A/N: I honestly struggled a lot with this chapter, but it's here and I hope ya'll like it!

Two weeks earlier, the day after Marinette's "death":

Marinette pulled her hood up and walked with her head down. After she had left the hospital, she made her way to her house, or old house, and grabbed a jacket, backpack and some money. Now, Marinette had no idea what she was doing. All Tikki told her was that she had a plan, and to follow her instructions. That was it.

"Tikki, are you sure about this?" Marinette whispered harshly, putting her hands in her pocket and waiting for Tikki to 'write' something on her skin.

Yes, was the answer.

She walked for a few more minutes before Tikki told her to stop. The area was nice and empty, give for an early morning jogger here or there.

Marinette sat down on a nearby bench, and pulled her hood farther down on her face, hoping that no one would notice her.

It wasn't long before a woman made her way to the bench and sat on the other side. She wore a blue sundress, and a straw hat that kept Marinette from seeing her eyes. Her blonde hair was held back with a loose bow.

"Ladybug?"

Marinette felt her skin tingle, and fought to keep her breath steady as the woman turned to her, still keeping her hat low.

"How do you know who I am?" Marinette asked

"You know of the Guardians," the woman said, ignoring Marinette's original question, "but what you and many of the newer Guardians don't know is that there is another society that helps the Guardians. We are the Protectors and Providers. We help the Miraculous Heroes in situations like these, to make new lives and to live. Your case is a little more complicated, as you can't leave Paris, so we will also be helping with money. At least until you can figure something out."

"That doesn't answer my question."

The woman laughed quietly, "You're right, it didn't. But it is not a question I can answer here. If you let me, I can take you to a secure location and we can figure this all out."

Marinette was preparing to say no and bolt, but Tikki popped her head out and looked up at Marinette with a smile, "It's okay Marinette. You can trust her."

"I…" Marinette looked from Tikki to the woman, laying out her options. Which she really didn't have… "Okay," She sighed, "I'll come. But if you betray me,"

The woman shook her head, and held out a hand, "I know better than to mess with one of Tikki's girls. Now come, we have much work to do."

The woman led Marinette through back alleys, and hidden streets. They duck in and out of the few crowds they came upon, until they finally reached a peaceful and quiet neighborhood about an hour after their meeting.

Marinette followed the woman as she led her into a small townhouse. As soon as they were in, the woman locked the door and sighed in relief. "Good, we made it without anyone noticing us."

"Noticing us?" Marinette asked, "I don't even know who you are, or what's going on, and now you're telling me that you're scared of people following us?!"

"Noticing us." The woman corrected, as she took off her hat and placed it on a small table next to the door.

"That's not the point!" Marinette said, "The point is that I've faked my death and was told by my Kwami to trust you, and I'm not getting answers and- woah." Marinette trailed off as the woman stared right at her. She looked so much like "Mrs. Agreste?"

The woman smiled and laughed, waving a hand, "No Marinette, I'm not Mrs. Agreste… I am her sister, though."

Marinette looked closer, and saw that it was true. The woman, Emilie's sister, was obviously much younger, had a little rounder face, smaller and darker eyes, darker blonde hair and fuller lips. Still, they could easily fool someone who didn't… know as much about the Agreste family as Marinette did.

"So?"

The woman sighed and gestured for Marinette to follow her into a room to the right, which judging by the couches was the living room, they then sat down and Marinette looked at her expectantly.

"My name Elise, and I am a former Ladybug."

Time seemed to stop as Marinette tried to wrap her head around what she just heard.A former Ladybug? But Master Fu told her that there hadn't been a Ladybug in many decades!

"How is that even possible?" She asked, "Tikki!"

Tikki flew up and nodded her head solemnly, "It's true, Marinette."

"But Master Fu-"

"Made me, and Elise, swear an oath to not mention our time as Kwami and holder. Ever."

Marinette got up and started to pace, "But.. That doesn't make sense. I've gone through the records, Paris hasn't had a Ladybug in hundreds of years."

"That's because I wasn't a Parisian Ladybug." Elise said, as she held her hand out to Tikki. The Kwami smiled and landed on her hand, "Hello Tikki."

"Hello, Lissie."

Marinette cleared her throat. While she usually wouldn't mind seeing her Kwami reunite with a past Ladybug, there was a pressing matter at hand.

"Yes, sorry. I was a Dutch Ladybug."

"But… you're French?"

Elise sighed, "Yes… and no. Emilie and I are half sisters. Emilie's father had died when she was young, and our mother moved remarried a Dutchman when Emilie was almost 20. I… I was a surprise." Elise laughed.

"Oh…"

"It's okay. But, as I was originally telling you, I am a past Ladybug. One of many. What Master Fu never told you was that there have been a handful of us in the past 100 years, along with other Miraculous holders. Both appointed by him, and not. We are the Protectors."

Marinette sat back down, and gave Elise her full attention,

"Not all the Guardians can be trusted, or are that good at their jobs, and more often than not Miraculous holders have had to take drastic measures. Faking deaths or disappearing with no trace. That's where we come in."

"You help give us a new identity…" Marinette said, remembering their earlier conversation.

"Exactly."

Marinette shook her head, "But.. How? Won't people recognize me?"

"That's where I come in!" Tikki said, "as do the other Kwami's."

Marinette took her cue and got out the Miraculous box, opening it up and allowing the other kwami's to come out.

"I can make a charm, much like the one you have as Ladybug, and make it so no one can recognize you."

Trixx flew over next to Tikki and proudly pointed to himself, "With Tikki's help, I can change your hair and eyes."

"And the rest of us will work with Elise to create your background story," Wayzz said, going over to the older woman."

"I… didn't know that you could do all of that." Marinette said, staring at the Kwami's in shock.

Tikki giggled, "We can do a lot of things when needed. This is only the tip of the iceberg. So, are you ready?"

Marinette looked around from the eager, and subdued, Kwami's, to the soft smiling face of Elise. If anyone could make it work, it would be all of them.

"Ready as I'll ever be."

The day before the funeral:

"Is this it?" Marinette asked as she and Elise sat at the kitchen table. As it turned our, the townhouse was Marinette's for as long as she needed to be in Paris. At first, Marinette protested, saying that it was too big. But Elise insisted that it was perfect. There was room for the Kwami's and Marinette, for future Miraculous holders if they needed a place to stay (Elise explained to Marinette that there would be a day where she would need to tell her teammates her identity. Marinette was still trying to get over how different that was from what Fu told her), and room for Marinette to design.

Elise nodded and pushed the envelope over. "New ID, new papers, new passport, family records school records, everything. From now on you are no longer Marinette Dupain-Cheng, you are Aimee Leroux. You are 15 years old, live with your mother and father, and have traveled a lot in your life."

"And my mother and father will be played by other former Miraculous holders when needed."

Elise nodded.

Marinette opened up the envelope, and took out her ID first. There she was, her long red hair flowing over her shoulder in braids, and her dark purple eyes sparkling. Tikki and Tixx had done a good job in changing her appearance.

"Are you going tomorrow?"

Marinette looked up at Elise's concerned face. In the few days that they had known each other, the two had grown close. Tikki said that it was a Ladybug thing. And it helped that there was a less than 10 year age gap.

"I might…"

"Are you sure you should?"

Marinette had asked herself that question a lot over the past few days. She had never realized how many people cared about her, and it hurt so much to think about what she had chosen to do. What she had needed to do. But, this would give her the chance to see her parents and friends one last time, even if it was from a distance.

"I don't know… But I think I need to."

Elise nodded her head, "Then I'll go with you."

"You don't need to!" Marinette protested, "I don't want to cause any trouble."

"It isn't any trouble Marinette, or Aimee," She said softly, "this is something I want to do. You shouldn't go alone."

"Thanks Elise," Marinette leaned over her gave the older girl a hug, which she returned,

"No problem, Little Bug. Besides," She pulled back and reached for a chain around her neck, pulling it up to reveal her own Kwagatama, "We Ladybug's need to stick together."

The day of "Marinette's" funeral:

Marinette had awoken early to get ready for "her" funeral. Elise had dropped off a black dress, black hooded jacket and a black veil the day before, showing that she knew Marinette was going to go even before asking her. Marinette tried not to think much as she got ready. She tried not to think of her Maman as she pulled on her dress, or her Papa as she spun her hair into a bun to help conceal it.

She tried not to think of Luka as she put on her makeup, and tried not to think of her old classmates as she put on her veil, and as she grabbed her purse and headed outside, where Elise was waiting for her with the car.

She tried not to think of her old life as the pair arrived at the church, where there were hundreds of people.

She averted her gaze and kept her voice low whenever someone came near, and she stayed near the back and close to Elise as the funeral began.

It was hard to tune out the pastor as he talked death and loss, and it got harder as family members and old friends went up to tell stories.

Tears flooded her eyes when Luka and Jagged sang a song in honor of her. She bit her lip as her Maman told the story of Marinette learning to sew, and tears were flowing down her cheeks freely by the time Alya was on stage, talking about how kind Marinette was. She was ready to sob with her former friend by the time Alya broke down.

Elise slipped an arm around Marinette as they exited the church a couple hours later and made their way to the graveyard. They stayed back and out of sight, watching everyone mourn Marinette as the casket was lowered into the ground. Marinette's heart broke as she watched Kagami cry, and as Luka put his arm around her to steady her. She had never wanted to put her friends and family in pain, and yet here they all were, in more pain than Marinette ever intended.

The funeral ended less than 30 minutes later, and people started to thin out. Eventually, even Elise needed to go, after Marinette assured her that she would be okay.

One by one, the graveyard emptied until it was only her parents and Luka.

Marinette hid behind a tree and tried to listen, to hear their voices one last time, but they were too far away and she couldn't risk getting closer.

Before she knew it, they also had to leave, and Marinette tried to memorize their faces as they left.

When she was sure she was alone, Marinette walked over the the grave, leaning down and picking up one of the many cherry blossoms people had thrown, while placing her other hand on the dirt.

"I'm sorry Maman, Papa, Luka… But this is what needs to happen."

With that, Marinette placed the cherry blossom in her pocket and left. She had said her last goodbye, and now, it was time to leave. Time to start her new life, and defeat Hawkmoth once and for all.

And maybe one day, she would see her family again.