It was just another, normal regular day for Annamarie, having completed her current collage assignments and was heading back to the apartment for a lazy afternoon before patrol that night. With Shenfa and Hawk Moth both defeated, they didn't have much to do as superheroes but there were still the odd times when they would be needed.
Plus, it was a trill.
After letting Frou out of her bag and heading over to the kitchen to get something to eat, she headed for the lounge, croissant in hand and milk in the other before sitting down. "Hey Kitty." She said, greeting Adrian who was sat on the other side of her.
He looked up as if he hadn't even noticed she was there. "Hey Feathers."
"You alright? You look lost in thought."
His gaze fell to the floor.
The years had been kind to both of them, Adrian still having his amazing good looks but losing a lot of his boyishness and was now a handsome chilled young man. He could drop back into modelling if he wanted but now he spent most of his time learning history and science in plans to become a teacher while Marinette was following her dream of fashion and taken an internship with the Agreste corporation. Annamarie's dance career had come to an end a few years ago when she'd tripped down a flight of stairs and broken her leg. Or at least, that's what they told everyone. The truth was she'd been attacked during a robbery with a baseball bat. While it had taken her awhile to get over it, she eventually decided to follow the years of comments and was now studying psychology.
Life was good and they were happy, living in the apartment Sophia had brought but since moved out from for a country home with Natalia.
Adrian slowly looked up again. "Annamarie… can… can I talk to you?"
"Sure, what's up?"
"Well, the thing is… I mean… I've wanted to… I mean… you… umm… you're the only person I can talk to about this. I mean… I could talk to Nino but… well… he would only get half of it. I mean, you know me better than anyone else and… you know, it's just… sort of… I… umm."
Annamarie slowly put her snack down and stood up. "Adrian?"
"Yeah?"
She smirked at him. "Get your claws out."
He paused then smiled and stood up.
In no time, Royal Peacock and Chat Noir were jumping over the roofs of Paris and enjoying the dusk light, laughing at the rush of adrenaline that came with the moment, not caring where they went, just enjoying the sensation. Finally they stopped and Chat had to stop and pant for breath for a bit, a massive smile on his face. "When was the last time you and I just went for a run?"
"Too long ago clearly. You're out of breath."
He smirked at her then stood up proud. "I'm gonna ask Marinette to marry me."
"Is that what you wanted to talk about before?"
"Yeah."
"About time."
"What?"
"Chat, come on, it's not that much of a surprise honestly. You love her, she loves you. The Bug and the Cat! You're just meant to be together. Anyone who sees you knows that."
He gave a small chuckle. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
"When it comes to you two, I often am."
"Alright, alright. Anyway… I… I don't know how I'm going to do it."
"I'll get my red pen." She said then jumped off ahead.
"Adrian, it's perfect." Annamarie chuckled as she looked at the ring. "You did a great job picking one for her."
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"You don't think the red and green is a bit… tacky?"
She gave him a playful nudge. "No way, it's perfect for her. She will love it!"
Putting the box down on the table, Adrian let out a deep breath. "Well, today's the day. I'm meeting up with her when she finishes work, to take her for dinner."
"And then you go past your special place and pop the question."
"That's the plan anyway." He smiled a little. "I hope this goes well."
"It will. Just channel your inner Chat."
"Yeah. You sure you won't come with me? I need all the support I can get."
Waving her hand at him, the other shook her head. "No no no, you don't need me. I know you will be fine."
He looked about ready to argue but just then his phone began to ring with 'Love is in the air', his ringtone for his girlfriend. Quickly he pulled it out and accepted the call. "Hey Buggabo… Oh, you finished work early? That's great… Nar, I'm just at home… I'll head over and pick you up now. Won't be long… Alright… See you soon. Bye." Once the call ended, he grabbed a handful of hair. "Ah! She's early!"
"Then you propose one hour ahead of time." The level headed Annamarie said while grabbing his jacket for him. "Just get going or you'll be late. Or bottle out but you know I won't let you forget it if you do."
He laughed nervously then grabbed his keys, phone, Plagg and headed out the door.
Once he was gone, Froufrou came over to his chosen and frowned at her. "Should we tell him he's forgotten the ring?"
Annamarie smiled coolly. "Nar, we'll deliver it to him once he's made a fool of himself."
"You're evil sometimes, you know that?"
"You love me for it."
Marinette was humming as they walked down the road, hands locked together and smiling at the summer sun while Adrian couldn't take his eyes off her. She always hummed when her mind was a million miles away.
She no longer had her hair in a pig tails but instead let it flow down her back freely, when working it was normally tied up in a bun similar to how Annamarie had once worn her hair. As fashionable as ever, she had a white strappy shirt with a dark green skirt on today, little flat pumps on her feet and a white to green ombre style.
He was trying to keep his mind on the task at hand and finally came to a sudden stop right on point. Marinette would have walked on if he hadn't been holding her hand and he smiled. "We're here."
Marinette looked around them, looking for a cafe or a shop or a restaurant that was their destination but they were stood in a random street near a rotating sign. Nothing about it would identify this as a place to stop. "Umm, okay?" she questioned.
Adrian smiled and stepped closer to her. "Do you know where this is Mari?"
"Some random street?"
"Well, it is a street… but it's not random." He looked up in a certain direction. "8 years ago, you came screaming over that roof right there and… well, you crashed into me."
Her eyes widened as she suddenly recognised it all. "Oh yeah!"
"This is where we met." Adrian confirmed. "You crashed into me, knocked me over and we got all wrapped up in your yo-yo."
She blushed brightly. "Yeah, I was such a klutz."
"Yes, you were."
"You're not meant to agree with me kitty!"
He moved into her space, brushing his hair on hers. "Sorry my lady. But… that's why I brought you here today. I mean, this place… it's where it all began."
"Yeah." She whispered, arms wrapped around him.
Pressing her closer to his chest, Adrian nodded. "This is where we met… where we became a team… and… where we started." He lowered his voice to just a whisper. "This is where you started to be my lady. I mean, we hadn't even met at school back then… this was the first moment… I lay eyes on you." He could almost feel her blush but he kept himself calm somehow. "You know, putting on the ring… it was like the… preview of what was to come, because meeting you was the start of my life. I've changed so much because of you, as Ladybug and as Marinette. I became a whole new person." He sighed and leant towards her again. "And here… here was the start."
"Adrian, your Chat is showing."
He chuckled lightly at her then nodded. "Yeah, I guess it is. But… Marinette, after everything we have done, everything we have… seen and gone through… I keep finding myself drawn to this spot. And… that's why I decided to bring you here." He took a deep steadying breath and subtly reached down to his jacket pocket, reaching in for the small box.
Suddenly, he froze and padded his pocket down… then the other one… then his trousers… every pocket was checked and double checked and… it wasn't there.
He felt cold and pale and faint as he swore over and over again. "Ohno… ohno ohno no no no no!" He repeated over and over as he checked his pockets once more.
Marinette stared at him with confusion and worry. "Umm, Adrian?"
"No." He whimpered and put his hand to the back of his neck. "I can't…"
"HEY! Agreste!"
They both looked up at the call just in time to see a blue heroine land beside them and put a hand on her hip while glaring at the boy. "What are you?" She said stiffly while holding something in her other hand.
Adrian blinked at her. "A very grateful friend?"
"And?"
"An idiot?"
"And what do idiots get?"
He winced. "A hit around the head?"
"Yep." Peacock popped before bringing her hand up over his head, knocking him forwards sharply and passed him the box. "I'll give you some privacy." She winked then took to the air only to land on a roof with a perfect view.
Adrian sighed as he watched her go. "Always got my back." He said then looked away. "Could have told me sooner but…"
Marinette chuckled as she watched the bird for a moment. "Yeah, guess so."
"Anyway…" He said, clearing his throat. "As… as I was saying… this… this place was the start of my life… and… I want it to be the start of our life…"
Marinette suddenly paid full attention as she watched him do the unthinkable.
He knelt before her and opened the small box in his hands that Peacock had delivered.
She eyes glanced at the item inside and she felt like she was going to pass out. A ring. A gold ring with a large ruby in the middle and two emeralds on either side.
The boy nodded as she brought her hands to her mouth. "Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Will… will you marry me?"
Adrian groaned as he lowered the phone. "Dam it."
"Another no?" Marinette said as she looked up from her laptop.
"Not for that month. Dam it Mari, why can't we find a venue? It's like the whole world doesn't want us to get married."
She frowned at him. "Adrian, don't be silly. We might just have to wait a bit longer or find another date."
"You heard what Niji said; eternal happiness if a miraculous wed on a solstice."
"Maybe he was just pulling your leg." She teased, working her away over to him and holding his neck loosely, drawing him into her side. "And we will be happy no matter what."
The blonde smiled and leant over, pecking her lips. "Yeah. No matter what. I just… it would be nice."
His fiancé, a title even 3 months later he could not get used to, smiled and kissed him again. "Well, who knows? Maybe our luck will change."
"Says Miss Lucky herself."
"Hey, that's Soon-to-be-Mrs Bad Luck thank you." She chuckled, leaning in for another kiss when their attention was suddenly taken by a knock at the front door. "You expecting company?"
"No. You?"
"No."
"Leave it then." Adrian smirked, pulling her in for another kiss, soon beginning to make out on the sofa. As his hands roamed up under her shirt, they were alerted to the door opening on its own.
They turned to see who was intruding when the incomer sighed, putting down a small collection of plastic bags. "You could have got the door for me." She whined. "Theses bags are heavy."
The pair quickly parted and looked at their friend as she stood gleefully in the doorframe. "Sorry, didn't know it was you." Mari said, pulling her top back down. "We just were ignoring the door."
"Charming." she teased, fanning her face with a piece of paper folded in half.
The action didn't escape the others and they looked at her with a frown. "What's that?"
"This?" She said in a fake innocent voice. "Oh this is nothing."
"Feathers, what is it?"
She smirked and shrugged. "Nothing, honest. Just a letter from Senior Roberto."
"Roberto? What does he want?"
"I thought he stopped being your patron when you…" Adrian stopped, his eyes glancing down to her leg.
Annamarie nodded and walked over to the sofa, picking up Marinette's laptop and began tapping at it. "Yeah, the two of us haven't been in contact as much as we were before my accident. But we still talk and I managed to pull a favour from him."
The two perked up suddenly. "Favour? What kind of favour?"
She smiled, still looking at the screen. "Well, when he was my patron, I barely ever asked him for help. So when I contacted him for something, he jumped at the chance."
"And?"
She turned the laptop around, revealing the website of some fancy looking manor house the two recognised at once. It had been their first choice for a wedding. The Chateau Bouffemont. "How would you like to get married here?"
The pair blinked. "It's fully booked for the next 5 years."
"Not for Sinor Roberto." She said with a smile. "You are getting married on the summer solstice this year at Chateau Bouffemont. If you still want to that is."
The other just stared at the screen as it showed picture after picture of the beautiful venue before they bolted up and shot at her, hugging her tight and laughing in wonder.
It had been the only possible choice that Annamarie had been named 'Head Bridesmaid' for Marinette and Adrian's wedding and she was taking the role as seriously as she did her role as a protector of Paris. Alya had been considered but she was currently sporting a very large bump in the stomach that stopped her from taking the position.
From using her connections to get the venue, she moved on to helping pick the menus and colours for the wedding. She blushed when they told her what 'style' of the wedding. They had decided to go for a 'peacock' colour pallet of blue and gold.
"But… surely a red and black pallet is more… appropriate?"
"We are still going to have our colours there but we want your colours to be the dominate one." Adrian said with a smile.
"But… why?"
Marinette chuckled as she pulled him in. "Because without you, we never would have been."
"You would have sorted it out eventually." She said with a smirk before humbly accepted the tribute. Of course, only a handful of people would understand the choice of colours but it made them smile.
The months passed and the big day approached, almost every one of their invitations came back accepting to come to the wedding of Mr Adrian Agreste and Miss Marinette Dupain-Cheng.
After a lot of heated yet friendly arguments, Annamarie had convinced Marinette that she was not going to make her dress for the wedding so she could concentrate on making her own wedding dress.
The inspiring designer insisted on making her own gown for the day and only a select few were allowed into her studio to see. Adrian was, naturally, banded from the room on pain of death.
Weeks passed.
Flowers were chosen, they had meltdowns, napkin choices, arguments, dance lessons, cake choices, fittings for suits, cat fights… the public were beginning to wonder why Ladybug was being spotted shouting her head off at Chat Noir to the point where she had him hanging upside down by his tail over the edge of the Eiffel Tower.
If anyone asked, Peacock just would sigh deeply and say 'It's complicated'.
After all, how many people could say they missed the start of their hen's night because of having to stop a bank robbery.
Adrian bit his lip and looked up for what must have been the 80th time in the last five minutes and it was putting Plagg off. The young man was just sat there, looking at his phone and frowning before glancing up at the kwami.
Enough is enough! Plagg decided and the next time Adrian looked up, he flew right into his face and glared at him. "Why the devil are you staring at me like that?"
The blonde gulped and looked away. "I… it… it's nothing."
"Well if it's nothing then stop staring at me! It's freaking me out!"
He shifted like he was suddenly a teenager again. "Actually, Plagg… I wanted to ask you something."
"What?" He groaned, flying off to find some cheese.
"Well… I was wondering… if… if maybe…" He took a deep breath and took the plunge. "If you would be my best man."
The kwami froze then turned back to him, eyes wide and jaw slack. "You… what?"
"Well, normally I would ask Nino, but with Alya being… you know, pregnant, he's kinda got his hands full. And… you're the next best male friend I have." He bit his lip and shrugged. "And… I'd be honoured to have you as my best man."
Plagg blinked. "You… want me… to be your best man?"
"Yeah. I mean, if you want."
"Adrian, I am millennia old being." He said, arms folded. "I have been asked some stupid and weird things in the past but being asked to be someone's best man was not one of them." Adrian looked down feeling a little foolish for asking before Plagg suddenly laughed. "Of course I'll be your best man! Oh this is gonna rule! Does this mean I get to plan the bachelor party? Oh please say it does! I have a theme already in mind!"
The groom looked up. "You mean, you'll do it?"
"Yeah!" He cheered. "But you'll have to ask Niji to come so I can hold human form…"
"He and Dawa are already on the list, as well as Fu and Wayzz. Tikki is going as Marinette's flower girl and Frou is the ring barer."
The god did a loop de loop in air. "Ah man, so I'm gonna have a better role than those guys! This is gonna be so cool! Oh Adrian, I take back all the bad things I ever said about you!"
"You said bad things?"
"Only when you couldn't hear." He said with a wink. "Oh man, what am I gonna wear!?"
Finally, the day arrived.
As head bridesmaid, Annamarie was up and organising the bride as best she could with the help of a professional hair stylist and makeup artist, getting her into her gown and marvelling at how beautiful it was. "Oh Mari, you look beautiful." Alya cooed as she stroked her pregnant stomach, just visible behind her loose blue dress.
"It's stunning Madam." The stylist said, finishing the correcting the last curls.
Mari's hair was now pinned up behind her head with loose curls trailing down over one shoulder, a fringe bouncing above her elegantly painted eyes that just made the normally sparkling blue eyes pop even more.
Her gown was a work of art, with a simple high halter neck that was open at the back, the fabric on the bust delicately folded and shaped to her side while from the hip down it just hung gracefully to her feet, covering them with just a little room to grace her movements. The whole thing was made of pure, perfect white and had an almost Greek feeling to the delicate design while from her hips where two overlaying lace layers with little red, green and blue jewels sown into it so it sparkled in whatever light it was standing in.
The group all stood in amazement at the dress and the time it must have taken to design and craft.
Her mother was dabbing away tears in a sky blue dress suit. "Oh… my little girl…"
"Come on mamma, it's alright."
"But you look so beautiful."
Marinette smiled as she was handed a large bouquet of white roses and blue irises, bunches of little golden beads dotted around it. "Thank you momma. But, where's Annamarie?"
"Sorry." Came a disembodied voice as the bridesmaid finally made an appearance, lowering her phone as she entered the room. "Just had to make a quick call to the photographer, let him know we are on our way. The car's waiting outside." She looked up and blinked at how everyone was looking at her. "What?"
"Annamarie… that dress!"
She blushed, only just realising they had never seen her outfit. Even Mari had only seen a picture of it and even then not on her.
It was sky blue, sleeveless and rounded in a free hanging style similar to Marinette's but while the bride had decorations and style to it, Annamaire's was plain and yet striking on her body, her hair loose in a ponytail over one shoulder.
But by far the most wonderful part of the dress was a daring move on the miraculous' hand as on the back, from the base of her spine, came a long smooth delicate trailing sweep of fabric that was shaped and designed to look like feathers, each one decorated with golden eyes tinted with purples and greens. Peacock feathers.
She blushed at their gaze. "I can change…"
"NO!" Mari shouted before smiling. "No, it's perfect for you Annamarie. It's beautiful."
The woman smiled at her but then looked out the window. "Well, come on, time to go, can't keep Mr Lucky waiting."
Marinette gave her a nudge as they made their way out of the bakery and to the waiting car, slipping in and waiting for the long drive through Paris and out towards Chateau Bouffemon. They had decided to not have a service in a church and decided to have a private smaller registration later. Neither of them were very religious and when seven of your guests are magical beings, it didn't seem appropriate.
So they were having the 'I do's' at the hotel and then a big meal and dance out in the gardens. The wedding organiser at the Chateau Bouffemont had worried about rain and bad weather and advised them to have a marquee but the three had convinced her otherwise.
Niji had promised to work his magic and keep the sky cleared all week so the ground would be soft and the air would be just perfect for the event.
At the hotel, they met up with the rest of the Dupain-cheng's and there was a lot of hugging and a few tears and Tom couldn't help but stiff as he looked at his little girl. Alya had headed in to take her place but Annamarie stayed behind, touching her friend's shoulder softly. "Sorry to interrupt but we have to go in."
"Yes." Sabrina hummed. "Adrian's waiting."
"And I get to be the father of the bride." Tom said, wiping his eyes.
As they began to walk up to the main door, the Maid quickly stepped over and corrected her friend's dress and hair, pulling down her veil then took her place at the front, her own smaller bunch of flowers in her own. "Ready?" She said as they stood outside the door to where they knew a lot of people would be waiting for them.
The two nodded and Annamarie took her place, knocking on the door and watching as it opened. Adrian was at the far end, by an official who would complete the wedding. He was stood in a black tuxedo with long tails at the back and a dark blue waistcoat and golden gentleman's tie. He looked at the peacock as she walked down between the people around them, about 50 people surrounding them, gasping at how beautiful she looked as she glided towards the front.
But she was just the starter.
The main show began her entrance with a familiar soft grand piano and everyone stood up, watching as the young woman and her father walked forwards.
Adrian's whole body stiffened as he looked at his bride to be and he stopped breathing at how wonderful she looked. Beside him, a human Plagg gave him a nudge. "Breathe, moron."
He did let out a breath and watched as her came closer, her father lifting her veil and kissing her forehead then passed her hand to his. He couldn't stop the grin as he lifted her hand and kissed it. "You look… beyond words my lady."
She smiled at him and turned to the ceremony, listening to the short speech about love and unity and the bond beyond all others. The pair made short speeches about how much they loved each other and how they would always be there for each other. Adrian's was pun loaded and gained a few groans from the audience.
Then finally they made their vows, exchanged two simple golden bands that didn't look like much compared to the elegant engagement ring but inside they were engraved privately with the words 'My Lady' on Marinette's and 'Chaton' in Adrian's while on the outside were three tiny, near invisible symbols. A tiny ladybug, cat paw and feather, all three of them so close together they were almost touching.
And what no one else knew was on Annamaire's little finger was another ring just like theirs but in silver. Hers read 'Feathers' on the inside.
Before that day, Dawa had taken the three and enchanted them with dust from the Katotnal so that all three of them would eternally be bound together as long as they wore the rings. If something happened to one of them, the others would know.
It was a very powerful gift that fit perfectly to the moment.
The lady at the front conducting the ceremony nodded her head and closed her eyes. "You may now kiss the bride."
Adrian didn't hesitate in pulling his new wife into him, holding her face as they kissed, holding her as long as he dared, leaning back and whispering in her ear. "You really are my Lady now."
After the ceremony and a lot of photos were taken and the guests allowed to mix and mingle, they were shown to where they were to be served their main meal and blinked as they saw 10 beautiful tables placed out and exposed to the elements, an open dance floor and bar on one side while a fountain defined one area from the other.
Each table had a bunch of flowers on it and was set up with gold rimmed white plates, silver cutlery and white napkins, the tablecloths white and the chairs covered in gold with a bluish ribbon at the back. Metal lanterns with candles inside were set up around them making the whole place look like something out of a fairy tale in the wonderful summers evening.
Everyone was amazed by how beautiful it all looked but worried about the weather holding, apart from one table, made up of an old Chinese man, a young couple where one had blonde hair, the other black and a few strange brightly coloured people that no one could ever remember seeing before, including the best man, but they just smiled knowingly and took their place.
Food soon followed, accompanied by romantic piano music but after four glorious wonderful courses the dinner was finished, and the people were happily buzzed with the atmosphere and the wonderful, magical day they were having. It felt as if nothing could go wrong today there was so much love and wonder surrounding them.
Finally, Annamarie stepped up from the head table and walked over to the DJ as he passed her a microphone which she took and nodded.
"Ladies and gentleman." She said in a calm but proud voice. "I would like to ask you all to be upstanding, as the bride and groom come to the dance floor for their first dance as Mr and Mrs AGRESTE!" Her voice slowly began to rise as she spoke until she was almost shouting over the applause as Adrian and Marinette made their way to the floor and the music began, a gentle drum beat until the singer began, the pair of them softly swaying on the spot standing as close as possible together.
"I've never seen you looking so lovely as you did tonight.
I've never seen you shine so bright.
I've never seen so many men ask you if you wanted to dance
They're looking for a little romance, given half a chance.
And I have never seen that dress you're wearing,
Or the highlights in your hair that catch your eyes
I have been blind"
Suddenly the dance went from being a slow, almost messy performance to a more dramatic, practiced one, Adrian moving elegantly with the music and his wife as he span her out to the side and back in, moving beside her and nuzzling into her shoulder, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek, making her smile.
"The lady in red, is dancing with me, cheek to cheek
There's nobody here. It's just you and me
It's where I want to be
But I hardly know~ this beauty by my side~
I'll never forget, the way you look tonight."
A few of the audience, such as Sophia, Fu and the human Kwamis, smirked at the song and its underlying message. The couple had been remarkably clever with the choice of song.
Others however just frowned. "Love the song." Someone whispered. "But… why lady in red? She's not wearing red. Bit weird."
Across from them, Annamarie smiled and went back to looking at the pair dance, as elegantly as she had expected from weeks of practice, even getting a few in on roof tops of Paris.
"I've never seen you looking so gorgeous as you did tonight
I've never seen you shine so bright, you were amazing
I've never seen so many people want to be there by your side
And when you turned to me and smiled, it took my breath away
And I have never had such a feeling
Such a feeling of complete and utter love, as I do tonight"
He knelt before her, holding his hands out for her, taking her hand and kissing it before standing and using it to pull her back to his side, making their way slowly around the dance floor, dips and spins coming every few steps. They could put a professional dancer to shame with how graceful the two of them moved, Marinette's dress moving effortlessly with her every gesture as the music began to build and they separated, preparing for a crescendo of music.
"The lady in red is dancing with me, cheek to cheek
There's nobody here, it's just you and me"
Adrian suddenly hurried over, sweeping his bride up off his feet with practiced ease and span with her on the spot, getting a loud cheer from their audience as he placed her back down and continued to dance as if he hadn't just swept her, literally, off her feet.
"It's where I want to be
But I hardly know this beauty by my side
I'll never forget the way you look tonight
I never will forget the way you look tonight
The lady in red, the lady in red
The lady in red, my lady in red"
He pulled her in and cupped her face with both hands, whispering with the song; "I love you." Before sealing her lips with a kiss, their watchers standing up and cheering with delight at the show.
With the first dance over, everyone's attention was moved on to the wedding cake; a beautiful three tier creation with the top level in metallic gold with small red ball barings pressed into the icing in a cross hatch style, a second level in a sky, pale blue with delicate white and blue edible roses decorating it while little green leaves poking out between the petals. The lowest level was a perfect white complete with blue, gold, green and red calligraphy swirls all over it, the colours crossing and merging with each other perfectly.
At the very top rested a golden Eiffel tower; a tribute to the place they protected and loved.
Everyone cheered as the two took a knife and together cut into it, the photographer certain to capture the moment in every possible way.
As the staff cut up and served the cake for everyone, it was time for a few more speeches and toasts, everyone's attention on anyone who spoke up. Plagg, the best man, gave a short but funny and embarrassing speech about how Adrian had fawned of Marinette for years in such a sappy way it made him feel sick. Of course, he left out that he had been fawning for Ladybug who was Marinette but the message was still funny and had his charge blushing bright red.
Finally, Farther of the Bride Tom took the spotlight and gave his speech, about how proud of Adrian he was and how he was welcome to their family. He almost broke down in tears as Marinette gave him a hug and Adrian shook his hand tightly.
The applause was just dying down when everyone looked towards the speakers around them. For all of the speeches, they had been silent but suddenly they were playing music again, gentle notes of a piano.
Everyone was confused, even the bride and groom as they turned to the DJ but then noticed someone stood in the middle of the dance floor. Some of the guests were friends of Annemarie's from the ballet and they gasped at what they saw.
The former prima ballerina with her hair once more in a tight bun, her feet bare in pointer shoes and dressed in a dark blue short netted skirt and a tight corset with a golden collar over her shoulders.
Before anyone could ask or even speak, she began to move and dance, slow elegant sweeps of her arms in perfect time with the words, stepping forward and reaching up to the sky in time.
"We were strangers starting out on a journey,
Never dreaming what we'd have to go through.
Now here we are and I'm suddenly standing,
At the beginning with you."
She held her arm to the side and another dancer joined her, dressed in a gold and blue jacket that sparkled in the light, coming over and holding her hand, supporting her grip and beginning to move with her as perfectly as they once had several years ago.
"No one told me I was going to find you,
Unexpected, what you did to my heart.
When I lost hope, you were there to remind me
This is the start."
They both bowed to the crowd before standing back up and used their hands and bodies to tell the story in the song, wrapping around each other, protecting and showing nothing but trust and love.
"And life is a road and I want to keep going
Love is a river, I want to keep flowing,
Life is a road, now and forever,
Wonderful journey."
Louie gripped her sides and lifted her up a little in a sideways leap, taking her across the dance floor before aiding her in a spin that stopped perfectly with the next few words and wrapped his arms around her in the next.
"I'll be there when the world stops turning,
I'll be there when the storm's through.
At the end I want to be standing,
At the beginning with you."
The audience were smiling, unable to believe what they were seeing. An unexpected return of the youngest prima ballerina of their generation. And to such a meaningful and perfect song for a wedding.
Marinette couldn't help but wonder how she'd found time to learn the routine between all her duties but watching her now… she knew this was a gift to herself and Adrian. Their first, what could have been called a date, was to see Annamarie perform. And the next verse just screamed about their time as miraculous.
"We were strangers on a crazy adventure.
Never dreaming how our dreams would come true,
Now here we stand unafraid of the future,
At the beginning with you."
Her eyes met with Annamaire's and they shared a short smile but then she stood on one foot and span once more before falling back across Louie's arm and lifting her leg into the sky in a perfect straight line.
"And life is a road, and I want to keep going
Love is a river, I want to keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever
Wonderful journey.
I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm's through
At the end I want to be standing
At the beginning with you."
Louie gave his partner a look and she nodded, hurrying towards him and taking a great leap with the music, her whole body leaving the ground like a bird in flight.
"Knew there was somebody somewhere!
Help me, alone in the dark.
Now I know my dream will live on
I've been waiting too long
Nothing's gonna tear us apart"
The man caught her effortlessly, sweeping her up into the air and holding her up close to his chest while spinning quickly on the spot, the crowd breaking into applause at how beautiful it looked, even when the pair continued to dance, lowering her to the ground and aiding her in a spin, the moves perfectly naturally and not completely ballet but part ballroom as well and yet the forms merged perfectly.
"And life is a road and I want to keep going
Love is a river, I want to keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever
Wonderful journey"
They moved in perfect sync, each step and breathe an easy match for each other and the music, Louie's hand almost ghosting across her skin as they danced, holding her sides as she span and leapt.
"I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm's through
In the end I want to be standing
At the beginning with you.
"And life is a road and I want to keep going
Love is a river, I want to keep going on
Starting out on a journey…"
Marinette smiled as she watched her friend pulled away, Louie standing to the side while Annamarie continued alone, continuing to dance with the quieter part of the song, standing on one leg and showing off her elegance and grace with her arms and legs, like she had once before at the opening night of Giselle.
"Life is a road and I want to keep going
Love is a river I want to keep flowing
In the end I want to be standing…"
She turned perfectly so she was facing her friends and smiled.
"At the beginning…"
Slowly she lowered herself into a low sweeping bow.
"…with you."
Everyone was on their feet in a roar of applause and whistles, Louie taking his partner's hands and bowing with her before being swept up in a hug from the bride. "Annamarie! How… you…"
She laughed at her. "I wanted to do something special and, this was the best thing I could think of."
Her friend's eyes were filled with tears. "It was beautiful. But… you're leg…" She glanced down and saw how the right was raised and her face fell. "You're hurt."
"I knew the jump was a bad idea." Louie groaned in her ear, supporting her weight for her. "Come on, let's get some ice for it."
They helped her to the nearest table, a lot of people coming to say how amazing the show had been while Frou hurried to the bar for a pack of ice, returning with it and placing it over her now quite swollen right leg. "Idiot." He mumbled then kissed her cheek. She brushed his hair back then winced at the cold.
Marinette sighed as she held her hand. "You shouldn't have hurt yourself."
"Marinette, the look on your face…" She said with an honest smile. "Was worth all the pain. Congratulations, Marinette Agreste."
"Thank you, Birdie."
That day was several years ago now, and it was perhaps the last time the miraculous were all together. Not long after, I was completed my studies to become a psychologist and went off to the USA to train under an expert. Bless his heart, Louie came with me and after a few weeks, we decided to get married. Marinette was furious at me, it was so sudden that she said we practically eloped and she didn't get to design me a dress or anything. Personally I like it that way, I didn't want to outshine her. There was little use for the miraculous now but I still wore it daily, to keep Frou close.
After three more years of learning, I returned to Paris for the christening of my god son, Harold and fell back in love with the city. I remember Alya going ballistic at the return of Royal Peacock but it was soon to be one of the last times I transformed. When Harold was 2, I went to the doctor and found I was pregnant with a child of my own.
As Marinette would tell anyone, fighting crime and carrying a baby was not easy so for 6 months Peacock vanished again. I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Isabella. How the years flew after that. Harold soon got a little sister, Jennet and the two grew up with my Isabella being like a sister.
Well, for a while anyway. When they entered their teen years, I noticed Harold coming around a lot more than he probably should have, always complaining about not getting some part of his homework which was strange, he was as bright as his father but he would always ask for Isabella to help him.
Marinette and I couldn't help but laugh when we realised why. He was in love with her. Oh the laughs we had! But we also came to a decision that they were now old enough to inherit their family treasures. We spoke to Niji and Dawa about it and they agreed. The Miraculous would not go back into hibernation. They would continue, needed not to fight a war but to be a symbol of peace and hope. We collected the three and told them our story. We had kept our childhood adventures secret from them so to watch them react was amazing.
Finally, Adrian gave Harold his ring, Isabella got the slide and Jennet the ear rings. They called out to the kwami and... well, that's their adventure to tell, not mine.
The End
A/N: Okay so this is a lovely little epilogue to finish off the story.
Yes, I know season 3 is out.
Yes, it looks amazing!
Yes, I am going to watch it.
No, I am not going to write for it. Other than a few feathers I will publish today, I'm done with Miraculous Ladybug.