Does he remember?

Chapter Twelve

Back to the present...

Marinette sighed at the sight of the ring before throwing it back in the box like it meant nothing to her. Too many memories hung onto that single piece of jewelry, making it too heavy to wear on her finger now. Wearing it for a whole year after Chat Noir left felt like it had suffocated her finger, and she'd have a reminder of him every single time she glanced at her left hand. 

She pushed herself off the floor and headed down the hallway towards the living room. "Hey, guys", Marinette murmured, hugging her arms to keep herself from shivering. 

"Hi, oh my goodness, I'm sorry, Were we being loud? Nino, I told you to shut it multiple times", Alya shot Nino a dirty look. "I'm so sorry, I can turn down the TV. We can stop talking-"

"Alya", Marinette smiled at her best friend. "You guys didn't wake me up."

Alya and Nino stayed silent for a few seconds before Nino spoke. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"It's just", Marinette began, sitting down next to them. "I hate that I gave up my whole career and my dreams because a guy left me. I wish I would've listened to everyone. But, my life feels like it ended that day."

"No, it didn't", Alya disagreed, shifting herself to face Marinette. "Marinette, listen to me. Your life still went on. Remember when the first fall of snow came around the morning after? You told me it allowed you peace. There was still moments in life where you felt alive, even if you felt dead when he left. Just know that the sun still rose the next morning, Marinette. Days still passed. You have laughed since, you have smiled. Marinette, please know that the day he left wasn't the day your life had ended. I believe it was the day your life actually started."

Marinette paused, trying to hold back tears as her best friend's words tugged at her heart that had grown little by little each day she lived with Alya and Nino. "But, how? I haven't made a single design in 5 years. I feel like I haven't accomplished anything in 5 fucking years because of him."

"Maybe it was exactly what you needed", Alya shrugged. "Maybe him leaving was a sign that you needed to be on your own, figure yourself out. That gave you a chance to discover who you are without him. You needed that, Marinette."

"And you know what?" Nino chimed in. "Very successful people always struggle at first. You need to struggle in order to come back stronger. I think this was all fate. This was supposed to happen. You needed to lose him so you could find yourself and build yourself your own life without him. You needed to find your own motivation, not relying on him as yours. And I just know that when the time is right, you will find yourself. You will be happier than you ever have been. You know why? Because you made it. Because you figured out who you were and you loved who you became and who you grew into. Someday, you're going to find someone who appreciates every single part of that, Marinette. I just know it."

At this point, Marinette had felt tears streaming down her face. She had no clue when she started crying, but it felt good to. But for the first time in what felt like forever, she had cried happy tears. Gratitude tears. These two people were her home now. She was sure of that right at this moment.

"I hope you guys know how much I love you", Marinette smiled, wiping her tears away. "You guys have given me so so much. I don't know where I'd be right now if it wasn't for you guys, probably at a bar somewhere or at a strangers house. But I'm so glad I'm not and I have to thank you guys for that."

"We can't take all the credit", Alya smiled. "Finding out you were pregnant made you more yourself again. She made you feel like you had a home." (surprise!)

Marinette smiled, glancing back toward her daughter's bedroom where she was sleeping. "I only want the best for her, always. She motivated me to want to do better, but I still haven't made a single design."

"Maybe you can talk to her about it", Nino suggested. "She's the smartest 5 year old I've ever met. She'll certainly help you with your design."

"Yeah, you're right", Marinette nodded. "These last five years have been the best and worst years of my life. The best because I have a freaking amazing daughter and the best friends in the world, and the worst because I've had to live through it without him", Marinette ran a frustrated hand through her hair. "And he'll never even know he has a daughter."

"He didn't raise her, anyways. She has three of the coolest parents ever", Alya showed a prideful smile. "I mean, come on. Emma gets free baked goods all the time at your parents' bakery, we play video games every Friday night as a family, and she's already traveled across Europe and seen a whole section of the world. I think you're doing an amazing job as a mother."

Marinette smiled, happy to know that even if sometimes she felt like a failure to her daughter, her best friend never saw it that way. "Thank you, Alya. And about the baked goods...she doesn't get them for free, she just likes to steal them when my parents and I aren't looking."

Nino laughed. "She definitely has a veryyyy playful side."

"Yep, and I know exactly where she got that from", Marinette's smile faded as Chat Noir intruded her thoughts once again. 

Alya hit Nino's arm, knowing the effect his words had on Marinette. "But she's more intelligent than playful, and she gets that from you."

 "But I have no clue how", Marinette shook her head. "I mean, I don't even remember knowing that much at 5 years old-"

"Oh my gosh", Nino stood up, the light of his phone shining on his face. 

"What's wrong with you?" Alya asked as if she were judging him. 

"I just received a social media update", Nino began, letting the anticipation sink among the girls. 

"And?" Marinette asked firmly, urging him to finish what he was saying.

"Adrien is coming back to Paris."