Rena was the first to split off, a back-to-back circle gave her time to recharge, then she disappeared into the night under cover of her illusions. Ladybug knew she was still nearby, that was her role now, to watch from afar just in case.

Cat Noir kept watch while Ladybug and Vesperia took their own turns. Ladybug took the moment to pull Vesperia aside. There was no sugarcoating this moment, and she'd learned the hard way dragging it out could have terrible consequences.

"Vesperia. You revealed yourself." Ladybug folded her hands, this wasn't easy, twice with the Bee now, was it cursed?,"And, not just to anyone, to a Villain. We can't know who she'll tell, and we do know she's got it out for you."

Vesperia had only two words in her defense,"My sister." There was no apology in her tone.

Ladybug sighed,"I know, and I can't say in your position I would have done differently. Still, it's a terrible risk. I might never be able to give you back the bee miraculous." Maybe if she could make Zoé understand the importance, the need for secrets, she could help convince herself.

Vesperia's response was a smile, and her happy tone was completely at odds with Ladybug's serious one,"I understand Ladybug. Do you want it back now, or should we wait until we get home?"

That was not the reaction Ladybug had been expecting,"Zoé, maybe you don't understand. This could be the end of Vesperia for good."

Vesperia's smile didn't budge,"I know." she took Ladybug's hands in hers,"It was never really mine to begin with, right? I just got to use it. I loved helping you, and I'm sorry I made things harder for you. You found me, you'll find someone else who will be a great hero too; bee or wasp."

The simplicity of it was so pure, Ladybug let out a little embarrassed laugh. "Maybe, but no one will ever replace someone like you." She slipped her hands from Vesperia's and gave the other girl a hug. Ladybug mentally changed course and stepped back. "Keep it for now, until we're sure they are gone. Then, we'll see."

Ladybug was already sure there would not be a 'we'll see'.

Vesperia left them at the edge of the woods, and it was down to Ladybug and Cat Noir. Ladybug only realized she was slouching in exhaustion when he spoke up,"M'Lady? It was a tense situation, but not really our most exhausting of battles. Are you okay?"

Could Ladybug tell him? She didn't want to worry him. She glanced at his face and read the worry there already. No, she hadn't hidden this well enough. She could brush it off, Cat Noir would forget, but she realized; Adrien would remember. Cat would smile for her and make some lame joke, Adrien would keep the secret. Cat would talk casually about some close call, Adrien would come to school in a withdrawn mood the next day. More little connections wove themselves between her memories, tying together what had been separate.

Ladybug reached out and took Cat Noir's hand,"No, I'm not really." she confessed,"Do you have time?"

He hadn't been expecting that answer. Never before now would she have given it. The walls were collapsing, and nothing was giving her time to adjust. She had to steer without brakes and hope for the best. Cat Noir covered his surprise quickly and squeezed her hand,"For you M'Lady? Always."

Ladybug scanned the nearby landscape and led them to a small stream that bordered the road into town. She sat on the grass beside it and Cat Noir sat beside her. She hadn't let go of his hand yet, and he did not seem inclined to either. She gathered her thoughts and he waited. "There's a lot, stuff you don't know about yet; things I'm not ready to share. Vesperia tonight, that just brought up a bundle of emotions I'd thought I had settled and." Ladybug did finally let go, bringing up both her hands to make a 'boom' gesture.

Cat smiled, but it was a smaller, Adrien smile; a gentle comfort. "Appropriate considering our adversary tonight."

Ladybug smiled back, but couldn't feel it inside. The words were bubbling up, She brought her knees up and rested her hands on them. Taking the plunge she laid it out. "Did I cause that back there? I've thought about it since the beginning. Did I start this by losing the bee miraculous? Did I start it by letting her use it again? Did I start this by taking it away? Did I start this by giving it to someone else to fight her?" Ladybug brought her hands up to her head, letting it sink,"She's not like other people we've fought and helped. She doesn't make sense; even before all this. She makes it so hard to help but I tried." Ladybug snapped her head back up, looking Cat Noir in the eyes,"I really did. It would be better for her, for everyone. I thought maybe I saw…" Ladybug shook her head,"And now, we're here. And I can't shake this feeling that if only I'd done one thing differently, we wouldn't be."

He laid a hand on her shoulder, Adrien. His touch was light and Ladybug leaned into it. "I don't have all the answers." That gentle voice, Adrien. "But I do know you tried." He scooted closer and laid his arm across Ladybug's shoulders, she leaned into it and he gave a squeeze,"I also knew how difficult Chloé could be for a long time."

Ladybug was pulled from the moment, reminded by a small voice she needed to act surprised, he would expect it. Adrien didn't know. He smiled down at her and continued,"I was in a position to interact with her a lot."

Ladybug continued the ruse,"Oh? You're a rich cat?" the words were from another her, automatic.

He snorted and gave her another little squeeze,"Oh, loaded. I'm a billionaire playboy philanthropist who fights crime at night because of unresolved family issues."

He made her laugh; with everything going on inside, he still made her laugh. Ladybug looked up at those sweet eyes. His arm around her felt so good, she hadn't let herself have this from what? Fear? What was heroic about living in fear? What was the point of being brave for others if you couldn't be brave for yourself?

Ladybug wet her lips, she needed to divert her thoughts. She could feel her emotions still out of control, but was unable to dwell on the bad. He'd pulled her thoughts to other places just by being him, both of him. "Back in the clearing." she started, pulling her eyes from his,"You knew Adrikat would attack us. How did you know?"

"That's easy M'Lady." his voice was so warm, Ladybug let herself feel that warmth,"He may look like Adrien Agreste, but he's supposed to be me isn't he?" Oh you silly kitty. "Well, If someone had you prisoner, I know I wouldn't stop at anything to free you."

That gentle fondness in his eyes. He hadn't looked at Ladybug that way in a long time. He looked at Marinette that way now, and she loved it. But Ladybug was Marinette, and she loved it too. She loved more than it. She loved him. No brakes; Ladybug reached up and cupped his cheek. His eyes widened. She leaned up, her eyes closing.

"Ladybug?" Shock in his voice, he was pulling back. She opened her eyes to confusion.

Panic and the pain of rejection spurred the wrong response,"I thought-"

"After all this time? Now?" Disappointment, and a sadness. "No." Pain, and resolve,"I couldn't-" His eyes didn't hold her reflection. They held the girl who had been willing to accept him. The girl Ladybug knew full well he had been seeing. She had just tried to steal him from herself.

He withdrew but held onto her hand even as he pulled back and stood. He let go only at the last but he let go all the same. "I should go. I'm sorry M'Lady. I can't be that Cat for you anymore."

Just tell him, now before he goes. The treacherous words echoed in her mind. That's all it would take. She imagined his response; surprise and this time delight, a world made so much simpler. They would leave together, sit on a rooftop, and talk about all things past and future. They would laugh at the coincidence and so many silly moments they should have known. They would face whatever happened together as more than a team, as a couple.

By the time Ladybug slipped out of this happy though Cat Noir was already out of sight, Ladybug was alone.