Dupain-Cheng Bakery, December 19th, 9:24 PM

At the Dupain-Cheng bakery, Ladybug had returned from the Agreste mansion, transformed back into Marinette and had watched the news on T.V. Footage of the attack that had been recorded on people's phones was being played. Tom and Sabine were sat on the sofa, watching.

"The first sign of disturbance occurred when a 112 call was made reporting sounds of smashing objects at the manor." Nadja reported on the news. Sabine turned to see Marinette. Sabine placed her index finger over her lips. Marinette nodded and walked over to the sofa and sat down. Nadja kept going. "Soon after the call was made, the sound of an explosion was heard and the left hand side of the manor front had collapsed. While there has been no official comment from anyone associated with Mr. Agreste, phone footage has shown the assailant to be none other than Paris's new super-villain, Fire Ant, who committed a similar act this morning, sending several students of . When it seemed that no one was going to save the day, a duel started between Fire Ant and two heroes from the United States, Knightowl and Birdy." Nadia placed her fingers on her earpiece. "We are now getting a call from the Agreste manor, maybe we can have some insight into what happened." The screen behind Nadja showed Nathalie's face. "Are you Mr. Agreste's assistant?"

"Yes. I will be speaking tonight."

"Can you tell us what happened? Are the reports that Fire Ant was your attacker correct?"

"They are. He took us by surprise and would have killed us if not for Knightowl and Birdy."

"Was Mr. Agreste's son in any danger?"

"No. Mr. Agreste's son was leaving the hospital when the manor was attacked. We were able to contact our chauffeur and tell him to keep away."

"Speaking of keeping away, what would Mr. Agreste's response be to claims that he was, and I quote 'Neglecting his only child and leaving his assistant and bodyguard to raise his son for him?'"

Nathalie's eyebrows twitched. "I believe the same claim could be made about you. Where is your daughter, Chamack?"

Nadja was offended by Nathalie's comment and the news report concluded. Marinette was stunned by what passed. Marinette tapped her mother's shoulder.

"Why do we have to be quiet?" Marinette asked her parents.

"Manon's upstairs asleep." Sabine whispered, noticing Marinette sweating.. "Are you okay? That Fire Ant villain put a lot of your friends in hospital."

"I'm fine, mom. Just some headaches. I see if some sleep can help. Manon's not in my bed, is she?"

"No, she's on your sofa. Just try and be quiet." Marinette nodded and slowly tip-toed upstairs and opened her door. Manon was laid on Marinette's sofa with her head on a cushion and a pink blanket covering her. Marinette slowly walked into the room, removed her blazer jacket and shoes and climbed into her bed. Tikki hid at the side of Marinette's pillow and the two quickly drifted off...


December 20th, 7:12 am.

Marinette slowly woke up. She could hear Sabine and Nadja talking and a door closing. Marinette got out of bed, soon followed by Tikki. Sabine shouted upstairs.

"Marinette? Are you awake?"

"Yeah, mom." Marinette responded.

"When you've got dressed and had breakfast, would you like to come with me? We're doing some last minute Christmas shopping."

Marinette quickly showered, dried off and got dressed. Tikki hid in Marinette's blazer as she headed downstairs, slowed by her phone ringing. "Hello?"

"Hey, Marinette?" Adrien's voice came through the speaker. "I'm sorry for just running out like that. I should've said goodbye."

"Don't worry about it, Adrien. Are you and your dad okay?"

"Yeah, but we're concerned about another attack. Mayor Bourgeois is giving us a room in his hotel. Chloe's just gonna love it. But still, I was thinking that... well..."

"Cancel the date?"

"No. No, I still want to go somewhere with you. But, I think we should wait till this Fire Ant's behind bars. I don't know if you've heard, but your aunt Bridgette and Liam's brother Félix were there as well. My dad's told me some really... shocking things."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Marinette reached the bottom of the stairs.

"I wish I could, but I'm sure Bridgette will tell you since what he told me involves her. No doubt, Liam's known all along."

Marinette placed a bowl on the breakfast bar as Tom and Sabine eavesdropped. "Would he? I think he would've said something if he knew."

"Whether or not he knew, he's getting sent here too. Fire Ant was targeting Félix, Bridgette and my dad. Gabriel thinks he'll use us to get to them. Fire Ant knew about Gabriel and me. He might go after you and your parents. Liam's being discharged from the hospital and he's gonna be brought to the hotel."

"Is that a problem?"

"No. But I think you and your parents should be protected. Would you all stay at the hotel for now?" At that point, Chloe could be heard ranting, to which Adrien retaliated. "Chloe, if Liam and I are potential bait for my dad and Félix, the Dupain-Chengs could be targets to bait Bridgette!" Gabriel could then be heard saying something. "Huh. Never thought of that."

"Adrien?"

"Sorry, Marinette. My dad just said something. If we're Fire Ant's targets, then we're putting all the eggs in one basket if we all stay at the hotel."

"Don't worry. We'll figure something out."

"I hope so. Please take care, Marinette. I don't want you to get hurt by this guy."

"I will, Adrien. Thank You." Adrien hung up and Marinette put her phone on the breakfast bar. Sabine and Tom walked over to Marinette.

"Is everything okay, dear?" Sabine asked her daughter.

Marinette looked at Sabine with an expressionless face. "The attack on Adrien's Mansion."

Tom and Sabine glanced at each other, concerned. "What about it?" Marinette's father inquired.

"Bridgette was there." Tom and Sabine gasped. "Fire Ant almost killed her."

Tom hugged his daughter and didn't let go. "She's strong, Marinette. She'll have survived."

Marinette replied. "She did. That was Adrien Agreste on the phone. Fire Ant seems to be targeting Bridgette, Liam's brother Félix and Adrien's father Gabriel. He said that Fire Ant could attack him to get to Gabriel, Liam to get to Félix, or us to get to Bridgette."

Tom released his daughter from his arms and turned to face Sabine. "Should we should find somewhere else to stay?"

"Where could we go?" Sabine asked. "If he's targeting us, anyone we go to could become targets as well."

Tom spoke to his daughter again. "Did Adrien know why Fire Ant attacked them?"

"It sounds like Gabriel, Bridgette and Félix did something bad when they were younger and Fire Ant was acting on behalf of Hawk Moth. Fire Ant wants the Hornet and he's now joined Ladybug and Cat Noir, so Hawk Moth must be working with Fire Ant." Tom and Sabine walked to the main door and turned their backs to Marinette and whispered to each other.

"Maybe we should stay somewhere else for a while." Tom said.

"I already said that anyone who helped us could be targets as well."

"Yeah. Plus the bakery is our business. Without it, we're out of a home." Tom came to an idea. Marinette saw her parents whispering. Tikki stuck her head out from and Marinette waved her hand to signal Tikki to stay hidden. Tom and Sabine came back.

"We gotta make some phone calls." Sabine told her daughter.

Marinette grew anxious. "Where are we going?"

Tom walked out into the hall, calling someone on his phone. His voice could be heard faintly.

"Hello. This is Tom. We need help. We were wondering... Oh, thank you so much. Yes. You're a life saver. Next time you come to the bakery, your orders are on the house. Okay. We'll come to you. Thanks again. Bye." Tom walked back in and Marinette repeated herself.

"Where are we going?"

"We're going nowhere." Her father answered. "You're staying with Alya's family for the next few weeks."

Marinette's expression turned to surprise. "What? What about you two? You're in danger two."

"We're adults, Marinette. We can take care of ourselves. You're the one we need to worry about."

"I can take care of myself too." Marinette protested. 'Shame, I can't show you how.'

"Against a super villain?" Sabine shot back.

"Okay, no. But can you two?"

"Marinette, enough." Tom interrupted. "We'll be fine. But if anything were to happen to you..." Tom couldn't bring himself to finish. "Please. Just go somewhere safe."

Marinette grew disheartened, got off of her seat and hugged her dad.

"Okay. I will. But please stay safe."

"We will. You'll be coming back for Christmas Eve and Day, okay?"

"Okay."

Marinette, Tom and Sabine embraced each other, tears shedding from the family. Tom slowly let his ladies go. "Now do you wanna tell Alya the news?"

Marinette nodded. She went to her room to phone Alya, but before she could get Alya's number up in her contact list, her phone rang with Liam listed as Contact. Marinette answered him.

"Hi, Liam." The fashion designer said. "Are you getting out of hospital toady?"

"Yep." The President's son answered. "But I ain't going back to the house. My dad knows that Felix was attacked and he's scared that I'm next. You heard anything about you?"

"Yeah, same here. I'm having to spend the next few days at Alya's."

"Wait, Christmas away from your family?!"

"I'm going back for Christmas and New Year's."

"Well, at least you get to spend those days with your family. Say, can you meet me at my new 'safehouse' in a few hours? I got something bugging me and I need to let the cat out of the bag."

Marinette cracked Liam's code. "Yeah. I'll see you there. And don't use any more puns. It's bad enough with Cat Noir."

Liam laughed. "See you later." Liam hung up...


11:24 am.

Marinette had packed her essentials into a suitcase and was ready to go. She carried her case downstairs into the living room and Tom and Sabine were in the kitchen preparing sandwiches.

"Ready to go, Marinette?" Tom asked.

Marinette felt a disturbing sensation in her stomach as she placed her case on the floor. "Not really. Even if Fire Ant gets taken down, Hawk Moth is still out there."

Sabine finished making sandwiches, then responded to Marinette. "Hawk Moth can't do much. He hasn't got his... akumas? Is that what they're called? Then, the police know he looks like Gabriel Agreste, so he won't be hard to find."

Marinette felt slightly reassured. "Okay, I'll admit. I can't bear that Fire Ant is making this family separate without even trying."

Sabine moved in front of Marinette and placed a hand on her shoulder. "We're not gonna be apart forever, Marinette. You can come back and visit any time."

Marinette smiled. "Thanks, Mom." At that moment, the bakery door could be heard opening. "That must be Alya." The voice that came from downstairs proved Marinette wrong.

"I know. I'm at Marinette's now. I'll tell her what's happening." Marinette followed the voice.

"Rose." Marinette whispered.

"Liam won't find out. He's with his brother at Chloe's hotel. I thinks they're staying there over Christmas. Well, he said he was part of a band. Maybe they just formed. But still, Juleka, he was invited by Jagged Stone! He deserves something for his kindness." Marinette stood by the stairwell door, with Rose stood facing away, on the phone. "Yeah. Okay. Yes. Alright. Take care. I..." Rose then whispered, unaware of Marinette behind her. "I love you too." Rose hung up. Marinette announced her presence.

"Hey, Rose." Rose screamed and jumped, startling Marinette. "Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you."

Rose gained her second wind and turned and faced Marinette. "It's alright, Marinette. After... what happened, I'm just a bit shaky."

"Understandable. What can we do for you?"

"Everyone wants to do something for Liam to say thank you."

Marinette was intrigued. "Really? What did they have in mind?"

"We're getting him a few presents, and we're hoping to visit him at Chloe's hotel. Do you think you'd be able to make him something?"

"I... I'm afraid I can't, Rose. I'm leaving home for a while."

"What? Why?"

Marinette thought to herself. 'Do I tell her the truth or lie?' Marinette made her decision. "Well... I-I." Marinette stared at Rose. "I can't tell you everything, Rose, but Fire Ant seems to targeting certain people now. One of them is my aunt Bridgette, and I've been spending a lot of time with her. If Fire Ant knows about me, he could come after me or my parents to lure her to him."

"That's so... mean!"

"I don't think he cares about that, Rose. But he doesn't seem to be after her for his reasons. Did you hear about his attack on Gabriel Agreste?"

"Yeah, I'm so glad Adrien was here. Alix and Nath were worried when he went back."

"Well, according to Adrien, that attack was actually on behalf of Hawk Moth. He's got it in for Mr. Agreste for some reason."

"So, if Fire Ant would use you to get to your aunt, couldn't he use Adrien to get to Mr. Agreste?"

"That's why he's being moved as well."

"I heard he wasn't staying at home. He was being kept at Le Grand Paris."

"Really? Well, when I've gone to where I'm staying, I'll see if I can visit." At that point, the door opened again and in walked Alya and Nino.

"You ready, Marinette?" Alya asked her BFF.

"Yeah. Got my case packed. I'll just say goodbye to my parents. Then I'd like to know what this thing is with Liam."


Le Grand Paris Hotel, 12:37 pm.

Marinette, Alya, Nino and Rose were at the main entrance of Le Grand Paris, visiting Liam. They walked to the door, but were then stopped by the doorman stepping in front of the dual doors.

"Uh..." Marinette stuttered. "We're here to see Liam Rejeter."

"Liam Rejeter?" The doorman responded. "He's not residing here."

"We're also here to see Adrien Agreste." Nino bounced back.

"No one gets to see Adrien Agreste without permission from Chloe Bourgeois."

At that point, the dual doors opened, knocking the doorman forward. Out stepped a strange figure. He was wearing a red cotton t-shirt underneath a light brown leather jacket with red pockets and black zips and patches on the shoulders and hood sewn on, a pair of dark grey, faded jeans and black steel toe work boots. He also had a black goatee and wore a black mask underneath his hood that cover his eyes and nose, but kept his goatee and and chin exposed. He also seem to have a mole on his neck.

"What are you doing, harassing these teens?" The figure spoke angrily in a deep voice to the doorman. "Let them in before I rip your hands off!" The doorman held a thumbs up in his hand and pointed his thumb towards the door, telling the teens they could go in. The teens walked in and the figure walked with them. "If you come with me, I'll get you to Liam. He's trying to keep quite." The five of them got into an elevator, to be spotted by Chloe.

"What are you lot doing here?" Chloe bellowed. The figure stuck his middle fingers up at Chloe as the doors closed. The elevator moved up. Rose spoke up to the figure, who only stood a little taller than her.

"That was rude." Rose protested.

"Yeah, it was." The figure responded. "But she does anger a LOT of people. Eventually, she'll bark up the wrong tree."

"Who are you, anyway?" Alya asked.

"I thought it would be obvious, Alya." The figure pulled down his hood and took off his mask exposing his face to let the teens put the pieces together in unison.

"Liam?!"