The sky is growing a velvet black and still I have not found Marinette. My voice is hoarse of asking people, and my feet are heavy. Was I to forward? Deep inside me a little voice tells me this isn't my fault, but of course I don't listen.

Still, I trudge on until my feet can carry me no further. There's no point going back home, for the last few days Marinette has become my home. No longer do I think of home as a building but a person who's love is unconditional. Maybe a good night sleep will help, and I can think more clearly in the morning. I turn down a alleyway away from the prying eyes and cameras. I find a box big enough to sleep in, to tired to care that it smells like rot. I hardly feel the pain from my aching body, the only thing I feel is numb. My sun is gone and this is a moonless night. Slowly, my body grows limp and I fall into a dream.

I walk down the steps of the mansion into the foyer, my heart light as a cloud with happiness. Why I'm so happy I don't know, but I try to hang on to this feeling with both hands. At the bottom of the stairs I hear voices, rough voices and notice that Father's office door is ajar. My senses are on high alert and I tiptoe quietly peeking through the crack and gasp. Hawkmoth stands strong and powerful in the middle of the room, holding his cane and grinning evil. The three men who tried to take Marinette stand in a circle. "Your lucky that I still had a few butterflies left. Thanks to you, the Butterfly Miraculous is back where it belongs."

I stagger backwards. I have to warn Ladybug, protect Marinette. Before I can even take a step, the double doors open and Hawkmoth flanked by the men walks out with a evil grin on his face. "Adrien. About to warn Ladybug? Don't bother for you will never defeat me." Anger clouds my vision, but I try to keep a clear head. "What do what from us? What did she ever do to you?"

Hawkmoth leans in closer, patting my cheek like I'm a small child. "Oh, Adrien. Its not what she's done. Its what she's has. But, since your so intent on knowing I'll show you my wish. Its just to bad she's not here to see it too."

There's a bright orange flash and one of the men is wearing the Miraculous of the Fox. "Mirage!" At once I am in a trance, and my eyes are glued to the figure resting peacefully in a small chamber. Its my mother." My hands begin to tremble with rage and sadness. "How could I have so blind that my father was Hawkmoth? You will never get her Miraculous, there must be some other way." "Don't you want to save your mother?" The rage explodes and I transform, breathing deeply and heavily. "Cataclysm!"

We stand off Hawkmoth and I. No one moves or blinks. Then I hear a rattling sound like something trying to break free. I stagger backwards as I see a black and purple butterfly fluttering around.

"You wouldn't," I whisper, and Hawkmoth gives me a chilling smile. "Release the akuma, and taking his ring will be a piece of cake."

When I look at myself in the mirror, a white cat with piercing blue eyes stares back at me. If I can just find M'lady she can fix this.

I leap out the window, desperate to find her but when my feet hit the concertae my legs are slow and heavy, and however long I search I cannot find her only wandering alone in the fog…..

I wake with a cold rain hitting my cheek but my forehead is warm with sweat. I'm about get out of this cramped box, when I hear footsteps. There heading my way and from my vantage point I can't see if there friend or foe.

"Cataclysm," I whisper, carefully scrambling out of the box being careful not to touch it with my left hand. A man in a gray robe with a matching beard and blue eyes stares at me. "Cat Noir? You've been summoned to come with me." He steps forward. "Don't come any closer. Are you friend or foe?"

"Ladybug sent me, and I'm pretty sure you two are friends," he says, folding his hands into the sleeves and there's a twinkle in his eyes. The fight leaves me. "M'lady sent you?" He nods. "Follow me, Cat Noir."

My heart is thumping, at last I'm going to see M'lady again. He opens a portal and when we go through I find myself in a large building with people hustling and bustling. "Come with me." We go up a spiral staircase and he stops in front of a door. "Knock and she'll let you in when she's ready."

He strides away before I can even thank him. Taking a deep breath, I rap three times. "Enter!"

She stands in the middle of the room, just as beautiful as always. "Cat Noir. Its been awhile." I can't find words, so I take her hand, raising it to my lips for a kiss. "Your looking well-what's wrong?" I ask, once I've let go of her hand. "Cat, what were you doing before you came here?" "Looking for Marinette Dupain-Cheng. She's, ah, a special friend of mine." Ladybug grins. "She must be important if it makes you smell like fish. But your search is over now. She's here, with me." "Thank goodness, I was so worried. She wasn't in any trouble was she?" Ladybug shakes her head. "You can ask yourself later. Right now I'm giving you a good hot bath!" She leads me to the bathroom and lets go of my hand, and I lean against the wall, watching.

When the tub is full of water and bubbles she points to it. "Get the tub." "Yes, M'lady." I sigh happily as I sit down the warm water my aching muscles which have been clenched for so many hours. Ladybug takes the bottle of shampoo and squirts a small dollop on her hands, rubbing them together to create a lather. I sigh happily and close my eyes as her gentle fingers caress my scalp, getting me clean.

"So, what have you been up to, Bugaboo?" I ask. "Oh, the usual. Still designing, still drinking coffee. I'm in my last year of school and after that, my future is blurry. You?" "Same, trying to finish school." "And of course your seeing Marinette." "I would visit you too, if I knew who was behind the mask." Ladybug gently pours warm water over my head, washing away the dirt. "Cat, its not the I don't want to tell you. I'm just scared." I can hear the tremble in her voice. "What exactly scares you, my love?" I keep my voice soft and low, hoping to calm her. "I just don't want to lose you. I'm a different girl under the mask." She stands.

"Let's get you dry before you catch cold," she tells me, and the discussion is closed at least for now. After she's rubbed my hair with a fluffy white towel and blow-dried, we sit on the bed holding hands. "I'll always be here for you and always love you." "Thanks, Kitty."

We sit in a silence for a moment or two, but its a comfortable one. "Are you ready to see Marinette now? I should be going." I nod and she stands up. "I'll see you soon," she blows me a kiss. The door shuts behind her and I'm left alone for a minute.

But when Marinette walks in the room, I leap up and race towards her, sweeping her up in my arms. "Oh, Princess, I'd thought I'd lost you!" "Um, can't breathe!"

I chuckle and set her down. "You did nothing wrong. I just had to sort some things out and Ladybug offered to take here. Did I hear you were searching for and smelled like fish?" "I'd thought you were gone for good for a minute." "I'm not going to leave you. Like I said, you did nothing wrong. But I need a way home, for I have a assignment due tomorrow! Plus, its the class I have with Adrien!"

It hits me that I'll need M'lady's permission, but I'd like to tell Marinette who I am under the mask. Maybe not yet, but soon. I smile to myself, hatching a couple of plans. "What are you grinning at?" "Well, since you used up one of my nine lives, I think I'm going to kidnap you for the weekend, just you and me."

She laughs and puts her arms around my neck. "And who's going to rescue me?" "I'll let you out on good behavior." "I could always have Ladybug save me." "I promise to make it enjoyable."

"Did I hear you were ready to go home, Marinette?" A woman with fiery red hair walks into the room. "Sorry, the door was open a crack and I couldn't help overhearing." "Yes, we're ready to go."

Its good to back in Paris where everything is normal. "As much I'd like to spend the day with you, I need to go. Love you." I lean down to kiss her goodbye, thinking it will be a short kiss. But this is Marinette and she's full of surprises. Our mouths battle for dominance, until I concerned and her tongue slips into my mouth. She tastes of chocolate and sunshine, and soon I'm off in the clouds.

When we break apart, I grin at her as she steps back. "I hope you get your work done and have fun with Adrien tomorrow." she smacks my tummy gently. "What are you up to?" "Bye!"

Oh, Princess, be prepared to get flirted by me without the mask.