Ladybug quickly made her way home, swinging gracefully onto the Dupan-Chang bakery roof. She added an extra, well-practiced flip down to her balcony, detransforming just before she landed.

"What a night!" Tiki chirped cheerfully as always as she zipped around Marinette.

"Yeah, what a night," Marinette repeated absentmindedly. Her thoughts were wrapped up in her partner. She smiled to herself. If Chat had known he was what consumed her thoughts he certainly would have teased her about it.

"Did you notice anything different about Chat Noir tonight Tiki," Marinette asked, finally surfacing from her silence.

"Same crazy cat as always," The little kwami responded a little too quickly.

"No, I mean, just as he left," Marinette insisted settling down onto the chair at her desk. She picked up and started picking at a swing project she had started, which had been dropped over her computer.

Tiki looked intently at Marinette. Tiki knew more than was hers to tell. "He seemed to have a lot on his mind," she finally sighed simply.

"There was plenty that might have been on Chat's mind. There was lots on her's. So much had happed. Just this past year they had finally defeated Hawkmoth and Myura. Nothing could have prepared them for the shock of discovering that Hawkmoth had actually been Gabriel Agreste the whole time. After years of defending the city from his akuma attacks, they had revealed him. Both Gabriel, and his assistant Natalie (Myura), had gone to prisons on terrorism charges (among other things). The Agreste design company was dissolved. His employees and lines were scavenged by vultures from other design firms. Even the massive fortress of a house had been sold off, and reallocated for office buildings. His wife Emille (who he had tried everything in his power to save), had been moved to a medical care facility. She remained preserved by some kind of magic, but although she did not die, she did not awaken either.

What had devastated Marinette the most though had been seeing Adrien experiencing the pain and grief of loosing so much. Her heart ached for him even now. His father had never been warm or affectionate (she understood now why), but he had still been the man Adrien called father. And his mother…well, that whole situation was messed up.

The day after Gabriel had been arrested; Adrien had showed up to school again. Everyone had been shocked, thinking he would have preferred to take the time off to deal with everything on his own. Marinette had put aside all of her own insecurities around Adrien. For him to have gone through all of that, she just needed to be there for him. It wasn't about gushing about him one day asking her out on a date any more. In the worst situation imaginable he needed friends. Hours on the phone talking about everything…or just listening to him process. Inviting him to play video games. Surprising him with fresh croissants in the morning. Freely giving him hugs. Maybe one day he'd realize how much deeper her love was, but right now his emotions must be all over…although he still put on a brave front, and rarely broke the façade around anyone.

Marinette's eyes briefly flickered over to the loose floor board under her chaise lounge, where she had hidden the miracle box. The peacock brooch now rested securely back in its rightful place. The butterfly miraculous however…had not been recovered. Even Gabriel seemed shocked by its disappearance. With Nuroo still unaccounted for there was still a threat hanging over their heads, and Chat and Ladybug had to stay vigilant. Hawkmoth's legacy might be passed to another who would use the power for their own means.

After Hawkmoth's defeat she had actually talked to Chat Noir about revealing their identities. It had always been so important to keep this information from Hawkmoth, who expertly manipulated emotions to get what he wanted. In order to protect their friends and family it was the sacrifice they had to make. But now that Hawkmoth was gone, maybe they should. She had though Chat Noir would be thrilled and rush into telling her who he was beneath the mask, after all he had been asking her for years to do just that. When she brought up the subject, he was actually against it, and said they should wait longer. He had always trusted her enough to keep their identities a secret when she asked, so she didn't question him. She did wonder though why the sudden change. Maybe he didn't fee the same way about her that he did before.

"Ouch!" Marinette squeaked suddenly breaking out of her world-wind of thoughts as she pricked her finger with the needle she had been hemming with. She stuck her finger in her mouth, and surveyed her work. With an exasperated sigh she realized she had just sewn her dress to the pants she was wearing. "I'm not paying attention again, and missing things right under my nose!" She lamented to Tiki as she had to rip out her stitches and start again.

"Don't worry Marinette," encouraged Tiki smiling to herself, "I'm sure everything will turn out fine in the end. Just keep working at it!"