Starlet • Lukadrien [Miraculous]

Chapter 22 | big steps

"So... yeah I kind of accidentally proposed and we just... went with it. So we're engaged no"

Nathalie simply sat in silence for a moment, in a way she wasn't surprised Adrien managed to accidentally propose to man, she's helped raise this boy, she knew him. But she was also rather shocked to see it happen so... fast. He and Luka had only reunited a few months ago, and began dating even less months ago. But... then again, they had been yearning for each other since high school, so in a way they'd been together much much longer, just without the labels of boyfriends.

"You never cease to amaze me Adrien, how on earth-" she simply chuckled.

"I don't know! I just gave him the ring and- ugh why am I so socially awkward-" Adrien stammered, cheeks flushed and hiding his face in his hands.

"Oh Adrien..."

She reached across the table, ruffling his grown out hair.

"If you're going to marry anyone, I'm glad it's Luka. He's always been right for you, and I know you'll last with him" she assured.

Adrien sighed, picking his fork back up and pushing his food around the plate while he thought.

"But it's not too fast is it? I feel like... I mean I love him to death and I never want to leave him but it's only been a few months as an offical couple-" Adrien pondered.

"And a few years as yearning best friends teetering on the edge of lovers. Plus you said it yourself, you don't have to rush to the altar and get married immediately you can wait. Luka still has University to finish and you have a book to write" Nathalie pointed out.

That was true, there was plenty of time to think about the actual event. They had things to finish first, not to mention Juleka and Rose were already planning their wedding so Adrien and Luka mutually decided to let them have their moment first. They beat them to the punch fair and square. Although neither of them were quite sure how to go about announcing things, they agreed their families can know, but friends and the public? Not right now... especially the public. The media knew that Adrien and Luka were friends from high school and that they'd caught up in Italy. But they didn't know about the relationship, and certainly not about the engagement. Before they could even think about how they'd go about announcing things, Gabriel went and died. So the spotlight was all on that in regards to the Agreste family. It'd not feel right to come out as bi, and announce your gay engagement to the son of a famous rock star mere months after your terrorist, abusive famous father dies.

"Don't stress about it right now Adrien, worry about wedding planning once this book is out and Luka's got that diploma" Nathalie assured.

"Yeah, I guess you're right..." Adrien replied.

"And what did I tell you about Luka not being turned away by the whole senti thing? Exactly, I was right, he still loves you. Can I get a 'yes Nathalie you're always right?"

Adrien snickered, jokingly rolling his eyes.

"Yes Nathalie you're always right" he repeated.

"Damn right I am. Don't you forget it kid" she replied.

"Ok mum, what am I, five?"

Despite how commonplace 'mum' had become toward Nathalie, she still felt a slight bittersweet pang whenever she heard it. She loved Adrien, she helped raise him, she was proud of who he'd become. But she also couldn't help but think of Emilie... how exited she'd be to hear her baby was getting married, how much she'd smile when Adrien first started talking and endlessly babbled 'mama' at her. He was all grown up, Nathalie had kept her promise to protect him and help him grow in Emilies absence... but Emilie wasn't around to see just how much Adrien had accomplished and grown up.

"Your mother would be so proud of you Adrien" Nathalie assured.

"Yeah... I know" he replied, a slight sentimental smile across his lips.

"And she'd be screaming in joy the moment you said the word 'engaged"

"Oh she absolutely would be. I'd be stuck in the most bone crushing hug and she'd be spinning me around and crying. Then she'd drive us down to Luka's place unannounced and give him the same treatment"

"Oh absolutely-" Nathalie laughed.

They'd both gotten to the point where the sorrow of the loss had passed, they could look back on her life and smile at the joy she bought them. Sometimes it was bittersweet to think about all the things she'd never get to see, but laughing together over her little quirks and remembering her achievements lightened the mood. In a way... Emilie was the catalyst.

The reason Nathalie was even bought into the household, the reason Adrien is alive, the one who's taught him to fight for his loved ones, the reason Nathalie stayed so strong to keep raising Adrien for her. Emilie was the reason Adrien and his second mother, were sitting in their own cosy little home in Italy, away from the trauma of Paris, and able to enjoy a quieter, cosy life. And if she'd never sat by the window with little Adrien and watched Paris' pride parade pass by each year, he may have not figured himself out as young as he did, he may have completely missed his chances with Luka purely because he didn't know he liked men.

Emilie, even after her death, was the driving force of their fate. And now things had finally settled down from their days in Paris, and Gabriel was gone and they didn't have to worry about him anymore, they could finally start to make their own lives using the foundations Emilie had laid out for them.

Maybe by next year, Adrien would be married. Maybe that next big step and his first real life changing decision he makes all by himself, no puppet strings attached, was right around the corner.