Too Late
Marinette nervously watched the doctor look over the test results. Doctor Bates looked at the girl in front of her.
"Well, you're not pregnant." She said, setting the folder down, "And you haven't received any infections, but you have developed anxiety nausea, which is why you're constantly throwing up and there is medication to combat it."
Marinette nervously swallowed, while her mother sighed in relief.
"However, we're going to perform some additional tests, just to be sure." Continued Dr. Bates, "The last thing any of us want is a misdiagnosis."
"S-so, p-p-p-pre-pregnancy is o-off the board?" Asked Marinette, hopefully looking up at the doctor.
"It's been ruled out, but it's not off the board yet," Addressed Bates, gently, "we are fairly confident that the vomiting is anxiety based. Although, it just be a simple stomach bug."
Marinette nervously nodded, the doctor continued, "All the STI tests came back negative, so there's nothing to worry about in that area. We'll arrange a follow up appointment when we have more information."
Marinette absently nodded, as her mother guided her out of the room and to the car. Marinette felt something on her cheek, she wiped her face with her hand. Tears. Why was she crying? She was happy.
It suddenly dawned on her; she was happy.
TL
Mickey tried not to squirm as the lawyer glared down at him.
"You want to give testimony against Jones?" Said Malcolm, a dark skinned, no nonsense man.
"Y-yes." Swallowed Mickey, as Malcolm examined him, "I-I don't want to go to jail."
Malcolm didn't make any movement or sound, making Mickey continue.
"Ethan said he'd ruin our lives if we didn't do it." Rushed Mickey, as Malcolm raised an eyebrow.
"One of your fellow students said Jones approached him about the action, but didn't take it seriously." Remarked Malcolm, folding his arms.
"W-well, they weren't afraid of Ethan." Mickey tried to justify.
Malcolm frowned, before he looked down.
"Personally," Said Malcolm, as the guard by the door shifted, "I think you're lying and trying to garner sympathy for your involvement in an atrocious act."
Mickey's lawyer leaned forwards.
"Malcolm," Said Mickey's lawyer, "He's here to negotiate a plea deal, not justify his actions."
"Sally, that's exactly what he's doing," Retorted Malcolm, "He's saying, 'he was forced into it' and 'he didn't want to do it', never mind his actions in the court room last week! They abducted, beat and raped a girl on the authority of liar. They even admitted that they were going to kill her 'when they finished'."
Mickey flinched, but stayed silent, while his Lawyer pursed their lips.
"At this point, M. Redman," Said Malcolm, flatly, "it's too damn little and too damn late."
Malcolm strode out of the room, leaving Mickey alone with his lawyer.
TL
Adrien shifted slightly, Nino was tossing a ball into the air and catching it.
"Nino, what are you doing?" Asked Luka, carefully plucking at his guitar.
"This is relaxing." Said Nino, making Adrien tilt his head.
"Does it work?"
"No."
Luka chuckled, as Marinette stumbled into the living room. Adrien was on his feet in a flash and to her side in a matter of seconds.
"Is everything alright?" Asked Adrien, softly grabbing Marinette.
"Not pregnant." Babbled Marinette, a wet laugh coming out.
Adrien froze, before pulling Marinette close to him. Marinette stiffened slightly, before relaxing into his chest.
"I'll let the girls know." Called Nino, before he missed his ball and it slammed into his face, "OW, FUCK!"
Marinette let out a quiet giggle, before waving her hand at the other boys to join them. Adrien smiled widely; this was the first time since the attack Marinette felt comfortable around boys.
"Wait," Adrien pulled back, "But what about the vomiting?"
"Nerves." Answered Marinette, quietly.
Adrien considered the answer, before pulling Marinette closer to him again.
TL
Gabriel stared down at the Peacock and Butterfly Miraculous, before placing them in their respective boxes. Emilie was gone and, in being so focused on the past, he'd nearly lost Adrien, only in a much worse way.
He didn't know how he was going to get the Miraculous to Ladybug, but he an idea that probably wouldn't work. It'd be risky, but it might work. So, with great reluctance, Gabriel placed the Miraculous boxes into an envelope with a letter and addressed it to Chloé Bourgeois. He sincerely hoped this wouldn't bite him on the arse.
TL
Chloé impatiently tapped her foot and waited for one of the Heroes to notice her skylight. At first, after receiving the Miraculous in the mail, she wanted to keep them, but she'd already faced enough flack for the Miracle Queen Incident and, personally, she couldn't bring herself to.
Her life was miserable, but it was practically nothing compared with what Dupain-Cheng went through. Nothing happened at home, but Dupain-Cheng had been through hell, being forced to stop speaking Chinese by her teachers, punished whenever she was wrongly blamed for something and that wasn't even starting on what Chloé put her through.
Chloé was jerked out of her musings at the sound of someone landing behind her. She turned and met the piercing green eyes of Chat Noir.
"I thought you were told not to use that anymore." Said Chat, walking around the light, "What do you want?"
Chloé nervously swallowed, before nervously holding two boxes in front of her. Chat frowned and took the boxes and looked inside of one of them.
Chat gasped and nearly dropped the two Miraculous.
"Where did you get this?" Demanded Chat, snapping his head to look at Chloé.
"T-they arrived in the mail this morning," Answered Chloé, "There's a letter in one of them."
Chat examined Chloé for a moment, before carefully stowing the Miraculous in a pocket.
"Thank you for this, Chloé," Said Chat, turning around, "I'm sure Ladybug would be grateful."
And, with that, Chat Noir launched himself off the roof and away from Chloé.
TL
Marinette's leg bounced as she heard Mickey giving evidence against Ethan. Ethan was glaring at Mickey, a look that promised death. Marinette tuned them out and quietly counted the grains on the wood in front of her. The judge watched quietly watched at Malcolm grilled the boy.
"So," Said Malcolm, "you only went along with abducting, beating, raping and planning on killing Mlle Dupain-Cheng, because you were afraid of M. Jones and didn't want to become one of his victims?"
"Yes, sir."
"But you had no qualms on making another party one of his victims?"
"N-no."
"M. Redman, you have just told us that you participated in an attack on another party because you didn't want to 'become a victim'."
"I-I didn't want to do it!"
"You abducted and physically and sexually assaulted another party, because you were afraid?"
Mickey spluttered, before Malcolm cut him off.
"You also, quite loudly, harassed your victim in court. M. Redman, those aren't the actions of someone who's afraid, those are the actions of a cold, depraved individual who is trying to duck out of the punishment."
Mickey resembled a fish as Malcolm finished. The Lawyer looked over at the defence, who just had their head in their hands.
The judge looked up at the clock, "I'll take this time to call a brief recess, M. Ardant, Mdm. Rosswell, a word."
Malcolm and the defence lawyer left the room and Ethan, Mickey and John were taken back to their cells. Tom carefully guided Marinette out of the courtroom and outside. Taking a side exit so they weren't ambushed by the press, Tom gently guided Marinette into his car and took her home.
Marinette didn't say a word the entire trip. Tom nervously glanced at her, "I know you wanted to face it, Marinette, but you don't need to be present in the room with them."
Marinette tried to make herself smaller, making Tom sigh, "Marinette, there's nothing wrong in being afraid of them, it's natural. And they're going to go to prison for a long time."
"You don't know that."
Tom glanced at Marinette.
"Y-you don't know that, t-they c-could g-get out and-and-" Marinette broke down, prompting Tom to stop the car and awkwardly cradle Marinette.
"Marinette," Said Tom, seriously, "I wouldn't let them anywhere near you if they ever got out or got off, they wouldn't be free long enough to find or harm you."
Marinette sniffled, as Tom awkwardly cradled her.
"Let's get you home, I think you'll feel better there." Said Tom, carefully releasing Marinette and restarting the car. The rest of the drive was done in silence, with exception of Marinette's sniffles.
TL
Marinette was curled up in a ball on the sofa, wrapped up in a blanket at the bottom of a cuddle pile. Michael was off to the side, flicking through a magazine dismissively.
"Wow," Said Michael, dryly, "shit over in the states is turning in to a melting pot."
Marinette let out a small hum, just as Felix got up from Michael's lap, threw him a dirty look and hopped over to Marinette, purring loudly. Adrien's hand came down and started scratching behind the cat's ears.
Michael tilted his head and headed down to the bakery, he could hear raised voices from the store front.
"I DON'T CARE WHAT THAT PATHETIC WHORE'S TOLD YOU!" Screamed a woman's voice, "MY PRECIOUS ETHAN WOULD NEVER TOUCH A THING LIKE HER!"
Michael scowled and ducked into the bakery, spotting a middle-aged, blonde woman screaming at his mother.
"What was that?" Asked Michael, making his presence known.
"THAT MONGREL WHORE!" Screamed the woman, seemingly oblivious to people recording her, "WHATEVER SHE TOLD YOU IS A LIE!"
"That 'mongrel whore' as you, oh so politely put it, is my sister," Growled Michael, slowly advancing towards the woman, "and she didn't tell us anything, we were told by Chat Noir. So, Madam, either buy something, get out or get arrested."
The Woman's face was a dark red, before she swung her handbag, a ridiculously expensive one at that, at Michael's head. Michael grabbed her wrist, twisted it until he heard a snap and threw her out of the door.
"And that, madams et monsieur's, was a Karen in the wild." Announced Michael, before looking around, "Now, is anyone here to buy anything or were you just here for the show?"
Michael groaned when he heard a violent puffing sound behind him. The woman stood behind him holding her wrist.
The woman didn't say anything, rabidly glaring at Michael.
"Are you just going to stand there, or do you need moving?" Asked a customer, Michael wasn't sure if they were talking to him.
"You're going to pay for that." Seethed the woman, making Michael turn around and look at her.
"Are you talking to me or the dog?" Asked Michael, as Bridgette started snarling at her.
The woman took one look at the dog and bolted.
"Who the fuck was that?" Asked Michael, as Bridgette went back to her napping spot under the register.
"Karen Jones." Said Sabine, carefully flicking through a magazine, "Someone who occasionally acts important but has no idea who she's pissing off."
Michael frowned, before helping with the customers, Bridgette snored away beneath them, occasionally letting out small barks.
"Of all the pets Grandad got her, he got her the laziest dog and the most anally retentive cat he could find." Said Michael, carefully hooking his fingers under Bridgette's collar, as his mother flipped the sign from open to closed.
"She'll probably leave a yelp review," Said Sabine, as Michael hefted the dog up the stairs, "hopefully, your father put the soup on."
"Sweet Chicken, right?" Asked Michael, "Marinette's favourite?"
Sabine nodded, as Michael put the dog on the floor, and it quickly scurried under the living room table. Tom was carefully stirring the soup, when Michael's phone went off.
"Skye's just texted," Announced Michael, getting everyone's attention, "The trio from hell have just been given 20 years each. The Jury unanimously found the guilty on all charges."
Marinette let out a sob, getting Adrien to wrap his arms around her, carefully manoeuvring himself so he was next to her.
"I guess that's that," Said Michael, putting his phone on the table, "we won."
TL
Marinette carefully breathed, inserting a pin into the dress she was making, Juleka was holding her breath, as to not make Marinette jump.
"This would be easier if you were breathing." Said Marinette, carefully stretching a piece of fabric over Juleka's waist, "What's this dress for anyway?"
"Um, well, private stuff." Mumbled Juleka, looking down.
Marinette paused, before looking up at Juleka, lifting her glasses and resting them on the top of her head.
"…would you like me to shorten it or add a 'for Rose' message on the back of it?" Asked Marinette, folding her arms and smirking at Juleka.
Juleka blushed and quietly shook her head.
"Okay." Said Marinette, sticking another pin in it.
Marinette's partners was scattered around the room, Luka fiddling with a ukulele and Adrien trying to play his guitar like a chello, Nino was blowing bubbles at Bridgette and Alya and Kagami were making a fuss of Felix.
"Is anyone going to Gabriel and Nathalie's wedding next month?" Asked Alya, randomly.
"Yeah," Said Marinette, absently, "I mean, he's technically our father-in-law now, isn't he?"
The guitar let out a horrifying screech, prompting Adrien to put it down and leave it alone. Adrien awkwardly cleared his throat.
"Um, I heard that Redman has been trying to contact you."
Marinette froze for a moment, before answering, "Yeah, he left a message on the answer machine, he said he's sorry and wanted to fix things."
"How did you respond?" Asked Kagami, scratching Felix behind the ears.
"I sent a letter saying too little, too late and left it at that."
It'd been five years and, apart from a couple nightmares on the anniversary of the attack, Marinette had recovered. The were still times she would irrationally freeze or have sudden, random flashbacks, but for the most part her life was improving. Little by little. Step by step.