To Lyger 0: The way I'm considering the poison is like the atmospheric radiation level pre- and post-Hiroshima. Even though there had only been a total of 3 nuclear explosions in the world by the end of World War II, the radiation level throughout the world was noticeably different at that point than it had been previously.

"I still don't see why we need to come here."

"Really? You don't think we need to see someone after everything that happened in Angola? After everything that has happened since then?"

"I'm pretty sure everything is fine!"

"The fact that you think that is exactly why it isn't!"

As the voices in the hallway echoed throughout the rehab center, Sabrina closed her eyes and let out a breath, running through one of the breathing exercises that Emilie had taught her, emptying herself of whatever emotions she still was hold into. Max and Chloe had left earlier that morning on their trip, and this was the first time that she had been unable to sense Max's emotions anywhere in the city since finding out he was alive. They were supposed to return tonight, the trip wasn't supposed to be dangerous, everything should be fine… but what if it wasn't, and she wasn't there to help him – help them?

The footsteps in the hallway drew closer and stopped outside of the counseling room, and Sabrina exhaled, releasing her anxiety and fear into the atmosphere. Opening her eyes, she quickly hit save on her laptop and pushed the screen shut, setting it off to one side of her desk. She stood up, just as the door to her counseling room burst open and almost hit the wall, and two people stepped inside. Sabrina schooled her expression to keep from showing her shock at seeing them. She had felt their emotions as they walked into the center – the frustration and embarrassment and hint of guilt had instantly overwhelmed all the other emotions in the building. But even with that advanced warning, Sabrina still blinked twice before she could believe that Kim and Ondine were standing just inside her doorway. Kim glanced nervously out into the hallway; Ondine stared at Sabrina anxiously. Sabrina let out a sigh and raised an eyebrow meaningfully. "You may as well come in," she told them. "The walls for most of the building aren't exactly soundproof, but it's a little better in here. At least in here the rest of the center won't hear your argument."

Letting the door shut after him, Kim dropped into a seat with a huff, folding his arms in a pout. "I still don't understand why you think we need this," he grumbled to Ondine.

Ondine arched an eyebrow at him as she sank into the third chair. "Kim? Baby? I love you, but we need to talk to someone." Turning to Sabrina, she groaned. "Maybe you can help me get through to him."

Sabrina raised an eyebrow dubiously. "I don't know if I've ever displayed that particular superpower," she deadpanned. "What seems to be the problem? Or should I guess?"

Kim frowned and threw his hands up in the air. "I really don't see what the problem is," he complained. "I asked her to marry me, and suddenly she thinks we need counseling!"

Sabrina's eyes shot wide open, her gaze flickering back and forth between them. "Um… congratulations? I guess now I'm confused, too…"

Ondine rolled her eyes. "Okay, under any other circumstances, I wouldn't be here–"

"–not that you wouldn't still need premarital counseling, regardless," Sabrina interjected, holding a hand up for a pause. She raised an eyebrow meaningfully at Kim, who scoffed at her indignantly.

"–but it's the way he asked," Ondine finished without pause.

"Oh?" Sabrina cocked her head, turning all her attention to Ondine. "So how did he ask?"

Ondine flushed, looking down at the table for a moment before her eyes shifted back up toward Sabrina. "Oh, um, well, we had just…" Sabrina gave her a look and waved a hand dismissively for her to continue. Ondine coughed awkwardly. "Yeah. Um… anyways, so he just out of nowhere said, 'Where's a priest?'"

Sabrina blinked, turning and staring at Kim in disbelief. "'Where's a priest'," she deadpanned. "That's how you do it."

Kim shrugged noncommittally, a tinge of embarrassment in his emotions. "I mean… why wait?" he asked rhetorically. "Considering everything that happened in Paris, and Angola, and Tarascon…"

There was a sudden intake of breath from next to him. Ondine's eyes shot wide open, and Sabrina felt a shock of terror course through Ondine. "Um… with the Tarasque, he said," she cut in, elbowing Kim hard in the ribs. He winced, shying away from her in his seat and rubbing the spot, as she hissed, "You can't talk about that, remember?" Turning back to Sabrina, Ondine plastered on a fake smile, anxiety washing over her in waves.

"Ow!" Kim glared at Ondine, rubbing his side. "How did I deserve that?"

Sabrina covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. "You didn't tell her why you came here for your counseling?" she demanded. "As far as I'm concerned, you deserved it for that alone!" Ondine's anxiety turned to confusion. Sabrina pointed at Ondine's wrist. "That's a nice watch you have," she told her, raising an eyebrow meaningfully. "A… special gift from Kim? Just in case something happens to you because of his… 'other job'?"

"What." Ondine blinked, her emotions drifting between confusion, realization, and relief. Suddenly she jabbed Kim in the ribs again. "Seriously! Why didn't you tell me?"

"Um… it wasn't my secret to tell?" he responded, grimacing sheepishly. "I thought you'd run into each other around the camp?"

Ondine shook her head. "No…"

"Or at least, not when I wasn't transformed," added Sabrina. A twinge of embarrassment passed through her emotions. Had it not been for her behavior during their first week in Angola, perhaps she would have gone out more around the camp. Perhaps she and Ondine could have hung out more there – Ondine had been one of only two civilians to live in Hero Town. But after what she had done, Sabrina had been too ashamed of herself to leave her tent more often than necessary; Chloe, Marinette, and the others had been the only people she had really seen.

Ondine cocked her head, staring at Sabrina for a long moment. "Wait… so if you're… and Kim was so upset when we got there… and Pegasus…"

Sabrina sat for a moment, looking at her expectantly. "Yes…?"

Ondine facepalmed. "Impèratrice Pourpre. And Max is Pegasus. And you both thought he was dead." She turned to Kim, her eyes wide in realization, and threw her arms around him in a bone-crushing hug. "I'm so sorry."

Returning the hug, Kim pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Don't be," he whispered. "The only reason I made it through there was because of you."

Sensing the affection between them, the tension in Sabrina's chest slowly started to release. "And suddenly all the pieces fall into place," she observed, shaking her head in amusement as they separated. "That would be why you came to me instead of any other counselor."

Ondine hummed. "I did think it was a little weird when he told me that if we were going to see a counselor, it would be you, and here."

Kim shuddered. "I still don't see why it has to be at a rehab place," he grumbled, glancing back at the closed door in discomfort. "I don't want someone seeing me here and thinking… yeah. That."

Sabrina furrowed her brows in thought. "I may have to give that some thought," she mused. "I have seen people here for more than just rehab-related things; the Agreste Charity is working with a lot of people who were affected by the Tarasque, and many of them have been in need of counseling. But it might be smart for heroes to have somewhere other than the rehab center to go – if for no other reason than to protect secret identities." She cleared her throat. "But that's a problem for another day. For now… since we have all of that sorted out, what's going on? What made you decide to come here today?" Glancing at Ondine, she prompted, "You said that Kim… 'proposed' recently…"

Kim looked at Ondine, his confidence faltering. "Do–do you not want to marry me?" he asked in a quiet voice, all his accustomed self-confidence vanishing.

Ondine started. "What? No – of course I want to marry you!" she insisted, taking his hand and squeezing it tightly. "I mean, I wouldn't be with you… in all those senses," she added under her breath, her cheeks burning. Sabrina felt her own cheeks redden on sensing Ondine's emotions, matched as they were by Kim's. Ondine coughed awkwardly. "I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't want to have a life with you – to marry you someday."

"So… what's the problem?" he asked, his eyes wide and emotions filled with confusion.

"I just…" Ondine pursed her lips, looking away from him and down at the table.

Sabrina snorted. "Most girls picture a more romantic proposal than, 'Get me a priest!'" she told Kim. Ondine's emotions shifted, and Sabrina cocked her head. "No…" she corrected herself slowly, examining Ondine carefully. "That's not it – or at least not entirely?"

"How–?" demanded Ondine. Sabrina tapped her miraculous, and Ondine rubbed her forehead. "Ah. I guess it's just that… well… it feels so… sudden? Sudden. We haven't been together this time a full year, I only found out about you being King Monkey a few months ago, we just finished lycée, we're starting university in the fall… we spent a month in a refugee camp in Africa–"

Sabrina hummed, and Ondine cut off, looking at her in surprise. "Was this something that had crossed either of your minds before the Tarasque happened?" Sabrina asked them. "Or to put it a different way, would we still be here right now talking about this particular concern if the Tarasque hadn't done what it did?"

Kim and Ondine shared a look before Kim shrugged. "I mean… I'd thought about it…"

"I hoped it would happen… someday," Ondine replied simultaneously.

"But…" prompted Sabrina, raising an eyebrow and waving her hand in an invitation.

Ondine shook her head slowly and sighed. "No – or at least, not now. Maybe after university. Maybe even during university. But not now. I guess–I guess that's why this feels so… sudden. Unexpected. It feels like we're rushing into this because of things that we couldn't control."

Sabrina nodded sympathetically. "Emotions have been high for a while," she observed. "The Tarasque took everyone on an emotional rollercoaster, even before it actually appeared. But especially in Angola and then after we returned to Paris, people have experienced their emotions much more acutely. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but acting on our emotions can lead to regret."

"So, what? You think we'll regret this if we get married now?" Kim demanded, folding his arms.

Sabrina raised an eyebrow. "Do you think you'll regret it down the line?"

Kim shook his head firmly, turning to face Ondine, taking her hands in his own, and holding them up to his lips. "I don't for a moment think I would regret spending the rest of my life with you. In Angola – when I thought my best friend was dead–" Sabrina's breathing hitched, and she swallowed back bile "–I don't think I could have gotten through it without you," he told Ondine, who sniffled, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "You were my rock – you were the one who kept me going. I can't imagine living my life – however long or short it is because of…" he gestured to the miraculous circlet on his head "… I can't imagine going through life without you. Whenever I imagine my future now… it's only ever with you in it."

Breathing shakily, Ondine nodded, letting out a breath. "I still think this is quick – I really don't want to rush things," she replied, meeting his gaze. "But I want this; I want you. I want to support you, I want to raise a family with you, I want all of that."

"So…" Kim stared at her with wide eyes.

Ondine swallowed nervously. "Yes."

Suddenly, Kim let out a whoop, and Ondine was in his lap. Arms wrapped around each other tightly, and before Sabrina knew what was happening, they were a tangle of limbs on one of her chairs.

Sabrina clapped. "Congratulations!" she cheered. Kim and Ondine sprang apart, both their faces flushed, and focused their attention on Sabrina, though they continued to sneak quick glances at each other. Sabrina smirked. "But I still expect you to make another appointment and come back next week. Because if you're going to do this right, we still need to work through a few things together…"