Christmas Time.

Chapter 9

Marinette

Carol sat in her car seat, and I watched her from the review mirror as we drive to the airport. I couldn't bring myself to tell the others about Adriens trial being moved up.

"Why are we going to see Grandma and Grandpa so soon?" She asked, as I parked my car in the airport parking lot.
"Because, I have something to take care of back in Paris." I said, pulling the suitcases from the trunk.
"What do you need to do?" Carol asked, holding onto my hand, as we headed into the airport.
"Just need to take care of something. Your aunts and uncles are gonna help, while your grandparents watch you." I said, a soft smile on my lips as we headed through security. She nodded her head, and stayed close by, until we made it to our seats on the plane.

All through the plane ride, Carol asked all sorts of questions about Paris, and her new grandparents, aunts, and uncles. As we landed, I saw Chloe, Nino, Luka, and Kagami waiting outside the airport.
"MariBug!!" Chloe cried, rushing forwards and wrapping me in a hug. I watched Carol step behind me, and clutch my legs.

"Hey, Chlo." I whispered, tightening my grip on her.
"Are you doing ok?" She asked.
"As good as I can be."
"And you," Chloe said, stepping away and looking down at my daughter, "must be Carol. I'm your Aunt Chloe."
"Hi." Carol whispered softly.

Luka, Nino, and Kagami made their way closer and gathered me in a hug, before greeting Carol.  They helped load my things into the limo Chloe brought, before they drove us to the bakery. As we drove though, my family tried to get Carol to talk to them; and she did, but only a little bit. I, on the other hand, was thinking about seeing him again. The scar along my stomach burned and throbbed at the reminder of what had happened.

"Mom, are you ok?" Carols voice broke me from my train of thoughts.
"Of course, sweetheart." I said, smiling down at her.
I saw my family shooting me concerned looks, knowing exactly where my mind was, but didn't say anything.
When we got to the bakery, my parents wrapped me in a big hug, before approaching their new granddaughter. Carol stayed glued to my side until she was comfortable enough to sit by herself and just observe everyone.
"Marinette, have you though about what your going to do when he—" her mother started ask, but I cut her off with a pointed glance to Carol. Understanding passed through everyone, before they changed the subject. My parents brought in more left over sweets from Christmas, and I watched Carol get more and more comfortable with her new family. We talked about Kagami ring, and what she wants for a wedding. When it finally got late enough, they headed to bed, Carol being tucked into the spare bed that my parents brought into my room.
When I stood in the bathroom, my eyes darted to the long, pink, jagged scar that lined my stomach. My fingers brushed against it, and I suppressed the gasp from how sensitive it was. The trial was tomorrow, I didn't want to be here any more than I had to be. Shoving the thoughts away to deal with tomorrow, I showered quickly before going to bed, crawling in beside my daughter instead of climbing into my own.

I stood outside the court house, nervousness rushing through me, as the memories played before my eyes. Something in me wanted to run, hide, and scream. I didn't want to face him again. I didn't want anything to do with him. So I stood across the street from the court house, trying to gather my courage before forcing myself to go inside. Everything wasn't ok, but I knew I had to get through this before I could properly move forward.
"Are you ready?" Chloe asked, taking my hand in her own.
"No." I whispered.
They all stood in silence for another moment.
"Are you ready now?" Chloe asked again.
"Yes." I whispered, and took a step forward. All of us, pushing through the reporters that were waiting to get a picture of both parties.
"Marinette! Marinette!"
"Can you tell us about what happened?"
"Is it true that your only looking for attention?"
"Why did you choose to attack Adrien Agreste?"
They just kept coming, but from experience I kept my mouth shut, head down, and forced my way into the court house. My lawyer, a friend of Chloe's and Kagami's from college, rushed forward. Though Chloe was a lawyer in her own right, it's a conflict to interest to represent a friend.
"It's good to see you, Marinette. How are you doing?" Sofie asked, pulling me into a hug and looking me over.
"I'm good. How was your Christmas?" I asked.
"It was good. My husband and I celebrated with some nice wine and a nice meal. Opened presents in nothing but robes, before savaging each other. It was amazing."
Sofie was not a normal person to talk too. If you ask her about something specific and your close enough to her, she spills everything. 
Laughing, I nodded my head. But everything grew quiet and tense as the man himself walk inside.
My body grew cold, the happiness from the last couple weeks vanished as his molten green eyes locked onto mine. He grinned, making his way closer to me, his lawyers flanking him. But my eyes locked onto the prosthetic hand that held one of the cuffs in place.
"Marinette." He greeted with a grin.
"Adrien." I greeted back, frowning at him.
My family surrounded me, but let me stand my ground.
"How are you?" He asked.
"That is not something you get to ask me." I stated, before stepping away and heading towards the court room Sofie was directing me towards.
I took one step into the court room, and gasped at the sight of the Wayne's sitting on my side of the court room. I rushed forwards, and Dick wrapped me into a hug.
"What are you guys doing here?" I asked softly, smiling at the sight of them.
"We heard the trial got moved up, and when you just disappeared yesterday, we had a good feeling as to why that is." He replied, holding her shoulders tightly. "Besides, we're here to support you. And after we found out about everything, we had one of our lawyers pitch in. He and Sofie have been working together the last week to get things ready."
My eyes watered at his words, but we're locked onto the emerald green eyes over his shoulder. Damian stepped forwards, pulled me out of his brothers arms and into his own. Security. That was the only way I could describe being in his arms. Safety, appreciation, love, and happiness.
"You got this, Angel." He whispered, leaning back to press a kiss to my cheek.
Nodding, and squeezing his hand, Sofie, Garry (the Wayne lawyer), and I stepped through the small gate that separated us from everyone else and took our seats. Adrien was sat at the other table, away from me. But I saw his eyes darken, as he glared at me and the Wayne family. Specifically at Damian.
"We call this trial into order." The judge called out. The small murrmering that scattered around the room, disappeared as they took their seats. "This trial is Agreste vs Dupen-Chang. How does the accused pleaded?"
"Not guilty, your honor." Adrian's lawyer spoke up.
"What does the prosecution have to say?"
"Guilty." Sofie stated, standing up briefly before sitting.
"Has a plea bargain been set?"
Adriens lawyer stood  up straight as he spoke. "Plea deal is set for two million, with 2,000 hours of community service."
"Denied!" The judge stated, banging his gavel down.
"On what grounds?" The lawyer challenged.
"On the grounds of his hand being cut off in self defense. Moving on. Prosecutor please take the stand."
"Thank you, Judge Howard." Sofie said, shuffling some things around on the table before stepping away to a dress the jury. "Ladies and Gentlemen, my client, Marinette Dupen-Chang, is know by everyone. She helps out her family bakery, babysits for family friends, and designs clothes for many others at a discounted price for people who can't afford decent clothes. She was in the running for top of her class all through school. She is a good kid. I would like to call Chloe to the stands please."
Marinettes eyes watched as her friend walked over to the stand, placed her hand on a Bible, before taking her seat on the stand.
"Miss. Bougous, what is the nature of your relationship with Marinette?" Sofie asked.
"Marinette and I have been friends for years now." Chloe stated, her posture perfect and face neutral.
"Can you tell me about Marinettes character?"
"She is that mix between overly giving and kind, but also willing to put people in their place." Chloe replied, a small smile on her lips.
"What can you tell me the night of November 16th, 2018?"
The room grew tense, waiting for Chloe's answer. "Marinette and I were supposed to go to my place to study for my last test. I had finished my schooling early thanks to all the studying she helps me with. I was waiting for her for hours, longer than usual. Marinette can be late occasionally when she gets absorbed into her work. But she was reaching a new level of late. I tried calling her but it was going straight to voicemail. I kept calling, and texting, but nothing was going through. Until finally she called me back. But she wasn't talking to me. I was so confused. I thought she had fallen asleep was was sleep talking, because that has happened a few times. But what she was saying didn't match up. Then I heard his voice." Chloe gave a pointed look at Adrien, taking a deep breath before continuing. "He was talking such nonsense. Talking about her betraying him for leaving. For calling him out to the class. For rejecting him over and over again. I could hear her, Marinette, crying over the phone. I can count on the amount of times I have heard Marinette cry, and it's only been twice. Once in relief, and once in pain. The phone was breaking in and out, which I can only mean she was running. Then I heard her fall, and her cry out. I can only assume it's when she got the wound on her stomach, but the next thing I knew the phone cuts off. I ran out of my room and tried to track her phone, but I couldn't. It was hours before I found them on one of the bridges. Marinette was bleeding out of her stomach, and if I didn't know any better, she would have bled out if I was an hour later. Adrien wasn't that far away from her, his hand barely attached to his wrist. I called 911. And that was it. She was in the hospital for a month."
I knew Chloe was struggling to keep her composure. But I also knew that when Adriens lawyers started to question her, she might lose her mind on them.
"No more questions."
"Defendant, you have the floor."
"Thank you. Is it true that you and Miss. Dupen-Chang were enemies?" The man asked her, walking over to stand in front of Chloe.
"I did bully her when we were younger, but we have moved past that. And I got over my jealousy." She stated, shooting me a look before returning her focus back to the lawyer.
"Does Miss. Dupem-Chang have any other enemies?"
"Yes, two."
"Who are they?"
"Lila Rossi, who is currently sitting in a cell for attempting to drive Marinette into suicide. And the conviction of successfully killing several other student in many different countries." Chloe spoke, her voice now ice cold.
"And the other?"
"Adrien Agreste."
"Why is my client considered her enemy?"
"He had been stalking her the last several months before the incident. She had tried to handle it the right way, and wasn't getting anywhere. So she chose to move in with our mutual friend, Kagami, to try and shake the routine that was built between the two."
Silence filled the court room. "No more questions, your honor."
"Anything else that would like to be presented with Miss. Bougious on the stand?" When nothing was said, Chloe walked back to her seat. She threw me a soft smile, as she past.
"We call Miss. Marinette Dupen-Chang to the stand." The defense called.
Sucking in a deep breath, I stood and walked to the stand. Placing my hand on a Bible and raising my right one I swore the oath before taking the stand.
"Please State your full name."
"Marinette Dupen-Chang."
"Defense, you have the floor." The judge stated.
"Thank you. Miss. Duper-Chang, what is your relationship to my client?"
"He was my friend and partner."
"Partner? Can you elaborate on that please?" The lawyer asked, and my eyes glassed over at the happy memories that invaded my mind.
"We helped each other on projects, whatever project we were working on, we helped each other out. No matter what." My voice came out strong, but my heart broke as the betrayal became even more real. Tikki pushed against my thigh to help ground me.
"How long have you two known each other?"
"A few years now. He transferred into my high school during our sophomore year."
"Have you two ever dated?"
"Objection!" Sofie shouted.
"Cause?" The judge asked.
"Relevancy."
"How is this question relevant?" The question was directed towards Adriens lawyer.
"I'm just establishing the nature of their relationship."
"Objection denied. Please continue."
"I'll repeat my question. Did you and Mr. Agreste ever have a romantic relationship?"
Silence rang out in the court room. And my eyes darted towards the toxic green sitting at the table. He was smiling, and waiting for my answer. He wanted me to lie.
"Yes."
"When?"
"Junior year. I had a crush on him for awhile, but when we started dating I started to get uncomfortable with how overly clingy he would get. So I broke up with him. We went back to being friends and were still close through college. Then he started showing up when we hadn't made plans, which was fine, until he started leaving me gifts at my apartment when I wasn't home."
Silence rolled through the room once more. My fingers dug into my palms, as I tried to keep my breathing even.
"Miss. Duped-Chang it has come to our attention that you have recently adopted a young girl. Why would you do such a thing when you know that there is a trial coming up?"
The jury began to murmur, at the very wordy question. But a fire was opened in my veins at the implication.
"How is my daughter relevant?" I asked, trying to stay calm.
"Is there any chance that you would adopt a child in order to prove that you are this 'Saint' of a person and my client is nothing but a monster?"
"I'm going to say this very clearly, and if you bring up my daughter in that form of context we will be having a very serious conversation. I adopted my daughter before I knew the trial was moved up. I adopted my daughter because she reminded me of me as a child. I adopted my daughter because she is a child that deserves love. So, if your going to question my actions when it comes to my family, have your facts straight. The paper work was already processing by the time christmas rolled around. And official the day before. So, no, I did not adopt my child to prove something to the court."

"No more question."
"Prosecutor, you have the floor."

Sofie stood and moved into the center of the room. "Marinette, can you tell me what you do every year at Christmas?"
"I go to this park that I don't frequent often, and play the violin. Sometimes the kids that are around will make requests and sing along." I cocked my head slightly, trying to figure out what she was getting at.
"Can you tell me the last time you and Adrien had a good conversation?"
"Six years ago."
"What was said? Do you remember?"
"We were talking about internships for colleges. But my Uncle had offered me a job as his personal designer for his tours."
"Who is your uncle?"
"Well, he's technically my honorary uncle, since we're not related. But Jagged Stone."
Murmurs erupted again, shock rolling through thoughs that didn't know her.
"Where was Jagged the night everything happened?"
I sucked in a sharp breath. "Jagged had flown in to do some measurements for his next tour. And to tell me that he and Penny were having their first child together. I had met up with them at their place that they bought so they didn't have to stay in a hotel when they come to visit and were talking about raising the baby in Paris. But I had gone to their house and I realized I was going to be late to Chloe's study session. But I've been late to numerous things before, and it wasn't so late where I had to text her to let her know. So I said goodbye and started walking to Chloe's."
"What happened after that?"
I swallowed. "Adrien waiting for me down the street. He looked like he's been there awhile, but when he saw me, all he could do was grin. He asked why I even bothered to change my routine if I was just going to do the same things anyways. I told him, I was bored of the old routine, that Chloe said I needed to shake things up a bit. He just laughed. Then he tried to grab me, but my mama had trained me in self defense, so I jumped backwards and ducked to stay away from him before I took off running. I ran as fast as I could. But he somehow got a hold of me. He grabbed my wrist and threw me against something hard and metal. I hit my head really hard. Then he threw me back. I think. I remember trying to stand up, then this intense pain in my stomach. I look down and realized he had stabbed me. He kept saying that since he couldn't have me, no one would. It was frightening. I remember filling the knife out, and he was still holding me up, and I tried to cut his hand. I didn't want to hurt him to bad, just enough to try and get away. I heard him scream and he left go of me, I tried to run again, but I couldn't. The next thing I know, I woke up in the hospital without a spleen and my stomach sewn shut."
Silence was deafening. Everything was in and out of focus as I retold the events that caused me to move to Gotham. I had to get special permission from the court to leave the country.
"I would like to ask if you would be willing to show the scar along your stomach? You don't have to, but I would like the jury to see the damage done to you." Sofie said softly.
Nodding, I stood and pulled my shirt up to just below my breasts. The scar was a long diagonal cut across my stomach. It was pink and white, still looking as fresh as the day I got the stitches out. Sharp gasps were heard for everyone in the room. Yet I couldn't help but look at the toxic green eyed boy, and saw him grinning maniacally at the sight. I shoved my shirt down and sat back on the chair. And when I looked up, my eyes locked onto the peaceful emerald green eyed boy that stole kisses from me over Christmas.
"No more questions, sir."
The judge called for a recess a moment later.

I darted into the bathroom, tears glistening in my eyes, as I tried to calm down. Chloe, Kagami, and Kori trying to talk to me, but all it seemed to do was make it worse.
"Stop! Just stop! Can you give me a second. Please." I cried, wiping a stray tear away.
The girls nodded, before shuffling out the door. Turning on the sink, I splashed some cold water onto my face, trying to calm the heat in my cheeks. His grin a burning image in my brain.
The door opened a couple minutes later, and I was met with Damian's soft green eyes as he made his way closer.
"How are you?" He asked softly.
I shrugged. "As well as can be expected."
He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close, pressing a kiss to my temple. "Your doing much better than I would have been."
I chuckled bitterly. "I just want this to be over."
He kissed my head again, turning me slowly in his arms until I was facing him. "It's almost over." He whispered.
"Thank you, for being here." I whispered, pressing my forehead against his and pressing a brief kiss to his lips.
"Always."