I actually wrote the whole epilogue! For once it is not just a summary yeeey

sry for any mistakes

It is a gentle morning, probably the softest morning Adrien has experienced in a while. Snuggled up on the bed, Adrien puts his arms around his fiancée's waist. He is not planning to let go of her any time soon.

The love of his life is checking her phone, enjoying the macaroons and the hot chocolate he brought her for breakfast. Plagg and Tikki are chatting on the balcony, looking at the Eiffel Tower. Their cat – Lucky Charm – is asleep on the floor, purring contently.

It is peaceful. It is safe.

Adrien sighs. There really is no place like home.

Still, he cannot help but wonder how the other Marinette is doing.

Adrien tightens his hold on his fiancée's nightgown. "You didn't cuddle with him like this, did you?" he asks.

His question snaps Marinette out of her thoughts. She places her mug on the bedside table. "Huh? Cuddle with who? With Adrien, you mean?"

"I am Adrien!"

"You're the Adrien. My Adrien", she corrects and kisses him on the top of his head. "And yeah, we did cuddle a lot."

Adrien puts on a pout.

"Don't give me that look", she says but also purses her lips. "He had to find out that his father is a terrorist and the person he despises the most. He was devastated. It was hard to see him – you – fall apart again... I did what I could to comfort him."

Adrien swallows. Needless to say, he knows exactly what the other Adrien had to go through and how he felt. When Gabriel Agreste was sent to prison for the rest of his life, Adrien grieved for months like his father had died. He could hardly get out of bed.

His Marinette did not deserve to see another Adrien go through that.

"You didn't kiss him, though, right?" he jokes in hopes of lightening her mood.

To his surprise, she replies, "I did, but only once."

"Wh-what?" He knows he has no right to sound so shocked when he was the one who had been begging the other Marinette to kiss him only a few nights ago.

"You just... collapsed last Wednesday, all of a sudden", Marinette starts explaining. "You woke up before I could call the emergency number and I was so relieved that the first thing I did was kiss you. Him. I thought it was you. I'm sorry."

Okay, he can forgive that.

"But then he started going on and on about some akuma called Sweet Tooth and how there's no need to panic because Ladybug and Chat Noir are here to make sure I'm safe. That is when I knew that something was wrong", she continues. "Fighting Sweet Tooth was the last thing he remembered before waking up in our apartment. I just told him that he's not making any sense."

Adrien can sympathize with that. He lost count how many times he was questioned about that darn akuma.

"How did he take the news about you being Ladybug?"

Finally, Marinette lets out a laugh. "Oh, let me tell you, he was thrilled", she tells him, amused, and starts absentmindedly petting his hair. Her touch is so gentle and loving and gosh, he's so in love with her. "The second he realized that I'm Ladybug he was ready to confess his undying love to me. 'I can't believe I've been calling you just a friend'!" She laughs as she mimics the other Adrien's reaction.

I guess he really is me, then, Adrien muses.

"What about her?" Marinette asks. "I'm guessing she wasn't too excited about this whole parallel universe thing."

"She was stubborn as hell." Adrien sighs, shaking his head a little. "I could tell that she missed her Chat terribly but... it was complicated. She was in love with Adrien Agreste and denied any feelings for Chat Noir." Then he smirks. "You know, the usual."

Marinette nudges him. Adrien laughs.

She goes back to eating her breakfast. "So. Didn't you say you got transported back here once she confessed she had feelings for Chat, too?"

"Yep", he confirms. "Strange, don't you think?"

Marinette hums but not very convincingly. She does not look like she thinks it was strange at all.

Frowning, Adrien sits up and grabs one of her macaroons. "Wait, you think her words triggered this? But why?"

She is quiet for a moment and does not meet his eyes. "Remember when I spent two days in a coma as Ladybug? About three years ago?"

How could he forget? His heart had felt like it had fallen into a coma with her. He had never been so helpless.

"Yeah." His nod is tense. "After you came out of the coma you told me you knew who Papillon was and... Wait, what are you trying to say?"

His fiancée takes a deep breath. "That comatose Ladybug wasn't me. She was from a different dimension."

Adrien's eyes are about to pop out of his head. He waits for her to explain more before he can allow himself to freak out.

"Back in her world, she had figured out Papillon's identity and decided to attack... but not everything had gone according to plan", Marinette continues. "During their battle, she had been struck by very powerful magic which caused her to fall into a deep slumber. That was when I got teleported there. Long story short, I helped the other Chat Noir figure out a way to break her curse and in turn he helped me realize... something else."

Her story is met with disbelief. Stunned, Adrien has to shake his head to gather his thoughts. This is the first time he has heard of this.

"This... This has happened to you, too? Why didn't you tell me?"

Marinette has the decency to look a bit embarrassed. "Well, I don't know. It was a very personal experience..."

"But you only spent two days there! It took the other Marinette over a week to realize she's in love with Chat Noir!"

"I knooow..." His fiancée puffs her cheeks. If Adrien had not just found out that his Marinette has also been to a parallel universe, he would have the time to appreciate how cute she looks. "But two days was enough. Enough to make me realize I had strong feelings for Chat Noir as well. Once I admitted that, I found myself back in my world, suddenly lying in a hospital bed, and you were crying next to me, holding my hand."

Adrien remembers that day almost too vividly. He did not detransform for two days.

But more importantly, the other Chat Noir somehow managed to woo HIS lady in only two days? Outrageous.

Adrien's eyes narrow. "You didn't even find out that he's Adrien Agreste and still you fell for him? What happened, exactly?"

Marinette blushes. "You don't need to know the details."

He does not agree but respects her privacy and does not pry. She will tell him about her adventure when she is ready.

"What does all of this mean, though?" he asks instead. It's not like they aren't used to crazy things happening, but this goes right over his head.

"I'm not sure. Maybe the universes are all tired of us not getting our shit together." She chuckles. "Having to witness us dance around each other in every world must be frustrating. I wonder how long it would have taken us to defeat Papillon and reveal our identities if I had not been teleported."

Adrien shakes his head with a small smile before nuzzling his nose against her neck. "In that case, I have to confess I agree with the universes. I prefer us like this, too."

"I'm glad you're home", she whispers back.

They both fall silent, just holding each other.

Adrien's thoughts wonder back to the other Marinette. He hopes she's well, he hopes she's happy. Still, worried thoughts constantly swirl in his head. The reveal was so sudden, it was clear that she wasn't ready. Hopefully, she can make things work with her Adrien. But then again, they now have to deal with Gabriel Agreste...

"Hey..." he starts, voice barely audible. "Do you think Marinette will be alright?"

"Yeah", the love of his life replies without any hesitation. She turns to look at him and gives him his favourite smile that makes her eyes sparkle. "She's got you."

Her words cause excitement to bubble in his stomach. It feels like his heart is key-smashing. Asdfghjkl, it goes. One asdfghjkl per heartbeat.

His lady is always right.

Adrien does not even try to stop his lovestruck sigh. "Why are you like this?"

Marinette laughs at his lopsided smile. "Like what?"

"So perfect for me."

Judging by the dumbfounded look that forms on her face, Adrien is quite sure her heart is now also key-smashing.

Marinette blinks, her mouth opens a little. Then, the twinkle returns to her eyes.

Suddenly, she gets up from the bed. Before Adrien can ask her if something is wrong, she takes his hand and pulls him up, too.

The next thing he knows, she gets down on one knee.

"Marry me, kitty."

This is the second time Adrien has had the privilege to hear her say those words. Those words send a shiver down his spine, just like they did the first time. But this time he's not crying. At least, not yet.

Utterly confused, Adrien raises his left hand, showing her the golden engagement ring she gave him the first time she proposed, reminding her that he has already said yes.

Marinette shakes her head. "No, I mean, right now. Let's just go, you and me. Let's get married."

"Wh-what?" Adrien stammers, taken aback by her sudden suggestion. "But I thought we were going to wait until we're both done with our studies? And what about Nino and Alya and your parents and that big wedding you've been talking about?"

"We'll wait if that's what you want to do, but... I am asking you as Ladybug. I want to marry my partner, I want to marry Chat Noir. Right now."

Adrien doesn't know what to say. He is still unable to think clearly.

"Ladybug and Chat Noir have been soulmates since the day they met. I want to be able to call you my husband when we're patrolling, when we're out in public, wherever we go. Don't you think it's time we let France know the superheroes have tied the knot?" she continues. "Adrien and Marinette will get married one day, when we think the moment is right. I am ready to marry you as many times as you let me."

The feeling is mutual. If there is one thing Adrien knows for sure, it is that the love and bond between them is stronger than anything else in this world. Or in any world for that matter.

The other Marinette would not approve of them getting married so young, but Adrien could not care less.

The smile that spreads across his face is so big it hurts. "Of course, my lovely Buginette", he says as he winks at her. "Let's get meowied."

NOW ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS WAIT FOR OUR MARINETTE AND ADRIEN TO GET THEIR SHIT TOGETHER
I love slow burns, but our universe is just so cruel ╥ ╥

Thank you for reading, we are finally done!