Hello again, dear reader. Here ya go. Another chapter done. I thought I would make it a bit happy at a point in this one, a bit less doom and gloom. Anyway, I'll let you see for yourself. Enjoy!

-Miraculous Ladybug and Chat Noir-

Light shredded at the darkness fogging Chat Noir's view as he blinked his eyes open. Dazed and confused, he glanced down at himself, still safe in his suit, and then at his surroundings. An alley, tucked away by a bin, he took in a rather unpleasant whiff of the air, the smell of trash, like a slap awake. On accident he took another whiff, but this time, behind the old food and rubbish, was a familiar scent. Cookies and flour, his Lady. How long had he been out?

The memories soon came flooding back and he bolted up. The akuma. The fight. He glanced down at himself, searched his body for signs of his damage, and was surprised to see them gone. "It seems..." Chat thought to himself, "that M'lady has already dealt with the situation. A small smile tugging at his lips.

One final piece of information entered Chat's head. Marinette.

In an instant he was sprinting into the streets.

-Miraculous-

Ladybug stared, bug eyed and unmoving, as the man lifted the limp girl into his arms. Now finally seeing the girl, some part of Ladybug recognised her. The face. She scraped her memory for a name, a memory, something to link the feeling to the person held in front of her. Barely realising it, a single word escaped Ladybug's mouth. "Marinette..." It felt wrong in her ears, in her mouth, as if the person, Marinette, couldn't be there. Dead, in front of her, as she, Ladybug, stood there. Something just didn't feel... Natural.

Ladybug did not move as the two parents walked, with their daughter in their arms, down the street. She did not move as they turned the corner, and moved out of view. "Marinette."

"Ladybug!!" A familiar voice, if not a bit breathlessly, called to her. In a moment strong arms, wrapped in black, stretched around her, trapping her in a tight hug. Unconsciously, she leant into the embrace, the comfort and familiarity, welcoming. Ladybug continued to stare down the street, slowly filling up again with citizens.

Slowly, Chat Noir turned her to face him. She looked up into his green eyes, more sad and human than she had ever seen them. Tears rolled from his eyes, and Ladybug's stomach hollowed. Tears must have been spreading down her cheak aswell, as Chat raised in of his fingers to while it away. She tucked in closer, only slightly aware of the faint blush on both their parts. Cembrace tightening, Chat whispered into her ear. "Let's get out of here."

He pulled out his staff, and with his lady tucked in at his side, he shot off into the sky.

-Miraculous-

The chilling breeze atop the Eiffel Tower was the thing that shook Ladybug from her trance. The lack of Chat Noir's body heat as he sat her down by the edge of the tower. He soon sat himself beside her, and in each other's presence, they stared out into their city, watching silently, as the the blasting sirens slowed, and the flashing of the blue and red police lights dimmed. The sky was still a slight shade of pink, as the sun slowly rose, soon to bring its warmth. It could come quicker.

"Are you okay, Ladybug?" Chat asked, his head held low, his golden locks hid his face from view.

"No," she said, trying to look through the gold curtain. "Are you?"

As small laugh escaped him. "No."

Ladybug raised her arm, steady as she could keep it and pulled back his hair. Tears rolled down his cheeks, and his body shuddered in an attempt to hold back his grief. His teeth gritted, defiant to his emotions, as he willed them back. It was a struggle, a struggle she could easily see.

She leaped at him, throwing her arms around his neck, as he broke down, his tears falling without restraint, as her own followed. "She was my friend, M'lady. Our friend. And she's- she's gone."

"I know, Chat." That's why she knew Marinette, she was a friend. A wave of memories washed over her, as she saw Marinette, her factors in Ladybug's life seeming to form out of thin air. "I know Chat."

They stayed, hugging each other like a lifeline, holding each other from their grief, together standing against it. Unwilling to move, the two stayed, their embrace never loosening. It was in their embrace that Ladybug felt something shift. Deep in her chest, a feeling of warmth and... and love flooded through her. She did not move, only clinging tighter to her partner. She never wanted to let go. Never again. She would be content to stay there forever, with him.

After what felt like hours, she finally spoke. "Why did I ever say no, Chat?"

"M'lady?" He tried to shift, but she only held him tighter. He let her.

"To you, Chat. I... I feel something with you. A feeling that I love so much that it can hurt. Why, Chat, did I ever say no to you, and your wonderful heart?"

More tears began to fall, on both parts, as their shuddering began a new. "I- I love you... Chat Noir."

He pulled away again, and as much as she hated to, she let him. Lifting his head she stared into his green feline eyes. So... human. So much love and hope. She could see it. How much he truely loved her back. All those confessions didn't matter, but his eyes. His soul. It told her all she needed. She smiled, and, as dire as the morning was, laughed a teary breath. Chat did the same. As they smiled at each other, they couldn't help but feel comforted and happy. To be... together.

Slowly they moved closer, eyes filled with love staring into each other, a bridge between their souls. It felt right. It felt like life. And that feeling erupted one thousand times more as the collided in a loving kiss. Everything faded until it truely was just them, alone, as the world rushed by. Their kiss, sweet, kind, and releasing, as their smiles could not be contained. Nothing would ever seperate the two. Nothing in the world could. And together, as if of one mind, they dared anyone to try.

-Miraculous-

Marinette watched as Ladybug stretched out her arm to move his hair. Her bright chains unmoving after her last escape, she still tried to tug at them, but to no avail. Marinette stared at her partner, through Ladybug's eyes as her own heart began to quicken, and soon, a wave of emotion took her over. A wave of love and care so strong that she had never felt anything like it before. It was harsh and hard, like being lost and thrashed under a crushing wave. She felt dizzy, confused, but found herself filled with only one dazed thought. Chat Noir. His named filled her and consumed her mind. It was all she could feel in that moment. She dared to look up at the screen in the dark, only to see Ladybug meet with Chat in a kiss. She wanted to be sick. It should be Marinette in that body, experiencing life. And this feeling, of love? It was forced upon her, as another woman lived out her life in her name. Ladybug.

There was a blinding light, and as the chains held tighter, she squinted her eyes to see through it. She soon realised what it was. Who it was. Tikki. The small creature emerged as the light faded from behind the kwami. It's small body and big eyes, so innocent looking, yet now all Marinette would allow herself to see was the desperation, hurt and cruelty in it's eyes. Marinette strained on the chains, trying to grab at the red bug, but she was entirely immobilised. The creature floated there, not allowing its emotions to show across it's face. It waited as Marinette strained against her chains. Tikki only spoke once Marinette realised it was hopeless.

"You broke the restraints, Marinette. I'm sorry but it's going to be much worse now that you broke free that tiny bit." Marinette did not speak.

"I'm trying to do the right thing, Marinette. I'm not the villian. I'm only doing what is best. For you and for Paris. Marinette, please, just stay Ladybug, and I can put you back in your body."

Marinette stared into her eyes, and Tikki saw the refined hatred Marinette already held towards her. Given the chance, she would destroy Tikki in a second. "Do you know, Tikki, what I've endured here?" Marinette whispered. "What I've seen? Every second I've wanted to die, as all my worst moments and nightmares are played to me, over and over. I've felt emotions thrust upon my consciousness, and I've watched as I beat my parents with my own hands. I've felt as if my very existence like this is wring and disgusting. This is hell. YOU'VE TAKEN EVERYTHING FROM ME!" She began to scream. "MY FRIENDS THINK I'M DEAD, MY PARENTS BECAME PUPPETS TO MY ENEMY BECAUSE OF YOU! I'VE LOST MY LIFE, MY LOVE AND MY SOUL!"

Marinette's chest rose up and down, as she caugh her breath, but her eyes did not break away as her eyes burned into the kwami. Tears fell down the side of her face, but she did not break.

"Marinette, I..." Tikki couldn't think of anything to say. She turned away from Marinette, and soon began to glow. And in a second Tikki was gone. Left in the dark, Marinette felt once again, as if she'd been hit in the gut and slapped in the face. A growl of rage escaped her as she screame out into the dark. "I HATE YOU! YOU HERE ME? I HATE YOU, TIKKI!"

-Miraculous-

"A sad day for all Parisians, as we are once again reminded of the power and cruelty of the villian that has plagued our city for years, Hawkmoth. Late last night, a second life was taken. Young high school student, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, was murdered by Hawkmoth, and in the parents' grief, he akumatized them, reacking further destruction across our city. A funeral will be held for the poor girl in three days, and Mr and Mrs Dupain-Cheng request only close friends and family come to the event, and that all others who wish to pay respects to their daughter, do so after they have said their goodbyes. This is Nadja Chamack, saying goodnight."

-End Chapter 16-

And that's it! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. This was my first time writing any kind of lovey doves stuff so I hope it went well. If I could get some feed back on what was good and what needs improvement that would be amazing! One more thing before I head off, I'd like to say to you all, even though I'm sure it's been done to death, stay safe. I know the current situation sucks, but we must push on. So please the best way to fight Covid-19 is to social distance and wash your hands. I hope you all stay safe, and I hope to have the next chapter out before exam stress starts. Have a wonderful (insert your current time here). Bye!