Requested by cari_the_queen

I apologize for the super long wait on this and I thank you for being so patient with me. I hope you enjoy it.

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World renowned fashion designer, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, has finally achieved her highest goal when she is hired by her favorite fashion icon, Gabriel Agreste and able to start her own company under his name. With a promising future ahead of her, Marinette doesn't believe anything can stop her from living out her dreams.

But when she is suddenly diagnosed with cancer, Marinette's life takes an unexpected and drastic turn. She is forced to put her life on hold as she goes through treatment and is admitted into full-time care under hospital surveillance.

She doesn't think her life can get any worse from here.

Until she discovers her private nurse is none other than her boss's son, Adrien Agreste.

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"Marinette, I'm afraid we have some terrible news to address with you."

It's the one thing no one wants to hear, and they are the words no one is prepared to accept. Marinette should know—it's not every day you have to live with the undying fact that you have cancer. An illness like that is what puts your life on hold, takes you away when you're not ready to hang up the apron yet, and crushes all known success you've made over the years into pieces.

"Mama, papa... there's something I have to tell you both."

It's the kind of news no child wants to have to tell their parents. The look of distraught and pain on their faces pained Marinette in more ways than she could ever express. Her mother gasped behind her shaking hands while her father tried to control the erratic pounding in his head by the news. Their tears flowed heavily as they questioned why this had happened—what had caused it—when did she first discover she had this illness. Marinette didn't have the answers they were hoping to hear. She had no idea why something like this was happening to her.

It just didn't seem fair.

"H-Hey, Alya... I've got some bad news."

It's the one phrase no friend is prepared to hear—especially when said friend had been through it all your entire life. The worst news anyone can receive is when someone is dying, but it's even more agonizing when you don't know how long the person has left. Alya was too appalled as she cried into Marinette's shoulder, begging her best friend not to leave her in this world alone.

Marinette wished she could have made a promise like that.

Instead, Marinette found herself only a few weeks later in a hospital bed—in a room that had been permanently claimed as hers when she could no longer get up in the mornings on her own, in her own home. When it came to office work, Alya and Nino took control over her company and kept it up and running... until Marinette could figure out if she would ever be able to return to her work. Every time the couple visited Marinette, Alya assured her that she would be back on her feet in no time.

But Marinette didn't believe that, which is why she signed off her company to Alya and Nino both, adding that statement into her will without her best friends knowing. If she was going to die, Marinette wanted her success to be handed off to people whom she knew she could trust with her life.

Which made Alya and Nino the perfect candidates.

"I brought you some chocolates." Alya stated softly as she entered the room that evening, a gift bag with a balloon tied to the handle dangling on the crook of her arm. From the corner of her eye, Marinette could make out Nino who stood hesitantly by her side, unsure if he could enter. He'd been here plenty of times and yet, he always felt like he was never welcomed. Marinette offered them both a soft smile, thought it probably looked more pained than anything.

Everything felt too exhausting to do nowadays.

As the couple drew nearer to her bed, Marinette tried to sit up straighter. But even moving a single muscle on her own, in her own body, felt too exhausting. She watched sadly as Alya offered her a pained and smile and knelt at the side of her bed.

"Just relax, Marinette."

But Marinette was tired of relaxing. She was tired of sitting still—tired of letting this disease dictate how she should spend the rest of the days she had left. As much as Alya assured her that Marinette still had plenty of time to live, the ravenette knew better than to hope on that. She knew she was dying. It was only just a matter of time.

"How are you feeling, Marinette?" Nino asked softly. He was still standing, his hands shoved deep into his pockets as he watched her with a concerned expression.

Marinette did her best to shrug her shoulders. "Not much different from the last time you asked me that, Nino."

Nino chuckled, though, there was nothing humorous in his laugh. It was more pained than anything and Marinette didn't blame him. He had been hoping for better news—for something to change positively. Him and Alya both hoped for that. But Marinette didn't really hope anymore. She simply waited.

She simply waited for her time to be up.

"I've been thinking..." Alya began in a soft whisper, and Marinette turned her gaze from Nino's to hers the moment her best friend had spoken. Alya looked unsure if what she was about to say was a good idea, and Marinette watched as Nino placed a comforting hand to his wife's shoulder. "...well, I've been thinking about hiring a private nurse for you, Mari. Someone who can help you with tasks like bathing, changing... getting around places. Even keeping you company when we're not around."

Marinette rolled her eyes to that. "I don't need to 'get around' anywhere. I'm basically in bed arrest."

"Marinette, Nino and I can't be here every day to help you." Alya tried to explain, placing a hand to her best friend's forearm. "And whether you like it or not, you need a lot of supervised help. I just want you to be able to feel more comfortable. Besides, it would give me a lot of comfort knowing that someone is here checking on you daily, who can update me on everything so I never miss a thing. It would make us both less worried all the time."

Marinette looked between her two best friends. She knew deep down in her heart that Alya was right. Having someone to be completely devoted to her schedule and help her with whatever she needed would be a good idea. But at the same time, Marinette wasn't sure how she felt about a stranger knowing everything about her situation.

Instead of voicing those thoughts out aloud though, Marinette asked, "How will you even find someone so truly devoted?"

Alya's smile widened, as if she hadn't been expecting the ravenette to actually consider a private nurse—which Marinette wouldn't have, under different circumstances. But Marinette also knew rejecting this would be inconsiderate to her best friends. They had lives as well, as well as running her company full time. Nino and Alya deserved a bit of a break from all the chaos she was creating. "Mari, you'd be surprised at how many people devote their lives to helping others. I already have someone who I think would be perfect for you."

"Who?" Marinette raised a confused brow.

"You'll see, once I get him back on the phone." Alya winked.

"Him?"

"Yes, he's a him."

"Alya, you never said the nurse would be a he."

"He, she, it... does it really matter?"

"I think it should matter... considering that this said nurse will be subjected to help me bathe."

"Marinette," Alya offered her best friend a saddened smile. "He's one of the best private nurses out there. I've got his resume and everything and he has great experience in exactly what you need. Who knows... maybe you both could become friends too."

"Don't push it, Alya." Nino said softly from behind her, a small frown on his lips as he watched the scene play out.

Marinette nodded towards Alya. "Yeah, listen to your husband, Al. It's biblical."

Alya shook her head and frowned. "Marinette, as much as you think it won't be beneficial, I think making a new friend—"

"Would be pointless and heartbreaking." Marinette finished for her. "Imagine what would happen if I didn't make it, and my new friend had to grieve over me. Why would I put someone through that kind of misery when I can just avoid it altogether?"

Alya's smile faltered the moment those words left her best friend's lips. "Marinette, don't say that. You're going to make it—"

"Al, there's a big chance I won't."

"But there's also a chance that you will!" Alya insisted, the tears already forming on the bottom of her eyelids. "You just have to think positively... okay? For me?"

Marinette didn't know what else to say except nod.

After Nino and Alya left that evening, Marinette contemplated Alya's words. For her best friend, she would do anything. For Nino, she would do anything... but having hope for something that she already knew the answer to was not something she could do. When they were around, she would try her best to be positive and smile.

Yes, that she could promise.

But when she was alone...

...she could only wait for the inevitable.

The next day is when the private nurse showed. She'd been asleep when he arrived—sleep had been the one thing she could hardly get nowadays with all the pain she experienced. So when she felt someone nudge her shoulder gently, Marinette groaned and tried her best to swat the mysterious person away. She was too tired to even peak an eye open to see who it was. If it was one of the hospital maids trying to convince her to eat breakfast again, she was certainly going to pretend to play dead this time around.

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng?"

And then, she realized the voice of the person that was trying to get her attention, was not a female.

Slowly, Marinette turned to face the stranger. The moment she did meet his eyes, however, she regretted her decision.

Darn Alya and all her ridiculous plots and schemes.

"Uh, hi. Good morning! I'm Adrien Agreste, and I'll be your personal and private nurse for the time being."

Marinette's eyes widened as she stared him down from head to toe. Adrien Agreste, the son of Gabriel Agreste, who is also her superior and her reason for success! Not to mention that she had attended high-school with Adrien back in the day, and that he had been her crush for many many years!

Oh, Alya was so going to hear it from her!

"Wow," Marinette muttered and laughed dryly, offering him a deadpanned look. "I honestly thought that my life could not get any worse, but apparently it can."

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"Marinette, you didn't really say that to him... did you?"

"Oh I did, and I have no shame whatsoever." Marinette muttered dryly, her phone pinned between her shoulder and her cheekbone as she scrolled through the channels on her tv. It was already dark outside, indicating that night had fallen, and Adrien had yet to return to the room from a dinner meeting he was obligated to attend to that evening.

Dinner. If only she was able to stand on her own two feet in heels. Marinette would give anything to have a nice dinner with someone again—preferably a love interest. But she didn't have much luck in that department either.

Ever since the heartbreak she experienced with Adrien back in high-school, Marinette hadn't bothered to put herself back out there. Instead, she devoted everything to her carrier. And look where she was now.

Stuck in a hospital. Counting down her days.

"I think you should treat the person who is caring for you a bit more kindly."

Marinette rolled her eyes. "Why would you even ask him to be my private nurse? I didn't even know he went into the medical field, but that's beside the point. The point is, you out of all people should know why this is the worst idea ever formulated."

Alya sighed through the device. "Originally, it was never my intension to hire Adrien Agreste to be your personal nurse. I didn't even know he was a nurse. But apparently, Nino kept in touch with him over the years and accidentally mentioned to him over the phone that you were under hospital care until further notice, and that we were looking to hire a private nurse for you—"

"Of course he did. Your husband always did have a big mouth—"

"And Adrien offered his help, Marinette. What was I supposed to say? 'No, Adrien. Sorry, but Marinette no longer wishes to have you in her life?'"

Marinette hummed, "I mean... yeah pretty much. Didn't your parents ever teach you to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?"

"Yeah they did. And they also taught me that the tongue is the most hurtful tool we can use. I would've never said something like that to Adrien. Maybe you loathe him, but I have no reason to."

The conversation ended when Marinette got tired of listening to her best friend's scolding. Alya had always advised to forgive and forget... but when it came to Adrien Agreste, it was almost impossible to forget.

Even more so when she thought she would never have to see him again.

But somehow... he still managed to stumble back into her life.

Adrien entered the room a few minutes after the phone call had ended. He was dressed down from what he had worn to the dinner, instead dressed in a pair of joggers and a t-shirt. Marinette wanted to make a comment sooo badly on how unprofessional he looked, but decided to hold back her tongue the moment she noticed the boxes of leftover food he'd brought with him.

Adrien licked his lips nervously. "I-I thought I'd bring you back something to eat that isn't from the cafeteria downstairs."

Marinette appreciated his gratitude. She really did. The only thing she'd had to eat from the outside world in a long time had been the chocolates Alya brought. But then again, the mere presence of Adrien brought back a lot of memories that Marinette wanted to forget.

And now that he was here, all those memories were resurfacing.

Marinette grimaced, "Why are you even here?"

Adrien frowned slightly as he moved further into the room, setting the boxes of leftover food down on the table beside her bed. "I'm just here to help."

"We haven't spoken in years." Marinette pointed out matter-of-factly, raising an unconvinced brow at him.

"Well, yeah... but—"

"The last thing you ever told me was that you never wanted to speak to me again."

"Okay, that's true... but—"

"Also, I don't even want you here. I don't need your help."

Marinette knew her words were a bit cruel. Whether Adrien was here helping her out of pity or not, he was here. She wasn't sure why he was here, but she would find out.

Adrien's frown deepened at her words, and she couldn't really feel any remorse for them. He deserved to hear them, after all. "Can I maybe explain myself without having an insult thrown at me every second?"

Marinette furrowed her brows. "Why should I even let you explain yourself?"

Adrien averted his eyes from hers, rocking back and forth on his heels, and she witnessed him inhale a shaky breath. "Because... there were so many thing I never got to tell you, and I feel like this might be my last chance."

His words were just another confirmation that her days were indeed limited, and that Alya's sense of hope was pointless. Marinette knew she was dying. The problem was how everyone else she knew and loved was going to deal with the pain once she was gone.

And Adrien? Well, she hadn't expected him to grieve over her loss. He'd been perfectly fine with cutting all ties with her when they were teenagers.

"Oh... I get it." Marinette replied dryly. "You realize that I'm dying, so now suddenly it's a matter of life and death that you see me again."

Adrien huffed in frustration. "C'mon, Marinette. It's not like that—"

"Save me the sob story, Adrien. It's not like I'll be taking it to my grave."

"Can you please stop making jokes about dying?"

Marinette offered him the best shrug she could muster. "I try not to make promises anymore. It's not like I'll be able to keep them once I'm dead."

Adrien groaned and hid his face in his hands. By now, he had moved to sit on the end of her bed and was watching her with a look she couldn't quite decipher. She wasn't even sure why Adrien was suddenly so concerned about her health.

It's not like he was concerned about her emotional health when he told her all those awful things all those years ago.

Adrien exhaled shakily and lifted his head from his hands to look at her again. "Marinette, when Nino told me everything about your condition, I thought that I was never going to see you again."

Marinette raised an unconvinced brow. "In your case, wouldn't that have been a good thing?"

Adrien rolled his eyes. "Listen, I know that what I said back in high-school was... well... it was mean. And to be completely honest with you, it was all said out of spite. I didn't mean any of it. And when I couldn't find you to apologize, I figured I would be living with that guilt for the rest of my life."

Marinette chuckled dryly. "Maybe you deserve to live the out rest of your life with that guilt. It would've made me feel relieved in the afterlife."

Adrien's expression fell slightly. "Marinette—"

"No, I don't think you have the right to walk into my life after all these years, saying you've felt guilty all this time for everything you did to me." Marinette frowned, glaring at him from head to toe. "That's not an excuse. Everyone knows Marinette Dupain-Cheng became a world renowned fashion designer under Gabriel Agreste's name. Explain to me how you weren't able to find me when my face was, and still is, plastered basically everywhere? Your father and I are basically partners! Where have you been living all this time—under a bridge?"

"Okay, you're right. I could've easily found you. I knew where you were. The problem was that I had no idea what I was actually going to say the moment I got the chance to talk to you." Adrien admitted, eyeing her wearily.

Marinette offered him an unconvinced scoff. "And now suddenly you have the right words of wisdom, is that right?"

"All I have is my sincerity." Adrien told her softly as he stood to his feet and dropped onto one knee at her side. Marinette watched him quizzically as he reached out for one of her hands, and for some god forsaken reason, she actually let him take it. "The truth is, I was a coward back in high-school. When everyone began to talk about how much you liked me, I was too afraid of what everyone else would think if I admitted that I felt the same way. So, I joined in the laughter and abandoned you as a friend. I said some horrible things to you that I wish I could take back, and I even went as far as doing the bullying all on my own. I treated you like shit, Marinette. And when I finally realized just how pathetic I was back then, I realized that I needed you to hear my apology. So, I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry for everything that I put you through. I just hope that you can find it still, somewhere deep in your heart, to at least forgive me."

Marinette could do nothing but stare at him with wide eyes as Adrien poured out his heart to her—the same Adrien Agreste who had pounded her into the dust with words as if she had meant nothing to him. And it was then when Marinette realized that Alya had been right when she said that the tongue really was the strongest weapon a person could have. Words really are the worse kind of pain.

Marinette squeezed his fingers gently. She would never be able to forget what he had done to her, but maybe she could still learn to forgive him. "The only reason my heart still beats is because of your existence, Adrien. I think I can find it somewhere in my heart to forgive you."

Adrien lifted his head hopefully. "Really?"

Marinette nodded against her pillow, offering him a gentle smile. "As long as you promise to bring me food from the outside world... for as long as I have left."

Adrien grinned from ear-to-ear, squeezing her hand gently in his once more. "You have my word."

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So... originally this was supposed to be more of a fluffy reuniting thing. But I decided to make it more angsty since Marinette is basically dying. Whether Marinette lives or dies is up to your imagination lol.

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