When Ambrosi returned, he carried a squirming boy in his arms. The boy was indeed red faced–and complaining bitterly about being carried–but what surprised Kat the most was that she recognized him.

"I'm not a little kid any more! I'm eight years old! I can walk."

"No. You're sick, and this girl is going to help you."

"Carson?" Kat's lip quivered. "Oh my…Carson!"

"Kat?"

Ambrosi set the boy down and Kat launched herself at him, enveloping the boy in a bear hug. Tears streamed down her face. A huge wave of relief and happiness crashed through her heart. Carson was here. Her baby brother was here. How did he…? Kat didn't care. He was here.

"Kaaaat! You're hugging me too hard!" Carson's little complaint made her hug all the harder. She didn't want to let go. Ambrosi awkwardly cleared his throat.

"I take it you know each other?"

"Yeah," Kat said, pulling away and placing a hand on her brother's cheek. "You're actually here, buddy. I thought…I thought I was alone."

Carson patted his sister's arm. "It's okay. Don't cry."

"These are happy tears," said Kat. "I'm so glad you're here."

"Yes, yes, you're glad, he's glad," Ambrosi waved his arms at Carson, "but what is wrong with him? His face is all red."

"Do you have a tomato garden by any chance?"

Understanding dawned on Ambrosi's face. Kat rolled her eyes. Clearly, Ambrosi was not very experienced when it came to children. Maybe she would make a notebook of childcare for him. At least he had the decency to look sheepish about it.

"Well, I'll be keeping a closer eye on him from now on. Thank you, young lady. We need to go now. Come on, Carson."

"What? No!" Kat held Carson as close as she could. "I'm not letting you take him! I just got him back. I can't let him go."

"What's going on?"

All three of them turned to see Luka, Marc, and Nathaniel staring at them. Kat wanted so badly to plead with her friends for help, but who knew how this would go? She didn't want to rope them into this…Before she could even open her mouth, her arms collapsed, no longer holding anything. Carson had just disappeared! Kat frantically ran her hands across the cement in front of them, as if she could find her brother like she could find a contact lens. The boys knelt in front of her.

"Kat, are you all right?" Nathaniel asked.

"Carson…" Kat sobbed. "I had him in my arms. He was here!"

"You mean that boy?" Marc asked. Luka stood and surveyed their surroundings.

Kat laid on her side and cried. How could she have let him go? She shook with anger at herself and a hurt heart. To make matters worse, nothing seemed out of place. Nobody else seemed to have noticed anything.

"Hey," Marc said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It'll be alright. Whatever that was about, I'm sure it'll work out."

Kat bit her lip. She didn't know Marc very well, just what she learned from her fake memories, but his reassurance actually helped. She sniffed and sat up.

"Sorry, guys, I didn't mean to lose it like that. I just…I had…"

Another sob almost tore through her.

"You don't have to talk if you don't want to," said Luka.

"Thanks." Kat looked at each of them. "What are you all doing here?"

"Marc and I were working on our comic." Nathaniel held up the art supplies in his arms.

"I was just passing through," Luka smiled. Kat noticed the guitar strapped to his back. He must have been looking for song inspiration.

The boys helped her up. They gave her caring smiles and tried to cheer her up while they walked her home. In the doorway of the bookshop, they each gave her more reassurances, then left for their own homes. Kat slowly walked up the stairs, and straight to her room. Cicily tried talking to her, but she couldn't hear anything. She barely noticed when the sunlight faded. Everything felt numb. The flapping of akuma wings came from somewhere above her. Kat did nothing. She had to hold up her end of the bargain, after all. Shadowmoth's voice rang through her head when the akuma hit her jacket.

"Lamentera, I will–"

"Skip the dramatics, will you? I already know the deal. You give me powers, I give you the chance to get the Miraculouses."

"Don't you want to know what powers you have?"

"I don't really care, but I'm guessing, based on the name, that I can make people sad or something. I can make them lament."

"Perhaps I should have made it a bit less obvious."

"Most of your names are obvious, dude." Kat hesitated for a moment. "Can…Can I ask you something?"

"What?" The impatience was evident in Shadowmoth's voice.

"I know we kind of don't like each other, but I trust you more than I trust…nevermind who it is…I just wondered, is there a way for you to find someone? Even if they're not upset?"

"...Not really. Why?"

"Doesn't matter." Kat felt Shadowmoth try to pry deeper into her mind. "Stop it. I don't need you seeing my entire brain."

"Whatever is bothering you is clearly important to you. Are you sure you don't want to let me see?"

"Pfft. Since when do you care? You have the parental instincts of a sea sponge. Unless…you don't know why I can block you out, and it bothers you. Well, newsflash: I don't know either. You're not going to find the answers in my head."

"Just move all ready! I don't have all night."

"Yes, you do."

"Lamenter, I give you the power to devastate the people around you. In return, you will get me Ladybug and Chat Noir's Miraculous."

"Whatever you say, Shadowmoth."

Hello my readers! I hope you like this part; it was interesting to write. It kind of tugged at my heartstrings a little bit.