There... Here we are. The last chapter of this angsty (but I hope also steamy and lovely) story.

Have a good reading,

Epilogue:

Six months after Emilie woke up…

The Manor was plunged into silence and total darkness. In the entrance hall of the house, a dozen figures stood still.

"Shht! Everyone hide! She's coming," ordered a female voice.

The quiet in the room was disturbed by the sound of the electric gate bell echoing inside.

"It's not Marinette. She's got the security code," another younger female voice whispered.

One of the figures crossed the hall and pressed a button to activate the camera in front of the gate.

"Chloe!" This time it was Adrien's voice that rose happily in the room.

The young man opened the gate and rushed to the main door to greet his childhood friend.

"Chlo'! What are you doing here? I thought you couldn't come back from New York for another three weeks?" he asked, surprised.

"Surprise!" she replied. "Seriously, I couldn't come and support you after the recent events… So when you told me last week what you were planning to do tonight, I immediately planned with Jean-Pierre for an early return," she explained. "I couldn't miss it!" she smiled.

Adrien gave her a bright smile and hugged her tightly. "Thank you Chlo', your presence today means a lot to me," he whispered in the ear of the young blonde.

Suddenly, a hand rested on Adrien's shoulder. "Sorry, to interrupt your reunion, young people, but Marinette will be arriving soon."

Adrien nodded and gave his mother a soft smile.

"It's really a pleasure to see you again Madame Agreste," whispered Chloe.

"Please Chloe, call me Emilie," she clarified. "I owe my life to Ladybug and Chat Noir, it's thanks to them that I can be with Adrien today," she admitted, smiling.

"It's Ladybug who did everything to save you, Mom," Adrien protested.

"But it was thanks to Chat Noir that she succeeded. Without him, she wouldn't have been strong and confident enough to do it," she replied, giving her son a stern look.

Suddenly a little agitation was felt around them.

"This time, she's coming! The portal has just opened. Shut up and hide," firmly shouted Alya.

Silence hovered instantly in the Manor again, until the creak of the front door was heard, allowing Marinette to enter the mansion where all lights were off.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" blurted out the many voices of his friends.

And the light was on, revealing about twenty people in the entrance hall as well as a festive and colorful decoration. For the occasion high and round tables had been placed in the entrance hall, decorated with bouquets of sumptuous flowers in red-orange tones as well as photos of Marinette's first nineteen years. There were red and gold balloons hanging all over the place and she herself was under a large arch made of these same balloons. There were illuminated paper lanterns on either side, on each step of the grand marble staircase as well as luminous garlands hanging from the ceiling, which crossed the room. At the top of the stairs, a giant '19' inflatable balloon in gold color was finishing the decoration for this event.

To the right of the front door, Nino was installed with his mixertable, ready to play with the merry little troop. At the opposite, on the left side of the room, was installed a buffet with sandwiches, quiches, pies, and other delicacies, the origin of which wasn't a surprise: the Dupain-Cheng bakery.

Adrien walked slowly towards his girlfriend who was mesmerized and amazed by the surprise he had prepared for her, with the help of all their loved ones.

"Happy birthday, my love," he breathed, kissing her on the temple and wrapping an arm around her waist.

"It's wonderful Adrien, thank you," she replied, detailing the face of each guest.

Alya, Nino, her parents, all her old college friends including Chloe were also present, well almost, subtract Lila from the equation. Two of her fellow students from the University with whom Marinette had become close friends during the year were also there: Anaïs and Giulia. Because, yes, after Adrien's return, the young woman had resumed her studies and had successfully completed her first year. Just as her boyfriend had also made up for his delay, with the help of his teachers and his mother, also allowing him to pass his first year of scientific orientation.

Kagami was also present and surprisingly Luka was there too, despite the fact that Marinette knew full well that her boyfriend was a little jealous of the musician. The latter was chatting happily with Chloe, a glass of champagne in his hand. And of course, Gaston and Emilie were there, too.

"Have fun, Princess, it's your day," Adrien whispered tenderly, before pushing her lightly towards the center of the room.

The guests were now scattered around the Manor: some of them were enjoying the buffet in the hall. While another small group enjoyed the bar in the living room.

"Hey guys, have you ever seen the pictures of Adrien with chickenpox?" Chloe asked cheerfully, starting her fourth glass of champagne. "He's completely naked and covered with little red dots. Just like Ladybug suit… but with red spots on."

"Chlo'! I was four years old!" protested Adrien.

Alya and Nino seemed interested while Marinette was laughing with the young blonde.

"Oh yes, I saw them," Marinette chuckled.

"What?!" the young man exclaimed, suddenly standing still and not trying to prevent Chloe from grabbing the album containing THE photos in question any more. "Did you even see the one where I'm covered in manure?"

"Oh yes, even that one," Marinette confirmed.

"GASTON!" Adrien moaned, dying of shame.

"This photo is epic! It was a farm trip with our parents, I was there too. I remember Adrien was afraid of a cow and he fell straight into the manure," she laughed. "I called Adrikins, Adri-Stinky, all day after this incident. Dad wasn't very happy with this vocabulary coming from me, but I couldn't help it." Chloe remembered.

The group burst out laughing at Adrien's falsely annoyed pout, before the latter gives up and also laughs heartily. The said photo was already circulating in the hands of his friends anyway… Thank you Chloe!

The atmosphere was really light and happy. Marinette seemed to be having a great evening and that's all Adrien wanted for his beloved.

Shortly after having compared with their friends the photos of Adrien and Marinette at the same age, the couple found themselves alone for a few moments in the living room. The young man took the opportunity to steal several fiery kisses from his girlfriend.

"Are you enjoying your evening?" he asked, pulling the young woman to his laps.

"Wonderful!" she replied, casually throwing one leg on either side of her boyfriend's thighs.

Marinette pulled on the collar of Adrien's shirt and pulled him towards her to kiss him languidly, to which the boy readily responded.

He let his hands slide behind Marinette's back, then onto the top of her backside and pulled her closer to him. A sudden light friction made him moan softly into his girlfriend's mouth whose he felt smiling against his lips.

"Hmmm!" A hoarse cough made them jump and quickly separate.

"I know that you catch up at the slightest opportunity all those wasted years when you were too blind by each other, to understand your feelings ... But, please, get a room to be so intimate!" Alya exclaimed, with a smirk.

"Oops," they replied in unison, visibly embarrassed at being caught.

"It seems to me that you wanted to make a toast, Sunshine… Everyone is waiting for you there," she explained.

"Oh yes!" Adrien nodded, gently pushing Marinette away from his laps.

Immediately freed from the intense, but pleasant pressure, exerted by the weight of his girlfriend, the young man grabbed a cushion which he placed on his thighs.

"Give me just a few seconds and I'll join you," Adrien muttered, clenching his jaw.

The two young women nodded, understandingly, facing the tricky situation in which Adrien now found himself.

"Sure, Sunshine, let's let the beast calm down first," Alya chuckled, unable to hold back her amusement.

"Pardon, Chaton," Marinette whispered, giving him a sorry look.

The tinkle of a spoon against a crystal glass rose in the room.

"Please, I would like to raise a toast!" exclaimed Adrien, clearing his throat.

The attention of the guests instantly turned to him.

"First of all, I would like to inform you that my request for a name change has been approved and has been effective for a week," Adrien said, glad. "I'm now officially a Graham de Vanily," he added, giving her mother a soft smile.

"You didn't tell me," Marinette exclaimed, surprised. She was standing next to him.

"I wanted to surprise you…" he replied with a look sparkling with happiness. "Because now… I can finally do this."

Adrien turned to his mother, stretching an open hand towards her, so that she could give him a small red velvet box. Then he faced his girlfriend again and slowly put a knee down.

"Marinette, my love… The day I met you my bitter and lackluster life became colorful and full of hope. That day, I promised to myself to win your heart. Despite the trials and difficulties we met, you offered it to me blindly, placing your trust and your love between my hands," he declared, tenderly taking the hand of his beloved in his. "Today I couldn't live without you, that's why, I would like you to accept to become my wife and to bear my name. Marinette, will you marry me?" he asked, opening the case to reveal a lavish pink solitaire set in gold.

He plunged his intense emerald gaze into the young woman's bluebell eyes, the question he had just asked still floating between them.

He felt Marinette's hand tightly squeeze his and saw the tears roll down her cheeks.

"YES! Yes, Adrien Graham de Vanily! I want to."

Adrien stood up, to the applause of their families and friends, and put the solitaire around Marinette's ring finger, before kissing her tenderly.

Whistles echoed through the Manor as the two lovebirds parted with a wide smile and eyes shining with emotion.

Adrien placed a kiss on Marinette's forehead, still holding her in his arms, snuggled close to him.

He then looked up, his gaze falling on the new portrait that had hung above the stairs for a few weeks: a magnificent portrait on which we could see Emilie and Gaston with Sabine and Tom Dupain-Cheng, Marinette and him.

Adrien knew full well that they still had a long way to go…

His mother was still recovering, although she seemed to be coming to the end of her long way to it.

There was also the trial of Nathalie and Gabriel which would be taking place in a few months.

As well as the therapy that Adrien was following, with the aim of rebuilding himself which would soon come to an end.

Maybe one day he would finally be able to forgive his father for his actions. Maybe ... Everything in its time. And at that precise moment, Adrien had what he'd always dreamed of. The only thing he needed to be happy: a family.

HIS family.

The end.

Here it is. It's the end of the story... Thanks to you all for having followed me since almost 3 months. Also, thanks again to my bêtas : Etoile-Lead-Sama, JuliaFC, AgresteBug and Genxha.

I'll be glad to have your opinion, so don't leave this page without a review.

I prepare a lot of one-shot and a new story for July. So... Stay connected Miraculers.

Miraculous Kisses.

Malaurie