Marinette sat holding Alya's baby girl, still unnamed, as her best friend slept. They'd started her on a course of citalopram and hopefully, in a few days, she should begin to feel a little more capable and stable. She'd been put on a watched ward so nurses were always around.

"Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
'Round yon virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace."

Marinette was singing to the baby girl unknowingly being watched by Adrien standing just outside the doorway. He wasn't meant to see her today but hearing her voice pulled him to find her. She was like a siren to him. He couldn't help himself. She had no idea that he was there and he intended on keeping it that way. He added the therapist to the visitor's list for Alya before leaving.

Their first counselling session was due the previous day, however, Nino had managed to work himself into an awful state and they had to postponed to today.

"Marinette?"

Marinette turned her head to check on the voice speaking to her.

"Good morning sleepy head." Marinette giggled as she greeted her friend.

"Oh! She's been bought back." Alya sat up and gestured for Marinette to place the tiny girl in her arms. Giving Alya one look over she concluded that she looked stable enough to hold the baby.

As Marinette arrived at the ward that morning a nurse explained to her that Alya was struggling more than she had the previous day. They were still allowing Alya to breastfeed however this would only be whilst supervised by someone, Marinette knew Alya wouldn't hurt the child but due to the way she had been acting since arriving at the hospital, there was no choice.

The small child was now mixed fed between breast and bottle. When Marinette had told them that a therapist would be coming in to see her they were in complete agreement. In awe at how fast they had managed to get this set up for their friends.

Marinette slowly and gently positioned the baby girl into Alya's arms. The little bundle of joy began to coo at the proximity she now was to her mother. As much as Alya was struggling she was trying her hardest to get her daughter to bond with her, and it seemed to be working.

"Off you go to Mummy little one."

Instantly Alya placed her lips upon her baby's forehead and snuggled her against her chest.

"I want to talk, but not about the baby or Nino. I want an adult conversation. I want to hear about someone else's problems. Like your love life. Please tell me what's happening between you and Adrien."

Marinette smiled, this was her old friend talking and she completely understood why she wanted to get away from the baby talk. That's all she'd been doing recently too. She was sure hers and Adrien's conversations were more about the baby than anything else.

"What do you want to know, Miss reporter extraordinaire?"

"What's happening with you and model boy? You seem to be pretty close."

Marinette couldn't help the smile plastering all over her face.

"We're getting very close. Alya, you know my big secret?" She raised her eyebrows hoping Alya caught the hint.

"Oh about the box?" Alya's eyes widened and the baby snuggled more into her. It was as if it could feel the soul of her mother coming back.

"Yes. THE box. Well you know I have a partner?"

"Yes, the one you're madly in love with?" Alya was starting to display and air of excitement she hadn't seen since the days of Akuma attacks, Marinette couldn't help but suppress the giggle that escaped her lips.

"Completely and utterly in love with." Marinette sighed before continuing. "Well, what if two guys who I love are, actually, just one guy?"

"No way! Your papa was spot on:" Alya spoke out exuberantly. The baby responded in a loud cooing noise, obviously delighted with her mother's actions.

"Yep."

"So what are you going to do now? Are you together? Have you kissed him? Are you going to get married? I always knew you were soulmates. This is so exciting!"

"Calm down Cupid!" Marinette laughed. "Yes, we've kissed a couple of times. We're not together yet, and I hope we are. It's just something still doesn't click right."

"What do you mean?" As she moved the now sleeping baby into the crook of her arm.

Marinette stroked the fine strands of hair on the baby's head.

"You know you need to give her a name right? Poor thing can't be baby girl forever!"

"I prefer to wait for Nino," Alya explained. "Perhaps it's one way we can talk if he ever comes back to see us."

"I'm sure he will. He's just struggling as much as you are. A therapist is coming this afternoon and Nino's been invited too."

Alya sighed.

"I thought we agreed to talk about your mess, not mine!"

"Sorry." Marinette placed her hands in the air surrendering as she looked at her friend. "So yeah, something still isn't quite right. It's as though I still can't quite see Adrien as Chat. I can't see him as the guy I have such an intense history with. It's as if I'm waiting for one more sign."

Miraculously as if by magic Marinette's phone bleeped.

"Speak of the God of Destruction and he appears."

"Oh, wow! You're texting each other? Haven't you got Adrien's number in your phone as Adrien though?"

"I believe, from what I can figure out, he texts me as Chat from his personal phone and then as Adrien from his work phone."

"Clever kitty!"

"I know right! I don't think he knows that I know yet, or at least has it confirmed in his head."

"So you're messing with him right?" Alya asked.

"Oh yes!" Marinette responded a smile stretching over her lips. "He's been sending me clues each day. I've managed to hit a few responses back at him via text and in real life, but perhaps you could help?"

Alya's eyes lit up in a way that Marinette hadn't seen since she'd returned from the temple.

"Give me your phone." The two girls swapped. Baby for the phone. "The password still the same?"

"Yep, it was too hard to think of a new one." Alya laughed as she unlocked her best friends phone. Marinette looked in awe of the teen mum. Perhaps she just needed a chance for freedom away from the stress of her own life. Well, in that case, Marinette was more than willing to give her an inch of her life as a respite.

"Before I open this message, you two haven't been doing anything kinky have you?"

"No, Alya! Neither of us is like that!" Alya nodded giggling like a giddy school girl.

"Ok, ok." She coughed, "Here we go! Clue six. You were my first kiss, my first real female friend, my first friend to go to the cinema with or to a concert with. You were also my first and second true love, even though technically you are only one. I feel for you in mask and out. You have been my heart, my soul and my best friend for six years, and I don't want to spend another day without you by my side." Alya turned her head to look at Marinette.

"I knew Agreste was good with words but, Woah! Are they all like this?" Alya asked.

"This is just how Chat talks. He's a flirt Alya, you know that!"

"No girl, this is someone so deeply in love he remembers every little detail about you, plus when has Adrien Agreste ever been a flirt."

Both girls sat in silence thinking about the message from the black-suited superhero.

"He's going to propose to you." Alya read the message again and spoke without thinking.

"What?" Marinette's voice was loud. Too loud. Suddenly baby girl started a high pitched wail.

Alya placed Marinette's phone down on her bed and took the squealing baby out of her best friends arms. She rocked her into a calming state, settling the child's cries.

"I'm so sorry!" Marinette looked at her friend wide-eyed.

"Don't worry about it. But yeah, he's going to propose. What will you say?"

"I don't know! Just so much has been going on I'm not sure what I'm doing at the moment, and being engaged is a big step. We haven't even dated!"

Finally, the baby had settled down and Alya sat next to her best friend again.

"He's been by your side most of your life, even without you realising. He's pretty much died for you repeatedly, what more could you want?"

"But that was Chat, Alya! Not Adrien."

"Oh sorry I forgot, it's not the guy you were in love with for year's and who has been your best friend since lychee. It's not the guy who you gave a lucky charm to, or who made you one in return? It's not the guy you have romantic dances with in front of the moon with. No, he's none of those! Nowhere near good enough! Grow up, Mari! He's the same guy. The guy you loved and still love, the guy who adores you, every crazy inch of you ... Why are you even considering saying no?" Marinette looked down in shame, Alya was right. They were the same. They had been through so much together.

"But we're so young," Marinette announced without thought.

"Hello! I'm a nineteen-year-old single mum who can't even have a reasonable conversation with my baby daddy. Do you love Adrien, yes or no?"

"Yes!"

"Then why is this a big deal! You two have something so special, it makes everyone else jealous. Even when you're not together, you've still been couple goals for all of u. You have always been an amazing duo with the most solid relationship. Your trust level is something else."

Everything was swirling through Marinette's head. So much so she felt dizzy. Was it all that simple? Could she just say yes and live happily ever after? Well that is until she lost her memories? And there it was, the elephant in the room, the piece of information she had been avoiding since this crazy game had started.

Finally, she'd come to the real reason she wasn't accepting this. Why she wasn't excepting him. The memory loss. How could she do that to someone who's had so much hurt in their life? One more person who would just leave him.

"You're overthinking," Alya announced.

"Of course I am, that's what I do."

"Talk to him as Chat if you find it easier. Just don't avoid him."

A knock at the door ended the conversation. They both looked up to see a surprisingly clean, groomed and decently dressed Nino. He was looking at the floor as he made his over to the chairs near the bed. A tall man with white hair and a black suit followed Nino into the room. The therapist, aka Mr Lindo.

He looked over at Marinette.

"You must be Miss Dupain-Cheng? I hear you're the mediator for today's session."

"Yes, sir." Marinette stood up and shook his hand.

"Right, let's start at the beginning."

The next hour was a whirlwind of events and emotions, and Marinette honestly thought her head was going to explode. All she had to do was sit there and listen, now and then tending to the baby as her parents talked it out. It was draining, but finally, they were making progress. One positive? Their beautiful baby girl now had a name.

Nayla Lahiffe.

Nino had accepted the child, and to the delight of both women, he'd held his child as he cried tears for the time they had lost together already. Marinette had taken photographs to send over to Adrien, keeping him informed of the progress.

Standing outside, waiting for her taxi, Marinette warmed her hands together in hope of a little bit of warmth.

"You know, you've only been back a couple of weeks and your magic is already working." Nino came to stand near Marinette as he waited for Adrien to come and collect him. Adrien had offered Marinette a lift too but she made an excuse of having to go visit some people. Luckily nobody asked because she would have no idea what to say. She just needed a little time and space away from him.

"How are you feeling after today?" Marinette asked.

"I'm glad we're doing this. I feel like we have a lot of unresolved issues to work through. Who knows, from this we might be able to salvage something?"

Marinette looked over at Nino.

"It's salvaging without constantly reminding each other, Nino. Don't try and run before you can walk. Alya knows she messed up, I don't think she'd cope having something who could continuously throw it in her face when you argued."

Nino nodded.

"At the moment, I know it would be the first thing that would come out of my mouth. I just want to be there for Nayla. She's the most important thing. I don't need to think of romance when I have the best girl ever already in my life."

Marinette smiled and hugged Nino. He was making slow progress, there was still a long way to go but she was pleased he was showing more positivity for the future of himself and his daughter.

Hopefully, Alya would be released home for Christmas and the healing process could fully begin. Adrien pulled up alongside them and wound down the window.

"You ready Nino?"

"See you soon Mari, and thank you."

Marinette signalled her thanks before turning to face Adrien. She studied over him. Could she live with this man for the rest of her life? He smiled at her before winking, and there was the clarity she needed. He was hers, he always has been. They are two parts of a whole. She loved Adrien Agreste and she loved Chat Noir ... they were one and she was theirs.

"See you later Princess." Adrien purred to her.

"Not if I see you first. Watch out for pigeons on your way home."

He raised his eyebrows before signalling his manoeuvre and driving out of the hospital.

There was only one thing left to do that evening, respond to her kitty.

Hey Chaton. My house. Tomorrow night, at 7 pm. I need to talk to you xxx