Alright, well that was probably more reaction than I've had to any of my other fics. I guess we'll keep moving forward then. Keep in mind that I only have a vague idea how things will end so this one will take a while.

On with the angst!

I do not own anything Miraculous Ladybug.

Adrien paced the hotel room and ran his hands through his hair. His gaze darted all over the room, catching the reflection of a mad man in the blank TV and paused for a moment before realizing it was just him and resumed his pacing. When pacing wasn't enough, he finally let his words explode out.

"But why, though? What is he missing in his perfect life that he felt the need to become freakin' Hawkmoth!"

He took a breath and glanced at Marinette sitting quietly on the bed, letting him work it out.

So he continued on. "What could he possibly be missing? Was he not rich enough? Was a fashion empire who equal parts fear and love him not good enough? Is a giant mansion, he all ready can't fill, not good enough? Was his son not perfect enough?"

Two warm, petite hands came to cup his cheeks, making him pause. His eyes were incapable of focusing on Marinette's face, realizing they were blurry from his tears. She didn't say anything, just stepped forward and let her arms lower to hug him.

He enveloped her, pulling her close and wrapping as much of himself around her as he physically was able. She let him, holding him steady and gently leading him to the edge of the bed, where they sat.

"Emilie," Marinette whispered after a while.

Adrien pulled back, puzzled. "What?"

"Your mother, Emilie. I'm pretty sure that's why your father is doing this. He's trying to get her back," Marinette explained, refusing to make eye contact.

Adrien was glad he was sitting down or he might have fallen over. That was an option? He could do that? They could do that? "Then why don't we let him?"

"No." Nasally and as annoying as ever, Plagg's voice reminded him they were not alone.

Adrien turned to see the little black cat floating near him. He looked. . . regretful?

"Why not?" Adrien asked.

"Because," Tikki said, coming over to float next to Plagg. "All magic comes with a cost."

"I'm willing to pay it," Adrien said automatically, feeling Marinette's nails start to bite into his back, where she still held him, at his response.

Tikki shook her head. "It's not a monetary cost."

"I'm still willing to pay it."

"That's not how it works. You don't get to pick."

His brows furrowed. "She's my mother, if I don't get a say in that, who would?"

Tikki brought her paws to her mouth thoughtfully. "You're not understanding. Let me give you an example: A few generations back there was a plague. A terrible awful plague that was killing people by the hundreds of thousands. It was called the Red-Eyed Death, because during the finally stages of it, the blood vessels in your eyes would burst and your eyes turned red. It worked by expanding all your blood vessels to the max, and when they couldn't take the strain anymore, they ruptured. It started with a giddy lightheadedness, almost like being drunk as your brain received an excess of oxygen. Then you got migraines and swollen joints and large bruises blossomed at the smallest touch. Not everyone made it to the final stages; it killed you a lot of ways. Some people for an aneurism, some drowned in lungs full of blood, others still died when their hearts literally exploded in their chest-"

"I get the point." Adrien snapped, one arm wrapped protectively around Marinette, who was now quietly crying from the picture Tikki painted for them. "This disease clearly doesn't exist now, and I don't remember reading about it in any history book, so what happened?"

"Ladybug's Chat Noir got sick. She didn't want to wait anymore for a cure and decided she would save him herself. She took his miraculous and wished the disease out of existence."

"And everyone lived happily ever after now that it was gone. I fail to see what was wrong with her wish," Adrien said.

Tikki shook her head. "No, Adrien, it's not that simple."

"What? What was wrong with it?" he demanded.

Marinette had a different question. "What was the price to balance it out?"

Tikki looked at them sadly. "World War One and Chat Noir's life."

Adrien reeled back like he'd been smacked. "She chose that to replace a plague?!"

Tikki shook her head once more. "You're still not getting it. You don't get to pick the price, and you don't pick who pays it. You can't predetermine the balance. She didn't choose to bring the war, but something of equal devastation had to replace the plague. Balance must be kept; it is the law of magic."

"But bringing back just one person can't possibly bring that much devastation. It's different," Adrien pleaded.

Plagg hissed at him before flying into his face. "Think for a moment. THINK! What would balance out her coming back? Maybe you disappear. Maybe you never have kids."

"I'm willing to pay either of those," Adrien said.

"You stupid, selfless kit! What if you're not the price? What if your mother comes back but she's different – angry and distant. What if it's your father who disappears? Or how about this – what if what happens to you happens to someone else? Do you even know what happened to your mother? Would you wish whatever unknown horror that befell her to fall on someone else?" Plagg yelled, ears splayed back and eyes narrowed.

Adrien felt the blood drain from his face. "No. No I would not."

A thump hit his chest with enough force to push out his breath with an "oomph." He looked down to see Marinette glaring up at him, eyes shining and tears streaking her face.

"What is it with you always jumping in front of everything? Why can't you realize I. Need. You. Too!" She punctuated all of her last four words with another close-fisted thump to his chest.

"Oh. Oh, Mari, I'm so sorry."

Her beating on his chest turned into a death grip as she clung to him, sobbing. This time, it was his turn to comfort her, holding her close and whispering apologies.

An hour later found them still fully clothed, but laying entwined on the bed. Tears and sorrys both dried out as they took comfort in each other. Plagg and Tikki were similarly positioned on a pillow at the head of the bed. Peaceful was not the word to describe such a sorrowful quiet, but Adrien didn't know what word he should use here.

"Do you know what happened to her?" Marinette asked, finally speaking up.

"Happened to who?"

"What happened to your mother."

"She disappeared," he said – he same simple, hollow answer he gave any time the question was asked.

"But what else?" Marinette asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, what happened to her?"

Adrien closed his eyes and nuzzled the base of her neck. "No one told me."

"I think there's more to this story, and I think your father has at least some of the answers. People don't just disappear, and people don't just happen to come across stolen magical brooches and then come to the conclusion that the answer to their problem is to become a supervillain to steal jewelry from teenagers. I think if we get more information we have a chance to do something."

Adrien pulled back to frown at her. "I thought you said the Miraculous can't be used to wish her back."

She smiled and brought her hand from where it had been draped across his waist to hold his cheek. "Not to make a wish, no. But Ladybug and Chat Noir aren't exactly powerless. We don't know what happened. Maybe there's a way to fix this without wishing. We have to try."

Hope flooded him like a broken dam, and just like that he was crying again. Quietly this time, but Marinette still wiped away a few tears with her thumb. "We got this, Kitty. Together."

"Before you go searching for your mother, you two do still need to take care of one thing," Plagg said, ever the mood killer.

Marinette tilted her head up so she could look at him. "And what is that?"

He folded his arms and frowned at them both. "Hawkmoth."