From Ashes to a New Beginning: A Miraculous Fanfiction

Chapter 42

Instant worry overwhelmed them as they raced back to her side.

"Marinette? Are you ok?" Luka asked.

"Princess! What's wrong!" Adrien said worriedly.

Marinette looked up at Adrien and Luka as they were staring at her with worried expressions, waiting for her response.

"I had... another memory." She said hoarsely through the tears.

Adrien and Luka exchanged looks, knowing whatever the memory was couldn't have been good considering the fact that Marinette was crying.

"I was with Luka and he did the same stutter with my name... but it embarrassed me... uhh... well... that isn't why I was crying though," Marinette said, wiping her tears yet new ones filled their place.

"Then what made you cry?" Adrien asked.

"Did I do something to upset you?" Luka asked.

"No... that was a good memory. I had two with Luka in them... you were comforting me.... I was walking and you asked if I was alright. You were riding a bike and had a guitar with you... I said I was fine. I lied and you knew I was lying. Then I started crying and you started comforting me. Your guitar fell onto the ground as you held me. I'm not sure why I was upset but I can feel the pain I was going through." Marinette said, placing her hands near her eyes to shield them so Luka and Adrien couldn't see.

Luka glanced over at Adrien and knew it was Adrien's fault that she was crying so long ago. Adrien sighed and leaned down to her, then smiled as he pulled her into a comforting hug. Marinette was caught off guard and looked up at him, letting the tears stream down her cheeks that instantly started to soak into his shirt.

"It's ok, princess. Even if you feel those feelings. You made it past those dark times... right?" Adrien smiled.

Marinette blinked and sniffled. He was right. She had Kagami. She had Luka. She had Alix. She had Adrien... and Chat noir... Even if they were the same person. She had all those people she could depend on.

Adrien let her go a few seconds later and she wiped away her last few tears. She smiled at Adrien and Luka.

"Sorry... It feels like I'm just causing trouble now." Marinette apologized.

"Don't worry about it. You'll remember at your own pace. Just don't push yourself. Whether you remember completely or not... we will still love the Marinette you are or you become." Luka smiled, causing Marinette to blush.

"Thanks, Luka." Marinette smiled.

"I better get going now. Feel free to text or call me any time." Luka said to Marinette.

"Oh.. and Adrien? Keep me in the loop. I'm here to help... I'm your friend. Not your enemy, whether you recognize that or not. I've made mistakes, I know. I won't make the same mistakes again." Luka said, looking at Adrien with a determined face before taking his leave.

Adrien watched as Luka left and as Luka shut the door behind him, Adrien stood up and landed on the bed with a thud. Marinette looked down at him with a surprised look, wondering why he was so emotionally drained.

"What's the matter?" She asked.

"Let's... Let's go downstairs and play some video games with your dad. We need to spend some quality time with them before they leave." Adrien smiled.

"Adrien? Can I ask you something?" Marinette asked quietly.

"Yeah? What is it?" He asked, turning his head back to look at her.

"Why didn't I choose to leave to go to the U.S. with them? Do I love you that much that I would choose to stay with you over my parents?" Marinette said, her face bright red.