Merci for the support fellow Miraculers (I hope I spelled that right). I have been swamped with work this week but I was determined to get this out to you ASAP!

Enjoy!

Chapter 13

He'd never run so fast in his entire life.

Despite his enhanced abilities, despite the super-human strength, speed and agility, Chat Noir's body wailed under the pressure he was putting on it. His lungs burned for air, his limbs screeched, his throat rasped. He didn't care. With every thundering step he took, his mind replayed the same name over again. Marinette. There was no time to think anything beyond that and the danger she could be in, not a moment to muse on how suddenly the evening's mood had shifted, not a second to consider the possibility that Jack Genovese could get to her before he could. Because he'd promised her he'd never repeat the mistakes he made with Time Twister, never fail as her partner again. He wasn't about to break that promise.

He finally came to the road where the Dupain-Cheng bakery resided, Mary and Johnny tailing close behind. Twilight had fallen. The sky was dark blue and taciturn. Street lamps bathed everything in an eerie white glow as the three hurried to the bakery entrance. Chat could hear people running into their homes, screaming in fright, followed by the sounds of more gunshots. Sheer survival instinct alone diverted his attention from getting across the road to where the bakery was, to where Marinette was, and he threw himself behind a car. Peering around the shelter of the bonnet, Chat saw a group of ten thugs, all similarly dressed to Trench Coat Man, with a variety of weapons ranging from tommy guns to baseball bats with nails sticking out of them. They were approaching fast.

"We'll take care of 'em!" Cat yelled out to him, as he and Mary rushed into the fray, yo-yo and baton raised and ready "just go get her!"

Chat bolted from his shelter. Sprinting closer and closer to the bakery he noticed, with horror, that there were people inside. Men in trench coats. He could see them point their guns at something on the ground, could see a yo-yo fly up into the air. Chat ran faster, he had to get there in time, he had to-

BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG

"NO!" Chat heard himself scream as he burst through the door, almost tripping over several men who were now trench coat-less, on the ground and unconscious "LADYBUG!"

"CHAT LOOK OUT!"

Chat turned just in time to see the tommy gun point at him. Without thinking he raised the baton and hit it with all the force he could muster. The gun tore out of the man's hand and skittered across the floor. Ladybug threw her yo-yo at Chat's assailant, wrapping it around his legs and tugging so hard that the man flew up and smashed into the wall above the cash register. He proceeded to drop to the ground with a heavy thud and didn't get back up again.

All was quiet, the only sounds left in the bakery were Chat and Ladybug's heavy breaths. The superhero duo rushed towards each other, both of them looking the other over for any signs of wounds and heaving separate sighs of relief when they could see none.

"Chat, Jack Genovese, he's here, he's an Akuma and he's controlling people!" Ladybug cried brushing the loose strands of hair from her eyes so that she could so him more clearly.

"I know," Chat replied gravely. She didn't consider how he knew, for Jack's words ran like poison through her mind and she was terrified.

'Cause you ruined my life in my time, I'm destroying your life in yours.

"Chat," Her voice wobbled and suddenly she didn't feel like Ladybug, she felt like a scared child. The scent of her father's new cupcakes lingered in the air, making her feel vulnerable and lost. She wrapped her arms around herself "he took my parents, he sent them back to the dark ages. He blames me for everything, he wants to destroy everything I love,"

Chat looked in her eyes and hesitantly moved towards her, pulling her into a gentle hug. Marinette stepped into his embrace and that was all he needed to hold her more tightly, resting his chin against her warm hair. Taking in a shaky breath he glanced about the place. He'd been here more times in the past few weeks than he had been in his own house and her parents had been nothing but friendly and kind. So very kind. He wasn't about to lose a home when he finally felt like he'd gotten one again. He wasn't about to let the girl he loved feel the pain he felt when he lost his mother. Not when he could do something about it.

"We'll get them back," He whispered with fierce determination. "We got you back didn't we? We can save them."

"But, they can't defend themselves in the meantime. They don't have any powers," Ladybug shivered, moving further into Chat's chest and he felt a wave of sympathy come over him. He knew exactly what she was going through, he'd experienced those doubts himself when he first realised she was missing.

"I don't know about that, they made you after all," He responded with finality, pulling away to look into her eyes. Marinette's heart clenched at the perfect sincerity of his words, how he said them as easily as reading a letter. "Plus, they have each other. They'll be ok Ladybug, I'm sure of it."

Marinette closed her eyes, never being so relieved that Jack had been wrong, that Chat was living and breathing and holding her right now. She was in awe of him, this amazing boy before her; the things he said and did, all so confusing and beautiful yet so incredibly selfless. Chat began to purr once more and she found herself wondering; how was it possible his heart was still so pure after everything he'd had to endure? How was it possible that he could be so brave and strong? How was it possible that she could love him so much?

Because she did love him, she realised with a rush that sent her eyes fluttering open and set her blood on fire, yet at the same time made her perfectly calm. She loved Adrien Agreste, she loved Chat Noir, and the thought wasn't something that sent her spiralling into her chaos. Her mind and soul were not screaming in shock and wonder. She simply hugged him tighter, the corners of her mouth turned up ever so slightly. Yes. This was it. This was how it was supposed to be. She was always supposed to love him. It was written in her, engraved in her bones, coded alongside her DNA. And rather than feeling as though she'd opened Pandora's box, it felt instead like returning to a book she'd skim-read, and was now ready to get lost in.

Which made what she was about to say that much more heart breaking.

"Chat," She murmured against him "you need to run."

Chat paused. His purring stopped. He let the words sink in, playing through his head a few times to make sure he had heard them right. When there could be no denying what she'd said, he stepped away from their embrace. His eyes were wide, his fists clenched.

"What?" He choked.

Ladybug worried at her lip, refusing to meet his eyes. She had to be brave and say what was needed or he'd convince her otherwise, and she couldn't bear to think of the consequences of that.

"Jack Genovese wants revenge on me, he blames me for everything that's happened. He's already taken my parents and he wants to kill you too. I- I can handle this fight on my own I'm sure," She wasn't sure, but she knew for certain that she couldn't put his life at risk "if you fight with me he'll target you, try to hurt you, he'll try to kill you, he'll-"

"Ladybug," He'd never interrupted her before. He'd never used that tone with her before. She hadn't been able to meet his eyes but now she looked up and saw the thunder and the panic in them. Her heart quickened. With dismay she realised he wasn't going to be talked down easily. "You can't ever ask that of me. Ever."

"Chat this is serious!" She cried, her frustrations growing. He just didn't get it! "I know you're my partner and you're so strong and you're amazing. I'm not asking you to do this because I think you're weak and you know that! I'm asking you to do this because there's a chance, however slim, that this might be our last fight. What if something happens to you like it did with Johnny?! It'll be my fault because Jack is deliberately going after people I lo- people I care about!"

Chat stepped further away, as if to shield himself from her words. He shook his head.

"What if something happens to me? What if something happens to you?!" He yelped, his hand reached up to his chest, his fingers buried into his suit as if they could reach in and calm his insides. "You think I'll be able to accept it if Jack Genovese kills you and I wasn't there to stand between you and death? I swore to you that I'd never leave you alone ever again and I'm sticking to that promise!"

"Some promises have to be broken," She whispered feeling herself shatter at the pain in Chat's demeanour. Why couldn't he just leave, Marinette thought scrunching up her face and doing everything in her power not to shed unwelcome tears, why couldn't he understand how grave the situation was?

"Not this one!" He was shaking his head again, leaning towards her without stepping closer "NEVER this one!"

"Chat-"

"Ladybug-"

"I CAN'T LOSE YOU!"

They'd both yelled it, and the words hung in the air. The silence that followed roared like a towering inferno as they gaped at each other, completely flabbergasted, eyes wide, breath heavy.

And there, in a half-destroyed bakery with several men passed out around them, the cold evening air whiling through the shattered windows howling like a lonely wolf, something inside them clicked. Something they both instantly understood and yet felt they'd always known.

Ladybug moved first, Chat mere seconds later. They finally closed the gap between them, their bodies slammed together as they frantically wrapped themselves around each other. Chat's arms pulled Ladybug's waist into him, Ladybug's snaked around his shoulders as their lips met in a desperate kiss. A kiss that spoke the words they could not say. Ladybug leapt up into his arms. Chat caught her, stopping only to breathe before placing her on the counter, planting delicate butterfly kisses across the freckles her mask didn't cover, wanting to kiss every single one of them, for when he did time stopped and they were here, safe in each other's embrace. Stay, stay, stay with me, Adrien said with every caress of his lips. Marinette panted and gasped in response, turning his face towards her she pulled him away to stroke his mask, reaching to the boy underneath it, pouring all the love and tenderness she felt into her eyes before they closed and she met his mouth again in a much deeper kiss. She slid off of the counter. Her feet dangled inches from of the ground as Chat held her up and she took the opportunity to run her hands through his hair, surprised at how soft it was, earning a gentle, lazy purr from him. She felt herself melt, not wanting to ever let him go.

Chat broke the kiss to rest his forehead on hers, the warmth between them was a shield to everything and Marinette sighed, closing her eyes once more.

"Whether it's a hundred minutes," Her partner began, his breath ragged but his words heavy and laden with emotion "or a hundred years I will be there for you until my last moments on this Earth,"

Marinette's eyes remained closed, she couldn't consider opening them and risk the floodgates that would fall. Still, she nodded against him, swallowing to try and find her voice.

"Let's- let's make it a hundred years Kitty," She responded and through the strength of her vow alone she was able to look into his eyes, praying that he could understand the meaning behind her words. His smile seemed to be born from his soul and she fell even more in love with him.

"As you wish, my Lady," He bowed as much as he could and made to kiss her again when a giant thud interrupted them. They turned to see the body of a henchman ricochet off a car roof and tumble to the ground. They remembered their situation and stepped away from each other as reluctant as they were sheepish.

"Not now," Chat stated, panting as though to calm his racing blood.

"Not now," Ladybug replied, placing her hand on his chest.

Chat Noir looked down for a moment, as if pondering something. Ladybug was just about to ask what he was thinking when he reached up to hold the hand she had placed against him. Tilting his head in a shy manner, he looked her in the eye with endearing hopefulness. "Later?"

Ladybug laughed and slipped out of his grip. Her hips sashayed as she sauntered past him, twisting her head around to wink at her companion.

"Later," She confirmed and pushed the door open, stepping out into the fight. Chat followed behind her, grinning from ear to ear. They pulled out their baton and yo-yo, ready to fend off any more thugs…

Only to discover they'd all been taken care of.

"Hah? Who did all of this?" Ladybug stared, bewildered at the sight before her and Chat slapped himself on the forehead.

"Umm…I'm sorry my Lady but I kind of forgot to mention something important," he chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head, already missing the feeling of her hands being there. She turned to him with a confused frown and he hastened to explain "you see, Jack Genovese wasn't the only one who came to the future,"

He didn't get to explain further, a thug appeared from around the corner, running at them ferociously. Brandishing a lead pipe the mind-controlled thug made towards them and the pair stood ready to counter-attack but they never got the chance. A yo-yo and a baton came flying from around the corner, simultaneously smacking the thug in the head and knocking him senseless. Ladybug's jaw dropped to the floor as Johnny and Mary stepped out from around the corner wearing equally triumphant smiles from behind their masks.

"C-Cat?!" She cried as the pair retrieved their weapons. Johnny stood up first, meeting Marinette's shocked expression with a gentle look. Mary and Chat grinned at each other, tilting their heads in acknowledgment. Suddenly Chat remembered her earlier question, and almost laughed when he pictured her reaction to the fact that he'd finally 'kissed his girl'. He couldn't quite believe it himself.

"Hello Miss," Cat nodded toward Marinette "good to see that you're alrig- OOF!" Cat stumbled backwards a little, winded as Marinette had thrown herself straight at him, wrapping her arms around his torso and clinging to him like a child would cling to a lost treasure. He looked up at Mary, his eyes wide in panic, the look in them screamed she's hugging me, what do I do?! Mary gestured encouragingly and he turned back towards Marinette, giving her a gentle pat on the back "ah, Miss no need to fret, I told ya I'd be alright,"

Chat couldn't understand what they were saying, but felt his spirits raise at the comfort Johnny seemed to give her. He knew that Marinette had continued to worry about Johnny, even though they knew he would be ok, and could tell that she felt responsible for him getting shot. It was good that she had this undeniable proof right in front of her.

"Are you sure?" Marinette stepped out of the hug she'd given him and started scanning his shoulder for any sign that it was injured, "what about the doctor? What did he say? Were there really stitches? Plagg told us there were stitch…es…." She trailed off, her eyes finally coming to rest on Mary's, and her heart stopped. This was Johnny's true partner, his wife, the woman he'd spoken so highly of, and it was because of her that Mary had almost lost him. What was the older Ladybug going to say or do, now that she was finally face to face with the girl who Johnny had gotten shot in order to protect?

Chat watched his Lady suddenly get very quiet, her lips grew thin and she clutched one of her arms, avoiding everybody's gaze. He stepped towards her, ready to comfort, but was beaten by Mary, who reached out to put one of her hands on Marinette's shoulders, the other hand put the phone up to her face so that she could translate her words.

"So you're the gal that went to fight Jack Genovese with my husband?"

Ladybug nodded, bracing herself for the screams, the insults, the cursing. Instead she was surprised when Mary wrapped her arms around her gently, and even more shocked by her next words.

"Thank you," Mary smiled, not using the translation app for her first round of thanks, as though she felt it meant more to have the French words come straight from her mouth, "thank you. If you weren't there he would'a been all by himself and heaven only knows what could have happened then," She pulled away from the embrace and lightly punched Marinette's arm "you're a doll!"

"So here we are, the four of us together, ready to stop the evil time travelling wannabe gangster lord," Chat beamed, his confidence growing back to normal Chat-Noir levels, "before he turns Paris into Gangs of New York anyway."

"I think he's beginning to already," Cat countered staring across the street. The other three turned to see where he was staring. A huge crowd of mind-controlled minions were coming their way. There had to be at least fifty approaching them slowly, menacingly, concentrated on one single shared goal, destroy anything that could threaten their master's reign.

So the four superheroes lined up together, facing the crowd of enemies. Cat swung his baton over his shoulder, Chat held his own like a sword ready to parry at any moment. The Ladybug's stood shoulder to shoulder, staring down the thugs with matching glares. All of them knew that this was the start of the final showdown. They were staring into the eye of the storm, down the barrel of the gun.

And once they took this lot down, Jack Genovese would be next.

Goddam I loved writing that last part. I've had the image of all four of them doing their superhero line-up "we're gonna kick the s**t outta these bad guys" poses in my head since this story began and I finally got to write it! Huzzah! If anyone wants to draw it, be my guest please, as I'm rubbish at drawing and will love you forever for it.

Also dat kiss nearly killed me to write, I don't often write kisses so once again I find myself super-duper anti-confident about it. But I'm pleased with it overall and hope you were too.

Thanks for your support guys, perhaps it's nerdy for me to admit but I do read and re-read and re-re-read your reviews and gush and squeal and just aaaaah you guys are the best *all of the feels*

Until the next time! XxXx