Hey everyone! Sorry for the late update... Please, please get vaccinated. Covid isn't fun, even if it's a mild breakthrough case. But I'm feeling better now! And now we get on to the meat of the story.

There are going to be some places in this chapter where characters act... well, out of character. However, that is entirely intentional. See, the thing is that (REDACTED FOR SPOILERS). And if I were to have them in character completely, it would be confusing. So you just have to make it a few hundred words of weirdness before explanation.

Chloe almost jumped out of her skin at the sound of the voice. Instead of the last visitors, who had been an entire bed's length away, this voice was almost in her ear. She screamed and fell off the window seat with a thump. With a sense of deja vu, she looked up in shock and anger at the figures next to her.

"Ugh! It would be you two next. Why can't you just leave me alone?"

Chat Noir rolled his eyes, but Ladybug held out her hand.

"I know, I know. You probably don't want to see us right now, but trust me. Have I ever let you down before?"

"Yes, you have! You let me down every time you didn't give me my miraculous!" she snapped, the words rushing out of her mouth before she could stop them. "I was always right there, waiting to help you, and you just left me there! You didn't care unless I was useful to you!"

Ladybug glanced at her partner and sighed, holding her hand out again.

"I can't get into that with you right now. Tonight is about you. I can't tell you why it's so important, but think of it this way: Did you get anything out of the last visitors you got?"

Chloe suddenly realized her low and undignified position and raised herself up onto the seat again, not looking at the superheroes in front of her.

"All I got from that was that I used to be happy and then my life went down the drain. I get it, I'm supposed to be some kind of happy pop princess even after all the crap I've been through, right?"

Chat Noir was the one who answered this time.

"I… think you should see some other things."

"I will not!" Chloe crossed her arms in defiance. "I'm sick and tired of all of you treating me like a child. You don't care about me and you never did!"

Chat Noir knelt down beside her and gently set a hand on her arm.

"We did care about you, Chloe. So much that we didn't want to put you or your family in danger."

"That's just what he said, too! He promised me everything and just left me! How can I trust you?" Chloe screamed, yanking her arms away from him, rising from the seat and taking a step away from them. The superheroes looked at each other again, and Ladybug raised her yoyo.

"I'm sorry, Chloe, but we have to do this."

And with that, she threw her yoyo over her head and shouted out

"Miraculous Ladybug!"

The red magic swept through the room even as Chloe put her arms over her head and shrieked. Her eyes closed, she could still see the sparkles around her until they finally died down. She kept her eyes closed for a few more moments, her breathing ragged from anger and shock, until she suddenly realized that the background noises were different. A cab honking, footsteps, even the chatter of voices. She looked up in surprise and saw that they were in the plaza in front of the Arc de Triomphe. And to her surprise… It was daylight. When she had been sitting at her window, it had been the middle of the night, but now… it seemed like it was midmorning.

She looked around at the crowds of people around them, all wrapped in heavy coats, scarves and gloves. They were all apparently unaware of the two superheroes standing in the middle of the square. Not only that, but as Chloe rose to her feet in shock again, she realized that she was still in her two piece pajama set - yet she didn't feel the cold at all. She looked at the people passing them and instinctively put her hand out to touch one who was close enough - her hand went right through the woman's shoulder and the woman disappeared for a moment, then reappeared, as if she were nothing more than one of Rena's mirages. Chloe looked back at the superheroes with a glare that could have cut glass.

"Right. So first you don't care about me, then you kidnap me? What, did Fox-girl and Turtle-boy not mess with my head enough already?"

"What is your problem!" Chat Noir snapped, then stopped as Ladybug placed her hand on his arm. She closed her eyes, Chloe still looking at her in anger, then she opened them again.

"Chloe, I can't make you trust us. I get it, you're angry, and that's fair. But you should know that what we have to show you is important."

"That's what they all say." Chloe said in a tone that even she could tell sounded petulant. She amended this slightly by saying, in a slightly more even tone, "Well, since we're here, I guess I can't stop you. Let's get this over with."

Chat Noir nodded and beckoned Chloe to follow him. She did so, her arms protectively over her chest as if she was afraid someone might attack her. Ladybug brought up the rear, and Chloe felt as if she was being escorted to trial or something equally as awful. But as they walked, she gradually began to look around instead of keeping her eyes fixed on Chat Noir's feet.

She saw the river Seine, the Eiffel Tower in the distance, all the familiar landmarks she saw every day. But as she looked, she began to notice something else about her city.

There were people everywhere. Running, walking, shopping, singing, talking. Children running along ahead of parents, couples walking hand in hand, elderly ladies flocking together, young men running home with tiny parcels or flowers in their hands. And above them all, the threat of snow. The scent in the air that warns of even colder weather approaching. Chloe looked around at them all, bundled up in their winter gear, and wondered again how on earth she wasn't frozen by now.

Magic, she supposed, touching her ears gently and feeling no cold sensation but the tiny silver stud earrings she always wore. Though she'd worked with Ladybug and Chat Noir for months and watched them from afar for even longer, she'd never seen them display powers like this.

Perhaps this was some kind of guardian magic Ladybug had inherited?

At this thought, Chloe stiffened and put up the wall she's almost imperceptibly begun to lower.

"Where are we going?" she finally asked, as the two heroes kept walking in silence. "And why aren't you just taking me on the roofs like the others did?"

"That wasn't part of the plan." Ladybug said from behind her, but Chloe could tell there was a smile behind the words.

She could always tell.

"Anyway," Ladybug continued, "We're not far away now. They should be around here somewhere…"

She paused and took Chloe's arm to prevent her from going further. Chat Noir stopped, too, saying

"Over there."

Chloe, who had been scanning the crowds surreptitiously, followed Chat Noir's gaze and saw two familiar forms.

"Ugh!" she said, stomping her foot. "Why are you doing this? What kind of guilt trip is this?"

Ladybug just put a finger to her mouth and let her closer to the couple on the bench.

"Are you sure you want to be out practicing in this weather?" asked Mylene, blowing onto her hands, which were covered with gloves. Ivan answered in his deep, calm voice,

"We're working inside today, and it's not long."

Mylene smiled at him and kissed his cheek, then squeeked.

"You're freezing! C'mon, let's go get some hot chocolate before we keep walking."

The two got up and walked away, hand in hand, and the three seemingly-invisible figures followed after them. Chat Noir tried subtly to grab Ladybug's hand, but she just swatted him away and frowned disapprovingly. He sighed in an over-dramatic manner and said

"Ah, not even once for Christmas?"

She stuck out her tongue at him. It was almost as if they had forgotten Chloe was there, but she still was. She'd fallen behind, but she kept after the group, moved more by morbid curiosity than anything else. What was it she'd done to Ivan and Mylene? She couldn't think of much, aside from their brief conversation with them before dinner last night - the night before - what day was it, anyway?

They followed the pair up to a cafe Chloe recognized, and watched as the two entered and the door shut behind them. Chloe looked curiously at the door, arms still folded.

"Now what?" she asked. "We can't use a door handle."

Chat Noir grinned at her and said quickly

"Maybe you can't."

And with that, he turned the knob and stepped right through the door. Ladybug followed closely after him, but Chloe hung back, her fears returning.

"C'mon in!" Ladybug said impatiently, and reached out an arm for her. Chloe shied back, but nodded. As she walked into the cafe, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

The inside of the cafe smelled of chocolate, peppermint, coffee, and sugar. Chloe had smelled it many times, it was one of her favorite places to stop while on her shopping sprees. Ivan and Mylene were sitting at a table already, cups in their hands. Ivan took a sip, then set it down with a bump.

"What's up?" Mylene asked quickly. Ivan shook his head and took another sip of cocoa. Mylene smiled sadly at him.

"Just let it go. She didn't mean it, you know how she is."

Ivan nodded and said quietly

"I don't care, but she said it to you."

Mylene leaned over and kissed his cheek again.

"My knight in shining armor. I know you don't like it when people say things like that, but honestly, she was just trying to get a rise out of us. The best thing we can do is forget about it. I'm sure she already has."

Chloe knew they were talking about her. She couldn't have been more certain if they'd been saying it to her face. And to her shame, she couldn't remember what she'd said to them. Mylene was right, she hadn't cared, she'd just been trying to get back at someone - anyone.

Chloe almost relented and took a step forward toward them, but saw Ladybug glancing at her out of the corner of her eyes and stayed put.

"Anyway," Mylene said, more briskly, "What's she got on us? I mean, she's out there living her best life, but think about it. She's lost everything she ever had, including being a frickin' superhero! I don't know about you, but I'd probably lash out if I were in her shoes."

Ivan nodded solemnly and took another sip of hot chocolate.

"Do you know much about her aside from what she shows us at school?"

Mylene shook her head.

"Not a thing. That whole 'I'm daddy's precious baby girl' thing is an act, though. I know it is. She may have started off as a nasty… you know what, but she can change her tone when she needs to - think about Madame Bustier."

"Yeah, right." Ivan said, tossing back the last of his hot chocolate. "Didn't she start that whole akuma to begin with?"

Mylene sighed but didn't respond, instead changing the subject to Ivan's upcoming rehearsal. The two of them rose and walked out of the cafe, still chatting, unaware that Chloe was standing and staring at where they had been sitting, eyes wide with shock.

"You okay?" Chat Noir asked. Chloe brushed him aside.

"Forget it, I'm fine. Just… Ugh! I want to go somewhere where people appreciate what I do! You're magic, why don't you take me there?"

There was the slightest of glances between Ladybug and her partner, then she threw her yoyo up in the air and without a word, a sparkle of magic flew around them and Chloe had to close her eyes from the brightness.

When she opened them, she saw an unfamiliar place. It was a small dining room, with a circular table in the center, set for three, and a small side table near the window. Through a wide opening, Chloe could see a kitchen, with a woman stirring a large pot and a man who looked almost familiar sitting at the table. There was something about him, something she couldn't quite put her finger on, but before she could rack her brains to figure it out, the woman turned and called through the other door.

"Sabrina, dinner!"

Chloe turned to her companions in shock.

"This is Sabrina's house!? This little… This tiny little apartment?!"

They nodded and would have answered, but at that moment Sabrina came through a door, the smile on her lips almost hiding the expression on her face. But clearly, this was something the woman had been expecting. She quickly left the stove and embraced Sabrina, saying kindly

"How are you feeling?"

Sabrina sighed and shook her head, allowing the smile to fall and show her true emotion.

"Not great. I'm sorry, I want to help, I really do, I just…"

Her eyes began to water and the woman held her closer.

"I know. I know, it hurts. I'm sorry, I wish I could do something. But right now, the best thing to do is to just let it all settle down. She'll come around - she always has, right?"

Sabrina nodded and let go of the woman, saying quickly

"I know, it just hurts. And sometimes I wish she would just wake up and realize that life is still happening! She's hurting, Maman, and she won't let me help her."

Sabrina's mother nodded and pulled a chair out from the table, gesturing to her daughter to sit down.

"I think it's time to talk about that friendship, Sabrina. What is it that makes you go back day after day?"

Sabrina sat and considered. As the moments stretched on, Chloe felt her panic rising.

Sabrina couldn't find anything good to say about her.

But before she could push herself into a frenzy, Sabrina smiled.

"The thing that I love most about Chloe is her passion."

Chloe blinked in surprise. This wasn't what she had been expecting, and apparently her mother felt the same. She pursed her lips and sat down in the chair next to her daughter.

"I… suppose you're right. But don't you think it would be better if you didn't have to be on the receiving end of that?"

Sabrina shook her head vehemently.

"No, not at all! She's just going through a difficult time right now, that's all. I'm sure she'll be better soon and we can go back to how we've always been. I mean, we've been best friends for years, I don't think one little fight will stop us. I mean, I don't know if I can go back again tomorrow, but I promise I'll go back and try and help her again soon"

At this, Officer Roger - now recognizable, even without his usual hat - looked up and smiled sadly at his daughter.

"I'm afraid that might not be a good idea, sweetheart. I mean, I've had to deal with a lot of cases in my time on the force, and sometimes there just is no other way."

Looking up at her parents, Sabrina opened her mouth, and then she closed it, tears suddenly coming to her eyes.

"She was just so awful, even when she knew I was just trying to help! I mean, I haven't talked about her being a superhero in months, and the one time I mentioned it she just lashed out at me!"

Officer Roger rose and embraced his daughter again, then gestured to her mother.

"Come on, Jeanne - I think a Raincomprix family hug is in order."

She joined them, and they all held each other for a few moments. Then suddenly, Sabrina screamed and jerked away, laughing even through her tears.

"Daddy, no fair! You tickled me!"

Her parents laughed, and Sabrina, after a moment of indignation, laughed right along with them, wiping her eyes and seeming to forget her emotional breakdown. Then they all seemed to realize the time and, without a word about it, each went along to their own chores. While they continued to talk and joke around with each other, Officer Roger began piling sliced bread on a plate, Sabrina quickly filled glasses with water, and Jeanne Raincomprix stood at the stove, testing the food in the pot. Then, still laughing and chatting with each other, the three of them moved to the table and began to serve out their dinner. Sabrina seemed to have forgotten her moment of weakness - why wouldn't she? She was with her family. They seemed to be so at home with each other, so clearly happy, that suddenly Chloe couldn't bear it anymore. She rounded on the two superheroes who were still standing silently behind her.

"What is it you want from me? First you tell me you want to help me, then you show me all these people who clearly don't care about me, talk about me behind my back, and are the complete opposite of what I have! What is your problem?! Are you just trying to get a rise out of me? Are you trying to convince me to be a better person by showing me what I'm missing? By telling me I'll never have what it takes to be a part of a family? Why don't you all just leave me alone!?"

She would have lunged at them, but a sudden derisive voice stopped her.

"You know, I thought you'd be harder to convince than this. You're more of a dumb blonde than I'd thought!"

She whirled around and saw a familiar form. Or at least, she thought it was familiar. The costume was similar, the ears on her head, the fox tail behind her. But it wasn't the same face she had seen earlier in the evening, the one she now knew the identity of. This face was pointed and was currently twisted by malicious laughter.

"You!" Chloe hissed. Volpina laughed.

"Well, it certainly took you long enough. I think that's enough of this, don't you?"

And she suddenly waved her flute in front of herself. There was a whoosh of wind, a sudden blackness that made Chloe blink her eyes, then she was gone.

Everything was gone.

The dining room, with the happy family, was gone.

The superheroes, who had seemed unusually quiet, were suddenly gone.

Volpina, who had been laughing maniacally as she moved her flute, was gone, leaving only an echo on the wind.

All that was left was Chloe in an empty plaza she didn't recognize. Chloe, shivering in her thin silken pajamas. Chloe, who suddenly felt empty, and betrayed, and furious, and terrified.

And then a voice behind her spoke. A voice that cut through the freezing air with a jolt and made Chloe shiver more than ever before as she whirled around to face it.

"It's been quite a while, hasn't it, Miss Bourgeois?"

Mwahahahaha. I told you it would all make sense once you read it! Well, kind of. Hopefully it's enough to pique your interest for the next chapter, which will be out on Saturday. Because I have literally nothing to do in isolation. And there we'll get all the explanation you desire.

As always, thank you guys for the comments and the kudos, they really do make my day. I'd love to hear your thoughts on what you think the next chapter will bring, and I'll respond to as many theories as I can.

Go grab a drink of water if you can, and I'll see you next week!