Hiya! I feel like this update took a while and I'm sorry about that. Mixture of writers block with another of my stories and personal circumstances had me curling up into a ball and staring at a blank screen, hoping the chapters would just write themselves. Hello to all of those new people who have been binge reading this story. Sorry if I kept any of you awake. Thank you to those who were kind enough to leave a review. It really helps me out.

CAUTION: This chapter contains descriptions that may be disturbing.

Chapter Thirty-Six: Parental Sins

Adrien's mind went completely blank. He felt…nothing. Just a vast emptiness. His body was hollow, filled with nothing but the echoing sound of his father's words. Adrien's eyes were unblinking and his expression never changed, not even an inch. There wasn't a single flicker of emotion in his face. Nothing but a passive neutrality. The endless echoing of those words continued and Adrien continued to stare at his father blankly, unable to process what he had just said. His father was currently difficult to read as well. His hands were still clasped behind his back, his posture sophisticated as always, looking as if he had not just admitted to something so grotesque and life changing.

Had his father really just said those monstrous words? This…this had had to be some sort of sick joke. His…his own father? No. It couldn't be possible. Adrien refused to believe it. Why would his father just come out and say such a thing? Was he trying to protect someone? There was no way the villain he and Ladybug had been fighting this whole time was his own father. Surely the universe wouldn't be that cruel to him? That would mean losing his father; the only family he had left. What would Ladybug think of him?

As the thoughts bombarded him, Adrien shook his head in the hopes of dispersing them. Why was he thinking like that? Of course what his father had said couldn't be true. This was his father. Despite his coldness, this was still the man who had raised him and who Adrien loved dearly. Either this was some sick lie, or Adrien had completely misheard what his father had said. Because something like that…it just wasn't possible. No. Not his father. Gabriel Agreste may be a lot of things, but he wasn't an evil villain who seized control over the citizens of Paris and used them for his own means. His father wasn't some power hungry monster, desperate to get his hands on the ladybug and cat miraculous.

"N-no," Adrien suddenly snapped, "Why would you say such a horrible lie?"

He narrowed his eyes at his father whose stance and expression remained unchanging. Gabriel's grey eyes were impossible to read, like steel shutters, preventing access to his mind and soul. Adrien clenched his fists at his side as he tried to fight back tears. He could feel Plagg shifting slightly, hiding himself behind the back collar of Adrien's white shirt.

"Because it's true," Gabriel responded flatly.

Adrien shook his head. "No," He repeated, "You might be a lot of things father, but you're not an evil villain. Now just stop with these sick lies. Why are you doing this, huh? Are you trying to protect someone?"

Gabriel squeezed his eyes closed and became visibly tense, "And I know that you're Chat Noir."

Gasping, Adrien took an automatic step back. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Gabriel's eyes snapped open again. "Enough of the act, Adrien. I've known that you're Chat Noir for a very long time. It wasn't that hard to figure out. I needed to tell you now because of the danger you're in. I didn't want you to find out like this. I didn't ever want you to find out."

Before Gabriel had even finished speaking, Adrien had already begun shaking his head in denial. "No. No, I refuse to believe it. Y-you can't be Hawkmoth. You're my dad! You can't be my enemy!"

"I am not your enemy, son," Gabriel growled out, "The true enemy is Ladybug."

"L-Ladybug?" Adrien narrowed his eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"This is why I had to tell you. Ladybug is the greatest threat the world has ever known. At any moment, she will try and claim our miraculous. Yours included. We need to work together. We need to capture Ladybug before she gets to us first. We need to seize her miraculous." Gabriel explained, still sounding somewhat calm and collected, however the desperate edge to his tone became more and more apparent the longer he spoke.

"You're insane!" Adrien cried out. However, he soon gasped when he saw something small and purple beginning to peak out from behind his father's shoulder. It floated out from behind Gabriel, it's eyes wide and full of fear. It's small form was visibly shaking slightly as it watched the scene play out. It…it was a kwami. Light purple with a darker purple swirl decorating the top of its head. Purple wings protruded from its back and it looked incredibly familiar. That's when Adrien gasped. This was the butterfly kwami! The very kwami that had introduced itself to his mother in his vision. Though Adrien couldn't remember its name. But yet, it looked so different now. Before, the kwami had seemed happy and confident. Now it looked…almost ill. The kwami was slightly curled in on itself, cowering in fear and starting at Adrien intently with its purple eyes, though Adrien couldn't read whatever the kwami was trying to silently say to him.

"Maybe some visual proof will help you," Gabriel mused before thrusting his arms upwards and then crossing them diagonally over his chest, "Nooroo, dark wings, rise!"

Adrien gasped and shielding his eyes slightly as bright purple butterflies began to materialise through the floor and the walls, completely surrounding his father and blocking him from view. Adrien's eyes burned from the brightness, though he couldn't bring himself to look away. It was like some sick part of his brain needed to see this. Soon enough, his father emerged again, though it didn't look like his father anymore. Before him stood the villain he and Ladybug had been fighting for years. The villain who had manipulated and enslaved his friends, forcing him and Ladybug to fight them. The villain who was responsible for so much destruction. The villain who had almost gotten him killed on multiple occasions…almost killed his lady.

Hawkmoth stood perfectly still in front of the doorway, his legs slightly parted as he held onto his cane with both hands, pressing it against the ground. From behind the grey mask that covered most of his face, the grey, steely eyes of his father stared back at him, watching his every movement carefully. The glowing purple butterflies, uncorrupted akumas, fluttered around him, lighting up the otherwise dark room.

His father was Hawkmoth. All along, Hawkmoth had been right under his nose. His own father…his own father who had caused his friends and all of Paris so much suffering. His own father had hurt his lady on multiple occasions. His own father was the villain who terrorised the city. His father had taken his mother's miraculous and abused it, using its power for his own gain. At those thoughts, Adrien doubled over slightly, clutching his stomach and chest in pain as it felt like he had been kicked in the gut while someone else reached into his chest and tore his heart to shreds.

"YOU EVIL MONSTER!" Adrien abruptly screamed, "I'LL KILL YOU!"

Hawkmoth's eyes widened and he took a slight step back, but all Adrien could see was red. His father was an evil villain, and as a superhero, it was Adrien's job to take him down. He wasn't going to allow familial ties to stop him from doing the right thing. His father was a monster. Abusing the power of a miraculous that was rightfully his mother's. Trying to turn him against his partner and the love of his life. Using and abusing his friends. Nearly killing both him and his lady. There was no way he was going to let his father walk out of here unless it was in handcuffs. He could mourn and break down later, but right now he had a score to settle. There was nothing Adrien would love more in that moment than to feel his fist connecting with his father's face. Adrien was already smirking just imagining the crack that his father's bones would make. He would pay for everything that he had done. He wasn't Adrien's father. A father was supposed to love and protect their children, not intentionally put them in danger for their own selfish needs. A good father puts their children first. A good father would never do something like this!

"Plagg, claws out!" Adrien ordered, quickly transforming into Chat Noir in a burst of green light.

Hawkmoth stumbled back slightly again, but as soon as Chat Noir was done transforming, he held his ground. Chat Noir crouched into a fighting stance, allowing his anger to bubble up and control him. Tears stung the corners of his eyes, but Chat blinked them away. He refused to look weak in front of his father right now. He didn't want Hawkmoth to see how much it all hurt. How much his body burned and begged him to bow down and fall apart. If Chat Noir fell apart right now, that was all his fa – Hawkmoth – needed to take advantage.

"You wish to fight me?" Hawkmoth frowned at his son, talking in a familiar, scolding fatherly tone that only served to provoke Chat Noir even more. How dare he talk to Chat Noir like that! He had no right over Chat Noir anymore. He had forfeited any respect Chat Noir had for him the instant he began abusing his mother's miraculous.

"I wish to put you in jail where you belong," Chat Noir snapped, clenching his teeth together and prepping his claws for a fight. He dug his feet into the floor, preparing to sprint towards Hawkmoth at any second and make sure he didn't get the chance to get away.

"I'm your father!" Hawkmoth snapped.

Chat Noir smirked before closing his eyes and chuckling humourlessly. "You were my father." After those words, Chat Noir launched himself at Hawkmoth, pulling his baton from his belt as he did so. He extended his baton and swung it through the air, hoping to knock Hawkmoth to the ground. However, Hawkmoth easily intercepted it with his cane, causing the silver baton to freeze in the air, halted in place by the cane. Chat Noir growled and tried to push against Hawkmoth as much as he could. He never knew his father was such an experienced fighter.

Growling again, Chat Noir pushed himself backwards, panting slightly as he kept his narrowed green eyes on Hawkmoth. Hawkmoth, however, went back to standing perfectly straight, his cane pressed against the ground again as he shot a smug smirk towards his son. The sight of that smirk had Chat Noir wanting to charge at him again, though he now realised that he best option was to try and outsmart Hawkmoth. Brute strength alone didn't seem to be enough as Hawkmoth could easily match him.

"I am not your enemy, Adrien," Hawkmoth asserted, "I only want to help and protect you. Trust me."

"Trust you?!" Adrien screamed, his eyes widened before narrowing again, "How can you expect me to trust you after everything you've done?! You stand there with my mother's miraculous, abusing its power in order to get your hands on the ladybug and cat miraculous to gain absolute power! You akumatized my friends! You've nearly killed me!"

Hawkmoth sighed. "I did what I had to do…for our family."

Chat Noir let out a loud shriek of anger before charging towards Hawkmoth again, this time trying to knock his father off his feet by knocking his legs with his baton. Hawkmoth easily anticipated his move and jumped over the metal staff before diving out of the way. He seemed to be growing increasingly frustrated as he slammed his cane down against the palm of his hand as he glared at Adrien from the other side of the room.

"I did this for your mother." Hawkmoth repeated in a whisper, his eyes beginning to glisten slightly.

"Don't you dare use mom as an excuse!" Adrien screamed, nearly collapsing in pain. Hearing Hawkmoth mention his mother tore at the shredded remains of his heart until there was absolutely nothing left, leaving Chat Noir feeling empty and hollow. The smiling face of his mother danced across his vision. She had been a superhero. The very thing that fought against evil like Hawkmoth.

"She would turn in her grave if she could see what you've become," Adrien snarled, watching as his father winced in pain at his words, but he continued anyway, "And all this time, you knew that she was gone, but yet you never told me. You just told me she'd gone missing!"

"At the time, I couldn't tell you the truth!" Hawkmoth yelled back, beginning to sound hysterical, "You were just a boy! A boy who knew nothing about magic and the reality of superheroes. You think you're the only one suffering because of secrets and lies? Your mother kept things from me too! And now because of all the secrets she got herself involved with, she's gone! But not forever. I can get her back. We can get her back."

Chat Noir narrowed his eyes, relaxing his stance slightly. "What are you talking about?"

Hawkmoth took a deep breath to try and calm himself. He stood up straight once again and his emotionless mask was soon back on his face as he began to speak, "Your mother isn't even technically dead, she's…scattered and trapped, but there's no escape for her. When she left, she had gone to fight the hero who called herself Le Paon, her old partner. Though I'm sure from your snooping, you already know who I'm talking about."

Adrien swallowed before nodding slowly.

"When I found out Emilie was a superhero, I was so fiercely proud of her. She was always so headstrong and brave. But she began to get herself involved in some risky situations, especially when Le Paon began to become obsessed with gaining more power. I begged your mother not to get involved, but –" Hawkmoth cut himself off, clenching his hands into tight fists as he looked down at the floor angrily, "She wouldn't listen. And it was all for nothing! Nina has returned and she's after Ladybug and is very likely to get her. Nina and Ladybug are the enemies. The enemies we need to defeat if we're going to get your mother back."

"We can't bring mom back," Chat Noir growled, "And I'm not going to let you harm a single hair on Ladybug's head!"

Hawkmoth frowned. "If you would just list –"

"You'll have to get through me before I let you hurt her!" Chat Noir shrieked before tightening his grip on his baton and leapt onto the wall, using it to propel him towards Hawkmoth, spinning his baton and using it as a shield as he did so, nothing but anger driving him forward. Anger and the unquenchable instinct to protect his lady.

Flying closer and closer, Adrien pulled his baton back, prepared to attack. But he had given Hawkmoth an opening. Seizing his chance, Hawkmoth swung his cane back. He then swung it forward so fast, that it was nothing but a blur as it glided through the air. Chat Noir felt it before he saw it. The cane painfully collided with his stomach with a powerful blow. It felt like his stomach had been knocked out of place and was now hurdling up his throat. Chat Noir gagged and coughed as pain erupted all throughout his abdomen. The force of the blow sent him flying backwards and the sickening crack of his head hitting the wall echoed throughout the room. Chat Noir groaned as he slid down the wall and collapsed into a heap on the floor. He tried to push himself up, but his head had already begun spinning at a hundred miles per hour. His vision spun so fast, that the room was a total blur. Pain erupted from his head like a powerful, angry volcano, the thick gases released clouding his mind and suffocating him.

"Adrien!" He was vaguely aware of his father calling his name before everything went black as he was unable to resist closing his eyes.

"Adrien."

"How is my precious baby boy doing?"

Mom? Chat Noir's heart lurched in his chest at the sound of her familiar, comforting voice. Where was he? What was going on? There was nothing but darkness surrounding him. He could feel, he could hear, but he couldn't see. Chat Noir squeezed his eyes closed in panic before opening them again, this time blinded by a harsh yellow light. Chat Noir groaned and shielded his eyes with his hands, too scared to close them again in case he ended up back in the dark void.

Thankfully, Chat Noir's eyes began to adjust and he lowered his arms to see that he was stood in the main hall of his family's home. The sun was just beginning to set, reflecting off the large windows on the house across the street, sending bright rays of yellow and orange sunshine into their house. Chat Noir turned to the left to see his mother, radiant and beautiful, smiling down at a small baby in her arms. Smiling down at…him.

Chat Noir gasped at the sight. Was this another vision? However, he didn't get the chance to fully process what was happening as a loud knock on the door made both him and his mother jump. Emilie frowned suspiciously at the door, clutching baby Adrien a little bit tighter to her chest before she gave him a gently kiss on the cheek and placed him in his Moses' basket. She strode towards the door, a frown still on her face before she slowly opened it.

The person on the other side clearly became impatient as they burst through the door without even waiting for an invitation, sending Emilie stumbling back slightly Chat Noir instinctively reached out to catch her, but she simply phased right through him. She managed to right herself before she fell before glaring at the blonde woman who had just burst into their house.

"Guess who's back!" Nina bellowed, smiling brightly before reaching her arms out and pulling a confused and startled Emilie into a tight hug.

"N-Nina? I thought you were supposed to be staying in the temple?" Emilie gasped out.

"Well, I managed to sneak away. I haven't seen you in such a long time," Nina clung onto Emilie tighter. However, Chat Noir watched as Emilie's eyes suddenly widened before she extracted herself from Nina's embrace. Nina was still happily beaming at Emilie, positively glowing. Emilie, meanwhile, looked petrified. Very slowly, Emilie moved her hands up towards the buttons of Nina's expensive looking coat and slowly unfastened them while Chat Noir looked on in confusion. Nina simply watched Emilie's expression carefully, her eyes sparkling like sapphires.

Once Emilie had finally unfastened the last button, Nina's coat slowly fell open. Chat Noir narrowed his eyes, unsure of what was going on until he looked at Nina a little more closely. A very small, but noticeable bump protruded from Nina's stomach and both Emilie's and Chat Noir's eyes widened.

"N-Nina…you're…you're…" Emilie gulped, seeming unable to get the words out.

"Pregnant?" Nina chuckled, "You bet. We've always done everything together, so why not have children together."

Emilie narrowed her eyes. "I can't help but feel like there's more to this."

Nina skipped over towards where baby Adrien lay and cooed down at him. However, Emilie soon strode over and tried her best to stand between the baby and Nina, glaring slightly at Nina as she took a protective stance. Nina took an automatic step back, staring back at Emilie in confusion.

"Who's the father?" Emilie demanded.

"Does it matter?" Nina questioned, folding her arms stubbornly across her chest, "All that matters now is me and my baby. She doesn't need a father, I can take care of her myself.

"She?" Emilie repeated in confusion, "When did you go see a doctor if you've only just got back?"

Nina bit her lip awkwardly. "Well…I haven't exactly seen a doctor yet or had a scan. But I know in my heart that it's going to be a girl."

"Nina!" Emilie gasped. "You're not well enough to have kids!"

"What do you mean 'well'?" Nina snapped, "I'm not ill, I'm fine! I'm having a baby. What's the big deal? You had a baby and you're fine! You get to live a perfect life with your perfect family, so why can't I? Are you really that obsessed with denying me happiness?!"

"That's not what this is and you know it!" Emilie yelled, causing baby Adrien to start crying. "I don't believe you sometimes! You're not fit to raise a child!"

"Says who?" Nina growled.

"Me and all the guardians. The power of the miraculous is making you ill in the head, Nina." Emilie tried to reason. "I'm not trying to control your life and tell you not to have kids, it's just…as your friend…I'm telling you now isn't the right time. You're being foolish and what's worse is an innocent little baby is going to have to pay for your mistakes this time. How far along are you?"

"I don't know, why?" Realisation quickly dawned on Nina's face. "You're disgusting! I'm not getting rid of my baby!"

"I just want to help, Nina." Emilie begged, "You're my friend."

Nina sneered and backed away. "Some friend you are, trying to force me to have an abortion. You always did try and control my life like some overbearing mother!"

"Oh yeah? And what would you know? You don't even have a mother!" As soon as the words left her mouth, Chat Noir could tell that his mother instantly regretted it. She clamped her hands over her mouth and stared at Nina with wide eyes. Nina's eyes widened also, and she took another step back. The colour drained from Nina's face and she clutched her swollen stomach with both hands as she continued to back towards the front door.

"N-Nina…I'm sorry…I didn't meant it…" Emilie gasped out, tears welling up in her eyes.

"It's okay," Nina growled out, "We're not staying where we're not wanted."

As the front door slammed behind Nina, the scene before Chat Noir disappeared. The colours and the images rearranged themselves and Chat Noir yelped at the familiar location. The snow pelted down from the sky like small, white bullets. The wind howled all around him, however, nothing could mask the scream of pain echoing from a few feet away. Chat Noir had been here before. He had seen this scene before in other dreams and visions. Why was he constantly shown this place? Who was that woman who lay dying on the mountain? Chat had a horrible feeling that he was about to find out.

In the distance, the light of a lantern was barely visible through the ferocious storm. Chat Noir instantly began trekking through the snow towards it. Just like in his last vision, blood stains began to decorate the otherwise completely white landscape. Chat Noir gulped and ignored it though, focusing instead on the warm glow of the lantern that was growing closer and closer with every arduous step he took. The scream echoed around him again, much louder this time as it caused Chat Noir's ears to ring.

"You shouldn't have tried to transform, what were you thinking?!" He heard his mother's voice cry out over the howling of the wind.

"I-I thought you – ahhhh – wanted a fight." Nina's voice gasped out in pain.

Finally, the two of them came into view, though Chat Noir soon paused at the strange scene before him. Nina lay in the snow, much more heavily pregnant this time. Despite the cold, her face was drenched in sweat and a blue cloak was wrapped around her; the only item protecting her from the elements. A pool of blood surrounded her and it looked like she was growing incredibly weak. Meanwhile, his mother was in her Apatura form, crouched between Nina's bare spread legs, her eyes incredibly panic stricken.

"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" Nina yelled before throwing her head back and screaming again. Blood stained the inside of her legs and Chat Noir's eyes widened as he finally realised what was happening. So…Nina…had a baby? Why was this something else that had never been mentioned? Most importantly, why had Nina never mentioned it? That's when Chat Noir gasped and nearly fell to his knees, feeling sorry for Nina despite everything. It was clear that the birth was going badly wrong. Chat Noir didn't know much about childbirth, but he was pretty sure that there wasn't supposed to this much blood.

Nina carried on screaming until it sounded like her lungs gave out. She gasped for air as he head fell backwards slightly, her eyes glossed over and seemingly unable to register what was happening. Her skin looked like it was already beginning to freeze over and Chat Noir gasped, clasping both hands over his mouth and taking an automatic step back, feeling slightly sick. More blood continued to leak out from between Nina's pale legs and she screamed in pain again.

"I think you've ruptured something," Apatura cried, tears streaking down her face, "I can see the head!"

"I-is she…d-de…?" Nina couldn't bring herself to say the words as she choked on them.

"Push, Nina!" His mother demanded, tearing her grey cloak off her back and holding it ready.

Nina threw her head back and screamed again, however, her scream came out slightly gargled this time. Soon, a baby's cries filled the stormy air and his mother instantly wrapped the tiny baby in her cloak. Chat Noir couldn't see much other than a bloody, gooey mess. It writhed around in his mother's arms crying and reaching up with its little, blood stained hands. A small mop of black hair was just about visible under the cloak as well, the umbilical cord trailing off the baby like a long, thin, pink snake.

His mother stared down at the baby in awe. "It's a girl," She announced, tears forming in her eyes as she stared down at the little baby. Chat Noir frowned as he watched the conflicted expression on his mother's face. She looked heartbroken, yet determined as she stared down at the little baby girl in her arms. The tears finally began cascading down her cheeks and she closed her eyes as she cradled the baby more tightly against her chest, making sure her superhero cloak was protecting the baby from the harsh, unforgiving storm.

Chat Noir then watched as Nina weakly raised her arms, a small smile on her face as she stared at the baby in his mother's arms.

"L-let me…h-hold her…" Nina said weakly, her arms shaking as they remained raised. It looked like Nina was using the last ounce of her strength to reach towards her baby.

Apatura opened her eyes and finally forced herself to look down at Nina. She stood up from her crouched position, keeping the baby pressed tightly against her. The baby carried on crying, screaming as loud as the wind around them. Blood continued to pour from between Nina's legs, but it seemed as though she was trying to ignore it; her thoughts only locked on her baby.

Chat Noir narrowed his eyes at his mother before they widened in horror as she took a step backwards, the baby still screaming and flailing in her arms. Blood dripped down his mother's superhero suit and completely stained her hands. Blood and fluid dripped off the baby as his mother picked up her cane and removed the top, exposing what looked like a sharp sword. Apatura grabbed the umbilical cord as close to the baby's navel as possible and then, in one clean slice, removed it, separating mother and daughter. Making sure to keep the baby out of Nina's reach, his mother quickly bent forward and swiped the peacock brooch away from Nina, holding it tightly in her hand.

Apatura then took another step back. Then another. Then another.

Chat Noir's heart sank in his chest as he realised what was happening and what his mother was about to do. His eyes widened in horror, as did Nina's as she lay bleeding on the ground, completely exposed to the elements. Nina tried to sit up, screaming and whimpering as she did so, all the while still reaching out for her baby.

"W-what are you…doing?" Nina gasped out, "G-give me…m-my baby. M-my miraculous."

His mother whimpered, trying to contain her sobs as she spoke. "I'm sorry, Nina, but I know exactly what you plan on doing and I can't allow it to happen. It's clear you're beyond help, no matter how much me or the guardians try. I'm so sorry."

"No!" Nina screamed as Apatura turned her back and began walking away. "NO!"

Chat Noir watched as his mother disappeared with the baby into the storm, his eyes wide in horror at his mother's actions. He turned back towards Nina, who had been left to die in the storm, heartbroken and alone. Nina screamed a scream that tore through Chat Noir unlike anything else. It sounded like the most heartbroken scream anyone could possibly produce. She dug her hands into the blood stained snow, cradling it in her hands as her body clearly grew weaker and weaker.

"M-my…baby…" Nina cried out weakly.

Unable to resist, Chat Noir reached a hand out towards Nina, tears blurring his vision as he did so. His mother…his own mother had done this. Why?! As far as he could tell, Nina had done nothing bad to deserve this. His mother had said in one vision that Nina was becoming too obsessed with power, but he hadn't actually seen Nina hurt anyone. Nina had been his mother's best friend. Yet his mother had done nothing but hurt and betray her. Now his mother had left her for dead, as if she was nothing more than garbage. He was shocked. He was appalled. He was disgusted.

However, Chat Noir's hand never made contact with skin. Instead, his hand simply fell through her, the vision vanishing as it did so. Nina disappeared, as did her pained and heartbroken screams that continued to vibrate within Chat Noir, rattling at his heart and making him feel sick. The pain in her cries…it was unbearable to listen to. Yet the sound had left a dark imprint within Chat Noir's memories that would likely haunt him forever. What was worse was that it was his mother that was responsible for such pain. How could she? Chat Noir closed his eyes as tears fell from his eyes and trickled down his cheeks.

More pained cries caught his attention. His black cat ear twitched and he forced himself to open his eyes again, despite wishing to see no more. However his eyes soon widened once he realised that he was standing the living room of the Dupain-Cheng apartment. The rain was pounding against the windows and the room was dark, grey and gloomy.

Chat Noir gasped at the sight of Sabine Cheng collapsed on the floor, sobbing into her hands while Tom Dupain hovered over her, his large hand engulfing her shoulder as he tried his best to comfort her. His own green eyes had welled up with tears, though it looked like he was trying his best to mask his pain. Emilie stood just in front of them, a bundled blanket in her arms. There was a pained and devastated expression on her face, her usually soft green eyes overwhelmed with guilt.

"I'm so sorry, Sabine," Emilie managed to choke out, "But he was a real hero."

"Hero?!" Sabine shrieked, her voice cracking with her sobs, "What good's a hero if he's dead?!"

"Honey, I'm sure you don't mean that," Tom comforted her gently.

"He was my brother, Tom," Sabine continued to sob, "And now I'm never going to see him again. All thanks to her."

"But a part of him still exists," Emilie announced, looking down at the blanket in her arms, "She's right here. A little piece of him exists insider her. Xing died trying to save her. Please don't let his sacrifice be in vain."

Sabine sniffed and looked up at the blanket in Emilie's arms. Emilie bent down slightly and Chat Noir gasped as he realised it was the same baby – Nina's baby. She looked a little bit older, though only by a few weeks or so. She was fast asleep in Emilie's arms, her hands frozen in the air, reaching for something invisible in her slumber. Sabine appeared to melt slightly at the sight of the baby, slowly raising her arms to reach for her.

"You're all the family she has left now. She'll be safe and loved here with you." Emilie smiled gently as she passed the baby over to Sabine.

Sabine gasped as she looked down at the baby and soon she was unable to resist giving the baby a small smile. "Look, Tom!" Sabine gasped, "She looks just like him."

"She certainly is beautiful," Tom gushed, seemingly already wrapped around the baby's finger.

"I'll sort all of the legal documentation out. You won't have to worry about a thing other than making sure she grows up to be a loving and kind person," Emilie explained, "She doesn't have to know about a thing. Here, she can maybe live a normal life, away from miraculous magic. Away from a life that would have been forced upon her."

"Aren't you the most beautiful baby in the world," Sabine cooed, though pained tears continued to fall from her eyes, "Goodness, she hasn't even been named yet, has she?"

Emilie shook her head.

"Got any ideas?" Tom asked his wife.

Sabine thought for a moment before she smiled down at the baby and uttered a name that stopped Chat Noir's heart in its tracks.

"Marinette. You, my precious little niece – daughter – will be called Marinette."

What a whirlwind of a chapter. I hope it was worth the wait. I have a feeling this plot and reveal is either going to be loved or hated so I feel like I need to go hide in a cave or something. Shout out to my boyfriend who helped me edit some of this so I could get it posted today. Congratulations to those of you who guessed correctly. And to those who were wrong, your theories were still fun to read and could have been plausible. As always, feel free to let me know what you think in a review. It helps me out a lot. I hope that you all have a lovely week. See you soon!