Three years later...

School started up again in a few weeks, Alya sat in Mari's small studio, Adrien had insisted on helping her rent a place so that she could have a private place to sew and conduct meetings. She was enjoying one of the last peaceful weekends she had left,  "Mari I want you to start making my wedding dress." 

"WHAT! Did I miss something?" Mari's eyes opened so wide Alya thought she might lose them. 

"What girl no!" Alya laughed, "I told Nino last night that I want to get my degree with his last name so he'd better get moving." 

"Alya! Just gonna make the poor boy rush!" Mari shook her head. 

"Hey, I've got one more year of school left, and I'd like my professional name to be my married name... So I gave him a push." 

"Oh, Alya..." Her best friend laughed at her expense, "Poor Nino." 

"Eh, he'll get over it." Alya shrugged, she was a busy girl. She didn't have her whole life to wait for him. "Should I drop hint to Adrien?" Alya winked. 

"Alya No! Adrien still has three more years of school! I don't want to rush him into anything." Mari busied herself with her sketchbook working on no doubt ruff ideas for the dress she'd just been asked to make. 

"You want him to though don't you?" Alya teased. 

"Well duh! I'd rather be his wife than his roommate, especially if you two get married! But he said the wedding would be a distraction... So I don't push. And he's still undecided if he's doing the last two years, their not mandatory, he could teach with a four-year degree but the extra two years gives him more qualifications. So I'm waiting a year either way. " 

Her phone started dinging, "Well, maybe Nino putting a ring on my figure will help him decide. I'll come by next week to see what design you have come up with but right now I gotta run! My adviser just messaged me, she got an internship for me to look at." Ayla beelined for the door. 

***

"I hope it's the one with Nadja!" Mari giggled as her friend ran out her studio door. She went and pulled out the dress she started for Alya two months ago when Nino bought her ring. It was a muslin so that she and Alya could pick the right fabric. 

Mari...

Yes, Nino? She giggled

What do I do now!!!

You propose as you have planned? Alya will love it. Then get married in November at the start of reading week like you'd been thinking. 

But now it doesn't feel special.  

Oh, Ninny Of course it will. You have her whole family there and yours. Heck, you even invited mine because you want to celebrate. 

Thanks, Mar I needed that. You're still gonna film for me, right?

Duh! Adrien can't be trusted not to break down. 

***

Two weeks later it was family day at the Zoo a great way to end the summer and Nino had Alya's dad save them the spot by the panther cage. Back to where it all started. She'd gonna say yes right?

Stop worrying! Mari shot him a look as she set up her phone to record. Alya and the twins had been looking at the panther. "You know girls, this is was where I decided to give Nino a shot. thanks to Mari and Ladybug." 

"We knew about Ladybug what about Mari?" The now then year twins asked Nino listened in "Well Adrien and I tried to set up Mari and Nino and they figured us out real quick and showed us their smooth dancing skills. So if I hadn't been trying to help Mari I wouldn't have seen a new side if Nino." Alya turned to see him watching her. 

"I love hearing you tell that story." He smirked and kissed her cheek. "I think I wanna hear you tell it the rest of our lives." Taking Alya's hand he got down on one knee, "Alya would you do me the favour of marrying me?" He opened the small box with a ring that had a small black pearl in the center.

"Oh, Nino! Yes! Yes! YES!" She pulled him to his feet and kissed him. 

"Alya! Don't you want your ring?" He laughed breathlessly. 

"Oh! Yes please!" He slipped it on her finger. "Oh, Nino... I love it. I'm glad it's not a white diamond. This is perfect." 

Three months later

Nino took his bride's hand, listing to the priest talk, he quickly glanced to Mari. You did good Nino. Her eyes then wandered to Adrien. 

You too, Nettie you too. 

He looked back to Alya, he took her in again, Mari had made a perfect dress for her. In was a simple silhouette that hugged her body like a glove. Then it was coved in lace and sparkles. She was beautiful. His heart was happy. "You may now kiss the bride." Nino pulled his wife in close and made out with her for all the world to see. 

Later after the pictures were taken and the dinner was served Adrien and Mari stood hand in hand, giving the best man and maid of honour speech. "Nino and I grew up together and I met Alya the same day I met Adrien. And will never forget when these two tried to set up Nino and I." The crowd laughed, "That however started the four of us down the path we are on today. Alya has helped me gain some confidence and helped me find my voice. I am grateful for her." 

"Nino helped me see the world for what it is, rather than what I thought it was. He was my friend and fought for my girlfriend to give me a chance. Without him, I would have the happiness I have." The group got up and shared a hug. Everyone cheered for the group of lovers. 

Five Months Later

Nathalie sat at her desk in Gabriel's office, she never let Adrien meet alone with his father anymore. She'd lost all trust in the man, it had been over five years and he was still trying to win all while ignoring his son. She could take it anymore. She only helped him as Mayura when he threatened her job. She needed a new one, but not till Adrien was taken care of. 

"Father, I came to ask you about mothers engagement ring. Now that I have graduated I want to marry Marinette before I start my new job at Françoise Dupont High School." 

"No." He didn't even look up at his son. 

"What do you mean no?" Adrien looked at Nathalie, she just nodded sadly.

"I allowed you to become a teacher, hoping it would knock some sense into you. I will not let you use your mother's ring on some useless backer girl." He snapped. 

"Useless Baker girl? Father, she's a designer like you! She has a company that sells products around the world, has worked to employ other designers!" Adrien shouted. Nathalie filched Adrien hardly yelled at his father, then again he was never home these days. 

"Look Adrien we not having this conversation. You're not using your mother's ring to marry that girl and if you marry that girl I will disown you. Now get out and think about what I've said." Gabrial never looked up just worked on his design, likely hoping that his actions would lead to an Akuma. At one point she'd admired his love for his wife, but it had been over five years, couldn't he let her body rest? 

"Father her name is Marinette, and I love her with every bone in my body." He took a deep breath as if he was calming himself. Like something Marinette had helped him with. "So whether you like it or not, whether you help or not, I will marry her. So go ahead disown me, you've never been here for me before why would I think that would start now!" He turned and walked out.

Nathalie got up and followed him out. Waited till they were outside the house where she knew Gabrial couldn't see them. "Adrien wait." 

"Nathalie I'm not going back in there to apologized don't make me." Nathalie cringed, he had every right to say that, she used to do that to him. 

"Adrien, I'm not even going to suggest that. Here take this with you." She handed him a yellow folder. "It's the best photo of your mother's ring I could find, the card of a friend of mind who makes rings he'll make one to match your mothers, though I suggest you pick a red or pink stone it seems to be more of her colours. I also gave him a downpayment for the ring as a gift to you. I also have a friend in the courthouse who helped me start the application to change your last name to your mother's and asked the school to put a pause on printing your degree. I've also been slowly moving all your money to your private account and making sure all your payments got to that account as well." 

Adrien just stared at her. He hugged her tightly. "Thank you. So much." 

"I should have been in your corner years ago. Also here" She handed him a card, "It's my address, I told your father my mother needed my help." 

"But Nathalie your mother is..." 

"I know Adrien, but your father doesn't need to remember that. Bring Marinette over some time, I'd love to have dinner with both of you, maybe even help her business." 

He nodded and walked away.

Four Months Later

Adrien Graham de Vanily stood on the steps of Françoise Dupont High School at the end of his first day as a teacher. It was raining but the sun was out so it was very picturesque, the bitter irony he smiled to himself. His girlfriend stood with his old umbrella over her head. She was in a long light pink skirt and a black sweater top, definition of beauty. The ring in his pocket suddenly felt heavy, he had this big romantic this planned for the weekend, but yet this moment felt perfect. 

Nathaniel walked by, he was working as the art teacher at the school, Adrien grabbed his arm. "He Nath, you have your camera on you?" he spook softly

"Always why?" Adrien pulled out the ring and put a finger to his lips. "Would you help me out? I'll pay you for any work you do on the photos." 

"Help you make her dream come true, no need to pay me. Let me set this up for you, go be out of sight." Nathaniel shooed him away. Clearly, this wants his first one of these. He watched Nathaniel go over to Mari. "He Mari! Long time no see!" 

"Oh, Nath! Hey! I didn't know you worked here!" 

"Ya while Marc and I are working on our next comic I'll be working here to make some ends meet. Anyway with the rain and the sunlight and your lovely outfit I was wondering if I could take a few photos of you for my class to show contrast?" 

"Oh yes for course Nath!" 

"Perfect close your eyes and face that way." He pointed away from where Adrien was then gestured for Adrien to come closer. 

He took a few photos of Adrien behind her. "Now turn and open your eyes!" 

"Adrien is this..." 

"Marinette, I have loved you for years now, you are my partner in so many ways. I love you so much and I want to share my life with you." He smiled, "Will you marry me?" 

Mari thought her umbrella down, and fell into his arms, "Of course I'll marry you!" 

They shared eye contact sharing the secret, knowing that Adrien was giving up the family had left for her. And she kissed him telling him she was his family now. 

They got married on New Year's Eve. Adrien's Father didn't show and no one cared. Natalie stood in as Adrien's Parent. Mari wore Her mother's old dress with a few modern twists. Adrien wore an old suit of his, they kept it simple, they got married at the school garden. Mari took a quick glance at Nino. We did it didn't we?

Ya Mari we did. 

With Adiren and Mair's kiss thier lives opened to the next phase.