From that moment on Marinette and Adrien spent every hour of everyday together. They would read together in the library, dined together at every breakfast, lunch, and dinner, admired the artwork together, listen to music together, and walked in the garden together.

"Everything in your garden is so beautiful." Marinette said. "I don't think I've ever seen flowers so lovely."

"All them nothing compared to you Princess." He said.

As she was inhaling the fragrance of one rose bush she saw something that she hadn't noticed the whole time she had been in this garden. Underneath the roses was soil that had been dug up but then put back and sticking out of the soil was a cross made of stone that held a heart with the words Emilie craved into it. This was a grave. These roses were growing on a grave.

"Who's grave is this?" Marinette asked.

She saw sorrow in Adrien's eyes when they looked upon the grave.

"My mother's. She died a very long time ago."

"What was she like?"

"Kind, good, loving, and very beautiful. She loved me more than anything in the world. One of her greatest loves in life other than me were flowers and roses were her favorite. When she was alive she made sure the castle was always filled with them and my father had this garden built just for her and made sure that had hundreds of different flowers but for some reason roses wouldn't grow there."

"What happened to her?"

"One day she became very sick, my father offered a fortune to anyone who could heal her but in the end she died. We couldn't bear to have her be buried in a grave yard so she was buried in her favorite place in the world, her garden. My father went completely mad after her death and his desire to have her back caused him to do a terrible thing."

"What?"

"I'd rather not say, it's not important. Sometime after he made his mistake these roses began to grow on her grave, as if it was a sign that my mother was still with us and as long as they grow she will never truly be gone."

"Is that why you were so angry when my father plucked a rose? Because it grew on her grave?"

"Yes. I know it's foolish but I believe that if these roses were to die my mother would truly be lost from me."

"It's not foolish and I know how you feel. My mother died too."

"Really?"

"Yeah when I was a little girl she got really sick. I stayed by her side the whole time and I prayed that she would be okay but she died anyway."

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright, in a some way she's still with me. She always told me that when mothers die they become guardian angels who watch over their children forever."

"Do you really think that's true?"

"I know it's true because sometimes I feel like she's there with me. I can't see her or hear her but I can feel her."

Adrien grasped her hand and closed his eyes as he began to remember his mother. He remembered how they would always walk in the garden together and she would tell him the names and meanings of each and every flower. He soon knew them all by heart. Though she loved all her flowers she would always wish that a rose or two would bloom. Hundreds of roses began to grow on her grave but it broke his heart that she would never get to see them but nevertheless he honored her wish by making sure that they always stayed alive.

"Adrien would you like to help me feed the birds?" Marinette asked.

"I would like to but birds are frightened of me. All animals fear me."

"Come on, you just need to be gentle. Here."

She pulled out some seeds and held them in her hand. The birds fluttered down from the trees and perched themselves in her hand. to eat the seeds.

"Here you try." She put some seeds in his paws. "Now hold them out."

He did as she said. The birds looked at him skeptically but seeing the goodness in him, some of them flew over into to his paws to eat the seeds.

"Hey there pretty Ah..Ah...Achoo!" He sneezed. "Achoo!"

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"Yeah I just forgot I'm allergic to feathers. Achoo!"

Marinette couldn't help but giggle when he sneezed. Seeing her smile and hearing her laugh was pure magic to him. For many years Adrien thought that the only thing in this world that could ever bring him any joy would be his mother's roses but now something else made him happy. Happier than he had ever been in a long time. This woman, this beauty, had treated with so much kindness and affection. Things had longed to feel. it was enough to send his heart flying into the heavens. Nothing meant more to him than her happiness. He had never felt this way about anyone in his entire life and he wanted to show her how much she meant to him.

"Marinette."

"Yes Adrien."

"Tonight I have something very special planned for you."

"Really? Oh no please you've already done so much."

"Don't worry you'll love it I promise. Got back to your room, Pollen will start your bath and Tikki will have a new gown ready for you."

"Alright. Can't wait to see what you have planned."

She went back to her room where at that very moment a kwami resembling a bee named Pollen was preparing her bath. A tub was filled with warm water and scented with lavender and rose water. As she bathed Pollen began to wash her hair and anoint her body.

"You've made Adrien so happy here." Pollen said rinsing her hair. "In fact it's the first time we've seen him smile."

"Really? I'm not sure how I make him happy."

"You must be joking."

"Yes you've been kind and good to him." Tikki said.

"When we first Adrien he was so sad and miserable, in fact he didn't even want to live."

"But then you came into his life and now he's happier than he's ever been."

"Ever since you first arrived he's insisted that we deny you nothing and that we treat you like royalty."

"He's worked so hard to make sure your stay is comfortable and happy."

"I've never seen him so devoted to anyone."

"He always says your happiness means everything to him and that seeing your smile is the only thing that brings him joy."

"I'm that important to him?" Marinette asked surprised.

"He says you're the only thing that matters in his life." Tikki said fetching her a towel.

Once Marinette was dried off Tikki brought her a beautiful Parisian red gown made from silk with a matching silken ribbon. This gown was one of her favorites, she hoped that she would be able to wear it again. She slipped on the gown and her hair was styled up with a red rose comb while the ruby earrings were put in her ears and red satin slippers were placed onto her feet. Meanwhile Adrien was dressed into his finest suit and asked Nooroo to bring him a very important piece of jewelry from the safe.

"Here you go master." The moth like kwami said giving a small box.

"Thank you."

"Are you sure you want to give her this?"

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

At seven o'clock Adrien and Marinette went to have dinner together. Adrien and Marinette ate a delicious supper of roast beef, fresh backed baquettes, steamed vegetables, and petite four cakes.

"Come let me show you my surprise." He said when they finished their meal.

He offered her his arm which she took. He then led her to a room she had never seen before. It was glorious, candlelit ballroom with a starlight ceiling. Romantic music began to play, Adrien gently took her hand and brought it to his lips to kiss making her blush. Then he bowed respectfully.

"May I have this dance?" He asked.

"I'd love to." She replied while giving him a curtsy.

Their hands joined and they began to dance together in a romantic waltz. Her blue eyes connected with his green ones, their hearts were beating so fast and blush painted their cheeks. They felt like they were the only people in the world. That here in this castle, they were safe, they could live in a world of eternal joy, beauty, and love. When their dance ended he led her out on to the balcony where they gazed at the night sky.

"Marinette." He said.

"Yes."

"Are you happy here Marinette?" He asked. "Have you enjoyed staying with me for these past few months?"

"Yes I have."

"Oh Princess you have no idea how much it pleases me to hear you say that."

"Adrien why do you go out of your way to make me happy?"

"Because you're the only thing that matters to me, the only thing that makes my life worth living. From the moment I laid eyes on your beautiful face I knew that somehow, someway you would bring light into my dark world. For these past months you are the only thing that I could ever think of and after all this time I've realized something."

"What is that?"

"That I have fallen in love with you."

Marinette froze with shock at his words.

"I love you Marinette, I love you more than anything in the world." He then pulled a beautiful emerald ring from his jacket. "Marinette, do you love me? Will you marry me?"

His eyes were practically begging and hoping that she would say yes. Marinette wasn't sure what to say. She cared deeply for Adrien and he was her most treasured friend but she wasn't sure if she loved him romantically. She wasn't sure if she could become his wife. How could she marry him? She was a woman and he was a beast. She was so confused and unsure.

"What can I say?" She said.

"Just say yes or no. All I want is an honest answer."

"No Adrien." She said.

She saw the hopeful light in his eyes die and they were once again filled with that great sadness.

"Adrien I'm so sorry but I-"

"No. I understand." He sighed. "Excuse me Marinette but I would like to got to my room now."

"Adrien are you alright?"

"I am fine. I just wish to be alone for awhile."

"Okay, good night Adrien."

"Good night Marinette."

They parted ways and went to their bedrooms. Alone his room Adrien clutched the ring he was going to Marinette.

"You fool! How could you think anyone could ever love you!" He howled angrily at himself.