It's the final chapter! Actually it's more of an epilogue filled with adrinette gooey sweetess but whatever. Funny thing to note I actually read this story to a friend of mine who had never watched the series before. When they did finally start watching the episodes the other day they asked me which episode was the one with the vines and plant kid in it. I couldn't help but laugh when I reminded them that it was my story and not a real episode to their disappointment. Instead they made me read it to them again! In any case enjoy the final chapter of The Meaning of Marigolds! There may or may not be a sequel with the return of Ladycat. To be honest I haven't decided yet. Also thank you to all of you who have Reviewed and stuff.

Also ThatDarnNerd... You cant die yet of feels! Thats what this chapter is for!

A plant akuma attacks Paris drawing the superhero duo into a battle that will change their lives forever. Rated T just to be safe.

Oh yes... I dont own this show...

The Meaning of Marigolds

(Part Five)

The first thing she noticed was that she was warm and then she realized she was not in her room. She sat up suddenly sending Tiki flying with a surprised squeak. Recovering midair the kwami floated back over to her crying "Marinette your awake!"

A small crash echoed off to her right and suddenly Adrien appeared skidding to a stop in his socks. With no warning he rushed to her side and threw his arms around her pulling her tight against him. "You're awake! Thank goodness you're awake! I was so worried but Tiki said all you needed was sleep so I brought you here and you've been asleep for hours but I-I…" he trailed off and Marinette thought her heart would burst. Adrien was hugging her. He was hugging her! Instantly she felt herself go beet red and for a moment she thought she would combust. Something moved squeaking between them and Adrien pulled back allowing a slightly squished Tiki to get free. He blinked taking in Marinettes bright red features and blushed himself letting her go instantly.

"S-sorry" he stuttered pulling back even further.

Marinette knew she should say something, anything, but in all honesty words had forsaken her. Instead in a bold move of her own she reached up grabbed Adriens shirt front and pulled him to her pressing her lips to his. His arms went around her again one hand trailing up to grip the back of her neck and he tilted his head deepening the kiss. After a moment they parted and gazing into each other's eyes they both spoke at the same time. "Don't you ever do that to me again!"

They both blinked in surprise then as matching grins spread over their faces they started to laugh clinging to each other as they did. It took them a while but once they finally calmed down the questions began and Marinette asked hers first. "How long have I been out and how did we get here? Did everything go back to normal? Where is here? Where is my stuff?"

Adrien lifted her bag from the floor and handed it to her as he answered. "About 6 hours and I carried you here. We are at a small apartment complex my father owns. I didn't want to show up at your or my house with you unconscious in my arms so I came here. It was closer anyways. Things are basically back to normal but you're going to be even more popular now My Lady. Or should it be princess?" he asked cocking his head questioningly at her.

Marinette blushed "Save the My Lady stuff for Ladybug kitty." She answered and Adrien grinned "Princess it is then!" He crowed

Then what he said first sank in and Marinette frowned. "Why am I going to be more popular now?" she asked and Adrien gave her a slightly chagrinned look. "Uh I think those cocoons were how Marigold could see the world outside the bulb she was hiding in. Basically everyone who was in the cocoons saw your entire battle underground and saw how you comforted her. You were incredible." He breathed giving her an awed look as he brushed some stray hairs back behind her ears.

Marinette however winced. "Wait does that mean everyone knows who I am?!"

Adrien shook his head "No. My cocoon hadn't finished forming yet the first time and you had already undone Marigolds work with miraculous cleanse the second time so no one saw your transformations."

Marinette let out the breath she had been holding and flopped back onto the bed. "That's a relief." She managed then yawned. She was still tired, no scratch that she was still exhausted and she wondered if Adrien felt the same way.

"Though I have to say I loved seeing you with my ears and bell on. Then with your hair being down….mmmm" Adrien purred causing Marinette to splutter and sit back up.

"It wasn't by choice you silly cat!" she cried then looked down realizing she still wore his miraculous. "Why didn't you take it back?" she asked moving to slip the ring off her finger.

Adrien watched her, a slightly sad smile etching its way across his features. "I couldn't bear to take it back. Not after what I asked of you in the first place. I guess I just figured that as long as you wore it…" he broke off looking away and slowly stood up.

Marinette watched him as he slowly moved away from her. She took in his slumped shoulders the way his hands slowly clenched into fists and she knew that he needed her. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood albeit shakily. Quietly she moved up to him and buried her face into his back wrapping her arms around his middle.

"You are the bravest, dumbest person Adrien Agaste and I love you. You saved me, and because of your trust in me I didn't give up. I know why you told me to run and I am sorry I slapped you but you gave me the courage to fight. Do you not see that?"

He stiffened at her words and reaching with her one hand she pressed his ring into his hand then curled his fingers around it. He wrapped his free hand around the arm that still encircled his waist and took a deep breath. "Can I turn around?" he asked and Marinette shook her head against his back feeling horribly embarrassed.

"Please Marinette I want to kiss you." He whispered

Marinette felt herself flush and slowly she loosened her grip so he could turn in her arms. She looked up at him and was startled to see tears in his eyes. Before she could say anything about it though he pulled her into a kiss that left her breathless and once he pulled away he slipped his ring back onto his finger.

"Wow" Marinette murmured clinging to him so her wobbly legs wouldn't give out "If I knew that this is what kissing you was going to be like I don't think I could have ever spoken to you."

"Huh?" Adrien asked

She blushed "I-I've kinda have had a crush on you for a long time and it's why I didn't want to date you as Chat. Its why I was always so clumsy and stuttery around you."

Adrien blinked a long slow cat like blink then began to laugh.

"Its not funny!" Marinette cried shoving him in the chest and Adrien laughed harder even as he grabbed her hands bringing them up to his lips.

"Oh my dear princess how right you are. Its not funny it's hilarious! Don't you see?" he asked seeing her utterly confused look in her gorgeous blue eyes "We have been in love with each other this entire time but we didn't realize it was us we were in love with!"

Suddenly Marinette did see what he was talking about and together they collapsed into a pile of giggles.

"I don't mean to interrupt your sickeningly cutesy gooey moment but can we please get something to eat?" Plagg demanded flying into the air between them.

"Plagg I told you not to interrupt them!" Tiki squealed grabbing hold of him and shaking him none to gently.

With matching grins plastered on their faces Adrien and Marinette separated their kwamis. "So uh Marinette, I think this is a purr-fact time to ask you out on a date yes?" Adrien asked keeping his hands cupped around Plagg so he couldn't escape.

"You did not just use a cat pun to ask me out did you?" Marinette groaned rolling her eyes heavenward.

"Paw-haps." Adrien answered cracking up even as she shoved him.

They left the apartment together and they stopped by Marinettes house to check in on her parents. Marinette felt bad leaving Adrien in her parents company to go take a shower but she really needed it. By the time she got out and changed she found that her parents had let him use their bathroom to freshen up as well. He pouted a little when he saw she had placed her hair back into its normal pigtails.

"I really like your hair when it's all wild and curled about your face." He whispered as they started to leave.

Marinette smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder "Yes but it gets in my face too much when I run around." She answered and although he did see her point Adrien pouted.

"I didn't get to play with it though." He murmured and with a sigh Marinette paused mid-step to reach up and pull one tie from her hair. Adrien had his hands in the other before she had a chance to pull it out and then he darted back holding the tie up so she could see it.

"Hey give that back!" Marinette called and Adrien grinned

"Only if you think you can catch me!" He answered and darted out the bakery door to the laughter of her parents.

Laughing as well Marinette swiftly followed and after she caught him they did in fact go on a date since school for the day was cancelled. They had to part company later so Adrien could answer his father's summons and Marinette could answer Alyas but they promised to meet back up later that night for patrol.

The moment Alya opened the door to her home she had started chattering and squealing as she told Marinette what happened on her way to school the day before. Marinette knew that Alya could be overenthusiastic when it came to Ladybug but this time she had been over the top. Alya had been ecstatic to tell Marinette all about witnessing Ladycats (as she called that particular transformation) fierce battle with Marigold. Marinette pretended that she had been cocooned as well so that it didn't seem odd that she knew the dirty details about the battle. Then Alya had dropped the bomb on her. With Ninos help they had hacked into the metros cameras and to their absolute delight they had found Ladycats entire fight captured on film. They were in the process of editing it so that it was one continuous flowing fight scene when Marinette had arrived. Marinette had watched the film with a mixture of dread and awe surging through her. On one hand the fight really was an incredible thing to watch as she dodged weaved and fought against insurmountable odds. However she could feel every blow she watched herself take and she was glad when Alya had turned it off. The video left a strange taste in her mind because she knew that she would be called on to fight again and while she had been very lucky this time it was very possible that it would not always be the case. Regardless of the risk to her own life she would always answer the call and she knew somewhat instinctively that Adrien felt the same way. Exhausted she had left Alya to her overeager editing and gone home to her parents for a nap knowing that in a few short hours she would be back on patrol.

The night air was cool and humid as Ladybug darted over rooftops on her way to meet up with Chat. They still had a lot to discuss but she could just feel deep within her bones that between them at least everything would work out ok. She wasn't sure how they were going to reveal their new dating status to their friends but Ladybug figured that they could talk about it so they had a believable single story to tell. A shadow split away from a chimney and moments later Chat fell into step beside her.

"You are looking as feline as ever My Lady." Chat said as they came to a halt on the roof of an abandoned building.

Knowing the darkness hid them well Ladybug reached out and wrapped him in a hug. "I am so very glad to see you Chat." She whispered and Chat hugged her back careful that his claws didn't prick her skin.

"Plagg told me everything." He said squeezing her gently.

Ladybug sighed into his chest holding onto him a moment longer before he gently pulled away. She stared at him feeling more than a little confused as he took a step back and reached into his pocket.

"I..uh…have something for you." Chat said "I mean I didn't really do the whole asking out thing properly and we kind of already ruined the whole first kiss but I am really looking forward to truly getting to know you and I just wanted to give you something since I can't give you my miraculous."

Ladybug blinked unsure of where he was going with this but then he opened his hand to reveal a ring. The band was made of a dark metal that was intricately woven and detailed so it looked like a cat stretched out. In the center where the front and back paws met was a single round ruby that had black imperfections making it seem as if the stones had spots. She gasped stunned at the rings beauty and looked up at him. "How did…Chat…I can't accept that…" She managed and Chat lifted her hand pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles.

"I had it made because I hoped that one day My Lady would fall fur me." He purred and Ladybug yanked her hand away glaring at him.

Chat laughed and recaptured her hand. "I'm joking My Lady… Kind of… I actually had it commissioned for you for Christmas but it didn't get finished on time and I sorta chickened out." He amended making her chuckle.

Gently he slid the ring onto her finger where it fit perfectly and Ladybug stared at the ring feeling a bit overwhelmed.

"Its heavy." She whispered

Chat brushed a hand over her cheek drawing her gaze back to him "That's because it carries my heart."

Ladybugs eyes filled with tears, his words resonating deep within her "I will never take it off. You're forever stuck with me now."

Chat grinned his bright green eyes filled with joy "Fur-ever and ever? I can't wait My Lady."

Then wrapped in each other's arms under the warm Parisian night sky they sealed the promise with a kiss.

I hope you all liked the Meaning of Marigolds. This is one of the first stories I completed. I actually have six others in various states of disarray and the poor word file literally looks how my mind feels. Hehe in any case let me know what you guys think! See you guys in a week! Next up will be a short one shot... if I get around to finishing it.