"Good morning, sleepyhead," Lila greeted her roommate while walking into the commune bathroom to do her makeup. "Slept well?"

"Meh," Victoria answered, brushing her question aside.

"Another nightmare, I bet?"

Victoria simply nodded, passing her hand through her hair, a blond so dark it was almost brown. She kept her eyes fixed on the mirror in front of her while doing her makeup, attempting and failing to hide the dark circles under her blue eyes.

"She woke me up three times screaming," Dylan said, coming into the room to brush his teeth. "It wasn't a good night, obviously."

"But you took your pills last night, right?" Lila asked, worried.

She briefly glanced at the bottles of pills on the counter. They were sitting in the exact same place as yesterday. Not a good sign.

"Yeah, I think. I don't remember."

Lila frowned. "You've got to be more careful with them, Vee. It's not a game."

"I know," Victoria mumbled. "But I feel like they're not working, lately. Everything hurts and I can't sleep. And even when I can… I don't know, I might ask Doctor Duchaine for an adjustment later."

"You have an appointment today, right?"

"Yeah, and she's gonna be late if she doesn't hurry up!" Dylan replied instead.

Victoria laughed. "I'm ready, I'm ready!"

She made a move towards the door, ready to leave, but Lila stopped her.

"Wait, before you go, I've got to tell you something. You know, about tonight's dinner."

It was Victoria's turn to frown. Lila had suddenly grown tense after mentioning the event, her hands fidgeting with the aim of her shirt. It didn't sit well with Victoria. Her best friend was never anxious about anything and yet, it was obvious to anyone with eyes that the mere thought of this dinner was bothering Lila. But why had she agreed to it if it put her in such a state?

"What about it?"

"Reid's new DJ and his friends … they're the friends I had when I was in Paris. The ones I told you about."

As Lila finished her sentence, she caught Dylan's eyes in the mirror. She needed him to understand what she couldn't say. What she was worried about. And based on the way he stared back at her, wide-eyed, she knew he understood perfectly well what she wasn't saying.

"Wait, you mean, the ones who …," Victoria trailed off, not catching the silent conversation between her boyfriend and her best friend. "Are you sure it's okay if I come, too?"

Lila shrugged, faking nonchalance. "Of course. I'll talk to them beforehand. Everything will be fine."

The problem, however, was that Lila wasn't quite sure who she was trying to convince. Her friend or herself.

—

Adrien laughed as he watched his friends running around his apartment, mesmerized by the view, the high walls, and the expensive furniture that had only been used once.

"Dude, I don't get it," Nino whined. "What are you doing in Paris when you have this?"

Adrien simply glanced over at Plagg, who was eating with the other kwamis in the kitchen, with an unimpressed look on his face.

"I don't know, running around in a leather suit, I guess."

"Oh, right, I forgot about that for a second here."

"How could…" Alya started before suddenly stopping, eyes fixed on her cell phone. "Wait, Lila is calling me. Hey girl, what's up?"

Hopefully, something came up and they have to cancel tonight, Adrien thought.

Unfortunately for him, he had never been particularly lucky.

"Alright? Uh, yeah, sure, no problem. Just text me the time. Okay, see you later."

Alya hung up, but she kept her eyes glued to her cell, her brow furrowed and her lips pursed.

"That's weird," she finally said after a moment, looking up at the guys before they could ask her what was wrong. "She wants us to meet her a bit earlier. Got something to tell us, apparently. I don't know, I have an odd feeling. She seemed really nervous on the phone."

"Nervous? It doesn't sound like Lila," Nino conceded. "Let's not focus on that, uh? It's probably nothing serious. We have so many things to do and see before tonight! But first, how about we finally try out this freaking pool?"

"Only if there's alcohol involved."

"I gotcha babe. Three Nino's special on the way!"

But even if the pool was amazing and the drinks were tasty, something was bothering Alya. Despite Nino's reassurance and the way the boys attempted to change her mind during the day, she simply couldn't escape this weird sensation. Whether they were in the water, having lunch in town, or getting ready for the night, there was this thing that she couldn't explain. Like her guts knew something she didn't.

She couldn't help but think about her conversation on the plane with Adrien. About how he claimed he had this feeling that something was going to happen. She had believed it was the beginning of a panic attack. It wouldn't have been his first. But now, she wasn't so sure.

Speaking of, she glanced at Adrien, who was texting on his second phone—Chat Noir's phone—probably giving some instructions to Luka. He seemed somewhat more relaxed than he had been in the last few years. For once, he wasn't frowning, his jaw wasn't tight and he was leaning back casually against the wall, not alert to danger of any kind.

Alya smiled to herself, pleased to know that she had been right. Leaving Paris was good for him. Being somewhere where Marinette's memory wasn't attached to every single place could only help. Of course, she knew Adrien couldn't abandon Paris forever. He had responsibilities there, after all. Hawkmoth's assaults were less frequent, sure, but they were a lot more perilous.

The villain had grown reckless over the years. And without Ladybug to fix everything… many people had left Paris, scared for their life. But the ones who stayed needed protection from the murderous akumas. Thank God, Hawkmoth usually attacked only once a month, two if he was feeling really angry.

If someone had told teenage Alya that she would miss her time in lycée, she would've laughed in their face. The acne, the uncontrollable hormones, and the homework? Not a chance. And yet, they would've been right. She deeply missed the easy akumas, the ones that were defeated with the most random objects. She especially missed the way she didn't fully understand her responsibilities, like the whole thing was a play pretend. Back then, it was as if the akuma weren't a genuine threat and Rena Rouge was just a way to pass the time. At the time, she thought she understood. She was convinced she was acting like an adult. And yet, years later, when she looked back on it… She realized how young and innocent she used to be. How they all were.

Except for Marinette and Adrien, maybe.

As the leaders and Guardians of the miraculous, Ladybug and Chat Noir didn't have a choice but to know the extent of what they were dealing with. They recognized the risks and the consequences and they had accepted them all. Yet, even for them, at first, it wasn't that serious.

As kids, they'd joked around and messed with the akumas. But a few weeks before Marinette's 16th birthday, Master Fu died of a heart attack. A few hours later, Ladybug and Chat Noir were on a rooftop, each taking half of the jewels for safekeeping. That night, they both had to grow up too fast and say goodbye to their childhood.

A year later, all of the miraculous had a wielder. Besides Ladybug and Chat Noir, none of the heroes needed to come to each battle. But whenever their respective guardian gave them the signal, they had to be there. And even though all the miraculous were accounted for, the Guardian had to make sure that everything was okay. They were responsible for making sure that the holder was still trustworthy and that the kwami was in good hands. They also had to make sure that the bearer was safe, healthy and happy. They guided them, helped them, and supported them.

But no one was there to do the same for the Guardians.

When Marinette died, her charges revealed themselves to Chat Noir, as he was the only remaining Guardian. But then, he touched rock bottom. He didn't have a choice but to tell Nino and Alya the identity of all the holders. He couldn't even take care of himself, how could he take care of 11 other heroes? So now, all three of them took on the responsibility of being the Guardians. She wouldn't admit it to anyone but sometimes, Alya was jealous of the others. Envious of their ignorance, of the fact they didn't have to fight every battle, and of the way they could still live a normal life, for the most part. And then, she got mad at herself, because Zoe and Kagami had already paid more than enough and deserved a relatively ordinary existence. And so did the others.

No, she had agreed to this life. She accepted it, unknowingly, when she became friends with Marinette. And then, she accepted it once again when she took the fox miraculous permanently. She couldn't blame the others for making different decisions.

Whenever Alya thought about it, she also thought about Marinette. How could she do it all as a kid? Alya had trouble handling it all at 26, yet an underage girl could? Granted, a generous, selfless, and courageous teenager, but still. How could Master Fu choose such young children to take on such an important and ultimately deadly role?

If he was still alive, she would've killed him herself. Thanks to him, they had to renounce their innocence. They had been plagued by secrets and weight no one, especially not adolescents, should ever have to bear. But even worst, because of him, they lost Marinette. If the heroes had been adults, if they had been more mature, more experience, maybe Marinette would be alive. She would've been safe at home that night. She wouldn't have been running around on this damn rooftop, trying to stop a villain from killing the whole city. This building wouldn't have fallen on her, she wouldn't have every bone in her body, she…

Cease it, Alya! she mentally shouted at herself. What is wrong with me today?

"Hey, guys!"

Alya jumped. Lost in her thoughts, she hadn't realized that Lila had come to meet them up in the hallway in front of Reid's place. They had been there for a few minutes now, waiting for Lila to come out and tell them whatever was making her so nervous.

"I'm so sorry for making you wait, but trust me, I need to talk to you."

"Of course, dudette. What's going on?"

Lila took a deep breath. "Alright, so Reid invited his best friend, Dylan. Dylan's girlfriend, Victoria, is my best friend. We met shortly after I arrived here. They're the ones who introduced Reid and me… Anyway, hmm… When I first saw Victoria, I was shocked. I couldn't believe it."

"Why?" Alya asked, eyeing the boys in confusion.

"That's what I need to tell you since I know how close you were to her …," she trailed off and Alya couldn't understand why she suddenly felt like puking. Lila continued. "Guys, she looks a lot like Marinette."

Alya immediately turned towards Adrien. She expected him to be on the verge of a panic attack or something. But instead, she found him glaring at Lila with hard eyes, his arms folded over his chest.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" he asked, his voice dangerously low.

Lila took a step back. "Come inside and you'll understand. I'm just trying to warn you."

She opened the door, inviting them in. And while Nino, albeit a little unsure, walked inside the apartment, Alya looked at Adrien. He simply rolled his eyes and shrugged, clearly not thinking much of this "resemblance" between Victoria and Marinette.

Once in, Lila led them to a living room, where three other people were chatting and drinking. Reid was facing them, lost in conversation with a couple.

"Reid, they're here!" Lila said.

Reid replied something, probably greeting them, but no one answered, eyes fixed on the other two who had now turned. While Dylan was another attractive all-American type of guy, the girl was absolutely stunning. And oh, so familiar looking.

For a second, Alya forgot how to breathe. Because right in front of her, her dead best friend was smiling at her.

"Mari?" she whispered.

Alya looked at Victoria, at her light brown hair, her deep blue eyes, and her nervous smile. And even though she couldn't find the sparkle in her eyes, the red cheeks, or the confident smirk, for a short moment, Alya was convinced that her best friend had come back to her. To them. But the girl spoke without a trace of a French accent, breaking the spell.

"Lila told me a lot about you guys. I'm so sorry about …, well, this," Victoria said, vaguely pointing to her face. And she truly looked apologetic over the whole thing, especially once she glanced at…

Oh, my god, Adrien.

Alya wiped the tears from her cheeks and turned to Adrien. Thankfully, Nino had been faster. With one hand on his best friend's back, he was speaking to Adrien in a hushed voice, even though Adrien didn't seem like he could hear anything. He was staring at Victoria open-mouthed, his face pale, as though he had seen a ghost.

And in a way, he had.