Hi, okay I don´t know if you noticed but this chapter says unedited and that´s cuz it is. that´s also why you have this author´s note here. The truth is now I am more swapped in work that I would hope. But on the other hand, I had promised this a long time ago and even though my computer recovered I still couldn´t finish the story like I planned. this chapter requires lots of work and must be perfect and despite my best efforts I still feel it would take at least another couple of weeks to do it. but it´s the first day of the year and I want to celebrate by giving you this "preview/unedited version" of the next chapter. sorry again but I PROMISSE that this story will be over on the 31st of January with this chapter completely done and the next also complete. I say this because on that date it will make a year since I started this fic and I will celebrate by finishing it.

By the way any comments you make I will either answer personally or answer in the final author´s note. but since someone asked and I had to write this stupid author´s note. the reason I write chat noir is because the show is French and to respect that I choose chat noir since that's the original name. also it´s a personal choice and I have written cat noir in other places but I tend to choose chat because it sounds better, most people call him that and respects the character original name .

Adrien took a step back, increasing the distance between him and Ladybug. Disbelieve and anger filled him. Her blue eyes desperately stared at him waiting for his response. How was he supposed to react when everything he believed just crumbled in front of him?

Ladybug took a step forward reaching her hand to touch him, but he pulled back. She sighed and while avoiding looking directly in his eyes, she began explaining:

"I know you are probably upset, and I am sorry…"

That was an understatement to how Adrien really felt. Inside his throat and all the way to his heart he felt a not that stopped his words, his air and even him. so, still in shook he let Ladybug/Marinette continue.

"…I should have told you when I found out your secret but I just couldn´t. I was scared you wouldn´t love me. I taught you would be disappointed that it was just me, normal Marinette and not someone else. I"

Adrien´s voice finally returned and spoke with all the disappointment he had been holding back. The not on his throat finally cave and now it was impossible to stop all the emotions from coming.

"you know what´s funny? There was a time where I would be glad that you were Ladybug. Glad we were friends and partners. glad the girl behind the mask trusted in me as much as I trusted her. I trusted you my secret and I taught you trusted me but no… you lied, and I can´t believe I trusted you. we were together, and you still lied to me! How can I trust you when you don´t even trust me?

Tears began to leave her eyes but, yet Adrien continued:

"I am in fact disappointed but that´s only because I thought you Marinette were better than this. The girl I loved, would never do this!"

She reached forward placing her hand over his shoulder.

"I am sorry. Adrien I am sorry. I do trust you! Please forgive me!"

Adrien flinched at her touch but didn´t brush it off. His phone ringed and Adrien saw it was his father demanding his presence so he calmly began to go straight to the door. This was the first time he wanted to thank his father for his inopportune timing and overcontrolling parenting. He would gladly take any excuse to leave at this moment since the air inside that room didn´t seem to be enough for Adrien to breath.

Marinette blinked surprised before whispering with a sense of hope in her voice:

"Wait! Will I still see you at patrol later?"

Marinette held her tears waiting for his response. Some part of her grabbing to the possibility things could go back to how they were. That small hope was the only part of her capable to keep her fragile heart together.

Adrien grabbed his stuff and stood at the doorway. He could tell she was in pain but so was he. He hated seeing her like that, but he also knew he need time. She also had been the one to start this with her lies, still he hated hurting anyone especially the girl he loved. So, with a pitiful sigh he told her:

"Maybe. I have to think about It"

Adrien went into autopilot mode as he navigated threw the school and all his classmates. His body was moving but his mind was stuck on that room where Marinette had revealed her secret. He would swear he could still feel her around him no matter how many times he checked. he felt as if he was being stalked by a ghost. thankfully his ride was close.

Inside the car Adrien sat looking outside the window while Plagg flew around him. Plagg was trying to find the words to say. Marinette really had screwed up this time but Plagg himself had also failed by not telling the truth and lying to Adrien. In fact, He had never seen Adrien this angry before since Adrien was usually very calm. He had to be really angry to react this way. Somehow Plagg felt Adrien was also mad at him so he decided to do what he rarely did and apologized

"I am sorry Adrien. I never wanted to lie to you!"

"But you did so please don't. if you say anything else about this, I will renounce you "

Plagg hid on Adrien's pocket. Adrien immediately regretted his words towards the kwami but Plagg seemed to recover since Adrien could already felt him happily devouring cheese inside the pocket. Adrien smiled feeling Plagg had already moved on. Later Adrien would give Plagg one or two expensive cheeses and the kwami would forgive him completely.

If only it was so easy for Adrien to forgive her. he loved Marinete and Ladybug. Marinete was ladybug so he loved her? Did he still love her? It was all so confusing for him. How could the love of his life lie to him like that? How could she just play with his feelings in such a mean way. maybe she didn´t mean it on purpose but that didn´t make it hurt any less. He trusted her his life and his heart either as Marinette and Ladybug. yet she didn't trust him enough to tell him the truth. how could he date or be even be partners with her after everything? at the same time his heart also remembered every kiss, every touch and everything they had gone through together .it was nothing but miraculous the way he felt every time he saw her, every time they would talk. He had only felt that with two people, Marinete and ladybug, but they were one and the same. meaning it only happened with her. how many people find a love like that? how could he throw away all his feelings for her. she had a good heart so why would she hurt him like that? He had to give her a chance to explain. he had to try to understand how much of what they had was real.

Reluctantly he texted her to tell her he was coming to patrol. Hopefully it would give him enough time to recover and be ready to face her. They had to talk and maybe with both of them calmer things would go better.

The ride was finally over, and Adrien only wanted to go to bed and cry himself to sleep but Natalie ordered him to go to his father. This usually meant something serious or important had to be treated That was so far from what he needed right now. He began to go towards the office, but Natalie pointed Adrien into the direction of garden

Adrien followed to the garden and watched as his workaholic father stood still watching his wife statue. Adrien came closer and looked at his mother. she seemed so warm and caring but that was a mere contrast to the heartless and cold feel of the marble when you touched the statue. It was in days like this that Adrien missed her the most. He wished she could give him advice on what to do about his problems.

Gabriel stared at his son, understanding exactly how he felt. He also wanted Emilie back and missed her. she always dealt better with Adrien and in general with everything. she was the essence of the family and without her it just wasn´t the same and could never be. Gabriel looked at his son and smiled confident that his plan would work.

"Close your eyes son"

Adrien reluctantly obeyed. It couldn´t be as worse as last time he closed his eyes. keeping his eyes closed and with Gabriel's help they navigate through what Adrien assumed to be halls and rooms. Suddenly they stopped. Gabriel became eerily silent and let go of Adrien's hand. Adrien took this a sign that they had arrived. so nervously opened his eyes

"what is this, father?"

Adrien looked around the place. The cables and tubes adding with the light gave it an evil layer vibe. Still Adrien kept following the tubes and cables until his eyes finally saw where most of them lead too. it led to what it seemed to be some kind of cryogenic chamber with his mother inside. His father seemed to stand there looking at was disturbingly similar to the scene at the garden. Adrien unable to control himself ran to her with tearful eyes.

"Mom? Mommy? How long has she been here? Is she alive? What happened to her?"

His father came closer and hugged him tightly. they stood there crying together until Gabriel with a voice only a man that felt a lot of pain could understand, he began to explain.

"It´s better if you don´t know the details. Trust me. All I can say is that chamber keeps her body "alive". It´s hard to know how long it can keep doing that for and that´s why I need your help. I haven´t been able to bring her back without the miraculous. I didn´t want you to be involved or know any of this but I have reasons to know your girlfriend Marinette might be ladybug. with her miraculous… "

Adrien blinked surprised. Did everyone know it before himself did?

"…and chat´s miraculous I can bring her back to us. I know many hate me because I am hawkmoth, but I am only doing this for us …for our family…for her."

Adrien let go of the hug and admired his mom, he missed her so much and seeing her so close yet so far only made the pain worse.

Adrien touched the cold glass where his mother laid. The sound of his ring echoing on it sent chills down his spine. It was literally in his hands the possibility to see his mother again. Every warm memory Adrien had of her came in making him burst out in tears.

His father hugged him and began crying too. He wanted to pull away and hate him for being hawkmoth, but the truth was that now more than ever after everything he went threw Adrien understood his pain and his motives.

Marinette meanwhile began baking Adrien´s favorite treats. maybe if she showed up at patrol with them, he would forgive her .it was unlikely but the hope kept Marinette going, plus it gave her something to do while waiting for patrol. He texted he would be there and that was already a good sign now all she had to do was wait and bake and bake. There was no way that with his appetite he would resist her apologies sweets.

She smiled joyfully. Now even more hopeful for patrol tonight. she kept choosing the toppings, the colors. everything had to be delicious and perfect for Adrien. At patrol upon his arrival she would show him everything she made. She would apologize profusely and with all her heart. He would hug her, tell her he forgives her, and they would seal everything with a kiss.

Meanwhile the ambient in Adrien´s house was completely different with Gabriel finally explaining the first part of his plan.

"Son, I want you to know what it feels like to hold a miraculous. I want you to know what it takes and the responsibility it takes. I want to know if you are strong enough to do what it´s necessary to bring your mother back even going against your girlfriend Marinette. I know it won´t be easy son but I trust you to do the right thing. Use my miraculous and show me that I can trust you. Using it would likely mean hurting your girlfriend and chat noir but that is only a small price to pay to bring your mom back. So, son are you ready ?"

Gabriel extended his hand with the brooch on it.