Author's note: To the reviewer who asked How Dev got into Chloe's room: I'm sorry if it wasnt' clear. Just good old fashioned breaking&Entering, less breaking more entering. No magic required.

3 Chapters left after this to the conclusion.

Friday, almost an entire week and nothing had gone horribly wrong. It was making Chloe nervous. Three days of classes without crisis. She'd actually seen Dev around, they didn't get to talk much between classes but just seeing him in his ridiculous but slightly more fashionable jacket was soothing. Three afternoons of practice with Sabrina, Marc, and Nathaniel, working to exhaustion before curfew left her by herself. At that point out came the sewing and she threw herself into the costumes. She could have outsourced it, but there was something rewarding now in working through her own frustrations by crafting.

Friday morning something was in the air though. There was a nervous energy about the class as people filed in. Marinette walked into the room with head bowed and clutching a pack of tissues to her chest. She sat down and immediately pulled one out, passing it over her eyes and blowing her nose, sitting huddled on her chair.

Chloe nudged Sabrina,"What's gotten into Du-Pain-Chang?"

Sabrina looked past her then shook her head, diving immediately into her phone for something. Chloe looked back to see the sorry state hadn't changed and moved to stand when she caught Mylene gesturing out of the corner of her eye.

Surprised, Chloe sat back down and instead leaned in. Mylene whispered, covering her mouth with a hand,"Marinette broke up with Luka last night. Could you please be nice to her today?" Mylene gave an imploring look as she finished.

Chloe leaned back in her chair, studying the crestfallen Marinette. She should have been filled with glee. She couldn't deny a small part of her still was; a little wind out of Marinette's sails wouldn't hurt anything in her mind. Still, the feeling was overshadowed by... Sadness? Pity? Empathy? Regret? It was messy and Chloe didn't like it.

"I should say something." she affirmed, but as she moved to stand again there was a small tug at her sweater, Sabrina this time. Chloe looked back at her,"I shouldn't say something?" Sabrina gave her a pained expression. "I shouldn't say something." Chloe agreed, turning back to face front in her seat.

She fiddled with her bag, the nervous energy now infecting her too. A thought percolated, "Sabrina, the Bass for Juleka should arrive today. You could take it over tonight."

Sabrina glanced past Chloe to Marinette then asked softly,"Should I? They already broke up."

Chloe gave Sabrina a sly half smile,"Oh? Was that the only reason you spent all of last Sunday there?"

That brought the blush to Sabrina's cheeks,"No." she admitted, ducking her head,"But, if they just broke up…"

"Then he'll need someone to talk to about anything else. Take the bass, but DO tell them it's from me. An apology. I did a little looking myself and I think they'll appreciate it." Chloe added,"they'd better, daddy's going to be mad when he sees THAT bill."

Sabrina giggled,"okay Chloe. No practice tonight then?"

"No, Nathaniel's got his thing. I don't get it, but he's not allowed until sundown Saturday. Besides, my calves are absolutely killing me from this week. We should be able to meet then though. Daddy's little tantrums rarely last too long and the staff get busy."

Ms. Bustier walked in, cutting off talk, but Chloe had something else on her mind. She snuck her phone out under the desk.

Chloe(to Dev): I want dinner tonight.

Dev: It's usually a good idea.

Chloe glanced up, trying to pretend she was paying attention. She nudged Sabrina under the desk with her foot,"Cover for me." she whispered.

Chloe: You owe me remember?

Dev: Right, three for a fancy meal?

Chloe: Just two this time.

Dev: To what do I owe the honor?

Chloe: I got something I wanted today and it didn't make me happy. I don't want to be unhappy right now.

Sabrina hissed to Chloe who immediately stuffed her phone under one leg to hide it. She put on the sweetest of smiles for Miss Bustier when the teacher walked across in front of their desk and waited several minutes before carefully scooting her phone back out to check it.

Dev: Ha, and you want to hang around me?

Chloe: You'll do.

Chloe stuffed her phone back in her bag. Miss bustier was giving her the side eye, but at least that was taken care of.

At Lunch Chloe was able to stop by Nathaniel and Marc's table. "Will Saturday night be good? I can give you the passcode to the private elevator so you don't even need to bother with the staff, they'll be less likely to get in the way."

Nathaniel and Marc exchanged a look, whatever passed between them Nathaniel was the one who answered,"Sure, but not until after Sundown."

Chloe waved a hand,"Oh I remember. You do your thing." She glanced down at the paper beside his tray,"Who's that?" she indicated the sketches with barely concealed excitement.

"Oh this?" Nathaniel and Marc both perked slightly, Nathaniel slid the paper over in front of Chloe,"She's a new hero that showed up just recently. The news is calling her 'The Badger.'"

Chloe studied the sketch a little longer than she normally looked at any of Nathaniel's sketches,"Is she really that big?" she asked after a moment,"She looks almost like an Akuma."

Nathaniel touched the sketch, pointing out spots,"I still need to shade it a lot. She's all shadowy and dark. Like an avenging vigilante. No one knows where she came from, but she's worked with Ladybug at least once so far."

Their interest was infectious, and Chloe already felt like tap dancing with glee. Marc spoke up,"We don't really know much at all, we'll have to see what else happens before I can start to write accurate stories."

Chloe considered that; considered the necklace in her bag. The necklace she hadn't worn since Monday. "What if she doesn't come back? What if it was just a one time collaboration?"

That seemed to stump Marc a moment. Then he brightened,"Well, then I guess we can take a lot more artistic license." he and Nathaniel shared a laugh at that. Chloe managed to suppress an eyeroll.

"Well, I'll leave you two to it." she said, giving a little finger wave before heading to the table where Sabrina already had both their meals set out.

"L'Ambroisie? Better." Chloe took Dev's offered arm as she stepped out of the hotel. The evening air held just the faintest of spring chills. He was in a light grey suit this time, single breasted as was fashionable but perhaps a little narrow on his broad frame. Instead of any ostentatious ornament his usual hand brace was replaced with a streamlined transparent plastic affair.

Chloe had worn a navy asymmetrical V neck satin dress with her hair down in carefully teased ringlets around her shoulders. The heels she was wearing boosted her up several inches, but their height difference was still very nearly comical. She considered how lucky their choices were for matching.

"I'm glad you approve. It was close enough for a pleasant stroll, and is apparently the longest running Michelin three star in Paris."

That little tidbit pleased Chloe. She held back the information that she had never been to L'Ambroisie, better if Dev thought it was commonplace for her. She let the silence carry on as they walked the few blocks around the Place de Vosges. Dev seemed content with the same.

Very good little thing. Talking to yourself is bad.

Chloe missed a step. She stumbled just slightly and keeping her balance helped excuse her sudden squeeze on Dev's arm. "Sorry." she demurred,"Been a while since I wore heels."

What are you doing here? I'm not wearing the necklace!

Once mine, always mine little thing. The trinket is for your benefit.

Go away! You must not be all that powerful if you can't see the person beside me.

Chloe felt a dull throb behind her eyes and shadows crept into the corner of her vision. Do you need another demonstration perhaps? In her mind the voice purred with barely restrained violence.

No, please. I'm sorry. Just go away for now. Please. Let me have this.

Better. The shadows ebbed and the pressure subsided. Chloe found she was holding her breath; one, two, three, four steps, nothing. Panic receded, but what to do? If the voice was right then she couldn't even throw the necklace away. She wasn't giving it back ever at this point, if it hadn't gotten to Dev yet there's no way she was going to let it. The peaceful silence of the walk was shattered for Chloe.

Dev's hand covered hers. Chloe curled her other hand into a fist, she had been trembling. "Did you want to talk about whatever prompted this evening?"

Chloe gladly grasped the new line of thinking,"Marinette Du-Pain-Chang broke up with Luka."

A few more steps and,"I think I've met one of those two people."

Chloe facepalmed then gave Dev a light punch in the shoulder,"This is what you get not coming to classes. How can I possibly gossip properly with you if you don't know what's happening?"

"Spending the time to get to know too many people was rarely worth it."

Chloe winced inwardly, but wasn't going to let him off the hook,"Well, Start."

"Yes my Queen."

Chloe nudged him again, then filled the rest of the walk with tidbits about the various players at school. Only once they'd been shown their seats did the lecture end. Chloe unfolded her napkin and realized all the other diners were easily twice their age. She was out, alone, unsupervised, without expectations to be anyone but herself. She squeezed her napkin in her lap.

A waiter glided around the table, filling glasses and catching cues with a beautifully unobtrusive professionalism. Dev broke protocol first, putting both elbows up on the table as he folded his hands under his chin,"So, Marinette breaking up with Luka is good, because?"

"Because she's really in love with Adrien."

"The boy you love."

"Did. Okay, still do maybe, but it's not the same. I've never not had Adrien in my life. He's…"

"Comfortable?"

Chloe paused mid-flow. She tried to read Dev's expression but it was that implacable mask once more, thoughtful and attentive."Yes, I guess. It always seemed inevitable, forever." Chloe waved it off,"but this isn't about me."

"It's not?"

"No. It's about her, them, him. Adrien needs someone, and Marinette's," it was a bitter medicine to say it,"good for him, in her own weird way. He relaxes with her. He's happy. I want him to be happy."

"I can tell."

Chloe gave Dev a wane smile and picked up the first-course wine glass. The dry white had a very mild bouquet under her nose,"With Luka out of the way she can focus back on Adrien, and pull him from the clutches of that crazy samurai girl."

Dev filled in the name from the recent data dump,"Kagami."

Chloe growled and took a sip from the wine,"Yes, her."

"Who is no good because?"

"She runs him ragged. Here, there, run, stop, go." Chloe spat the words before taking a small forkful of the first appetizer; an artistically arranged affair she had no idea if she would like.

"Sounds exhausting."

Chloe speared her fork at Dev,"Exactly. Adrien doesn't need that." Chloe softened,"He needs someone who's just glad he's there."

"And Marinette will do this?"

"I think so." another sip of wine,"There was a movie premiere. You should have seen her. I was in a different place then, but now looking back." Chloe shook her head,"She's probably less together than I am-"

"Good Lord."

Chloe kicked Dev under the table,"-but if she can fix that, she'll do. I was already working on getting Sabrina to pry Luka away from her -Don't look at me like that- but Marinette ended it herself."

Dev was grinning infuriatingly,"Which is what you wanted, but?"

Another bite of the first course and it was done,"She was just… sad." Chloe slid the tongs of her fork through the sauce decorating the plate,"Just sad. I can handle Marinette frustrated, angry, confused, or embarrassed. I can even enjoy it, but this was..."

"Well, did you expect she wouldn't be?"

Chloe felt suddenly defensive,"I didn't think about it! I'm doing a good thing. She'll be better off with Adrien, he'll be better off with her." Chloe set down her fork,"Why does she have to make it so difficult?"

Dev took a drink of his own glass, leaving Chloe to stew a moment,"Maybe she's got something she's dealing with that makes her act this way?"

"What? Du-Pain-Chang? What could SHE possibly have to deal with? Her life is nothing but pastries and Adrien."

"Of course." Dev stared quietly over the rim of his glass at Chloe,"There couldn't be anything she's dealing with inside."

Chloe squinted at Dev in frustration, but the squint slowly widened. "Oh don't you dare."

"Hmm?"

"No. No, no. You're not-"

"Not what?"

"Don't you dare compare me to Du-Pain-Chang."

"Was I?" Dev asked in an overly innocent tone.

Chloe knotted her napkin while the courses were switched. As soon as the staff had moved away she leaned in, tempering her voice for the restaurant,"we have nothing in common!"

"Adrien."

Chloe sat up as if slapped. She huffed, smoothed her napkin again then switched,"I wanted a nice night out."

Dev grinned at that and raised his second course glass in toast,"I for one am thoroughly enjoying your company."

Chloe let out an exasperated sigh and humored him, raising her own glass,"I'm glad you're here."

They touched glasses and Dev drank, finishing with,"I'll do."

Conversation drifted to safer topics. Chloe shared the progress her crew was making. Dev shared bits and pieces from the many places he'd been. She was surprised to see how his eyes lit up when he talked about some of the places he'd been. The cabin in the US seemed to come up time after time.

"I'm guessing there's bugs everywhere out there."

"Yep, it's nature after all. Bugs, wild animals, more green than you've ever seen in one place probably."

Chloe made a face,"And no shopping?"

"I think the nearest mall is about four hours away, and it's not very big."

"Ugh. No lattes either then?"

"Espresso machine in the cabin. We're not savages." Dev grinned.

Chloe couldn't help grinning back,"Maybe I could 'rough it' for a couple days... maybe."

Dinner came and went and as they stepped into the descending night Chloe felt a chill. "I don't want to go home just yet." She rubbed her arms,"Is that okay?" from comfort to concern at just the thought of returning to the suite.

Dev gave her an inquisitive look but simply said,"Sure, where to?"

Chloe turned south,"The river maybe?"

"Sounds lovely."

Dev offered his arm again and Chloe took it. This time she slid her hand down though to take his, pressing a small squeeze that he returned. "Never boring." he murmured and they walked.

The silence was unbroken this time. Chloe could enjoy it.

She paused at a bench though,"Could we stop? Heels after a week of dance are starting to hurt."

"I've got another idea." Dev switched sides with a step, then wrapped an arm around her hips and smoothly boosted her up. Chloe eeeped in surprise and flailed as balance butterflies tickled her stomach. Dev settled her on his left shoulder.

Chloe hooked her heels against his waist and put a hand atop his head for balance,"This does NOT seem dignified."

"It's as dignified as you make it." Dev started walking, keeping an arm around her calves to help her balance.

"Oh in that case." Chloe straightened her back and lifted her chin, extending one arm,"Forward footman. I wish to gaze upon the waters."

Dev patted her knee and rumbled out a chuckle. It was entirely silly being carried this way, but also far more fun than Chloe would have expected. They were getting looks from the other evening strollers and Chloe thought perhaps she detected envy in some of the girls' gazes. That pleased her.

They made it to the Seine and Dev stopped at the rail. Chloe's feet could just touch the Balustrade. She scuffed the concrete with two hundred euros per foot.

"What's on your mind up there?"

"Just wondering if this is real." Chloe found herself toying through Dev's hair again, she hadn't even planned it this time.

"I suppose that all depends on what real is."

Chloe lightly bopped him on the head,"You are useless sometimes, utterly useless."

"Not the first time I've heard that." Then,"I get what you mean. Tell me a month ago I'd be standing here tonight looking over a river with a girl on my shoulder and I'd call you a liar."

Chloe gently flicked his ear,"You could put me down you know."

"I thought you liked being above everyone else?"

Chloe hmphed,"Well, I'd need a ladder to see eye to eye with you."

"We do alright for having different views."

Chloe couldn't tell, was this alright? Was this normal? She had no reference. "You are right about not expecting to be here like this. You know, if I'd seen you in a crowd, I don't think I would have even noticed back then."

Dev turned his head to look up at her,"Really? I think you would have stood out against the sun."

"Then you go and say stuff like that." Chloe said softly,"And all I can wonder is, 'What's his game? Why's he saying it?'" Chloe patted Dev's shoulder and shifted her weight, standing carefully on the sloped concrete of the rail in heels. Ballet training helped.

He raised his hands, but didn't touch her, just ready to catch her if she lost her balance,"I don't really think about it; If that helps to know? I'm just winging it here."

Chloe turned in place, checked her balance, and stood towering over him,"Why're you still here? You got your smile."

"Need constant reassurance eh?"

Chloe spread her arms out wide, it helped with the balance, and she imagined the pose was an elegant one in her mind,"Maybe. Can you blame me?"

"No. and if I said I'm here because I want to see another, you'll probably kick me in the mouth."

Chloe looked down, even tilting her head that much altered her balance in heels on the rail,"Very likely. You are in a good spot for it."

Dev placed his hands on the rail to either side of her, and lowered his gaze,"You ask tough questions, and I'm not used to answering even the easy ones. I'm here because I want to be. How long will I have the opportunity? Even with your blessing I'm on borrowed time until we move again. That's why it doesn't feel real sometimes." Dev looked back up at her,"Real or not, I'm all in though." he pulled one of his slow smiles.

Chloe dropped her weight, sinking straight into a crouch and nearly losing her balance. She had to throw her arms around Dev's neck for support, then slipped them off to his shoulders. Now they were eye to eye,"All in? It feels like I'm the one in charge of this show."

Dev leaned in slightly,"Would you have felt comfortable any other way?"

Chloe glanced to the side,"No. You're right. Messing with my head again?"

"It's called respecting someone's boundaries."

Chloe slipped her gaze back to Dev,"Boundaries hmm?" She slid one hand up and toyed with his Lapel,"Isn't this all about breaking down walls, and pushing boundaries?"

"It's a-" she caught him mid word. Chloe gripped that lapel and darted in for a kiss. The angle was bad, her balance was precarious, and her legs were cramping but his total surprise gave it an electric thrill. Chloe held on tight, but parted it just as he seemed to be relaxing from the shock.

"Consider yourself stung by the bee, ogre." she whispered, bumping foreheads then slowly relaxing her grip.

Dev's eyes refocused on her,"Dear God don't let me be allergic, but even if I am, what a way to go."

Chloe laughed out loud, adrenaline coursing through her veins,"So weird!" she thumped Dev's shoulders with her fists,"But, endearing. Now please help me down before I fall."

His large hands encircled her waist and plucked her from the railing. Chloe shifted her weight from foot to foot when he set her down,"too long in that position." she giggled. She was feeling bubbly, silly, and high on energy.

Dev smiled and just watched her for a moment. Chloe swore she saw his eyes light up, but kept her mouth shut. That could be her little secret. She stepped back up to the rail close in beside him, brushing his arm with her own.

They watched the lights of Paris again, and Dev was the one to break the silence,"We going to talk about that?"

"About what?" Chloe asked, casting her gaze upriver.

"Thought so." there was chagrin in Dev's voice, and Chloe allowed herself to enjoy that too.

"Hey, listen." she tapped his arm,"Music right?" she cocked her head and pointed in the direction of her gaze.

Dev listened then nodded slowly, unsure,"Guitars I think. Rock ballad it sounds like; low slow tempo; not a full band. Why?"

Chloe squinted, trying to pick the lights from Anarka's ship out from the others on the river,"I'm thinking it means that Sabrina's evening is going well too."

"We could go find out if you like?"

Chloe thought about that, turned it over in her mind and gut,"No. I'm ready to be better, but they're still tacky. We don't have anything in common. I don't need to tear into them but that doesn't mean we have to be friends either." Chloe talked out her thoughts but glanced up at Dev for reassurance,"Right?"

"Seems fair to me." Dev brought his arm around, placing his hand in the small of her back,"It's not about trying to please everyone. At the end of the day you're you." He rubbed in a slow circle,"All this is just trying to be sure you're happy with who that ends up being."

Chloe let her eyes drift mostly closed. She leaned against Dev's arm, slowly transferring her weight as the warmth of the touch melted unrealized stress away,"You keep that up and I'm either going to fall asleep or scale you for round two."

"Don't threaten me with a good time," but his hand stilled and they just stood once more in the cool night air.

Thoughts drifted slowly out of Chloe's mind. Days, months, years, a lifetime spooled away to float along the current until she was as still inside as the crisp night sky overhead,"Okay." Chloe murmured softly,"I'm happy. Take me home?"

Chloe flipped her phone onto the nightstand, fifty three messages from Sabrina. Some one word, some small novels. In her current state Chloe could only skim. She got the impression Sabrina was having fun. Juleka had nearly broken the bass before Luka realized what it was, even well deserved spite couldn't justify breaking a Gibson Thunderbird IV bass. Chloe had relied on that, but was also glad she wasn't there to see it. She probably would have exploded.

It seemed like she had been right, that was Luka and Juleka she had heard by the river. Chloe was glad Sabrina was making friends, but if this was the level of detail she could expect on a regular basis, Chloe was going to have to find some reserves of patience she didn't yet possess. All this and Sabrina was *still* over there tonight. Chloe snagged Mr. Cuddly and curled up cozily, letting her still placid mind drift.

A damp chill, shadows dancing in her mind. Chloe tensed head to toe.

Don't!

Isn't that the beauty little thing? I don't even have to.

The shadows rolled and flopped, tongue lolling with mirth.