Adrien's POV

After helping the victim get home, I raced back to Marinette's, hoping she hadn't left the bathroom yet. But as I got to her balcony, I was overcome with a bigger fear: for her life. She was passed out cold, and her stomach had a large black bruise on it, visible between her crop-top and pants. I quickly scooped her up and ran as fast as I could to the hospital, de-transforming before I ran inside to get help.

They took her back to a room and allowed me to follow. It helped that I'm famous. We got back to the room, and I was asked what happened. I stick as close to the truth as possible.

"I'm not really sure, to be honest. She went to the bathroom and said it may be a while because she's on her period. When she didn't come back, though, I went looking. She had this giant bruise and was passed out. I don't know if maybe she fell into a bannister or something? She passed out from cramps earlier today in school, too. Before she had the bruise."

The whole time, my eyes never leave her. I watch as they hook her up to machines for her vitals and such. God, how could I have left her? I knew she was at risk from earlier today! I'm so fucking stupid. I hope she's alright. I really want to know how she got that bruise, though. It's kind of in the same position that Ladybug got hit with the softball earlier…

"Okay, well we're going to run some bloodwork and see if that shows anything, as well as run a CT scan and give her an ultrasound to make sure there is no internal bleeding. That bruise looks bad. Do you have anyone you can contact for her?"

"Yeah, I can call her parents. Can I stay in here with her?"

"You can stay, but you can't be with her during the CT scan. We will bring her back to this room after, though, so you can wait in here."

"Thank you."

I quickly dial the bakery, knowing they aren't closed yet.

"Tom and Sabine's Bakery, how can I help you?"

"Mrs. Dupain-Cheng? It's Adrien."

"Oh, hello, Adrien. Marinette is upstairs, but I could get—"

"No, she isn't. She had let me in the back, and we were doing homework. She left to go to the bathroom and said it might be a while because of her period, but after a half hour, I got worried. I went downstairs and found her passed out with a big bruise on her stomach. I brought her to the hospital. She passed out earlier today in class, too. Can you come?"

"We'll be right there. Thank you, Adrien." I hear the tears in her voice as she hangs up, and I reach for Marinette's hand, the machines reassuring me that she's at least somewhat okay. Plagg comes out of hiding, and I'm about to scold him, but he looks worried.

"Sugar Cube, are you alright?!"

I'm very confused until I see a kwami emerge from Marinette's jacket. Not just any kwami, either. Ladybug's kwami. Her big blue eyes are filled with tears, and Plagg flies over to hold her as she begins to sob.

"I-I couldn't heal her all the way. I d-don't know why!"

"Shh. It's okay. She was already having problems earlier, right? So when you combined with her, you probably took them on and therefore couldn't heal her all the way. It's not your fault. She was already weaker than she should be."

"B-but—"

"No. Tikki, it's not your fault. She's going to be okay. The doctors will figure it out. Until then, we can at least wait with my kitten."

I've been sitting there trying not to cry this whole time but seeing Tikki's big blue eyes full of tears just set them loose, and I sat there crying as I watched them hold each other. When Plagg mentioned me, though, Tikki actually noticed me. She didn't even look surprised. They both flew over to me and hugged me, and I hugged them back, needing all the comfort I could get.

When we all calmed down a little, I started to speak.

"S-so she's L-Ladyb-bug?" Tikki looks down, which just confirms it for me. "Th-this is all m-my fault. I-I coul-couldn't get to he-er in time. A-and I knew sh-she was alre-ady having issues…"

"Adrien, it's not your fault, either. You couldn't have gotten to her no matter what happened, just like Tikki couldn't heal her. As for her physical issues, she seemed fine after this morning. None of us could have predicted this happening. It's going to be okay, kitten."

"But what if it isn't?" I say, looking at him.

"It will be. She's Ladybug. She's strong. And she has all of us to support her." Though she still hasn't woken, I feel her squeeze my hand as if to reassure me, and I start to calm down.

"Th-Thanks, Plagg." I say, wiping my tears. Before he replies, though they both fly into my shirt. As soon as they do, the doors burst open to show Marinette's parents. Their eyes fill with tears, then they catch sight of me. They open their arms and I fall into them, all of us crying together.

She has to be okay.