The door shuts behind Father, and I see Marinette slump to the floor. "Princess! Marinette, can you hear me?" "She fainted. Come on, let's get her upstairs." I wipe my eyes as I look at Mama Cheng. "Is Papa alright?" "He's fine."

As soon as Marinette tucked in bed, I plant myself beside her, holding her hand. "Adrien, she's going to be fine. How about you get some fresh air?" I try to answer but a strangled cry leaves my throat, and Mama crawls into the loft, pulling me into a hug. "If I leave her," I can't finish because I'm crying to hard, but Mama just holds me like I'm her child, murmuring loving words. Eventually, my tears subside and at last I can talk again.

"It was this for my mother too," I tell Sabine, resting my head on her shoulder as I continue to hold Marinette's hand. "At first it was just headaches here and there, and I didn't think much of it. But then they started getting worse and worse, and Father wouldn't allow me to see Mother anymore. One night, she just disappeared." "Your father never told you what happened?" I shake my head. "I was eleven."

The grief was hard, and for some time I was glad to be home schooled for I would start to cry at any time. Slowly, the pain numbed and I could smile here and a bit there. I had always wanted a friend, a kind friend, who didn't just see "Adrien Agreste, fashion model" but the Adrien who liked video games and pizza and telling jokes. Even if Ladybug would roll her eyes at my jokes at times, I could make her laugh like no one else. Sometimes she would tease and flirt back, and it made the pain a little easier to bear that day, for when I got home at night I could replay it over and over. She accepted and loved me just the way I was.

And now that she's plucked the courage to tell me who is and protect her family from an evil villain who happens to be my father, she's paying the price. I believe Sabine that she will be fine, but it should have never happened. "Maybe taking a short walk will be good. Besides, she might wake up to the smell of coffee." I brush my fingers across her cheek.

"Grab an umbrella from the tree before you go out, sweetie." I go down to the kitchen and grab a black umbrella from the stand. There's some writing near the button to make it over and I nearly drop it in surprise as I read the tiny initials scratched into the side. E. A. Emile Agreste, my mother.

I gave Marinette the umbrella on the first day of school, because I didn't want her to get wet, and even if we had a misunderstanding, I knew I wanted this sweet shy girl to be my friend. She's kept it all these years.

Its raining when I get down to the sidewalk, but listening to the pinging of water on the umbrella and the fresh air clears my head. Father might have won for now, but never underestimate my Bugaboo. The fresh smell of bread floats past me, and I think would nice to have Felix and Kagami over for dinner and for us heroes to plan the next steps. I duck under a red-and-white striped awning and text Felix.

Adrien: Hey, major stuff went down at Marinette's. Can you and Kagami meet me at her place in say an hour?

Felix: Dude, you finally popped the question?

Adrien: I wish, but its much more serious then that.

Felix: We'll be there, and we'll bring things for dinner.

Adrien: Okay. Love you.

When we were younger and Mother would say Aunt Amile and Felix were visiting, I would sit by the window, nose pressed against the glass. Being an only child was hard at times, though I did get a lot of birthday and Christmas gifts.

Felix and I would the most wonderful time, but our favorite thing to do was pretend to be the other, for we look so much like twins. Oh, how are parents got confused! I smile just thinking about it now.

At last, I reach Starbucks and place an order for everyone, but I make sure Marinette's has extra whipped cream. I head home slowly, making sure not to spill the drinks, and I find Kagami in the kitchen with Sabine. "You go upstairs. Felix is with Marinette, and I'll call you when dinner's ready." Kagami doesn't waste words, and I love her for that. "Thanks. Oh, I got you a drink. Raspberry for Kagami and green tea for Mama."

I hurry upstairs but slow down when I enter Marinette's room. Felix is up with Marinette and I climb up the ladder. "Any change?" I sit down, and immediately thread my hand through hers. Her eyes flutter and open slowly. "Adrien, what happened?" "You fainted after sacrificing our Miraculous. But don't worry, love, we'll get them back." She quiet, thinking. "You and me?" she whispers, and I nod. She sits up slowly, staring at me, placing her hand on my cheek. "Your still here. You didn't leave me, even after I told you I was Ladybug." "How could I leave the girl I love? Though, I did leave for a bit to buy you a drink." "Your the sweetest fur ball on the planet." "I'm going to remind you of that the next time you tell me I snore to loud."

"Bravo for telling him, Marinette, but when did you two start to get all lovey-dovey?" I jump, seeing Felix for the first time. "Hey, sorry for the flirting." Marinette cracks up. "It was all those puns."

Just then, Kagami calls us down to dinner, and I help Marinette down the stairs. Kagami and Mama Cheng have made spaghetti, and even if it has been an exhausting and emotional day, its one of the most fun dinners ever.

Afterwards, the four of us head upstairs for a meeting. "Do you think Hawkmoth will make the wish right away?" Felix asks. "If that were true, he'd have done it by now. Besides, he's probably gloating right now." Marinette groans softly. "I just wish I knew what he wanted." "I do," I say, quietly and everyone turns to look at me. "Hawkmoth is Gabriel Agreste, and what does Father want more then anything? To get Mother back. That's his wish." "But the wish doesn't work like that," Marinette says. "If we could just reason with him somehow," Felix sighs. "Though why would he listen to us, his enemies?" "We'll take our chances," Marinette says. "Marinette," I begin, but she cuts me off. "I don't think it will work either, Adrien. But we have to try. To many people are at risk otherwise."

"Okay, Bugaboo, but your not going in alone." Marinette suddenly clutches my arm, and for a moment I think she's getting dizzy again. "How do we get in without powers we no longer have?" "I know a secret entrance, but we would have to do it in the early morning." "We'll be there."

Felix and Kagami stand up to leave, but before they do, Marinette says, "Felix? Kagami? Even if Cat and I don't have our Miraculous right now, that doesn't mean we can't do a pound it."

Doing the pound it, gives me a small seed of hope. After they leave, I place my hands on Marinette's waist. "How you feeling?" "Let's go to the balcony and watch the Tower light up. There's time."

We bring pillows and blankets and we cling together. "Thanks for sticking it out with me, Kitty." "Always, Princess." I catch her watching me. "What? Do I have spaghetti sauce on my chin?" "No. I'm just glad you love me."

She climbs into my lap, and I hold her to my chest so she can listen to my heart. If ever our crazy lives settle down into a somewhat "normal" routine, I'm going to propose. Though, I can't think about gold rings until I get my own ring back, plus the earrings.

I watch the dazzling lights of the Tower, tomorrow will be another huge day. Marinette has fallen asleep in my arms, but I wrap the blanket around her, becoming one with the night.

Is Mother close by? Has she been close by all these years? Good thing Marinette can sleep, for my head is spinning with more questions then answers.

Maybe somehow there's a way to cure Mother without making the wish, would the monks in Tibet know perhaps? I miss Mother so much it hurts, but I can handle it, Father locked himself in his grief instead of reaching out, and now has turned to evil.

Whatever happens tomorrow, we'll be by each other's side, just like its always been. Just us against the world. I close my eyes hoping sleep will find me, and I do drift off eventually.

I'm with Marinette as Cat, but we have three kids and one of them is riding on my shoulders. Though its just a dream, I love each little face, each loving smile.

I want to give Marinette kids someday, be a father and a good husband. One day I'll show them how to be Cat Noir. The thought of being a husband, a father seems so right and fitting, maybe it's what I was destined for.

Though I don't like the evil that lurks in the world around me, at least it brought me Bugaboo. The rain wakes me and I head back inside, crawling under the sheets were its warm and safe. I cuddle Marinette close whispering, "I will always be here for you, but if I have to go, I will always be in your heart."

The rain picks up as I cuddle her close, and we sleep peacefully till the morning light.