Chapter Text

Ladybug ran to Felix's house just as a worried Amilie Graham de Vanily went out of the door.

"Where is he?!" The heroine exclaimed breathlessly.

"Felix?" Amelie asked in a surprised tone, but her face immediately became worried again. "He's in the hospital. He didn't tell me anything... I've just been informed... The surgery should have ended by now..."

"The... surgery?!" Ladybug felt her body weakening again as her legs gave way, and murk enveloped the space around her.

And she plunged into darkness.

*

Marinette woke up in a hospital bed in the ward and lay for some time, not understanding what had happened and where she was.

Then the caring Amilie's face, who approached her, appeared in the girl's field of vision, and she suddenly remembered the whole stream of previous events in a confusing mix and abruptly sat up, feeling light dizziness.

"When you turned out to be Marinette, I thought you wouldn't mind..." Amelie started, but stopped, brow furrowed at the girl, who looked at her in horror.

Marinette touched her cheek, momentarily forgetting her more important worries as there wasn't a mask on her face.

"Has anyone else seen me?" She asked in a weak voice.

"No, don't worry." Amelie reassured her. "I carried you into the house, then I called an ambulance. But doctors said that most likely it was nervous and physical exhaustion." Amelie placed her palm on Marinette's cheek. "When was the last time you ate, dear?"

"I... Yesterday?" Marinette replied confusedly, frantically remembering that she probably last ate yesterday morning, forgetting about food and being too immersed in what was happening around her.

The thought of what was happening instantly brought her back to the horror of her loss, and Marinette suddenly remembered everything sharply: the battle, Gabriel, the ring...

She stared in panic at the calm woman next to her. The woman that was supposed to be heartbroken.

"I thought you wouldn't mind if I put you in the same room with..." Amelie began, but was interrupted again.

"I told her you would, but..." Marinette heard a familiar voice and jumped out of bed.

"Felix!" She yelled and rushed to the other bed, on which, to her stunning surprise, the boy in question lay.

"I'd rather you didn't scream like that, if possible." Felix muttered in an irritated voice. "The anesthetic hasn't completely worn off yet and..."

"But you are alive!" Marinette couldn't contain her happiness. "You are alive!"

"Last time we talked, I didn't think this fact made you very happy." Felix remarked dryly.

"You idiot!" The girl exclaimed, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Of course I'm glad that you're alive!"

"I guess it's best I leave you alone, kids," Amelie said with a sigh, and Marinette turned to her in surprise, – she completely forgot that Felix's mother was here too. "You obviously need to talk."

"What happened?" Marinette asked when the woman left the room.

"You tell me." Felix replied sullenly. "It's you who suddenly act like you didn't expect to see me alive. I mean, it's quite difficult surgery, but the doctors were the best and..."

"He damaged the ring." Marinette whispered, as the horrifying memory arose in front of her.

"The ring?" Felix asked, brows furrowed in confusion.

"It was the Amok..." She said, swallowing the tears that flow down her face incessantly. "For your heart..."

Felix looked at her with wide eyes.

"That's why he wanted it back so badly..." He whispered. "To destroy the threat if necessary..."

"Or in revenge for the fact that you told me his name." Marinette said through tears.

"And you know all about revenge, don't you?" Felix asked rather affirmatively in a bitter voice.

"But you are alive!" Marinette whispered, ignoring his remark, – nothing mattered for her more than being able to see him again!

"I..." Felix turned his face away from her. "I have a different heart now. A donor appeared this morning and I was given an hour to make a decision..." He sighed. "The surgery has been completed. I..." He sighed. "I didn't want to have anything to do with something that made me..." He stopped talking, and Marinette saw silent tears streaming down his face too.

She carefully sat down on the edge of his bed and took his hand in hers.

"Felix," She called softly. "I'm so sorry for what I said. Please forgive me." Marinette pressed his palm to her chest. "I was so afraid that I would never see you again, that I would never be able to..." She couldn't continue and only sobbed and trembled a little, sitting next to him.

"You saw me, so you can get back to your boyfriend now." Felix replied through his tears, and Marinette could hear he was trying to speak firmly, but his voice still trembled slightly.

"I don't have a boyfriend," She whispered, calming down a bit, "I only have the man I love."

"Does it really matter what you call him?!" Felix gritted his teeth. "Or did you decide to break my heart once more, seeing that despite the fact that it was replaced, I can't stop loving you?"

"Please don't stop loving me." Marinette begged and Felix finally turned his face to her.

His lips were trembling and his eyes were looking for something in her eyes.

"Because I love you so much, Felix." Marinette continued, feeling a new wave of tears welling up from her eyes. "I love you." She said again stubbornly, ignoring her tears. "And I won't stop telling you this until you kick me out of here."

Felix looked at her for a moment, as if expecting some trick or set-up, then swallowed and pulled her towards him grabbing her blouse with his hand that was pressed against her chest.

Their lips met in a desperate kiss, and although Marinette tried to soften it, worried about his physical condition, she herself found it difficult to contain the feelings that filled her heart.

The heart that could beat happily beside him.

Felix groaned slightly in pain and Marinette recoiled from him in fear, looking at him worriedly.

He closed his eyes and breathed heavily for a moment, then looked back at her.

"You're lucky that my condition doesn't allow me to kick you out of here." Felix said, but contrary to his words, his face was soft and his eyes expressed tenderness.

"I love you too." Marinette answered, smiling softly at him, then she became worried again. "I'd better call the doctor!" She said and was about to get up when his hand caught hers.

"No, Marinette! Stay with me!" Felix begged as fear and worry appeared in his eyes. "Please."

Marinette sat back down next to him and squeezed his hand in hers.

"Always," She promised. "I will always stay with you, my love."