The first thing that Chloé felt was warmth. Gradually, the rest of her senses came into focus, but everything was still slow and detached. She thought she might have been disassociating a bit, and wondered how long it had been since she had taken her medication. She would worry about that later. She was warm. She felt safe. She felt movement, and the presence of a warm, naked body next to hers suddenly came into her awareness. Softness covering steel-cord muscles. A smell of sugar and baking bread and vanilla. Smooth, flawless skin. Marinette. Chloé thought that she really should feel embarrassed snuggling up to her girlfriend while they were both nude, but she felt too safe and protected to feel embarrassment. Here, nothing could hurt her. Here, she was home. She cuddled deeper into the body next to hers, pulling Marinette's body tight to hers.

"Good morning, Chlo," she heard the soft voice of her girlfriend. "I'm glad to see you awake. I was so worried about you." She heard a tone of mirth in Marinette's voice, and wondered what the cause was. Then Marinette started speaking again. "I know you've said that I have a great butt and legs, but you don't need to squeeze them so hard, they aren't going anywhere, love."

Chloé squeaked and pulled her hands back so quickly that she was sure she had friction burns on her fingertips. "I am so sorry, Mari, I wasn't trying to…" She stopped when she felt the girl next to her start to giggle. "You are so mean, Mari," she murmured, threading her arms back around Marinette's body and pressing her hands between the girl's shoulder blades. "I love you anyway."

"I love you always," Marinette said in return.

"That's very sweet, but I hope that those hands are in more appropriate places now," said a voice that Chloé had come to know very well. She felt a weight shifting at the bottom of the bed, and she realized that Sabine Cheng had been sleeping at the foot of the bed. Part of Chloé was mortified that her girlfriend's mother had just caught her in an awkward position, but another part heard the love in Sabine's voice, and that calmed her fears.

"Mother!" Marinette said, sitting up. She was holding the sheets up in front of her, which gave Chloé an unobstructed view of Marinette's back from her neck to her bottom. Marinette's hair was down and in loose tangles, and Chloé felt her face go aflame again as she thought about running her hands through that loose hair while kissing. That had been happening a lot recently. Damn teenage hormones. Why did her girlfriend have to be so amazingly sexy? Not that she was complaining, but…she focused back on what Marinette was saying. "…so we didn't do anything. We snuggled. We had a really, really bad day yesterday, and I needed to know that she was still here. She needed to know that I still love her. We almost lost everything yesterday. Twice."

Chloé sat up with a start, catching hold of the sheet as Marinette held the edge up for her. She leaned into the blunette just a little as she looked at Sabine. She looked…worn. She had on a really cute pair of silken pajamas, the part of Chloé that catalogued that sort of thing noted. She had an inscrutable look on her face, and Chloé didn't know what to think. She decided to go with a question, more information was always good. "Mari," she said quietly, "what is your mother doing here?"

"She met us here when we brought you back from the park in the limo. Alya and I, we didn't know what to do. You were freezing, and incoherent. You were trembling and blue. We needed help. We needed a mom, but Alya's was in the middle of dinner service, so I called mine," Marinette replied. "She, well, she…"

"She's really good at keeping secrets," Sabine interjected. "Much better than a bunch of teenagers are. It was so cute that you thought I never noticed you going out – your father is much less perceptive, and didn't want him to worry – but I assure you that I did." She stared at both girls with a no-nonsense look. "I'll be having that talk with him now, though. He deserves to know what his girls are up to, if only so he understands why you might not come home someday. Like Chloé almost didn't come home, yesterday."

Dread had been creeping up on Chloé when Mme. Cheng had started speaking – she was definitely Mme. Cheng at the moment – and now she was almost ready to panic. "She knows?" Chloé hissed at Marinette.

"Yes, she knows," her girlfriend said in a resigned tone. "Mom, can we get dressed before we continue this conversation?"

Sabine seemed to consider this for a moment. "I'm not sure. I like the advantage this gives me – you can't run away. But it will probably be more comfortable for all involved. Alya is in the bathroom at the moment, and is getting dressed, but I need to call young M. Agreste and ask him to meet us here. You are very lucky that I understand the need for secrecy, or I would be talking to M. Agreste and the Césaires about this." She turned and headed for the door. "Ten minutes, girls."

Chloé hopped up, unabashed, even before Marinette's mother made it to the door, and she strode to her closet, nude but not naked. She put just a bit of a strut in her step as she walked through the door. She pulled out comfy panties and a huge Ladybug sleep shirt that hung down to mid-thigh. She dragged out a pair of white pajama bottoms with cute little ladybugs printed all over. Dressing quickly, she went back out into the main room of the suite. Marinette was bent over, pulling clothes out of a bag that Chloé assumed her mother had brought, and she could only be thankful that her girlfriend had already gotten her bottoms on – such as the were. She had on the same short shorts she had been wearing in the picture Alya had sent her those few short weeks ago, and every time she saw them, Chloé's mind locked up. Damn, her girlfriend was sexy. It wasn't fair. Marinette stood, and she pulled on a tshirt – one of the brand-new Queen Bee-themed shirts that had just been released.

"It's nice to see you have taste," she heard herself saying, "Queen Bee is the best of Team Miraculous – after Ladybug, of course."

Marinette grinned. "Of course." The door between them opened, and Alya walked out of the bathroom in an orange tank top and black silk pajama bottoms. She looked both of them over, and noted Chloé's apprehensive look.

"I see the Mari-mom has already struck her first blow. Chloé, you look like shit," Alya said.

Chloé made a rude gesture. "Anyone who uses my bathroom is not allowed to be bitchy to me for an hour afterwards."

"I'm just using all the bitchiness I have in the bank from before," Alya countered.

Chloé started to speak, and then she realized that she didn't really have a good comeback. Then the door opened, and Sabine walked in. Apparently Adrien had already been in the hotel, because he walked in behind her. Mme. Cheng pointed to the lounge area, where the pouring rain could be seen through the windows, and gestured for all of them to move there. Chloé was pretty sure this wasn't going to be very much fun.

She was right. It wasn't.

LFC LFC LFC

Alya walked down the street next to Adrien, umbrellas raised, keeping him company until he reached the Agreste Mansion, or The Gorilla caught up with them with the car, whichever came first. Walking allowed them to talk, and the rain kept their voices from carrying.

"Mme. Cheng was tough," Adrien said, "but she was fair. Thank god she isn't going to tell my father. I would be grounded for eternity."

"She understands keeping things secret," Alya replied. "She knows that we aren't even happy with her knowing, but since she does, she can help guard our secret with the rest of the parents. I have a feeling that Chloé, Marinette, and I are going to have a lot of unscheduled sleepovers. We might as well all keep clothes at each others' homes. You might even want to keep a few outfits around, Adrien."

"Marinette is going to need a bigger room if you start sleeping over, too."

"Nah," Alya said, "she and Chloé always snuggle in her loft, so I can sleep on the chaise."

Adrien stumbled, but caught himself. "I keep forgetting that. I just can't picture two people sharing that little bed. Any two people," he added at the look from Alya. He walked for several paces before turning to look at Alya. "Are you sure Chloé is okay?"

"No," Alya said, "but I'm sure that she'll get there. We're here for her, and we can get her through this," she said with conviction.

"You're a good person, Alya," Adrien said.

The blogger snorted. "I'm a nosey, manipulative bitch," she said. "Maybe one with a heart of gold, and things have worked out better than I could ever have hoped, but I'm still not that good of a person."

"I think you are," the model replied. "You stand by your friends. You protect them. You ran out in the rain for two and a half hours looking for Chloé. I know you got soaked before you ever transformed, and you stayed out in the pouring rain looking for someone who, a month ago, you wouldn't have given the time of day to. That makes you a good person, Alya."

"I'm glad that you think so," she replied, "but you are a much better person than I will ever be. You are a goddamn saint, putting up with some of the crap you do."

"I kind of bank it. I follow along with the schedules and the routines and the demands, so that when something like yesterday and today come up, Nathalie forgives me for missing whatever little stupid thing I missed," Adrien replied. "It's very much like banking – I deposit good will, and when I have to do Chat Noir stuff, I make a withdrawal. If I have less in the bank than I need for a particular incident, then Gabriel gets involved, and things are much less fun."

"You are still a saint, Adrien Agreste."

"If it pleases you think of me that way, who am I to argue," he said in reply. "Of the two of us, I'm definitely more saintly, anyway."

"How do you figure that?" Alya asked.

"Because you are lewd, Alya. You revel in making me blush, and you tease me all the time," Adrien said, his face heating and his cheeks pinking. "On patrol, you're always in my personal space now, and you press up against me from behind, and you're always teasing me and whispering in my ear, and you sway your hips better than half the models I work with. You are a tease, and you are lewd."

Alya dropped her umbrella, holding it behind her as she stepped under Adrien's and got in very close to him. "I just don't want some silly piece of fluff thinking she can get her hands on you, Adrien," she said in a husky voice. "Rena is working at making you, if not less shy, then more comfortable with the teasing that girls do. It's only going to get worse, Adrien. You're gorgeous, you're famous, and you're a good man." She got closer, staring him in the eyes. "That way, when you do find someone worth your time, you're ready for her, and not a stuttering mess." She stepped back, and then flipped her umbrella back up and started walking once more. Adrien hurried to catch up.

"What was that, Alya?" he said when he was even with her.

"What was what?"

"I'm not that naïve, Alya," Adrien countered.

Alya giggled, turning and poking him in the chest, stopping them both. "You are ridiculously naïve, Adrien. It's what makes you so sweet. There is very little guile in you, and every bit is saved for hiding your double life as Chat Noir. Don't worry about it, Adrien." She walked off using the strut she usually reserved for when she was Rena.

"Alya," Adrien half-growled, catching up again.

"I know you too well to be intimidated, Agreste," Alya said with a laugh. "It's cute though."

"Why do you always deflect the conversation, Al?" he asked.

"No idea what you mean," the blogger responded.

"You never just say what you think," Adrien countered.

"No one cares what Alya Césaire thinks, Adrien," she said, stopping and facing him. "They care what the Ladyblog reports. They care what Rena Rouge does. They care that Alya is always there to back up Marinette. What Alya thinks doesn't matter," she said bitterly. "Marinette is the only one, was the only one. Now it's Chloé, and Sabrina, and you. Maybe Rose and Juleka, and Mylène. No one else even knows Alya Césaire. So why bother to tell them anything that she thinks? She's just some dumb dark-skinned girl from Martinique. Not even a real Frenchwoman."

"Who said that?" Adrien demanded.

"It doesn't matter, Adrien," she said. "Too many people. They tell me I might as well date Nino, he's just as dark and just as worthless, they say. No true Frenchman will ever give me the time of day, they say. You're just as worthless as the muslim scum in the tenements, Césaire, they say. You're trying to piggyback on the fame of a real hero with your shitty blog, they say." Tears were dripping down Alya's face now, and she turned away. "I'm sorry, Adrien, this isn't your problem…"

"The hell it isn't!" he growled. "You're my partner, Alya. We always have each other's backs. In costume, or out. And all of them are fools. You're beautiful, and sexy, and smart, and you, not Rena, but you, are so damn brave. You used to run into our battles with nothing but a camera, but there you were. The inimitable Ladyblogger. You are amazing, Alya. Never let anyone tell you otherwise." Adrien turned and started to walk, holding the umbrella tight against his back. He was furious, no one should ever treat his friends like that, and…

He had heard the footsteps running to catch up, but the hand grabbing his shoulder to spin him around had been a surprise. Her one hand caught with his, holding the umbrella up. The other slid into his hair, pulling his head around and tilting it slightly, and then he felt the hot breath on his cheek, right before her lips touched his. Her kiss was passionate, fierce, possessive. She nibbled on his lip, and then her tongue danced with his. She poured herself into the kiss, poured everything she had, telling him exactly who and what she was. Then she stepped back, out from under the umbrella, and she turned to pick hers up from where she dropped it, looking very unsure. Her umbrella had just come up when he was under it, his cast aside this time, pushing her up against the wall and kissing her. His kiss was more chaste, more reserved, but still passionate. He rested his forehead against hers.

"I don't know what came over me," Alya whispered, "I just felt like I had to kiss you."

"I didn't mind," Adrien replied just as quietly.

"I really like you," the blogger confessed. "I just thought that I'd never have a chance. Marinette, and Chloé, and girls like Clara Nightingale, or that Kagami girl, or Mireille, those are the type of girl that you like, not some dark-skinned Amazon like me…"

"If I hear you say anything about your skin color again tonight, I will punish you," Adrien growled.

"Are you going to spank me?" Alya teased.

"If that's what it takes," he said in reply, and Alya froze and blushed. Adrien laughed. "Finally, I shocked you to silence!"

"If you want me to be quiet, I know a better way to do that," she said, and she pulled him in for a kiss. They were still there when The Gorilla found them. The staid man simply gestured at the door of the car, and Adrien walked over, folding his umbrella and shaking it as he got in the car. Alya walked over, and when The Gorilla held up a palm, Alya held up her index finger. "Just one moment, please, M. Dupont?" The Gorilla froze at the use of his name, and Alya used the time to lean in and kiss Adrien one last time. Then she stepped back, and closed the door to the limo herself. She nodded to The Gorilla, he nodded back, and Alya turned and walked home in the rain. The weather didn't dampen her mood at all.

LFC LFC LFC

Marinette sat at her classroom desk, checking all of her assignments. She had spent the entire rest of the day yesterday making sure she had everything caught up. She was feeling a bit off this morning. It was the first morning she hadn't woken up next to Chloé since the girl had taken up residence in Marinette's room. She hadn't realized how quickly she could get used to sleeping next to someone. She heard someone come in, and she looked up to see Nathanael walk in, shaking off his umbrella and taking off his jacket. She waved at him, and he smiled and waved back. She looked at the umbrella he carried, and sighed.

She had talked to Tikki that night (her mother still didn't know about the Kwami, or what the Miraculous actually were, so she still had to be careful), and her Kwami had told her that when she had forcefully used so much luck and creation power to make sure that Chloé didn't die, she had set up an imbalance. The chaos and destructiveness of the storm was bringing things back into balance. It would pass in another day or two, and Marinette now had a lesson on one of the costs of her power. She hoped that the storm cleared up before one of the bigger heroes out there decided that it needed to be looked in on. She and Team Miraculous (she still didn't like the name, but she had been outvoted) could handle any threats to Paris. She didn't need any world-famous heroes mucking about in her city and attracting some bigger villain. Papillion was more than enough, thanks.

A piece of sealed stationary slid across her desk toward her, and she looked up. Chloé was smiling at her, a finger still on the letter. "You are such a dork, Chloé," she said, and when she reached out to scoop the letter up, Chloé took her hand and kissed the back of it before walking off to her desk. Marinette knew she was blushing, she could feel the burning in her ears. She took the letter and opened it.

Dearest Marinette,

Waking up without you was the saddest morning I can remember. I need you near me to chase the nightmares away. Can I spend the night tonight? I want my snuggly girlfriend to keep me warm and dry. One kiss for no, two (or more) kisses for yes~

Loving you more every day,

Chloé~

Marinette looked up at her girlfriend, who was giving her a cocky smirk. Marinette couldn't help but stare for a moment, even with the combs in her hair to keep it back, her hair was a riot of unruly waves today. The rain brought out the natural curl in Chloé's hair. Marinette wished she had any curl at all in her hair, but her hair was purely from her mother's side of the family. She pulled out her phone.

Bakery Klutz: I'll give you your payment in kisses later, but you can stay the night. Mom and dad will understand

Mari'sGirl: Yay! I really did have a bad dream last night so i really appreciate it

Bakery Klutz: But what's this about me keeping you warm and dry? I'm pretty sure that's the opposite of the reaction i cause in you

Mari'sGirl: Asdfa;jgkhb;ieoraukg;rjkg;kjhf;ailhreg;ksenr;oaihbg

Mari'sGirl: MARINETTE!1!1!

Mari'sGirl: I cannot believe you just said that. Who are you and what did you do with my girlfriend?

Mlle. Ladyblog: My question is why this conversation is in the group chat instead of in a private message, but that's just me

Bakery Klutz: Aaer;kughaf;iduskl Oh God

BesteAgreste: And now my eyeballs are burning

Bakery Klutz: WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTING i WAS JUTS TRYNG TO BE FUNY OH GOD KILL ME NOW

Mari'sGirl: Well she is right about the reaction being the opposite she is going to be getting the cold shoulder

BesteAgreste: Can the married couple go fight in a private chat please now thanks

Marinette punched the screen on her phone to try and find the right message thread so she didn't embarrass herself anymore when a new message came in on the chat between just her, Chloé, and Alya.

Mlle. Ladyblog: Girls girls girls

Mlle. Ladyblog: I don't even know how to

Mlle. Ladyblog: So I was walking adrien home after that horribly embarrassing lecture by your mother, and i don't how we got on the topic but i ended up telling adrien about the harassment i've been getting because of my darker skin

Mlle. Ladyblog: And he got really angry and started telling me how i was great and pretty and sexy and smart and i just couldn't stop myself i just had to kiss him

Mlle. Ladyblog: And it was soooooo goooood. And then i stepped back and was going to apologize for kissing him without warning when he pushed me against the wall and kissed me back and oh. Good. God

Mlle. Ladyblog: And we were still kissing when the gorilla found us and picked up adrien

Mari'sGirl: Way to go, girl!

Bakery Klutz: That's so great i'm so happy for you alya

Bakery Klutz: Are you dating?

Mlle. Ladyblog: I don't know? We messaged when i got home but i don't think we had come to a decision. I would date him but i really don't know if i can handle being adrien agreste's girlfriend. I can handle dating adrien. I don't know about the famous model

Mari'sGirl: Do you like him?

Mlle. Ladyblog: What?

Mari'sGirl: Do. You. Like. Him?

Mlle. Ladyblog: Of course!

Mari'sGirl: Then date adrien. That's who he is not the image that his father made. All adrien wants it to be loved for himself. You can give him that. You can protect him

Bakery Klutz: What she said

Alya walked into the class a moment later, shaking her head as she looked at the two girls. She ran her hand up her umbrella and then flicked some of the water at Chloé, grinning wickedly. The blonde blushed and spluttered. Then Adrien walked into the room, walked over to Alya and kissed her on the cheek, and it was the redhead's turn to splutter and blush. Marinette almost fell out of her seat laughing at the antics that followed, and the rest of the class joined in the silliness as they arrived, most not knowing the reasons for the silliness, but having fun nonetheless. The warning bell rang, and Marinette called the class to order. She loved her friends.