-Present-

Standing in the changing area, Adrien ran his finger tips along the carefully tailored fabric of his suit. He reached into his pants pocket and slid on his glasses. Holding the suit jacket in his hands, he examined the embroidered name carefully hidden on the inside pocket. It was his, Adrien Agreste, delicately sewn in a cursive silver silk thread. The detail of Marinette's pieces were so impressive. He had worn a lot of amazing clothes but none that felt so personalized as Marinette's. He would treasure these clothes.

With a smile he removed his glasses and began to undo his pants. As he pulled down his zipper a young intern peeked his head into the back of the curtain.

"Can I help you?" Adrien said over his shoulder, eyeballing the flushed intern.

"I'm so sorry Mr. Agreste! I called your name but you didn't respond. So sorry! There's a call from your father. He's waiting on hold on the office line... He says it's urgent." The black haired teen sputtered nervously. He avoided looking in Adrien's shirtless direction. He fiddled with his clipboard not sure what to do next.

Adrien tapped his pockets realizing his phone was missing. He must have left it in the car. His father would surely be annoyed that he didn't have it on him.

"Thanks I'll be right there… what was your name?" Adrien said with a smile. He zipped his pants back up and turned to face him still smiling warmly. He could tell the young man was new to this. And he seemed a bit star struck.

The intern blinked incredulously. "Oh! Riley! My name is Riley. I-I'll just wait out here Mr. Agreste." he said quickly and then leaned out of the curtain.

Adrien pulled on a shirt not bothering to button it and followed Riley out the back of the curtain and to the office.

"Father, is everything alright?" Adrien asked, holding the corded phone to his ear. He sat in the leather swivel chair as he waited for his father to respond. Riley had silently excused himself from the small cluttered office to attend to his clipboard full of tasks.

"I called your cell multiple times Adrien. We've talked about this. What if something emergent happened. You need to be more responsible. I've taught you better than that," Gabriel lectured in a cold monotone voice.

Adrien sighed leaning back into the chair. "Yes father, I'm sorry. I had my hands full. I must have left it in the car by mistake. They told me there was something urgent. Is everything alright?" Adrien asked again.

"I'm pulling you from the show. There's an opportunity in Venice that arose. The featured designers fit your caliber much more than this no-name show. I've arranged your flight for this evening." He stated flatly.

Adrien bit his tongue and leaned forward putting his elbows on the desk. His knee jerk reaction was to just hang up.

Adrien collected himself and took a breath. "I can't do that." He said simply. He braced for his father's reaction.

"I was not asking Adrien. I'll send you an escort if you insist on being difficult." Gabriel said in a low voice. "Leave there now and pack your things. The flight boards at 7:00".

The phone dropped into the receiver as Adrien aggressively stood from the desk. He couldn't control the urge this time. He wasn't going to let his father dictate his life. Not this time. He twisted his silver ring on his finger. "Send the escort then". He muttered as he left the office.

Marinette was still standing in the curtained changing area. The bald man's warning message from Hawkmoth replayed in her mind. Time's up. Was Hawkmoth planning his return? That must be it. He was going to akumatize someone or worse. Go after her family and friends. Marieny didn't realize she was shaking. She clasped her nervous hands together and squatted in place. She tucked her head in between her knees and took long deep breaths. "Get a hold of yourself, Marinette" she whispered.

Adrien pulled open the curtain to find Marinette squatting on the floor. Startled, she fell to her side.

"Woah Mari, are you alright?!" Adrien asked, reaching down to pull her to her feet. She was trembling. "You're shaking, is everything okay?" Adrien pulled the curtain closed so on-lookers couldn't pry.

"S-Sorry. I was just checking on you but you weren't here." She muttered while avoiding eye contact. She chewed on her lips as her mind raced. She had to distance herself from him. Her being close to him is what caused this. She didn't want to make it any worse.

"Is it the show? Are you nervous or something?" Adrien moved his face in front of hers, desperately trying to figure out what was going on. She looked so frightened.

Marinette locked eyes with him and wanted to cry. She wanted to cup his beautiful tan chiseled face in her hands and tell him everything. She shook herself out of this thought.

"Yes. Just nerves, I'm sorry. I have to get back to work." She pulled back from him and paused looking at her clothes carefully folded in the corner. "You can get with the interns if your clothes need any alterations." She didn't wait for a response and quietly left him standing alone in the changing area.

She walked out past all of the curious people, past her messy desk, past the stage and chairs and out of the venue onto the concrete steps.

She needed Tikki.

-Past-

Chat Noir vaulted through the rooftops of Paris, unconsciously searching for any sign of Ladybug. The streets were quiet and there was no sign of anyone. His plan of confessing to her one final time was ruined. He felt tears stinging at the corners of his eyes. Slowing his pace, he stopped on a roof not too far from his own manor. He wasn't ready to go back, he wasn't ready to just disappear as Chat Noir. He sat in place and clipped his baton to his belt. Remembering the note Lady Bug had left for him, he quickly pulled it from his pocket.

Dearest Chatton,

I don't have much time. This is so difficult to write, I wish you were here. I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me. As your partner I should have been better but I messed up. Hawkmoth suspects me and I can't risk my friends' and family's safety. I can't risk your safety.

The thought of never seeing you again hurts me so much.

Please don't look for me Chat. I will find a way to set this right. Master Fu says time will bring us the answer and I believe he's right.

So I won't say goodbye, instead I'll say thank you. Thank you for being you, thank you for always having my back. We will meet again, Chatton.

Your partner forever,

Ladybug

Tears streamed down Chat's face as he read over the note again. It wasn't enough. He needed to see her. He wanted to hear her voice one more time. Her laugh. Even her annoyed tone whenever he called her bugaboo. Anything would be better than this. He wanted her to know this was all his fault. Not hers. He wanted to tell her he loved her more than anything. He wanted to reveal his true identity in hopes that she would accept him and ask him to stay in Paris.

After a few minutes, Chat wiped the tears from his face and tried to gather himself. He shouldn't stay out in the open like this. He carefully folded the note and placed it back in his pocket.

With a deep breath he leapt down into an alley and de-transformed. Plagg silently floated in front of Adrien's face. His eyes were red and puffy and the glimmer of light was gone from them. "Is there anything I can do, kid?" Plagg said quietly.

"Time will bring us the answer," Adrien muttered. He forced a small smile and opened his shirt. Plagg flew in without another word. Adrien began walking in the direction of his home. His father was probably worried.

-Present-

Marinette had been jogging for half an hour through the sidewalks of Paris, unsure if this was a good idea. She couldn't go directly to Master Fu's. She knew that. She also knew her every move was being watched. She stopped at an intersection and bent over to catch her breath, her hands on her knees. An older woman also waiting to cross eyed the bluenette curiously.

"Those shoes aren't good for running. You are going to hurt your feet young lady." The woman said pointing to Marinette's flats.

"I'll be alright, thank you though" Marinettte said out of breath. She was in jeans and a long sleeve shirt. Nothing about what she was wearing was conducive to running. Her heels ached and she was coated in sweat. She probably looked crazy. The crosswalk light flashed and she began her run again, leaving the curious lady behind. She was almost to the park, just a little further.

Marienette could spot familiar clues from years of being tailed by Gabriel's men. The black tinted SUVs, the ear pieces, the side glances from strangers behind newspapers. Who read newspapers anymore?

As she reached the park gates, she could see she wasn't alone. A man under a grey hat on a bench touched his ear as she passed him. Amateurs.

She had to do this right. She made her way to the bathroom and locked herself in a stall. As soon as she was in, a backpack slid under the door. Marinette quickly got undressed and threw her clothes over the edge of the stall. She opened the backpack to find a large green hoodie and athletic pants along with her old worn sneakers.

"Marienette!" a voice hissed.

"I can't explain right now, just trust me Alya," Marinette hissed back.

"Girl, it's not that. I can't fit these clothes! These pants are 4 sizes too small!" Alya said, struggling to pull the jeans around her thighs.

Marinette giggled. "They're stretchy, just don't button them!"

After Marinette finished dressing she listened for Alya.

After a lot of struggling sounds, Alya gave a thumbs up under the stall. Hopefully Alya hadn't forgotten the blue Halloween wig and hat. She needed to somewhat pass as Marinette. She heard Alya's door unlock and the footfalls of her jogging out of the restroom and hopefully safely back to her apartment. Marinette counted to 20 and then pulled the hood over her head careful to tuck in her hair and hide her face.

Alya would be okay, she knew that if she needed to she could turn into Rena Rouge if she absolutely needed to.

Marinette exited the restroom keeping her head low and made her way to the opposite end of the park. She ducked behind a tree and scanned the area. The man that had been seated by the entrance was no longer there. She didn't see any signs that she was being watched. Perfect. She backed away from the tree and made her way to the park fence. With little effort Marinette made her way over the fence and through the bushes. Next stop, Master Fu's.