Everything changed on that fateful day… again.
A week had passed since the wish was made. In the wake of Ladybug's most recent exploit, the faith of the people had been restored. With her identity already revealed, Marinette made a public statement about her double life, asking for the people's forgiveness for her failure and promising to continue protecting them now that she had retrieved her miraculous.
Following that, Emilie entered the public spotlight. Gabriel made a statement that Ladybug had helped him to find and rescue his missing wife and restore his family. That more than anything helped to swing public opinion in favor of Ladybug once again. Inside the Agreste home, however, some wounds did not heal so quickly.
Marinette stood behind Adrien as he placed his hand on the glass capsule, staring at Nathalie's still face. His expression was difficult to read, so many conflicting emotions raging across it, as a tear formed in the corner of his eye. Marinette placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"I still don't know what to think," he whispered, still staring at his former caretaker and tutor, "Nathalie helped raise me, she taught me for so many years, and she was always there for me when father was distant. But she was also Mayura, she helped my father to terrorize Paris. Was she a good person? I don't know anymore."
"Everyone makes mistakes," Marinette sighed, wrapping an arm around Adrien's waist, "but I really think she was trying to support the people she loved most, you and your father." She still remembered Nathalie's last moments, how she leaned in close to Gabriel. Emilie couldn't see from her angle, but Marinette saw the kiss she left on his cheek and could see the softness in her eyes when she planted it.
"She did save my life in the end," Adrien sighed, putting his arm around Marinette's shoulders, hugging her close, "I'll never forget that." Tears were streaming freely down his face, tears that may take years to dry up, if they ever did at all.
"Come on, let's go to dinner," Marinette broke the silence after a time, "Everyone is waiting for us."
"Sure," Adrien nodded absently, taking one last look at Nathalie before turning around, still holding Marinette close.
Marinette glanced back one more time at the still figure, tears of her own for her sacrifice in the name of unrequited love. That was a fate she had dreaded for so long, a pain she knew too well. Overcome with sorrow, she reached up and gave Adrien a kiss on the cheek.
"Marinette," Adrien spoke softly, turning to face her with a smile, "I love you."
Marinette and Adrien entered the grand dining room holding hands. Gabriel gave them a weak smile as they moved to their seats. The events of the previous week still pained him, especially Nathalie's fate, but he tried to focus on the happiness that had been found.
The dining room was fuller than it had been in some time. In addition to the full Agreste family, the Dupain-Cheng's were here as well. With Ladybug's resurgence of late and the threat of Hawk Moth a thing of the past, the two families finally felt they could get together safely and celebrate not only their children's exploits as superheroes, but their budding romance as well.
"I still can't believe my own daughter was Ladybug!" Tom Dupain was saying as he looked to the young girl, "To think, I'm the father of a Superhero!"
"Yes," Gabriel agreed, looking to Adrien, "I think we were all quite surprised by this turn of events."
"Marinette," Sabine turned to her daughter as she sat down beside her, "how did you find Mrs. Agreste? You never told us."
"Oh! Um, I…" Marinette stuttered, flailing her arms helplessly. Gabriel was amazed at how calm and collected she could be while Ladybug, and how flustered and clumsy she was as Marinette. It was easy to see how no one saw the connection before.
"I'd rather not talk about that right now," Emilie's face darkened as she spoke, though her tone remained sweet, "It brings back some bad memories."
"I'm sorry!" Sabine said, putting her hands together and bowing her head, "I should've been more sensitive."
"Now's a time for celebration, not apologies," Gabriel said as he lifted his glass, "I propose a toast. To Emilie, who's been returned to us at last. To Adrien, our dear son and very own Cat Noir. To Tom and Sabine, our newest friends. And to Marinette and Ladybug, who has done more for us – more for me – than I can ever hope to repay her for."
And to Nathalie, Gabriel added to himself as everyone raised their glass, who was always there for me, even when I didn't deserve her.
Looking upon his guests once again, Gabriel's eyes rested finally on Marinette. With her sweet smile and kind demeanor, she faced the world with more strength than could be seen. While Gabriel had wallowed in misery at the loss of his wife and lashed out at the world around him, she took her woes and shoved them aside in face of her hopes and dreams, never willing to relinquish her responsibility even when the whole world was against her.
With a sigh, Gabriel muttered quietly to himself, a tear at the corner of his eye, "Someday, Marinette, I hope to be as strong as you."