Marinette shifted nervously on her feet, glancing around her room and avoiding the eyes of the kwami in front of her.

"Are... are you sure I should be doing this?" She mumbled.

"Posssitive," Sass replied - he waited until she met his patient gaze before continuing, "It'ssss an important sssstep forward."

"I know, I know..." Marinette sighed, holding her face in her hands.

Over the past couple days, Marinette had already gotten rid of the few Adrien pictures scattered about on her walls as well as changing her computer's background to just be pink and white polkadots.

She was also planning on selling all of Adrien's gifts after she got rid of all the cards - which Kalkki said she'd be interested in helping with.

Tikki, Longg and Barkk helped Marinette reorganize her schedule around her own activities, rather than Adrien's.

Wayzz was teaching her some meditation techniques, which helped a lot, and Pollen helped her redecorate her room for a change of pace.

Trixx suggested she list out all of her negative patterns involving Adrien and they were going to be working on breaking them, one at a time.

It... was going to take some time, but she was well on her way already

The kwami had also all agreed to put a hold on the training idea so she could relax and process everything, which she was grateful for.

And they were with her every step of the way.

It was... relieving to have support again.

Marinette didn't realize how long it had been since someone just... believed in her.

It was... nice.

Like a weight she didn't realize had been there had been lifted off her shoulders.

The issue?

Sass wanted her to tell her friends about giving up on Adrien; so they wouldn't make any more schemes for her.

In theory, it was perfectly fine.

In practice, however?

They already talked over her once...

What was going to stop them this time?

Marinette felt a slight push on her cheek, undoubtedly Sass.

"I'll be right here," Sass promised.

Marinette took a deep breath, "Alright, alright - I got this..."

"Why don't you call Juleka first?" Tikki suggested, flying over.

Marinette nodded.

Juleka would be more understanding, right...?

Still, she hesitated; her thumb hovering over the call button.

"You got this Marinette," Tikki encouraged.

Marinette pressed the button before she lost the nerve.

It took a few seconds for Juleka to pick up, and much to Marinette's surprise Rose was with her.

Rose waved excitedly, "Hi!!"

Marinette waved back, giving them a nervous smile.

"Is everything okay?" Juleka asked quietly.

"Yeah - I just..." Marinette took another deep breath, "I wanted to tell you two something."

"We're all ears Marinette," Rose replied with a serious nod.

Marinette smiled a little more at her response.

"I... I want to move on from Adrien," Marinette said after a moment, "And I wanted to tell you so you wouldn't help make any schemes for me anymore."

Rose and Juleka looked at each other for a long - excruciating - moment.

"We understand," Juleka spoke eventually, voice hushed.

"Y - you do?"

Marinette was confused.

The last time...

She expected them to start yelling, to tell her she shouldn't give up...

But they were...

They understood?

"Of course we do!" Rose exclaimed immediately.

Marinette sighed in relief, "Thank you!"

"I know we haven't been exactly..." Juleka mumbled, voice trailing off.

"What Juleka means to say is that we're sorry - so very sorry Marinette... the last time you wanted to move on we didn't let you," Rose finished with a frown.

"You - you're apologizing?"

The question slipped out before she could stop it.

Juleka nodded, "It wasn't right of us to talk over you like that..."

Marinette felt herself actually smile at that.

"This time we'll do better," Rose promised, "Whatever you want to do, Marinette, we'll be there."

"Thank you - both of you, I really appreciate it!"

They ended up talking a bit longer, which Marinette desperately needed.

It helped calm her down before she spoke with the other girls.

Alya was next...

Her actions a couple days ago flashed through her mind.

"... my miraculous."

It..

It was fine...
Right...?

It was just one time; one time out of many.

She was just... desperate.

And besides, Alya immediately realized her mistake hadn't she?

Alya understood now.

Right...?

She bit her lip as she pressed the call button.

"Hey Alya."

Marinette winced a bit at her anxious tone.

"What's up?" Alya looked concerned.

Marinette took a deep breath.

Just say it quickly...

Before she had the chance to chicken out.

"I'm moving on from Adrien!"

"What do you mean you're moving on from Adrien!?" Alya exclaimed, disbelief spreading across her features.

Marinette was beginning to think calling Alya was a bad idea...

"He has a girlfriend, Alya," Marinette sighed, burying her face into her hands.

"Okay, I'll admit - that's a bit of an obstacle. But that doesn't mean you have to just give up!" Alya stressed.

Marinette stared at Alya with a raised eyebrow, "He. Has. A. Girlfriend - I can't just get in the way of that."

"You won't 'get in the way'," Alya rolled her eyes, "You just have to give Adrien some time to come to his senses."

Senses...?

"I've given him nothing but time! Alya, how long are we going to do this?"

"As long as it takes! You can't just give up on him!"

"This isn't fair to Kagami, Alya... they're happy," Her voice broke a bit.

She felt Sass land on her shoulder; a comforting presence.

She's got this...

Just...

Explain.

"Oh Marinette..."

"They're happy, and I want to move on - it, I didn't love him - it wasn't healthy."

Marinette had been thinking about Adrien the past week - ever since she made the decision to move on - and... her actions around him.

Whatever it was, she's certain that wasn't love.

It couldn't be.

It was something sick and twisted, holding her by the throat every time she was around him.

She didn't... want to feel that way anymore.

Alya just stared at her in disbelief, eyes narrowed, "Of course you love him! You lose your mind every time you're near him."

She...

Did.

Didn't she...?

But at the same time...

"And that's the problem!"

"The problem is that you aren't going for it!"

Was-

Was she serious...?

"Alya-"

"As your best friend - I'm not letting you give up on Adrien like this. There has to be a way-"

"I don't want to chase after him anymore, Alya!" Marinette finally snapped, and saying it out loud caused an intense rush of emotions that brought tears to her eyes, "I just don't want to anymore! Why does it even matter?! Adrien clearly doesn't like me that way!"

"That's because he doesn't see you, you need to put yourself out there!"

"And then what? What Alya? He'll leave his current relationship for me? I don't want to date someone unreliable like that!"

"Perhapssss we sssshould take our leave," Sass suggested from her shoulder.

Alya opened her mouth to retort, but Marinette quickly cut her off.

"It's final, Alya, I'm moving on - whether you like it or not... you can either help me, or you can leave me alone."

With a heavy sigh, Marinette disconnected the call.

"Well, that went... well?" Tikki tried to cheer her up.

"It could've gone better," Sass disagreed, "But that'ssss Alya'ssss problem."

"It's fine," Marinette mumbled, leaning on her hand, "It's not the first time she blew off my feelings..."

"That'sss not what a good friend doesss," Sass corrected quietly, flying off of Marinette's shoulder to look at her.

"It's..." Marinette trailed off, "It's not...?"

Sass shook his head immediately.

For a while, nobody said anything.

"I'm sure Alya will come around," Tikki piped up.

Right.

She would... wouldn't she?

Alya always did.
Marinette just had to give her time...

Right?

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

"Spots Off," Marinette whispered, letting the transformation fade in a flash of pink light in an alleyway across from the Liberty.

She had just gotten back from a live interview on 'Face to Face' with Chat Noir - where she informed the public about Chloé's betrayal.

Informed them of the temporary heroes' identities being compromised, and how she couldn't call on them for help anymore.

That was mainly so she could tell Hawkmoth not to bother trying anything with her friends.

Hopefully he wouldn't...

"Marinette?" Tikki asked when she didn't move.

"I just hope Hawkmoth doesn't try anything," Marinette mumbled.

"I'm ssssure he won't, now that you told everyone what to exxxpect," Sass replied, tail flicking behind him.

Marinette nodded - though she found herself not quite believing it - as she opened her purse up for the both of them to hide.

Once they were hidden, she started walking to the liberty.

Sass had insisted he come along for both the trial, and... for her to meet up with Luka.

Sass had suggested talking to Luka about what she's feeling.

To form that pillar of support, outside of the kwami's and both Rose and Juleka.

Mylène had respected her wishes, though Marinette could tell she wasn't exactly happy about it.

And as for Alix...

Alix didn't really care either way, which was relieving.

Marinette had tried again with Alya, but... her best friend wasn't convinced she was serious about it...

And, honestly, it didn't shock her as much as it should've.

Marinette felt a reassuring pressure on her leg - no doubt Tikki and Sass trying to comfort her.

The short walk was quiet, barely leaving Marinette anytime to think before she reached her destination.

She texted Luka to let him know she was here; since the gangplank was propped up on the boat.

A moment later, Luka appeared with a smile and a wave.

"Marinette?" Luka called, dropping the gangplank.

Marinette hesitantly walked towards him, suddenly feeling very nervous about this.

She felt a reassuring pressure on her leg, no doubt Tikki and Sass trying to comfort her.

"Hey, Luka - thanks for letting me come over," Marinette replied with a smile - although it was somewhat strained.

Luka just nodded in response, looking a little concerned.

He pulled out his guitar once they were in his room, absentmindedly strumming a tune. Marinette was grateful he was giving her some time to process her thoughts.

"I... want to talk with you - about... about Adrien," Marinette started eventually, wincing slightly at the wording.

Luka looked at her, gaze encouraging, "Go on, I'm listening."

"A... a friend recommended I talk to you about how I'm feeling - so I can form a pillar of support - or, or something like that, so... here I am," Marinette paused for a second, before admitting, "I... just want to be able to move past Adrien... and I need someone else I can talk to about it that doesn't try and feed into my crush."

"I'm always here if you need Marinette, but what about Alya?" Luka asked genuinely.

"She... she doesn't think I'm serious - but I am," Marinette replied quietly, "I.. I know she'll come around though, she always does - I just..."

Marinette fell quiet for a second, listening to Luka's serene guitar playing.

It was really accurate to how she was feeling at the moment.

Slow, sad, with just a hint of bitter anger.

"I just want it to stop..." Marinette whispered after a while, "I just... I don't want to feel that way about him anymore.... it wasn't healthy - I know that - I was obsessed and placed him on a pedestal, I can't even say one sentence in front of him, not to mention that something always seems to go wrong whenever I'm around him... It... It makes me miserable - I just... I hate feeling like this - about Adrien..."

"Marinette..."

Marinette buried her face in her hands, "Now he has a girlfriend, and I'm still not allowed to get over him? I just... I want it to stop."

Marinette peeked from behind her hands when she felt a steady hand on her shoulder. Without thinking, Marinette wrapped her arms around him, stifling a sob.

"I know Marinette, I know," Luka whispered quietly, wrapping his arms around her tightly and gently rubbing small circles on her back.

It was enough for her to let out her pent up emotions.

Luka held her close, letting her cry.

He didn't say anything, just held her close and hummed a peaceful melody in her ear.

Marinette wasn't sure how long they sat there while she cried, but when it was over Luka still didn't let go - not until her hiccuping sobs quieted down into manageable sniffles.

"I'm sorry," Marinette whispered.

She hadn't realized just how much she'd been holding back... even with her meditation sessions with Wayzz...

Even with the kwami there to listen...

There was a part of her that still held back...

She didn't want to be a burden - Ladybug couldn't afford to feel.

It was just too dangerous.

Besides, there was still hope she desperately held on to.

That everything would turn out alright.

After all, her friends were still her friends - right?

They still hung out regularly, they still called and texted.

Alya had sat next to her after she got moved back to the front....

She defended her when Lila got her expelled...

Everything would be fine...

Alya just needed time.

Luka's grip tightened around her as she buried her face deeper into his chest - soaking up his warmth.

"Don't apologize," Luka whispered, "You're allowed to feel."

Her eyes misted over again, but she refused to let the tears fall...

She had to be strong now...

And the chances of attracting-

Marinette jerked back, desperately scanning the room for any akumas - hoping beyond hope she didn't attract any.

Please, let her not attract any...

"There aren't any, I've been keeping an eye out," Luka assured her, gazing softly with understanding.

Marinette let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"Thanks Luka," Marinette sighed, wincing at the sound of her own voice.

She sounded as tired as she felt.

"You'll get through this, Marinette."

Marinette smiled at him, relief and thankfulness washing over her.

At least she had a few people on her side.

And for now, that was enough.

----

Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates it!

I hope you all have a fun filled day!