"Princess." Adrien whispered, walking towards her as she watched him get out of the elevator
"Yes my Cat Prince?" Marinette giggled
"I like the sound of that." He nodded, sitting next to her on the couch, "So you're finally out of the arena and the hospital."
Marinette snuggled up to him, Chat encircling his arms around her.
"I missed you." He kissed her forehead
"I missed you too." She looked up at him
He placed a sweet kiss on her lips once, ending as soon as it started. Marinette cuddled up closer, hugging her body close as she rested her body on his.
"I never want to be without you." He frowned at her
"We'll never be without each other." She shook her head
He leaned in close, leading her in a passionate kiss. He cupped her cheeks, pulling her lips as close as it could. Their lips were synchronized with the other's movemement. Marinette locked her arms around his neck, pulling him down on the couch. Chat pulled away, leaning his forehead on hers.
"Not here." He whispered, eyeing the elevator
Marinette chuckled and held his hand, leading him to her room.
•••
Marinette stared at the mirror before her. She was dressed in a red ballgown with a sweetheart neckline and a backless top. She had put a huge pink ribbon at the back of the dress to add more of an 'adorable' sense in her daring red dress. Marinette was proud of having designed the dress. Although she wanted to create it herself, she was not allowed by Tikki to do so, wanting the Avoxes to do something.
Her hair was done in a bun and her face was caked in very little makeup. Her mask was on its rightful place and her earrings, the ones from her district, were in her earlobes.
"You done?" Tikki asked her
"Almost." Marinette answered, slipping the silky black gloves on her hand, "Am I going to wear the ring?"
"No, everyone knows that the ring was a weapon." Tikki replied
Marinette nodded and exited her room. She showed herself to her escort and smiled at her.
"You look so beautiful." Tikki whispered, placing her hands to her mouth
"Thank you, Tikki." Marinette responded, hugging the older woman
"You've grown up so much."
Marinette chuckled, "Tikki, it's just been two weeks."
"No, no I mean it." She patted the girl's back, "You're more than just the baker's daughter now. You're a Victor. You're future Missis Ag-."
"Future missis what?" Marinette pulled out of the hug, raising a hug, "You were going to say Chat's last name. What is it?"
"I can't tell because he promised that he'd reveal himself tonight." Tikki smiled weakly, "You two are going to be the happiest couple. I can feel it."
"Thanks." She giggled
"Come on, come on, Chat's dying to see you." Tikki and Marinette started walking out of the room to the elevator
Tikki guided Marinette down to the car, making sure that she would not trip or that her dress would be ripped. Tonight was a special night. They had to make sure that it was. Chat had special plans for the girl most especially the fact that he would propose to her for real, in front of the whole nation. Panem would see, Panem would watch, Panem would rejoice. And he would reveal to all who he really was. And that would avoid any commotion between him and Chloé. They had to plan the event with such elegance. The details were specific.
Tikki was nervous. If one thing would fail, the next would too and the next and the next. But they had been so hands-on to the preparation that it was basically flawless. And it was going to be one.
They soon arrived at the president's mansion where cars were lined up to the opening and people in fancy dresses, sometimes bizarre, were entering the mansion. Clearly, this was too much splurging once again. Marinette's car opened and she smiled at the boy who was to escort her inside the mansion.
"I knew you were going to win, Ladybug." He grinned at her and offered a hand
"Thank you." Marinette smiled back, placing her hand in his, "And thanks for the good luck back then, Adrien. I really needed that."
Adrien chuckled, "You still remember that?"
Marinette nodded, "Course I did. It wasn't everyday that you get to talk to guys for five minutes and they find a way to go to the chariot rides and give you a good luck."
They entered the ball and all eyes were on the two of them.
"Say, why are you always escorting? Aren't you some big shot around here?" Marinette asked
"That I am. I'm the face of the Capitol, that's why I get to escort the pretty ladies when they win." He replied, "And this is the first time I've escorted someone twice."
Marinette giggled, "I gave you a fair warning, didn't I?"
"You know, my father told me that he wanted me to marry the Victor this year. Especially that you and Volpina were the two left." Adrien told the girl, "But you're Chat Noir's already so all of his plans were reduced to nothing."
Marinette looked up at the boy, "But did you want to?"
"Want to what?" He raised a brow
"Marry me if Chat wasn't around." Marinette explained
"Are you serious? I'd love to marry you. But Chat's basically my brother and I cannot ever do it to him." He smiled weakly, If you only knew, Marinette. If you only knew.
"Well, I better get going." He told her as they stopped in front of the two double doors where all the chatter and music came from, "Chat's going to be here in a little while. He's running a little late but they're not going to start until he's here, don't worry."
Marinette nodded then Adrien left her. She could hear her heart pounding from the nervousness and the excitement combined. Finally. She was finally out of the arena and filthy stinking rich. No worries for the rest of her life.
She felt a hand snake up from her back, hugging her from behind. Her hands immediately wrapped around the person's hands.
"My Victor." Chat murmured into her ear
"My kitty." She responded
"So are you still-."
"Yes, Chat. Don't ask that." She dismissed him
He chuckled then linked their arms together, facing the door. The grand double doors swung open revealing the two. They grinned up at the crowd that was cheering for them. The two started walking forward, Chat guiding her every step through the thick ensemble of people. He knew how she hated heels and that she was forced to wear them. In his opinion, they should be illegal.
"You're gonna meet my father tonight." He told her
"Really?" Marinette looked up at him with glee
"Yeah. He's gonna be so happy." He nodded, "He's been wanting to meet you for so long."
Marinette laughed lightly and rested the side of her head on his arm, intertwining her hand in his.
"This is gonna be forever, right?" She asked him
"More than." He responded, planting a kiss on her hair
They reached the front of the crowd and started going up where President Bourgeois was. She stood at the center of the stage and the president walked over to her, a crown in his hand.
"Congratulations." He spoke to her
"Thank you." She smiled timidly
He put the crown on her head and the people applauded.
I guess the party's started.
She was offered different sorts of food and drinks but she was declining everything. She never knew if there was alcohol inside the drinks and if she was meeting Chat's father, then it would be very bad to show up drunk.
"Tikki!" She called the woman who turned around
"There's my Victor!" Tikki gestured to her
Marinette walked over to her company and she was introduced to each.
"Why are you here? Where's Chat?" Tikki asked
"I lost him after the coronation." Marinette answered
"He chickened out." Tikki laughed and pressed into her ear, "Hey, tell your boy there that he left the girl of the night alone."
There was static at the other line for a while then there was a voice heard.
"He's here with me and I don't know why. I'm going to force him. We didn't plan this for so long just to fail.
Tikki pulled Marinette back to the stage. She looked over to the side and gave a thumbs up. The lights started dimming and the thrumming of the music went to a softer tune. A single spotlight showed at the stage where Marinette stood. She looked up at the lights as the crowd watched her. Tikki smiled at her and went down the stage. She could not see anything from the crowd but heard the heels of the shoes clicking towards her. Another spotlight was shown coming closer to her and it was showing Chat Noir. He went to her and kissed her hand.
"Hi Princess." He greeted
He took a deep breath and smiled sheepishly at her.
"What's this?" She asked
"I, I, uh," he took a look around, trying to find Tikki and Plagg but failing, "let's dance."
"Get on with it!" A shout from the crowd, which sounded a lot like Plag, was heard
"Fine." He grumbled
He shook his trembling hands for a while then got down on one knee.
"Chat." Marinette whispered, "What are you doing?"
"You're pretty much the best thing that's happened to me." He started, "You are the best thing that's happened to me. I love you, you know that right?"
"You've told me that." She nodded
"Yeah. But I just feel like I wanna take one more step. You know, seal the deal." He continued, "And like I promised, I wanna be with you an infinite amount of days after forever."
"But I have to have your approval for that." He pulled out a small box from his coat pocket, showing the diamond encrusted ring inside, with an emerald in the middle, "Ladybug, it would be a cat-astrophe if you said no."
Marinette smiled at him for a while, watching his nervous demeanor. It had been the first time that she saw Chat out of this suave façade he always had. This time, this Chat was trembling in front of thousands. This Chat was obviously doubting and waiting for her answer, for her answer that probably made him lose sleep for a week.
"Chat got your tongue, Princess?" He let out a shaky laugh
Marinette laughed again, snapping out of the stupor then sitting down and hugging the cat.
"This isn't a 'for Panem' thing is it?" She whispered in his ear
"Nope. This is a 'you and me' thing." He responded
"Yes Chat Noir!" She answered and the crowd erupted to cheers
Chat had shown her the biggest and happiest smile he had ever shown and clumsily slipped the ring in her right ring finger. He pecked her lips once and pulled the two of them up before hugging her tight.
"Oh thank you so much." He sighed a breath of relief
Someone had tapped a microphone which cut the celebration short. The lights went back on and the couple now watched as Chloé Bourgeois stepped up the stage.
"That was so romantic!" She squealed, "I am so happy! And I want this to be double happiness! I am pleased to announce that the Capitol's darling, Adrien Agreste, had," she lifted her right hand up, showing a diamond studded ring, "finally engaged to me too!"
"What?" Chat furrowed his brows, "But I-."
"Oh let's congratulate, Chloé." Marinette told her fiancé and dragged him to the girl, "Chloé I am so happy for you."
"Ladybug! I'm your number one fan! If you want, we can have a wedding at the same day!" She giggled excitedly, "This is going to be fun!"
"Uh, about that, we weren't planning on having a wedding until we're eighteen." Marinette responded, "But we'll be at your wedding, isn't that right, Chaton?"
"Yeah." Chat nodded
"Oh I want you to be my maid of honor and Chat as the best man." Chloé told the girl, "A wedding with my idol as my maid of honor is my dream come true!"
"I'd be glad." Marinette smiled
"Oh we have to find that boy!" Chloé stomped once, "Well, I'll see you around."
Marinette nodded then smiled at Chat, "She seems nice."
"Princess," he sighed, "I have to introduce you to my father."