This would be a timeline where Adrien's identity was not revealed to hawkmoth, and where hawkmoth was still at large.
She held her breath, checking her phone again. What if Alya wasn't even awake? She glanced down at her bracelet, sighing in guilt. Adrien didn't deserve this, but she didn't have a choice. She had done everything she could, to ensure that she would go back to him. She put all of his pictures back up, even going as far as printing some new ones. She left herself a note in her diary, in hopes that it would be read. She tied his lucky charm around her wrist, praying that he took it as a message. She wanted to go back to him. He just had to help her. Alya yanked open the door, and Marinette gave her a sheepish smile. She hadn't slept since prom, and she was riding on seventy-two hours with no sleep, probably more. Chat deserved a better partner, and Adrien deserved a better Marinette. She prayed that this decision would give him that.
"It's three am Mari. What's going on?"
Marinette couldn't answer, moving around Alya. She headed for her bedroom, where she hoped no prying eyes nor ears could reach them. Alya closed the door, following behind silently. They got to her room, and behind the safety of closed doors, Marinette sighed.
"What's wrong?"
Alya asked, looking less bleary eyed by the second. No explanation. Just do. Marinette pulled the bookbag off of her shoulder, unzipping it and pulling out the miracle box.
"Is that-"
Marinette shoved it into Alya's arms, a small look of apology crossing her features.
"Marinette?"
"I Ladybug, Marinette Du-pain Cheng now pass on the duty of Guardian to the new Ladybug, Alya Cesare."
Alya's mouth hung open, a strangled gasp escaping.
"Marinette, no-"
It was too late. It was already done. Her knees gave out, and she sank to the floor. She could no longer see Alya, her vision a blur of memories, some forgotten. Some not. Her parents, bandaging her knee that time she fell at the park. Her mother telling her to smile for the camera, that day at the canal. Flashes of her life, screaming through her mind. Her friends, her family. All of them passed with dizzying speed, and it seemed to slow as it got to the fresher memories. Master fu, his smiles, his kind words.
"Marinette?!'
She heard someone scream, someone she was just with. What was her name? Anna? Amara? It was on the tip of her tounge. Another flash, wild blonde hair and brilliant green eyes.
Oh kitty. I'm sorry.
Who was kitty? Who was this man clad in a leather suit? He was laughing, holding out flowers to her. Did they date? Constant bows and romantic gestures flashed through her mind, and she shook her head, trying to remember his name. Was it kitty? There was no way. Who would name their child that? Perhaps a nickname? Another blonde boy, with a softer disposition. And an umbrella. Did she love him too? Tears welled in her eyes as she tried to remember. This boy was important. She knew it. Why couldn't she remember his face?
"Princess..."
A groan, and another laugh. A beautiful laugh, that made her heart ache with longing. Who? Another memory, of the blonde on the ground, blood coating his already dark clothes. Was he dead? She sighed, tears streaming down her cheeks for this man she had no recollection of. Gentle kisses peppering her lips, making them tingle. She loved this man, whoever he was. He was her soul mate.
"Adrien..."
She whimpered as everything grew dark, and she was lost in an empty void, with no recollection of what belonged there.
Days passed, and she slowly grew to love the people that called themselves her parents. Tom, and Sabine. They were sweet, kind people. She knew she used to love them, there were so many pictures that proved so. But she didn't remember them. She had poured over picture albums for hours with her mother, who tried her best to convince Marinette to remember. But she just couldn't. She tried, she wanted nothing more than to remember them. All of them. The girl that came by constantly, who would always try and fail to hide the tears in her eyes. Alya, her name was. Apparently they had been best friends. The thought was odd to Marinette, the girl seemed so different to what she thought she would look for in a friend. She liked her presence though. She felt oddly familiar. Several others had come by, several who claimed to be her classmates and her friends. Each and every one of them eager to make her remember, but each time, nothing. It felt as if she was missing something. Or someone, other than her memories. An important part of her life. She felt empty, and it was painful. To miss something she couldn't even remember.
"Mari, honey, can you help your father prep the dough?"
She set aside the album, standing and making her way into the kitchen. This was one of the things she found her muscle memory knew. It remembered baking. She worked the dough tirelessly, thankful to do something that she remembered. Or at least, her body remembered. She wished it was as easy for her mind to pick up on things like that. Lately she had been plauged with nightmares, of the boy on her bedroom wall. He was crying, or covered in blood, or kissing her. Who was he? He certainly hadn't visited her. Perhaps a celebrity crush? But that didn't explain the bloodstained nightmares. She finished with the dough, setting it aside.
"Can you go grab another sack of flower? The store around the corner sells it."
Her father asked, placing some money into her hand. She smiled, and nodded, dusting off her hands. She walked to the front of the bakery, stopping short once she looked out the window.
"Maman? Do we have an umbrella?"
Maman? Where had that come from? She turned to look at her mother, who was smiling with teary eyes.
"Sorry, no umbrella. If you run, you should be fine."
Her father called in response, and her mother nodded her head. Marinette knew it was to keep from sobbing, and she offered her a gentle smile before stepping out into the storm. She paused under the awning, staring out at the pouring rain. A man stood next to her, holding a black umbrella.
"It's really coming down, huh?"
He asked, and his voice sent heat sizzling through her. Odd.
"Yeah."
She chuckled, stealing a glance at him from the corner of her eye. Blonde hair, handsome. Really handsome. Wow. He turned to her, and her breath caught in her throat. It was him. The boy that adorned her bedroom walls. Enchanting green eyes, and a soft, familiar smile.
"Here."
He extended his hand, holding his umbrella out to her. She took it, her heart suddenly hammering. Why, why was this so familiar? He stepped off the stoop and into the rain, shooting her an award winning smile.
"I miss you princess."
'I love you princess.'
Echoed in the back of her mind, and she stared at him, unsure of what to make of it. Why did she remember that? Had he said that to her before? He looked mildly disappointed, before turning and walking away. Her heart ached, a sharp pain slicing through it as well as her mind. She couldn't let him leave. Not now. She stared at his retreating figure, her heart breaking with each step he took.
'I'm gonna marry that girl someday.'
Who?
'I love you Mari.'
He did?
'Please don't leave me.'
She felt the umbrella slip from her fingers, hitting the ground. It bounced and circled her, but the umbrella was of no importance to her.
That damn umbrella.
How could she have forgotten? Her partner? Her best friend? Her soulmate. Tears welled in her eyes, remembering a life she had purposefully forgotten. Her feet were moving before her brain could comprehend, running down the street after him.
Black umbrellas and black butterflies.
She choked back a sob, running harder. Stupid. All of it had been stupid. She regretted everything. Everything, except for him. Flashes now, flashes of a time she had almost accepted forgetting. A sweet boy, with terrible puns and enchanting smiles. A jealous kitten, and a drunk one.
'You scared the fuck out of me.'
She flinched at the tone that one held, her legs aching as her feet pounded against the sidewalk.
'You're not invincible Mari.'
'Come home with me.'
She sobbed again, her heart breaking. She had abandoned him. She rounded the corner, almost sliding on the slick pavement. She could see him now, drenched. His arms were wrapped around his body, and his shoulders shook with each step.
"Adrien!"
Her scream cut through the rain, and he stopped, whirling around to look at her.
'Mi'lady.'
She heard his voice echo, though the boy in front of her said nothing.
'Purr-incess.'
She wailed, throwing her arms around his neck, practically colliding with him. He wrapped his arms around her without hesitation, hugging her tightly.
"Marinette?"
He asked, and she could feel the question vibrate throughout his chest, knowing he had said it, and that it wasn't another memory.
"I'm sorry!"
She cried into his shirt, and he seemed to collapse with her, both of them sinking to the drenched sidewalk. He was crying as hard as she was, his entire body trembling as he hugged her back.
"You... you remember me?"
He asked in disbelief, and she leaned up, pressing her lips to his. How could she have ever forgotten those lips? Those eyes?
"I love you Chatton."
She whispered when she finally pulled back, and he sobbed, pulling her into his chest again, as if he was afraid that she would suddenly vanish from beneath his finger tips.
"I love you too Marinette."
His voice was broken, and she closed her eyes, running over the fresh memories in her head. He was her missing piece. Him, and Tiki.
"Don't ever, ever do that to me again."
He whimpered, and she hugged him tighter, nodding in agreement. She now knew what it was to lose him, completely. And her heart and body ached for him the entire time, while her head was none the wiser. She couldn't live without him. Not without feeling incomplete. Not without wanting.
"I promise."
This was another way it could have ended. Obviously, with more details and pacing if I had chosen this route.
Um, I have a favor to ask of you. I don't know what the purpose of the star things are, I don't really care. I know they're votes, which is great if you want to vote, but totally fine if not. What I will ask you to do though, is leave a comment for me. I love feedback, and I would really like to know if you enjoyed it. Thanks again for reading, I really appreciate it.