Epilogue

Apparently bread in French is the same word as pain in English. Pain. Marinette found that to be quite amusing. She loved bread. When she was in the hospital recovering all she would eat was bread. Bread with butter, bread with jam, bread covered in Nutella, she would have it all. It would distract her from the pain. She relished in the pain, though. Not in a masochistic way -she was actually quite miserable- but being human made it worth it. After weeks in the hospital, undergoing surgeries and physical therapy, Marinette was allowed to leave, in a wheelchair. Her back had been broken and she was never going to walk again. Many pitied her for having to live her entire life in a chair, but she was happy. A life in a chair was still a life and she was going to make it an amazing... no... a miraculous one. After all, her being alive in the first place was notihng less than a miracle.

Tabloids wondered why the famous Adrien Agreste, inventor, model, millionaire, and the biggest heart-throb in Paris settled himself with the girl in the chair. Tabloids that liked to stir up trouble wrote that his relationship with Marinette was nothing more than a publicity stunt and he was really dating Paris's "sweetheart," Chloe. Both Adrien and Chloe laughed at that headline. Alya took it upon herself to release an article including interviews from Adrien, Marinette and Chloe, the latter there mostly to confirm there was nothing going on between her an Adrien. Once the article release the rumors died down and Adrien and Marinette were free to live a happy life together.

And they did.

"Adrien," it was snowing and Marinette and Adrien were seated on the couch, Marinette leaning on the blonde, resting her head on his shoulder. Adrien held a video game controller in his hands and Marinette smiled as the man she loved frustratedly tried to solve the puzzle on screen. "Adrien, I think you need to grind a bit more for this boss," she laughed.

He shook his head. "Nope. I'll be fine. It's the first boss, Marinette. The pervy teacher is going down!"

"Seriously! Better safe than sorry, right?"

"You said that when we were choosing the level difficulty!" He laughed. "I was going to go on normal mode but someone said safe would be much better!"

"Don't even start Mr. Agreste! We compromised. Easy mode. You can still die!"

"I've got my lucky charm right here." He readjusted on the couch so Marinette was now sitting on his lap, his arms holding the controller around her waist. "Nothing can hurt me when you're here." He smugly kissed her cheek, causing her to roll her eyes.

"Why don't we make a bet then? If you lose this boss then you have to do whatever I want." She moved her hands so they were on the outside of his, not getting in the way of his controls, but supporting him. "And if you win I have to do whatever you want."

Adrien smirked. This wasn't his first time playing this game. He was confident in his abilities and he still believed as long as Marinette was with him he would have assured victory. "Fine then," he said, "it's a deal." He knew exactly what he was going to ask for.

Adrien moved the character into the boss room and the fight ensued, Adrien defeating the boss with ease. They watched the cut scene following the fight and Adrien saved at the first possible opportunity. Marinette's arms were crossed over her chest and she was pouting. "You still shouldn't have risked it. You should have grinded more so you're leveled up for the next palace."

"Shouldn't have risked it?" he laughed at the irony of her words. "What do you mean I shouldn't have risked it? You're the queen of risks, M'Lady." He took her hands in his, swung Marinette so she was back on the could and no longer in his lap before bringing her hands to his lips, kissing them, kissing each finger.

"What are you doing?" she asked. She felt heat rising to her face, an experience that she was still getting used to. Temperatures were interesting. She didn't know what it was like to be cold or to be warm. Adrien's breath against her hands was warm and she knew she liked that sensation better than being cold.

"I'm trying to decide something." He took her hands away from his lips and opened them up, examining her hands in great detail. "Silver or gold? Which do you prefer?" he asked.

"Why?"

"For my prize. I won remember." He was still looking at her hands and Marinette felt her heart speed up, her breaths becoming more shallow.

"Rose gold," she said, "as a matter of fact. That's my favorite."

"Diamonds or sapphires?"

She licked her lips and tried to not make a big deal out of what was happening. He could be talking about a necklace, couldn't he? He was just looking at her hands because... because he like them. "Opals."

"At a church or a hotel?"

This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be happening because of a stupid video game. "Outside."

"Big or small?"

This was happening. He hadn't said the words but the way he was stroking her left ring finger and now looking in her eyes... "Just our friends."

"When?" she could see the nervousness in Adrien's eyes, the tenseness in his shoulders, as he asked.

"Right now." She said the word like it was a breath of air and a large smile consumed the entirety of Adrien's face.

"Right now?"

She nodded. "Yeah," a laugh started to bubble in her throat, "right now."

"You'll marry me right now?" He looked at her like she was made of stars, like everything she had said was completely out of reach.

"I will. I mean, Nino can officiate, can't he? We just need him Alya and Chloe! Why should we wait?"

Adrien was laughing, tears in the corners of his eyes from pure joy. He lifted Marinette from the couch and put her in her wheelchair. "Alright, let's go get married." He kissed the top of her head once he set her down and pressed his forehead to hers. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

A robot learning to love and becoming human, something Adrien never thought could happen had happened. His life was stranger than fiction, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

The end! I hope y'all enjoyed this short story!