"Marinette? Marinette, where are you?" I lift my head, my eyes blurring with tears. That's Adrien's voice and he's looking for me. "Adrien, I'm in one of the trees!" I call, and I can see him running over, climbing up onto the branch beside me.
"Marinette, I was so worried! Why did you take off like that?" he asks, taking my hand. "Because," a tear trickles down my cheek. "I thought you didn't want me anymore. What am I doing wrong?" I whisper to myself, burying my face in chest, and he rubs my back in soothing circles. "You did nothing wrong, love. I'm the one who should be sorry for not trusting you like. Whoever showed us those pictures was clearly wanting us apart." I sit up, wiping at my face, but Adrien stops me, handing me a Kleenex. "That's the honest truth?" he nods, eyes soft. "But the only person who doesn't like me is…." my voice trails off, my eyes still locked on his. "Your father." I take a deep shuddering breath, as our world could have been ripped apart, all by some malicious gossip.
"I think, now knowing the truth, I have to move out of the mansion," Adrien tells me. "But all the dresses and things are there." "Oh, that's easy. I'll have Simon bring them over to work," I say, wincing when I say his name. "I have to say sorry to him too. He cares deeply about you, but now I know he's a friend."
"I asked the group today what they would think if I ever left Paris," I explain to Adrien quietly. "Oh? And what did they say?" "Everyone got quiet, and though they could find other jobs, my team said working without me wouldn't be the same." Adrien palms my cheek, and I lean into the softness.
"We'll work that out when the time is right. Now, let's get you home." "Will you stay the day?" I ask. "I could use some company." Before Adrien can answer, the combined weight of the two of us sends a cracking sound through the branch, and next thing we know Adrien is transforming and we're hurling towards the ground. "Plagg, Claws Out!"
We hit the ground with a thud, but Cat cushions my fall, and I stare into his eyes, breathing hard. "You okay, Kitten?" I manage to croak out. He nods, and I can't stand it, I pull his face to mine, like magnets attracted to each other.
When we break apart, I expect Cat to help me up, but instead he keeps me in his arms as he stands, throwing me gently over his shoulder, and strides out of the park and onto the sidewalk as if this is an everyday occurrence.
"Cat!" I hiss, as people begin to stare. "Put me down! I'm perfectly capable of walking!" Cat chuckles. "I'm well aware of that, Princess, but given your track record today, I'm not willing to take that chance."
Okay, he's right, I have been clumsy today. "Fine. I'll allow it just this once!"
When we reach home, I direct him that the extra key is under the flowerpot, and we make our way inside.
"What do you want for lunch?" he asks, gently depositing me on the living room couch. "Pizza sound good to you?" he's immediately on it. "Pizza, soda and salad it is."
"And cream," I jump off the couch and hook up Mario. Cat gives me a funny look as I settle back on the couch. "Cream?" "Yeah, cream. Because I'm going to cream you at Mario!"
Cat gets a wicked gleam in his eye. "You think your so funny," he grins. Then he softly takes my arm. "Princess?" "Hm?" "Do you think we could just talk?" I nod, sitting back down after clicking off the TV.
And so we do. We talk of the future of my business, our future plans…. "Would you run away to an island with me and eat nothing but fruit?" he asks, only half-joking. "Silly Kitty," I giggle. "Your forgetting to ask me to marry you." "Would you?" he blurts, and my heart begins to pound.
"Your going to propose on the couch?" "Good point." "Okay, I'll say yes, but I do want a hamster." "Oh, my Kwami, you like hamsters too?!"
We're laughing as the doorbell rings with the pizza. The food is excellent, and I put a movie, and fall asleep against Cat's shoulder in the middle.
I feel the warmth of a blanket cocooned around me, and I feel his lips at my cheek. "Sweet dreams, love."
When I wake the sky is dark, and I stumbled into the kitchen. I sigh, looking out the window, at the full moon, and on impulse, grab a shawl and go outside.
The night is chilly, waking my senses, and I walk to the park I was at hours earlier. A hoot of an owl is heard in the trees, but I'm processing today's events.
Before I know what's happening, the rush of wings is heading straight towards me, and I feel myself getting tossed backwards a dazzling light filling my vision.
"Ouch," I rub my injured back. "Cat?" "I was out for a stroll when I saw the owl swooping at you." "That was no ordinary owl," I point out, "Because we're not in Paris anymore."
"You've got that right," a voice says, and Cat pushes me behind him, protecting me with his body. A girl with sliver hair stares at us, the owl now landing on her shoulder. "Your Marinette, right," she asks, her voice silvery. I nod. "We have heard your plea, and the Guardians have granted your request. Please follow me."
"What's she talking about?" Cat whispers in my ear, and I shrug. Then it hits me. The owl sent me into a portal, and my wish for Emile could be coming true. Its still a big "if", but hope is blooming with promise. Cat takes my hand, and we start the ascend to the Temple.