Chapter 1: Airport Flashback

A/N: I've been sucked into this fandom, and I can't get out! :D I haven't watched Season 2 yet, so apologies for any plot bunnies that are not canon. However, I've tried to stay as factual as possible with the names, terms, and other stuff here in my story that have been published/found on the web, except for any mysteries that were not yet revealed to the public (cue creative license smiley). I have no beta, so again, I'm sorry for any grammatical/spelling errors that I may have missed.

Disclaimer: I don't own any Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir characters, just this plot bunny that won't leave me alone until I publish this.

Enjoy!

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An elegant and beautiful lady walked to the immigration side of the airport gracefully, quietly observing the people around her. So many people, so many new facilities. So many things have changed since I've last set foot here in this place. I wonder how my angel is doing? Is he all right? Or is he now trying to kill himself with his work? What about my little cabbage? I wonder what he looks like now. Does he still remember me? Can both of my boys ever forgive me?

She sighed lightly, but then smiled softly at the officer after handing in her passport. I need to make this right. She can still remember that fateful day when her life turned upside-down.

...

Flashback

She couldn't do it anymore. She can't risk her son's well-being, or her husband's life any longer. As Paris's superhero, her life is always in danger. With the mask, villains are always hunting her down. Without the mask, she lives with the fear of discovery, which could lead not only her life but also her son's and husband's lives as well, to danger.

So, she decided to give up her role as Ladybug.

My son is already in primary school, and my husband is just starting his work as a neophyte fashion designer and he needs to concentrate on his job. I need to be a full-time wife and mother to my husband and son. Besides, it is also not fair to Paris if its superhero is not dedicated on her job as a full-time saviour. I love saving Paris, but I also love my family more.

It is because of this love, that she decided to take on one last assignment before retiring her mask.

However, she didn't know that it would be her last mission, in more ways than one.

She got distracted when she heard a baby's cry from inside of the building. Have I missed a victim? Was there a baby that I've accidentally left inside the apartment? So busy with her thoughts that she failed to notice that her purple-robed opponent had pulled out a pistol from his back, and when gunshots were heard across the vicinity, she faintly registered a piercing pain on her chest and wet substance leaking from her suit which looks suspiciously like blood. She heard somebody screaming incoherently, and she realized too late that it was her own voice before succumbing to darkness.

When she woke up, she quickly noticed that it was not in familiar surroundings. She saw a gong with Chinese markings by her feet, as if just recently used. Two incenses were alight by the window, giving the room a calm and serene vibe. Then she noticed an elderly Chinese man sitting by the door, smiling at her. He seems familiar… Have I seen him before?

"Um, hello, sir. May I ask who you are and how did I get here?" It's still proper to be polite, no matter how weird my situation is right now, she thought.

"Still polite yet direct to the point, I see, Ladybug." The man replied, his eyes twinkling with delight.

"L-ladybug? Ah-haha, whatever gave you that idea? I'm not L-ladybug, I amjust a n-normal girl." She frowned. What does he know? Just who is this man? It's dangerous if this man finds out my identity. Not just for me, but for him as well.

"I know that you are Ladybug, because I was the one who placed your kwami box inside your room two years ago." The man replied.

"WHAT?!"

The man just smiled. "I remember when I was mugged by two thieves and they knocked me down to the pavement after taking my money. When a kind and helpful girl saw me lying down the street, looking worse for wear, with my clothes torn and muddied, that girl helped me get back on my feet, bought me a meal and was insistent in assisting me to the police station to report the crime to the authorities. I however disappeared before we got there. That girl's heart is full of kindness and her goodness matches no other. That girl did not hesitate to help a stranger without asking back for anything. That girl, my child, is you."

She was speechless. She remembers that event very well. She was just going home from the studio after wrapping up a film when she saw the man lying on the street, in obvious pain and discomfort. She immediately went to help him, took him to a nearby restaurant for a warm meal, and insisted in assisting him to a police station to report the crime that's been done to him. But upon turning into a corner, she noticed that the man had just mysteriously disappeared. "That man, was you?!" No wonder he seemed familiar. "Wait a minute, where is Tikki?"

"Do not worry about Tikki, my child. She is currently resting after your ordeal. And to answer your question: Yes, my child, that man was me. I gave you that miraculous because only you can become Paris's superhero, with your goodness and kind heart dedicated to helping the people of this city."

She blushed, but then she remembered her decision about her family. "But, wait! I cannot be Paris's superhero anymore… I have my husband and son to take care of, and I can't continue to be Ladybug when-aarghh!" She screamed in pain, clutching her chest when she noticed that it is wrapped in bandage. "What-?"

The man frowned sadly. "I am aware of your decision to retire, Ladybug. I understand you want and need to take care of your son and husband. It is very unfortunate that this happened to you." The man paused, like battling with himself. "However, there is more bad news that I have yet to deliver to you."

"More bad news? What… what do you mean?"

"The bullets that that villain used on you… They were laced with a deadly poison which is very fatal to the human body. I managed to stop its spread for now, but it will continue to spread on your body if you don't get the proper treatment for it as soon as possible." The man said, full of sorrow.

"Wha-what do you mean? I don't understand…" She understands properly, but her brain is refusing to comprehend what the man had just said.

"It means, my child, that you need to be taken to Tibet as soon as possible for you to get the proper treatment to counter the poison in your system."

"TIBET!? What on earth- did you just say TIBET?! Do you mean that I need to leave? What will happen to my husband and son? I decided to retire to be able to take care of them, and now I'm supposed to leave them to go to TIBET?! How could I ever do that to them-AARRGH!" She screamed, clutching her chest in pain.

"Hush, child, do not get too excited. Do not let your temper get the better of you. If you do, your heart will beat faster, distributing the poison to your system in a much faster rate. You need to calm down." The man looked at her sadly. "I know that this is really hard for you, but there is no other way. For you to survive, we need to flush the poison out of your system once and for all. It will not do for you to return to your home, only to die after a few days, or hours even. Imagine what would that do to your husband and son. I can only suspend the spread for a couple of days, but you need to go to Tibet because that is where the Chebula plant that counters the poison grows, and it cannot be found nor cultivated in any other place in the world except deep in the Tibetan soil and climate."

Fighting back the tears, she knew that the man is right. She can feel the poison inside her veins, a foreign and cold presence, just waiting for it to spread and take over her body. She needed to fight for her life-she can't leave her son and husband too early. If there is a way to get well, she needs to take it, just so she can stay and return to her husband and son's side after being treated. "H-how long should I stay in T-Tibet?"

"There is a small amount of the Chebula plant remaining at the temple," he replied. "It should be enough to treat you for a week at most and stop the spread of the poison inside your body. However," he added, "merely stopping the poison is not enough for the treatment. You still need to take more Chebula to fully flush the poison outside your body. It needs to be taken with the correct dosage and interval per day. As it is a strong medicinal plant, too much of it in a single dosage can be very fatal to your health. Sadly, the ancient secret practice of growing Chebula is only known to the elders of the temple, and their body cannot manage to do this anymore. You will need to learn how to grow your treatment by yourself. The small amount of Chebula left is only to be used for an emergency, for the poison that was laced in the bullet was thought to have gone extinct since the ancient times so they thought that there was no need to cultivate the plant anymore. It's a good thing that there's a small amount left at all. Your luck seems to have made that so." The man said, trying to lighten up the mood.

"H-how long should I stay in Tibet?"

The man sighed. "I will be honest with you," the man said. "The amount of time of your stay in Tibet depends on the progression of your health. The faster that you fully flush the poison out of your system, the sooner that you can return home here in Paris. There is no sense in cutting your treatment halfway just for you to go back being sick if some of the poison remains in your system. The sooner that you start growing and taking Chebula, the sooner your life can return to normal. We do not know if the poison can be transferred to another human or living thing through your sweat, or saliva, or even your breath. As I've said before, it was thought to have been destroyed during the ancient times, hence we have no record of its side effects and mode of transmission. However, I am sure that you don't want to put your son and husband to any risk in getting contact with the poison currently residing inside your body."

She cried. There really is no other choice, is there? Looking at the man with tears in her eyes, she sighed, resignedly. "Okay. I will go to Tibet. But… can I have a small request to ask of you? Before I go and leave my husband and son…for an indefinite amount of time?"

"Anything, my child. Anything that I can help you with. It's the least that I could do to help the hero of Paris."

...

A little boy is hiding under the cover of his bed. His golden locks are the only thing visible above the covers. Where is my maman? I want my maman! He doesn't understand why his mother is not yet at home. Maman was supposed to come home yesterday, but she isn't here yet! Daddy read me my story instead of her, but it's not the same because him and maman is supposed to read it together. It is also no fun because daddy didn't use the funny voices because he is worried about maman… Maman, where are you?

Thunder cracked, and lightning followed. The boy shrieked and dived deeper under the covers, as much as his 8-year-old body can. I need to be brave. I-I am the man of the house until daddy finds maman in this storm and then b-both of them will come home, and then we will all be happy again.

He heard the opening of the door. He chanced a look, and his emerald eyes widened when he found his dad smiling again. He looked past his father's shoulders, and then he saw the kind and gentle face of his mom. "Maman!" he cried, running towards his parents as fast as his little feet could take him.

Both of his parents smiled at him, and he hugged the two of them, not caring that his clothes also got wet. The three stayed in their group hug, not one of them wanting to ruin the moment.

But then, it was not meant to last as his mind became excited and impatient again, as children tend to do at that age. "Maman, where have you been? Are you okay? Are you going to read me a story now? It is always better if you and dad read it together, you make the funny voices better and funnier." His mother grimaced, but in his little-boy excitement, didn't notice it. His father did, though, and looked at his wife more closely. "I can go back to bed now, and get the book, maman, and-"

"Mon petit chou," she gently started. "I…I need to tell you something. Both of you." She looked at the two most important men in her life. "I…I need to go to Tibet." She said resolutely.

Both males did not said a word. They are still processing what she said. But the little boy answered first. "Tibet? Maman, what is Tibet? Is it a school? Are you going to primary school like me? Because we can go together if you like-"

"Son," said his father. He noticed that his father suddenly became cold and serious. Was it from what his maman said? But school is not that bad, is it? Maybe he wants the rain to stop first before we can go to this Tibet school. "Please go to your room now. I need to speak with you maman privately. We will follow you soon after."

"Okay, daddy. I love you." He went to his mother and kissed her cheek. "I love you, maman, so very much." He said genuinely, his emerald green eyes full of love and innocence. "I will wait for you and daddy inside the room, okay?" He noticed that his mother's cheeks became wetter after he said that. The rain must have been very bad. Maman should change her clothes now before she gets sick. He obediently went inside his room, awaiting his parents' talk to finish so that they can read him his story.

He must've dozed off for a minute, for the next thing he knew, he was awakened by his mother's frantic but stubborn voice. He went to open his bedroom door just to see his father crying by the chair looking at his mother with disbelief and incredulity etched on his face."…please understand, I need to go to Tibet. There's no other man, you know that mon ange, but-" here she cried harder, "I need to go to Tibet. There is something I need to do, and then I can come home and we will all be together forever again." She pecked his father on the cheek. It was only less than a minute, but he could see that his maman's kiss was full of love for his father in that simple kiss. All his maman's kisses are like that. He should know, he is one of the recipient of those kind of kisses every day. His mother pulled away from his father and noticed him. "Come here, mon choupinou," she said. "Can you please take care of your daddy while I'm gone? Maman needs to do something very important, so she needs to go to a faraway place right now… But maman promises to come back to the two of you afterwards. Please, please take care of your father for me while I'm gone." She kissed him on the cheek, full of love as always, eyes glassy and watery. Maman got rain on her eyes. It might get her sick, he thought, his 8-year-old brain not yet fully comprehending what his mother said. He just nodded, for it seemed like it was the right and only thing to do at the moment. "Thank you," she breathed, "thank you, mon choupinou." She turned to his father. "Same to you, mon ange. Please take care of our son while I'm gone. I know that it will be hard, but please give him the best that you can give to our one and only son. I…I know that you can do whatever your mind sets to it." His father just nodded, still not speaking. "Well then, my boys. I bid you adieu. I will come back after I've cleaned out all this mess. I don't know how long it will take to sort this all out, but if you ever get tired of waiting for me," by this, she looked at his father straight in the eye, "you have my blessings to be happy with another other than me."

"Never." His father replied curtly, tears still streaming down his face.

With one last peck to each males' cheek, she departed, opening the door straight into the rain. Finally understanding what was happening, he raced quickly to where his mother went, despite the rain and thunder and lightning in the sky. "Maman! Maman! Don't leave me! I love you, Maman!" He cried desperately. Thunder cracked overhead, rain poured down heavily on his tiny body, but he still ran towards the direction where he think his mother had gone. I can reach her, he thought. The gate is still at the far end of the wall and- he stopped. Where is his maman? She couldn't possibly reach the gate that quickly, he thought. It's like she just… disappeared. He didn't notice that he was crying and sobbing uncontrollably getting drenched in the rain until his father took him by the hand, brought him inside the house and made him change into dry clothes. He waited for his mother to come home, thinking that all will be okay and back to normal once he wakes up tomorrow morning. And the day after that. And also the next day after that. He waited for his mother and her warm smiles and kisses. But his mother did not come back.

On that fateful day, was the last time that he'd seen his mother.

It was also the last day that he'd seen his father smile.

...

She was bawling when she saw his son's and husband's faces in the crystal ball. "M-Master Fu… It hurts... I hurt them. What kind of wife and mother am I?"

"A selfless one, my child. Sometimes, it hurts to do the right thing just to keep our loved ones safe from danger."

With Master Fu's mystical powers, she was able to astral-project herself to their home while her actual, possibly poisonous body is unconscious and resting in bed. Using magic, Master Fu was able to make a perfect imitation of her physical body so that she can say goodbye to the most important people in her life- her son and husband. She wanted to tell them the real reason for her departure, but she couldn't really say that she needs treatment for the wound and poison that she got while fighting as Ladybug. Time is of the essence, and knowing her husband, he will want to accompany her to the ends of the earth. She couldn't do that to her son, taking away the only remaining parental figure in his life. And of course, bringing an eight-year old child hiking on the cold and cruel and unknown mountains in Tibet is way out of the question.

"O-okay… I'm ready. Let's go to Tibet, so that I can start getting better for my family's sake."

. . . . .

End flashback

She sighed. I came back because I am now fully healed from what happened seven years ago. I want to see my husband and son after all these years. Also, I feel that something big is going to happen. Does it have anything to do with the current Ladybug? Or with my two men? She sighed again, more deeply this time. If mon ange and mon choupinou had indeed moved on, I will respect their wishes. If my husband has found a new wife and a new mother to our son, who am I to keep them from being happy? I can't possibly just pop out of nowhere and then expect everything to be just like before. If they are indeed happy, then I… I will completely disappear from their lives. Just like what I've promised. And Emilie Agreste nee Le Blanc does not break her promises, ever.

. . . . . . . .

A/N: Aaaaaand that's the first chapter? How was it? Too much? Too soon?

First of all, I'm realllly mystified by Emilie's character! That's the face that launched numerous akuma in the City of Paris! I just know that she is the driving force behind Hawkmoth's villainy, whether she is aware of it or whether she likes it or not.

Second, I've searched and combed all over the net for any signs of her being a miraculous wielder/guardian. All I found is that her picture is tucked safely with the miraculous peacock brooch inside Gabriel's safe in his office, along with the Miraculous book that was shown in the episode Volpina (just read about it, haven't watched it yet). She might be the miraculous peacock holder, or even the butterfly miraculous that Hawkmoth is using now, but I can't find anything that can support that theory. Soooo, under my creative license, I made her a previous Ladybug holder because I think it will suit her very well.

Third, I've read somewhere (wiki) that Adrien and Gabriel watched a film starring Emilie for a father-son bonding time, so I made her work in a studio as an actress instead of my first plan for her to be an heiress of an old-money business family.

Fourth, the Chebula plant does exists, and its scientific name is Terminalia chebula. It is a medicinal plant, and can be found in various Asian countries.

Fifth, even though I did not include the names of the husband and son in this chapter, you've probably known them already before reading Emilie's name at the last paragraph, haven't you? ;)

Next, I've watched during the episode of Simon Says that Gabriel implied Emilie having a temper when Adrien, as Chat Noir, was telling his father to fortify the mansion. I've read that that action was one of the factors that made him think (and act on his suspicions) that Adrien is Chat Noir. So I've tried to stay true to her character as possible and gave her a temper while talking with Master Fu.

Furthermore, I tried to stay in an 8-year old mind as I typed Adrien's thoughts and words, but he is still advanced for his age, being a child prodigy and all that, so I tried my hardest to balance his childlike inner-mind workings with his natural-born brilliance - a boy who fences, plays basketball, is fluent in Chinese, can do countless photo shoots tirelessly and still manage to keep up with school (if not one of the top students already! I doubt Gabriel would let him go to public school if his son poorly performs academically) AND still have time to be a superhero. That's just natural brilliance, like I've said earlier.

So, it took seven long years for Emilie to get 100% healed. Was that too long? Well, just imagine that she still needed to 1) learn how to plant the Chebula (seed/stem/bulb/grafting, not to mention her mentors are all elderly who are not the strong and active anymore), 2)wait for the right climate/season for it to grow, 3) learn how to prepare it properly (should it be boiled/dried/crushed/chopped?), and 5) to take it at the right interval with the correct dosage each time to avoid overdosage another possible poisoning. AND that's not counting her trial and error attempts within steps 1-5.

As for her maiden name, it's a nod for Chat Blanc, a popular plot bunny/prompt that I've noticed in the fandom. ^_^

Soooooo? What do you think? Love it? Hate it? Tell me your thoughts! ;)

Until next time!

-jazzflame