AN: So I finally finished rewriting the ending. There are a couple more chapters, and an Epilogue. The previous chapter is the same up to the point where Master Fu tells Chat that he can wake his mother. That is where the chapter now ends, and the scene picks up here, giving a more detailed, less rushed, account. Nothing much changed from the original ending, except the order or events is rearranged in some parts, but overall I think it works better this way, and I'm glad I rewrote it.

Chat's eyes widened, and he gasped. "You mean my mother can wake up without using the wish?!"

Master Fu smiled. "Indeed. Now, where is Ladybug? I will need her help to wake your mother."

Chat's ears drooped. "She was shot."

At the Guardian's sharp intake of breath, Chat quickly continued, "She's alright! She used her powers to fix things before she passed out, and when she turned back her kwami said she would be ok."

Master Fu stroked his chin in thought. "I see… so, you know who she is then…"

It wasn't really a question, but Chat answered anyways. "Yes… I'm… confused by that. Master… how did this happen?"

The Guardian searched Chat Noir's eyes, but found no malice behind them. "She came to me shortly after you left. She begged me to give her a chance to fix things. I saw that she was determined to see it through, whether I helped her or not, so I told her what she needed to know, and gave her Mullo for protection. She took care of the rest."

Chat's eyes began to fill with tears, and he quickly wiped them away. After a few moments, he said softly, "I'm glad you trusted her again."

Then another thought occurred to him. "Will she be allowed to keep her miraculous now?"

Master Fu hummed as he thought. "That remains to be seen. I will seek Tikki and Mullo's input on the decision. For now though, we should go and see that she is alright."

Chat led the way through the mansion. He moved quickly, but Master Fu still got an opportunity to observe the house. It was empty. He could sense that there had been no laughter here for many years. It was as if a dark cloud lay over the house.

When they arrived at the spot that Marinette lay, Tikki flew up from her spot next to her holder. "Master!"

The Guardian smiled. "Hello Tikki. How is Marinette? I heard she was injured."

Tikki nodded. She looked like she was trying to stay perky, but her antennae drooped. The fight had clearly taken more out of her than it should have. "She'll be ok, but I had to borrow more of her strength then usual for the miraculous ladybugs to work. I'm afraid she'll be asleep for awhile."

Master Fu nodded. "You are still recovering yourself." He looked at Chat. "Would you be so kind as to carry Marinette upstairs so she can rest more comfortably?"

Chat nodded, before moving to gently lift Marinette. She didn't stir, but as he lifted her, she snuggled into him. He smiled softly.

Marinette wasn't very heavy, and it wasn't long before they were upstairs again. Chat paused a moment in his father's office before deciding that the couch in his room would be the best place for her to rest. The mansion was designed for elegance, and as such there weren't many places to rest comfortably.

When Chat laid her down, Marinette let out a sad whimper. Chat chuckled, before kneeling down beside the couch and taking one of her hands in his. "I'm still here, Milady. I'm not going anywhere."

Her forehead was still creased as if her sleep was troubled, and it reminded Chat of the nightmares that had been plaguing his sleep. He remembered how she had chased them away just two nights back, and he began to hum. That night seemed so long ago now.

Soon the creases on Marinette's forehead eased, and her breathing became deeper. Chat let go of her hand and walked over to where Master Fu was waiting near the door of the room.

Seeing the small, red Kwami seated on the older man's shoulder, Chat released his transformation again. Plagg flew over and hovered near her with a look of worry on his face.

"Plagg, why don't you show Tikki someplace to rest, and I'll go find her something to eat." He looked at Tikki, "Is there anything in particular you'd like?"

Tikki's eyes brightened a little bit. "Could I have a cookie?"

Adrien smiled. "Of course you can."

Tikki's face lit up, and Plagg was happy to note that she looked more like her old self. He took her tiny hand to show her to a particularly nice spot in the corner that he was fond of napping in on sunny days.

Adrien watched a moment before turning to Master Fu. "Would you like to come with me? I'll check the kitchen, but I don't think there are any cookies in the house…"

Master Fu watched as Adrien's eyes shifted to the couch where Marinette slept. "Don't worry. If there aren't any here, I will go to the bakery down the street to get some. I can tell you want to be here when she wakes."

As they made their way to the kitchen, Master Fu said, "Adrien, I said I could heal your mother, but I think it's best to wait for Tikki to recover. Her powers of creation are essential for the process to work… but you saw how much that fight took out of her. She's been putting on a brave front, but she was exhausted going into that battle. She hasn't been properly cared for in a long time. And for her to have to restore all of Paris afterwards, as well as have her holder take such significant damage… I don't think she's capable of restoring your mother just yet."

Adrien's eyes widened at the mention of Paris being restored. He had no idea that the miraculous ladybugs had reached so far. He sighed. "It's alright Master. I've been without a mother this long, a little while longer won't hurt."

The Guardian watched the young hero closely. He was disappointed, but he was doing his best to hide it. He would be patient with the poor exhausted kwami. A good thing too. Fu suspected that Plagg would not take well to her being rushed. And they certainly didn't need a repeat of Atlantis!

After an exhaustive search of the kitchen, they finally turned up a box of thin mints that Nathalie must have hidden away, and they returned to Adrien's room. Marinette was still sleeping, and the two kwami's were curled up together in the sun.

Master Fu looked between the Kwamis, Adrien, and the sleeping Marinette. "I think I will leave you for now. You have all done very well and deserve your rest."

Adrien nodded his thanks, the events of the day were taking their toll, and it was becoming obvious.

After saying his goodbyes to Master Fu, Adrien set the box of cookies near the kwamis and then returned to Marinette's side. It wasn't long before he too had fallen asleep.