Chapter Text
Epilogue- 10 years later
Marinette wakes up slowly, blinking blearily at the alarm clock on her night stand as she tries to comprehend what day it is and whether its worth it to get out of bed.
The bed dips behind her and a pair of arms slide around her, pulling her back into a solid chest as warm lips press against the nape of her neck.
“Good morning.” Luka smiles into her skin, the short ends of her hair tickling his face.
She yawns, “We gotta get up.”
He groans, pressing more kisses to her neck, “Don’t wanna…”
She snorts, wiggling out of his hold and throwing her legs over the side of the bed as she sits up. She looks down on him, his dark hair all mussed up from sleep. She runs her fingers through it, almost missing the green color from their teenage years.
“Wake up sleepyhead. We have things to do.”
He opens one eye to glare at her, frowning, “Too early.”
She snorts, “It’s ten am. I’ll start the coffee pot. And see if our cat’s awake.”
Luka snorts, “He’s gonna be so late.”
Marinette pads out into the living room of their apartment, easily spotting the dark blob of too many blankets curled up on her couch. She shakes her head, leaning over the back to scream,
“Wake up!”
Adrien yelps, jumping a foot off the couch before falling in a heap on the floor, “I’m up!” He looks around wildly, and when he sees her he glares, “You’re the worst, you know that right?”
She snickers, blowing him a kiss on her way to start the coffee. “You’re gonna be late for class if you don’t get up.”
Adrien looks at the time on his phone, yelps, and then sprints for the bathroom.
Adrien had been living on their couch for three months now, while he worked on getting his own place and finishing up his dual doctorate in chemistry and physics. He’s actually been living on everyone’s couches since he officially left his father’s company and stopped taking the man’s calls, but he mostly ends up on her and Luka’s couch.
Tikki and Plagg are curled up around each other on the counter, snoring softly in a patch of sunlight from the big windows. She pets them both on the head and goes to pour herself some cereal. Sass is in the pantry, buried face first in the bag of pretzels she bought for him.
He smirks at her, grabs another handful in his little hands, and then phases through the wall and disappears to wherever he hides things.
She sighs, shaking her head as she grabs her lucky charms- she’s on the box and it’s awesome. There used to be a toy inside but Adrien stole it- and sits down to eat.
By the time she’s mostly finished her breakfast and half a cup of coffee both boys come into the room, Adrien fully dressed as he runs fill tilt around the living room, gathering his school bag and his things.
“Plagg come on!” he screams, hopping on one foot as he tries to shove his foot into a shoe.
Plagg grumbles as he gets up, floating over to his chosen, “But we haven’t eaten breakfast yet!”
Tikki, awake now, yawns and settles on top of Marinette’s head.
“We’ll get something on campus! We’re late! Shit!” Adrien rushes for the door, “Bye Marinette! Bye Luka!”
“Bye Adrien.” Luka calls, dressed as well as he sits casually at the bar next to her.
Adrien is out the door a second later.
Marinette shakes her head, “That boy is a train wreck.”
Luka snickers, “So, what’s on the schedule for today?”
She shrugs, going to put her bowl in the sink, “I have a meeting with Jagged around lunch to talk about his upcoming tour and I need to go into the office for a few hours this morning to check on the shipment of Ladybug jackets we just got in. Hopefully we’ll have them up on the store by the end of the week if Leslie can get those bugs worked out.”
He nods, eating slowly, “I rescheduled my meeting for tomorrow so I’m just gonna go into the studio and try and finish up this song.”
She grins, “When do I get to hear it?”
He chuckles, “When it’s done. You’re not allowed to listen until its perfect.”
She leans forward to peck him on the lips, “We’re still good for six tonight at my parents’ place yeah?”
He nods, “Can’t wait.”
“They’re so excited. I think they started designing this cake as soon as we graduated high school.”
Luka laughs, head thrown back, “I wouldn’t put it past them. You’re their baby girl Marinette, they want your wedding cake to be as perfect as you.”
She blushes, smacking his arm playfully, “Stop it!”
He just laughs. She takes a moment to admire the ring on her finger, simple and unassuming, with an engraved snake and ladybug on the inside.
“Marinette.” Tikki calls from the top of her head, “You need to get ready.”
She nods, pressing one more kiss to Luka’s lips, “Love you, see you later.”
Work goes well. The jackets came in and they look even better than she’d hoped. Leslie gets their online store fixed up- Lady Noir Fashion- and the jacket is on schedule to be added to the inventory by tomorrow. Pre-orders are already through the roof, and sales expects that once they’re officially out they’ll have even more orders put in.
When lunch finally rolls around Marinette heads to the Grand Paris Hotel
Mr. Bourgeious, now firmly back in the hotel business and out of the political world, greets her with a warm smile, “Ah, Miss Dupain-Chang. Miss Rolling insisted you go straight on up. Oh, and Chloe asked you to visit whenever you were done.”
“Thanks sir.” She smiles, rolling her eyes. She has a feeling she’s about to hear about Allegra.
She’s hardly stepped through the door to Jagged’s suite when the man in question cheers, “Marinette!” and rushes her, sweeping her off her feet and swinging her around in a hug, “Oh I’ve missed my favorite little designer!”
Marinette giggles, patting the man on the back to signal she’s ready to be let down, “Hey Uncle J. Congrats on the Grammy.”
Jagged grins, “Wish you could have been there Marinette. Beyoncé loved my suit by the way! She really wants a Marinette original now!”
She resists the urge to squeal like a teenager. Claude was going to flip. “You’re shitting me?”
“He’s really not.” Penny comes into the room, hugging Marinette quickly, “I’ve given her your number to contact, you should be hearing from her soon.”
“You’re the best Pen.”
Penny goes to sit on the couches and Jagged wraps an arm around her shoulder, dragging her after the woman, “So, let’s talk shop.”
Marinette nods, digging her sketchbook out of her bag, “Right, I’ve gone ahead and drawn up some preliminary designs for your tour outfits and-“
“Not my concert Marinette!” Jagged whines, “The wedding! Let’s talk about the wedding!”
Marinette blinks, “My wedding?”
Jagged nods, “Yes! Now, I know Tom’ll be walking you down the aisle, but, as your honorary Uncle, I demand a spot of my own! Ring bearer? Musician? Flower girl!”
Marinette bites her lip to keep from snorting at the mental image of Jagged Stone in the dress she’d designed for Luka’s baby cousin to wear as flower girl.
Penny sighs, smacking Jagged on the back of the head, “Sorry about him Marinette. He is… very excited.”
Marinette smiles, “Luka’s cousin is already flower girl and Alan is ringbearer. As for music, well Adrien and Allegra have volunteered but I’m sure they’d be thrilled to have your help.”
Luka was going crazy not being able to pick out any of the music for their wedding- Allegra had insisted. Adrien was also doubling as her Man of Honor, with Luka’s sister Juleka taking the role of Best Woman. The wedding parties weren’t exactly traditional, but they were happy with it.
Jagged crows, “I’ll do it!”
Penny sighs, shaking her head. Marinette slaps her hand over her mouth to keep from snorting.
“Let’s get back to the other business.” Penny insists, pulling Marinette’s sketches closer, “Before he gets distracted again.”
This time, Marinette does laugh, and Jagged pouts, “Penny!”
Marinette leaves Jagged’s suite and heads up the elevator to the penthouse, hardly even having to knock before the door bursts open.
“Marinette!” Chloe yelps, eyes wide, cheeks flushed. She grabs Marinette by the front of her shirt and drags her into her childhood bedroom, “Emergency!”
Marinette looks her friend up and down cautiously, “What kind of emergency?”
Chloe is pacing quickly back and forth in front of her balcony, running her hands through her hair. She’d started wearing it down after university, and it really suited her. It made her look softer.
“Allegra!” she yelped, pacing faster, “I found that in her nightstand!” she points dramatically at her vanity, where a simple velvet box is sitting.
Marinette gasps, “Is that an engagement ring?”
Chloe nods, “I think so! I haven’t opened it yet!”
Marinette dives for the box, opening it before Chloe can protest. Her face softens, “Oh Chlo….”
“What? What is it?”
Marinette just smiles, closing the box carefully, “Put it back where you found it and wait for Allegra to be ready.”
Chloe whines, “But I don’t want to wait. I want to talk to her now!”
Marinette sits on Chloe’s bed, cheeks warm with joy. Her two closest friends are gonna get engaged soon. They’d been dating since lycée, since the battle with Lila when Chloe found out their identities, and they’d moved in together in University, in a shitty little apartment that had driven Chloe half out of her mind. They were living somewhere nicer now, somewhere more to her rich girl standards. Chloe, Allegra, and their three overfed cats
“Be calm my Queen.” Pollen soothes, floating up from Chloe’s pillow with sleepy eyes, “All will be well soon.”
Marinette looks over at the kwami, “How long has she been at this?”
Pollen sighs, “Seven hours. Since she found the ring this morning.”
Marinette pats her consolingly on the head as Tikki flutters out to join them, “Easy Chloe.” She laughs, “Just breathe.”
Chloe takes several hurried, shallow breathes.
“Slower.” Marinette reminds, “Just let Allegra do this on her own time.”
“Or buy your own ring and propose first.” Pollen suggests.
Chloe’s eyes widen, latching onto the idea.
“Chloe no…”
“Chloe yes! See you later Marinette I’ve got ring shopping to do!” she grabs her purse and then bolts for the elevator, leaving Pollen to chase after her and leaving Marinette sitting on her bed.
She sighs, “Allegra’s gonna be pissed.”
Tikki giggles, “Don’t you think she’ll be more excited that she’s engaged?”
“I mean, yeah, but she also really likes to be the first one to do something. That Chloe would beat her to proposing is gonna drive her crazy.” She shakes her head, “Come on, we have a little time to get relax before we need to be at my parents.”
She gets to the lobby of the hotel when her phone dings with the group chat.
Cockblock: hungry. Meet 4 food in ten at caf?
Cockblock: pls
Lesbean: in the area. B trh son
BadBitch: I have time before my next meeting. I will be there as soon as I can.
Stupit: YAS! FOoD! 😊
She snorts, figuring she has enough time to kill to join them.
FuckyCharm: im in. c u soon
Then she heads down the street to their usual café.
When she gets there, Allegra has already gotten their usual table, an extra chair already pulled over and her drink already half empty.
“Marinette!” she squeals, jumping up to hug her. Marinette resists the urge to scream about the proposal. She can’t reveal that Chloe knows and is planning to propose first.
“Hey Leg. How was practice?”
Allegra groans, “They’re trying to kill us. I’ve lost all feeling in my fingers.”
Allegra had been a part of the French National Symphony for four years now as their lead flutist. It takes her out of the city a lot, and frequently out of the country too, but she loves it. She sends them all postcards from all over the world, and a copious number of selfies too.
Between Allegra’s job and Chloe’s work running the hotel, neither of them need to worry too much about money. Marinette is very certain their wedding will be huge.
“Marinette! Allegra!” Claude and Alan rush over, both enveloping the girls in tight hugs.
“I’ve missed you!” Alan groans into her neck, squeezing tight.
She laughs, “You just saw me two days ago.”
“Too long.” He insists.
Claude collapses into his seat and looks down at his watch, “So, I have like, an hour before I need to be back at Rose River.”
Claude had taken up the theatre director position since his former teacher had retired. He’s having a blast teaching the kids and putting together shows, as well as driving his old teachers up the walls. She’s like, ninety percent sure he’s on a crusade to make M. Toulouse have a hernia.
Alan, meanwhile, is busy with training. He’s got prospects in the Olympics next year, which will be his second time competing. He got bronze last time, and it hangs proudly on his bedroom wall and she knows he shows if off every time he brings a girl back to his apartment.
Their love lives are… well, the boys are trying. Alan is apparently on and off again with some girl on his team that none of them have met yet. Claude hasn’t exactly been looking ever since he and Adrien had broken up. That had been… not fun for anyone. At least it had ended on friendly terms, so things weren’t too awkward for very long.
“Hello everyone.” Kagami takes the final seat, waving down the waiter as she drops her bag on the floor with a thud.
“God Kags, what the hell do you have in that thing?” Allegra asks, eyes wide
She sighs, “Paperwork. So much paperwork. I spent years training for owning the company and not once was I prepared for the sheer amount of forms I’d have to fill out every day.”
Kagami had taken over her family’s gym business, not only the one in France but the branches all around the world too. She switched her time between managing the ‘raging dumpster fire’ as she called it, and competing in fencing tournaments around the world. She’s already on her way to surpassing her mother’s title of top worldwide fencing champion five years earlier.
Claude winces, “Tell me about. It. Do you have any idea how many forms I have to fill out to put on a show? I mean, it’s Cinderella, high schooler Cinderella.”
Alan snorts, “Speaking of princesses, how’s Chloe?”
Marinette bites her lip to keep from grinning. Kagami raises an eyebrow at her and gestures to her ring finger. Marinette nods. Kagami shakes her head with a smile.
Allegra sighs dreamily, “Good. She’s at work all day today. I think I’m gonna ask her to marry me this weekend.”
Claude screams, “What!”
Alan bounces in his seat, “No way really? That’s amazing Leg! Do you have a ring?”
She nods, “Just got it last night. I was on my way home and I saw it in this shop window and I just… I think we’re ready.” She smiles, soft and happy and so unbelievably sweet it makes Marinette want to hug her again, “Hope you don’t think I’m upstaging your wedding Nette.”
Marinette shakes her head, “Not at all. I’m so happy for you guys. Although, I think you might want to do it sooner. Like, tonight maybe.”
Kagami coughs to hide her snort of laughter. Claude narrows his eyes at her, “Any reason?” he asks
She shrugs, “No….uh…bet with Luka?”
Allegra gasps, “A bet! I will absolutely be in on this! You are winning this bet Marinette I am proposing to Chloe Bourgeois tonight!” she stands quickly in determination, one foot up on the chair.
Alan sighs, “Don’t put your feet on the furniture.”
Claude leans over to whisper in her ear, “Chloe knows doesn’t she?”
She nods, leaning in too, “Getting a ring as we speak.”
Claude smirks, “Oh this’ll be fun.”
Allegra is still standing in her chair, Alan trying to coax her down with Kagami only urging her on, when a crash sounds down the street, screaming starting up moments later.
She looks at her friends, all of them looking to her.
She smiles, “So much for a peaceful afternoon.” She looks down to her lap at Tikki, peeking out of her purse, “Ready?”
“Of course Marinette.” Her kwami grins
The four of them stand, “See you later Kagami.” Alan grins, waving.
The woman sighs, a smile pulling at her lips, “I suppose a heroes work is never done. Go on, I’ll take care of the bill.”
They rush to the nearest alley, all grinning at each other. The three of them hold up their right arms, their silver miraculous glinting on the wrists, not having lost their shine even all these years later.
“By the power of the Mind-“
“By the power of the Soul-“
“By the power of the Body-“
“Transform me!” They chorus
Marinette grins as her three best friends turn in Kid Mime, Melodie, and Mercury before her eyes.
“Tikki, spots on!”
The four of them rush out into the battle.
There are three akumas today, and she groans. It seems Hawkmoth is learning more about his powers as well, though while her and Cat had found additional abilities and more strength and endurance, Hawkmoth had found the ability to control more people at once.
The Terrible Trio stomp through the city, calling themselves the Natural Disasters. Tornadooom, with the power of harsh winds, Tsunaminator, with floods of water pouring out of his hands, and Earthquaker, shaking the world with each heavy stomp of his feet.
Cat Noir touches down on the ground next to them a moment later, “Purr-fect timing. I just got out of class.”
Melodie smirks “Hope you’re still ready to school these guys.”
Ladybug sighs, “You’re both uninvited to my wedding.”
They snicker, “You don’t mean that Bug.” Melodie coos,
Cat Noir grins, “We better hurry, class is in session.”
The two fist bump. Ladybug looks to Mercury whose eyes have rolled heavenward.
“Let’s do this guys.” She says instead, and the five of them leap into battle.
It doesn’t take long to realize they’re overwhelmed. They may have numbers on their side but the three of them have sheer size and power.
“Lucky charm maybe?” Cat Noir asks, drenched from head to toe after his tussle with Tsunaminator.
Melodie, her hair defying gravity and filled with twigs and debris from Tornadoom’s winds, glares at their opponents, “Someone is going to pay.”
Ladybug looks at her yo-yo and at her teammates, she already knows what her lucky charm will give her.
“Mercury.” She calls, and the hero appears beside her in a flash.
“Yeah Bug?”
She grins, “All hands on deck.”
He grins back, throwing his head back to laugh, “Oh now this is gonna be fun.” Then he turns and zips away.
Cat Noir shakes his hair out, “We having a party M’Lady?”
She nods, “Hopefully. Keep our new friends busy Cat Noir.”
“Yes Ma’am.” He salutes, and then follows Melodie and Mime back into the fight.
Ladybug works on perimeter, swinging civilians to safety and clearing the area before the battle can really begin.
Mercury rushes past her to punch Earthquaker in the face, “Party time!” he shouts, zipping quickly around the street in search of civilians.
Ladybug looks up as an array of heroes rush into the street, smiling as the battle truly starts.
She dives in after them, joining the fight against Tsunaminator, jumping up for another punch in the giant’s face. She lands easily in Viperion’s arms, the hero smirking at her.
“I think we might be late to your parents.”
She shrugs, “We’ll tell them we lost track of time.” She leans up to press a quick peck to his cheek and then he throws her up into the air so she can land on Tornadoom’s shoulder for another punch, Viperion rushing over to help the others.
She stands back and surveys the fight.
Viperion, Melodie, and Kid Mime work together to keep Earthquaker on his toes, off-balancing him enough that he’s unable to keep shaking the ground beneath them.
Ryukogo and at Noir are surrounding Tsunaminator, distracting him from sending out his barrage of water.
Mercury, Queen Bee and Carapace are all keeping Tornadoom from using his wind powers by boxing him in.
Someone lands next to her, “Sorry I’m late.” Rena Rouge grins at her, flipping her hair over her shoulder, “Where do you need me Bug?”
Ladybug grins, “You’re just in time.” She throws up her yo-yo, “Lucky Charm!”
The Natural Disasters don’t stand a chance, not against Ladybug and her team of heroes.
Not against Marinette and her friends.