Chapter Text
Marinette, my dearest Lady,
You might wake up believing that our conversation was just a pleasant (or so I hope) dream, but trust me, I pinched myself enough for the both of us to be certain that it really happened.
Just in case you don’t remember or are fuzzy on the details, I’ll reiterate the main points: I love you, Marinette, and I still can’t believe how lucky I am that you are, well, you. Please know that going on a date with you would make me the happiest man and cat on Earth, if you’ll still have me when the sedative wears off (but no pressure).
Call me later if you feel like it, you have both of my numbers, and let me know if I can help in any way.
Yours,
Adrien
A tear rolled down Marinette’s cheek and fell onto the already tear-stained card. She wiped it off, mindful of the fading handwriting, and couldn’t repress a smile as she looked up to the ceiling of her hospital room, taking a deep breath in an attempt to keep more tears at bay.
It felt like it was only yesterday that she’d found the card on her bedside table, and yet over ten years had passed since she’d learned who her partner was.
Ten years of a beautiful relationship. Their reciprocal confession had been followed by tentative flirting as they integrated all of the new information they’d gained into their interactions. Coming to terms with what it all meant for them and regaining their dynamics after Marinette had been admitted out of the hospital had strengthened their partnership beyond their wildest dreams.
So little had changed since then, and yet so much had; it wasn’t the two of them against the world anymore, for one.
“It’s official, she’s purr-fect,” Adrien’s half-whispered voice preceded his entrance in the room. Marinette quickly wiped her eyes, hoping it would be enough to fool him into believing everything was alright, and flashed him a wobbly smile.
He looked up from his phone with an excited grin, and froze slightly as their gazes met. His brow wrinkled into a worried frown as he pocketed his phone and lengthened his stride to join her.
“Marinette? Is everything alright?” He sat on the very edge of her bed, and carefully took one of her hands in his. She nodded wordlessly, his thumbs rubbing small, soothing circles across the back of her hand only making her tears rise again.
Kwami, she was so lucky to have him in her life.
“My Lady, you know I’m here for you whatever you need,” he said softly.
Marinette reached for the card and handed it to him.
“I hate you,” she sniffled with a small laugh. “I can’t believe you brought it, you know how it makes me feel.”
“Aww, my carefully chosen words moved you to tears once more...” Adrien smiled cheekily, squeezing her hand.
“I blame the tiredness. And the hormones,” Marinette chuckled.
“Lie to yourself all you want, I know the truth.” He brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to it. “Ah, what a master wordsmith I already was, back in the day.”
“As if you were confident about your talent then,” she snorted, thinking about how sheepish Adrien had been the next time he’d visited her. “ Buguinette, I mean, Marinette, I’m sorry about the wording of my card, I don’t think I insisted enough that it’s absolutely okay if it was just the sedative speaking when you asked me out, I’ll respect your choice whatever happens, blablabla,” she mimicked Adrien’s voice, rolling her eyes with an affectionate smile. “Thank goodness I was feeling well enough to sit up and kiss you, kwami knows what else you would’ve apologised for if I hadn’t shut you up.”
“And what makes you think that hadn’t been my plan all along?” Adrien scooted closer to her and brushed his nose against hers.
“I know you well enough, Chaton. There’s no way your eyes were anything but begging me to take a stray in.” She smiled. “Right?”
“Guess you’ll never know for sure,” he teased, leaning in.
“Adrien!” Marinette evaded him with a small pout.
“I’m joking, darling. You know I was absolutely terrified you’d changed your mind.” He chuckled.
“And you know I never could’ve let you go, my love.” Her lips spread into a satisfied smile before she closed the distance between them, her hands flying to his hair as he deepened the kiss.
The complete and utter glee she felt when kissing Adrien was one thing that hadn’t changed with time, and she knew from Adrien’s smile against her lips that the feeling was reciprocal.
“Anyway,” she said breathlessly when they finally broke off, “what did you do with our daughter?”
Adrien frowned and tilted his head to the side, still in a daze, before sitting up straight and clearing his throat. “Right, that’s why I came back!” He pulled out his phone and started looking through it. “The doctor said Emma was an absolute delight and pretty much a textbook example of baby reflexes, so she asked if she could go through the tests again with students to show them. I said yes in exchange for this.” He pressed a button and a rapid heartbeat sound filled the room, too quick for Marinette to be able to count the cycles. “Apparently her heart rate is a little quicker now that she’s born; she’s just like her mother, excited to be with me.” He nudged her playfully.
“Your heartbeat increased just as much when you saw me, might I remind you.” Marinette stuck her tongue out at him. “I can’t believe you left her with strangers instead of bringing her back with you.” She shook her head.
“Don't worry, she’s in safe hands. And anyway, Plagg and Tikki are hanging around, out of sight, of course. They already signed up to be her unofficial godparents, they won’t let anything happen to our little kitten.” He smiled.
“They better not.” She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back against her cushions. “I can’t wait to take her back home.”
“Me too, Buguinette.” Adrien tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and kissed her forehead. “Before we go, would you like to try and sneak into the intensive care unit to show Emma where our dating life started, since we’re in the same building?”
“That would be pretty cute and romantic in almost any other setting, but believe me, I’m not taking my newborn daughter to the ICU if she doesn’t need it.” He pouted and she cupped his cheek. “We can definitely take a trip down memory lane later, though, just the two of us. Maybe Ladybug and Chat Noir can cheer people up while we’re at it.”
“And maybe they can help clueless people realise that they have feelings for each other.” He kissed the palm of her hand, looking at her mischievously.
“Sounds like a good plan!”
“Don’t sound so surprised, my plans are always excellent,” Adrien said with mock indignation.
“Of course they are,” Marinette chuckled, making him pout. “I love you, Chaton,” she added, bringing a smile to his face.
“Love you too, my Lady.”