Gabriel was looking lovingly into Adrien's eyes through the glass of the capsule – just as he had once done with Emilie – when Nathalie arrived a few minutes later. She held out the magic jewels for him to take. Her eyes were averted from him, staring instead at the boy in eternal slumber, her mouth curved in a small frown.

"Thank you, Nathalie," Gabriel said, accepting the miraculous and putting the earrings on, "Through all of this, I've always been able to rely on you. I never could have made it this far without you."

"Of course, sir," Nathalie's eyes locked on his, her mouth tight, whatever thoughts stirred in her heart kept hidden, "I promised I would support you until the end."

Gabriel activated the miraculous ladybug power, restoring finally Emilie and Marinette, as well as all the others still out in the streets, suffering the same fear as them. Coming to, the two women shook their heads, as though waking from a bad dream, and stood up straight.

"What happened to us?" Marinette wondered aloud, seeing Gabriel in the ladybug costume that should have been hers.

"Night Shade used his power on you," Gabriel said, "but I stopped him."

"You didn't kill him, did you?" Marinette shot him an accusing glare.

"No, I delivered him to the authorities," Gabriel explained, "as you advised."

"Forget about that, what about Adrien?" Emilie spoke up, crossing her arms as she confronted her husband.

"I haven't had much time to…" Marinette started, but Gabriel quickly cut him off.

"I know what to do," Gabriel declared, his voice firm and commanding. All the women in the room looked at him in awe as he slipped the cat noir ring onto his finger.

"What are you doing?" Marinette's eyes went wide, "You can't just make another wish, you don't know what will happen!"

"I must," Gabriel insisted, "and I know what will happen, because I'll wish for it."

"Gabriel," Emilie's voice quivered, "you're not going to…"

"Yes," Gabriel sighed, "I'm going to wish to take Adrien's place."

"No!" Emilie shouted, "I just got you back, and now I'm going to lose you again? I can't accept that!"

"It must be done," Gabriel shook his head, "After all the harm I've done in this city, to this family, this is the best solution."

Marinette was silent. Her look told him that she didn't approve, but she wasn't about to stop him either. Emilie looked heartbroken, but there was nothing to do about that now. With one last look at his son's face, Gabriel steeled himself for what he was about to do.

"Sir," came a voice from behind them, "I think there's another solution."

All eyes in the room turned to face Nathalie, still standing separate, keeping her peace. There was strong conviction in her eyes as she regarded him, unwavering.

"I'll take his place," she stated firmly.

"Nathalie, no!" Gabriel protested, "You can't do that!"

"I'm the best choice, sir," Nathalie explained firmly, "I've already suffered some of the effects of using the peacock miraculous. I'm likely to end up in a coma eventually anyway. And I told you, I will support you until the end."

"Nathalie," Emilie's eyes had softened, "you've been such a dear friend to our family. I only now got to see you again, I will sorely miss having you around."

"Thank you, Emilie," Nathalie looked to her, "but I fear I would only get in the way." Her eyes flicked to Gabriel again, hiding something within.

"Are you sure?" Gabriel asked her.

"Yes, sir."

Reluctantly, Gabriel removed both miraculous, handing them over to his faithful assistant. Tikki and Plagg materialized momentarily, but both miraculous were activated before they had a chance to speak. Nathalie had combined the power of both miraculous, holding now in her hands the powers of creation and destruction. She stood tall and proud, undaunted by the fate she marched so boldly into.

"Goodbye, Emilie, Marinette," she said with a bow of the head to each woman. To Gabriel, she leaned in close, giving him a quick, unexpected kiss on his cheek, before whispering in his ear, "I love you."

"Wha-?!" Gabriel started, but before he could process this bold declaration, Nathalie was proclaiming her wish.

"I wish to take Adrien's place in a coma."