As soon as Adrien left, the small smile on her face did too.

She sat on the bed and looked out of the window. A feeling of deep despair that no one would understand reflected through her darkened eyes.

Marinette leaned against the cushioned bed, her eyes closed and endless thoughts racing through her head. She felt an wave of coldness engulf her whole being.

She was feeling so tired.

Tired, of putting up a façade in front of everyone, not wanting them to worry about her. Tired of smiling, while silently hurting inside. She knew that everybody was only concerned about her because they cared. But... she couldn't but just want them to leave her alone for a while...

She was tired, of answering the same question again and again. Was she fine? Was she doing good? She was tired of forcing fake smiles and reassuring them over and over, yeah, she was just fine.

She felt broken inside, like someone had torn a piece of her heart away. It was as if a puzzle piece was missing from her. An empty hollow feeling overwhelmed her numb heart.

She let out a hoarse sigh, her voice trembling a little and covered her face with her hands. Tears rolled down from the corners of her closed eyes.
She missed him.

She missed him terribly, she missed his voice and his warm embrace, she missed the sparkle in his eyes, and she missed the intensity of his shocking blue ocean eyes, she missed his silent loving companionship. She missed his gentle reminders when she became too engrossed in sketching designs and forgot the time.

Marinette held her head in her hands and screamed out loud in frustration. All the memories rushed back to her in flashes...

Meeting him in the Music Festival... his slight teasing when she had stuttered....the stolen glances... the private inside jokes they shared... asking Juleka about him regularly... His confession... Realizing her love for him for the first time... their first date... the day he had proposed... their wedding day... telling him about her pregnancy... the picnic... the... the accident-

Remembering that horrid incident, she sobbed out loud once again, not being able to suppress the burning emotions in her heart...

Missing him was tearing her apart... it was taking all her energy... it was excruciatingly painful... like a... like as if a sharp knife was slashing ruthlessly inside her body...

She looked at the white ceiling of her room. The fan rotated in a tireless circle.

Luka, why did you have to leave me?
----------------------------------
Adrien knocked on the door of her room twice, a bit of hesitation on his face. He was concerned about her.

Matinette had maintained a cold demeanor throughout the day, although still polite and courteous as always. She had spoken as little as possible, avoiding the paparazzi when they asked about her well-being.

Gabriel, surprising everyone, had personally attended the funeral, his kind words of comfort relieving her pain a little. Her bluebell eyes were red and swollen, dark circles visible under them. She hadn't shed a single tear during the ceremony, maintaining an inscrutable expression throughout.

Marinette hadn't talked much to him today, or her friends either for that matter, except Alya. Alya was by her side the entire time, murmuring comforting words to her when she saw Marinette trying hard to keep herself in check. Their friends had taken no offense in that, as she was going through a really hard time.

At the last, Marinette had read an eulogy for him, her voice trembling and strained, as she tried to mask the emotions in her voice. Adrien had noticed it and grew concerned. If she continued to hide her feelings, it would only hurt her more...

Tap-tap!!

Adrien knocked again and called out, "Mari? C'mon, open the door. "

A faint female voice replied through the door," Adrien? Oh... I thought... hang on... Just... wait a second, okay? "

He waited outside the door patiently. After few seconds, the door knob turned and she opened the door.

Marinette was still in that knee-length black dress, her hair loosely tied in a ponytail and her bluebell eyes missing the sparkle she always had.

She was holding onto the door for support, her whole body leaned against it, looking feeble and helpless.

Her tired and wan face hit him in the most tender part of his heart...

He cleared his throat, "Umm...is it okay if I come in... i-if it isn't too much trouble for you, that is? "

She attempted a small smile, "Please, come in! "

He nodded in relief and walked past her into the room. It was a large bedroom, decorated with abundance of light blue and pink, creating a bright atmosphere in the room. There was a large French window beside the bed, basking the room in warm sunlight.

Adrien noticed a few pictures lying scattered on the bed.

Seeing him looking at them, she rushed forwards and started to collect them hurriedly, "I'm sorry... I was just... you-you sit here... 'kay..."

Adrien cut her off, "Marinette, you-"

She went on rambling, "I'm sorry... I should have cleaned it before I invited you in..."

He stopped her again, more forcefully this time," Marinette, it's okay. "

She looked at him, her eyes glossing with tears, "Huh?"

He gently said, "It's okay to feel hurt, Mari. It's okay to show it and share it with everyone. You are a human... not a robot. Keeping these emotions bottled up will... just hurt you more, m'lady... "

Marinette looked down at her feet and said slowly, " If I break down, it'll be a burden to everyone, Adrien. Everyone will start to pity me, and... and I don't want that. Everybody likes Marinette for her happy self, not her emotional baggage, you know... I-I just don't want to dump everything on them... "

Adrien shook his head indignantly and sat down on the bed, plucking a picture from beside him and looking at it. It was a photo of both of them on their wedding day. Marinette was smiling with a bouquet of flowers in her hands, standing next to Luka, who was laughing, his eyes squinted from the effort.

Marinette sat down beside him.
The atmosphere in the room turned gloomy.

He felt it necessary to say something, anything to break the silence.
"Hey, remember that time when we had to fight Misseurat?"

She nodded, not sure why he was bringing that up right now.

He continued, "I had broken down when I found out that my mom is dead and that she didn't leave us. I was devastated and didn't share it with you. After we defeated the akuma, I went home and I was nearly akumatized. After you saved me, you, you, said that it was alright to cry and share what we feel with people we trust. In that case, do you not trust me, m'lady? "

Marinette shook her head, "No, I trust you with my life. "

He smiled and kept his hand on her shoulder, "There's your answer, m'lady. You aren't dumping your baggage on us... you are just telling what you feel. And caring for someone isn't pitying, you know. "

Marinette smiled and hugged him, "Thanks Adrien."

He patted her slowly, "Anytime."

She pulled away and said jokingly, "Also about Misseurat, I thought I also told you to get a girlfriend. Where's she, huh? "

Adrien's heart wrenched painfully, although he still maintained the smile on his face. He tried to summon some Chat Noir in himself, "Like I had said, m'lady, no damsels other than you. "

He winked playfully and she laughed.
Marinette said, a wide grin on her face, "Do you remember when you and I went to the movies together and the reporters labelled me as your girlfriend?"

"Yeah, that was to-tally catastrophic, m'lady. Speaking of movies, do you remember that time when Thomas Astruc was akumatized?"

"Oh yes, yes, I do. Animaestro, wasn't it? "

"Mhmm. How about Zombizou? Mme. Bustier?" Adrien mimicked comically, "Kissy boo..."

They burst into laughter together.

"Gamer... "

"Stoneheart..."

"Princess Fragrance..."

The afternoon of 'remember when' filled both of them with a mutual glow.

Marinette suddenly stopped laughing and looked at him with a serious expression, "Adrien?"

"Yeah? "

"Thanks for cheering me up."

"Well, " he grinned, "No problem."

Adrien looked at his watch and realized that he should probably go.

He looked at her, "Hey, have you seen a doctor about the baby? "

"No... actually I didn't... after what happened... you know," Marinette replied vaguely.

"Oh. You... you can visit my father's friend, Dr. Sussman, he is a famous OB/ GYN. How about tomorrow, at ten sharp?"

She nodded and he smiled, "I'll come and pick you up, 'kay?"

He stood up, waved goodbye to her and left.

Tikki flew out of her small bed, "Marinette, can I tell you something? I think you should know this. "

The bluenette looked at her curiously, "Hmm? "

" I think...Adrien is in love with you. "

"WHAT? No, he's not, " Marinette was shocked beyond words.

"It's true. Plagg told me today that the reason that Adrien had been single for all these years is that he loves you. Marinette, would you please give him a chance? If not now, then afterwards? He's the best person to take care of you, " Tikki reasoned.

Marinette shook her head, and slowly said, "This... is too much to take in all at once... but... but... oh my gosh... this is unbelievable... oh... I'm sorry Tikki. But, I don't love him like that. I can't give him a chance, not now, not ever, really. "

Tikki nodded and smiled a little.

Marinette pressed a kiss on the kwami's forehead who settled comfortably in her palms, "Goodnight, Tikki."

"Goodnight, Marinette."

The bluenette pushed herself upwards onto the bed and laid on it. She pulled the covers to her shoulders and looked out of the large window. It is a full moon tonight.

She slowly fell asleep, the moon watching over her silently...
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A/N - Sorry for the crappy chapter, guys! It took me so long to update cuz online classes are catching up!! But, I'm promising better chapters next time!!
Byeee!! 😘
(Also, I think that this 'byeee' thing is a bit clićhe, so I need some good catchphrase, any ideas? Pm me. 😁)