"This is a mistake."

Marinette looked up from the lunch she was packing. Tikki was floating above the ham sandwiches with wide sad eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"You shouldn't go meet Elle."

Plagg was floating in front of him, blocking him from leaving.

"Plagg I'm going."

"Nothing good can come out of meeting her."

"Tikki we need to talk to her. She has the answers we're looking for."

"Not for certain. And you saw how scared Chat was."

"Tikki, Chat and I already talked. We're both going to go."

"Just let Jade Turtle and Volpina handle this."

"Why?" Adrien demanded, "Why don't you want me to go?"

"Because you're not supposed to meet her!"

"What?" Adrien stared blankly at Plagg.

"Nothing good can come from you meeting Elle."

"You want me to stay behind while everyone else goes to meet her?" Marinette stared at Tikki in disbelief, "Why?"

"She shouldn't be trusted Marinette. She's not brave like you and your friends, she runs away from responsibility. She won't be any help I guarantee it." Tikki shook her head and floated off to get a cookie.

"You know her tikki?"

Tikki didn't respond, instead shoving her mouth full of chocolate chip.

"Tikki? How do you know her?"

"That's not important Marinette."

"Tikki. What is wrong? Why won't you tell me?"

"It's the past Marinette." Tikki said facing her chosen with a stern look, "Just drop it."

"Tikki you have to tell me more then that." Marinette begged, "This is something that's important to the safety of the city. I need to talk to Elle to defeat Hawkmoth, to protect Paris. I have to be there to lead my team Tikki."

"Can't you just take my word Marinette?"

"Tikki I have always taken your word! I never asked about the past Ladybugs, even though everyone else seems to know who the other miraculous users were. I didn't doubt you when you said I couldn't tell my family about being Ladybug. I trusted you when you said Rekko was an old friend. Tikki, Rekko is Hawkmoth! Why didn't you tell me? Why are you trying to keep me in the dark. If you want me to be a good Ladybug you have to tell me the truth!"

"Rekko is not Hawkmoth!" Tikki yelled. Marinette fell silent. Tikki looked like she regretted raising her voice. She sighed and Marinette knew that the kwami felt hurt, "Marinette I believed in Elle more then anyone, and she let me down more times than I can count. I'm not letting you get hurt like I did. I've told you everything you need to be a good Ladybug. Let the past die." Tikki floated off to the bedroom.

Marinette was left alone with her thoughts. What was she supposed to do? She needed to visit Elle. She needed answers. She needed advice.

As quickly as she could Marinette dressed from head to toe, trying her best to cover her face. It was still dark outside her apartment. They weren't supposed to meet for another 2 hours to go find Elle. Marinette looked down the street for the bus before deciding to run. It felt strange leaving Tikki behind. Her kwami and her hadn't been apart in 5 years, they were bound to have a fight at some point right?


"Why can't I meet her Plagg?" Adrien was pacing angrily now.

"Because you can't."

"Plagg!"

"Adrien she won't want to see you."

"Why not? Why is she in all my memories? Why do I remember her?"

"It's probably just Philippe's-"

"It's not Philippe's memories Plagg! I know they aren't! They're mine! And everytime I look back on them they become more clear."

"Kid-"

"Plagg why are you lying to me? Why can't I go meet her?"

"Adrien, you'll break your own heart."

"What?"

"Look, I always had a soft spot for Elle, and the one time she acts like the rest of them it's her final wish or whatever." Plagg was trying to sound uncaring, but Adrien could see how upset he was."I promised her I'd look after you. I won't stop you from going. I know that she wouldn't want you to, and I don't want to see you or her get hurt."

Adrien looked away, all of his defiant anger gone.

"But," Plagg floated closer, "If you think that it would be worse to never know, then to know and get hurt, well I guess I'd be protecting you if we went. She can't get mad at me then."

Adrien smiled.


The graveyard was darker then the streets. There were no streetlights, and the dark reds of the early morning sky were all that illuminated her path. She had the path to the grave memorized. She had been there enough since it was put in. It stood with three others on the hill. She thought it was an odd collection of graves, but maybe it would make more sense after meeting Elle.

Marinette was used to being alone on the hill. But today there were two people beside the grave. She hung back slightly, pulling the scarf she had pulled over her face a little higher. Both of the figures were women. One was very tall with long reddish brown hair ending in white tips. She wore a loose shirt and pants in muted reds and browns. Knelt beside one of the other graves Marinette hadn't recognised.

The second woman knelt in front of Fu's grave. She stood after a moment and pushed her glasses further up her face. Marinette knew this woman. Alya Cesaire.

A man approached the hill and started to climb up towards the graves. Marinette held her breath. She knew this man too.

Gabriel Agreste was not only the father of her highschool crush turned boyfriend - Was he her boyfriend? They had gone on a date and it was really nice. He had kissed her. Well technically she had kissed him, but he was the one who-

Marinette focused back on the hill. Gabriel Agreste walked up to Alya and said something Marinette couldn't make out from where she was. The lady who was by the grave stood and turned to face Mr. Agreste, saying something in audible as well.

Marinette moved a little closer. Picking a grave a little closer to the three at the top and kneeling down beside it. She forced herself to read the name on the grave instead of looking up, but at least this way she could hear what they were saying.

"We're going to go see her as soon as we meet up with Ladybug and the rest of the team." Alya was saying to Mr. Agreste.

"Good. I hope she will be able to help."

"Why wouldn't she? I still don't understand why she left Gabriel." The strange woman said looking at Gabriel Agreste. "Your family was everything to her. She wouldn't just leave."

Gabriel looked toward the second grave. "After Celine died… Things were different. Things were different before then too. You weren't around for after Sage passed."

They all looked at the first grave.

"I wish you luck." Mr. Agreste gave a curt nod and one last look at the second grave before he made his way back down the hill.

"You can come out now." The strange woman said turning towards Marinette, "You're not very sneaky Ladybug."

Marinette's eyes went wide. She stood up slowly, her scarf and hat still covering most of her face. "How do you know who I am?"

The woman smiled at her, her grin full of pointed teeth. "We've already met Ladybug, my name is Fanna. I'm Volpina's kwami."

Marinette looked at the strange woman in shock, "But you're…"

"Not a floating fox?" Alya offered. "She does that. Yours can too but probably won't because of an accident that happened a while ago and killed Desuu and Celine."

Alya nodded towards the second grave.

Marinette had never had any connection to the graves before, but now it was starting to make sense why Master Fu was buried on this hill.

Sage Dalton

1973-2004

The best of friends, and the most just of people.

Celine Agreste

1976-2010

The light that brought us all together.

Philippe Gillet

1982-2010

A friend, and a hero

Fu Zhihao

1829-2020

The only name she had known before was Agreste, but now all of them appeared before her. This was where the miraculous holders of the past were buried.

"Does Adrien know?" Marinette asked looking at Celine's grave.

"That his Mom used to be a superhero? I don't think so." Alya shook her head, "He doesn't know about Mr. Agreste either. Gabriel is the civilian hawkmoth has a connection with."

"Is everyone in his life connected to the miraculous?"

"Well his roommate's girlfriend, his future wife." Alya said with a laugh.

Marinette turned a little red. "Does Nino know the woman he loves is an orange clad fox?"

Alya smiled, "He does."

Fanna dropped back into a fox and weaved herself between Alya's legs.

"Why are you here Marinette?" The fox asked.

"Oh.. Tikki and I got in an argument. I needed to clear my head so I…"

"Came to visit Fu." Alya finished for her nodding towards the last grave. "What were you fighting about?"

"She doesn't want me to meet Elle." Marinette admitted.

Fanna gave a snort that sounded like a laugh, "That sounds like Tikki."

"Who's Tikki? Ladybug's kwami?" Alya asked.

"Yes," Fanna giggled again, but it sounded like some kind of high pitched cry. "Tikki and Elle got in spats all the time. Tikki was always a little jealous over how well Plagg and Elle got along."

"That's Chat's kwami?" Marinette clarified.

"Yes Ma'am." Fanna grinned, and Marinette thought she looked suspiciously similar to Volpina, "Tikki and Elle fought, but Tikki loved Elle dearly. She misses her. Tikki is one of the oldest Kwami. She's seen many Ladybugs and she has never gotten any better at saying goodbye."

"She said Elle couldn't be trusted." Marinette frowned.

"Ladybug, I trust Elle with my life." Fanna smiled a little softer this time, her canines hidden. "It's very important you meet her. I'm not allowed to tell you why, but please trust me. You need to be there."


Volpina would not stop laughing.

"Stop." Jade Turtle practically begged as they sat in the back of a "rented" car.

The car was actually Adrien's but he had lied to Volpina and Ladybug about where he had gotten it knowing how strict latter was with keeping their identities a secret.

Chat started to chuckle as well and Ladybug gave him the stink eye.

"This is just so funny." Volpina wheezed.

"I don't see what's so funny about it." Ladybug said from the passenger seat.

Volpina let out another cackle showing off her canines, "LB! We are currently geared up in full superhero outfits, sitting in the back of a car stuck in traffic on the freeway. It's pretty damn funny."

Chat laughed again.

"Volpina what do you propose we do?" Ladybug said annoyed.

"Nothing! I think this is great! When I picture the Avengers I immediately think of their trips in a minivan together." Volpina laughed again.

Jade Turtle chuckled.

"Not you too turtle boy."

Chat laughed at the nickname and lost it again.

"All three of you stop!"

They all doubled over with laughter again.

Ladybug fought a smile.

They ended up listening to Jade Turtle's music and although they were a new team, it felt distinctly familiar.

It was the afternoon by the time they reached the road Alya had collapsed on. Soon they were turning down a driveway to the small cottage she had woke up in.

The four heroes stood in broad daylight in front of the woman's door.

Volpina giggled again.

"Volpina I swear to god." Jade shoved her lightly.

"Sorry it's just a little silly right?"

Chat was too nervous to laugh, and Ladybug couldn't hear anything over the pulse in her ears.

Volpina and Jade seemed to catch on. Volpina stepped forward and knocked on the door. Jade watched as the two other heros stiffened visibly.

There was silence except for the birds and the wind.

The door opened and a brown haired woman with green eyes opened it.

"What-"

Chat Noir's eyes met with the woman's. Her eyes went wide.

"Get away from here."

The door closed with a loud bang.

Chat was still staring at it, something very distant in his eyes.

"I don't remember her being like that.." Volpina frowned and tried to peer through the window.

"Chat… are you alright?" Ladybug placed a hand on his shoulder.

He didn't respond, except for a hiss of pain and his eyes shutting tight.

"Chat? What's wrong?" Ladybug moved in front of him trying to get his attention.

His hands flew to his head and he let out another hiss.

"Chat!"

Jade Turtle looked back in time to see Chat Noir collapse. He moved instinctually to catch him. "What happened?"

"I don't know." Ladybug confessed setting down her partner gently. "He wasn't responding and then his head hurt and he collapsed."

Volpina was knocking on the door again. There was no answer.

"Help! Chat Noir is hurt! Let us in!"

Still no answer.

"What do we do?" Volpina looked at Ladybug.

"I-I don't know" Ladybug was staring at Chat's unmoving body, unable to think of anything other then panic.

The door opened and the woman was standing on her front step her face contorted in worry to match Ladybug's. She looked at the spotted heroine and gave a frightened nod.

Ladybug wrapped her arms around Chat and lifted him up. The hero's walked into the house in silence.

It looked the same as when Volpina was last there. It was warm and cozy, if not still too big for one person. Eleanor lead hem upstairs and helped place Chat in a bed. She stared down at him, "How did you find me?"

Volpina took a step towards the woman, "That's my fault."

"What do you mean-"

"You saved my life and… Well we think you might know how to save a lot more people." Volpina confessed.

"You're the young woman? The one who collapsed?" Elle's eyes went wide. "No! As soon as he wakes up you leave! I don't want anything to do with this life!"

Volpina reached out gently, "Please, I know you've been through a lot, I know you must blame the miraculous for your fiance's death, but we need your help."

Elle shook her head, "You don't know anything about my past Volpina, there's a reason for that."

"What reason?" Ladybug asked looking up from Chats face for the first time. "Why can't we know? Why are you so connected to the miraculous?"

"I can't tell you."

"Is this another one of those Kwami rules? Like you can't tell people certain things?" Jade turtle asked.

Elle didn't answer. She stared down at Chat with worry. "What happened to him?"

"We don't know." Volpina supplied, "He saw you and collapsed."

Ladybug looked Elle up and down once. Maybe Tikki had been right. Maybe they shouldn't trust this woman.

"As soon as he wakes up." Elle warned again and left them alone.

"Why was she so worried about him?" Jade asked.

"She's probably just a decent person? You're saying if someone collapsed in front of your house you wouldn't be worried?"

"No just… She did not want us here, and then he collapses and suddenly it's fine?"

"She was Philippe Gillet's Fiance right?" Ladybug said still watching Chat, "He was the last Chat Noir."


Adrien woke up in a cold sweat.

"You're awake!" Nino grinned from the chair beside the bed.

Adrien looked around confused. He wasn't at home… Where was he? Whose bed was this? It felt a little familiar. He remembered waking up to this ceiling before.

"We're at Elle's." Nino supplied, "We got here and when you saw her you collapsed."

"What time is it?" Adrien sat up slowly.

"It's around Midnight."

Adrien looked around the room. He had definitely been her before.

"Dude! Talk to me! Why did you collapse? I'm worried!"

Adrien met Nino's gaze, "I know her."

"What?"

"I know her… I've been having these memories with her in them ever since I heard her name." He looked around again slightly panicked, "Where's Plagg?"

"Chill. Him and Wayzz went to go find some food. You detransformed an hour ago. I convinced Ladybug to step outside and get some rest." Nino sighed, "What do you mean you know her?"

"I know her Nino… There are all these memories that I didn't know I had before, I thought they might just be Phillipes, but I know now. They're mine. I know her from somewhere."

Nino nodded his head slowly as he processed the information."That's crazy dude."

"I know!" Adrien ran his hands through his hair, "There's this part of my past that I never knew about… I guess when I saw her it was just too much."

Nino gave him another nodd.

Adrien lay back down with a sigh, "How did things get so messed up? You're here, Alya's Volpina, there's this strange woman…"

"Dude, I'm pretty sure your life has always been messed up. Secret identities, crazy dad, famous teenage years." Nino laughed, "I thought you'd be used to it by now."

Adrien laughed with him, "Yeah… I wonder if Ladybug's life is this messed up."


Ladybug went down the stairs as quietly as possible, not wanting to wake any of her sleeping teammates. To her surprise a light was on in the main room and the fire that was dying out cast a glow on the woman tending to the embers. Ladybug watched as the warm light reflected in the woman's eyes, and her hands held the metal stick that she pushed the logs with.

"Thank you again… for helping him." Ladybug said softly.

Elle stiffened but looked towards the hero and smiled, "I couldn't just cast him out on the street."

"You could have." Ladybug sat at the edge of the fireplace beside the woman. "So thank you."

"You're welcome Ladybug." Elle frowned a little, "But I'm afraid that's as helpful as I can be."

"Elle I-"

"I know why you're here Ladybug." Elle looked almost sad, "I can not help you."

Ladybug fell silent. The fire flickered away filling the quiet room. It was so frustrating. She was so close to the answers she had been waiting for. She was so close to finally being able to fight Hawkmoth. But of course, there were more roadblocks. More mysterious answers she wasn't allowed to know.

"Fanna said it was important that I met you…" Ladybug said softly.

Elle looked up surprised, "She shouldn't have said that."

"Why not?" Ladybug met Elle's gaze. She came all this way for answers, she wasn't giving up. "Fanna said I could trust you. Why? Why is it so important I meet you? Why do you have all these answers?"

"Ladybug I can't-"

"I need to protect my city!" Ladybug pleaded, "I need to fight Hawkmoth! I need a way to defeat him! I need help! Please!"

"Call him by his name." Elle said sternly, "Hawkmoth is a lie, it's the name he chose so he could hide, so he could cause terror. Call him for what he is."

"Rekko." Ladybug said, "His name is Rekko."

"Yes… And he is not a supervillain. He is a weak hearted creature who will stop at nothing to satisfy his own wants."

"Then help me defeat him!" Ladybug begged.

Elle shook her head, "There are very few things I have left in this world Ladybug, very few people I care about. But I would rather die than see them hurt. I can't help you. After tonight I leave, Rekko can never find me."

"But we can help! Hawkmo- Rekko has to be stopped, he can't hurt you or anyone else if we stop him."

"But there are other people who can help you! Other people who don't have to run once they're found. Master Fu, he can help you-" Elle saw something flash across Ladybug's face. Remorse, guilt, sadness. "No…"

"He's dead."

"No." Elle shook her head, "Sabine. Is Sabine Cheng still alive?"

"Sabine?"

"Is she still alive?" Elle seemed panicked.

"Yes. How do you know Sabine Cheng?"

"Gabriel Agreste? Are him and his son alright?"

"Yes. Why do you know Sabine?"

Elle's eyes watered, but she looked relieved, "When did Fu?"

"Almost three weeks ago." Ladybug frowned, "Why do you know Sabine?"

Elle shook her head again, "I can't tell you if you don't know."

"Then how am I ever supposed to know?" Ladybug said angrily. She sighed, "Please… Is Sabine in danger?"

Elle bit her lip, "If you don't know about her… Then no. I don't think she's in danger."

It was Ladybug's turn to feel relieved. "How do you know Rekko?"

Elle looked away.

"Please. You're our last chance. Master Fu is gone. We need help. Are you his apprentice?"

Elle sighed, "Tikki wouldn't want me to tell you."

"Tikki didn't want me to come at all."

"Then why did you?"

"I need to know the truth."

Elle stood up and walked towards a bedroom.

"Who are you? Why did you know all these people?" Ladybug asked standing up to follow her.

Elle gave the hero a weak smile, "I used to be Ladybug."


Ladybug climbed back up the stairs still trying to process what had just happened. The previous Ladybug. She was right here, she was down those stairs. She finally knew who she was.

"You're adorable."

Ladybug looked over at Volpina and Jade Turtle. Volpina had her legs on top of Jade's and he had his arms around her. Ladybug frowned disapprovingly. Jade seemed to catch her glare and shifted a little further away from Volpina.

"Well… We should probably spilt up transformation is going to wear out soon." Jade said awkwardly.

"We should leave Chat in the same room, which leaves this room and that last bedroom. Someone's gotta share." Volpina wiggled her eyebrows at Jade who blushed a little and laughed.

"Volpina and I will share." Ladybug declared harshly grabbing the heroine by the arm and dragging her away.

"Ow, What the hell?" Volpina yanked her arm back from Ladybug.

"What the hell was that?" Ladybug whispered closing the door behind her and dropping her transformation

"What?"

"I come upstairs and see you draped over some guy-"

"Some guy?"

"Alya you are in a relationship!" Ladybug tried to keep her voice quiet.

"I am aware of that." Volpina laughed and released her transformation as well.

"So you don't think Nino would mind you flirting with some superhero?"

Alya grinned, "Girl, I know he would be ok with it."

"What?"

Alya started laughing, Tikki and Marinette shared a confused glance.

"Just don't do that in front of me. He's my teammate and Nino is my friend, I don't want either of them getting hurt."

"No one is getting hurt Marinette, I promise." Alya smiled.

"Does Jade even know you're not single?"

Alya sighed and knocked on the wall, "Oi! Jade! You know I'm taken right?" Alya yelled.

"Huh? Yeah!" Came the confused response.

"See? Everything is fine." Alya gave her friend a smile, "Tomorrow we can call Nino and ask if he cares. Deal?"

"Fine… Lets just go to sleep."

Marinette scowled and threw herself on the bed. Alya didn't have the energy to argue with her friend.

Marinette stared at the wall as she heard Tikki and Fanna chatting on the other end of the room. Eventually the chatter died out and the sound of rain hitting the window, mixed with the familiar sound of Tikki snoring.

She turned on her back and looked over at Alya.

"Hey…" she whispered poking her friend's shoulder, "Are you awake?"

"Of course." Alya's voice was soft and low.

"How did you get Fanna to tell you about Sage?"

"What do you mean?"

"How did you convince her to tell you?"

"I didn't, Fanna told me when I first met her… it helped… when I was feeling alone, or like I couldn't succeed. It was nice to know someone else had done it before." Alya turned to meet Marinette's gaze, "Tikki never told you about the past Ladybug?"

"No."

"I'm sure there must be a good reason. Maybe the right time just hasn't come up."

"You'd think she'd tell me before I met her myself."

"What?"

"I met the previous Ladybug. She's downstairs. Elle is my predecessor." Marinette took a breath in and out and lowered her voice. "Why didn't she tell me? Why didn't she want me to meet Elle?"

Alya shook her head, still processing, "I don't know."

"What happened back then? Why did Sage die? Why is Elle the only one left?"

"I don't know Mari…" Alya frowned, "But we will find the answers."


The long table in the dining room was surrounded by the four heroes and Elle. The silence that filled the room was heavy and awkward. In the middle of the table sat a plate full of semi burnt pancakes and a bowl of runny scrambled eggs. Jade Turtle looked at them skeptically as Volpina served herself cautiously.

"I'm not a great cook." Elle said, matter of factly.

"I remember," Volpina said with an awkward laugh.

The silence fell again as they all pushed around their food.

"This is ridiculous." Volpina complained, looking at her teammates. "More than half of you know who I am."

"Don't you dare." Ladybug shot her a glare.

Volpina rolled her eyes and was enveloped in a bright orange light.

"I can't believe you just did that!" Ladybug stared wide eyed at her friend.

"How can we expect Elle to work with us if we're not completely open with her." Alya gave Elle a smile as Fanna floated down to the table, "Besides Fanna was hungry."

The kwami looked up at the older woman and gave her a sad smile. "It's been a long time."

Elle smiled back mournfully, "It has."

Suddenly there was a flash of dark green.

"Not you too?" Ladybug was covering her eyes.

"Hey… Spots, it's ok. Chat and Alya already knew." Nino said and turned to Elle, "We've met already."

"We have." Elle smiled a little. "Does your grandmother know about this Nino?"

Nino laughed nervously, "No.."

Ladybug was staring at Jade Turtle, Nino… Guess that's why Alya had been flirting with him.

Wayzz had floated over to say hello already. Chat was staring at her.

"Don't you dare." She warned. "This is important Chat! Our identities need to be a secret!"

"But why?" Alya looked towards her friend, "Hawkmoth already knows! Why does it matter?"

"He only knows because you told him!"

"Wait, what?" Chat looked between the two confused, "Alya told Hawkmoth? Why?"

"It was an accident."

"This isn't something I mess around with," Ladybug said defensively, "It's been what? A month for you? And you've already told everyone your identity. This has been my life for the past five years, this is what I do. This is my secret and I will decide when to share it."

A long silence fell over the table, and Nino went back to pushing his food around on his plate.

There was a light green flash and Ladybug turned away.

"No fucking way!" Alya yelled, staring at Chat.

"I agree with you M'lady, it's your secret and you should decide when you share it. But this is my secret. I should get to choose when I share it." Adrien looked towards Elle, "I know we've never met… But I- We need your help. We need to end this thing with Hawkmoth now, no one else is going to get hurt or akumatized. Only you can help us. Please Elle."

Elle stared at the young man in front of her, her eyes watering. Plagg floated towards her slowly. She shook her head and stood up. The room fell into silence again as she left.

Adrien felt something inside of him crumble and die. He looked over to Ladybug but she still wouldn't face him. He felt the rare flame of anger rise within him.

"Ladybug my name is Adrien Agreste. I know we've only met like this a couple times, but I would have thought you'd at least meet your partner, who you've worked with, fought beside, and known with for five years. I'm tired of hiding, I'm tired of secrets, and I'm tired of not getting any answers. Will you please at least look at me!" Adrien was standing staring at Ladybug's back.

She didn't move.

Adrien left.

Alya stared at Ladybug as her shoulders began to shake and tears started to hit her legs. Without hesitation she got up and wrapped her friend in a tight hug, "I'm sorry… I didn't mean for… I didn't think what this all meant to you."

"I'm such an idiot."

"You're not." Alya said soothingly.

"I am!" Ladybug shook her head. She let go of Alya and stood up, "And I need to fix this."

The spotted hero ran after Adrien and left Alya and Nino alone at the breakfast table full of uneaten food.

"Is any of it edible?" Alya asked gesturing at the burnt pancakes.

Nino shook his head.

There was silence between them and Alya scooted closer. "How long did you know about Adrien for?"

"A while. We do live together Alya, and we're best friends."

"So wait you knew from high school?"

"No! Not that far back. I found out when I first met you as Volpina, we saw each other climbing into the apartment through the windows."

Alya laughed and put her head on Nino's shoulder.

Nino looked down at her through the corner of his eye. She was so beautiful, and he had never felt so lucky. Her eyes glanced up and caught his.

"What are you staring at Lahiffe?"

"You."

Alya blushed a little but smiled and gave him a soft kiss. "I love you."

"I love you too." God did he ever. She was so smart and stunning. Everything about her was like fire, warm, passionate, awe inspiring. Sometimes he had to just thank his lucky stars that they had gone drinking together, that she had agreed to give it another chance. He was pretty sure he could spend the rest of his life looking at her smile. He knew he could. It was his favourite part about waking up every day, the moments where he looked over and saw her beside him already. "Alya will you live with me?"

Alya sat up startled, "What?"

"Will you live with me? I mean, we already share a bed, you practically live with me and Adrien already."

"You want me to move in with you and Adrien?"

"Yes! Or no, I mean maybe we could find our own apartment. I don't care actually, I just want to live with you."

"I don't know Nino… Let me think about it."

"Just hear me out Al, you're over all the time anyway, you need to find a new roommate, well I'm your solution!"

"My solution?"

"Yes! This way you don't have to worry about getting kicked out of your apartment, and if you move in with Adrien and I, it's really no different rent wise for us. I mean you're over all the time already, and we already share groceries."

"I'm so glad to know I'm not an inconvenience." Alya scooted away slightly.

Nino's expression fell, "You're mad?"

"Yes!" Alya glared at him.

"Al, what's the matter? I just asked you to move in why are you mad?"

"I'm not some damsel you need to save ok? I'm not hopeless."

"I'm not trying to save you Alya, I'm just trying to help."

"Well don't!"

"I'm not supposed to help the woman I love?" Nino felt himself getting angry.

"You're supposed to ask her to move in because you love her. Not because you're worried she has nowhere else to go. I don't want to be your charity case Nino, I want to be your girlfriend." Alya stormed off and Nino felt his anger disappear and replace itself with regret.


Ladybug's heart was pounding. Adrien Agreste's bright green eyes met hers and she could see the hope and fear mixed in them.

"I'm sorry." She managed to say. She felt like her throat was closing in and she couldn't breathe. How had he done this so easily? How had he just let go and showed who he was?

"Why are you here?" He asked, refusing to let himself hope.

"I'm an idiot!" Ladybug yelled, pushing past the terrible fear. "I'm not disappointed in you, I'm not angry, I'm just an idiot. And you're my partner and my best friend, and I should have been there for you…" She felt tears start to roll down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry Chat…"

Adrien's face softened and he wrapped her in a hug. "It's ok."

"It's not. I've been unfair to you for five years."

"Ladybug, you are one of the most just people I know."

Ladybug took a deep breath. She could do this. She felt her body tense in fear, she couldn't breath, her pulse was racing. She couldn't do it, not even now. She was a worthless leader, and a worthless partner.

She felt Adrien hold her tighter. What was she so afraid of? She trusted him to keep her secret. She trusted him to stay by her side no matter who she was. She loved him. She loved him so much. Her best friend, the man who kissed her in the park, the one who saved her life. What was she holding on to? She smiled.

A pink light blinded Adrien. Before he could open his mouth he felt a pair of soft lips on his own.

He stepped back and his eyes shot open, "M'lady, I'm dating someone I can't-"

He looked at her for the first time and stood staring. Marinette smiled nervously. "I know Kitty."

Adrien stared at her. This couldn't be real right? It couldn't be this convient, that Marinette would have been her all along. It was too much of a coincidence. Gently, he reached out and touched her arm. "I can't believe it." He grinned.

"Believe what?"

"Out of the whole entire world, the two women I fall in love with are the same person."

Marinette kissed him again and wrapped her arms around him. "I love you too."


"I missed you all so much." Elle sat in the living room with Plagg, Wayzz and Fanna. Plagg was already by her side nuzzling his head against her hand just as he had done when she was Ladybug. She felt a wave of joy at the reunion, and a sharp pain at the memory. She missed Philippe. She missed Adrien.

"Why did you bring him here Plagg?" She asked the kwami as he floated up close to her face.

"He insisted." Plagg shrugged his shoulders and Elle rolled her eyes.

"Rekko came back around five years ago." Wayzz supplied.

Elle nodded, "I saw it on the news, it was around the same time he stopped trying to find me."

"Master Fu and I… I think that he is trying to obtain Tikki and Plagg so that he can locate you, but he's been unsuccessful so far."

"Do Chat Noir and Ladybug know how to seal him?"

"No," Fanna added in, "And the next descendant isn't aware either."

"You have to help Elle." Wayzz begged, "You knew the boy's mother. You can help him."

"It's not like Amira told me everything about her duty. We didn't know each other very well." Elle looked over to Plagg.

"They need you." He said gravely, "I'm sorry Elle. I know you've already done enough, but there's still more to go before it's over for good."

Elle sighed. "I worked so hard to protect him… Why would Fu pick him?"

Plagg smiled, "In his defense, Adrien is an excellent Chat Noir."

Alya stormed through the room and Fanna floated over to her, "Hey, what's the matter with you?"

"Human things." Alya muttered. "What are you all talking about?"

"Answers." Elle said standing up.

Tikki floated in from outside and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Elle.

"Where are you going?" Tikki said, her sweet tinkly voice gone. "Running away again?"

"I'm going to see my son." Elle walked towards the door.

"That was always your problem Eleanor. You cared more about that boy then you did about being Ladybug."

"Then it's a good thing I'm not Ladybug anymore."


Adrien and Marinette were down by the water staring at the rocks beneath the waves. Marinette looked up when she heard footsteps.

"It's Elle."

Adrien turned further away. He felt childish, but he just couldn't face her yet.

"Hello Ladybug." Elle said softly. "I was wondering if I could…"

Marinette turned back to Adrien. He didn't say anything. "I can leave you too alone if-"

"No." Adrien said and turned to look at Elle, "Whatever she has to say she can say it in front of both of us."

Elle looked away. There was a silence before Elle finally broke it. "How… How long have you been Chat Noir?"

Adrien frowned. He looked up at her, her brown hair caught the wind as her skirt blew out behind and around her. She was staring at him as the air spun around her.

"Since I was 15."

Elle looked heart broken. Her eyes shone with unshed tears and her face looked pale. Adrien felt his throat ache as he held back his emotions.

"Why do I know you? Why do I have all these memories of you? Why does it hurt so much to just be here, to be so close and it…"

"It aches." She finished for him. "If I tell you… You won't be able to forget. Everything will change."

"Maybe it'll change for the better."

"I don't think it will."

"It's too painful not knowing." Adrien begged taking a step closer, back up to shore.

Marinette watched switching between the two faces.

Elle met his gaze. His eyes were just like his mothers. And his hair. She moved even closer still and her arms opened.

Adrien fell into her embrace without thinking. He felt a sob escape his mouth, though he had no idea why he was crying.

"I am so sorry," Elle was crying. Her arms pulled him closer, and for the first time in a long time, he felt safe again. "I love you so much. I never wanted to leave you. I'm so sorry."

"Who a-are you?" Adrien managed out between sobs.

"My name is Eleanor Perron. I was the woman that raised you."

Something clicked in Adrien's head. "Aunty Elle?" Adrien let go of Elle. He looked up at her tearstained face."But why don't I remember you? My mother was the one who-"

"I'll explain everything. I promise. But let's head inside first." She looked back at the cottage, and then to Marinette. "you aren't the only one who needs some answers."