Two hours later, "Adrien, there is someone here to see you," the nurse says.

    Adrien groans, and looks up at the nurse. "Someone came, but who?" He asks.

"Well, let me see, there is a woman named Natalie and a young girl around your age, she goes by Marinette,"  The nurse explains.

  "Your father is here too," The doctor tells him.

  "Oh, well, tell the others to leave for the moment. I wish to see no one," Adrien says weakly.

  "I will do sir, but what about the girl?" The doctor asks.

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng was the one to call for help when you got hurt," the nurse points out to him.

"Yes, Marinette, do tell her to come.  I wish to see her, " Adrien says. 

"Sure, right away Adrien Agreste,"  The nurse says. She smiles and goes to where the others wait in the waiting room area.


   Once there the nurse is barbardoned by questions from the all.

 "How is he? How is my son?"  Gabriel asks.

"Well, he is awake and surprisingly good for someone who went through what he did,"  The nurse begins to explain.

"Good, then I shall see him at once," Mr. Agreste says.

"I  wish to see him as well," Natalie agrees.

"A-Adrien, did he say anything? " Marinette asks.

"Miss Dupain-Cheng, he wishes to speak to you at once," The nurse answers.

"I demand to see my son!"  Gabriel tells them.

"Sorry, but he says he only wishes to see Miss Marinette Dupain-Cheng for the moment," The nurse says. She escorts Marinette to the room where Adrien waits for her.

  The doctor tells Gabriel and Natalie to head home and come back some other time.  Gabriel is not too happy about this but leaves just the same. 

Meanwhile, Marinette enters the room and smiles when she sees him. She walks over to the bed and immediately frowns. She says, "A-Adrien, I-I am h-here, it is m-me, Marinette."

"I leave you two to catch up and let me know if you need anything," The nurse says as she leaves the room.

"M-Marinette, you came to see me," Adrien says.

"Yes, I am h-here, A-Adrien are you okay?"  Marinette asks. She looks rather upset.

"Mari, are those tears in your eyes?"  Adrien asks her.

"Yes, but I..." Marinette answers.

"Marinette, you saved my life," Adrien responds. 

  "I  am s-so s-sorry, you got hurt because of me," Marinette says sadly.

  "It is not your fault, I  could not let someone just harm my b-best fr-friend," Adrien mutters.
 

    Marinette nods her head and thinks, best friend, huh?  Even now you only see me as a best friend. She sighs. She grabs his hand and holds on tight.

    "I was so afraid you would die and I could not lose you, Chat," Marinette says to him.

   "Wait, you know I am Chat, but how?" Adrien asks in confusion.

 "You helped me as Chat, but got hurt and detransformed in front of me.  I have known ever since you were him,"  Marinette says. She does not say a word about her being ladybug though.

    "I see, princess, d-do, not c-cry," Adrien replies. He thinks I hate to see you cry.

   "A-Adrien, what am I to do?"  Marinette asks him.

  "Please do not cry, Marinette. I hate to see you cry." Adrien says.

     Marinette leans over him gently and presses her lips against his forehead. She pulls away and lets go of his hand.  She looks away and thinks, why? why can not you see how much I love you?

     She runs to the door and walks away.  Adrien calls out, "Marinette, do not leave me!"  

       Marinette does not hear him, she runs down the hall, and out the hospital door. She hides and calls out, "Tikki spots on!"  Ladybug swings away to give herself some time alone to think and to clear her head.