Adrien took a deep breath and splashed water on his face. He patted his face down on a flimsy paper towel in the restroom in the concert hall. The pianist ran a hand through his blond locks before meeting his own eyes in the mirror again. He quickly fixed his dark tie and tried another breathing exercise. He felt like he was on the verge of another panic attack. Adrien felt like he was going to be sick.

He left the men's restroom and headed outside where he was going to meet Alya. It was now or never. Adrien was committed to his plan. He shook hands with a few people in the hall and finally felt like he could breathe again once he was outside. The nighttime air seemed to clear his lungs and head. The next few hours were going to be the hardest of his life. Adrien was going to stand up to his father again. The urge to be sick kept its claws in his throat.

He coughed hoping it would make the feeling subside but it didn't. Adrien waited for a few minutes. The belly dancer wasn't here yet and he was almost glad. It gave him time to breathe, time to compose himself. It was going to be a long night. He looked down at his hands to notice that they were shaking. He stuffed them in his pockets praying that they would stop.

Alya approached him uneasily. Nino was holding her hand and by her side was a blonde woman. Her piercing green eyes stared down at him and he felt his heart swell.

"Adrien, this is my good friend Anastasia but I think you already know her." Alya laughed awkwardly. The other woman smiled and it took him a minute to recognize her. The last time he had saw her was years ago.

"Mom!" He yelled in disbelief. Adrien ran to her and hugged her. He could hear the cameras click and see the flashes but it didn't matter. This was his mother. He couldn't believe it was really her. It was like a dream come true. She squeezed him and held him tight against her. Questions began to seep into his mind. How would this disrupt his plan? Gabriel might end up stopping the whole ballet for her.

"Alya told me everything. I'm sorry I left you alone with your father. I never meant to hurt you." She broke away from him to touch his face. "I'm here to make things right. I'm going to talk with your father. You'll be okay." His mother who now called herself Anastasia promised. His mother's new name echoed in his ears. He had heard Marinette talk about this woman before. Had she really been so close to him all this time?

He didn't have time for this. He still had to talk with Gabriel. "Mom," Adrien paused. "There's so much I have to say to you but I don't really have the time. Please say that you'll be here after the show is over. I want to talk about everything as a family. Please don't leave again." Anastasia's face softened with his words and she nodded. Adrien grabbed her hand and motioned for Alya to follow. Together they walked through the line. Adrien smacked a few hundred on the counter to receive their tickets he had held. The clerk brought another ticket from the stack with a look of astonishment. Anastasia smiled at him. A star had just returned to the light of course he was staring.

Adrien turned once he entered the hall to give Alya the tickets. Adrien turned to his mother. "Don't let Gabriel see you, though you're probably already trending..." He trailed off with a sigh. "I need to speak with Gabriel before things get out of hand."

"Was this your plan?" Alya looked at Anastasia. "Reveal yourself to the whole world as Anastasia Bronwen?" The older woman nodded like it wasn't a big deal. "Gabriel is going to flip." She drew back like she was thinking.

Anastasia shrugged. "That was the point."

Alya grabbed his wrist. "What's the plan? I need to know these things." Her eyes conveyed nothing but seriousness.

"Find a way to sit as close as you can to the front." Adrien explained quietly. "Marinette will be dancing lead." He watched as Alya's eyes went wide with shock. Adrien could see his mother skeptical expression, doubt clouded her green eyes. "I have to see Gabriel right now. If you would please excuse me... Mom could you show them the way?" She nodded quickly and ushered them through the doors.

Adrien didn't look back as he walked away. He was about to do something extremely out of character for him. He just hoped that Marinette would understand his actions.

Adrien just hoped that this would make her believe him. Marinette was the only real thing to him. She was his everything. The fact that she didn't believe him hurt him beyond words. There was still a gaping hole in his chest. They haunted him at night when he couldn't sleep. The syllables taunted him when he couldn't breathe. Their noise broke him to pieces.

If he could just make one thing right then maybe, just maybe, things would work out. Maybe there would be a happy ending.

Adrien took a deep breath and knocked on his father's door. He had to do this. There was no other way to set things right. He heard his father's cold voice through the door. He took another shaky breath before entering. "What is it Adrien?" Gabriel was dressed in a black suit with a deep red tie. He looked nice but his eyes were a void that seemed to suck away Adrien's breath.

"I need to-" Adrien's voice shook with anxiety. He cleared his throat before continuing. "I need to talk you about Ladybug." That seemed to have caught his father's attention. The director rose an eyebrow at his son urging him to continue. "I won't play if Marinette isn't the lead."

Silence filled the space in between the two. "Excuse me?" Gabriel looked calm but Adrien knew that he wasn't. "Could you repeat that again?"

"I said, I won't be playing in your ballet if Marinette isn't Ladybug." Adrien balled his fist. His nails dug into the skin of his palm. "You will need to find yourself another accompanist in the next ten minutes or you won't have a show." The pianist said more firmly.

Gabriel laughed. Adrien was taken back. He wasn't sure what to do. "You want your lover to be the lead? How is that different from me making Chloe the lead?" The older man asked. The gleam was different in his eyes.

"It's completely different. Marinette and I haven't seen each other in months..." Adrien trailed off. "And you and I both know that she deserves it more that anyone. Can't you see it? Marinette was meant to be Ladybug!" He rose his voice trying to convey how much he believed in her. Adrien would always believe in Marinette.

"Let me get this straight... You want me to change Ladybug and jeopardize my ballet so you can win back a girl?" Gabriel fumed. "That's nonsense. I will not."

Adrien smiled, he relaxed because he knew this was the exact reaction he would get. His nails stopped digging into his hand, he tilted his head before speaking. "Then find yourself another pianist because I'm not doing it."

Gabriel tensed like he couldn't quite believe what was happening. "You will do as I say Adrien!" How much time before the ballet did he have left? He had to hurry.

Adrien wanted to roll his eyes but refrained from doing so. "I'm not playing in Miraculous if Chloe is the lead. Although Marinette may hate me, I'm in love with her. Don't tell me you wouldn't do the same for mom!" Adrien yelled. That shut the older man up immediately. "I'm serious about her. I'm serious about this. If Marinette isn't on that stage, mom and I are walking out of here and we're never coming back. Do you understand?" Adrien grit his teeth.

"Your mother is here? You've seen my wife?" Gabriel's face softened like he couldn't quite believe what was going on.

"News flash! She's Anastasia. She's been here the whole time!" Adrien threw his hands up in exasperation. "So Marinette will be dancing as Ladybug." He said firmly. "You don't have a say anymore."

Gabriel took a deep breathe like he still didn't understand why Adrien needed Marinette to dance as Ladybug. Adrien remained silent, too scared to move or do anything. The cold calculating stare seemed to go right through him and he breathed out. He just backed his own father into an impossible corner. "Okay. Okay. Marinette will be dancing as the lead. We have a lot to do. Go get ready."

Adrien could feel his hands stop shaking. He was still nervous but just the fact that he would be seeing Marinette on stage instantly soothed any worry he felt. "How do I know you're not lying?" He asked hesitantly.

"Adrien, you mean the world to me. I love you and your mother more than anything in this mundane life," He took a breath before continuing. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you."

"You did lose me for a little bit." Adrien laughed nervously but felt better hearing his father's words. He didn't know how much he needed them.

"I know and I'm sorry." Gabriel straightened his tie in an uncomfortable manner. Adrien knew he was struggling. "I guess I have to make this right?" He cracked a smile and the cold facade cracked for a split second.

Adrien felt like he could breathe again. Air seemed to fill his lungs and bring him back to life. "I'll see you out there." He waved awkwardly because he wasn't sure what to do. The air between them seemed less tense but they were far from fixed, they were still a bit broken. Gabriel walked briskly behind him already yelling at costume designers and dancers. The backstage erupted in chaos as Gabriel shouted the new cast change.

Adrien stepped away and made his way over to the front of the stage. He could see his mother talking to a small crowd in the audience and Alya seemed to be praying in her second row seat. Adrien took a seat at his piano bench. Gabriel must have had someone move it from his apartment. He smiled softly. He was comfortable and there was no phantom pain in his fingers. Adrien organized the sheet music and began to play some soft music to gather the attention of the auditorium.

A hush fell over the crowd and many hurried to their seats. He closed his eyes, playing like he had before he found out about Chloe. This was his music. This was really him. He opened his eyes just as Gabriel stepped out. He glanced at Adrien before meekly smiling. He spoke about the work the dancers put in, about the dancers who couldn't perform because of injuries, and that he appreciated everyone that showed up. Gabriel briefly mentioned all the artists that contributed to his ballet and the bigger companies that allowed the dancers to work under him.

The lights dimmed as he walked off stage. Adrien waited a few seconds before beginning the first song. Soft sounds escaped his piano as the lights came on. In the middle of the stage stood a woman with midnight colored pigtails. Marinette seemed nervous yet her nerves went along with the music perfectly. Ladybug's first song painted her in careful and cautious light and Marinette was able to achieve it. He watched her out of the corner of his eye as he played. Adrien felt like he knew this song like the back of his hand.

Alya watched her best friend with proud tears in her eyes. Anastasia held her own hands tight against her chest like she knew all along that it would end up like this. Adrien thought Marinette looked beautiful.

The first song ended quicker than he imagined. Marinette nailed the last move with her hands in a beautiful position. Adrien noticed the small additions Marinette added to the moves. He could tell that the audience did as well, they were practically silent and waiting for her next move even though the song was over. She was blending belly dance and ballet again. Adrien felt that way when watching her dance too. She stepped off stage and Chat Noir and his friends walked on and Adrien started the fast paced music. The rest of the ballet passed quickly as Marinette melted into the lead.

The intermission came sooner than he expected. The lights came back on and the crowd buzzed with excitement about the second act. He stayed at the piano because he was tired. Adrien took a gulp of his water bottle as his mother and friends approached him. Anastasia held out her hands and he hesitantly handed her his. Adrien knew she was trying to help but it only made painful memories flash before his eyes. He just really missed his mother and she missed out on the biggest parts of his life.

Anastasia began to massage his tired fingers in the way she used to only do when he was first learning the instrument. Adrien's chest warmed at her familiar movements. Alya spoke excitedly about her best friend and her dancing. Adrien hung onto every word though. If he wanted to he could probably talk about her all day.

"How much longer before the solo?" Anastasia asked letting go of his hands. The nostalgic feeling around him faded with her warmth. The question snapped him back into reality.

"One more song." He said shuffling the beautiful pieces before settling on the next song. It was another dance between Ladybug and Chat Noir. He didn't even have the time to be jealous. Adrien sighed. His father hadn't even looked in his direction all night and had escaped backstage before the intermission. Adrien was sure it was because he had ruined the director's opening night.

Alya spoke to Nino in a hushed voice and Anastasia still looked slightly uncomfortable in the hall. It was not an ideal situation to be in. Adrien studied the music like that would calm the nervous feeling inside of him. He knew the song by heart but with the heavy feeling in the air he was sure he would mess up. Mixing the last few measures and going completely off tempo were his main worries, he tapped out the fast beat on his leg.

He was broken from his musical trance by his fake ex fiancée. Chloe wore yellow with white and black stripes. She was dancing as one of the bees. She nodded to Alya and Nino before turning her attention back to Adrien. "Marinette wants to know if you have your piece memorized." She said quietly. He nodded completely in awe that Marinette was thinking of him at a time like this. Chloe breathed out relieved. "Then watch her solo."

"I've already seen her solo." Adrien blinked a few times trying to understand why.

"Since you still owe me... I'm cashing in my favor for this. Watch Marinette's solo, please." Chloe's eyes seemed warm with all the red curtains surrounding them. He nodded again still not processing why he would need to watch her dance. The bee walked away before he had time to ask her another question.

"Why does everyone keep planning things tonight?" He asked and Nino patted his back sympathetically.

The lights flashed and his heart dropped again. The ending of the ballet was approaching and once it ended everything would be different. Adrien knew things couldn't stay the same especially after everything he had done. Adrien prayed that it was a good change.

The song started fast paced and complex. It was the start of the argument between the two leads. Marinette was still dancing carefully while Chat Noir seemed to become faster and dance with more anger. The two different forces were clashing and just as soon as they met they separated into their respected parts, chaos and order. Adrien hit the final note as Chat Noir stormed off, leaving behind a broken girl in the center of the stage.

Adrien took a breath before beginning his piece. The lighting became softer as Marinette began to dance. He was nervous. The pianist was scared to meet her eyes because it would be the first time in months that they would be looking at each other at the same time. Their awful encounter in his apartment had torn them to pieces.

Adrien looked up at the girl that had stole his heart and saw that she had completely changed her solo. The uneasiness that had been suffocating him all year finally passed. He felt like he could breathe again. He felt his music again. Marinette danced beautifully to his piece. He had basically wrote it for her so it made sense, but seeing it in person practically brought him to tears. She was just so beautiful.

Marinette's original solo had a sorrowful tone to it yet her new graceful and purposeful movements had a certain shakiness that made it seem all too personal. Adrien held his breath as he watched the girl he loved finally achieve what she was meant to do. Marinette wasn't Ladybug when she was dancing, she was Marinette. This was a piece that was meant for reflection, forgiveness, and the realization of Ladybug's feelings yet somehow it felt like it belonged entirely to Marinette. The ballerina seemed to dance in a way that made it seem like she forgave him. Adrien didn't want to look down at the keys, he just wanted to watch her dance.

The soft sounds coming from the piano complimented her subtle hip and hand movements. Marinette had mixed in her style into Ladybug's careful and calculated movements. Ladybug was Marinette just as much as Marinette was Ladybug. In that moment Adrien knew everything was going to be all right.

Marinette timed the song perfectly to her twirls. Right as the last note faded the dancer stopped her turn and bowed. Marinette was breathing heavily and just like that it was over. Their love, their hate, their everything. It was all over.

Adrien met Marinette's eyes and she gave him a tearful smile. She stepped twirled off stage and he was brought back to when she danced down the concert hall aisles during the auditions. Juleka and Lila ran onto stage and Adrien played their song. Something about the air felt different so Adrien knew that something had changed. Yet, he wasn't sure why his chest still ached like he was missing a piece of himself.

The following songs played and before Adrien could blink he was finishing the last measure of the ballet. He always lost time when he played but when he looked up the dancers were coming on for their final bows. His heart picked up for some reason like some invisible force shocked him awake. Gabriel waved to his adoring audience and applauded his two leads. The crowd's praise was loud and not a single person was sitting. He was whisked on to the stage and he waved and smile at the people who had just heard him play for hours.

He was too preoccupied to match other's enthusiasm. His unwritten songs were ringing in his ears finally finishing after all this time. Adrien felt the need to write them all down, like they would disappear if he didn't hold onto the tightly. Backstage was a mess as people were undressing and still running around trying to kill off the buzz they got from preforming.

Anastasia would be heading backstage soon and he would have to have the hardest and probably longest conversation of his whole life in the next few minutes. The hallway that led to Gabriel's makeshift room was quiet and almost completely empty. Adrien looked up from his black shoes to notice Marinette walking toward him.

She walked with her head high and seemed to radiate confidence. Adrien thought she looked amazing in the dark Ladybug red. Right as she was about to pass him he stopped, grabbing her wrist to turn her around. Her light blue eyes went wide when they took in the sight of him.

Adrien let her go with a shaky breath. "I'm sorry, Marinette."

She smiled a little. "It's okay... I was just startled." Marinette nudged him playfully. "A little heads up would have been nice."

Adrien shook his head unable to meet her eyes. "No... I mean for everything. The lying, the fight, and the surprises. I'm sorry for everything." Marinette's smile fell slightly at his words. "Chloe and I were technically engaged. It wasn't consensual. It was forced. I never wanted to marry her and I didn't want to bring you into my drama, but I know it was wrong to keep it from you. I never meant to hurt you. " He took a deep breath and she tried to cut him off but he only held up his hands.

"It was stupid, immature, and such an asshole move on my part." He laughed nervously. "Making you lead isn't my apology and it isn't my way of winning you back either. I don't want you to think I pulled some strings in hopes for your forgiveness. I'm genuinely trying to make this right." Adrien breathed out.

"I know."

Adrien's gaze snapped away from the floor to her. Her blue eyes held a sorrowful mixture. "What?" He asked, his voice cracking slightly.

"I know. I was in the concert hall practicing the night you and Gabriel argued... Then Alya helped me put the pieces together. I know and I'm sorry you had to go through that alone, and I'm sorry that you didn't think I would be there for you during all that." The hurt was seeping back into her voice but she cleared her throat. "I forgive you, but I think I still need a little time." Her eyes reflected their kiss on the ice and their other memories that he held so dear. Adrien missed her so much.

He laughed a bit. Clutching his music sheets in his hands as he tried to blink away the tears. "I've been waiting to hear that all my life it seems." Adrien wiped at his eyes. "Thank you, Marinette." The ballerina nodded and brushed his tears away with her thumb.

Adrien stepped away from her when he remembered his parents. "Seems I need time too... There's so much I have to do and sort out in the next few months before I'll be worthy of you. So I'm just asking that you do a little waiting." She nodded like she understood. "I want to take it slow this time. I want to make sure that you'll never be able to doubt my feelings for you ever again. You won't need to ask if it's real you'll just know it." Marinette let out a little laugh as he began to walk down the hall.

"I expect to be back in that diner booth with you in a couple of months!" Marinette exclaimed happily.

"How'd you know sharing a strawberry milk was going to be our second first date?" Adrien smiled at the light feeling fluttering in his chest and spreading throughout his whole body. Marinette laughed and waved a small goodbye

Adrien stopped outside the door and listened for a moment. Agitated voiced escaped from the crack under the door but he still pushed forward and gripped the handle. It was cold to the touch but it wasn't anything he wasn't used to. Adrien was ready for whatever faced him beyond the door. He felt he was finally about to face the world.

Though the dancer was out of sight, Adrien could have swore that she was there with him. Maybe it was because she became a part of him or maybe it was because he could still feel the faintest trace of her touch on his skin. Either way Adrien could do anything for Marinette.

He had done it all for her to begin with.