Luka silently skulked around the trees that edged towards the shoreline. Montparnasse stood imposingly on an island just off the coast, shrouded in mist. The jagged rocks made escape difficult if you didn't know your way, but Kim assured him there was a passageway that became visible at low tide. He would know, he had been one of the guards from Montarnasse when it was a DuPont prison, and he knew exactly where the resistance prisoners were being held.

"It looks low enough now." Kim said, observing the horizon. "We should have enough time before sunrise.

Luka nodded. "Let's move then."

Clamoring into the row boats, Luka directed their small band of men to follow Kim's direction. When Luka had arrived at the nearby army camp, he found a mixed bag of men from various regiments who had become separated through either ambush, injury or like Kim had been displaced and disillusioned.

Luka was still reeling from the news that the Prince had been killed. It had to have been an ambush, he was certain of it. He blamed himself for ever leaving, positive that it was his absence that made Adrien vulnerable to attack… and Marinette. He closed his eyes and pictured her face. So young and beautiful, but not his. He might have thought he would have had a chance, but he could see it in those bluebell eyes. She loved Adrien, and as much as he hated to admit it, Adrien loved her. At least they were together in the end. Perhaps there was some comfort in that.

News of the death of the Prince, and Chat Noir, had also hit the men hard. Their heroes were gone, and so was their will to keep fighting. Luka was grateful to Kim for stirring up enough patriotism for a small band of men to volunteer and save the prisoners.

In the silence of the predawn, only the sound of the oars dipping rhythmically into the lapping ocean could be heard. Luka closed his eyes for a moment, remembering back to when he was a boy, sailing with his family on the open ocean. He missed the sounds of the sea living in the Capital, the way that is would calm and soothe the pain he felt in his heart.

The low mist on the water parted and swirled around the boats as the men followed Kim's lead. Once they had reached their destination, Kim used a set of keys he had taken when he had fled the tower to open the now exposed gate. Luka jumped out of the boat and found his footing on the rocks, indicating with his hand for the rest of the men to stay with the boats. Wading through the knee deep water into the small channel that ran below the building, Luka followed Kim to a narrow, winding staircase leading to a heavy wood door.

"The guards change at this time for the morning shift." Kim whispered. "We'll only have minutes. Are you sure your contacts are going to be ready for us?"

Luka nodded his head. "Don't worry, they'll be there."

As Kim had said, the damp, dark corridors of the prison were empty. Luka and Kim made quick time around the labyrinth, finding the wing where they kept "political prisoners" although Kim said they were almost always members of the resistance. Luka started to become nervous though when they found many of the cells were empty.

"I thought they arrested dozens of people?"

Kim nodded with a frown. "They must have moved some of them to the work camps already."

"Luka?"

Luka ran towards the sound of the voice and grabbed the outstretched hand.

"Nino, thank God you're still here."

"I never thought I would be so happy to see your ugly mug." Nino teased. "When we heard what happened to the Prince, we didn't know if they had gotten you too."

"Kim? Kim, is that you?"

A man in glasses approached the cell gate. The tall former guard couldn't believe his eyes when he caught sight of his old childhood friend.

"Holy shit Max, what the hell are you doing in here?"

"Serving time for crimes against the Bourgeois family apparently." Max replied dryly. "It seems my inventions were not well received by our captors."

Inside the cell a female started coughing. Peering through the dim light Luka saw Alya sitting on the cold, stone floor with the head of a dark haired girl resting in her lap. She was shivering and coughed again.

"That's Socqueline." Max said, answering Luka's enquiring look. "She is my assistant. They hit her pretty hard when she tried to stop then destroying my forging machine. I'm afraid the damp here has badly affected her and she has become quite ill. She may not be able to make it out."

"I came to get all of you out of here, and that's what I intend to do." Luka assured him. Once the gate opened Luka went to Alya and helped her up before picking up the sick girl in his arms. Her dark hair almost immediately reminded Luka of Marinette and he felt a heaviness in his heart. Luka held the frail girl closer to his chest. He couldn't save Marinette, he couldn't save Adrien, but he could save this girl and his friends. Perhaps in this small way he could redeem himself for failing those he had loved.

Following Kim, the group stayed close to the walls. Voices in the distance brought them to a stop, Kim holding up his hand to them. Luka held his breath at the sound of the guards returning to their posts. In his arms Socqueline coughed. Luka held her head to his chest and the light of a lantern came closer. It was becoming inevitable that a confrontation would be unavoidable.

As the guard rounded the corner, Kim swung out and wrapped his arms around the man's neck in a choker hold, causing the lantern to fall from his hand, the sound reverberating down the corridor as the guard slunk passed out to the ground.

"Hey Franco you okay?" Called a gruff voice.

Kim drew his sword. "Quick, get them to the boats, I'll hold them off."

With zero hesitation or self preservation, Kim charged in at the two men that were making their way up the corridor. Swords clashed and soon a bell on the high tower began to ring in alarm. Luka tightened his hold on Socqueline and indicated with his head for the others to follow him. Nino grabbed Alya's hand and followed behind Max. Another guard came up from the rear, Nino using a well timed punch to get the upper hand and take the dazed man's sword. The group quickly made their way to the winding staircase in countering a few more guards before heading down into the underground channel.

"Prepare the boats." Luka ordered, the men taking up their oars.

Nino helped Max into one of the boats while Luka carefully laid Socqueline with Alya in the same boat he climbed into. Moments later Kim came racing down the stairs and crashed into the water.

"There's more coming, let's go!" He called as his men hoisted him into the boat with Max and Nino. Plunging their oars into the water, the boats were already out of the underground channel by the time the other guards got there. Flinging a lot your h, Kim set flames to the boats tied up channel ensuring that they could not be followed. Free from the prison, the group headed out to the open water.

"So where to now, Captain?" Kim asked in the boat beside Luka. "I thought you said you had contacts?"

"I do." Luka replied with a small smile. "Just around the other side of the small island ahead."

Taking the lead, Luka instructed his rowers to round a low cliff to reveal a large merchant vessel anchored in the bay. Luka cupped his hands around his mouth. "Ahoy Captain!"

"Ahoy son!" The voice of a woman on the deck responded.

"Son?" Kim queried. Luka just gave him a wide grin as the boats came to a rest at the side of the vessel.

The moment Luka stepped foot on deck, he was scooped up in a fierce hug.

"Good to have you safe back on deck my boy." The woman said before a younger woman with dark hair also joined the group hug.

Soon Luka introduced the Captain of the Liberty as his mother Anarka and his sister Juleka as the first mate. The Liberty had a well known reputation as one of the fastest merchant ships in the DuPont fleet and the exploits of Captain Anarka were almost legendary.

"Kim is it?" Anarka said, addressing the former guard. "Yer men are welcome to travel with us. There be plenty o' room in the bunks below." Kim saluted her and took his handful of men below deck along with Max, the two intent on a long catch up.

Anarka then turned her attention to the rest of the escaped prisoners. Alya and Nino were supporting Socqueline to stand.

"Luka, bring the young lass to me personal quarters. Jules, will you show our guests to their rooms."

Luka scooped Socqueline up into his arms and followed his mother across the decks. "Where we be heading Luka?" She asked.

"Docklands." He replied, trying not to be too loud as Socqueline's head flopped onto his shoulder. "There is someone I have to meet there urgently."

Anarka took note of the gravity in his voice.

"Friend or foe?"

Luka gave his mother a half smile. "I guess I'll find out when I see him."

Anarka called the order to set sail for Docklands and opened the door for Luka to take the girl into Anarka's room. Luka laid Socqueline down while his mother prepared a medicine. She had all kinds of herbal concoctions she had collected on her travels over the years to treat her own family and crew, so Luka trusted her judgement. Luka helped Socqueline to sit up and take the bitter liquid with some water before resting her back down. The girl opened her eyes and Luka momentarily paused at her tear filled blue orbs.

"Thank you." She whispered, her eyes heavy with sleep.

"You're welcome." Luka replied, surprised. "But I'm sure it's what anyone else would have done."

Socqueline slowly shook her head. "Not everyone would have taken a sick woman out of a prison. I hindered your escape."

Luka crouched down beside her. He could see the exhaustion on her face, not only from being sick, but because she must have been so afraid. Instinctively he began to stroke her hair, carding his fingers through her bangs. "I would never have left you behind, but you don't have to worry anymore." He said gently. "You're safe here with us now and we are going to take good care of you."

Socqueline nodded her head and closed her eyes as Luka continued to stroke her hair soothingly. "Sleep now and get your strength back. We will reach our destination in a day or two."

Luka stood and walked to the door where his mother was still standing. Luka turned back to look at the raven haired girl. He could see from the relaxed look on her face that she felt safe with them and it restored something within him. Maybe not perfect healing, but a soothing balm that healed some of the pain he felt.

"Ye look as though you left yer heart behind." Anarka observed as Luka shut the door. Luka didn't respond, but his eyes did plenty of talking for him.

"Want ta tell me 'bout it son?" Anarka asked with a sympathetic look. "I've got me a fine bottle of Scottish whiskey and time to lend an ear."

"I don't feel much like drinking." Luka said. "But a lot has happened recently and I do need someone to talk to." And unload my conscience, went unsaid, but Anarka saw the inference. She wrapped a supportive arm around his shoulders.

"Good. You talk, I'll drink."

~~~~~

Marinette was a bundle of nerves as she sat in front of her dressing table mirror in her red dress that she had lovingly finished. It was a beautiful afternoon outside even though the temperature had begun to drop. Everytime she thought about the fact that her and Adrien would be taking legal vows her heart did a flip in her chest.

Yes the plan was to simply use this marriage to get back to the Capital. A formal ceremony to obtain formal documents. That was the theory anyway, but the reality was she was deeply in love with this man, a man who had confessed his own love to her and she wasn't sure how she could fake something that felt so real.

She lightly touched her fingers over her lips as she looked back at her reflection, the twitch of a smile tugging at the edges of her red lipstick. Adrien had insisted that they needed more "practice" to make sure their kiss looked just right. She wasn't entirely sure that some of those kisses would have been entirely appropriate in a church in front of a priest, but she had zero complaints as she melted into him until… until they had to stop before they took things too far.

"I found it!" Called out Zoé as she walked into the room with Marinette's floral headband that she had made. The silk red and white flowers she got from the market were a perfect match for the white lace she had added to her dress. Zoé stood behind Marinette and scooped her hair back. "Now this clip should hold everything better than the other one." She said as she swirled Marinette's hair into a decorative twist.

Marinette watched her reflection as Zoé continued to fuss over her hair. "You know you have gorgeous hair, Marinette. It's so soft."

Marinette felt a little embarrassed at the compliment. "Well, my mum had great hair so I guess I was just lucky. I got my mum's hair and my dad's eyes so I guess I got the best of both sides of my family."

Marinette suddenly felt a wave of sadness hit her. It was her wedding day and her parents weren't going to be a part of it. She wondered how different things would have been had they still been alive. Then again she never would have been in a position where she would run away to the field hospital, she might not have been there when Chat Noir came injured or helped them to escape. She wouldn't have fallen for him all over again like she had that night at the masquerade.

"I'm sorry."

Marinette was pulled from her thoughts by Zoé's apology. "I didn't mean to upset you. I know you said you lost your parents."

"You didn't upset." Marinette smiled at her reassuringly. "I miss them of course, but thinking about them doesn't make me sad. What about you? Did you inherit any traits from your parents?"

"I don't know. I never knew them."

Marinette turned in her chair and looked at the blonde girl. "Oh I'm… I didn't… I.."

"Hey it's okay." Zoé said, holding Marinette's shoulders with a giggle at the other's flushed face. "It's not a secret. The Lee's adopted me when I was just a few weeks old. I've always known, so it's not a big thing."

"Oh, I see." Marinette replied. "Do you know anything about your birth parents?"

Zoé shrugged her shoulders. "Not really. I asked my mother once about it because I have blonde hair and blue eyes and I guess I can't help but wonder if my parents are the same or if I have siblings somewhere. She didn't know much though except that my birth mother was a noble woman and was either unmarried or was having an affair. Either way, I'll always be grateful that the Lee's took me in. They really were the most wonderful parents

and thanks to them I met Nate and we've been best friends forever. There's nothing better than a best friend for life right?"

Marinette couldn't help but smile. "You never thought about being more than friends?"

Zoé burst out laughing. "No. Seriously, it would be like marrying my brother." She chuckled. "No no. I couldn't be happier than how I am right now living here with our bees and chickens and helping the resistance. I would never look at Nate the way you look at the Prince."

Marinette could feel her face heat up. Was she really that obvious? Zoé smirked at Marinette's red face and leaned down closer to her ear. "You know, I've seen the way he looks at you too and between us girls, those are not always pure thoughts there."

Marinette could feel her heart rate pick up. "I know." She said, the conflict within her evident on her face. "I can't just do what I want though. There are bigger things at stake here than my feelings, or his. Someone has to keep a level head here."

"But what if he wants it?" Zoé pushed. "Do you really think you could say no?"

Deep down Marinette knew the answer to that, but she couldn't say it out loud. It was almost a relief when Nathaniel came and knocked on the door.

"How are we going ladies?" He asked, looking quite dashing in his long coat and top hat.

"Almost ready." Zoé replied, attaching a necklace of pink pearls to Marinette's neck. "Did your suit fit Adrien?"

"Pretty close, though I doubt anyone will notice since I'm sure all eyes will be on the lovely bride." Nate picked up Marientte's hand, giving her a low bow. "However, the real reason I came in was this." Nate held up an envelope and handed it to Zoé. "It was delivered by a special courtier from the court."

"The court?" Zoé looked perplexed as she took it. "It has a royal seal too?" She questioned. Opening the envelope, she read over the contents. "I've been invited to the palace for a business discussion… Strange? Wait… do you suppose they want to buy our honey?" She suddenly said excitedly. "Remember I sent that sample about a year ago… maybe they want to make a contract for more."

Nate didn't seem that convinced. "I don't know if buying honey would be high on the King's priority list right now. Besides, the King is sick and the Regent is in charge. Maybe I better go with you."

"Nate, but what about the village? If everyone leaves at the same time they could be left vulnerable."

Nathaniel walked over to Zoé and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Zoé I'm not letting you travel to the Capital alone in the middle of a war. The Prince and Marientte will need to leave tomorrow for the Capital anyway, so why don't you travel together. Safety in numbers, okay?"

"I don't mind." Marientte added. "We would be happy to travel with you."

Zoé wasn't going to argue with that. "Very well Nate. Since you always insist on acting like a mother hen."

Nathaniel rolled his eyes. "Mother hen." He scoffed playfully. "I'll have you know I'm one fine looking rooster Miss Zoé and don't you forget it."

Zoé laughed at her best friend's antics. "Sure, you keep telling yourself that. Now you and Adrien better go ahead to the chapel. Wouldn't want the groom to accidentally see the bride before the ceremony now would we?"

Nathaniel gave Zoé an amused grin before taking his leave. He and Adrien went ahead to the church, leaving Alix, Master Fu, Marinette and Zoé to travel in the coach behind them. Since Marinette no longer had her father with her, she had asked Master Fu if he would walk her down the aisle, to which he had replied it would be his greatest pleasure.

Meanwhile at the chapel, Adrien fidgeted nervously as he stood at the altar. Nathaniel couldn't help but be amused at him.

"It's not like she isn't going to come." Nate said as Father Antoine lit the candles behind them. He then leant a little closer to Adrien. "She loves you, you know that right?"

"It's just those last minute jitters." Father Antoine chimed in cheerfully. "Seen it dozens of times. You're worried if you're doing the right thing by marrying her then leaving her behind to go back to the front line. But there is no need to worry. The war will soon be over and you will be back in her arms again, and if god blesses you, she'll have a wee babe in her arms waiting too and all will be right with the world."

Adrien was sure he was flushed red to the tip of his ears, but the Priest seemed completely unfazed. "If you need a moment to gather your thoughts, the side door there goes out to the grotto. You still have a few minutes before your charming bride arrives."

Father Antoine then left them to head into the sacristy to change into his vestments. Nate followed Adrien out the side door, stepping into a quiet sanctuary. The canopy of trees were dropping their orange and auburn leaves over a pebbled path that led to a grotto with a crucifix nestled in a house of stone. Soft green moss had claimed the structure and a creeping vine was making its way around the stand in front of it that held several candles lit, flickering in the breeze.

"He sees it too." Nate said reassuringly. "Father Antoine I mean. He can be quite perceptive and the love Marinette has for you was quite obvious."

"I know." Adrien replied in a low voice. "And I love her too, with my whole heart I do but… I can't really say she is mine."

Nate placed a hand on Adrien's shoulder. "Forget what you think you should do. What do you want, Adrien? There are a million different things that can happen between now and when you reach the Capital. Regardless of anything else, after today Marinette is going to be your wife and nothing changes that simple fact."

Adrien closed his eyes and sighed. "You don't understand…"

"I know all about Lord Barbot." Nate cut in. "Master Fu told me and I had a little talk with Marinette yesterday about it. She is afraid of him, even if she doesn't say it out loud. But she is clearly trying to protect her heart, and yours, by putting a wall between you. But even the Marquee is bound by the law. With Marinette as your wife you can protect her from him in a way no one else can. He won't be able to touch her."

Adrien picked up a thin candle, lighting one of the tea lights before igniting the one next to it. "My father can still force an annulment if he sees fit. Whether I like the fact or not, he is the King and can pretty much do what he likes. Then there's Princess Kagami…"

"The King can only force an annulment if the requirements of marriage aren't met." Nathaniel reminded him with a pointed look. Adrien paused before he blew out the flame on the long candle. "I know you said that you were both doing this for the documents and that the marriage would be annulled once you reach the Capital, but it doesn't have to be you know. I might not be a Christian, but a marriage in a church is still viewed as a sacred commitment before God. Even the King can't argue against that. This can be real if you both want it to be."

"I want this to be real, more than anything, but she may not want that for herself."

Nate looked exasperated. "But she…"

"She loves me, yes. I know she does. But does she really want everything that comes with being with me… If I was just the Duke of De Vanily…"

"You may not have even met." Nate finished, placing a hand on Adrien's shoulder. "Going over a bunch of what if's isn't going to change anything. You can't change who you are any more than she can, but it also doesn't change how you feel about each other."

"I wouldn't blame her for not wanting this though." Adrien said, fixing his eyes on the flickering flame he had just lit. "I didn't have a choice in the path I had to take, but she does. And my father… he could make life very difficult for her if he decides he doesn't accept..."

"Even if she were having your child?"

Adrien swung his head around and met Nathaniel's serious gaze from under his red hair. "It's just something to think about." Nath said with a nonchalant shrug. "But Father Antoine might have been more on point than he realised with what he said before."

"There you are!" Alix called out from the doorway. "Everyone is here and ready for you. Come on, let's get the ball rolling here."

Father Antoine was already standing by the altar in his cream and gold vestments, smiling broadly as Adrien and Nathaniel took their places.

When Marinette and the others had arrived at the small chapel, a group of local villagers had gathered outside to catch a glimpse of the bride. Word had gotten around quickly about the young man and woman who were guests at the Estate, and people were naturally curious. The crowd oohed and aahed when Marinette stepped out, her red and white dress drawing compliments and praise.

Zoé had worn a complimenting pink and white dress to act as bridesmaid. Under normal circumstances the necessary documentation would have been already signed ahead of time, but since this was war time Father Antoine had the paperwork with him and they would sign it after the ceremony was concluded. As Marientte stepped foot into the chapel, her arm looped through Master Fu's, there was something very intimate about this private ceremony that made everything feel so much more sacred. Then she caught Adrien's eyes. Eyes that looked at her like she was his everything.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join in holy matrimony Adrien De Vanily and Marinette Cheng…" Father Antoine began, but neither Adrien or Marinette were hearing his words. Adrien gave her a soft smile and mouthed "beautiful" to her. Her rosy cheeks matched the flowers in her hair and her Ladybug earrings. She had decided that she wouldn't take them off anymore. There was no reason to hide who she was from him. Maybe she didn't fully believe Master Fu and his prophecy, but there was no denying that something had brought her and Adrien together. Somehow, somewhere, the spirits of that first Ladybug and Chat Noir had helped them find one another. She could see he felt it too.

At the appropriate time, Master Fu placed Marinette's hand into Adrien's. Holding them between his momentarily he whispered "stronger together" before stepping back to sit next to Alix in the front row.

Adrien never took his eyes off Marinette's as he repeated the vows the priest spoke. As he said the words "to have and to hold… for better and for worse… in sickness and in health… till death do us part…" Marinette could feel his right thumb rubbing over her hand reassuringly. She could feel the truth in every word he spoke and it made her heart race. In this little chapel, with their new friends present, Adrien and Marinette felt something around them begin to shift. This wasn't just some formality to get documents. This was real and what they felt was real. As she repeated her own vows tears welled in Marinette's eyes and she made a vow to herself that she would fight for this… fight for them. Even if the world was against them, she loved him and she never wanted to be anyone else's.

As Adrien slid onto Marinette's finger a beautiful ruby ring, the one Marinette had loved at the marketplace, he too made his own vow that he would die a thousand deaths before he would ever let her go. Not Lord Barbot, nor his own father would force his hand. Marinette was precious to him, not because a prophecy said she was Ladybug, but because she was his Ladybug that he had found in the palace gardens what seemed almost a lifetime ago now.

"… I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

Adrien cupped both his hands around her face, her bright bluebell eyes shining up at him before closing and melting into the feel of his warm lips against hers. An audible sigh of relief seemed to have swept the chapel and Marinette couldn't help but giggle against his lips before he swept her up into a tight hug.

Once the paperwork was signed with Zoé and Nathaniel as witnesses the small group thanked Father Antoine and took the carriages back to Nate's Estate for a quiet celebration.

Nate opened a special bottle of Bourgogne Pinot Noir and he even had a few bottles of Dom Perignon tucked away in his cellar from before the war. They laughed and ate honeyed treats that Zoé had the pastry chef in town especially prepare with honey from her own bees. It was the most fun any of them had in quite some time. For one night at least it was as though they all wanted to forget about the war and just indulge a little. After all, the day had been a success and they now had the necessary papers to get back to the Capital.

It was so much more than that though. As Adrien watched Marinette laughing with Zoé and Alix a warmth pooled in his heart. She was his and no one could take her from him. Nate was right when he said there was no reason why this couldn't be real if they both wanted it to be.

"We have gifts for the newlyweds!" Nathaniel declared, walking over to a drawer. "First, for the bride."

Handing a small parcel to Marinette, she opened it to find a very old compact mirror with an engraved pattern of a ladybug on it which seemed to have strangely complemented her earrings. Marinette looked over to Master Fu, knowing that the gift must have been from him.

"Is this…? Did this belong to the first Ladybug?"

Fu nodded his head solemnly. "It was a gift from her Chat Noir, along with the earring. It was my duty as the Jade Turtle to protect this until it was time to give it back to the true Ladybug, and well as this for Chat Noir."

Nathaniel passed another gift to Adrien, this time a long, thin box. Opening it Adrien found inside a long, black stick with green trims and a paw print made of embedded emeralds. Inside the stick was a hidden rapier.

"I'm speechless." Adrien said, admiring the details. "But I don't remember stories of Chat Noir mentioning he used a walking stick."

Master Fu nodded solemnly. "People remember the man and the legend, not necessarily the details. Chat Noir was injured once when he saved Ladybug's life. That was how they met and the day they fell in love. She gave him this weapon to protect him when her father sent him away to war and well as the Cat ring"

"That hardly seems fair." Marinette interjected. "She gave him a weapon and he gave her just a mirror."

Master Fu smiled at her knowingly. "Do not be so quick to be dismissive of my dear Mrs De Vanily. Remember, looks can be deceiving."

Marinette looked back down at the mirror, her face reflecting back at her flushed at being called Mrs De Vanily.

As the night went on, everyone began to head off one by one leaving behind just the newlyweds. Marinette was sure she had drunk more champagne than she had intended and she was certain that had been a very bad idea because her incredibly handsome husband… hehe husband… was looking incredibly desirable in his white shirt and wild hair, his coat and cravat long discarded, and perhaps the two of them being alone in a room tonight was not something she should be considering.

Adrien held open the door to his room, closing it behind him as they entered and leaning his back against it. They had already packed their bags in readiness to depart the following day and they were sitting neatly by the doorway that led to the other bedroom.

Adrien watched Marinette as she held her hands clasped to her chest protectively. She was nervous, he could see that.

"M…maybe…" She hesitated, looking over her shoulder towards him. "Maybe I should, you know, sleep in my own room tonight."

Adrien took a few steps closer to her. "You haven't slept in that room since we got here. If you're worried about the servants talking it might already be a little late for that."

A redder blush started to creep across her cheeks. "Maybe I just don't trust myself being here alone with you tonight." She said, still avoiding his eyes. "Besides, everyone knows I only stayed in here because of your nightmares and, well, you don't seem to be having those lately."

"Because of you." He said softly, standing in front of her. Reaching up he pulled out the clip holding her flowers in her hair. Her raven locks cascaded down over her shoulders, contrasting against the red of her dress and her pale skin. God she took his breath away. "Your presence chased my demons away. I'm not sure I could even sleep peacefully again without you by my side."

"Adrien…" She breathed. He brought his hand back into up, brushing her hair back behind her ear, his fingers brushing against her earrings. She closed her eyes, leaning into his touch as her resolve began to crumble.

"I love you Marinette." He whispered, his lips almost ghosting hers. "I want to love you, but I won't do anything you don't want me to. We can just go on as we were before. Nothing has to change."

Marinette opened her eyes and looked up into his. "But everything has changed, Adrien. We can't go back to how things were before and… I don't know that I want to."

"Does that mean that there could be a chance for us. That this doesn't have to be pretend."

Marinette had to close her eyes from his intense stare, but she couldn't make herself more away from him. Was love meant to feel this much pain? Would this ache in her heart ever be relieved without his soft touch? "I don't know what to think anymore." She crumbled. "My head is fighting with my heart and I can't find the right answers."

"Then don't think." He murmured, kissing her forehead before hooking his finger under her chin and tilting her face up to his. "Just feel."

Marinette gave into his tender kisses, scarcely able to breathe let alone think. Neither of them saw the way that her earrings or his ring began to glow as he laid her on the bed.

Their kisses had begun to intensify when a piercing scream shattered the night air. They parted, startled looking at each other's flushed faces. Adrien thought he had seen a glow but shook it off and raced to the window with Marinette close behind to see what all the commotion was.

"The village." Marinette gasped, holding her hand to her mouth at the bright glow of flames in the distance.