A couple notes before you read this chapter:

1. This and chapter 3 recently got expanded.

2. The rating is now Teen.

3. I just LOVE how well Marinette and Libby work off of each other!

Libby landed on Chloè's balcony, and placed her down.

"You live in a hotel." Libby whistled. "Not bad."

"It's my Daddy's hotel." Chloè replied. She jumped onto her bed and began reading a magazine.

"Well Chloè, I gotta split."

"Oh, can't you stay?"

"Some other day. They might need me again."

"Do you...promise?" Chloè looked hopefully at the newer Ladybug.

"As long as you never ask me who I really am or try to figure it out." Libby ordered.

"That sucks! But okay, you were nice to me, so I suppose I have no reason to act otherwise."

"Alright Chloè. I'll come back today if my schedule allows it, but don't get your hopes up. Ciao!"

Chloè looked longingly as Libby exited the premises.

"You done good today Libby. Mari's probably home by now, so I'll hang with her."

Libby decided to switch things up and yo-yo her way back. She saw many people on ground level pointing, some no doubt saying 'it's a bird, it's a plane!'. She felt her stomach let out and irritated growl.

"Damn it, I just left Chloè's too." She said. Libby gave it a moment's consideration, then sighed and turned back. Chloè was so stunned at her quick return that she fell off of her bed. There was a knock at the door.

"Ladybug! Back so soon~?" She sang.

"I really gotta take a leak Chloè! No time for chatting."

Libby barrelled across the room towards the lavatory. Chloè forgot how to human for a few seconds, and then turned slowly towards the 'camera'. The knocking persisted.

"Alright, alright, keep knocking and you splinter the wood!"

Chloè finally got her feet unstuck from the invisible quicksand she'd apparently been standing in, and went to answer the door.

"Room service! Your fruit tray is here, Chloè!"

"Yeah, yeah." Chloè took the small tray and slammed the door in the woman's face. The door creaked back open.

"I'm sorry, Adelle, that was rude."

Adelle couldn't speak, and when Chloè handed her 15 Euros, she fainted. Libby came back out of the bathroom.

"Want a strawberry?"

"Wow, humble and gracious!" Libby said, stretching gracious out by a couple extra syllables."See ya Chloè!"

Libby was back to air patrol and this time had no reason to stop. Well, not yet...

Meanwhile...

The civilians and most of the media had fled. Only the two heroes and members of GIGN remained.

"You recognize him Chat Noir?" Marinette asked.

"I don't know any dragons personally." Chat shrugged.

"One of my past incarnations did..."

"Enough!" Chinese Dragon spat fire towards them. "Now burn!"

Dragon unleashed seemingly endless flames, and the duo dove out of the way.

"We have no way to contact new Ladybug either." Marinette gritted her teeth. "Guess we're just 2-on-1 for now."

Chat attempted close combat with the sturdy beast. For every breath of flame, he had something to say.

"Misfire! There's a steaming passion in your eyes! I lava good fight! Burn, Kitty, burn! Chat Noir inferno!"

"Oh Lord, he's finally lost it..."

"Argh!" Dragon was getting enraged. "Stay still!"

"Make me, Flameboy!"

Chat slid under Dragon, and drove his staff into the creature's back, with little effect.

"Haha, foolish black cat, you will not douse my flames that way!"

"Yeah, got it." Chat grumbled. "Ladybug, now would be a good time to think of something!"

"I know, I'm thinking!" Marinette yelled. "If only I had more at my disposal, like Libby."

"Ah, easy prey." Dragon laughed. With a strong arm he threw Chat Noir to the side and backed Ladybug towards the row of buildings.

"Mmm hahaha, Hawkmoth will love these Miraculous for his collection."

"Good luck getting them off of me!" Marinette laughed. She tried swipe-kicking his feet out, but was unable to get enough leverage against him to knock him down. The GIGN waited tensely, for the first sign of things going south.

"Alright, guess you're stronger than you look. Lucky Cha-"

Chinese Dragon smacked the yo-yo out of her hand.

"Well, I must say, that's a first." Marinette observed. Dragon bull-rushed her into the brick wall.

"URK!"

Marinette doubled over and crumpled to the floor.

"Urgh." She sputtered. Dragon picked her up and raised his leg. A GIGN officer fired, and he blocked it with his metal wrist guard.

"I'll snap you like a twig, you vermin!"

"Not if I'm here, Snapdragon!"

Libby swung in from above, delivering a forward kick to the side of Dragon's head. He stumbled sideways, and Libby landed to observe the playing field.

"Good timing." Chat smiled.

"And no flirting. Even better."

"Ah, another Miraculous to steal." The dragon man laughed.

"Nah ah, big boy." Libby waved her finger. "I don't got one!"

"What do you mean?!"

"I mean, unless you have bug spray or a swatter handy, you're toasted!"

"Well, she's got the witty banter down." Marinette laughed despite the pain and likely bruising in her torso.

"Let's dance, fireman!"

Libby juked left, and then shifted back right. Chinese Dragon couldn't match her speed, and only saw a red blur.

"Okay, time for support fire." Chat smirked. He jumped over top of Dragon, grabbed his head in an attempt to pull him down, and when that didn't work, he landed.

Dragon focused on the dual Ladybugs. He took to the sky and released an aerial assault. Marinette, now to her feet, watched with hesitancy. More GIGN men unleashed bullets, which were melted by his flames.

"Come a little closer." Libby said to Marinette. She linked their arms and began twirling her yo-yo. Marinette was oblivious to any kind of plan.

"Just do what I do." Libby winked. Marinette spun her yo-yo, and whipped it at Dragon's feet. It caught, and Marinette tugged with all her might. Libby clamped her arms around Marinette's shoulders, and with pure force of will, were able to ground the dragon villain.

"Oh what the hell...Cataclysm!"

Libby and Marinette couldn't make sense of Chat directing his destructive touch at a fire hydrant. He impacted, and the hydrant exploded. A horizontal jet of water rushed towards the now trapped villain. As soon as it made contact, it also made sense.

"Yes! Yessss." Libby celebrated.

"Aww, I was too late in making a 'water you waiting for' pun." Marinette turned her head away, and then snapped it back and was smiling.

"Whiplash much?"

"Alright, time to go fishing for Akumas!"

Chinese Dragon, who was now (literally) steaming, let a deep, throaty laugh escape from his mouth.

"The brunette Ladybug has no Miraculous, you say?" He asked. Chills went up the heroes' spines. "I am equal to her then, for I have no Akuma!"

"That's impossible." Marinette stated.

"Are you not under Hawkmoth's control?" Chat Noir asked.

"Oh I am most certainly under his control. I will be back for your Miraculous, Ladybug and Chat Noir...I swear it!"

Chinese Dragon unleashed a blast of fire and rolled his head back, shooting them above himself, and with a roar he flew off.

"I don't understand..." Marinette trailed off. "Unless Hawkmoth developed a new method for creating henchman..."

Marinette's eyes blinked at a mile a minute.

"Somebody needs to rest." Libby remarked.

"Make that two of us." Chat said, his ring announcing that there were only two minutes until he changed. "All silliness aside, I'm truly glad there are two of you now. Putting Hawk Boy in his place should be easier."

Chat bounded away.

"This is getting so tiring." Marinette sighed. Libby looked at her with sympathy, and put her hand on her face.

"We got this, Hun. I did the Lady's work by myself forever, and managed just fine."

Marinette embraced Libby (awwww!).

"Nothing like that first hug feeling." Libby said.

"Alright, let's get outta here before anyone else spoils our day." Marinette winked, and the Ladybug pair set off toward her home.

"Shame you can't tell your parents all about your busy day."

"I don't want them worrying too much. But someday I'll tell them."

When the girls arrived back at Marinette's home, they dropped in through the open part of the roof.

"I get it." Libby said. "If you come home late, bam! Your bed's right here."

"It is convenient." Marinette admitted. Libby began playing with her ponytails.

"Ahem..."

"Sorry, Marinette."

Marinette looked sullen.

"I'm, uh, I'm very physically affectionate with my friends, in case you haven't noticed."

"No, I don't mind that Libby. I'm just beat."

"How about we both take a nap?" Libby suggested.

"Well, supper is a few hours away." Marinette thought. She took her earrings out as Libby undid her hairclip, and they both transformed. Marinette heard a knock on her door.

"Come in, mom."

Sabine flung the door open.

"I didn't hear you girls get home." She said.

"We, uh, snuck in just a little while ago." Marinette said with a nervous smile. "Guess you didn't see us."

"I guess not."

"We're just gonna sleep for a couple hours, uh, Sabine, if that's okay." Libby said.

"Sure dear." Sabine smiled and closed the door.

"Weird. I've only know your parents for like, 30 some hours, and I'm on a first name basis with them."

Marinette tossed her bag onto the computer table, as did Libby, and she ascended to her bed.

"There's...probably room for two up here." Marinette said while blushing.

"You'd be comfortable lying next to me?" Libby inquired.

"You're a friend, and not dangerous, so yes."

"Honey I'm very dangerous..."

Marinette's eye twitched.

"...Just not to you."

Libby took the ladder up and laid down next to Marinette.

"Oh heyyyy." She said with a fake seductive tone, which Marinette caught and laughed.

"You're so funny." Marinette continued laughing. Libby kissed her on the forehead.

"And you are very important to me."

Marinette smiled pleasantly and closed her eyes. Libby admired her for a moment, then also shut her eyes. Marinette predictably dreamt about Adrien, but Libby now also appeared. The second Ladybug saw images of her home, and flashes of friends.

"Help me..." She said to them, reaching out a desperate hand. Irka reached back, and as there hands touched, she vanished in a puff of smoke. Libby now found herself cornered inside of her school by shadowy figures.

"Get back! I can and will use this!"

Libby didn't notice at first that she wasn't Ladybug.

"Irka, help! Edison! Mom, dad, help!"

"Libby!"

The brunette girl was shaken out of sleep by Marinette. Libby darted her eyes around the room in a panic, then noticed Marinette leaning up on her elbow.

"Phew...my God. I need to find a way to let them know I'm alright at least."

"Tikki, do you know if cross-dimensional contact is possible?"

"Travelling between them is clearly possible." Marinette's Kwami answered. "Though things are a little uncertain at the moment, between this and an Akuma-free minion."

"Should we consult Master Fu?" Marinette suggested. "He might shed some light on the situation."

"I think that's a good idea Marinette."

"Tomorrow after school okay, Libby?"

"Tomorrow for sure. Hey, how long was I asleep?"

"35 minutes." Marinette answered.

"Are you alright Libby?" They heard Ash ask from down below. She warped out of the hairclip. Marinette was a little surprised by her appearance. Ash was a very short woman, at under 5 feet tall, with a strange beige hue to her skin, an exceptionally long ponytail and a metal plate of some sort partially covering her left eye.

"They certainly make them differently in your dimension..."

"Was that an indirect insult?" Libby's guide asked.

"Nooo!" Marinette put her hands up, and flailed around while explaining herself. "It's just that you and Tikki are so different, I mean Tikki's an itty bitty Ladybug, and you're a human...ish woman, and you look like you're from another planet, and she..."

All the while Marinette was rambling, Libby had her hand on her chin, and Ash was staring at her from a distance with a quizzical expression.

"*Gasp* Oh my gosh why am I so tense all of a sudden, maybe I should find a relaxation technique, and I should also..."

"Oookay there motor mouth, maybe put on the parking brake for a few minutes." Libby recommended.

"She appears to have a great amount of stress." Ash observed.

"Relax Marinette. Just for a little while."

"Do your parents know you're Ladybug?"

"Not yet, but when I get back they'll find out pretty fast."

"I think it's unfair that none of our parents know." Marinette remarked. "We're off leading double lives and they think all we're worried about is school and boys."

"I'm not at all concerned about the latter." Libby said matter-of-factly. "You, on the other hand..."

"When I decide to tell mom and papa, will you give them the whole truth as well?"

"Yeah, it only makes sense."

"How was Chloè?"

"Not so bad. I'm kinda torn, because I really don't like her. Earlier told me everything, though she's nice to Ladybug."

Marinette checked her phone. A Twitter post notification from Alya, which read:

"Thanks for the ride home #Ladybug. SMDH. #Rude #Louvre #SomeFriendYouAre"

"Girlfriend is pissed." Libby raised both her eyebrows.

"Wait, Rose said something." Marinette said as she herself was typing.

Roses_in_Bloom: I'm sure she didn't mean it Alya!

Marinette_Fashion_Girl: I'll make sure she apologizes ;-P

Ladyblogger_159: She damn well better

"She's giving you an evil glare over Twitter, Marinette."

"I'm scared now!"

Marinette and Libby both chuckled. Her dad now knocked on the door.

"Yes, papa?" Marinette called.

"Oh you're up." Tom sounded surprised. "Um, supper will be a little earlier than usual for tonight. Your mother wants to get started sooner rather than later."

"Thank you papa!"

"Libby?"

"Yes Tom?" Libby called back.

"Where are you?" Tom asked.

"Up with Marinette, why?"

"Oh, um, alright."

"Something wrong, papa?"

"N-no. Remember, supper's pretty soon!"

"He sounded very confused." Libby noted.

"Well since we're, you know, in bed together, he might get the wrong idea." Marinette explained.

"Marinette I adore you, but..."

"Hehe."

"Come on, let's rest some more."

And so they returned to slumber, this time peaceful for both of them. When Libby next awoke, Marinette's hands were wrapped around hers.

"Well if there's one reason I'm glad to be here..." She smiled. Libby released Marinette and got out of bed. Both Ash and Tikki came towards her.

"Whoa, one at a time."

"Libby, you seem to like it here in Paris." Ash said.

"I do!" Libby looked around. "It's a new, beautiful place where I can help more people than ever! Marinette's great, Alya and Rose..."

Libby's smile sunk, and she collapsed and began sobbing.

"I need to get home, Ash. But I can't abandon Marinette."

"Marinette is strong." Tikki chimed in. "She's done so much for Paris. She'll miss you, but will manage. Just know that you've impacted her life in a positive way."

"Tikki, if another one of those portals comes through, I'm taking her back with me. Even just for a little while."

"But Libby, there's no guarantee one, much less two more portals are coming." Ash raised her voice a little. "What if you bring Marinette, and then she gets stuck at your home?"

"Then you have my permission to destroy me."

Ash covered her mouth. Marinette sat up.

"Are you having a conference without me?" She asked.

"Just needed to get something off my chest." Libby answered.

"I hope you aren't keeping important secrets from me."

"What kind of friend would I be if I did that?"

"Anyway, I'll go see what's cooking downstairs." Marinette said. Libby paused, and then sighed. She followed after her friend and entered the kitchen.

"Smile, Marinette!"

"Huh?"

*Click*

"Ah, here we have ze Wild Marinette in her natural habit." Libby put on a fake, and rather stereotypical French accent.

"Hey, delete that!" Marinette exclaimed, striding towards Libby.

"Crikey! She's an aggressive gal!"

Marinette pried the phone out of Libby's hands, looked at the photo, then chuckled.

"I look like I just saw a ghost or something." She continued laughing. Libby put her arm over Marinette, and they took a selfie while giving funny faces. Sabine walked in to see them giggling and wiping away tears.

"Oh, how precious!" She said.

"Can you guys adopt me so Marinette is my sister?" Libby asked. Marinette nudged her in the ribs.

"What I meant was, you guys are like a second family to me!"

"I'm just glad you two are getting along so well."

"Marinette's great."

"Supper will be ready soon." Sabine smiled.

"Alright." Marinette said. Libby was still holding her close.

"I guess Alya's done ranting. Chloè, meanwhile, is blowing up Facebook and Twitter about Ladybug."

"And I see she put hearts around the pic of you." Libby added.

"She loves me, and hates me all at once." Marinette said. She sniffed the air.

"Smells like Cassoulet. You're in for a treat."

Libby went to the kitchen sink and washed her hands. Sabine motioned for her and Marinette to sit.

"Tom!"

Tom jogged in, and Libby looked over at Marinette.

"It's kind of a tradition in my house for my mom to below dad's name like that, even when she isn't mad at him."

Sabine served up the Cassoulet.

"Libby, would you like to say Grace tonight?" She asked.

"Oh, uh, yeah Sabine, sure." Libby answered. "Um, Dear Lord, I just wanted to...thank you for this tremendous meal, and for the great friends I've already made in Paris. Marinette, Tom, Sabine, Rose and Alya."

Libby paused for a moment, and the other three eyed her.

"...I'm real sorry guys, that's all I've got."

"Please keep us in your comforting embrace, O Lord." Tom picked up. "In Jesus' name, Amen."

"Thank you Tom." Libby said.

"Thank you Libby." Marinette gave her hand a squeeze.

"Can I say it?" Tom gave pleading eyes to Sabine. She sighed and said "If you must..."

"Good bread, good meat, Good God, let's eat!"

The quartet dug in, and Marinette's parents immediately struck up a conversation.

"Did either of you girls hear about what happened at the Louvre?" Sabine asked.

"Alya blogged about it, so yes." Marinette replied.

"I just can't get over the fact that there are two Ladybugs now." Tom looked up towards the ceiling. "Did she get cloned or something?"

"They have different hair colors, so I don't think so." Libby remarked.

"School went well today, for the most part." Marinette changed the subject.

"Was Adrien there dear?" Sabine inquired.

"Oh yessss..."

Marinette inadvertently leaned forward, and before she could catch herself in time, faceplanted into her dinner.

"Wah!"

"I've heard of headbanging, but this is ridiculous!" Libby chuckled, doing her best Groucho Marx impression. Sabine fetched a rag and cleaned Marinette's face off.

"Well mom, it certainly tastes good!"

"You go above and beyond when it comes to klutziness." Libby smirked.

"Any boys on your radar Libby?" Tom asked.

"No sir. School is more important."

"It's important to me too, you know!" Marinette exclaimed while taking a bite.

"For more reasons, of course."

Marinette pushed Libby's face away, and her parents looked concerned.

"We're just being playful, papa."

"Do you girls have homework?" Sabine asked.

"Actually, I don't think we do. Right Mari?"

"No, just a quiet evening ahead." Marinette looked relieved.

"We'll find something to keep ourselves occupied." Libby added. She finished her dinner and placed her dishes in the dishwasher.

"Well Tom, Sabine, that was exquisite. Thank you."

"You're most welcome." They said in unison. Libby glanced at Sabine's 'kiss the cook' apron and gave her a small kiss on the cheek.

"I had to..."

"Maybe we will adopt her, Tom." Sabine grinned. Marinette soon finished, and joined Libby on the living room couch.

"Better apologize to Alya for earlier." The pig-tailed girl said. "Via text, of course."

Marinette laid her head in Libby's lap, and both began typing away. Tom and Sabine admired from a distance.

"They're so close. I'm happy for them." Tom nodded.

"Libby is spending so much of her time here, though." Sabine wondered aloud. "Doesn't she have another place to stay?"

"I don't know honey. Maybe somebody backed out on providing her housing."

"She's not legally our child, so we can't technically keep her."

"But she's so happy." Tom continued. "And look at Marinette. We can't keep these two apart.

"Let's not worry for tonight." Sabine said. Libby rubbed Marinette's chin like she was a cat, and Marinette hummed. A potential disaster was avoided earlier, and the Ladybugs may have even won Chloè's rare affection, but there was cause for concern with Chinese Dragon, and just what Hawkmoth had planned...

Until next time, Bug Out!