Adrien blinked before scrunching up his face and looking at her in disbelief. She couldn't mean it. "M-Marinette, you don't mean that."

"Yes, I do," she bit her lip, letting out a shaky sigh. "It's been so peaceful the past few months. Not having to fight any battles and not get hurt, knowing that I don't have to solve someone's problems. Just knowing that I don't have to protect all of Paris let's me sleep at night."

"Who would Ladybug be then?"

"I-I don't know. I still need to talk to Master Fu about all this. I-I just know I don't want this responsibility anymore." She fiddled with her hands on her lap and Adrien looked at her. She looked down. She meant this. She meant all of this. She didn't want to be Ladybug anymore.

"Well if you're not Ladybug I'm not Chat."

"Adrien no. That's not-"

"I don't want someone new taking your place. You're my Ladybug so if there's a new one they get their own Chat Noir. If you're leaving, I'm leaving. We're a team." He smiled and she bit her lip, tears starting to run down her face.

"A-Adrien no. That's not what I meant. I want to quit, you don't have-"

"If you're not there I'm not. We're a team besides," he grabbed her chin and tilted her head to look at him. "When have I ever seen you give up?" He sweetly smiled and she bit her lip. She broke into tears and he held her and rubbed her back as she cried into his shoulder.

She calmed down an hour or so later and he cradled her on the couch. "What if I mess up?" She mumbled into his shoulder.

"I'll be there to help you."

"What if I don't want-"

"No more what ifs." He rubbed her back in a soothing pattern.

"Okay."

The room fell silent. Not a bad silence. A comfortable silence. "Ladybug should come back soon though. People are starting to ask if I killed you." She giggled lightly and he smiled.

"Okay." She smiled into his shoulder. She soon fell asleep and he put her in her bed then walked to his room. They should share a room soon. Tikki and Plagg have both said that they're soulmates so they would have a hard time hating each other anymore. He looked around his room. This could become a study...or a nursery. But neither of them had done it together yet. They were ready but just couldn't find the right moment. He crossed his arms, imagining himself playing with his small daughter in the room.