"Mari! Are you okay?" Adrien greeted as he and Alya skirted back into line with the other students.
"I'm fine. You two handled it."
"It should have been you out there, Marinette." Alya scolded gently, worry creating wrinkles across her forehead.
"I'm sorry. When I saw the akuma I just..I panicked."
"Bug," Adrien took her hand and Marinette tried her best to keep from swooning. This was all happening so fast. "You will never forgive yourself if you don't take get back out there."
"The next one. I promise." Marinette smiled when she felt Adrien's hand squeeze hers.
"I know you can do it, bugaboo."
~•••••~
"Mayor Bourgeois, what can you tell us about the funeral scheduled to take place here in just a few hours. How are the preparations coming?"
"It's coming along beautifully, Clara. Though I won't call it a funeral. It's a celebration of life. The people of Paris have speculated about our hero's death, but I hold out hope. I hope that Ladybug, whenever she may be, whether that's recuperating or no longer with us…I hope she sees how much love all of Paris has for her. This celebration is just that- a collaboration of all of the people who love and have received protection from Ladybug and who are grateful for what she has given this city for the past few years. A way to thank her for everything she's done. If she's out there..I hope she sees this…I hope she attends. I hope she comes back."
"What do you say?" Adrien asked, leaning back in Marinette's desk chair.
"I want to come back..i just..when it was time for me to transform I couldn't get the memories out of my head."
"I know how you feel."
"You do?"
"I take hits all the time. I don't always remember, but when I do..I usually have nightmares about those akumas for weeks afterwords."
"How do you go back into battle like that?"
"Well," Adrien crossed the room to sit next to Marinette on the chaise. "I remember that I have a wonderful partner who would never let anything permanent happen to me, someone I trust completely, with my life included. And then I wait. Over time the memories just sort of…fade. They're just thoughts. We're Ladybug and Chat Noir. We're stronger than a couple of thoughts."
"You're right. We're Ladybug and Chat Noir. And i'm not going to let Shadowmoth scare me into backing down!"
"That's my girl." Adrien smiled. He was about to lean in to kiss her cheek when the news broadcast caught his attention once more. "Whoa I think you might get the chance to get back into action sooner than we thought."
"Another akuma already?" Marinette turned to the tv and frowned. "What is it doing?"
"I'm not sure, but whatever it's up to, we need to go. You ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
"Plagg, Claws Out!"
"Tikki, Spots On!"
~•••••~
"This way, M'lady!" Chat escorted Ladybug across Paris in the shadiest of alleyways. He wasn't sure why, but Marinette seemed in no hurry to let the civilians know she was back to business.
"Thanks, Chat." She paused and took a deep breath. "I don't want to get the city all excited for my return just to have them watch me fail."
"We're not going to fail. This akuma will be a piece of cake."
"I hope so."
"It will be. Just watch and see."
"Ladybug and Chat Noir!" The akuma yelled above the roar of Paris's panic. "Shadowmoth requests your presence. We surrender!"
"This has got to be a trap." Ladybug whispered, glancing at her partner. Chat Noir nodded, examining their surroundings. Behind the akuma was a portal of some sort, swirling purple and creating a small wind.
"It has to be. But what can we do besides play along and keep our guard up?" Chat looked back at the akuma. The monster was small and seemed harmless, besides the weapon attached to its arm. He assumed the weapon on the akuma's arm had been used to open the portal, but they wouldn't know for sure until they engaged with the victim.
"I could use my power, but then-"
"Your timer. We can't risk it." Chat sighed. "Stay behind me."
Together they approached the akuma, Ladybug a step behind her partner.
"What are you getting at, Shadowmoth?" Chat Noir challenged, standing mere feet in front of the akuma and the massive swirling portal behind it.
"We surrender!" The akuma repeated. "Step through the portal to claim Shadowmoth's miraculous."
Ladybug and Chat Noir shared a glance, then jumped into the portal together, prepared to be ambushed the second they touched down. Ladybug felt her feet touch the ground and she raised up quickly, fists at the ready. Beside her, Chat landed in a similar pose, one hand on his staff and ready to swing.
"That won't be necessary." Shadowmoth greeted from the other side of the room. His cane lay discarded and out of reach. "I surrender."
"But..why-"
"I've come to realize that what I'm fighting for is the exact same thing I'm giving up. My family…I want to apologize. I know you'll send me to jail. I'm prepared. But first, I beg you'll let me explain to my son."
"Your son?" Chat questioned, eyebrow raised.
"Yes, my-" Shadowmoth frowned. "It would be easier to explain if-" Shadowmoth put a hand to both of his miraculous, yanking them off quickly. "My son, Adrien," Gabriel began, as Chat Noir stumbled backwards. Ladybug's eyes widened as she glanced between Gabriel and her partner. "He deserves to know why I've been doing this. His mother isn't missing. She's in a coma from the excessive use of a damaged miraculous, I'm trying to bring her back-"
"You don't deserve to have her back!" Chat yelled, charging at Gabriel with his staff raised.
"Chat! He's unarmed! He's a civilian!"
Chat made contact with his father's stomach first, knocking the man down. He raised a fist, ready to strike, and Ladybug tackled him, grabbing both of Gabriel's miraculous on the way down.
"We're not harming unarmed civilians, Chat. Please. I don't need you going to jail too."
"But he-" Chat sat up, a frown on his face as he contemplated everything he had just learned. "Where is she?" He snarled to his father, hands clenched into fists.
"I'll show you." Gabriel stood, hands up in surrender, and led them to where Emelie lay.
"Mom." Chat whispered, voice breaking. Ladybug startled and looked to Gabriel who shook his head.
"I already knew. You too. Natalie knows as well. She..she's innocent in all of this, okay? Please..don't take her in too. She's the only one I trust to take care of him. If not her…he'll be taken to live with Amelie and Felix and-"
"Understood." Ladybug nodded, a hand comfortingly on Chat's back. "We'll uh..we'll arrange for a funeral."
"Thank you. She'd like that."
"I'll need to call the police in now..I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry. For everything. I hope you're healing well."
"I am. Thank you." Ladybug tried to shake off the feeling that something was wrong as she searched for a phone. Finding one, she quickly called in the policed explaining who she was and why she was calling. Officer Roger arrived in under twenty minutes, a whole brigade behind him. "Thank you for the haste, Officer. But that won't be necessary. We've confiscated his miraculous. He's powerless now."
"Thank you, Ladybug. But we won't be taking any chances on this one."
"Understood." Ladybug nodded as Roger began to lead Gabriel away. "Oh and um, can you not tell anyone I was here? For now."
"Of course, Ladybug. Anything for you."
"Chat." Ladybug murmured, turning to her partner. "Are you-"
"I'm going to be fine. It was a shock, yeah. But she's been gone for years. I had already lost her. I'm actually..kinda happy. For the closure, you know."
"Yeah."
"The funeral will be starting any minute. Do you still-"
"Yes. Now more than ever."
~•••••~
"Citizens of Paris, we are gathered here today to celebrate Ladybug, wherever she may be, for all that she has done for Paris. For years, Ladybug and Chat Noir have been our protectors, fighting against-"
"Wait! Mayor! There's been an announcement from the police!" A young woman hurried on stage, holding a piece of paper.
"I was making a great speech there, Bridgette. What is it?" Mayor Bourgeois turned to take the paper as hushed whispers crawled through the crowd below. All of Paris looked on expectantly.
"This is from the police department." Mayor Bougeois announced. "Shadowmoth has been captured!" The crowd broke into cheers, applause and tears as Mayor Bourgeois continued his speech. "For years, Ladybug and Chat Noir have been our protectors, fighting against Shadowmoth. And now, through Ladybug's disappearance comes an even greater gift. If Ladybug were here today-"
"Wait! Mayor Bourgeois!" A voice rang out.
"What is it now, Bridgette? I worked very hard on my speech, you know."
"It wasn't me, Sir." Bridgette shrugged, taking a step back.
"Then who-?"
"Hello everyone, nice to see all of Paris gathered together." Chat Noir grinned as he slid down from the sky on his staff, Ladybug in his arms.
"That's Ladybug!"
"Ladybug! Our hero!"
"Ladybug we're so glad you're okay!"
"Ladybug! Ladybug! Ladybug!" The crowd's cheers were deafeningly loud and Ladybug took a step back with a smile.
"Ladybug! Are you back for good?"
"With Shadowmoth gone," Ladybug began, a hand reaching to Chat for comfort. "We're unsure if we'll be needed here in Paris for much longer. In truth, we hope we're never needed again. But I can promise one thing. I will never retire from my position as Ladybug. I'm here to stay. We'll be here, Paris, watching and protecting like always. And when you need us- we'll be ready."
One Year Later…
"Chaton, have you seen my umbrella?" Marinette asked, skirting around their kitchen table to peek in the hallway. "I know it was here somewhere."
"You mean my umbrella?" Adrien laughed, wrapping an arm around his wife's waist and kissing her cheek. "Last I checked it was in the umbrella stand..where it belongs."
"Our umbrella." Marinette acquiesced, rolling her eyes. She walked to the entry way and found the umbrella right where he said it'd be, picking it up and twirling it lightly in her hand.
"You know, if you were a bit more careful about putting things back where they go, you'd know where to find them. You're lucky I was the last one to use it."
"And why would I need to do that when I have you to tell me where everything is?" She stood on tiptoes to kiss his lips and smiled as she made for the front door. "Tikki! Plagg! We've got to get going! You two sure you can handle the hamster all by yourselves?"
"Marinette!" Tikki giggled. "We're centuries old. I'm sure we can manage to keep an eye on a caged hamster for a couple of hours."
"Okay okay." Marinette leaned down to the cage and waggled her fingers at the hamster. "Bye bye, G-"
"Marinette! You've gotta go!" Plagg interrupted, pushing on Marinette's back as she rolled her eyes.
"Okay! We're leaving!" Marinette quickly left the apartment, not wanting to be scolded yet again, and Adrien hurried after her.
"Why are they in such a rush?"
"Oh for no reason." Marinette grinned, a traitorous look in her eye, and Adrien squinted, examining her features.
"You've planned something for tonight. Haven't you?"
"Well it is the anniversary of Paris's liberation from Shadowmoth. And my public return to Ladybug." Marinette giggled. "So celebration is in order…but I'm afraid I actually have some bad news."
"That's why they're in such a rush!" Adrien frowned, thinking back to the kwamis. They had seemed excited. "What's wrong? It's got to be an emergency if they were pushing you out the door like that."
"Well it's not an emergency per say." Marinette led Adrien out of their apartment building and down the sidewalk, her hand slipping into his. She held the umbrella for them both.
"Then what-"
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to retire again."
"What! But you can't- why would you- you said-" Adrien's panicked ramblings came to a halt when Marinette's laughter began once more.
"I'm sorry, Kitty. But I think you'll agree that me running across rooftops isn't a good idea right now. Not with little Emma in tow."
"Little-" Adrien stopped mid-step, accidentally stepping out of the umbrella's range and hissing when the rain touched his skin. He stepped forward, back under cover, and eyed Marinette up and down. "Are you serious?"
"As can be." Marinette chimed. "Though I can't be sure it's an Emma. Maybe a Louis."
"Oh my god!" Adrien wrapped his arms around Marinette and lifted her into the air, kissing her quickly, before setting her back down as gently as he could and beginning to ramble about all the things they'd need to do and buy before little Emma or Louis made their appearance. Marinette followed along, listening to all of his plans with a smile. As they walked, hand in hand, Adrien decided that maybe Ladybug's retirement wouldn't be such a bad thing after all.