~Author's Note~

I am so so sorry that it's taking me so long to update. I've been working a crazy schedule this week that hasn't allowed for writing. We are nearing the end of this particular fan fiction, though~

Ladybug paced as she waited for the group to appear, whispering to herself as she went through her plan again, again, and again. Is it enough? Did it cover every possible twist and turn the battle could take?

Cat Noir showed up first, followed by Rena Rouge and Carapace who showed up together followed shortly by Pegasus. Viperion, Pigella, and Ryuuko arrived within minutes of each other. Vesperia arrived last, waving her hand to everyone

Ladybug walked up to Cat, whispering in his ear, "Where is she?"

"She told me she'd be here," Cat said, praying to whoever would listen that his sister wasn't a liar.

"Who are we waiting for," Rena Rouge asked, hand on her hip.

Ladybug looked at Cat, eyes questioning.

"I think they're talking about me," Panthera said, swinging one leg over the railing and then the other.

"Woah, don't think we've met before," Carapace said, all the heroes looking between each other and their new companion.

"Yeah, those two prefer to keep me under lock and key," she said, gesturing to Ladybug and Cat Noir, "I'm Panthera."

The heroes introduced themselves as Cat's tail swished between his legs. Ladybug put a hand on the back of his neck, trying to comfort him. He smiled, taking her hand and squeezing it before putting it back to her side.

"Okay, everyone," Ladybug said, causing all the heroes to look at her, "I assume you're all wondering why I asked you to meet us here."

When they nodded, she continued, "We have discovered Hawkmoth's identity."

The group gasped, turning to each other. Panthera merely stared at Ladybug, face stoic.

"His name is Gabriel Agreste. And we have a plan to defeat him, one that involves everyone here."

"So, who's ready to defeat Shadowmoth, for good," Cat Noir said, his enthusiasm masking the inner turmoil.

After the initial cheering, Ladybug got to work explaining her plan. When everyone knew their places and parts, they set up a meeting time for the next day, and left. Despite the late hour, very few thought they would get any sleep that night.

Just as Ladybug was ready to swing off the building, Cat grabbed her hand. "Wait, Milady."

"What is it, Kitty," she asked, concern etched on her face.

"Can I follow you to your house? I can't sleep at mine," he said, preferring to look at their joined hands than in her eyes.

"Of course," she said, pushing the hair out of his eyes as she caressed his cheeks.

The two ran toward the bakery, nothing said between them until they arrived and detransformed.

As Ladybug and Cat Noir became Marinette and Adrien, Adrien pulled her into a kiss.

The kiss, at first lazy and peaceful, became desperate, longing, and searching. Their tongues intermingled like they were fighting for territory, Marinette's hands alternated between Adrien's hair back, and under his shirt. When Adrien's hands tugged at the hem of her shirt, Marinette broke away.

"Are you sure? Doesn't this feel like we're going a little bit fast," Marinette said in-between breaths.

"I've been in love with you for years, Milady. I've pictured this a million different times in a thousand different ways, including several with you as Marinette before I knew you were Ladybug," he said, smiling when Marinette's eyebrows raised and cheeks glowed, "I won't do anything you're not ready for. But nothing is too fast for me."

"Where is this coming from, Adrien," Marinette said, caressing his cheek as he leaned into her touch.

"Where does this end, Mar?"

"What do you mean," she asked.

"I mean," he said, pulling her hands away from his face and holding them between them, "what happens when Shadowmoth, my father, is defeated? What happens to Ladybug and Cat Noir? What happens to me?"

"I... I don't know," she said, eyes falling.

"See, I don't either. And it terrifies me, Marinette. I'm sorry if it felt like I was using you. You're the most perfect thing in my life. And I don't know what will be left after tomorrow," Adrien said, letting go of her hands and walking toward the window.

"Plagg, claws..." he said before being silenced by her lips on his.

This time, Marinette's hands wondered to the hem of his shirt, tugging upward. Adrien lifted his arms, allowing her to pull it off of him entirely. She broke the kiss to admire his sculpted body, running her hands down his abs to his stomach. Without words, Marinette pulled her own shirt off, leaving a silky black bra behind.

She started to kiss him again, but he pulled away. "Marinette, are you sure?"

His eyes searched her own, wondering, hoping.

"I have never been more sure of anything in my life," she said, and this time when she kissed him, neither one stopped.

Meanwhile, Cassandra switched between pacing back and forth and throwing rocks into the seine. Grumbling to herself, she tossed a particularly big rock, sitting down just as it splashed into the water.

"Want company," a familiar voice asked, causing her to turn around.

"Luka, I..." she said, stopping herself, "Sure."

Luka sat down, his guitar in his lap. "Your sound has changed."

"What do you mean," she asked.

"The song in your heart. Everyone has one. It seems sadder, more haunting now," Luka said, starting to play.

Soft guitar music filled her ears, bringing lyrics to her mind.

"I was born in a thunderstorm, I grew up overnight," Casssandra sung, staring at the water.

"I played alone

I played on my own

But I survived

Hey

I wanted everything I never had

Like the love that comes with light

I wore envy and I hated that

But I survived

I had a one-way ticket to a place where all the demons go

Where the wind don't change

And nothing in the ground can ever grow

No hope, just lies

And you're taught to cry into your pillow

But I survived

I'm still breathing, I'm still breathing

I'm still breathing, I'm still breathing

I'm alive

I'm alive

I'm alive

I'm alive."

As she finished, she could feel Luka's eyes piercing through her, scanning, searching.

"You have a beautiful voice," he finally said, and a blush creeped up her neck, finding its place on her cheeks.

"Do you sing," she asked.

Luka shrugged. "Sometimes. Never on stage though."

"Well," Cassandra said, reaching for Luka's guitar. He let her pull it off of him, helping her when the strap got stuck around his shoulders. "I think I hear a song too."

Cassandra started playing, the song starting off louder and more brash than the one Luka played. Luka closed his eyes, letting the music wash over him.

"I caught a chill," Luka started singing, causing Cassandra to miss a note or two before she got back into the rhythm. "And it's still frozen on my skin. I think about why I'm alone. By myself no one else to explain. How far do I go? No one knows. If the end is so much better why don't we just live forever? Don't tell me I'm the last one in line. Don't tell me I'm too late this time. I don't wanna live. To waste another day. Underneath the shadow of mistakes I've made. Cause I feel like I'm breaking inside I don't wanna fall. And say I lost it all. Cause baby there's a part of me that hit the wall Leaving pieces of me behind. And I feel like I'm breaking inside."

The words came to Cassandra like lightning. "Out here. Nothing's clear. Except the moment I decided to move on and I ignited. Disappear. Into the fear. You know there ain't no coming back when you're still carrying the past. You can't erase. Separate. Cigarette in my hand. Hope you all understand I won't be the last one in line. I've finally figured out what's mine."

"I don't wanna live. To waste another day. Underneath the shadow of mistakes I've made. Cause I feel like I'm breaking inside. I don't wanna fall. And say I lost it all. Cause baby there's a part of me that hit the wall. Leaving pieces of me behind. Leaving pieces of me behind. And I feel like I'm breaking inside," Luka continued, the pair staring at each other.

"I won't be the last one in line," Luka sang, Cassandra repeating the line.

"I finally figured out what's mine," the pair sung together, the guitar abandoned as the two pulled each other in, and their lips met.

Cassandra broke the kiss to take off the guitar and set it on the ground before sitting in Luka's lap, her lips meeting his once more.

"Wait," Luka said, breaking the kiss, "I thought you were dating Adrien Agreste?"

Cassandra shook her head. "We were just friends. I don't think we're that now."

"I'm sorry to hear that. But I'm glad that's all you were."

"Why's that," Cassandra asked, grinning.

"Because I'd feel really guilty for doing this again," Luka said, capturing Cassandra's lips in a steamy kiss.

The two talked, laughed, and kissed until the first rays of light hit the water beneath them, ignoring the dangers they were putting themselves in later that day.