"Marinette, just be patient!" I look at my Kwami, confused. "I don't feel like being patient," I grumble. I stare up at the moon, bathing me in its pale light. "I don't feel much of anything these days," I whisper, tears biting my eyes.

"Maybe I could help with that?" A voice says. A familiar voice, one that I would walk through fire for, or at least the pounding rain. Claw sits on one of the nearby chimneys, staring down at me with his beautiful purple eyes. "Claw?" my blanket slips from my shoulder, revealing my bare arm in my polka dot tank top. Claw jumps down from his perch, helping me that the blanket now stays in place.

"I'm come to help a damsel in distress," he says. I sigh. "And you are that damsel, Marinette." "Why the secrets? Couldn't you just let me be miserable in my lonely tower?" "I could," Claw informs me, and I think I hear a dash of amusement in his voice. "Or I could do this."

My heart begins to pound as Claw kneels, detransforming before my eyes. "Daggers In." Oh. Oh, oh, oh. "Marinette Dupain-Cheng, I want to spend the rest of my days with you. Will you do the honor of making me that the happiest man in the world and become my wife?"

My mouth drops open with shock, and my blanket goes along with it. Then it hits me. This is why Adrien has been so secretive and distant lately. There was never an another girl. Just me. Just normal Marinette. "I can't believe I ever doubted you!" I blurt. "I'm sorry for being such a jerk and blowing you off!" Adrien clears his throat, and I know he's hiding a laugh. "Um, I'm glad you figured it out, Detective Cockroach, but I'm still waiting for answer."

I raise my eyebrow. "Will it use up another one of your nine lives?" "My Lady!" "I'm kidding," I laugh at his shocked face. "And yes. Yes, yes, yes!" I leap into his waiting arms, breathing in his scent, feeling his strong arms around me holding me tight. "I hated keeping a secret from you, Marinette. But if I told you I was going to propose, it wouldn't have been a surprise, would it?" "True. The ring is beautiful," I say. "Its only the engagement ring. Wait till you see the wedding ring." "Only? Adrien, this ring must be 14k or more!" "What's mine is yours, Marinette." "Great. In that case, I'll take a Starbucks credit card." We giggle. "Don't you have finals and a fashion show to worry about?" "Finals are a piece of cake," I tell him, snuggling into his chest. "Its the fashion show I'm worried about. What if I trip?" "Then I'll walk with you. As Claw."

Surprise and shock flit over my features. "Adrien, you can't! What if someone figures out your identity?" Adrien smirks at me. "Princess, I know for a fact, you aced all of your hair and makeup tests. They'll just think I'd dyed my hair green." I rub my chin. "It might work. Plus, I want you beside me, the dress…." I clap my hand over my mouth. "Yes?" Adrien leans in, hoping for details. "Nope, that's a surprise. But we can start on my cat-walk tomorrow."

Walking in heels is much harder then you would think, expect like Adrien, I'm holding a secret. That we both know about. I'm wearing my dress as Toxinelle. Which makes heels so much easier.

Is this cheating? Oh, well, its better then face planting every two seconds. I am, just slightly jealous of Claw as he spins that leather-belt tail and that roguish grin...oh, be still my beating heart.

"I needed this," I tell Adrien after school. We're down at the docks, enjoying a ice cream. Though its dripping fast. "Quick, take a lick. Ooops!" I accidentally smushed the cone into Adrien's nose. "No worries, I'll just boop you with ice cream!" Adrien blots my nose with the cold treat. "Adrien!"

With sticky fingers and faces, we head to the water fountain to clean up. I take a rag, wiping his chin. Eventually, he tries to run away when I keep finding "spots" to clean up. "Princess, I'm clean! I promise, I groom myself every morning!" "Ewww! You don't lick yourself do you?!" I back away as I recognize that expression. "Plagg, Daggers Out."

Claw chases me across the soft sand, me laughing as he catches me. "Ha, gotcha Princess!" "Yeah, you got me!"

With our run down the beach, we're now totally alone save for the water lapping at our feet. I sit down, sinking my toes into the cool water. Claw sits close. "Close your eyes," he whispers, and I do.

"Oh," I whisper, keeping my eyes closed as Claw's rough sandpaper tongue licks my cheek clean. Instead of being repulsed by it, it makes me shiver. After I open my eyes, I lay down on the sand, staring up at the puffy white clouds. "If only this was our own private island," I sigh. Claw finds my hand. "A island you shall have. But patience first."

During dinner, Claw and I are in a goofy giggly mood and my parents notice. Claw keeps whispering puns to me, and I feel embarrassed, not because of the puns but Papa's face. Its the face of someone who just received their first kitten. "Aw, Sabine, aren't they cute! Whispering sweet nothing to each other!"

"Tom, don't embarrass them," Mama says, calmly chewing her food. "Papa!" I groan. "There puns, not sweet nothings!" Papa looks disappointed, then brightens. "I love puns!"

After supper, its time for bath and homework, so with reluctance I give Claw a hug. "Good thing you love napping so much, or it would take a crowbar to get you out!" Claw gives me a wink. "Ah, but Princess's need there beauty sleep." "What happened to not calling me Princess?" I shoot back, though I don't mind at all now. "Sweet dreams," Claw kisses my cheek, and scampers off.

In the morning, I'm rifling through my closet when I hear the sky light open and shut and I see a note and something else flutter down onto my bed. Curious, I go investigate.

I pick up the note smiling as a small message is written.

I would never forget you, my Bluebell blue,

but here's a forget-me-not blue

for I love you.

I breathe in the sweet scent of the flower and I know that I'm wearing blue with the flower in my hair. A blue button down, plus a white tank and jeans complete my outfit.

Adrien's eyes widen as I approach him for our good morning kiss. "Look at my Bluebell," he whispers. I flush as we walk into school, everyone seems to be watching us. "Why are they looking at us?" I ask, holding Adrien's hand tightly. "Because," he grins. "I'm dating the most prettiest girl at school."

During a bathroom break, Tikki asks me if I'm having a girl party, to celebrate my engagement. "I don't have any friends here beside Adrien and you Kwamis," I smile at her as I wash my hands. Unless….Unless I use the Horse Miraculous and spend the day in the village.

I want to see everyone again, and it'd be perfect. Have a tea party or something. The more I think about it, the more I want to do it. I only have one final tomorrow, so I'd be back in plenty of time.

At work, I wear a permanent grin on my face. Tomorrow, tomorrow, your only a day a way! I sing in my head.

After work, I slip away to transform, and head up the Eiffel Tower. Will my friends in the village welcome me? Will the art shop still be there? I take a deep breath to calm myself.

I wait for moonrise to light my path, though with my powers I can easily find my way home. Once home, I decide to make little gifts for everyone, and I happily set to work. It will be lovely to be home again. What is home anyway? At times, I only feel like that with Adrien.

I sleep deeply that night, heading to school early. I have to focus hard on my exams, so I blur everything else from my mind.

Once its over though, I breathe a sigh of relief. Then I sneak away, stepping through the portal. The first thing I notice when I step through the portal is how cool and sweet the air is. I open my eyes and step onto the dirt path that will take me to the village.

Happiness like a fountain bubbles up inside me, and I jog down on the path. But as I get closer, I skid to a stop. Our village was surrounded by a fence, and now….everything is gone. Ash floats through the air, and I cough, choking on the smoke. Where are my friends? What happened to the village?

"Marinette!" I whirl, finding my Ya-Ya standing there. "Is it really you?" I nod, hugging her tight. "Marinette, not long ago, our village was destroyed." "Who would do this?" I ask. "Come, there's someone waiting for you," she tells me, taking my hand. How is someone waiting for me? I only decided last night and even Adrien doesn't know because I only would be gone a few hours.

Ya-Ya leads me to a small cabin in the woods, and beyond the cabins a makeshift camp is set up. Before I can ask any questions, Ya-Ya leads me inside. "Libra?" Its one of the Guardians from the Temple.

"Marinette, we are sorry about the village for we knew it was your home," Libra says in his kind voice. "Unfortunately, you know who set the fire. Marianne."

My heart thumps in my ears. No, there must be some mistake. Marianne was kind and sweet to me. What turned her to the Dark Side?