"Oh Marinette," Tikki giggles, a smile playing on her lips. "You just need to be more confident! There's no way Adrien will say no to going to the movies with you."

Mornings are the worst.

Sometimes, just for a while, Marinette forgets that Tikki is no longer there. Then she opens her eyes and reality hits, bringing waves of pain.

But still, a small part of Marinette tries to dream of Tikki each night. Sometimes she wonders if Tikki dreaming of her too, wherever she is?

There's a knock at his office door and a hesitant, "Father?"

For a moment it's a young Adrien holding a coloring book and package of crayons wearing a bright smile that Gabriel sees, not his fully grown son. Those were much simpler times, back when Adrien was young and innocent. Untouched by the cruelness of the world. Gabriel shuts his laptop without much thought and leans forward slightly. "Adrien, what's wrong?"

"Is it okay if I….if I study in here? I'll be quiet. I just….."

'Don't want to be alone.'

"I could use some company."

Adrien doesn't smile, but the pain in his eyes seems to lessen. It's the best Gabriel can hope for right now.

"Have you tried contacting Chat Noir?"

Tom and Sabine only want to help their daughter, they have no way of knowing that the question only brings a new pain.

No. No she hasn't contacted Chat Noir because she can't. Because of her she has no way of contacting him without Tikki.

Then it hits her.

Marinette hasn't just lost Tikki.

She's lost her precious partner as well. Why had she insisted they wait? Why didn't she reveal herself the day they took down Papillon.

But...wait, that's it! Their meeting place! She's late, but surely he'll be there. Surely he'll want to find her as much as she wants to find him! He wouldn't give up after a few missed chances would he? No, definitely not.

In her haste Marinette fails to notice that she disturbed the mess on her desk, causing a papers to flutter to the floor.

She runs out the door, shouting some excuse over her shoulder as goes. The clouds rumble above Marinette, in her hurry she forgot to at least grab an umbrella. But it doesn't matter. None of it matters. She has to find him! Has to find Chat Noir. Has to explain. Perhaps he already knows. Maybe he lost his miraculous too. But wait, how will he know it's her? She's not wearing her calling card.

Her watch. It's not much, a simple ladybug shape, but it will have to be enough. Hopefully Chat will remember to wear the item they agreed on. She'll find him, she's sure of it.

Eyes stinging, Marinette bites her lip.

He's not here. He's not coming.

Pulling her legs to her chest, Marinette buries her face in her knees.

If only she had come sooner.

A sob she'd been fighting comes out against her will.

If only she hadn't been so stupid. Stupid, stupid stupid.

Tikki is gone forever. And now…...so is Chat Noir.