Adrien!

Marinette sat up rapidly from her bed. Heart pounding, quick, deep breaths. She put a palm to her temple, she could feel her face from the cold sweat. When will these go away? She thought. Possibly never. Her teeth clenched and felt the tears coming. God she hated crying. She hated it so much, it was the worst and wasted so much energy.

There is so much work to do. She had to keep coming up with ideas and designs. She couldn't just take a day off. Marinette forced herself off her bed, slowly and dragging her feet to get herself dressed. When did it become such a struggle to get ready? It used to be so easy. Especially during her school days. She was always in a hurry and excited to going to school.

Marinette could easily remember those school days. It was as if it were only yesterday. First thing she would do was brush her hair put them in the tiny pigtails, get dressed, hurry down from her attic room to greet her parents. Then, she would wolf down her breakfast and out the door.

Her mornings now? She would force herself to get up. Go to the mirror and self loathe. Brush her now long hair, lazily tie them into pigtails. Putting on some old clothes that she wore the week before without even washing them yet. Slowly make her way to the kitchen but usually ends up skipping breakfast, then, she was off to meet Ayla to their store.

She wanted this to be over. Sometimes, she wished she could start over. From when she met Tikki, maybe she didn't accept being Ladybug, none of this would have happened. None of this would have happened to…

Marinette quickly shook her head side to side. Definitely did not need to go back to the nightmare memory bank.

As Marinette hurried to her store, she quickly bumped into rather few people. Her journals fell, and her sketches were everywhere. Hurriedly, she scrambled of picking them up and messily placed them inside back in her bag. Why was it so crowded? She thought, fixing her pigtails.

A crowd of people stood before her store. Marinette poked her head up behind strangers shoulders on her tippy toes. A crowd outside her own store?

Marinette went back to flat footed, tapping her left foot with a finger tapping on her lips in thought. She sure didn't remember releasing anything. But she sure remembers that she wasn't that famous for her work or her store nearly this popular. So what was all the hooplah about? Whatever it was, she squirmed to the front of the store, squeezed her way in with apologies and excuses. As soon as she made her through the sea of humans her bluebell eyes widened.

Her new design that she had worked on last night, now selling in stores.

"Ayla!" Marinette cried out.

"Mari! Morning!" she greeted with a grin, "Can you believe it?" she squealed with joy at the design. She nudged her head with excitement to point out that Marinette had a special guest, Gabriel Agreste.

Oh no.

Marinette felt her chest tightening up. This can't be happening. Her mind was racing with questions and her eyes immediately darted at her feet. She felt like she was in trouble in school. As if she were in the principal's office!

Is he angry? He had to have hated her. With the design she made bringing up stupid memories in the past of his famous dead son?!

Slowly, she heard the footsteps lightly hit against the tile toward her. Marinette's eyes followed from the famous designers feet, to his legs, his suit then to his face. Instead of her thought of rage, it was melancholy. His eyes had deep bags, his face sunken with wrinkles. He couldn't have been that old but… with the loss of his wife, then his own son. Surely, it had broken this man.

Marinette clutched to her bag so tightly it was almost tearing the fabric where her hands were going to become fists.

"Sir, I apolo-!"

Gabriel Agreste only put his hand up to silence her. Once she stopped her sentence, Marinette waited patiently for him to speak.

"I remember you," he spoke softly, putting his hand back behind him. His voice was low, and gentle. From when Marinette remembered, his voice was firm, strict.

"I assume this is your design?" He asked curiously to the girl that was just about to have a panic attack.

"Yes… Yes sir, I did." she answered solemnly.

Silence. Gabriel Agreste turned on his heel with his hands placed behind his back. He analyzed the store more efficiently. The only thing was heard from the chattering of people outside the building and the paparazzi snapping photos as fast as they could.

"You own this store?" He faced back to Marinette.

"Yes sir." Marinette spoke with a little more confidence.

"Your friend showed me your design this morning. I had to stop by. You let me see my son. Thank you."

Marinette's design was based on the famous model, Adrien Agreste. It was go to outfit that he used to wear in her high school days. She added some of the previous photo shoots he had with a jacket, and a blue scarf that she had made him that one valentine's day.

"You're welcome, sir.." Marinette trailed.

"And," Gabriel approached the young designer once more,

"Thank you, for loving my son as much as I did." He gave her a pat on her head that was ever so gentle, then taking his leave. His body guard came through the crowd madness, guiding him back to their car.

He knew. He knew Marinette's feelings for Adrien. Tears began to spill over, he accepted her. He acknowledged her work like she dreamed of. Yet, why did she feel she had some closure?

Ayla immediately began to shut the doors quickly then went back to check up on her friend. No words were given, only a hug that Marinette gladly accepted. It was so much to bear, so much had happened.

If only, she could have saved Adrien as Ladybug. If only, he knew the truth. But yet, she somehow felt better that he knew she loved him. Yet, somewhat she wished she could just stop thinking of the boy in her school days. She didn't want to love or care for him, just to get out of her stupid head! She wanted to beat herself over and over again. For letting everyone down, for letting Chat Noir down, letting Adrien down, for letting herself down.

Ayla's hand gently rubbed Marinette's back to comfort her friend. Overwhelmed with melancholy and joy. Marinette stood up straight and wiped her tears away. She had to get to work. She had to put on a show for those reporters anxiously waiting and bomb her with questions. Customers eagerly excited to see the new design and purchase.

Once Marinette was at ease, the french doors opened and Marinette gave the biggest smile. Despite the roller coaster of emotions she has been through, she actually rather enjoyed herself answering every question that each person had. She even met a few people to socialize, eagerly wanting to know her thoughts. She shook hands, and laughed. It had been awhile since she felt like this.

Of course, she did it for someone she loved. The person she admired and loved was her inspiration. He always had been, from the very moment she met him. The moment she realized her feelings, on that fateful rainy day.

I've never really had friends, the familiar voice echoed in her mind. I've never been to school, it's all new to me.

The sound of the thunder snapped her back to where she was. The day was over already?

"Time flies bye when you're having fun, right?" Ayla came next to her, laying her head onto Marinette's shoulder. Marinette wrapped an arm around her laying her head as well onto Ayla.

"Yeah," she agreed, "You know, I think I'm starting to feel a little better."

Adrien Agreste laid in thought, with his limbs sprawled across his bed. The words of the confession echoed his mind. That voice, it was so familiar. He tuned out the outside car honkings, the chatterings and footsteps of his next door neighbors. Who would even confess someone that was dead? There was so much emotion into it, he felt the entire love from that person. He was somewhat glad, he felt lucky. That there was one more person other than his parents.

Slowly, he lifted his eyes open to face the ceiling, he turned his head to see his kwami sleeping soundly. Just like an actual cat, just eat and sleeps. A slight tug from his face lifted, he used his pointer finger just to gently pet his kwami.

Adrien flicked on his cheap used TV he bought from a thrift store to see anymore news. Anything about his partner, or anything threatening if he needed to be there. Instead, his father announcing a ball. A competition for the guest of honor. Soon it quickly switched to a reporter rushing to a store where his father was attending. Adrien quickly sat up, it was one of his friends stores. Marinette Dupen-Cheng, finally achieving her dream. He felt himself smile, his very first friend he ever made. Besides… Chloe. He didn't mind her, but she just became too much later on in their years.

Memories of Marinette flashed in his mind, the thunder reminded him of the first day he met her. Underneath the gray clouds and dropping rain. He got up and stretched out his limbs, fixing the replacement of his ring. "Plagg, Claws -" he stopped in mid sentence. No, he can't be Chat Noir. Plus, he'd be wearing him out too much. He needs a break. Instead, Adrien grabbed the darkest jacket he could find. His blue scarf that his father had given him that one birthday (Although secretly made by Marinette), some jeans and his sneakers.

Adrien hurriedly rushed to his door, hesitating. Did he really need to see her? Pushing to the thoughts aside he rushed out with shutting the door behind him. He put his hood over his head to keep his face hidden. He stopped by in front of the bakery of Marinette's old home. Her parents happily still serving and baking whatever they come up with. Her father, coming out with fresh cookies, gently setting them on display. He always saw Marinette helping around with her parents every time he passed it by with Nino. They weren't the best in Paris, but they might as well be. People these days don't put heart into work anymore.

He couldn't help but smile at them, Marinette was sure lucky. Still having lively, loving parents. Adrien continued on walking till he recognized the store she owned and produced.

The disguised hero watched from a distance through the window. Marinette, by herself in the store setting up and fixing mannequins of the latest fashion. As he watched intently, soon becoming astonished. Was that… suppose to be him!? The design was his old school day outfits! Before he "died". Why would she…

I've always loved you, Adrien, I always will.

The voice rang in his ears once his eyes laid Marinette. She was the one who confessed to him at his grave. The cinnamon tea, the branch, all of it. It made perfect sense. Her heritage comes from China, QingMing. The celebration of a departed loved ones. Why didn't he connect the dots? God, he felt so stupid! All this time, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, has been in love with him. His heart sank, he broke her heart. His fake death, she had been in mourning all this time.

"What have I done?" He mumbled to himself, putting a hand to his forehead. How could he do this to her? Oh, only if he had known, he would have found another way around. He never wanted to do this, especially not her. Everyone else had grief for him, but Marinette, he knew of all people she cared the most about others. Oh and if she loved them, God knows what pain she has been going through.

"I'm sorry," he watched her in the clothing shop with the shake of his head, "Marinette, I'm so sorry."

Adrien ran. He ran off from the store, feeling so much guilt and remorse for his friend. He had to do something. Something to make it up. How could he possibly make up a death of someone she loved.

"Chat Noir," he mumbled. He could make it up being Chat Noir, be there for her, care for her. Chat Noir could fix this, he had to.

Marinette, shutting the doors of her small store and locking it with her key. Double checked it was locked, then she was off. Today, was a busy day. An overwhelming, busy day. She seemed a bit more alert than dragging to be at work this morning. She liked it. She liked being busy, it something to do, something to keep her mind off things. She stopped by her parents home giving them updates and staying for dinner. She gave them her hugs and kisses, then her goodbyes.

Going to her own place, which was only a five minute walk from own home. She walked in, instantly dropping on her bed heaving a heavy sigh. Might as well start getting for bed. Marinette groaned, lifted herself up, and analyzed her room on what to do first.

Then there he stood, Chat Noir, waiting patiently at her balcony. Was she hallucinating again? Marinette opened her glass sliding door looking at him, his back facing toward. His black ears twitched at the sound of the sliding door. He gave a heart-warming smile to pigtailed young woman, then bowed to her, "Good evening, princess."

Marinette couldn't help but give a small giggle, "What is all this?"

Chat Noir looked up seeing the smile appear on her lips, at least he can still get her laughter.

"Is it wrong to see an old friend?" He asked, slyly leaning against the balcony rail.

"Well no," Marinette spoke shyly, tucking a hair behind her ear. "It's just been… years since I've last spoken to you."

"Yeah, why is that?" He gave a pouty look, "Is Ms. Marinette too good for poor ol' Chat Noir?"

"Yeah, totally am." She agreed. Chat Noir gave an actual pout to her, then both bursting with laughter. It had been a while since he has been with Marinette. Well, as Chat Noir, not Adrien.

"No, but actually," Marinette trailed off, her eyes averting Chat Noir's gaze. Her face slightly fell, and tugged at her own arm in thought. "There's just been a lot going on, and…" she sighed deeply, "I'm not really sure how to handle it."

Chat Noir analyzed Marinette carefully. He knew exactly what was going on. His fake death of Adrien Agreste. She had still been coping for all these years. The cool air started settling in, the sun beginning to set. Slowly, the breeze joined in. It played with Marinette's hair and disheveled Char Noir's.

The black car hero broke his gaze from Marinette, thinking. He took a deep breath, taking the sad girl's hand in his claw like hands. She looked up at the black cat, slightly hesitating but quickly gripped into his palm. Her lip began to quiver, tears beginning to form.

"I can handle it, princess." Chat Noir spoke gently to her. Marinette gave a warm smile through her tears that began to overflow.

"Thank you."