*Hello my awesome readers! Here we are, at the last chapter. I hope all of you have enjoyed it, and I really want to thank you for all the awesome reviews and the feedback. It has been an amazing experience. So, here it is! Chapter 11! The final chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 11

Adrien felt like he had been thrown against the wall. All the air had been knocked out of his lungs, and his bones felt like jelly. He didn't want to believe it. His father… was Hawk Moth? Adrien was not able to accept it. His father was a lot of things, but he never expected him to be evil. What could possibly happen to him that would turn him into… into someone as evil as that? How did he know about Adrien? Hawk Moth knew Cat Noir's identity before his transformation ran out. Did his father know the entire time? His mind wouldn't stop racing, and the longer he went around in circles the more his anger grew.

Ladybug tied up Gabriel Agreste so he was unable to move. She took the akumas off the still unconscious villains and purified them so that they were no longer a danger. The butterfly Kwami was following behind Ladybug while she was fixing everything. He thanked her tremendously for freeing him and to bring him to the Master Fu once everything was over.

"Of course…," she hesitated when she realized she didn't even know his name.

"Nooroo," he said, finishing her sentence.

"Nooroo," she repeated with a smile. Nooroo gave Ladybug a huge smile then went into the pin willingly.

Once the villains were purified and sent on their way, she went over to Adrien. He was on his knees staring at his ring. He had put it back on so his Kwami was free again. Ladybug saw a tiny black creature sitting on Adrien's shoulder lightly munching on a small block of cheese. The Kwami was staring at Adrien with such sadness that it caused a tightness in her chest. She bit her lip and closed her eyes tightly to keep from crying. She was about to walk over there but Adrien stood up first. The Kwami fell off Adrien's shoulder with the movement, but caught his bearings quickly and flew after his charge.

Adrien grabbed his father by his jacket and gave him one swift punch in the face. She winced at the sound of flesh hitting flesh.

"Adrien!" Ladybug yelled. She ran over to him and caught his hand before he was able to throw another punch.

"How long did you know!?" Adrien yelled. "About me! How long did you know!?"

"A few days," Gabriel answered without any infliction in his voice.

Ladybug really had to hold Adrien back from punching him again. She had never seen Adrien that angry before.

"How did you find out?" he demanded.

Mr. Agreste hesitated. He looked away like he was ashamed.

"How did you find out?!" Adrien repeated. He emphasized each word as he said them. Ladybug noticed how his voice had taken on an animal like quality. It wasn't something specific like a hiss or a growl. She couldn't describe it, but it terrified her.

"I suspected when I saw your ring, and I was certain when I read your journal."

Adrien's eyes went wide and his face blanched. Ladybug no longer felt like she had to hold him back. It was like all the strength had left his body. Adrien was absolutely mortified. He never thought his father would invade his privacy like that. In fact that was the one good thing he liked about his father. He never invaded Adrien's privacy. It was something his father stressed while he was growing up. Did all of that mean nothing to him?

"How could you do that!?" Adrien yelled when he got past the shock. "I trusted you!"

"Whoa! Adrien, calm down," Ladybug cautioned when it looked like Adrien was going to punch his father again.

"No! I am not going to calm down! He lied to me, invaded my privacy, and has tried to kill us multiple times!" Adrien turned to his father; his green eyes livid. "What could possibly happen that would turn you into this?"

"You're mother," Gabriel Agreste said honestly.

Adrien's anger flamed out at the mention of his mother. "My… my mother?" he breathed. "What does she have to do with this?"

"She was killed," Adrien's father continued.

"I know. In a car accident in New York. I remember," Adrien said with a furrowed brow.

Ladybug raised her eyebrows at that. That was why he got weird when he had spoken about New York. It explained what he had said about making things right. He wanted to replace a horrible memory with a good one.

"I lied," Gabriel Agreste said matter-of-factly. "She wasn't killed in a car accident. She was murdered doing exactly what you two do every day. Your mother had the peacock Miraculous. We were fighting against a villain in New York and things went… they didn't end well."

Adrien was left speechless. Ladybug reached up and put a hand on his shoulder. He softened under her touch.

"But that was years ago," Adrien said. "Why now?"

"I didn't have a way to get my revenge." Ladybug didn't like the way Mr. Agreste was talking. His voice was calm, yet cold. He didn't sound ashamed or regretful at all. There wasn't any emotion at all in his words. It was frightening. "So I waited, bided my time. When I found the Miraculous Book, and I discovered the power I could get from your jewels, I knew I'd be able to purge the world of the evil that took her away from me."

Adrien looked like he was going to be sick. Ladybug grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the room before it became too much for him. The little black Kwami followed after them. He placed himself on Adrien's shoulder and put a comforting paw on him.

"Hey, it's okay," she whispered to him. "If you need to leave, I can take care of things here."

He shook his head. "No. No, I'm fine," he said, but he didn't sound fine. He was voice was shaky and his skin was turning an odd shade of ash and green. She put a hand on his cheek and he seemed to calm down. He reached up to hold her hand. His silver ring glinted with the movement.

"Adrien," she said softly. "Please, don't be brave for me. Don't make things harder for yourself."

"I don't think I can leave," he muttered. "Not now, not knowing who he is. He's my father."

"Of course you can leave," she told him. "Do you want to know why? Because that man has never been a father to you, not in the way that you know you deserve. I know that I idolized him for his design talent, but once I saw how he treated you, I realized that was the only thing he had going for him. That man in there has nothing. He deserves nothing. He doesn't deserve you. You, Adrien Agreste, deserve a father who will actually protect you and not hurt you. That man doesn't deserve the honor of being called your father."

He looked up at her with sad eyes. She always knew the right thing to say. After a silent moment he nodded.

"Okay," he said after a few moments of silence. "I'll leave. I'll bring the cops here so they can take him in."

She raised her eyebrows. "Are you sure?" she asked worriedly.

He nodded again. "Oui. I'll be okay. Cat's honor." He put a hand on his heart and held the other up with his palm facing out. He tried to force a smile but it didn't reach his eyes.

She shook her head at him, but was glad to see him try to make a cat joke. It was better than nothing. She kissed him quickly then headed back inside. She heard Adrien transform then recognized his footsteps as they ran back down the hallway.

When she arrived back in the butterfly atrium, Mr. Agreste was still there. She had tied him up too well for him to escape. She knew that she had Arachna's and Phantom Wolf's mess to clean up, but she would do that once Hawk Moth was in handcuffs.

Cat Noir came back within minutes with the police in tow. He only went as far as the entrance and even then he seemed hesitant to get that close. The police handcuffed Mr. Agreste after Ladybug removed her yoyo string. A large group of officers marched Gabriel Agreste out then another team started examining the crime scene. Ladybug and Cat Noir followed them out where even more officers, the mayor, and about a dozen news stations were waiting for them. All the reporters were trying to get a statement from Mr. Agreste, but he didn't say a word as they put him in the back of the police car.

"Ladybug! Cat Noir!" the reporters were yelling once Mr. Agreste left them with nothing. "Tell us! How'd you know Hawk Moth was Gabriel Agreste?"

The two superheroes were speechless. Cat Noir, normally the first in line for interviews, shied away. The reporters didn't notice anything off though.

"We didn't," Ladybug answered honestly. "We didn't know until we unmasked him. We were just as surprised as everyone else. Now, please. No more questions." She threw her yoyo and pulled herself up onto the nearest rooftop. The Eiffel Tower could be seen in the distance and it was still covered in Arachna's web. She used her Lucky Charm and all that fell was a crumpled piece of paper. She opened it up and saw that it was Adrien's poem she thought he had written for her. She gasped as she read the words again with all this knew knowledge in her mind. He wrote it for Ladybug?

Cat Noir appeared by her side once the lucky charm object fell into her hands. His eyes widened once he recognized the slip of paper she was holding. His cheeks went hot, and he got very self-conscious.

"You were never supposed to see that," he said embarrassedly. He reached for the paper, but she kept it pulling it just out of his reach.

"You wrote this? For me?" she asked when he was done trying to get it from her.

He nodded while sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah. It was on Valentine's Day. I wanted to tell you how I felt, but I didn't know how. I thought a poem would do the trick, but I threw it away."

Ladybug closed her eyes as she started to chuckle. This entire time and they were in love with each other. "Someone answered the poem, didn't they?" she asked.

"Yeah. I thought it was Ladybug, but I wasn't sure…" His voice trailed off as he realized what had happened.

She started laughing even harder now. "I thought the poem was for me, well, Marinette. I grabbed it out of the trash and read it because I was curious," Ladybug told him hesitantly, "and because I had a crush on you too." Her eyes suddenly widened. "Which I now realize you know because I told Cat Noir last week. Oh the horror!" She covered her face in her hands as she blushed the deepest red she had ever blushed. He knew all that time! She had never been more embarrassed.

Cat Noir couldn't help but laugh at her reaction. "I can't believe it! This entire time!" he exclaimed.

The two superheroes started laughing at the ridiculousness of their situation. As their laughter subsided they were left with no secrets, and it felt amazing.

Ladybug cast used her Miraculous Ladybug and everything was returned to how it was before. Well, almost everything. Cat Noir left to head home. He knew that the police would be looking for him. Ladybug didn't want to see him leave, especially since he would have to lie about where he had been. She just wanted to be there for him, but there wasn't anything she could do at that moment.

Ladybug headed home and collapsed on her bed seconds before her time ran out. Once she was no longer charged up she felt the events of that day hit her like a semi-truck slamming into her at full speed, but it wasn't over. She still had the butterfly Miraculous. She pulled it out of her pocket and held it lightly in her hands.

"Come on, Tikki. Let's get Nooroo home," she said.

Marinette was smiling when she walked out of Master Fu's healing room. She remembered the first time she had met him when he healed Tikki. She had wondered why he didn't freak out when she started flying after she was healed, but then on her second visit was when she learned who he really was. It really explained why he wasn't weirded out by Tikki and her odd appearance.

She started tearing up again when she saw how happy Nooroo was to be back home. Tikki didn't let go of Nooroo for a full minute. She was so excited to have him back, as did Wayzz. It was a wonderful moment and marked the end of a difficult time for all of them.

When Marinette walked inside her house her parents were watching the news with wide eyes and open mouths.

"What is it?" she asked, coming to see what had them so surprised.

She froze when she recognized Adrien's house on the screen. It was being lit up intermittently with red and blue as the lights of police cars flashed nearby. There seemed to be the entire police force in front of his house. They were either gathering evidence or trying to keep reporters at bay. She looked for Adrien but she didn't see him. He must've already been taken to the police station.

"Oh, poor Adrien," her mother said with a sigh.

Marinette went to sit down on the couch in between her parents. Her father put a comforting hand on her shoulder. Her parents could tell that it was hard for her.

"I knew his father wasn't a good person," Tom said, "but to find out he's Hawk Moth? It's unbelievable."

It really was unbelievable, but that didn't mean it wasn't true. She could only imagine how Adrien felt when he found out, and even then it probably wasn't how he really was feeling.

Marinette knew that Paris would be reeling over that new information for weeks. For months, they had been plagued by akuma villains created by a mysterious villain. There were theories on his identity, but no one would've suspected Gabriel Agreste. That night was one of the few that had left everyone in Paris shocked.

"Have you talked to him?" Sabine asked her daughter.

Marinette looked up in surprise. She had been lost in thought. When her mother's question entered her mind she hesitated. Yes, she had talked to him, but they were the ones who unmasked Hawk Moth. She knew she had to lie to them, but it was difficult, especially for a lie that big.

Marinette shook her head. "No. I haven't," she said quietly.

"Do you think he had an idea of who his father was?" Marinette's mother asked warily. It was a question she didn't want to asked, but it had to be said.

"No!" Marinette said immediately. "There's no way he knew. He would never—" She clamped her lips together when she realized that she was about to say something revealing him to be Cat Noir. "There's no way Adrien would know who his father really was. I'm sure he's devastated."

Her parents looked back to the television solemnly. Marinette was sure the rest of Paris was the same. Gabriel Agreste was a well-known name in their city. He wasn't known for being the kindest man, but he was well-respected. He had one of the most famous fashion lines in the world. People were going to have a difficult time believing Gabriel Agreste was Hawk Moth, and even more people were going to have a hard time believing that Adrien didn't know a single thing.

"Does he have any other family?" her father asked.

Marinette shook her head. "Not that I know of," she said slowly. She tried to remember all her conversations with Adrien and with Cat Noir, and he always talked about his father. Never once did he mention an aunt or uncle or a cousin or even grandparents. He was either very private about his family, or he just didn't have any.

Her parents shared a look, then Tom stood up to get his keys. "Come on, Marinette. We're going to go see him."

"We are?" Marinette asked, slightly surprised.

Sabine nodded. "Yes. Adrien is going to need you right now. No one should have to go through what's happening to him, but if someone is they shouldn't be alone. But we also want to go there for another reason."

"What is that?"

"If he truly doesn't have any family," her father said, "then we can't let him be put into foster care."

Marinette looked at the two of them curiously. Was he saying what she thought he was saying? The idea had never even occurred to Marinette! Granted her mind has been focused on other things lately. Her parents were willing to take him in? It seemed so alien to her, but it made sense. Her parents loved and cared for Adrien a lot despite only knowing him for a short a while.

Wasting no time, Marinette and her parents headed straight for the police station. It was surprisingly not as chaotic as she thought it would be. She recognized a few faces of the officers, mainly from all her interactions with them as Ladybug. She looked around for Adrien but she had trouble spotting him. Her parents went to go find someone to talk to. Marinette went with them, still keeping an eye out for her boyfriend.

Adrien landed just around the corner of his house before transforming back. He pressed his back against the stone wall of the building steeling himself for what was to come. He clenched his fists as he thought about his father. All he wanted to do was collapse on his bed and sleep long enough and deep enough that he could be mistaken for being in a coma.

Taking in a deep breath, Adrien turned the corner and feigned surprise at all the cops and reporters in front of his house. He ran up to the first officer he recognized, Sabrina's father. Lieutenant Roger pulled him aside and gently explained what had happened. Adrien was surprisingly good at faking his shock. He knew he was a good actor, but that surprised even him.

The police brought him to the station to answer a few questions with a lawyer of course. Adrien answered all of them as honestly as he could, but it was difficult, especially since they started asking him all the same questions over and over again. He knew what they were doing, but it wasn't going to work. They were trying to get him to slip-up and accidentally give them a different detail in his story. The officers were trying to get him to get caught in his lie. They finally gave up when the police realized he wasn't going to say anything he hadn't already said.

Adrien asked to go home, but the officers wouldn't let him. His house was currently a crime scene and no one besides the police could enter the property. He was stuck at the police station. He didn't have any family in the country. He had an aunt, his mother's sister, but she lived in America. The police had called her, but it was going to be at least a day before she would get there. Lieutenant Roger allowed him to sit at his desk while they figured out what to do.

Adrien had been sitting at that desk for over an hour playing with a pencil when Plagg started wiggling in his shirt. Adrien sighed then opened his shirt a bit to let the Kwami out.

"You do realize we're in the middle of a police station, don't you?" Adrien asked in a hushed whisper. He nervously glanced around but no one was looking their way.

"I know, but Tikki's here! And that means so is Marinette!"

Adrien wondered for a moment who Tikki was, but then he looked up when Plagg said Marinette. He looked up and saw her with her parents talking with Lieutenant Roger. Marinette sensed someone looking at her and saw Adrien staring at them from across the station. She waved then said something to Sabrina's dad. He nodded and she rushed over to Adrien.

Marinette hugged him as soon as she was close enough. He hugged her back tightly. He nestled his head into her neck and breathed her in. She smelled like bread and flowers. It was exactly how his lady smelled. He was so stupid for not making the connection immediately. He fell for the same girl without even knowing it. He had struggled with his love for Ladybug and his love for Marinette, but he never had to struggle again. His lady and his princess. The one and only.

"Plagg!" A tiny voice said from beside them.

Marinette and Adrien broke apart to see Tikki fly out of the bag and embrace him. Adrien was surprised to see Plagg willingly hug the ladybug Kwami. He rarely ever showed Adrien that sort of affection.

"I wonder how long it's been since they've seen each other," Marinette wondered.

"Eh. Only a few days," Plagg said casually.

"What?" Marinette and Adrien exclaimed at the same time.

"You guys knew?" Adrien asked. "How could you not tell us?"

"Kwamis aren't allowed to reveal a Miraculous Holder's identity," Tikki said softly. "You two had to find out for yourself."

"How long have you known?" Marinette asked.

"Since the dance," Plagg answered.

"Wait, were you in the jacket when I got water dumped on me?"

Plagg nodded. "Oh yeah."

"He complained about it for hours," Adrien groaned. "And he hasn't stopped."

"That's not complaining!" Plagg defended. "I'd like to call it reasons why I should eat cheese."

Marinette raised an eyebrow. "Is he like this all the time?" she asked.

"He's usually worse," Adrien said with a fake smile. "Not to mention he thinks he's cute, which makes for a giant ego."

Marinette chuckled. That reminded her of someone. "I think he's cute," she said.

"And what am I? Cat liver?" Adrien asked with a grin she had become all too familiar with.

Marinette rolled her eyes, but she had to smile. "I'm going to have to live with these jokes all the time now, aren't I?"

"Cat-solutely!"

She lightly nudged him but then pulled him down by his collar to kiss him passionately.

They kissed until someone walked by while very loudly clearing their throat. Marinette blushed and chuckled but she wasn't as speechless as she was the first time she had kissed him. Finding out he was Cat Noir really changed something inside of her. She was seeing him for the first time all over again. He was new and familiar at the same time. It was a combination she never thought possible.

"So, my parents are trying to convince the police to take you home with us," Marinette said. "You know, for a few days or maybe longer."

Adrien smiled when he realized what she was saying, but he knew that wouldn't be necessary. "I have an aunt flying in from America, but she's not getting here for at least a day."

"Are you moving away?" Marinette asked worriedly. "You do realize that is not an option, right? Even if I have to drag you off of the plane myself you are not leaving this city."

Adrien chuckled. "I know, but she would never do that. She's my mom's sister. I haven't seen her since she died, but I remember my aunt as being pretty awesome."

Marinette smiled. "And you are sure she won't take you away from me?"

Adrien leaned down and kissed her. "I'm sure," he said when he pulled away.

Plagg made some disgusted sounds next to them. Tikki gently pushed her best friend for making fun of them, but she was just happy that everything had worked out. Nooroo was no longer being forced to serve an evil master and Marinette and Adrien were together with no secrets left between them.

Tikki smiled up at the two superheroes. She had seen so many Cat Noirs and Ladybugs over the millennia. Not all of them were in love, but many of them were. The only constant was that there couldn't be one without the other. Good luck and bad luck. Creation and destruction. Sun and moon. Tikki had never seen such a perfect pairing in all of history. Adrien and Marinette were made for each other. The Ladybug and the Black Cat were reunited once again.