I rise before the alarm even rings, and I can only see Adrien's blonde hair sticking up from beneath the covers. I bite my lip, wondering if I should wake him now, or wait until I make some breakfast. Each moment is precious a ticking clock till the wish is made. "Let him sleep a few more minutes, Marinette," Tikki advice. "He'd do the same for you."

I nod, and go downstairs, opening the fridge gathering eggs, bread, and milk. A rustle causes me to jump and I nearly drop my precious eggs. My father is sitting at the table reading the newspaper, but he sets down when he sees me. "Papa! I didn't see there! Are you feeling better?" I set down my things to give him a hug and kiss. I can spare a moment for my Papa. "I'm fine, love. That was a brave thing you did yesterday." "I didn't have a choice. The bakery is your life. And I would do anything to protect you and Mama." Papa coughs, clearing his throat. "Well, I was talking about telling your Mother and Cat your Ladybug, but yes."

We walk over to the stove to get breakfast, and Papa begins to crack the eggs into a bowl. In the early days when it was just Papa running the bakery, I would always get up and help him with breakfast. It was our special "Marinette and Papa time." "What do you think of me being a superhero?" "I'm very proud of you, Marinette. Though as your father, that means I'm going to worry, but that's what a parent does. I should probably say thank you, for all the times you've saved me and Mama in the past." "Even without a mask I would have tried to help. Did..Adrien tell you he's Cat?" "Yes." "Good. Adrien needs a family, and your the best parents in the world."

By now, we've got a stack of French toast and Papa drizzles it with syrup. I'm brewing the coffee when Adrien comes downstairs followed by Mama. I'm pouring coffee and I nearly splash Adrien when I realized he's bare chested and, oh that chest! Smooth and taut, muscles rippling! My mouth must be open, because Nikki has to shut my mouth. Adrien catches me staring and smirks, then winks.

Breakfast is hurried, but Mama keeps asking Adrien if he has enough to eat. I shift in my seat, as my phone buzzes and I show it to Adrien. Felix will be at the mansion in fifteen minutes. "I'll be dressed in a flash!" he tells me, giving me a quick but sticky kiss from the syrup. Tikki giggles. "Betcha wish he didn't have to change," she whispers, and I blush. "Tikki!" But I giggle as well, and some of the tension in my shoulders eases. Oh, what would I do without my Kwami?

We stand in a circle when Adrien comes back down. "Take of care of each other, and don't do anything reckless," Mama tells us. "Always have each other's back, and remember Papa and I love both of you very much."

I want to cry, but there's no time for tears. "Goodbye, I love you."

"You doing alright?" Adrien asks, as he takes my hand once we're on the sidewalk. We have to be causal, or people might become suspicious. "Yes. They're your parents too now," I tell him. "I couldn't ask for a better family then my Bugaboo's."

When we reach Felix and Kagami, Felix is Argos. "So, what's the plan to get in?" Adrien asks. "Its not like we can ring the doorbell." "No, but remember when we were little Adrien, when we would play by the garden wall? There's a spot that's been crumbling away over the years and no one's thought to fix it. Over the years I've made it bigger, in case I ever had to get in undected. "Your a genius, Argos!"

"You mustn't be hasty getting in, Marinette. You never know we're Gabriel could be watching from." "Time to go. Keep watch."

I have to watch my footing, and I let Adrien take the lead so that I don't do a face plant before we're even inside. "This way, love," he whispers, opening a small side door.

I hold my breath and Adrien's hand, as he peeks into the foyer, but as usual its empty. "There are so many rooms, I wouldn't even know we're to start looking!" "Father's office." "Okay, I trust you."

My heart is beating fast as Adrien peeks inside, but no one is around. "Marinette, come over here," Adrien is staring at the picture of his mother in the back of the room. "If Father were to make the wish, I know it would be to bring Mother back. Maybe this portrait holds some kind of clue?"

"Good thinking." I run my hands slowly over the painting, feeling for any bumps or buttons, and then my hands finds several niches. "Adrien, I found something! Come stand by me!" He does, and I push inwards and immediately I feel myself topping over with Adrien landing on top of me. "Oof!" The breath is knocked out of me, and I feel that were descending, and I slowly stand. We're in some kind of elevator and I can feel my stomach dropping with it.

When the doors open, we're in some kind of basement and I immediately clamp a hand to my nose. The smell of rot and mildew fill my nostrils and I reach for Adrien's hand.

My eyes travel down the corridor and there's something down at the end. I point it out to Adrien silently and he nods. I don't know how loud our voices would carry down here, and I don't want to attract any unwanted attention.

There are pools on either side of the walkway, and I can feel my breath getting shaky as we get closer to the end.

"What is this?" Adrien looks at me, as we circle some kind of a tube. I place my hand on it, and with a soft sigh it opens and I scream, jumping back.

"Marinette, what-" Adrien cradles me to his chest as he drops to his knees as we stare at the face of Emile Agreste, looking serene and peaceful in the glass tube. "Its my mother. She isn't dead, is she?" I can hear a humming noise, soft but its there. "I think she's on life support and in a coma." "Marinette, look up there."

Adrien points to a huge window with a akuma pattern etched inside it. "So, at last you know the truth." We whirl to see Gabriel Agreste staring at us, with a cane in his hand. "Each villain you fought, each negative emotion it was to bring her back." "if you make the wish, they'll be a terrible price to pay." Gabriel chuckles and looks at Adrien. "And you think she loves you." My breath catches as I look from one to the another, confused. "Your mother could have been back with us long ago, Adrien, only you were snared by her lies." "Adrien, listen to me. That isn't true. If only I would have known…."

"Mother knew what she was getting into and she would have wanted you to keep living life. Instead, you stayed in the past and shut everyone out, even me!"

"If I intended to stay in past then so should you! Spots On!" Bile fills my throat, trying to choke me as my enemy wears my suit. "You have a dear friend from the past, don't you, Marinette? Don't you remember him?"

A burst of light temporarily blinds us, and two things happen at the same time. Gabriel grabs Adrien and as the spots float away, I see Cat Blanc from the past.

But this isn't Cat that I de-evilized not that long ago. No, this Cat Blanc is wild his blue eyes feral. "You heroes are so predictable. You won't give up until you've won." My eyes are locked on Cat Blanc and he stalks towards me. I would give anything for my yo-yo right now. Cat's cataclysm looks like a pretty snowball, and somehow I can't move. "You won't feel a thing," he says, as the ball of light hits my arm.

I can feel myself growing sleepy and numb, and suddenly it doesn't matter anymore. I slip away, the last thing I see is Adrien.

The dark is like a feather-bed, and I've traveled far. Though I feel like I've entered a fuzzy world, I feel like we are walking downwards.

From faraway, I hear a door opening and shutting, then footsteps fading. Whatever world I'm in, now its filled with sunshine and memories. I laugh as Cat chases me in the brilliant sunshine, and once he catches me, we hold hands.

But then he starts to fade, and I try to keep him with me. Paris grows dark and the skies are black and purple and scary. I don't want to be a ladybug all alone up on a rooftop, for one blow of the wind would send me sailing into the darkness.

I must fight and get back to the world of Reality, for this world is one that only is in my imagination. Why is the darkness so peaceful, Reality is loud.

Little by little, I must swim to the surface until I break free. When I finally come to, I'm in a cell of some sort, a cube of a little room. My partner isn't with me, but I feel his presence. When I have the strength, I'll search this room for a way out.

I must gather strength and hopefully nourishment will be coming soon. Also, maybe a blanket? I can hear the drip of water somewhere close by.

I raise a hand to my lips and blow a kiss towards the door. "Find Adrien and give him courage. Whenever you return love, I'll be waiting for you."

I stay in my little ball, waiting for something to happen.