Chapter 4
Adrien went to visit Ladybug at least once a day. and sometimes that once a day lasted an hour, or sometimes 8 hours. He didnt pay attention much to the time if he had nowhere else to be that day. It was super easy to forget the time, especially since him and Ladybug had so much to talk about.
And everytime he went, he would bring something new to see how she liked it.
The day after he brought Chinese food, he brought with him a whole box of books. Different kinds, from action, to adventure, to romance. It was fun to see her expression as she read all of the back covers. The way she would wrinkle her nose when she thought a description sounded gross, or her eyes would start to glisten if she thought something was romantic.
He couldnt get over how easy it was to read her. No holding in her emotions, or trying to fake liking something because she thought it would please him. He had gotten used to how fake girls could act around him. It was refreshing to see the genuine emotions that would cross Ladybugs face.
The next day he brought in some crafts. Beads, string, jewels, charms, and clips. Ladybugs eyes had lit up at the sight of it all!
"Lets make Lucky Charms for all the nurses!" she suggested excitedly. And so the two of them had spent hours making bracelts and key chains and necklaces.
Ladybugs charms looked so much better than his, he reflected after awhile. but it was the thought that counted, right??
After they wandered the halls, handing out all of there newly made Charms, they returned to Ladybugs room, when she turned to him.
"I made you one too." she admitted shyly, as she held out her hand. And there, in her palm was a large square green bead in the middle, with a flower carved on it. On one side, a pink bead followed by a tiny red one, next to a medium white one. And on the other side, two small black and yellow beads, followed by a pink bead and a smaller turqois, all tied together with a piece of red string.
Adrien stared at it for a few seconds, before bursting into laughter. He looked at Ladybugs puzzled expression, before admitting, "I guess we had the same idea. i made you one too!"
He dangled between 2 fingers a red string with a gold bell bead on the end, followed by a green cylinder, a gold bird shaped bead, another green cylinder, and 2 more gold beads.
With a flush growing on his cheeks, he admitted shyly, "It's not as good as yours, but i made it just for you. Actually, it's the only thing i have ever made for anybody in my 22 years!" he admitted with a small blush.
Ladybugs surprise quickly turned to joy, and she traded charms with him, and ran her fingers gently along every bead.
"Thank you!" she exclaimed warmly, clutching the charm to her chest. "It's beautiful!"
She turned to dig around in the box of crafts and came out with some clasps that she fixed onto each end of his charm.
Holding her one wrist out, she held his charm out in the other. "Can you help me?"
She had turned his charm into a bracelet. Adrien felt his pulse pickup as he took the bracelet from her and gently brushed the skin on her wrist as he wrapled it around and closed the clasp. Turning her hand over, he caressed the beads resting against her wrist, and slowly bent down to kiss her knuckles.
"Its perfect M' Lady."
It continued like that for almost two weeks. They had food from a Mexican Restaurant, which was a huge hit with Ladybug!
He brought board games like Clue, Trouble, and Monopoly. Which ended with Adrien loosing miserably! Although, in Adriens defense, he had never played any of the games before. Ever. So he took it as a good sign that she had had a fun filled life before her accident.
He brought her much requested Fetuccini Alfredo, and she hated it!
He brought a cd player with some current albums. Jagged Stone. Mr XY. Clara Nightingale. She had covered hear ears and complained how it was so repetetive it hurt to even listen to it. But she boped and head banged to the rest. She was adorable! He couldnt get enough of her!
He was running out of ideas of things to bring to the Hospital. But he had been walking past the gift shop on the way up to see her when he saw a rack of pencils, colored pencils, blank notebooks and sketchbooks. He couldnt resist.
So 10 minutes later, with a smile on his face and a bag of sketchbooks and pencils swinging in the bag he carried, he continued on his way up to see his Ladybug.
He found himself wondering how much longer she would have to stay here. Its wasn't like there was anything physically WRONG with her! she just didnt have any memories. But where would she go if they let her out?? He bit his lip, worried for her. And for himself. Would he see her once she was out?? He hoped so. He REALLY hoped so!
When he got to the right floor, he stepped off the elevators and headed down the hall, waving at the nurses he saw on his way. He knew so many of them by name, and they all knew him. And they all knew and loved Ladybug.
Honestly, how could they not?! She was bubbly and friendly and full of joy, despite everything. Giving and kind and always ready to listen, no matter what. If he hadnt already loved her, he surely would have fallen by now.
Reaching her door, he gave a quick knock before opening the door and walking inside. Scanning the room, he found Ladybug staring out the window. She turned when he walked in, and he was treated to the biggest smile. It lit up her eyes and crinkled the corners. Just looking at her made his heart beat faster, but being on the recieving end of that smile, he was surprised he was still standing.
He saw her eyes dart to the bag in his hands, and back up to his face.
"Hey, kitty! What'd you bring today?"
With a warm smile in return, he jiggled the bag a bit, saying, "It's a surprise!"
He watched Ladybug clap her hands in glee, and plop down on the side of the bed, waiting for him to come closer and show her.
Adrien loved seeing her so happy. It was infectious. He couldnt help but smile more when he was with her. Any problems he had before he walked through the door didnt seem so unresolvable when he was next to her cheery optimism. Showing off her cheerfulness today was bright pink capris, a black t-shirt with a bold pink floral pattern, and her hair was in their customary pigtails. she looked 12 instead of the early 20's the Dr's estimated. A good indicator, in Adrien's mind, was the pert breasts he saw rounding out her shirt. His hands itched to run underneither that shirt, lift it over her head and discard it on the floor. But that particular image would remain in his imagination, along with every other slightly sexual inclination he had had towards Ladybug. It just wasnt the time.
He couldnt wait for the day she remembered who she was.
Ladybug watch Chat enter her room, and she couldnt contain her joy. The highlight of every day was when he came to see her. And not just because nobody else came to see her. He made her breathless and giddy. And he REALLY believed that she would get better in no time!! The Dr's and Nurses told her the same thing, and she'd always scoff at them, claiming she was liked to be realistic. But when Chat said it, she believed him.
So now, sitting on her bed, waiting for him to show her what was in the bag he carried, she hoped it told her something, anything really, about herself!
She wasn't really surprised to see the sketch books that were produced. She was looking forward to seeing if it tugged on anything in her memory!
"Wow Chat," she said whrn he laid it all out on her little table. "6 books?? Really?" She teased.
Shrugging his shoulders, Chat brushed off her comment.
"Of course. I'll need one. And if it goes well, I would hate for you to run out! And theybare good for so much more that just sketching!! You could try writing, start a diary, or just make lists. All the things you remember. Liked. Want to try yet. Stuff like that." He ended with a small blush when she just looked at him.
Giving a small nod and a smile, Ladybug reached over to take his hand where it rested on top of the stack of sketchbooks.
"Thank you, Chat," she said softly. "I don't tell you enough how much i appretiate and love what your trying to do for me." She finished, while bringing the hand she held up to her lips and kissing his knuckles.
He looked startled for so long, Ladybug was getting embarrassed. Just as she was about to drop his hand, Chat sank onto the bed beside her and pulled her into a tight hug.
Saying nothing, they sat there for a few minutes, just holding onto each other. Ladybug drew comfort from his warmth, and wished she could stay like that all day.
With reluctance, Ladybug finally drew away from him, but made sure to keep a smile on her face so he didnt think she was pushing him away.
"So where should we start then." She asked instead.
Understanding, Chats cheeks colored and he rubbed at the back of his neck.
"How about we see what pops into mind."
"Sounds great!"
They each grabbed a book and a pencil, and Chat settled onto the chair, Ladybug leaned the bed to a sitting position and got comfortable. Flipping to the first page, she just stared. What should she do? Should she try something specific? Or should she just put pencil to paper and see if it took her anywhere?
She must have been frowning, because Chat suddenly was leanong forward and resting an arm on her arm.
"Hey," he smiled, "don't force it. Just see what pawps into your head."
She gave a giggle at his pun. He really was the bestest friend a person could ask for!
So it was with a smile that She tirned back to her pad, set her pencil on the page, and things just took off.
Adrien watched the pencil fly across Ladybugs paper, erasing every so often, and getting back at it.
She flipped the page without even stopping to assess the first. She sharpened her pencil alot, but otherwise, didn't stop!
Mentally, Adrien was giving himself a pat on the back. He couldn't believe he had stumbled upson something that struck such a cord with his lady!
Well, he had secrey been hoping he would, but outwardly, he tried to be more realistic. He knew Ladybug liked to be, at least. So he hadn't wanted to get both of their hopes up! But wow!
She was so focused! Mouth pursed, eyes narrowed, and sometimes her tongue would stick out the side of her mouth. It was adorable!
And after whatbseemed like hours, but really was only 20 minutes, he cluldn't take it anymore, he just had to ask her what she was doing!
Setting his own book aside, he started to reach his hand out, but stopped short of touching her and pulled his arm back. Opened his mouth, and quickly closed it. Rubbed his damp palms on his jean clad legs before clasping them togwther in his lap. He loathed breaking her concentration! Just for his own curiosity. So he was just going to sit here and wait, even if it killed him!
"It's ok to talk Chat." She startled him by saying. Pencil still being used on the page.
She gave a small smile, and looked over at him through her lashes.
Coughing to cover his nervousness, he asked cautiously, "So, anything strike your fancy, purincess?"
Giving a laugh, she passed over her sketchbook. He couldnt help noticing the sparkle in her eyes. Whatever it was, it REALLY made her happy!
Gingerly taking the book from her, he flipped to the front and glanced down. And there before him was the most beautiful creation he had ever seen.
A multi-layer ruffle skirt that fell to just above the knee, a tank underneith a bolero jacket with fancy beadwork and designs along the whole front of the jacket. She has fabric choices on the side with an arrow towards the skirt, and a second list next to it with colors. It seemed like she wanted the jacket to be black with the accents in pink.
Flipping the page, there was what looked like ball gown, with a split in the front of the skirt revealing that same ruffle style from the first page. The bodice was strapless, with a shear fabric on top making it look like it had long sleeves. Notes on the side showed the over skirt was to be black, with red ruffles. the shear on top was to be black, with the under part being red, just like the ruffles, and it looked like polka dots covered all the red parts on the dress.
As he continued flipping, he found more and more designs, just as beautiful as the first ones!
He looked up at Ladybug, feeling wonderous elation for her. They had found it! He really believed that! NOBODY could be THIS good and NOT be a designer!!