After a gruelling morning rehearsal Plagg called a break at lunchtime. "Alright, listen up! The whole studio is getting a facelift this weekend. Which means that you all need to get lost this afternoon."
"What Plagg is trying to say is that the studio will be closed for this afternoon and the rest of the weekend for renovations. As much as we love you all, we need to prepare for the painters so once we have finished up here we will need to ask you all to leave." Tikki explained.
"Sweet! A day off!" Nino cheered and Felix, Kim and Nathanial joined in moments later.
"Alright! Alright!" Plagg yelled over the din, "You get a day off! NOW SCRAM!"
The dancers bolted from the studio, loudly chatting about what they were going to do in their spare time. Adrien and Marinette walked slower than their friends, quietly talking together.
"Mari, would you mind coming with me this afternoon? There is someone I would like you to meet," Adrien asked, a soft look in his eyes.
"S-sure Adrien, I don't mind. Who is it?" she replied.
"Just someone who is very much like you and I think you will be good friends," he said cryptically.
"Ok?" Marinette said warily, before they split up to get changed.
After being teased relentlessly about their living arrangements by their friends, with Alya and Nino in the lead, , Marinette and Adrien headed outside and hailed a cab. Adrien gave the driver the address of where they were going and Mari knew that it was in one of the upper-class areas.
As they rode through the city, Marinette watched the buildings fly by. She started imagining what it would be like 200 years ago; when Ladybug and Chat Noir were supposed to be alive. She could imagine the rush of flying through the buildings, swinging from a magical yo-yo and staff. The view would be amazing and the thrill of chasing an akuma would be intense. Marinette truly believed that the superheroes had been real and not just another legend although she had no proof to support her theory, just a gut feeling. Sometimes, she glanced shyly at Adrien, that is all you have and you have to trust that, just like she was with him
"We are here," Adrien said, startling Marinette out of her daydream. She looked around and saw that they were parked in front of what Marinette believed to be, a private hospital.
"Adrien? Why are we here?" she asked.
"I told you, to meet someone," he said with a smile on his face, "Come on, you are going to love her."
Adrien grabbed Marinette's hand and dragged her from the cab, paying the driver. He then led her through the front doors, waved at the nurse on the front desk and strode towards the elevators. They rode the elevator to the top floor, the doors opened and the duo was met with an eerie silence except for the tapping of a keyboard at the nurse's station.
"Back again Adrien?" The nurse behind the desk asked.
"Long time no see Rebecca," he replied cheerfully, "This is my friend Marinette. I thought she might like some company today."
"Of course, she is having a good day today. Call if you need anything."
"Thanks Rebecca, see you!"
Marinette was still very confused as to what was happening when Adrien suddenly stopped at a closed door.
"This is us," he smiled, opening the door quietly and making his way inside the room.
Marinette was surprised to see a beautiful middle aged blonde woman lying in a hospital bed, sleeping. She slowly walked closer to the woman, looking back at Adrien, questions brimming. She reached the bed and with a start, she realised that she knew this lady. She had seen her picture all over Adrien's apartment, though in the pictures she was significantly younger.
"Mari, meet my Mother. Mother, meet Marinette," Adrien introduced, a warm smile breaking onto his face.
"Wait. This is your mother?" Marinette whispered, "What happened?"
Adrien sat down in one of the comfy chairs next to the bed, gesturing for Marinette to do the same.
"Ten years ago, when I was 11, my mother had an accident. She was a ballerina like us, my father was her director. They were world renowned in the dance industry." He paused, a soft smile forming on his face. "She was always the Prima and whatever ballet Father directed always won awards. My father was always pushing himself hard when he was working; he knew that to be able to keep the comfortable life he was providing my mother and I, he could not afford to be slack. My mother felt like she couldn't let him do all the hard work, so when she wasn't looking after me she would be rehearsing; sometimes she would take me with her when father was working late or if she couldn't find a sitter." He smiled again, reaching over to tuck a lock of his mother's hair away from her face. "I loved it when that happened because I got to spend more time with her and the other dancers would teach me ballet to keep me occupied. It's actually how I became a dancer in the first place… But, one day when she was practicing after a long day, her partner slipped when lifting her and she was so exhausted that she couldn't catch herself before she hit the floor… I still remember the sound of her head connecting with the hardwood, the yells of all the other dancers as two of them grabbed me and carried me out of the studio. It was Tikki and Plagg… They were my best friends growing up; they took care of me when father and mother went to the hospital. I found out a few days later that she was in a coma due to the severity of the damage her brain had suffered. The doctors told my father that is would be kinder and easier if he let her go and turned off the machines, but he refused. He loved her too much to let her go. When she was stable enough he had her moved here and quit directing. I haven't seen much of my father since then, mainly because when he is travelling, trying to find someone who can heal her." Adrien turned to face Marinette again. "Tikki and Plagg took me in and when they decided to open their own studio I was their first student and principal dancer. After 10 years, father still refuses to let go but I don't mind though, because it gives me a chance to still hang out with my mother. I still get to tell her things that I am doing, about the people I have met, what dance I am struggling with. I can hold her hand, kiss her cheek and just sit with her. I know it's selfish, but I don't want to lose my mother even though I already have," Adrien finished, obviously holding back tears.
"Is that why you were with me in the hospital when I woke up?" Marinette asked, softly.
"Yeah, it reminded me of my mother's accident a bit too much. I'm just glad I caught you before you hit the floor. You both have so much in common… I don't want what happened to her to happen to you. I care too much for you Mari." he said blushing slightly.
"Oh, um, uh… Thank you Adrien, I care about you too." Marinette murmured.
"So how about I go down to the cafeteria and get us some drinks. You can stay here and have some girl bonding time," Adrien said jumping out of his seat suddenly, "Is a diet cola ok?"
"S-sure, sounds good," Marinette replied as Adrien skipped to the door, "I won't be long."
After a few minutes alone in the room with the comatose mother of her dance partner/close friend/pseudo roommate/secret crush, Marinette decided that maybe talking to someone who couldn't answer might actually be a good idea.
"Hello Mrs Agreste, my name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng, I'm a friend of Adrien's… Actually he is my partner for the ballet we are performing together. The Dance of the Ladybug. He tells me that we are alike in some cases." She grabbed Mrs Agreste's hand and the words began to flow, "To be honest, I don't think I am worthy of your son, he is such an amazing dancer and person and-" Marinette stopped talking and looked down at her hand that was intertwined with Adrien's mother's.
"Did you just-?" she whispered, shaking her head, "No, it must have been a muscle twitch, you couldn't have just squeezed my hand-" Again she felt the hand move, the pressure light but enough to stop her in mid-sentence.
Marinette couldn't explain what happened next, Mrs Agreste began making little noises in the back of her throat, barely audible and again squeezing Marinette's hand. The pressure was getting stronger each time. After Marinette snapped herself out of her shock she reached with her spare hand for the controller with the help button. She then repeatedly hit the big red nurse button until the nurse, Rebecca as she recalled, burst in through the door.
"What is going on in here?" she demanded, "That button is not a toy young lady!"
"But she is moving!" Mareinette cried, still not letting go of the groaning woman. Nurse Rebecca stopped for a moment, processing what Marinette had said before purposefully walking to the bed checking Mrs Agreste's vitals and she then called for the doctor.
A few short minutes later the Doctor strode into the room, followed closely behind by Adrien and a man Marinette could only assume to be his father.
"What is going on in here?" The doctor demanded, stern faced.
"Mrs Agreste seems to be waking up doctor." Rebecca replied her eyes flicked to Marinette quickly, "I can't explain why though."
"And who is she?" Mr Agreste asked, pointing at Marinette,
"This is Marinette, my friend from ballet," Adrien jumped in, striding to stand next to her.
"A-"
Everyone stopped talking and looked at Mrs Agreste.
"A-ad-"
"Right everyone who is not medically qualified needs to leave the room now." The doctor ordered. Then a little softer, "As soon as I know what is happening Mr Agreste I will let you know." Mr Agreste nodded, his face strained and with look to Adrien and Marinette, he ushered to the two out of the room.
"Marinette, what happened?" Adrien asked. "I was only gone a few minutes."
Marinette shook her head, "I'm not sure myself. I was holding her hand and talking to her, like you suggested and then she started squeezing my hand. Once I noticed it was a deliberate move and not some muscle twitch she started making noises. That is when I called the nurse, because I wasn't sure what was going on."
"Strange that after 10 years of never moving or making noise, 10 minutes with you seemed to wake her," Mr Agreste pondered, "How exactly do you know my son?"
"Mari is my partner from the Kwami Dance Company, Father," Adrien replied, "You know how I am playing Chat Noir? Well she is Ladybug."
Mr Agreste looked Marinette up and down critically and she shifted awkwardly, his stare unnerving her slightly.
"Father, what ar-" Adrien started asking before being silenced with a look from his father.
"You look so much like my wife did at your age, other than the hair and eyes of course, its uncanny." He finally said, "How long have you been a Prima?
"Oh, um this is my first time in a lead role Mr Agreste." She quickly answered, "I have only been with the company 3 years."
"Really? And what about before that?" Mr Agreste queried.
"I was a dancer at my local studio in Chinatown. We studied every type of dance there, not just ballet."
"Hmmm." Was the only response she received.
A few minutes later the door opened and the doctor walked out, "Mr Agreste. I don't know how to tell you this." he started, "But your wife seems to be waking up from her coma."
Mr Agreste's eyes widened at the news "How is it possible? After all this time?"
"There is no medical explanation I'm afraid. I think we just got lucky." He answered, "Now… This process will take some time. We have had to place her in a medically induced coma for the moment. Only to ensure that she wakes up properly," he finished quickly at the double stare he received from both Adrien and his father. "This is a delicate time for her and we need to ensure that her wakening up doesn't cause more issues for her mind."
"How long until she is awake?" Adrien asked, his voice somewhat optimistic.
"I would say a week or so but it will be a long time until she is back to normal provided there is no underlying side effects or damage from the original accident." He explained.
"Thank you doctor." Mr Agreste said before sliding into one of the chairs in the hallway.
"Are you going to be ok Father?" Adrien asked softly.
"Yes Adrien, I just can't believe that after all this time she is coming back to us." he replied, voice soft.
"Do you mind if we head off now? We have a few things to take care of this afternoon." Adrien asked an hour later. The trio had been sitting in the chairs, reminiscing about Mrs Agreste while Marinette sat in awe of this amazing family who had finally received a lucky break.
"No of course not Adrien. I'm sorry if I kept you with all this talking," Mr Agreste apologised, a smile gracing his aged face.
'Don't apologise Father. I'm glad that we got to catch up after so long," Adrien grinned.
"We will have to catch up properly before long, maybe this weekend if you are free?" Mr Agreste suggested.
"That sounds perfect Father. Is tomorrow night ok?" Adrien asked, eager to spend more time with the father that he had missed. "7pm at my apartment?"
"I'll be there." His father agreed.
After leaving the hospital, Adrien and Marinette decided to catch a cab to their local store to pick up some ingredients for dinner that night. Once they had purchased everything they needed, Marinette suggested they walk back to the apartment through the park for a change of scenery, offering herself a chance to wrap her head around everything that had occurred a few hours before. They had fallen into a peaceful silence when Adrien stopped suddenly turning to face Marinette and grabbing a square box from his pocket. "Mari? I, um, wanted to give you this."
The dark haired girl looked at it suspiciously, "What is it?"
"Just open it," he urged. Carefully she opened the box and gasped. It was a gold key nestled in soft purple velvet.
"Adrien?"
"It's a key to my place, I wanted to give you a copy of your own." He explained, his hands shaking as he drew a breath. "I, uh, also wanted to know if you wanted to be my girlfriend."
Marinette's breath hitched as she heard his words, she looked at the key before lifting her eyes to look into his. "Yes."
Adrien looked confused, "Yes you will move in with me or yes you will be my girlfriend?"
Marinette laughed, "Both silly." She giggled before rising to her toes to kiss him on the lips, her arms draping around his shoulders.
It took Adrien a moment to realise what she had said before he returned the kiss, wrapping his arms around her waist holding her tight. They stayed like that for a few minutes before the sky opened up and rain started pouring, drenching the still kissing couple in seconds.
Marinette reluctantly removed herself from the kiss to look up at the sky in annoyance, "I think we should probably get home before we catch colds."
"Yeah good idea Mari." Adrien agreed before turning and pulling her behind him as he sprinted back to their apartment.
