"What are you doing, Marinette? Why are you crying?" Tikki asks, as I toss things in my suitcase. "What if they would have gotten hold of my earrings, Nikki? What if Cat hadn't shown up or he'd gotten hurt? It would have been all my fault!"

"Marinette, you did nothing wrong. You couldn't have possibly known about the thieves." I look up and glare at her. "Oh, yeah? There's not a shadow of a doubt those guys used to drone to spy on me! Its not like I don't look like Ladybug. If I'm going to be Ladybug any longer, I need to get away have some time to think and get stronger." Tikki fumbles with her little hands. "I see I can't convince you."

I open the safe in the wall and take a deep breath as I reach for the Horse Miraculous. I hold the wood-worn box in my trembling hand, staring at it. Before I open it, I need to transform but the words are clogging my throat. "Tikki, Spots On." I cough, my mouth feeling like sandpaper in the hottest desert. The red and black suit enevoples me, and I feel my heart racing, my palms slick. Why am I so afraid?

I open the box and Khaali is soon in front of me. After unifying, I make a portal, and stumble through, only to tumble down a steep green hill, rolling and rolling.

I come to a stop at the bottom of the hill with a small thump! And lay in the lush green grass, my head spinning. Feeling a slight bout of nausea I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping it quickly passes. Then I hear the small chuckle of a stream close to my ear, and I open my eyes and crawl over to the bank, cupping the crystal clear water in my palms and bringing it to my mouth. The water slows the spinning at once, and I drink until the spinning stops, and my mouth is no longer dry.

Then I take stock of my surroundings, seeing a large pagoda in the near distance. Its connected to a large temple, the temple Cat and I bring back several years ago. If anyone can help me and has answers, its at the temple.

Though its so peaceful out here, with the birds chirping in the nearby trees, the hot sun warms my hair. In the hazy blue distance beyond the temple, I can see snow-capped mountains. You have five minutes and then your getting up, I tell myself.

After having the chaotic storm of emotions, I feel so much better here. I get slowly to my feet, finding a worn path that leads to the pagoda. The pagoda is further away then it looks and when I arrive, hot, dusty and hungry the sun is dipping behind it, setting the top ablaze of orange.

A woman is gardening outside, her back turned to me, so I softly clear my throat. "Excuse me?" The woman turns, dropping her trowel as she finds my face. "Ladybug, The Guardian of Paris. So, you've at last come to see the temple you restored?" I wring my fingers together. "Well, I'd love a tour, but I'm actually looking for answers." She studies my face then breaks into a smile. "Well, you've come to the right place!" She ushers me inside, and I marvel at the richness of this place. "My name is Marmalade, but around here people call me Marmie." I giggle. "Marmalade is what Mama gets Papa for his birthday every year. You should see how excited he gets." She nods. "Up this way and to the left." I follow her up a spiral staircase and she takes a key from her pocket. "We made up a room especially for you. Now, how about you freshen up and I'll be back in about ten minutes?" I nod, feeling shy.

The bathroom is pretty standard, though I love the dark oak paneling on the walls and the pretty seashell soap in the shower as I scrub myself down after detransforming. I wrap my towel around my wet black hair and peek into my room, making sure the coast is clear. Marmie left some clothes and it feels good to change into a soft fresh outfit.

I sit down on the huge bed, marveling that the pillars, when I hear a knock at the door. "Enter."

Marmie comes in, rolling a tray. "You have questions that I'll try to answer, but that's not easy on an empty stomach." She lifts one of the domes keeping the platters warm and my mouth waters as I can fried rice and chicken plus steaming vegetables gracing my plate. "How did you know I had questions?" I ask, having taking a few bites. "All young Ladybugs do. Also, if you want to stay transformed you may do as you please, but here you don't have to hide your identity." "Oh," I whisper, softly.

I wish I could tell Cat, but even thinking about telling him that is Princess is also his M'lady who trips over nothing and daydreams about hamsters and sewing. "Spots Off," I drop my transformation. It isn't Ladybug having the problems, its me. "I'm Marinette Dupain-Cheng." "That's a pretty name, Marinette." "Thank you. No one….no one knows my identity besides you. Not even Cat." "Did we hear wrong? Was the Purple Butterfly not defeated?" "No, he was. But...I'm scared to...tell my partner under the mask. Even though he knows me without the mask. I'm sorry, this is confusing."

I take a deep breath and start at the beginning when I said goodbye to Cat as Ladybug. Then Cat started coming around and up until the thieves, I was enjoying his company. "I just don't want him to be captured or hurt. And I'm scared of rejection, so that's why I didn't tell him." "Sounds like he cares about deeply, either way." "To me rejection is crueler then Cat Blanc or any monster I've faced." "Let me show you something. Come with me."

I follow her curiously to a large room, and immediately my hair begins to curl with the humidity. The sound of water reaches my ears and powerful water by the sound of it. I find myself at the edge of a large whirlpool and the sound thunders loudly in my ears.

"Watch closely," Marmie says, and I keep my eyes glued to the pool. It swirls and a picture fills the swirling water. "Is that Kitty?" I whisper. I don't need an answer, for I'd know my partner anywhere. His calm green eyes looked panic, and he's searching for someone or something. I gasp, covering my mouth with one hand. Is he searching for me?

"Have you seen her? Please, she can't be gone. Please." Cat's pleading voice fills my ears and my eyes fill with tears. He's not searching for the "Ladybug" side of me. He's searching for me as Marinette. He really does care. He really does love me, mask or not.

The picture and audio fade away like a TV being shut off, and soon the water is only water once again, swirling with a powerful current. Marmalade beckons me to follow her, and in a trace I do.

When the roar of water is behind me, we find a small bench. "Looks like he loves you with and without the suit to me," she says, pushing her flame red curls behind her ear. I chew my lip. "I'm still not ready to tell him. But please send for him, he deserves some answers after all that he's done for me." "Its late over in Paris. Someone we'll send a temple member in the morning. Now its time for you to be in bed."

When I get back to my room, I change into comfy pajamas then walk over to the window seat. The seat is wide, the cushion a deep red velvet and I climb into it, leaning back against the pillows. The lights are off as I stare at the moon, resting my hand against the cool glass. I'll have to think of what to say to Cat by morning, and not as Marinette but as Ladybug. Only then can "Marinette" make appearance.

How could I sleep anyway tonight with that desperate, frantic look in Cat's eyes? I should have never left Paris, but I ran away. I'm Runaway, and right now I also feel like a vagabond, alone without a flower to land on in sight.

The one thing that calms me throughout the night is the brilliant stars that flash and dazzle. Though what I watch throughout my nighttime vigil is a fuzzy snowball of a comet. Inch by inch, hour by hour it hardly seems to move. What does move is my eyes slipping closed and fall into a light doze.

Sometime during the night, I feel a warm blanket covering me and peek through my lashes. "Thanks, Tikki."

In the morning is a brilliant sunrise, even more breathtaking then last nights sunset. A knock at the door causes me to jump out of thinking stupor.

"Rise and shine!" Marmalade sings out and I giggle as she rolls in the breakfast cart. I rub my eyes and grin, sitting up. "You sound like my mother. I'm known for sleeping in late!" Marmie chuckles and busies herself with the food. There's pancakes and coffee, eggs. To much for one person and I invite her to stay. "Marinette, do you know if Cat has a mother?" I pause, pouring cream on some oatmeal. "If he does, he never mentions her and there's the identity thing as well." "When you talk to him as Ladybug, ask. If he hesitates, tell him its okay to know." "Do you know something I don't know?" "We've followed your progress, both you and Cat's, and we know he loves to pun. Though at times, joking can cover up sadness or missing someone you love."

When we're finished, she stands. "Cat will be here in an hour or two. When your ready, go down to the hair salon." she hands me a folded map. I sigh as the door clicks shut. Looks like Marmie's not only good at advice, she's also a matchmaker.