Marinette sat with Alya in her best friend's apartment.
"Why'd you want to see me?" Alya looked at her friend with curious eyes.
"I-I kissed Luka while Adrien was in the hospital bed and I thought he was sleeping and went on and on to Luka about what makes him great and how I feel normal with him. Only to find out Adrien was in fact awake to hear it…. And I feel so guilty and insensitive." Marinette's voice sped up with each sentence.
"Hold up, girl." Alya held her hand up. "You did what now?"
"I managed to not only hurt Luka, but Adrien too." She touched her eyes with her hands and drew her knees to her chest.
Alya smiled and wrapped an arm around her. "Look. You knew it would happen eventually. You can't protect their hearts forever and they can't protect yours. You're each going to break at some point, M." She sighed at her distraught friend.
"I just didn't want to do it now." Marinette peered over her arms.
"Well, why don't you make it up to them tomorrow. We're all going to be visiting him." Alya winked and Marinette smiled at her.
"Maybe I could make them something." Marinette smiled and was suddenly lively.
"Sounds perfect, Mari." Alya smiled at her friend. "Still spending the night?"
"I'll have to send you a rain check." She winked and tapped herself on the head, before leaving to her apartment to make something.
Chloe looked over the weak Adrien in the bed with parted lips and a blank expression,and watched him smile warmly at his friend's while he fist bumped Nino. He looked over at her with a killer smile.
It took her back to when she had gotten really sick when they were both five. How she was in bed and he came to visit her. He had sat at the edge of her bed and pulled out a braided daisy chain from his back with a blush and popped it onto the top of her head.
"There. I made it just for you." Adrien smiled with rosey cheeks.
Chloe blushed and touched it on her head.
"That way you'll get better faster." Adrien smiled even bigger at her and giggled.
Chloe was speechless and she looked at him with parted lips and a blank stare that mimicked hers now.
"Hey, Chlo." Adrien smiled at her and she leapt at him with tears in her eyes.
She hugged him tight and his eyes were still shocked at her sudden motion.
"Careful. He's still hurt." Marinette reached out with a worried expression.
"It's okay, Mari. She didn't hurt me or anything." Adrien smiled warmly at Marinette and she pouted.
"I'm sorry. I-" Chloe backed up from him and sniffed, rubbing her eyes. "I remembered something from when we were little. How are you feeling?"
"It's okay, Chlo. I'm feeling better." Adrien put on his best smile for her.
"So, when are you free from here,man?" Nino scratched the back of his head and adjusted his hat.
"I think they said I'd be okay to head home tomorrow. Nathalie's supposed to stop by my apartment occasionally to check up on me." Adrien sighed and licked his lips. He peered over at Marinette.
She was holding two wrapped gifts. "Oh, I almost forgot. I made these to say I was sorry. Or rather to say get better? I don't know what I'm trying to say. Here." Marinette passed one to each of them.
Adrien's eyes lit up and he quickly opened it.
"I know it's not much, but-" Marinette looked away and blushed.
Adrien took in the little stuffed black cat with eyes, that were the same color as his. "It's amazing, Marinette. Thank you." He felt the fabric and how soft the felt was.
Luka opened his and smiled down at it.
"I didn't know what to make yours to be honest." Marinette touched her bottom lip.
"It's perfect, Marinette." Luka softly spoke and took in the stuff blue electric guitar.
"I'm glad you two like them." Marinette closed her eyes and held her hands in front of her, while she rocked back and forth on her heels, lost in thought.
Chloe, Nino, and Kagami looked at her weird.
"I'm Kagami. It's nice to finally meet you in person." Kagami held out her hand to Luka.
He smiled up at her through his teal tipped hair. "Luka." He took her hand and shook it.
Kagami smiled warmly at him and brushed her hair behind her ear. "Do you play music?"
Luka nodded. "I play electric guitar. Do you?"
Kagami shook her head. "I dabbled in piano, but my real passion and my family's passion is fencing."
"Wow! That's really amazing. It takes a lot of discipline and there are so many rules… and…" Luka covered his mouth. "I'm rambling again. Sorry. I speak better with music."
Kagami giggled and blushed. "I seem to speak better when I have a rapier in my hand." She bit her bottom lip and he shook off his expression and the feeling of his heart beating in his chest.
"Would you-" Luka got lost in her dark brown eyes. "Would you like to see me play sometime?"
"I-" Kagami touched her lips and blushed. "I'd like that."
"I have a show coming up. You could come and bring some friends." Luka grew excited at the thought.
"Okay. But only if you come to my tournament." Kagami giggled and poked him in the shoulder.
"Deal." Luka smiled warmly at her and felt his cheeks grow warm.
Marinette looked over at Luka and Kagami and worried her bottom lip. Adrien peered over at the two of them and smiled.
"Looks like you may not have to choose after all." Adrien winked at her and she pouted. "What? You wanted to choose?"
Marinette shook her head. "No. I'm happy."
"Your expression says the opposite, Buga-boo." Adrien whispered Chat's pet name for her and she shivered. "I know you secretly like that name."
"Shush." Marinette looked at him with a glare and he smirked at her. "Chat can go now. I'd much prefer Adrien over that silly kitty any day."
"Me...owch!" Adrien winced and Chloe and the rest of them looked at him weird.
He nervously laughed and shrugged.
Marinette burst out into a fit of laughter. "Always, were a Chat." She poked him in the nose and he winced with one eye closed.
"I may be broken, but I'm still the same old me." Adrien smiled at her and Marinette rolled her eyes.
"Just because you feel better doesn't mean you can go back to running along rooftops and seducing a bug." Marinette whispered with her hands on her hips.
He suddenly yanked her down to the bed and touched her jaw gently, bringing her lips close to his. "Don't make me prove it to you."
Chloe looked at them with wide eyes and a straight mouth.
"I don't think now's the right time, Kitty." Marinette shifted her eyes to peer at everyone. "But then again… you're not one to flirt at the most importune moments."
Adrien chuckled and let her go. "You're purrfectly right, M'Lady."
Alya's lips turned down and her eyes went wide. "Did he just?"
"No, not at all…" Marinette cringed and lead her best friend across the room. "Must be the heavy pain killers." She nervously giggled.
"Cause he sounded a lot like…" Alya raised an eyebrow and Marinette clamped her hand over her mouth.
"Yes, well… anyone can if they make a few lame puns, Alya." Marinette shrugged.
Adrien pouted at her and Alya laughed.
"I think you insulted a certain someone." Alya covered her mouth to laugh.
Marinette looked over her shoulder and cringed.
"I'm just glad you're okay." Chloe walked closer to Adrien.
"I'll be fine. I should be back to normal in a few months." Adrien smiled at them.
"Alright, well. We're going to head out." Nino smiled and grabbed Alya's hand.
"Yeah, I have a hair appointment to get to. I'll see you around, Adrien. Text me when you get home." Chloe messed with her bun and walked out of the room, behind them.
"I have to practice guitar for the concert. Feel better, Adrien." Luka shrugged and walked out.
"I have a tournament to prepare for. I'm glad you're okay, Adrien." Kagami touched his hand and let it slowly fall, as she walked away.
She smiled at Marinette, as she left.
Once the door closed, Adrien laid back on the pillow and rubbed his temples. His smile faded and he felt the room spin.
"You didn't have to look strong for them, you know?" Marinette sighed and sat beside him, while he rolled over to relieve his stomach into the pink bin next to his bed. "They would have understood."
"I-" Adrien wiped his mouth. "I just wanted to make them happy. I can't stand not making people happy. You know that." He sighed and rolled back over.
Marinette sighed and stood up to wash out the bucket for him. She brought it back. Adrien was mortified. "You didn't have to do that. The nurse could have-"
Marinette shook her head and ran her fingers through his hair. "It's fine. I just want to help you. Even if it means cleaning up after you." She pressed her forehead to his and felt his heartbeat throbbing through his clammy skin. "Your pain meds are wearing off, aren't they?"
Adrien winced and clenched his teeth and Marinette pushed the call button.
It didn't take long for him to get dosed again and for him to relax.
"Stop trying to be strong and let someone care about you, for once. You're always thinking about others. Take some time to care about you. You deserve to be cared about too." Marinette looked into his weak green eyes.
"I know.. It's just-" Adrien sighed and closed his eyes, as her hands played with his bangs.
"You don't feel like you're worth the trouble?" Marinette sighed and smiled down at him. "Same old Chat, same old Adrien." She ran her fingers along his cheek.
She smiled down at him and he swallowed hard. "Can I let you in on a secret?"
"What?" Chat looked at her with focused eyes.
"I've always thought you were worth the trouble. How could I not? Just because your father wasn't very loving and didn't take care of you. Just because he didn't seem to notice you unless you were missing from your jail cell." Marinette sighed.
"It wasn't-" Adrien tried to protest.
"It might as well have been, Minou." Marinette argued and he smiled at her. "I'm lucky. I'm lucky because I got to know you. The real you. Both sides of you, annoying puns and all, and… I-"
Adrien looked at her with hopeful eyes.
"I want to be with you forever. Hold you forever. Love you forever. Take care of you forever. Whether you're down, or sad, or happy, or stressed, or broken… I want to be the one to be there for you." Marinette bit her bottom lip. "I love you."
Adrien smiled up at her. "I love you too, Mari. All of you."
Note: Don't worry. It's not over yet. ^-^ Thank you for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following this story. And thank you again, twinkletrick for requesting it. ^-^