Okay, one more time everyone! I figured it out! Anyway, sorry for the long wait, and double sorry for the coded chapter. Anyway, I hope you're all staying safe, and healthy during this crazy time. In other news, the first chapter of my Hollow / Miraculous crossover is up.

Note: The Hollow version I am using, is the Netflix cartoon show. If you were expecting some other version, I probably should have told you. If you want to read it, just go to my author page since I put it in the crossover category.

Disclaimer: I do not, and will never own Miraculous no matter how much I want to

1 Year Later

As a royal carriage traveled down a slightly rocky dirt road in the middle of Fontainebleau Forest, two sets of eyes were watching from the trees. Both of them belong to the famous Cat Noir and Carapace. Call them what you will, heroes, criminals, vigilantes, everyone you asked would tell you the same thing: they stole from the rich to give to the poor, but no one was ever hurt. Nothing permanently damaging anyway.

Cat Noir wore a black mask over his face, along with a black tunic, black pants, and gloves. He even wrapped a belt around his waist, to give the effect of a tail, along with fake ears attached to his blond hair. A silver rapier hung from his belt -or tail- as well.

Carapace wore thick framed glasses, combined with a dark green tunic and hook, gave the effect of a mask that hid his identity. He also had dark green pants, and a bow with a quiver of arrows hanging from his back.

The two outlaws have been following the carriage since it came across the border, and they were assessing the danger.

"I've only seen two guards so far." Carapace reported almost silently. "unless there are more hiding in the bushes, waiting to ambush us."

Cat Noir scoffed. "Please, those palace idiots couldn't sneak up on a mountain if they tried their hardest." he said. "Any idea who's in the carriage?" Carapace shook his head.

"Choe's definitely not in there. We would have heard her screeching by now. So it's most likely one of the nobles. As for which family..."

Cat Noir smirked. "We'll soon find out." Carapace nodded, and they swung silently down their tree as the carriage came back into view. The carriage drove by, until it passed the men's previous lookout spot. Two guards marching behind keeping a lookout for possible danger. Neither noticed the two masked men walking silently behind them. As quickly and silently as possible, Cat Noir hit the guards over their heads with the butt of his rapier, effectively knocking them out. The two guards were left on the road while one of the masked figures disappeared into the trees again.

Thirty seconds later, when the new hero knew for sure there were no more guards, they hopped out in front of the carriage. The driver pulled the reins hard, startled. The horses whined at the abrupt halt, and started becoming nervous themselves, sensing that their master was distraught.

Cat Noir gave his signature smirk before bowing down mockingly. "Good day to you sir." he said. "My name is-"

"I know you you are. Leave before I send the guards on you." the driver said. He was trying to come off as confident, but the nervousness on his face betrayed him.

Cat's smirk curled deeper. "Purrfect. That makes things so much easier. Unfortunately for you, my friend already took care of you guards. Now if you could please hand over all of you valuables, I will leave peacefully."

A feminene voice called from the carriage, "What's going on out there?" The carriage door opened and out came a familiar woman, with silky blue hair, and pale pink lips and blue bell eyes that haunted Cat's dreams. Cat sucked in a breath sharply, though the driver didn't notice.

"Your Highness, please step back into the carriage." The driver pleaded. Marinette looked at the driver with concern before noticing the thief nearby. Their gazes locked and Cat felt his heart stop. She hardly changed, though she was definitely older, but still as beautiful as when she left. Cat noticed the red earrings on her ears. Cat snapped back to the present with a shake of his head. He got down on one knee in a bow

"Your Highness." he said. "I beg your forgiveness, I did not know this was you carriage." He didn't dare look up because fear was preventing him. One reason being that she might recognize him, the other for seeing her disgust in him. He heard footsteps coming toward him. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and he looked up to see Marinette smiling warmly. The same smile he had missed so much.

"You're Cat Noir aren't you?" her smile turned playful. Oh be still my heart! Cat smiled back at her, though it was more of a smirk.

"You've heard of me?"

"Only bits. You steal from the rich to give to the poor." He just nodded. Immediately following, Marinette reached behind her and unclasped the necklace she was wearing. Cat intervened, saying, "No, I cannot take anything from you Princess. As I've explained-"

"You can and you will." she stated. "You may take any of my jewels except for the earrings I'm currently wearing. You may get off your knee as well." she smirked a bit, leaving Cat blushing. He stood up and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"It's proper etiquette." he explained. Marinette giggled slightly, and Cat swore he fell more in love with her than before. He wondered if she still remembered him. An idea sparked in his head. "You mentioned your earrings, why do you wish to keep them?" Yes, that sounded innocent enough... right?

Marinette blushed, and suddenly found the ground very interesting to look at. "Well... a very dear... friend... gave them to me. I've really missed him this past year." Cat quirked an eyebrow.

"Him?" Marinette's blush deepened. Cat knew this was wring, but he couldn't help it. He widened his smirk. "Why Princess, I didn't know you had a secret lover." He didn't think she could get any redder before, but her was proven wrong. Her cheeks rivaled the color of a ladybug's back.

"It's... we... it's not like that!" she spluttered. "And it's definitely none of your business." Cat clicked his tongue as if scolding her.

"Uh-uh Princess, that's not the way a proper lady should act. Besides, we cats are very curious creatures."

Marinette scowled. "This improper lady can have your hide thrown in jail if you're not careful you know."

"Fair enough." Cat's smirk remained. Marinette sighed.

"If you must know, no, we were not lovers. We've been friends for years, but long before I had to leave... I realized I did feel more than friendship for him. I never said anything because I couldn't get my hopes up. Being a Princess, I'll most likely be married off to some stranger to unite some kingdom." she huffed. "And then the day I left... I finally told him how I felt, and... he actually returned my feelings." She gave a small smile, her eyes clouded wile looking back at the memory. Cat knew there was no look that would make her any more beautiful.

"He gave me his mother's earrings as a parting gift, so that I'd always remember him. The truth is, I don't think I could ever forget him. With or without them. I actually gave him my father's ring in return." Cat's eyes widened.

Her father's ring. The ring on his finger was the King's ring. How the flip did he miss that?! It took every ounce of will power not to inspect the ring on his left finger more closely right then. but another question came to mind. Why would she give this to me? With her father at war, and leaving her home, there wouldn't be much of him around.

Marinette started talking again, "Hopefully once my father returns I can convince him to... I'm sorry, I shouldn't by dragging you into this conversation. I guess I'm just nervous about seeing him again."

"Why are you nervous?" he asked genuinely. Marinette shrugged.

"It's just... what if he found someone else? What if he got tired of waiting and moved on? He might be courting someone, or married, or-"

"Calm down Princess." Marinette stopped her rambling to look at the thief. He smiled. "It's clear to me that you care for this man, and, well, as you said before, he gave you his mother's earrings. Seems like his feelings for you are genuine, and if he has moved on? I'd say good riddance. He'd be a fool to ever move on from you." Marinette said nothing. They just looked at each other in comfortable silence, until someone cleared their throat.

They both turned and saw the driver looking at them uncomfortably. Most of that discomfort was directed at the notorious thief. "Y-your Highness, w-we really must be going." he said. Cat looked at the Princess one more time, before taking her hand in his.

"Farewell Princess." he said, before kissing her hand gently, never breaking eye contact. "And welcome home." He noticed the blush on her cheeks, before running into the forest to find his partner.

Hopefully you enjoyed that. I know she came home very quickly, but...

I'm lazy. Anyway, stay safe my nuts!