cared for all her classmates, she stood up to bullies, she always put others before herself, and had an auror of cheerfulness around her. And those beautiful eyes and dark midnight hair. She had the cutest laugh ever, tinkling like a bell when she giggled.

She would be happy with her parents now, in heaven. The thought made Adrien stricken with grief. I can't be selfish. She is at rest. Her kwamii, Tikki would find a new Ladybug. Her legacy would live on.

He had just started to love her, but she had always loved him. She would never stop loving him.

Light a candle for me to see,

and hold onto my memory.

Marinette and Adrien's day had started when she had accidentally splashed him in a puddle after school. He then splashed him back until they were soaking wet in clean, cool wetness. Her clothes clung to her wet body as she gasped for breath from laughing. He looked at her shining eyes and was amazed at how beautiful and pure they were.

"You like the rain Adrien?" she had asked, giggling.

"Yes, it brings back so many good memories," he had said, smiling at his friend.

Later, Ladybug had splashed him as Cat Noir, again on accident. He had grinned at her before cheekily swiping her with water. Once again, he found himself soaking wet. She looks so beautiful like that, Chat Noir had thought. The sparkle in her eyes, her gorgeous smile, it's no wonder I fell in love.

And when she had first became his friend, in the rain. He had offered her his umbrella and the thunder had boomed. Their first moment, first spark of friendship and love.

If it just hadn't been raining, if it hadn't struck her building, if it didn't burst into flames. If she had made a plan before running inside a burning building. If he had run in after her to save her. So many what if's that might have saved her. All because of the cursed rain. The rain was now a painful reminder of the memories. Of his mother and now, of Marinette.

All their time together, watching her be brave and run for class president, standing up to Chloe, and designing her heart out. Dancing with her at the party, watching their first concert together, going to the movies, and on and on. So much done together, but so much still to do.

The candle of her life snuffed out because of one day. One minute he had been enjoying a perfectly normal day with the one he loved and the next, she was gone forever.

But save your tears,

for I'm still here.

"I'm sorry to inform you class, but Marinette Dupain-Cheng and her parents passed away. It seems that Ladybug was in our class all along. I want to take the day off to remember her and her parents. Perhaps we could set up a memorial outside the classroom." She had to stop and turn around to wipe the tears off her face. Rose and Mylene were silently sobbing into tissues. Even Chloe looked shocked and in grief. Adrien glanced at the empty desk next to Alya. She ran out with Nino and Adrien following her.

"She loved you Adrien, you know?"

"I know."

Marinette and him could have been so much. They could have do so much. Her favorite color was pink, she was an aspiring designer and wanted to be professional in the future, her eyes were bluebell and her hair midnight, and she was Ladybug. What else didn't he know about her? Tears formed in his eyes as he pulled Alya and Nino into a comforting hug.

"Marinette was Ladybug and I never knew it!" Alya yelled. "I knew she was keeping secrets, but Ladybug?! I could have helped her. If I had been at her bakery to pull her out."

"She's still with us guys. She wouldn't want us to dwell on the past and cry over her. She would want us to move on and remember her in a good way."

By your side,

through the years.

Ladybug had always been by his side. Even though it seemed like she took the lead, she had depended on him. All the flirting and puns, the moments they had in dire situations. Ladybug was everything to him. Even if she made mistakes, Ladybug and Marinette had been perfect to him. Fighting all the akumas with her was the best thing that had happened to him. She had made him feel needed and even though he was ignored by his father, she was enough for him. Starting from Stoneheart where she hadn't had confidence to years and years of close calls like Lady Wifi or Dark Owl. Cat Noir was nothing without Ladybug go. He needed her as well.

"By my side, through the years. I have to be by her side as well." Adrien walked to Master Fu's massage shop. He had to move on.


Don't cry for me
I'm not gone.

My soul is at rest,
my heart lives on.

Light a candle for me to see,
and hold onto my memory.

But save your tears,
for I'm still here.

By your side,
through the years.

Cat Noir turned towards the small girl next to him. She smiled awkwardly as she fingered the new earrings she had just recieved. He smiled back, ready to move on. Ladybug would really always be by his side, whether it was Marinette or another one.

"What's your name?" asked Cat Noir. "I'm-"

"Well, your Chat Noir! The hero of Paris. I can't believe I'm the new Ladybug! I'm a little scared and nervous and…" she stopped and looked at him.

He could see a little of Marinette in her. "Don't worry, I'll help you."

"After all, you're Ladybug."


A/N: OK, so this fanfic was kinda repetitive, but I just wanted to write down the feelings of someone who was moving on from someone important to you. This is kind of cheesy, but take note guys, cherish moments with loved ones everyday. Hope you liked this. :-)