A/N:
This chapter is built around my idea of how Adrien would/could pull Marinette just a bit above water. I myself never had suicidal tendencies so I might be wrong in how I write about it. Please if you think I should change something tell me either in the comments or in DM. I won't get upset because I know I'm not an expert on the topic. Also, if it wasn't clear this chapter contains contemplation of someone's suicide (in a poetic way but it still is a huge part). Sorry for the long intro, enjoy the chapter:

Marinette felt the slight breeze on her skin and heard the roar of the waterfall. Her mind was racing with thoughts. She remembered falling asleep on top of the Eiffel tower. It was raining yes, but what she heard was a waterfall. She could also feel sunlight on her skin and grass under her as she put her hands down.

She knew she had to be dreaming but it all felt way too real. And the sound of the waterfall was too soothing to her ears. It called to her in a way she couldn't understand yet she almost stood up and ran toward it. Almost. As she looked up her eyes met with a hand extended out for her to grab it.

"Princess," the owner said before Marinette could find his face and identify him. Her eyes shot up to meet his emerald ones at the nickname.

"A... Adrien?" She couldn't move let alone think straight. It wasn't possible and yet he was standing right there, warm and real.

They stared at each other for a long moment with Adrien smiling down at her. Marinette couldn't stay frozen for long and her head fell back onto her knees. Silent tears streamed out of her eyes to wet her jeans. She could hear Adrien sit down beside her before he wrapped an arm around her. She didn't waste any time in throwing both her arms around the boy to now make his shirt wet instead of her pants.

"It's okay My lady. I'm here now" there was an undertone of sadness in Adrien's soothing tone. Marinette's mind now ran a mile a minute.

"Did I do it after all?" she whispered. "Did I..." her voice broke.

"Not really. Or not yet." the voice was unfamiliar to Marinette, so she pulled away from Adrien to look up at the newcomer. "You have amazing friends little bug" the blonde woman smiled at her.

"Marinette, this is my mother," Adrien said. "Mother, this is Marinette Dupaint-Cheng. The girl who saved my life" Marinette felt her tears surface once more.

Adrien stood up and offered a hand to Marinette who tried to push her tears down. She knew she'd be crying enough when she woke up. Adrien smiled at her as he pulled her up. "Just like Chat," she thought as she looked at the smirk on the golden boy's face.

"It wasn't your fault Princess. You were trying to keep me alive" Adrien said leading Marinette somewhere. She only now looked around to see where they were.

They were in a valley surrounded by mountains higher than Marinette ever saw. It was green and full of trees. She saw animals walking around and a creek in the middle. There was a waterfall behind them, but they were going in the opposite direction. She felt oddly uncomfortable going that way. She stopped and looked back toward the waterfall. The enticing call was still present although less so than before Adrien showed up.

"Marinette?" Adrien looked at her with understanding. He squeezed her hand so she'd look at him. "We can stay here if you'd like,"

"Where is here?" Marinette asked to get her mind off of the threat she felt from the waterfall.

"For now, it doesn't matter." Adrien sat down and petted the grass beside him. "I wanted to talk to you anyway."

Marinette sat down and silence fell between them once more. Adrien's Mother left them t themselves, Although there weren't too many places she could go to, so she was still in sight. Marinette felt Grateful that Adrien sat in a way that she could choose where to face. She was currently sitting in front of the boy so that her back was to the pond. Somehow it reminded her of all the possibilities she had and that made her want to get away from it.

"You know, I never got the chance to tell you," Adrien started rubbing the back of his neck, "but I kinda had a crush on you... as Marinette"

"You're just saying that because I turned out to be Ladybug" Marinette turned her head away.

"Well, partially. I mean I always knew I loved Ladybug but..." Adrien stopped as his cheeks turned pink. "Ever since that day at the pool, you know when I shot the advertisement, I kinda... couldn't get my mind off of you."

"Wait really?"

"Yeah. I also started to see the similarities between you and Ladybug. To be entirely honest, before I found out about the whole sentimonster thing I kinda started to play with the idea that..." he trailed off.

"Well..." Marinette shuddered before continuing. "I also had a crush on Chat Noir. The reason I never said anything..."

"...was Chat Blanc" Adrien cut her off. Her eyes widened at the name and she felt like running.

"How?" she asked when her heart slowed down a bit. Adrien was gone, after all, he deserved to know.

"Not sure how." Adrien grabbed Marinette's hands and started running his thumbs over the back of them. "When I saw you running toward my home I just... remembered. I'm sorry Marinette."

"It wasn't your fault," Marinette stated. "It was mine."

"Still feels like my fault, and I'm pretty sure it was my father's doing" he paused for a moment before continuing. "Just like this"

Marinette looked up at him not surprised by his statement. She didn't believe it but she knew he was right. Her mind knew that what happened wasn't her fault and yet, her heart seemed to be louder in saying it was. She closed her eyes as the war raged on inside her.

"I have to make a choice here don't I?" Marinette asked as she heard the call of the waterfall rise once again.

"Yes. You have to choose between life and death" Emilie returned.

"My heart... It would be so easy... but..." Marinette finally looked at the lake. Pushing down all discomfort she stood up and faced it. Think about what Adrien would want. Plagg had told her and for once she would. Because at that moment she had no other motivation to live than that.

She started shivering as she took slow steps toward what she now knew was her life. Adrien saw it and pulled out a blanket from somewhere putting it on Marinette's shoulders. The girl gripped it and pulled it onto her body despite the fact that it was getting soaked as if it was exposed to rain.

"It won't be easy, but you can get through this" Adrien said as they arrived. "Just let your friends in" as he spoke the scene faded before Marinette and she was once again pulled into the darkness.

***

"Oh my gosh! Marinette!" Alya's voice woke her up. "We need to get you home before you freeze here," Skarabella said offering a hand to Marinette, worry coloring her voice.

As she let herself be pulled up Marinette noticed the blanket that clung to her shoulders, now completely wet. She couldn't help but smile slightly as warm tears escaped her eyes. It was real. Adrien forgave her and let her know that he was okay. Or at least something like that. She had no words to describe what happened to her but she was grateful for the chance to talk to him one last time. her heart quieted down for now although Marinette knew it wasn't over.

"Where did you get that girl?" Alya asked as Marinette snuggled into the black blanket spotted with green cat paws. When she didn't answer, Alya simply grabbed her and zipped her toward her home.

When they arrived Marinette put the blanket on a chair so it could dry and went to take a warm shower. She had a high chance of getting sick but she didn't really care at that point. She was happy and devastated at the same time. A mixture of feelings she never knew existed. When she came out she saw Alya with the Miracle box sitting on her chaise. She went over and sat down making sure to keep her distance from the power source.

"Alya, I..." she hesitated. "I think I'll need..." she couldn't finish.

"I know girl, I know," Alya said understanding her friend. "Alix is already working on the matter. For now, what will happen to the Miraculous?"

"I want you to take them until I feel strong enough to be trusted with them"

"Want me to stay here tonight?" Marinette only nodded.

Silence fell on them as they didn't know what to say to one another. Alya wanted to apologize for being the one to deliver the death blow. She was still processing what that meant and the truth was that she asked Alix to look for a therapist who can be trusted with their identities because of herself.

Marinette on the other hand was still only slightly above water and she had no idea how long it would last. She saw the hurt in Alya's eyes but she didn't have the strength to deal with her own guilt and grief let alone listen to someone else's. Instead, they sat in silence, on the edge of crying and sleep.