Don't own miraculous ladybug!
Christmas Time
"Annette?" I looked up at the door to see my Aunt Vivienne coming in. Tears were falling down my face as I looked up from the photo I had been staring at.
"We're decorating the tree downstairs" My Aunt said. "We were wondering if you wanted to help."
I slowly shook my head. Tears falling down my face even as I tried not cry out.
Vivienne stared at me from the door way her hand on the door handle before she slowly walked over to me and put an arm around my shoulders.
"I don't think your parents would want you to be alone on Christmas" Aunt Vivienne slowly told me.
I couldn't say anything I just sat there staring at the black framed photo of my parent's portrait. Both of their wearing gorgeous smiles. My father's arms around my mother's neck, my mother holding my fathers arms an elegant smile on her face, her hair tied into her signature pigtailed style. My father's hair combed back and neat as it had always been when he was out of uniform.
"Momma's birthday was on the 22nd of Christmas" I said. "We always decorated the tree after her birthday dinner and after she had opened presents, so it wouldn't clash with Christmas" I said tracing my mom's face. "We would put on Christmas music, and my dad would sing his favorites, and my mom and I would laugh and make fun of his awful singing…" Annette eyes closed and she leaned into Vivienne's embrace. "It's all my fault they're gone, if I had just…"
Vivienne held me tightly. "Don't go there Annette" She whispered to me.
"But it's true."
I could feel Vivienne shake her head against my own. "No, you don't know that, those awful people killed your parents, you tried to save them."
I wanted to deny it. But all my excuses had already been heard before, and it would have just made Aunt Vivienne more upset and that was the last thing I wanted to do on Christmas so instead I just nodded to her.
Vivienne hugged me tightly. "They loved you Annie, and I know for a fact that they would not want you blaming yourself, especially on Christmas eve"
"Viv!" A man with the exact same blond hair as my aunt, though his own eyes were a dark blue opened the door. "We're about to have Christmas dinner, you and Annette coming down or not?"
Aunt Vivienne gave me a small smile, before I nodded and sat up. "Ok, ok I'm coming"
"Well hurry up"
"Vic" Vivienne said softly. "Her parents died a few months ago, this is her first Christmas without them have some tact."
Vic put an arm around Vivienne and kissed her cheek. "Anything for my sister"
"Annette!" Adrien said coming up the stairs. "Let's go! You already missed, decorating the tree, I'm not letting you miss dinner as well, move." Adrien said pulling me down the stairs.
Another first Christmas. First Christmas without my aunt, or my aunts brother who had made a habit of coming over every Christmas. But after Aunt Viv disappeared, uncle Gabriel and uncle Victor had a huge fight right after the funeral that had, apparently ended with Victor band from the house.
Neither me nor Adrien had been in the house when it occurred. Nathalie, Adrien's Bodyguard and my own body guard Cynthia had all had the foresight to pull the pair of us out, before the yelling got too intense, but the gist of what happened had been quite clear.
That day hadn't been so bad. Despite the almost crippling depression that had threatened to engulf the pair of us. The day itself had been quite enjoyable. We went to the movies, played in the park, had ice cream, looking back on it, it was probably Nathalie's way of distracting us, but as far as days went it was a good one, all things considered.
The nightmares came back again after Vivienne died. Not for too long, I had them for maybe a week, and I hadn't told anyone about them, instead just throwing myself into my work and eventually the nightmares subsided as well. They hadn't stayed for nearly as long as they had this time. Almost three months and the nightmare's had yet to dissipate.
Hawkmoth had not stopped his tirade. Every other week a new villain appeared attacking Paris hoping to get those darn Miraculouses, some fights I had been apart of, others I hadn't been. But the nightmare's never ended.
I looked up from the scrap book that Aunt Vivienne had given me and stared out the window. Hoping that just for today, Hawkmoth would leave Paris alone. Maybe all I needed was one Supervillainless night. One night where Ladybug and Cat Noir weren't constantly in danger.
I hadn't wanted to look into it but If the attacks didn't stop soon I may have to do some snooping of my own. I didn't want to believe that my own uncle could be HawkMoth, but...
I closed my eyes and shook my head once before continue to look over the scrapbook that aunt Vivienne had given me for Christmas 2 Christmases ago. It had been put together years ago, by a good friend of the family, but when my parents died Aunt Vivienne had thought giving it to me would make me feel better.
"That's your mother there, that article blasted her for making the mistake of letting the villain go" Vivienne would whisper in my ear. "Look, at me there I just received my miraculous, and look there, I almost outed your father in my first mission. Or look Queen Bee…"
My eyebrows furrowed as I looked at Queen Bee. I knew who Queen Bee was of course it hadn't taken that long to figure out after I knew who Ladybug and Cat Noir were, but the reason why Queen Bee had disappeared had always been very hush-hush. Vivienne had stuttered over Queen Been as though…
My eyes widened as though remembering what the lie I had been told was.
"Ran away, after a particularly bad fight"
Isabelle Bourgeois nee Beaufort was a great many things, but a coward had never been one of them. I had never questioned it, because my parents had been the one telling the story, but what if something happened and they were trying to…
No, No, nope, nu-uh, absolutely not, I was not going to entertain the possibility of that.
My parents were a great many things but liars – especially to me- was not one of them.
"Annette?" I looked up to see Adrien in my door way. His eyes sad, I cursed myself for not checking on him, this was the first Christmas without his mother, I should have been more concerned for Adrien then my own thoughts. I put the scrap book down and put away in my shelf. Adrien wasn't allowed to look at my stuff and he generally was very good about not touching my stuff that I didn't have to go out of my way to hide anything.
…the fact that I didn't want to hide this from him, had little bearing on the matter.
"Yeah?" I said turning to him.
"We're about to start decorating the tree" He told me. "Want to help?"
I nodded and smiled.
This, at least, was easy to understand.
"How does your father, always end up getting a tree on Christmas eve?" I asked inspecting the branches and realizing that they were indeed real.
My parents had long ago stopped attempting getting a real tree 3 days before Christmas, and stead used a fake one every year.
"He's Gabriel Agreste, he get's the best money can buy." Adrien muttered his face twisted in horrid mocking grimace.
"Stop that, you know he cares" I told him as I pulled an ornament from the tree and started to hang it up. A lot of Christmas traditions I had been used to, had been taken away when after my parents were killed, but this at least had stayed the same. "Can I have Christmas music please?" I asked Nathalie. After a few minutes a heard the opening notes of 'Santa Clause is coming to Town' playing in the background.
"You better not pout, you better cry" I started to sing smiling happily, a gave Adrien a glance as I continued putting up ornaments.
"You better not shout, I'm telling you why" Nathalie started humming along.
"Santa Clause is coming to town" I said smiling hanging up another lantern.
"He's making a list, He's checking it twice" Nathalie sang softly
He's goanna find out whose Naughty and Nice"
Santa Clause is coming to town
"He sees you when your sleeping"
"That's creepy" Adrien muttered to me. I ignored him.
"He knows when you're awake" Nathalie sang softly
"He knows if you've been bad or good" I sang.
"So, you better be good for goodness sake" Nathalie and I sand together
"You Better watch out, you better not cry!" I sang
"You Better not pout I'm telling you why!" Nathalie softly said.
"Santa Clause is coming to town" Adrien broke in finally taking an ornament.
"With little tin horns and little toy drums, Rooty toot toots and rummy tum tums" Adrien sang laughing as he walked down the stairs.
"Santa Claus is comin' to town." Nathalie and I joined in.
"And curly head dolls that toddle and coo
Elephants, boats, and kiddie cars too" I continued to sing hanging some Ornaments on the tree.
"Santa Claus is comin' to town" Adrien and Nathalie finished the verse together as they set up more ornaments.
"Then kids in Girl and Boy land will have a jubilee
They're gonna build a Toyland all around the Christmas tree" Adrien and I sang together his arm around my shoulders. My arm around his waist.
"So! You better watch out, you better not cry
Better not pout, I'm telling you why" Nathalie sang softly.
"Santa Claus is comin' to town." All three of us sang together.
Adrien and I broke out laughing as the song ended while Nathalie just smiled softly at us.
Adrien hugged me tightly. "Thanks Annette, I really needed that."
I just smiled.
Unfortunately the good mood was broken when Gorilla came through the door reminding Adrien that his father had yet to come down stairs. (Cynthia my own body guard had been given the night off, at my own personal request, and by request I mean I begged on bended knee)
"Adrien, he just needs time" I told him.
Nathalie nodded. "I'm sure he'll be down soon" She said.
Adrien just walked on by handing me the ornament as he headed upstairs to his room.
Nathalie and I shared a look before I motioned passed her and up to my fathers study.
"Uncle?" I said swallowing.
"Annette" Uncle Gabriel acknowledged without turning around from the portrait of Aunt Vivienne. My father had a similar one of my mother commissioned, but it along with a lot of other things had been moved to a lake house that Agrestes owned.
Maybe if I was lucky we could actually vacation their this summer… unlikely… as the Lakehouse held secrets that Gabriel did not want Adrien privy to.
I shook my head. I did not need my thoughts digressing. "I know that this Christmas must be hard for you, but as this is also Adrien's first Christmas without his mother…"
"I know, Annette, please just give me a few minutes ok?"
I turned back around giving a small glance back at him before leaving the room. A smiled at Nathalie who was right outside the door.
"He'll be out soon" I said softly.
Nathalie nodded before a walked by her and headed to my Cousin's room.
"Adrien?" I said opening the door. "Your father-"
I stopped and looked around. "Adrien!" I said my eyes catching sight of the open window.
Nathalie and the Gorilla came running in.
"He's not here" I said. "Could he have snuck out?"
Gabriel walked in to see all three of us looking out the window. Nathalie being well Nathalie already had her cell phone at her ear and was already making phone calls.
"Where is my son!" Gabriel yelled. Though I could see the worry in his dark blue eyes. "Find him!"
My cousin's bodyguard said nothing but left the room. I pulled out my own cell and started making phone calls.
"Chloé Adrien is missing" I said as I left the room. "Have you seen him?"
Within moments I was out of the house in my warmest winter coat, calling for Adrien's name while I kept the phone in my hand waiting for someone to call me telling me they found my cousin.
Chloé came out with me in her own yellow winter coat and a flashlight, Sabrina had called letting me know that she was riding in the car with her father looking and that she would call the Pair of us if they heard any thing.
I had also asked Myléné, Ivan and Nathanael, to keep an eye out around their house, they all lived on the other side of Paris, so it was unlikely that Adrien would be there but they agreed to keep an eye out anyway.
"Shouldn't you be a car searching from there" I asked Chloé since she was shivering.
Chloé shook her head. "No" She said stubbornly. "I'm the ice queen remember? The cold doesn't bother me."
"Should I be singing Let It Go now?" I said laughing slightly.
"Don't you dare" Chloé growled.
We looked up as we heard someone singing.
"I'll take your symbol of joy and burn it to the ground, I'm the vengeful cat of the night, I'm the vengeful cat of the night" Someone sang we looked up and saw a figure in black singing down to the tree in the center square.
I pulled Chloé out of the way and hid.
"Cat-A-Clysm" The person yelled now that the person was on the ground and being flooded from light from the Christmas tree, I could see that person was none other then Cat Noir. My eyes widened and Chloé and I looked at each other wide eyed.
"Why on earth...?" Chloé muttered. As she watched Cat Noir run toward the tree before pausing and instead ran for the add of Adrien that wasn't too far away.
Chloé looked furious. But I held her back. "Wait" I said softly. "I don't think he was being malicious, I think he was blowing off steam."
I could tell Chloé didn't believe me but we sat and waited for him to leave but instead he continued to sing. Before de-transforming into…
"No way" I said my eyes wide and worried. My grip on Chloé loosened and she careened straight for him.
"You son of a bitch!" I heard Chloé howl as I ran up behind her trying to stop her from doing something she'd regret. "How could you?" As Adrien just stared up at us from the ground.
"Uh, Chloé perhaps now's not the time…"
Chloé turned to me. "And you! Did you know?"
I shook my head repeatedly. "No of course not!"
"What were you two doing out here in the cold" Adrien asked.
"Looking for your lying ass!" Chloé yelled at him.
I put my hand on her shoulder. "Chloé calm down, getting akumatized won't help anyone"
"Y-yeah Chloé is that what you want?" Adrien asked jumping on the bandwagon.
"You hush" Chloé hissed.
"Chloé is fighting your friend as an Akumatized villain something you really want?" I asked her softly. Chloé slowly shook her head. But she still glared at Adrien whenever he tried to open his mouth.
"Then just focus on the sound of your breathing" I said. "Can you do that for me?"
Chloé started to breath deeply, I pulled her to near by bench while Adrien just stood and hopped up from on foot and the other cold.
I pulled off my coat and handed it to him. Adrien looked at my wide eyed but I just glared at him. I myself had on a zip up sweater so I wasn't as cold as Adrien would be. Adrien took the coat from me. All the while Chloé continued to breath as deeply as she could.
After a few moments of Chloé breathing she looked up at me. "I'm fine" She whispered. "Undeniably angry at him" At the word 'him' she jerked her head in Adrien's direction. "But I don't think you have anything to worry about."
I nodded. "Good" I said.
"Why aren't you angry though?" Chloé asked me as she stood.
I shrugged. "I am, just not at Adrien" I said.
"Then who?" Adrien asked worriedly.
I smiled at Adrien. "Don't worry about it Adrien" I said softly. In his hands were Plagg the little black Kwami that I had once been so close with. Curled up in the fetal position and probably freezing.
In the other hand was a pink package. "Maybe you should open that" I said. "It is Christmas, and maybe it'll be something to keep your pet warm"
"Not a pet, Annette, you know what I am" Plagg said through chattering teeth. My eyes widened at Plagg's speech.
"It talks!" Chloé said shocked. "What is that!"
"Chloé…" I warned "don't be rude." Chloé looked away.
"Why would Plagg think you know anything" Adrien said opening his present. He eyes widened when he saw Santa hat he placed it on his head and Plagg flew into one of the small baubles that hang from it.
When he placed it on his head the note fell out of it, and Adrien bent down to read it. "Merry Christmas Adrien, from Marinette" He read he smiled sweetly "She's so awesome"
Chloé gagged. "If you like that sort of thing" She muttered. I nudged slightly and shook my head. "Not now Chloé" I whispered. Chloé just looked away angrily.
"Honestly though" Adrien said putting the note in his pocket. "Why?"
I shrugged.
Plagg sighed and poked out. "Her Parents were the previous Ladybug and Cat Noir"
I glared at Plagg.
Adrien looked at me in surprise while Chloé looked ready to kill me.
"Before you question her to death, can you find me some cheese." Plagg cut in. "I'm still hungry"
Chloé looked absolutely done and she just stared at the ground and walked away saying nothing, but I could tell she was trying to breath to help her calm down.
"Baby steps" I told Adrien. "She'll come around eventually"
Adrien nodded. "What did he mean, you parents were the previous Ladybug and Cat Noir"
"That… they were the previous Ladybug and Cat Noir?" I said phrasing it like a question. "I really don't know what else your thinking."
"Do… you have any special powers?" Adrien asked.
I paused "Your tired" I said with a glance toward Chloé whose head was still faced downward as she focused only on her breathing. "Which is the only reason I'm not roasting you for that question."
Adrien raised an eyebrow. "No" I said. "I am an ordinary human being"
Adrien opened his mouth to speak before he caught sight of a Santa being bullied by two bratty kids.
"Hey!" Adrien said while Chloé and I ran up behind him. "Is that how you treat Santa?" He asked helping Santa up from the snow.
"Apologize" Their dad told the kids sternly.
"Sorry Santa" they chorused.
"What a hero" Chloé muttered.
I put an arm on her shoulder. "Chloé"
Chloé looked at me quickly before looking down. "What else don't I know?" She asked me.
"Not now Chloé" I whispered. "I promise I'll tell you everything tonight, but right now we can't talk about it."
Chloé sighed angrily. "I'm not trying to be angry" She defended.
"You have every right to be angry" I agreed. "And tomorrow I'll bring you to a safe space where you can cry and scream and rant and rave all you want, but right now you need to calm down."
"Such a place exists?"
"You'll hate it, I'm not allowed to set foot in there, but yes, I'll take you." I said. "Just think about the next shopping trip you want to go on for now."
Chloé mouth twitched as she attempted to hide a laugh.
Adrien walked up to us and handed me my coat wrapping a blanket around his own shoulders. "That's not going to be enough" I said.
"Says the girl currently in a sweater" Adrien hissed. "I'm fine, besides Santa agreed to give us a ride back to the mansion"
Chloé looked at the sleigh ride in disgust, I nudged her in the ribs. "Chloé it's Christmas" I implored. "Not today"
Chloé looked ready to murder me. I could understand that, she probably felt hurt betrayed, and very alone, and her usual way of letting off steam was being absolutely cruel to anyone within a ten foot radius.
I patted her shoulder. "Come on, it'll be fine" I whispered as the three of us stepped onto the sleigh.
"Thank you, Santa," I said gratefully. Chloé said nothing just sat beside Adrien. The Santa put on his hat but by then it was filled with snow and cold so Adrien, being the kind soul that he was, gave Santa his hat Plagg hiding in his shirt instead.
When Chloé noticed that Adrien gave away the hate Marinette had made her I could see her self becoming slightly calmer.
I breathed easier once that had happened. Chloé wouldn't be akumatized tonight.
Adrien on the other hand had struck up a conversation with the Santa and was currently trying to convince him to have dinner with them.
"I doubt Uncle will appreciate that Adrien" I said softly.
"I'll handle" Adrien said.
"Adrien, your already on thin ice, stop adding weight to it." I said.
"It'll be fine"
"She's right you know" Chloé cut in. "Is this wise?"
Adrien glared at both of us. "It will be fine!" He insisted.
Chloé and I stared at each other before shrugging. "Ok…"
We turned a corner at were at the Agreste mansion gates.
I jumped out of the sleigh as Chloé daintily stepped out of the sleigh. While the Santa also jumped out of the sleigh.
Adrien pressed down on the button and the camera came out of it's hiding spot and looked down at Adrien.
"Adrien is that you? And I see you have Miss Bourgeois and Annette with you good, good and... who are you?"
"I'm Santa Claus" The Santa said I stared straight ahead as I knew what was probably coming.
"And I'm the Easter bunny, you want money I suppose, I'll have my bodyguard deal with you."
"No, it's not like that" Both I and Adrien cut in.
"No, your fathers right" We all turned to see Ladybug standing there positioned to fight. "He's a supervillain under hawkmoth's control."
I put a hand to my forehead. Well if he's not now he soon will be with the way your screaming. I though to myself.
"You are all crazy" Santa said before running to his sleigh and driving off.
"He's not" I said. "He just helped us get home"
Ladybug shook her head. "I know an akuma victim when I see one, you three are safe now, get inside." She said before swinging away.
"Wait!" Adrien and I said together.
Adrien turned to look at Chloé and I before showing his ring. "Plagg!"
"Adrien" The Gates opened to Nathalie and Adrien's Bodyguard coming out.
Adrien entered the mansion and walked straight to the stairs. I nudged Chloé 'follow him' I mouthed to her. Chloé didn't like that I was essentially bossing her around but she did as I asked none the less.
"Where are, you going?" Chloé and Adrien turned around confused.
"To my room since my father isn't celebrating" I stared at Adrien in surprise at the anger and resentment in his tone.
"He was on his way to your room, when you disappeared." I said. "And Henri, there's no need to stay with him in his room, both Chloé and I will make sure he doesn't disappear" I said locking eyes with Adrien.
"None the less, I'd feel better if he was with his body guard, you and Ms. Bourgeois are of course welcome to stay with him." Nathalie said. I said before walking into the kitchen. I knew Plagg, he'd need Camembert and lots of it.
"Where are, you going" Nathalie asked.
"Kitchen, I'm hungry," I lied to Nathalie.
Nathalie narrowed her eyes before letting me go.
"Knock, Knock." I said entering Adrien's room. My hands filled with sweets and canisters of Hot Chocolate and Camembert.
"Yum" Adrien said sarcastically from his game station.
I was ready to smack Adrien for his attitude. "You're the run who ran off cut the attitude, Adrien"
Adrien turn to glare at me. "I know, but, how was I suppose to act? I mean he's acting…"
"Like I did," I said. "When my parents died? Everyone handles grief differently Adrien, don't be so angry just because his way is not yours. And had you not run off, you would have spent time with him, patience is a virtue Adrien, you'd do well to learn that."
Adrien shook his head. "Why are you taking his side?"
"Empathy" I said softly. "And I'm not, I think uncle was wrong to spend so little time with his son, but Adrien, would it really have killed you to wait five minutes? You had to have known I was on my way."
"Or you could have called me" Chloé cut in. "We could have talked, you don't have to act like you're the only one feeling lonely"
"You have so many friends you could have talked to and yet you chose to make everyone worry" I said.
"I-I didn't want to worry…"
"And yet you did, when you ran off without telling anyone" I said. "Can you blame us for keeping an extra eye on you?"
Adrien looked away, and I backed away. "Remember when I was depressed and everyone thought what was best for me, was to leave me alone, and that I would talk when I was ready, but what I really needed was someone to pull my ass out bed and take me out for the day?"
Adrien slowly nodded. "You and Chloé went shopping." He said.
"Oh, that was a glorious day" Chloé giggled. "It was also the first time out of several weeks that you laughed."
I smiled.
"That's your father, you handled your mother's disappearance, by leaning on others, your father does not have that luxury, as most of the people he knows are either dead, missing, above him, or works for him." I said.
"So…?"
"So… someone storming into his office to get him to do something fun, is going to be impossible, give him time."
That's when everything went sideways.
Santa Claus from earlier flew in threw Adrien's window.
Chloé screeched in shock. Santa Claus gave this speech about how he was going to give everyone terrible Christmas gifts, and how he was going to avenge both he and Adrien. Before throwing down a present full of spiders Chloé jumped onto a nearby chair while I just backed away from the spiders. Santa Claws took off again.
"So… Ladybug made things worse" I said. Adrien glared at me.
"Shut up" Adrien told me.
"No need to be so Agrestive" I said with a smile.
"I will throw a pillow at your head." Adrien said.
"I thought you liked puns" I said before shrugging. "I've run out of puns anyway"
Adrien looked at his ring before looking at Chloé and I. "I have to go"
I nodded. "Yeah, I know" I said. "Take care ok?"
Adrien smiled and gave me a hug. "I'm always ok"
"What about me?" Plagg added petulantly.
"You're almost 7000 years old, if you haven't died yet I doubt anything can kill you" I said. Chloé came around to look.
"I'm still angry, at all the secrets you kept from me" Chloé said. "But… I can see why you did, Adrien" Chloe turned to me. "You on the other hand have a lot of uncomfortable conversations coming"
"As long as you keep your mouth shut, I'll happily talk, just not here, not now."
Chloé nodded. "Fair enough."
"Plagg! Claws Out!" Adrien said, green light enveloped his form and Cat Noir appeared. He stared at his two oldest friends hesitantly before jumping out the window. We ran to the window and watched him jump away.
"He's out of my reach, isn't he?" Chloé said softly.
I turned to Chloé rubbed her shoulders. "I think it would be best if you turned your sights to someone else, trust me Chlo, getting involved with superheroes is just asking for heartache."
Chloé looked down tears falling down her cheeks, this time however, I let her cry.
So, your parents were the previous Ladybug and Cat Noir?" Chloé asked after she had stopped crying.
I nodded. "Their villains were witches, that they fought for several years, before the miraculous holders finally took their weapon of power, leaving them virtually defenseless, only one person knows where it is now, and I don't even know who that person is." I said.
I could tell Chloé was making an effort to not ask the questions that would make me cry bitterly. Which was probably why she hadn't asked about my parents death.
"Are there any other miraculouses out there?" Chloé asked taking a bite out of a cookie.
"bee, fox, peacock, Butterfly, and turtle" I said. "There are others, but those are the other five that currently reside in Paris."
"Did anyone else I know previously own miraculouses?"
I pursed my lips and looked away.
"Annette?"
"This goes nowhere, your father especially can't know what I've told you"
"What about Sabrina?" Chloé asked.
"If you can trust her to not blabbing it to everyone fine, but literally that's it"
Chloé nodded and held her position as she stared at me earnestly.
I took a deep breath. "My Aunt and Uncle, were peacock and Butterfly, and your mother was Queen Bee, and Sabrina's mother was fox."
She looked at me wide eyed. "Oh, wow. You're parents, Adrien's parents, even- even Sabrina's mother and- and mine?" Chloe frowned. "Wait but my mother, and Sabrina's mother…"
"Skipped town?" I asked. "Yeah, the story surrounding your mother atleast just makes no sense, from everything I heard your mother wasn't a coward, so I don't… though I can't say much about Sabrina's mom, as I didn't know her that well."
Chloé looked at her phone as it began to ring. "You don't think our parents… lied to us; do you?"
I stared at Chloé "I don't know, what I do know, is that what they said happened… makes no sense."
Chloé opened her phone and put a fake smile on her face. "Daddy!" She cried with fake cheer. "I'm with Annette at Adrien's house right now, so sorry I didn't call, but I just couldn't bare the thought of him being without his friends so I thought…" Chloé cut herself off. "Oh but Daddy!" She said her bottom lip jutting out before her eyes lit up. "Yes Daddy thank you!" She said before shutting the phone off.
I raised an eyebrow. Chloé chuckled. "Works everytime"
"You're a horrible person you know that right?"
Chloé waved her hand away. "Yeah, yeah, literally you and everyone else, tell me what else is new."
"I'm joking Chloé"
"How are Akuma's made?"
I looked away. "From what I can tell, Hawk Moth through his miraculous can sense, when people are feeling strong negative emotions, he sends an akuma to that person, and he gives them power for revenge, or what ever it is they were denied."
"I've been the cause of some Akuma's haven't I?" Chloé asked softly.
I went silent for a long time. "You're attitude doesn't help" I said softly. "And yes you seem to be the main cause of a lot of akuma's, so have I, so have a lot of grownups, we've all been mean when it would have done us well to keep a level head."
"But I've been mean, just for the sake of running people off" Chloé said her eyes gazing at something far away. "And it's put Adrien in danger, it's put you in danger."
I didn't say anything. Chloé was right.
Chloé stood up and stared out the window. "I need to be nicer to people, even people I don't like" Chloé said.
I just sat there calmly waiting.
"Can you help me?" Chloé asked.
"I've been the cause of akuma's too"
Lady Wi-fi doesn't count, you were defending me." Chloé said. "At the very least I'll try to keep my head down, and not actively seek out victims."
I nodded. "Ok"
Chloé nodded her eyes far away. "Does Adrien know? About his parents I mean?"
I shook my head. "I'm under oath to not tell him anything, not that I've been actively hiding anything."
Chloé turned to me. "What about me?"
I stopped and held her. "I couldn't have questions, questions leading to answers I wasn't ready to give."
"You mean your parents death?" Chloé said softly. "How bad…"
"Chloé" I whispered. "Please"
CHloé stared at me for a while. "Ok," She said softly. "I'll wait"
The phone in my hand started to ring. I laughed a little when I saw the number my face heating up unintentionally. "It's Nathanael, I asked him to keep an eye out for Adrien, I guess he's calling for an update."
Chloé raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you blushing" I pushed her slightly before answering my cell.
"Hey Nathanael" I said. "Sorry, I forgot to call, but Adrien's been found"
"Oh yeah?" Nathanael said with a laugh. "He ok, should I come over?"
"Oh yeah totally" Chloé snorted having overheard the conversation. "That should be fun"
I smacked Chloé. "I, actually don't know, uncle may be on the war path, so if you want to come over, fine, but… be prepared to get kicked out."
Nathanael laughed. "Any reason why you didn't call?"
I shrugged. "The resulting conversation that occurred after me and Chloé found him got a tad emotional and I honestly just forgot."
"Yeah?" Nathanael asked. "You ok?"
I nodded against the phone. "Yeah, I'm fine" My voice hitched against my will.
"Annette?"
"I gotta go, I'll talk to later, my uncle's calling" I said shutting the phone off. "Damn it"
"Girls?" We turned to the window to see Cat Noir sitting in the windowsill.
"Finished already?" I asked. Cat Noir nodded.
"You two ok?"
I smiled and nodded. "Yeah, emotional conversation got emotional, I'm fine" I said. "I'm going down stairs to get food, maybe you and Chloé should talk."
With that I backed out of the room and headed back downstairs.
"Everything true?" I was asked the second I renetered the room. Adrien looked at me angrily.
I blinked "Uh…"
"The previous villains being witches, my own parents being miraculous holders, all of it?"
"Neither of you heard it from me" I said evading the question. "Seriously though, you revealed everything in five minutes?" I asked Chloé. "Wow."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was under oath?" I said. "Besides I was afraid that questions would lead to talking about things I wasn't ready for."
Adrien glared at me. "My mother disappeared,"
"We don't know why" I said. "It might not even have anything to do with the miraculous your mother held".
"And not only that but, father was the previous holder of the butterfly, the butterfly which is currently the reason for everyone getting akumatised, don't you think Cat Noir and Ladybug should have been made aware of that?"
"Your father lost the miraculous years ago, I did not want to warn anyone of anything in case I was wrong. Falsely accusing him could have landed him in trouble. His company could have turned belly up. Your livelihood destroyed. Is that what you wanted?" I told him my arms crossed.
"It doesn't matter what I wanted!" Adrien yelled. "What matters is stopping whoever is doing this."
"Adrien" We all turned to see Nathalie at the doorway. "Your father wants to see you."
I didn't know what was said, but what I do know was that two seconds later, my entire class was at the door, wanting to check on Adrien.
Uncle Gabriel allowed them inside and we had a huge Christmas party in our mansion. Even Myléné, Ivan and Nathanael showed up.
"Hey guys" I said to my new friends.
Nathanael stared at me. "You ok? You sounded upset on the phone"
I looked to the sky and nodded. "Yeah, things got hectic earlier, but I'm fine" Nathanael just glanced at me concerned but I put on best smile and invited them to the table.
I wanted to tell them, but I had only known them for months. Maybe later, when I got to know them more.
"Adrien" I said to him after everyone had gone home. Chloe had left with the express instruction that I call her with every detail that occurred after everyone left. I only agreed after she swore that she'd withhold what she knew from everyone but Sabrina. To which she'd happily agreed.
"Ladybug should know" Adrien told me without turning around. "The previous Butterfly miraculous holder would have invaluable information on how to stop the current Hawk Moth."
I nodded. "I know"
"However, if there's something I've learned about Ladybug, it's that Ladybug jumps to conclusions far to quickly" Adrien turned to me. "And as bad as my father can be, I won't have his name turned to mud on a hunch."
I crossed my arms. "So what are we going to do?"
"We?"
"Yes We" I said. "The previous Miraculous Holders weren't alone, and don't you dare for one moment think your going in this alone either. Chloe Sabrina and I are involved now, don't you dare think your in this alone."
Adrien opened his mouth to argue, but I cut him off. "He's my family too" I said softly. "Don't cut me out."
"What do you think Plagg?" Adrien turned to the little black kwami.
"Annette already knows everything" Plagg said. "Keeping her and Chloé in the loop can't do any more harm."
Adrien turned to me. "Alright, Welcome to the team Annette."
I smiled and laughed. "Don't you for a moment think that this means, I'm not going to stop getting involved, If I can help I will"
Adrien groaned.
She was there, with the mayors daughter, the day after Christmas.
Chloé played with her coat self consciously. "Umm Annette says this was a safe place to be angry, without fear of being Akumatized." Chloé said softly.
Master Fu nodded to the girl. "Yes, indeed it is, child. Might I ask what has occurred."
"My cousin, is Cat Noir." Annette said glaring at him darkly. "What do you think happened?"
Master Fu's eyes widened and he hurried them into his massage room before any more questions could be raised.
"How did you two find out?" Master Fu asked.
"He detransformed in the middle of the Central Square on Christmas eve" Annette said. "What the hell is wrong with you" Annette said. "Hasn't my family suffered enough?"
"I needed to choose someone quickly, and your cousin fit the bill for what I needed."
"You chose Adrien?" Chloé asked. "You're the one who chose the miraculous holders?"
Master Fu nodded. "Yes child"
Chloé took a deep breath and released. "Did you choose my mother?" She asked softly.
Master Fu nodded slowly. "Isabella Bourgeois" He said. "Lovely girl, smart, beautiful, loyal almost to a fault, and extremely hardworking, couldn't have picked a better one even if I wanted too."
"What happened to her" Chloé whispered. "Is what I've been told for the past 5 years true?"
Master Fu paused. "That unfortunately is something for your father to discuss with you" Master Fu said. "I will not betray your father's trust, if he believes you capable of handling what happened to your mother, then I'm sure he will tell you when he is ready."
"That day will never come!" Chloé cried. "She's my mother I have the right!"
Annette put a hand on Chloé's back. "Let it out Chlo" She said softly. "Let it out"
"I'm sorry" Master Fu said. "I wish I could be of help to you"
"Everyone lies to me" Chloé cried brokenly. "Adrien, you, my own father, why can't anyone just tell me the truth!" She said.
"I'm sorry" Annette said softly to Chloé. "I really am"
Once Chloé had let all her emotions out she wiped her eyes and left the house, feeling exponentially better. Annette on the other hand chose to stay behind.
"You couldn't have chosen anyone else?" I asked. "The Agreste family hadn't dealt with enough pain; you wanted to add more?"
"I needed to pick someone quickly, your cousin, was the kind of person I needed." Master Fu said. "And he and Ladybug have made quite a wonderful team."
"He could get killed" Annette said. "Is that what you want?"
"No" Master Fu said. "But it was a risk needed, I'm too old to do this by myself" Master Fu said.
Annette shook her head. "He dies, and I will be back here after your head." I said angrily.
"He dies, I won't stop you." Master Fu said softly. "But, have some faith in your cousin, he may surprise you."
Annette stayed still for a few more moments before standing up straight. Her emotions better under her control.
"I have to go" Annette said. "I snuck out to bring Chloé by, but if I'm not back soon people will get suspicious." She turned to leave. "Merry Christmas" She said on her way out.
So yes Team Miraculous just got a little bigger. Hope you enjoyed this