A Miraculous Love

Chapter 4: The Broken Girl Beneath the Mask

Back in the village Ladybug carefully snuck back to her home and slipped in the window that lead to her room in the basement. She closed the window with a soft click making sure she did not wake Madame Rossi or Lila. Then, she began to take off her costume revealing the fragile girl that hid beneath it. Without her costume, she was a beaten and broken girl by the name of Marinette Dupain-Cheng. As she opened her satchel to put away her costume she noticed a piece of paper inside. This wasn't in here before, Marinette thought as she pulled out the piece of paper and carefully unfolded it. Using the moonlight streaming in from the window she could just barely make out what was written on the note.

Dear Ladybug,

I want to apologize for what happened last night. It was wrong of me to try and touch you without permission. I only wished to comfort you in your time of need. I promise will never harm you and my intentions will always be pure. I did not want to hurt you any further by apologizing aloud in front of everyone and embarrassing you, so I hope this letter will suffice. Please forgive me and I hope we can continue to work together.

Forever yours,

                             Chat Noir

Marinette sat in stunned silence as she stared at the note. He had apologized for what had happened even though he had done nothing wrong. It had been her that had been afraid and over reacted. She was the one that pushed him away when he was only trying to help. She should be the one apologizing not him. The thoughts swirled through her mind as she tried to make sense of Chat Noir's note. For the first time in seven years somebody cared about her and she didn't even know how to react. She knew she should be excited but her fears held her back. She had been hurt and unloved for so long, how could she trust a person she just met? Marinette sighed, she couldn't trust him. At least, not yet. However, she would except his apology. With that, Marinette pulled out her sketch book from inside her mattress and ripped out a page to write on. She knew Chat Noir deserved a reply and it was only fair. It was her fault anyway, so she wanted to make sure he knew he was not to blame. So, putting pen to paper she began to write.

Dear Chat Noir,

Please do not blame yourself for what happened that night, it was not your fault. I over reacted to your kind gesture and I let my own fears cloud my judgement. If anyone is to blame it is me. You did nothing wrong and I appreciate your concern. I will tell you that my life is far from perfect and most of my days are difficult but I make due. Please do not worry about me.

Gratefully yours,

                                  Ladybug

Marinette read over the note making sure she had not made any mistakes and then placed the note and the rest of her belongings in her satchel. Then, she carefully slipped the bag inside her mattress to make sure Madame Rossi would not find it. Marinette new if that woman found the bag that contained her costume, whip, and sketchbook she would most certainly take them away. The only items Marinette was supposed to have were her mattress, her 4 dresses, and the small trunk she kept them in. The rest of the basement was bare and the rest of her belongings had been thrown away when Madame Rossi and Lila moved in after her parents were killed. Well, except for the stuffed cat she had made when she was young. She had given it away as a gift before her parent's death. Marinette sighed as memories of the awful day filled her mind.

It was springtime and her parents were busy baking that days orders. She had just gone down to the basement to help her Papa grab some more flour and sugar when her mother's scream filled the bakery. Her father immediately scooped her up and placed her behind the barrels of corn meal in the corner. "Stay here Marinette and don't come out until I come to get you," her Papa had said before he raced upstairs. She then heard her Papa arguing with another man before she heard a loud gasp and a thud. Marinette closed her eyes as she heard frantic rustling upstairs and then silence. She waited for her Papa to come and get her, but he never came. Finally, Marinette had gone upstairs only to be met by the sight of both her parents lying on the floor dead. Both had been stabbed over a few loaves of bread and the twenty dollars in the tip jar.