"My lady, it is a pleasure to have you join us," Chat said, with a look of surprise, relief, and just a tiny bit of fear. "The akuma is in her necklace,"

"Thanks for biding time for me, Chaton." Ladybug's smile didn't quite reach her eyes, and Chat could notice that something was off. "Sorry I wasn't here earlier."

"No worries, my lady." He grinned his signature grin, though there was something off with him as well. It was like there was a weight between them, that neither of them could shake. After what had happened earlier, neither of them were really in the mood for their normal jokes and conversations. "How is Marinette? Is she better? Is she safe?" Worry sparkled in Chat's eyes.

"She's fine, Chaton," Ladybug replied, touched by how much he cared. "Tikki came and found me once Marinette was with her parents. She's safe."

"She's strong, that girl," Chat mused, dreamily. "Got out from under the akuma's power all on her own…" He didn't notice how his words made Ladybug squirm. He couldn't tell how uncomfortable she was when he was talking about her, and he definitely didn't see the blush that covered her face. A scream ripped through Paris, getting Chat and Ladybug's attention. "But, that's a conversation for another time. Right now, Paris needs us,"

"Pound it," the heroes chimed together, giving each other a fist bump. Though they seemed to do it more out of habit, since their minds were In front of them, a young ballerina sat, crying. Holding tightly to her black and white necklace, in which the akuma had resided. Her dark hair was covering most of her features, and matched with her black dress.

"Uh… Chat?" Ladybug said, after a few seconds. Her voice shaky, and Chat looked at her oddly. It was the first time he heard her voice shake since the first time they worked together.

"Yes, M'lady?" he responded, tilting his head to the side. He was starting to worry for her, as well, with how she was acting.

"Can... Can you help out the girl? I need to go home," Ladybug said, an odd quality to her voice.

"Of course, M'lady, of course. Just…" Chat said, looking at Ladybug. "Just take care, okay? Promise me you'll take care of yourself,"

"Sure, Chat, sure," Ladybug said, offhanded, before using her yo-yo to vault towards home. It wasn't far, but by the time she got home, she was shaking. She was too exhausted, far too exhausted, and in pain. In worse pain that she had been since that first month after the accident. Even the magic of her miraculous couldn't keep the pain away any longer. She entered her room, and fell into her bed, before calling off her transformation.

"Marinette, are you okay?" Tikki said, floating over to Marinette's head. Marinette shook her head, with a muffled sob. "What's wrong? Do you want to talk about it?" Marinette shook her head again. "You look exhausted. What happened to you when you were under the akuma's control?" Marinette shook her head yet again. "Marinette, please, tell me what's wrong," Tikki said, pleading, but Marinette just shook her head. "I'll let you get some sleep, but please, talk to me about it in the morning, okay?" Marinette finally nodded in response.

Curling up in her bed, Marinette closed her eyes, and cried herself to sleep. Hoping that things would be better in the morning. Hoping she would feel better. Hoping that the pain would go away. And hoping that she wouldn't feel as guilty, as horrible, as she did right then. For not being able to help Chat immediately, and for letting herself be controlled by the akuma.

"Are you alright?" Chat asked the teenage girl who had been akumatized.

"No… no… I hurt people, Isa… Isa would be so disappointed in me," the teen said, tears flowing down her face.

"It's not your fault, you were being controlled by Hawkmoth. And I'm sure she wouldn't be disappointed," Chat said, his voice kind. He was hoping to calm the girl.

"She… She told me to… To live my life, to make her proud. But I miss her. I miss her so much that it hurts. I'm not sure how to live without her," the teen cried.

"I can't even begin to understand what you're going through," he replied, helping the girl up. "Do you have friends, family you can talk to? That can help you?"

"I… I do…" she responded, holding tightly to her necklace.

"Why don't you call them," he stated. "They'll be able to help you far more than I can right now. They probably understand much better what you're going through."

"Okay," she said, thoughtfully. Taking out her cellphone, and dialing in a number. Chat's ring beeped, for the third time, and he realized he had to go.

"I'm sorry, I need to go. Please, talk with your family, they can help you," Chat said quickly, before he used his baton to vault into the sky. Promising himself that he would check on Marinette before he went home. He was jumping over the roofs between him and Marinette's house, as quickly as he could. He was still rather worried, even though everything was fixed, thanks to Ladybug. Yes, Marinette was no longer in danger. But that still didn't mean he wasn't worried for her. She really seemed upset after everything with the akuma.

When Chat arrived at Marinette's place, he knocked on her window, but received no answer. He put his ear against the window, wondering if she was even home. Thanks to his super hearing, he could hear her deep and even breaths, signalling to him that she was asleep. And he returned home, comforting himself in reminding himself that he would see her the next day, at school. He returned home.

I know this is a smaller upload, sorry, but this is all I have ready right now. I'm still working on this story, but I've recently been crazy busy with work, as well as having some pretty rough writer's block. So it's been really hard to write recently. I've even had a hard time with my original stories. But I haven't abandoned it, that I promise you. I already have a reveal planned (not the big reveal, but a reveal) and some ideas for where this story is going, but don't know for sure. The next chapter that I'm working on has some aspects from a suggestion from Happy0207. As always, I would love to hear your ideas, and your reviews. Love you all - Alice