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Marinette takes a deep breath as her time comes. She had been waiting for what felt like eternity.
“Thank you all for coming.
Where to even start. We meet under the one bent tree in the park. You know the one. Ivy planted it for me when I was born.
This tree holds so many firsts.
We shared our first hello, our first kiss, and our first, well look at where we are.
Tim, you are the best thing to ever happen in my life. I have no idea where I would be if you never met me that night. I thought my entire world was shattered. You proved me wrong like you always do.
Most people would run away at the mention of miraculous, but you stayed with me. You were the one who made my life have meaning for once. You saw me for who I am and not because of the miraculous.
Tim, I wish I could replay everything we have experienced together again.
I still remember the first time you used Tikki’s miraculous. You gave it your best, but it was certainly short of miraculous. How ironic.
I’m rabbling, aren’t I?
Let me get to the point. It is what we are all here for.
Tim, I love you so much. I am overjoyed that you choose me as your wife.
Thank you for everything.”
Marinette lets the tears flow as her knees give out. Alfred places his arm around her shaking body as he lets her have a moment.
She was not the only who needed a moment. The group joins the choir of emotion. They use it to help solidify this in their minds forever.
Marinette takes a deep breath, trying to gather the strength to stand up. A hand appears in her view.
“Can I hold your hand? We can do this together. I promise. You and I are partners forever, remember?”
“How are you so ready for this? I don’t think I can do this.”
“Yes, you can, Marinette. You are the bravest person I have ever met. Ladybug comes second to you. You can do this.”
Marinette accepts the hand. She squeezes it.
“Please, don’t let go until this is over. Promise?”
“I promise.”
Adrien helps Marinette to her feet. They face the crowd in all black. Silence overtakes the park.
The group of Dick, Jason, Bruce, Clark, Tom, and Kon await the nod from Marinette. When it finally comes, they lower the casket into the ground. Adrien keeps a strong hold of Marinette’s hand.
Ivy steps forward as the men back up. She uses her powers to cover the hole. It is if the earth was untouched. Ivy cannot help but smile as Marinette raises her hand and a small pink astilbe appears at the front of the grave.
The next twenty minutes are a whirlwind.
Everyone except from Marinette, Adrien, and Ivy clear out. They give Marinette space to process the burial. Little do they know…
Marinette grips Adrien’s hand so tightly that it could come off, yet he says nothing to it. She stares at the gravestone before a single tear falls.
“Don’t fret, Marinette. I will make sure they remember. I will always remember.”
“Adrien, I never said it before but thank you for being the Black Cat to my Ladybug. We went through so much and I feel so bad for taking this route but”
“No, no buts. You deserve the life that makes you the happiest. Releasing your burden so you can heal is my duty. When I said I would do anything to protect you, this what I meant.”
Marinette lets the dam flow as she wraps her arms around Adrien. Ivy joins long enough for her daughter to be ready. At least, as ready as she can be.
When they break from the hug, Marinette takes a deep breath and slowly takes off her earrings, handing them to Adrien. He holds strong as he accepts them.
“Do you, Marinette, take Tim to be your last memory to hold onto forever until it is your time to join him?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Then Marinette Dupain-Cheng, as the co-guardian of the Mother Miracle Box, I grant you the bypass of remembering your husband in exchange for those you met after the miraculous forgetting your existence and my acceptance of the full guardianship.”
Adrien blinks and all that is left is the bent tree in front of him with a gravestone. He looks around, only to find himself completely alone.
Adrien inspects the tombstone to see the following.
“Here Lies Tim and Marinette Drake
‘This tree held many firsts and hellos. Now it forever holds our last and final goodbye.’
-Marinette Drake”