Forgiveness ✓

Adrien stared at the time on his baton. It was 11:30 and Adrien was starting to think she was bailing on him. 

'She would never do that.' Adrien mentally reassured himself 'She's probably just late.'

Sure enough, he was right. Marinette came swinging by about five minutes later. 

"I'm sorry I'm late!" She exclaimed red faced and out of breath. "I had to help my parents in the bakery!" The heroine fidgeted with her hands nervously. Adrien raised an eyebrow slowly, he knew she was lying.

"Is that so?" He asked smirking. Marinette squeaked and put her hands over her face, blushing. 

"No." She admitted as she hung her head down dejectedly. 

"What's wrong?" Adrien asked in a soft voice. Marinette started to tear up and Adrien's eyes widened "Did I do something wrong?" Adrien was starting to tear up as well.

"No I did." Marinette sniffled "The reason I was late was because I was too scared to see you. I didn't know what to say and I knew I would turn into a blubbering mess if I did talk to you." She gestured to her teary eyes. 

"Oh Marinette." Adrien mumbled as he cupped her cheek. 

"I'm supposed to be this strong super heroine who's a role model for every little girl but I'm nothing like that. I'm clumsy, and shy, and not confident at all! Any child who looks up to me is a fool."

"Don't think that!" Adrien shot in "Anyone would be lucky to have you as their idol! Look at Alya, she had nothing before you showed up. She started a huge blog and is practically famous! And that's all thanks to you! if you hadn't showed up, Alya would just be a normal teenaged girl."

"If there was a different Ladybug she would've done the same."

"Marinette, no one could replace you as ladybug!" 

"Sometimes I wish I wasn't Ladybug at all!" Marinette shouted "Life was so much easier before I got my miraculous. When I stare at the Miraculous box, all I can think about is how much I'm wasting my life away! I may accomplish all my dreams, I could become a famous fashion designer, I could get married to you." She blushed  "Pretend I didn't say that. But anyways, all of that will be for nothing when I give up the box. I'll forget my friends, my family, you." 

Marinette looked right into her partner's eyes with desire. Adrien noticed it and went to lean in for a kiss. Marinette pulled back. 

"I don't know if I can do this." Marinette panicked.

"Of course you can do this Mari! We've been partners for a long time, we were classmates, best friends, soulmates!" Adrien's voice cracked, his voice full of pain. "Why can't you just forgive me?"

"I'm trying I really am!" Marinette admitted "It's just hard. And it's not even forgiving you that's the problem!" Adrien tilted his head in confusion. 

"Really?" He asked.

"It's forgiving myself." Marinette sighed "I realized that in my room earlier. I was putting all my anger on you but I figured out that I was never mad at you. I forgave you a long time ago. I love you so much and I don't want to put Paris in danger because of our love. I blame myself for all that's happened."

"But none of it's your fault!" Adrien argued, just wanting to hug his partner. 

"I'm trying to understand that, but whenever I think of any memory it leads to these past few months. Like, if I hadn't ever confronted Lila, none of this would've happened."

"Marinette, I love you but you need to put all of this aside. If you're worried about losing your memories, live life to the fullest. Lila's gone, all of Paris loves you, and you have a really handsome partner!" Adrien smiled cheekily and Marinette giggled.

"You stupid cat." She teased as she poked him in the chest. "But yes, I have a really handsome partner." Marinette took in the tall figure in front of her. His golden hair, his gorgeous green eyes. Everything about him, inside and out, was perfect. 

"I think we need to start over." Marinette decided.

"Start over?" Adrien questioned.

"I want to get to know you, the real you. We can forget about the past and start with the present. Maybe that's what I need to forgive myself."

"Okay. I'll go first." Adrien grinned "Hi, my name is Adrien Agreste, also known as Chat Noir, and the hottest boy in Paris." Adrien flexed his biceps and Marinette chuckled "I may have dashing looks but don't let them distract you from my best quality... my puns! I have an entire notebook full of them! People think that I'm perfect, but I'm not. I miss my mom, my dad ignores me, and half my smiles aren't even real. But the one thing that makes me really smile, is my beautiful partner. That girl could brighten even the cloudiest days. Okay you're turn!" Adrien smirked at a blushing Marinette as he put his head on her shoulder. 

"My name is Marinette Dupain Cheng also known as Ladybug. I'm clumsy, shy, and I stutter, a lot. People may know me as 'The Girl in Love With Adrien Agreste" but I'm way more than that. I design clothes, I hope to become as big as Gabriel Agreste one day, but we'll see. I love drawing, saving Paris, and my dorky partner who wears a flattering leather jumpsuit. I want to make a difference in the world. I don't want to be remembered by as Ladybug, I want to be remembered as Marinette. One day, I'll lose my memory but I know that it will all be worth it in the end." 

"Wow, it is very nice to meet you Marinette." Adrien said as he kissed his lady's hand. 

"It's very nice to meet you too, Adrien." Marinette exclaimed as she went in for a kiss on the lips. 

"Hey Adrien?" She asked, breaking off the kiss "I think I love you."

"I think I love you too." Adrien smiled "Wait, I know I love you." And then they kissed again.

╳°»｡ ∾･⁙･ ღ ➵ ⁘ ➵ ღ ･⁙･∾ ｡«°╳╳°»｡ ∾･⁙･ ღ ➵ ⁘ ➵ ღ ･⁙･∾ ｡«°╳╳°»｡ ∾･⁙･ ღ ➵ ⁘ ➵ ღ ･⁙･∾ ｡«
A/NI can't believe that the next chapter is the last one! I couldn't decided if I wanted to make 2 chapters or 1 but I decided that 2 might be better! I have another announcement..... THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 20k READS!!!!!! I wasn't sure if I was going to finish this story but I got motivated thanks to you guys! Thank you so much for reading and please keep voting and commenting! It means a lot to me :)