(Author's Note: Adrien's father has not told him who he's marrying yet, so that's why he doesn't know that it's Marinette who he's engaged to. Enjoy!)
Ayla left before I did. It was just me and Professor Grinds working in the workshop until later in the day. The sun was already starting to set by the time his pencil stopped scribbling. I watched him from the corner of my eye stretch his arms out wide again. Then he quietly stood up and put on his coat. I pretended to still be hard at work when he finally glanced back at me from over his shoulder.
"I'm heading out, Marinette. Are you almost done with that piece?" He was referring to the seventeenth century coat sleeve I was currently inspecting with a magnifying glass. My shoulders perked up obediently. "Oh! Yes, sir; I'll be finished soon." "Hmmmm, good. Be sure to wrap it up and shut off the lights when you leave." "Yes, sir. Have a good night." With that, Dr. Grinds took off out of the room, leaving me there by myself. Once I heard the door click and I was sure he was gone down the hall, I slumped in my seat and let my arms fall down at my sides. "Finally. I thought he'd never leave…"
The familiar sound of my backpack zipper zipped open. I smiled over at Tikki who was just now emerging from the inside. Poor thing; she'd been stuck in there for hours, and this room wasn't cool either. She flew over to me waving her hand in front of her adorable face. "Man, I was falling asleep back there." "Sorry, Tikki. I didn't know he'd be in today," I caught her wary body in both my hands. She gave me a kind grin. "All done for the day?" "Almost. I just have to put this back in its box," I began hurriedly wrapping up the blue silk coat. Tikki checked the time on the wall's clock. "Hurry! Your date with Cat Noir is going to start soon!" "I know! I know!" Boy, did my fingers fly. The moment the coat was safely put away I lunged for my backpack and zoomed out the door.
Despite being in a frantic rush, I had to act as natural as humanly possible while strolling down Versailles many corridors. I passed a couple of security guards, who lifted an eyebrow at my being there after official closing. But their demeanours relaxed once I flashed them a kind smile and my ID card. It was getting late out; time for me to head outside. Cat Noir and I always met in the gardens outback whenever I came to work here for the day. It was the only place we could have privacy here and we both adored elaborate gardens- ones with roses in particular.
I snuck out back through a side door in the orangery. It used to be a servants' exit but now it was for staff only. Quickly checking from side to side, I crept out, careful to shut the door completely behind me. Tikki also looked around, visibly alert now that it was darker out. "Right on time! Didn't you tell Cat Noir that you would meet him by the Grand Canal?" "You're right. He'll be there any minute." "Hehe, you know he's always at least a few minutes late," she chuckled. "Which is why it's important that I'm never late. Wouldn't want to spoil his grand entrance."
I went straight over to where we'd agreed to meet. Sitting on one of the white polished cement benches, I stared thoughtfully out at the fountain. As I did so a sea of memories flooded through my brain. This place was so special to me, almost sacred. I'd experienced so much here…. This is where Cat Noir brought me on one of our first dates as young teenagers. This is the spot where I'd waited for him countless times. I studied my undergrad textbooks in this garden. I edited my Masters thesis here…. So, so much of my life has played out at this palace, and I couldn't….. My train of thought stopped here; my lips parted a sliver. I couldn't imagine living so far away from this- from all of this. My eyes gently shut for a moment as I drew in a deep, long breath. Please…. Please let there be a garden at my new home. I don't care what the rest of the house is like. Please let it have a garden.
"I haven't kept you waiting, have I milady?"
My eyes shot open at the sound of his voice. His wonderful, glorious, perfect voice. Leaping to my feet, I spun right around to see the playful kitty staring back at me. He was standing on top of the hedge overlooking the spot I was sitting under. His hand was twirling his black cat tail around. With a bright smile at me, he hopped down to mere feet from where I was standing. His hands planted on his hips in that casual, cocky manner of his. "Hiya, beautiful."
"Cat Noir!" His grin widened as I ran, throwing my arms around his neck. He hugged me back, holding me in a tight embrace. We did nothing but simply hold each other for a very long minute; both our eyes were closed and no words were said. Eventually we pulled back, still keeping our arms wrapped secure around the other. His glowing green eyes softened onto mine. "Gorgeous, as always." "Cat Noir," I repeated, pressing my face into his chest. I must have been wearing this gigantic smile.
Hand-in-hand we walked through the garden, just like we usually did. Soon enough Cat Noir was feeling playful. He released my hand and jumped up onto the hedge, keeping up with my pace and spreading his arms out beside him. "How many years do you have to deal with that sourpuss again?" "Dr. Grinds isn't a "sourpuss". He's just a very… serious academic." "Heh, serious; fun-killer. Potato; po-tat-o," he grinned, shrugging his shoulder. I too smiled up in his direction. "To answer your question, just one year left. I have one year to finish up my dissertation before I hand it in." "Ah, you'll make it. You've gotten this far," he said without any hesitation or doubt. It made blink a little astonished- in a very, very good way. "Yeah, I have, haven't I?" He's right. I have made it this far already…..
He did a little jump, walking on his hands for a second, then flipping back to his feet. "Hey! Did you see take down the Bubbler last night on TV?" "Yes! You were wonderful! You and Ladybug work very well together; you make a very good team." "Eh, she's sweet," he shrugged before hopping back down to the ground right in front of me. Cat Noir made me stop walking in my tracks as he took an intimate step my way. "But not as sweet as you," he purred. I could only look at him…
In a playful manner, he spun on his heels and began striding forward, expecting me to follow. But I didn't- not immediately. I just stood there, letting my hair out in front of me in the evening breeze. My lips parted a little. Maybe now…. Now is as good as time as any. I'm not making it any easier on myself by waiting. I sucked in a stilling, sombre inhale. My hands drew into tight clenched fists.
"Dearest?" "Yes, my puuuuuurincess?" Cat Noir halted and twirled on his heels back around so to face me. He didn't know what to make of my sudden solemn and sunken expression. I was unable to look him in the eyes just then. "You know that I love you?" He blinked, then smiled. "Oh I know, but tell me again anyway," he said this and I couldn't help but grin too. I looked at him and smiled….. "I love you, Cat Noir." His smile grew in its corners, overjoyed. "Mmmmm, I love you too, Marinette."
This should have been such a happy moment, but this little nagging voice wouldn't stop screaming in the back of my head. As soon as my smile returned, it vanished again. This made Cat Noir look visibly worried, but he let me speak first- like the gentleman he was. Again, my mouth opened but it took some time for anything to come out.
"Honey, do you remember me telling you about…. about my marriage?" Boy, did that wipe his grin right off. Now he was obviously upset by the way this conversation was going. "What about it? You're not still going through with it, are you?" "It's not up to me," I sighed. "Sure, it is! You're the one who's getting married, after all. Just say "I don't" instead of "I do" at the ceremony," he folded his arms. My head shook. "It doesn't work like that. I have to marry him for my family's sake; it's what's best for my parents, and that man- my future father-in-law- is going to make all of our lives miserable if I don't. I have to do this, Cat Noir." My boyfriend didn't reply for a moment, then "humphed" and spun his head away.
"This is so not fair! Why should you be forced to marry some guy you don't even love? What about what you want?! That matters too!" "Apparently not," I sighed. Cat Noir didn't move an inch as I came over to hold of one of his hands. I wrapped my fingers around his palm and gave it a squeeze. Our eyes locked again. "No matter what happens, just please know that I love you, Cat Noir. I've treasured each and every moment we've spent together, and I won't forget any of it." His jaw fell agape before he tore his hand away from mine, his feet stumbling back a few steps.
"No…. No! This is ridiculous! I won't have it! Who is this jerk you're supposed to be marrying? What's his name?! Maybe he'll change his mind after I go have a few "words" with him," he slammed one fist into his palm for emphasis. I sighed a second time, shaking my head. "You can't. I don't remember his name." "You don't even remember the name of the guy you're going to marry?!" He gasped. But I stepped over to him, putting my hand over top his shoulder. "I already have a boyfriend…. Or, I did," my gaze fell at these last bitter words.
Cat Noir's eyes were huge; he looked like he'd been punched in the gut just now. "Marinette…..?" I had to shut my eyes; I had to, lest I lose my resolve. This was going to be painful- more painful than anything I'd ever experienced since becoming Ladybug. But what other choice did I have? I couldn't do this to him; it wouldn't be fair. I loved him too much to ever do anything that would hurt him more than I already have.
I simply love him too much…..
"Cat Noir, I'm going to meet my new fiancé tomorrow. We're going to get married and…. and…." I had to stop for a second; my lips were trembling. "I can't keep seeing you. It wouldn't be right….. I need to do what's best for you; you…. and my new fiancé." A very tense moment of silence began after this. I felt his shoulder blades stiffen up in my hand. The horrible quiet seemed like it would last forever, but soon enough he broke it with his low voice.
"Are you…. breaking up with me?" He honestly sounded wounded. I felt like I was going to cry. "I have to. It's not fair to keep you in this relationship, sweetie; not if I'm engaged to someone else. And you know me; you know how fidelity is hugely important to me. I want to be loyal to you." "You are loyal to me! You've been nothing but a loyal girlfriend," he swiftly protested. "But I can't be committed to you if I'm living with someone else. I'm sorry, Cat Noir; I can't stay in this relationship. I can't be your girlfriend…. if it means I'll only be hurting you in the future. I love you, and it's because I love you that I have to leave. Besides, I owe it to my new fiancé to be faithful to him…" Even if I'm madly in love with someone else, my eyes lowered a tad.
For a very long time, Cat Noir said nothing. Quite unexpectedly however, I found myself being thrust up against the large hedge behind us. My back landed against it and before I had time to move, Cat Noir trapped me there with both his arms. They locked me in place, grabbing onto the shrubbery right next to me. His glowing emerald eyes made me look at him; they were staring directly at me with such intensity. Despite everything I'd just said, he was wearing one of his classic mischievous grins.
"Heh, I don't think so." "H-Huh? What do you mean?" "We've been a couple for so long; so long that I swear there's more of you in my veins than blood," he smirked, and my heart skipped a beat. All these years later and he can still make me weak at the knees with zero effort. His head inched closer to mine, our eyes still glued on each other. "There's no way I'm letting you go- not a chance. You're mine- all mine- and this cat doesn't like to share." "But that's all the more reason why we should break up! It's not fair that you know that your girlfriend is with another ma-…." He stopped me with a finger to the lips. His eyes lowered ever so slightly.
"Shhhhhh, don't say it. We're not over; not by a long shot." I blinked at him bewildered. Oh, why did I have to be secretly loving this?! It didn't help when he began purring in that seductive way he does when he's happy. Stay firm, Marinette! "Yes; yes, we are. We can't stay together, Cat Noir." "The hell we can't. You might be breaking up with me, but I'm not breaking up with you," he grinned widely. My eyebrow twitched. "I don't think that's how breakups work, my love." "I don't care. You're not going anywhere. You're my lightening in a bottle, baby. There'll never be another like you; I already know it. Don't worry, darling; let your kitty handle this mess." "Cat Noir," I ogled him again. This man… This wonderful, wonderful man. His purring grew louder as he drew his face closer and closer to mine. Our noses were nearly touching now. His eyes shimmered in the moonlight. "I love you, Marinette. Nothing's gonna change that; not now or ever…. My little lightening in a bottle, my princess." "Cat Noir….." An elated teardrop rolled down my cheek.
Cat Noir proceeded to cover my face in kisses.
