Ladybug took a deep breath. She had been dreading this moment since Hawkmoth's defeat. Gabriel Agreste had been arrested on charges of terrorism, man-slaughter, emotional abuse, mental abuse, and child neglect. Natalie Sancouer was arrested as his accomplice and charged to the same degree.
"Why?" Ladybug asked, "Why do any of this? Everything was fine until-"
"I just wanted my wife back!" Gabriel shouted, "She found the miraculous on accident and used them simultaneously! Her body couldn't handle the pain. Emilie became ill and she's been in a coma ever since. She's hidden under the house; our secret garden."
Chat Noir took off running to the house. Ladybug quickly followed after him.
Ladybug found Chat Noir sobbing loudly on the coffin-like bed. It reminded her so much of Snow White, but this wasn't a fairytale and no kiss would break this spell. A flash of green light washed over her partner and in his place, she finally understood.
'Oh no.'
She marched forward, but every step she took felt like lead. Adrien Agreste looked so small in comparison to hero that stood next to her, only moments ago. With a shaky hand and a deep breath, she knelt down and brought him into a hug.
"Tikki, spots off." she whispered.
Adrien pulled back and found his one of his best friends.
"Plagg. Tikki." Marinette spoke, "Is there anything we can do?"
The kwami looked between each other. They knew it was forbidden, but these two had gone through so much over the last couple years. They had given up so much to see that the battle had been won. With a look, the two kwami knew the solution.
"There is ....possibly something." Tikki murmured.
"I'll take the backlash, Tikki." decided Marinette.
"What?" Adrien shouted, "No!"
"Yes, Adrien." Marinette stated, "You deserve this. You deserve to be happy."
"But-" he began to argue.
Marinette quickly surged forward, kissing her partner on the lips. Adrien held her close as he threw all his feelings back into the kiss. He could feel her tears on his hands. He was afraid to let go; letting go meant he might possibly not see her ever again. Marinette had been his best friend and his first love. Adrien could feel his heart beginning to break in two. His kisses getting more desperate, passionate. He could feel he was losing breath, but he didn't care. Adrien could finally feel that their feelings were mutual and he was about to lose it all. He wanted this moment to last forever; Ladybug and Chat Noir, them against the world together. Adrien didn't want to say goodbye.
Marinette quickly pulled away, shoving him away from the casket.
"Marinette!" he shouted, "I won't let you!"
The Guardian smiled, "I will always love you, Adrien; I always have." She held up her hand, showing him Plagg's miraculous on her ring finger, "Quick! Tikki. Plagg. Do what you must!"
"My Lady!" Adrien cried, "No!"
He rushed forward, but was thrown back by a bright light and a gust of wind, that was seen from outside.
Adrien looked around and saw the casket had opened it's door's. He watched as his mother took a deep breath and began to cough.
"Mother!" he shouted, rushing forward to catch her, "Mother!"
Emile looked around confused, her body still fatigued.
"Tikki, spots on." Mairnette spoke, drawing Adrien's attention, "I'll let the officers know who you are. I'll make sure they send down medical so they can make sure everything is fine with your mother. Plagg, will return with me."
Adrien couldn't speak. Marinette had just given him everything he always wanted. He had no idea what would happen to her, now. The risk of the wish, of using both miraculous, was a great one. As she took her leave, he released the tears he had been holding in. Adrien held his mother close, like he had once done as a child. He had lost his father. He lost his partner. He gained his mother.
'Please let this all be a bad dream.'
"Emilie Agreste is now awake." Ladybug announced, "She is possibly in need of medical attention. Her son, Adrien Agreste, is with her."
Gabriel and Natalie listened in shock. All those years, gone to waste.
Ladybug called Officer Raincomprix off to the side, "Adrien Agreste was my partner, Chat Noir. I now own his miraculous. Please, keep his identity a secret."
Officer Raincomprix tilted his hat to the heroine, "I'll make sure he is also taken care of."
As the years passed, Marinette heard whispers of the Agrestes. Emilie was hospitalized for a long time; she had to go through physical therapy to learn how to walk again. Her body had been preserved for so long. Adrien was stayed by her side every day; a private suite in the hospital. He began to see a therapist for the emotional and psychological abuse his father put him through.
That wasn't the only change. Mairnette began to realize that people around her were beginning to look different, but everyday she looked in the mirror, she saw the same old Marinette.
"I have to ask." the Guardian began, "I think I know, but what was the price of bringing back Adrien's mother?"
"The price was your life." Tikki answered, "You are now immortal. Your life was taken from you and given to her."
"You will never age." Plagg continued, "You can still get sick, feel pain, even bleed, but you will be forced to watch everyone else around you grow old and die."
Marinette nodded her head and whispered, "I thought so. I can already see it."
The Guardian closed her eyes as the tears began to fall. I'll have to plan something; I have to disappear before everyone else notices, too.
Ladybug wiped her tears away and jumped to the open window. She could tell the occupants in the room were surprised to see her. Adrien Agreste laid in his bed at the age of 92. His blonde hair had faded to grey. His boyish charms were gone and his one bright green eyes, were dulling by the second. In a couple steps she was at his side and placed a gentle kiss on his lips.
"My Lady." he smiled.
"Hello, Chaton." she answered.
"You look as beautiful as I remember." Adrien spoke, "Trixx? An illusion for a dying man?"
"No." Ladybug smiled.
"Ladybug?" a voice questioned, "As in my father's old partner?"
The Guardian nodded her head. She could see they were all shocked by her appearance. To them, she was probably a story, a legend, something to chase away the monster's from under the bed.
"I heard you died." he stated.
She sighed, "I had to pull a Master Fu and disappear."
"You haven't aged, have you?" Adrien questioned.
"No. Not since that day." she admitted, "I will always remember you, My Kitty."
"I will love mew to until my dying breath and ever more." he smiled.
Ladybug giggled, "Still telling bad cat puns and a flirt, I see."
A thump sounded off besides them. Adrien turned his head to see a man with glowing green cat eyes.
"See you found my replacement." he spoke.
"He could never replace you, Adrien. There was only ever one Chat Noir." Ladybug spoke, "Plagg still speaks fondly of you; he says you're one of his favorite kittens. I asked, but he says he hates goodbyes."
"He's quiet." Adrien declared, "Plagg, must hate him."
Ladybug smiled.
"I'm feline sleepy." he whispered.
Ladybug clenched her fists and held back her tears. She couldn't break now. She had to be strong for him. The Guardian leaned over and placed a soft kiss on his brow.
"It's okay, Chaton." she whispered back.
"I wanted you to meet my great-granddaughter for the longest time. I always hoped I would get the chance." Adrien spoke, nodding his head towards the door.
One of the adults opened the door to the room, to reveal a little girl no more then five. She had blue eyes and dark hair.
"One of my grandkids met Luka's kid and had her." he laughed.
Ladybug giggled and got up from the bed. She slowly made her way to the little girl.
"Hi." Ladybug spoke.
"Hi!" said the little girl, "Papa Adrien told me so many bedtime stories about you!"
"Did he now?" the miraculous weilder questioned.
The little girl nodded, happily.
"What is your name?" the Guardian asked.
"Oh! My name is Marinette!" the little girl smiled.
The Ladybug weilder felt her breath catch in her throat. The adults in the room were surprised to see tears fall form the heroine's eyes.
"Papa Adrien said he named me after a friend he could never see again." the little Marinette spoke.
Ladybug quickly brought the little girl into her arms and held her tight.
"I was one of the first ones to hold her." Adrien admitted, "When I saw her bright blue eyes and her smile, I asked to name her."
Ladybug looked over at her old partner and smiled.
"Did you know her?" asked a man with jet black hair and brown eyes, "My parents knew her, too."
"And you are?" the weilder questioned.
"I'm the son of Kagami and Luka Couffaine; my name is Tadashi." he explained, "They once told me that if I had been born a girl, that would have been my name."
"Yeah. I knew Marinette; a long time ago." the weilder smiled, fondly, "Papa Adrien would sneak off in the middle of the night as Chat Noir and go to her house for cookies."
"Really?" little Marinette questioned, happily.
The Guardian nodded, "She lived above a bakery so she had plenty of cookies to spare."
"So many great memories on that balcony. She even told me she loved me." he laughed, his voice growing faint, "Twice, actually, but I was too stupid to realize it."
Ladybug let go of Adrien's great-grandchild and stood tall. She looked around the room. Everyone could tell this was the last moments of the once great hero. Chat Noir had been an inspiration to so many people. Adrien had grown up alone in a giant house and in his final moments, he laid in a bed surrounded by friends and family. He wasn't that lonely thirteen year old boy who had to run away to school. Marinette could tell he lived a full and happy life, everything he ever wanted.
"Such. Good. Times." Adrien whispered, shutting his eyes.
Ladybug's eyes began to water. She knew this moment and from here on out would be for family only.
"I'll be around for the funeral, even if you can't see me." she whispered, as she jumped out the now vacant window sill.
As she left, she could hear the sobs from his family and 'lil Marinette asking when Papa Adrien was going to wake up so they could make cookies. He had promised her some chocolate chip cookies for breakfast. Ladybug's grip slipped from her yo-yo, plummeting towards the ground. Jakwar Shadu (Jaguar Shadow)caught her as she began to sob. He jumped up to an empty rooftop, allowing his wife to cry to her heart's content.
Damian took Marinette's hand as they entered the pet shelter. Within a few minutes, he found exactly what he was looking for; a black kitten with green eyes, in need of a home. When he pointed it out, Mari teared up, as Damian purchased the kitten for her.
"Now, I truly have you by my side, Adrien." Marinette choked up.
"Ready to go home, Angel?" Damian asked, putting his arm around her.
"Yes, My Love." Mari answered.
"Are you okay?" he questioned.
Marinette admitted, "I'm glad I at least got to see him one more time."
Damian leaned over, kissed the top of her head, and said, "I'm sure you made him happy. That is the best thing you could have given him; a peaceful rest."
"Do you ever wish you could have stayed human, Damian?" Marinette asked, looking up at the full moon.
"Only if I had you by my side." he answered.
"Gross." sneered Plagg, "You think two immortals would have something better to talk about."
"Like cheese?" sighed Tikki, rolling her eyes.
"This is why you know me best, Sugar Cube." the cat kwami smiled.
Tikki just shook her head, in response.
Damian grabbed Marinette's hand and spoke, "Let's go home, Habibiti. We can introduce Adrien to the family."
Marinette nodded, holding the box close to her chest.
"Let's go home." she smiled.