CHAPTER 20: Emilie

"I refuse that you put yourself in danger," he declared, in a serious tone.

"I want to do it," she said, also perfectly serious and determined. "I can. I want to heal your mother, Adrien."

2 weeks later…

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Adrien questioned Ladybug

"No, Chaton. You have a long day ahead. I can make the trip on my own. I'll be back soon, I promise," she replied, in a comforting voice.

"I know… The visit to the prison and my appointment with Doctor Sloan…"

"Your appointment with Doctor Sloan?" she repeated incredulously.

Adrien nodded, a smile stretching his lips.

"Yes, the psychotherapist."

"You… you made an appointment for therapy?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with esteem and admiration.

"Yes, Bugaboo. I know I have always categorically refused since you brought me back from the Sentiworld... But now I finally feel ready. I really want to learn to live in peace with my past. For me, for you, for us," he declared, sincerely. "I finally want to be able to turn the page and write a new story. Our story," he added with conviction.

Without warning, Ladybug threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly in a warm and grateful embrace.

"I'm proud of you, Adrien," she whispered tenderly.

The heroine's hand gently stroked her boyfriend's cheek before leaning in to kiss him softly.

"Will you tell me how it went?" she inquired, parting from Adrien's lips.

"Obviously, Bug," he nodded. "Shall we meet for dinner?"

"Of course, Chaton. See you tonight, I love you."

"I love you too, Mari," he replied softly.

Adrien watched Ladybug merge with Kaalki, then reveal a portal, in which she disappeared the next moment, heading to Tibet. On her way to the final answers they both still sought so they could save his mother.

Adrien was at 42, Rue de la Santé, at the junction of the 13th and 14th arrondissements of Paris. He stood, hesitant and anxious, outside the main entrance to the Prison de la Santé.

Gabriel had demanded to see him but he'd answered his request in the negative: he wasn't ready for such an affront yet. However, on his own initiative, Adrien had chosen to organize a meeting in the visiting room with Nathalie. He needed to clear up some elements that were still unclear. He needed answers to be able to start rebuilding himself.

He took a deep breath and it was with determination that he pushed open the door of the establishment. Once inside, he was immediately greeted by two prison guards, who asked him for his identity papers for the usual checks. Then they asked him to file his personal belongings in a locker before finally going under a security gate and being led to the parlor.

Nathalie was sitting there, behind a transparent plastic screen, staring blankly.

"You have an hour, Monsieur Agreste," said one of the guards.

At these words, he grimaced with displeasure but saw Nathalie raise her head eagerly, called out by the familiar name of her former boss.

With a determined step, Adrien came forward and took his place in front of Gabriel's former secretary.

"Good morning, Nathalie," he greeted her, his face impassive in an attempt to hide the emotions that were going through him at that moment.

"Hello, Adrien," she replied, her voice unusually soft. "I'm glad you asked to see me. I have a lot to tell you."

"I came to get answers, so I'm listening, Nathalie," he replied, ready to listen carefully to what she had to tell him.

"I first of all want you to know that I had no idea what Gabriel was planning for the Sentiworld. It was supposed to be a temporary withdrawal plan. Just an emergency exit in case of a confrontation with… with you and Ladybug… It was planned that we would come back the next day in order to reach an apartment on the outskirts of Paris," she explained with a serious expression, that Adrien could tell was sincere.

"Why isn't that how it turned out?" he asked sternly.

"Because of Chat Noir. Because of you, Adrien," she admitted sadly. "I haven't had any contact with Gabriel since our arrest but it's not difficult for me to guess that what he saw there was the opportunity to keep you with him forever… it shouldn't be like this, he shouldn't have been holding you hostage. You shouldn't even be there, you shouldn't be involved in all this…"

"You planned to abandon me?" he asked, surprised and disappointed.

"Yes, but only for 24 hours. We had planned to contact you as soon as we got back. While knowing that if we had to use the escape in the Sentiworld, it would be because our identity would have been compromised…"

"What would you have done? Try to rally me to your cause? Really Nathalie?"

"You are an adult, Adrien. We would have left the choice to you. Join us or not. Either way, we would have continued to chase Ladybug and Chat Noir while hiding in a new landmark."

Adrien rubbed the back of his neck, his hands shaking.

"It's completely crazy Nathalie! You almost sacrificed your life to help Gabriel bring Mom back…"

"I… I don't remember anything. All I know is that there was a possibility that I might lose consciousness in the Sentiworld because it had to be fueled with my energy. The Peacock Miraculous had weakened me in the past, it was likely that I wasn't strong enough to fuel it while still being conscious…" she declared. "I guess I was unconscious for the eight weeks we were locked up there…"

Adrien's face changed, his features hardening and his jaw clenching.

"Unconscious? You were dying, Nathalie! DYING! You were nothing more than a body in this bed barely clinging to life. You had a white complexion, almost blue, you were cold and thin. I even saw you coughing up blood and Gabriel didn't care. All that mattered to him was seeing the Sentiworld survive by risking your life!" Adrien exclaimed sternly, tears forming in his eyes from the horrible images that came back to him.

"I… I didn't know… I'm sorry, Adrien."

"It's not your apologies that will change the hell I lived in Nathalie!" he protested. "I understand Gabriel's motives now, even though I don't and never will sanctioned it. But I don't understand which ones were yours… Why?" he wondered, puzzled.

Nathalie remained silent for long seconds before lowering her head in surrender.

"For love, Adrien. I did this for love…"

The young man's eyes widened slightly before he regained control of his thoughts. He hadn't expected this confession and yet it was crystal clear at the same time. He wasn't fooled and had seen how Nathalie looked at his father in the last few years… He had even thought several times that Gabriel could finally turn the page thanks to her. But Adrien was completely wrong…

Nathalie had done this for love… For a short moment, he asked himself the question… What would he be able to do for Marinette? He knew he would be ready to sacrifice his life for her. But he could never deliberately hurt others… She would never forgive him for such behavior and actions.

"It's not a healthy love, Nathalie. This relationship was toxic. You shouldn't have tried to help him. You shouldn't have supported him at all costs." he protested.

Adrien paused and thought about his girlfriend, and the relentless struggle she had waged to save him from depression and insanity. Marinette hadn't given up, never. She had fought for him. She had cashed in blow after blow, trying to keep Adrien's flame of humanity alight. She had known how to stand up to him and stand up against him, even when it seemed to be wasted effort. She loved him, her benevolent and reassuring love had saved him from the precipice.

"You supported his madness and heinous criminal acts. He could have killed innocent people, Nathalie… Making the wish to bring Mom back, would have condemned another human being. You could have killed ME!"

"I would never have let that happen, Adrien. If the wish had demanded a life in exchange for that of your mother: I would have given mine. I would have given mine to know you were all happy again, Gabriel, Emilie, and you…"

Adrien gasped. He had no idea what to say to this confession. It was too much for him. He needed to assimilate all this new information. He stood up and motioned to the guards.

"I'm sorry Nathalie. I need time. Goodbye," Adrien whispered.

The guards escotated the young man towards the exit, letting him recover his personal effects, before leaving the prison, moved but with more answers than he hoped for.

Ladybug stretched out on Adrien's bed, tired of the journey through the magical portals that had allowed her to make her return trip home. She barely had time to whisper the word to dissipate her transformation when the bedroom door was already opening.

She lazily turned her head, glancing briefly at her boyfriend before he walked over to the bed and in turn collapsed beside her.

A joint sigh escaped their lips and made them turn their faces towards each other, simultaneously displaying an amused and understanding smile.

"How did-…" they started, at the same time.

They exchanged a little burst of laughter before Marinette propelled herself onto an elbow in order to fully see Adrien.

"You first, kitty," she invited him to begin.

Adrien closed his eyes and sighed.

"It was more difficult than I thought," he admitted, taken aback.

Then, he told her about the confessions that Nathalie had made to him that very morning: the plan that she and Gabriel had put together and as it had been defined at the start, Nathalie's desire to keep the young man out of everything. And on the contrary, Hawkmoth who seemed determined to rally him to their cause, the total loss of memory of Nathalie from what had happened in the Sentiworld, as well as the reason why she had found herself wearing Mayura's mask.

"I came home to have lunch with Gaston, and then we left to go to my appointment with Doctor Sloan."

Marinette nodded slowly, inviting her boyfriend to continue.

"He asked me to tell him about my memories of my childhood and my teenage years," he explained, his voice monotonous. "But we were forced to cut the session short when it came to mom's disappearance. It was… It was too… too much for today. Especially after visiting Nathalie… I just couldn't say more… The words… the words were tied in my throat…" he declared, looking away from Marinette.

The young woman reached out and gently grabbed Adrien's chin, forcing him to turn his face back to her.

"It's not a failure, Adrien," she reassured him, her hand drifting down his cheek to caress it tenderly. "You know… 'That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind' well today was 'one small step for Adrien, one giant leap towards better days.' You took a step forward today, Chaton, and on your own initiative, that's all that matters."

"Thank you," he whispered, sounding completely blown away by Marinette's words.

"Rome wasn't built in a day, Minou… It will take time, but I know that you will be able to complete this therapy successfully," she replied, confident.

"I'm counting on it, because, as nice as Doctor Sloan is, I prefer to spend my free time with you, Purrincess," he purred, pulling her down for a fervent kiss.

Marinette chuckled against her boyfriend's lips, happily returning the favor.

"I also prefer to spend my time with you. But, yet, I'm going to have to learn to share you and let you spend time with another wonderful woman…" she replied with a genuine smile.

Instantly, she saw Adrien's gaze shine with hope and emotion.

"You mean that…?" Adrien left his question open, as if he was afraid of making a mistake.

"The Grand Gardien was very optimistic. He said I had come to terms with and overcome the consequences of the wish with a mental strength and resilience he had never seen before. He thinks I'm ready. He gave me his blessing to use my power to save Emilie," she confessed, proud to be able to bring Adrien the happiness he deserved more than anyone else.

Emilie's name had barely crossed her lips when Adrien's were pressed fiercely against her mouth. He kissed her on the forehead, on the cheeks, on the nose and again on the lips, pouring out all the joy and gratitude he felt in every move he made.

"Today?" he asked finally after kissing every square inch of Marinette's face, whose skin was now slightly reddened from his attention.

"Today," she repeated. "I just need to brew a potion for a power-up and put everything in place."

"Tell me what I can do to help you, m' Lady," he offered to help.

"Tell me jokes. The worst you have in your Kitty Cat-rcastic arsenal, she declared solemnly, taking a small glass vial out of her bag.

"Huh?" he moaned incredulously. "Are you serious?"

"I'm perfectly serious: I need tears of joy."

"Oh… uh, okay. Uh... How do cats say happy birthday to each other?

Marinette shrugged.

"Happy Purr-thday," he replied, in an amused voice.

The young woman began to cough, before finally chuckling lightly.

"Why don't cats like computers?"

His girlfriend pursed her lips, seeming to think, then shook her head.

"They get too distracted by the mouse."

This time, Marinette was laughing heartily, facing an Adrien who seemed rather satisfied.

"What's cat's favorite dessert?... Mice cream!"

Marinette laughed even harder and Adrien continued on his way.

"What do a beautiful woman and a cat have in common? ... Both already have an owner," he purred, slowly approaching his beloved.

"This one wasn't a joke but a flirt, Minou," she shrugged, still laughing out loud.

"I know, but it deserves credit for having worked," he replied, taking the vial from Marinette and placing it right under her eye. "I always knew you weren't totally insensitive to my flirting and my purrfect cat-rism," he added proudly with a wink.

Then, Adrien handed her the vial containing a precious tear of joy, a smirk still floating on his lips.

This boy… She rolled her eyes and sighed softly.

"You're too cute for your own good, you idiot…"

"Can you pass me the essential oil of pink peppercorns and the sage leaves, please?"

Marinette mixed all the ingredients before adding the tear of joy previously collected. She then turned to her kwami with, in her hands, a small bottle in which you could see a greenish liquid.

"Sorry, Tikki, I don't have time to make macarons and incorporate the magic filter in them," Marinette apologized.

"Don't worry, Marinette, I don't have a problem with that. I'm not as choosy and demanding as Plagg," said the little ladybug.

"Hey!" protested the Kwami cat, while his little companion swallowed, in a single sip, the magic liquid.

"It works!" screamed Tikki, whose body had become as luminescent as a traffic light.

"FantasTikki, spots on!" exclaimed Marinette.

PowerBug was now standing in front of Adrien. She was wearing her usual costume and mask, except that the red of them was now bright, diffusing a sparkling halo of fiery colors all around her.

Her hair was styled in the same ponytail that she'd worn for almost two years now. However, their color had changed: they were black at the base, going through a burgundy and cherry color gradient, before ending in a bright, vibrant red.

"Wow, you could have told me that I would need sunglasses to look at you tonight, Bugaboo. You are dazzling!" he purred seductively.

"You really can't help flirting with me, mon chaton…" she replied, pointing her finger at the tip of Adrien's nose and rolling her eyes.

"No, I will never get tired of it... I really like this exasperated little pout!" he confessed, smiling. "But I want to make an effort to be serious until we finish the ritual," he then admitted solemnly, impatient to finally be able to have his mother back.

"Let's get it over with quickly. I need the source of the power that made her sick," she said, pulling the Peacock Miraculous out of her yo-yo. "Can you pin it on your mom's jacket?"

Adrien nodded and hastened to do so, immediately pinning the brooch into the cotton fabric.

"I only need one last thing… But I don't know exactly what it is… We must put in Emilie's hands a 'frozen moment of happiness'."

Adrien frowned and began to think about Marinette's words. A frozen moment of happiness , a frozen moment of happiness, a frozen moment of happiness...

"A photograph!" he exclaimed suddenly, after several seconds of thought.

He left the room, a triumphant smile on his face, and returned two minutes later with a photo album. He opened it on one of the first pages and carefully removed one of the images from its laminated spot. He took the picture where it could be seen Emilie Holding him in her arms, just after giving birth, and placed it delicately in his mother's hands.

His girlfriend gave him a soft look and a sincere smile, moved by Adrien's choice of photo. His birth had been the happiest day of Emilie's life, there was no doubt about it.

"Very good choice, Adrien…" she confessed, looking at the image in the young woman's hands.

Powerbug in turn approached Emilie, while the young man took her hand and his partner placed hers on the Peacock Miraculous.

"Ready?" she asked Adrien, her gaze locking with his.

"Ready, m'Lady," he replied, his eyes shining with conviction and emotion.

Adrien saw his partner's hand shake lightly on Emilie's chest, before she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"I release you from your pain," she breathed in a whisper.

A bright, blinding red aura suddenly surrounded PowerBug's body as well as Adrien's mother, forcing Adrien to close his eyes. He felt a surge of power sweep through the room before seeing the light behind his eyelids gradually fade.

Adrien felt a strong pressure on his right hand and, when he opened his eyes again, he was caught by that emerald and comforting gaze of which he had a perfect memory. That same look that he had missed so much over the past few years.

"Aa… Adrien…" she whispered, astonishment reflected deeply in her gaze in front of her little boy who was no longer thirteen, but who was now a handsome young man of nineteen.

"Maman…" he breathed, his voice trembling and tears rolling down his cheeks.

He suddenly let go of her hand and threw his arms around his mother's neck, hugging her in a tight embrace filled with love, relief and happiness.

He turned his head to his girlfriend who had collapsed, drained of all energy and breathless, in a chair and gave her a deeply grateful smile.

"Thank you for saving her, my love… Thank you…" he whispered, deeply overwhelmed.

To be continued… (epilogue)

Yes it was the last chapter, I see you on Wednesday for the epilogue :)

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Miraculous Kisses