The two of them finally separated, looking lovingly into each other's eyes. Both were blushing fiercely. Marinette's heart was pounding so hard she thought it might burst, and her breathing was heavy. For the first time, it seemed real. She was really standing on her balcony, with Adrien, holding one other. And they had just kissed.

"I hope…" Adrien's smile faltered momentarily, a look of apprehension in his eyes, "this means you're not mad at me anymore?"

"What?" Marinette was shocked, "Why would I be…" Oh, right. In the tumble of revelation and outpouring of emotion, she had completely forgotten about the events of the last few weeks. Now it came rushing back, the despair, the regret, the anger…

"I… I don't know," Marinette admitted, her arms loosening a bit as she turned away. How do I feel? she wondered. Caught up in the moment, she hadn't stopped to think about it, but in light of this revelation, how does it change recent events?

Her love for Adrien was real, she was sure of that, but now he had this whole other side of him that she hadn't realized. Did she really love Cat Noir, or had she just been warming up to the idea because she knew he loved her? She never really got a chance to explore those feelings. Marinette subconsciously found herself pulling away from Adrien. He released her, though he seemed reluctant to do so.

"Marinette," Adrien said softly, catching her eye and placing a hand gently on her shoulder, "What's the matter?"

"It's just…" she blinked at him, trying to formulate words, "things are moving so fast, and…"

"It's ok," he smiled at her, his voice comforting, "We're in love. Whatever the problems are, we'll work them out."

"Are we?" she asked him, looking him in the eye, "I mean, you love Ladybug, right? Wait, that means you dumped me for Ladybug, even though she kept rejecting you? And then…" Marinette was putting the whole picture together finally, "then you came and apologized to me… Only because you found out I'm Ladybug! You never loved me as Marinette at all!" Her heart was beating fast, her eyes full of accusation and worry. She felt like she was losing something precious that she had only just found, but she couldn't be with someone who loved her only for her alter ego, she wanted Adrien to love her for her.

"I…" Adrien hesitated, removing his hand from her shoulder, his expression hurt, "I do love you, Marinette, not just Ladybug…" His tone was shaky, uncertain. Was it because he was lying, or because he was hurt, too?

"I love you," Marinette went on, "because you're so kind, and wonderful, and modest, and thoughtful. But Cat Noir… He's always been so… so… flippant! Irritating! Always joking around and flirting when I'm trying to be serious! It really bugged me…"

Adrien was looking heartbroken, shattered. Marinette recognized that look and instantly regretted her outburst. I don't want to hurt him the way I was hurt. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to say…" she sighed, trying to formulate her thoughts, trying to recapture the moment they had shared just a moment ago. She could feel the passion and love from Adrien through his kiss, and she felt it as well. No, they were definitely in love, but somehow it didn't feel right yet.

"Adrien," she gave him a weak smile, "You're right, we are in love, but… I just need some time to figure this out, I'm feeling a little lost right now.

"All right," Adrien looked down with a sigh, "I understand."

"I'm sorry," Marinette threw herself at him, so hard she nearly knocked him off his feet, and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest, "I do love you, and I know you love me, just give me some time. Please."

"Anything for you, m'lady," he answered, his spirits rising again as he hugged her back.

As soon as the billboard fell and crushed the akumatized helmet, Gabriel was rushing out of his secret lair.

"Dark wings fall!" he declared even as the elevator descended, allowing Nooroo to leave the miraculous and fly free. It was always a bit of a shock to his system to experience a de-transformation. He was an experienced miraculous user, but he was getting older. The difference in stamina between his transformed self and his normal self had grown more noticeable over the years.

Gabriel ascended back into his office and marched quickly out the door. He didn't care at that moment if Adrien saw him rushing through the halls, his only thought was to get to Nathalie quickly and to make sure she was all right. He warned her harshly not to use the miraculous again, but she refused to listen.

He found Nathalie collapsed in his room, her head resting on the bed. Duusu was hovering uncertainly over her, not saying a word. Her breathing was shallow and her body was shaking. On the floor beside her was the safe where he had placed the miraculous, hoping to prevent her from using it again.

"Nathalie!" Gabriel came to her quickly, feeling horrified. How did she open the safe? "I told you it was too dangerous! What were you thinking?" he berated her as he picked her up in his arms. Gabriel was not the strongest, but Nathalie had grown much lighter recently, too light.

"You were…" Nathalie's voice was weak and shaky, "so close." She paused as she was taking by a severe fit of coughing. "I had to… help."

Gabriel saw a flashback as he carried her, a painful memory he could never repress. He remembered carrying his own wife, in much the same way, as she slipped away from him. Now he watched Nathalie doing the same, and he was once more powerless to stop it. He wanted to reprimand her, to shout at her for disobeying, but the sight of her pained him too much. He lay her down in her bed, watching as she curled up piteously, her body weakened from using the damaged miraculous.

No more, Gabriel shook his head, his expression pained, I can't let anyone else get hurt the way Emilie did, and if the only way I can stop her is by quitting, then I will. I'm going to quit being Hawk Moth for good.

END OF PART 2