It was too much for the day, Marinette had stated. If only she could pause the time to let herself breath and think better, it would have been a blast. It all started yesterday. She had investigated the Shift, following the caregivers and trying to catch the akuma behind it. Unfortunately, her patrol didn't give her any lead. Then, Maestro had quickly appeared, preventing her from furtherly interviewing the involved citizens. Granted, she believed he could have a connection with it, or reveal Monarch's intention so she went as fast as she could to its location. Everything was going on as usual until the kid had arrived with a miraculous he shouldn't have, then the akuma, then weird sentimonsters and a new peacock holder . Circling in her room while thinking actively, the raven haired teenager glanced at her trap door when she heard a knocking sound.

"Come in!"

The door opened slightly, and she saw worried deep brown eyes looking around.

"You..you're sure about it? I will not disturb you? I'm so so so sorry to intrude your house like that…"

"Don't worry about it, wasn't I the one who proposed for you to stay for the time being?" she replied gently, helping the frail girl up.

"Yes, that's so nice of you! It's my mistake for not verifying my house was…Well, my house; before Ladybug dropped me..If you didn't pass coincidentally at that moment, I would have slept in the street!"

"Haha…don't mention it.." she winced.

She had felt guilty about that, but for her defense, she didn't have much time left when she had dropped the girl at her address and had rushed for the closest narrow pathway to detransform safely behind her now usual waste container 'wardrobe'. Normally, she would just have moved away without looking back, but this time she had been worried for the akuma's victim after all that Billie girl had told her. When she was in her arms jumping from roofs to roofs, Aysha had basically freaked out so much she had nearly let her fall. At least, she seemed to be fine, so when she had asked her if she wanted to go to the hospital or go back home, the younger girl had immediately answered for the latter, even when Ladybug had recommended the other option.

Seeing as the beeping was intensifying, the HLM building being closer, she had directed toward it.

It didn't mean she couldn't get a quick pick afterward as Marinette, right? So she had left the alley and pretended to be walking nonchalantly before the HLM building to see if the girl had returned safely. To her surprise, she had found the young one crying alone on the stairs. She had approached as her civilian self, and Aysha had explained that someone else was living in her current apartment and didn't recognize her on the interphone no matter how long she explained, that she had nowhere to go and wanted her parents back. Being quite talkative, Marinette had started to understand that the girl was also one of the Shift's victims. The gentle heroine in heart and mind had been so affected by Aysha's despair she had proposed for her to stay at her place until she could find her parents, something she had never done before to stranger akumatized victims, for secret identity's reasons obviously.

And here they were, one day after the incident. Quickly, Marinette had felt a bit annoyed and embarrassed by the indian girl's presence. She couldn't stay one second alone to talk to Tikki without the fear of being interrupted. She also confirmed the 11 year old girl was to be a talking machine and soon she had known almost everything about her life : Her family originated from Pondichéri although she was born in France, her 4 brothers that would tease her a lot, the way her school life was complicated…

It wasn't bad though, because it was a great opportunity to get some answers about the Shift. She had let Aysha rest for the time being, but now, on this calm saturday morning, she invited her to sit down. Of course, she had to be cautious to not reveal too much about herself and the fact she was actively investigating. When the girl had sat down on the chair she was offered, Marinette launched her 'getting useful infos' plan.

"I'm sorry if it's too soon but.. you've told me yesterday Ladybug had freed you from being an akuma?! That must have been so scary!"

"Oh yes! It was ! I was crying in the toilet at school and suddenly a butterfly attacked me and the next thing I remember was being in her arms! She's so cool, but she was in such a hurry she didn't even tell me what actually happened!"

"Yes, you've told me about it yesterday, and they even talked about it on TV! There was also another weird event where some people lost consciousness, after an akuma attack it seems. They call it 'The Shift' and it kinda messes with people's memory apparently. Do you remember anything before you got akumatized that could explain it? "

She had lied about the TV part. She was so drained yesterday (and in general) she always slept late in week end's morning. She had only been awake a few minutes ago, to complain over her missing Luck lately.

"No I'm sorry…I didn't see anything. What I remember is the ground shaking, the school alarm ranging and instructions to evacuate by Mrs Mendeleiev's. It must have been very dangerous for the director to deliver the message herself."

"Mr…Mrs Mendeleiev ?" This name did ring a bell.

"It's our school director and also a science teacher who's been there for a long time."

"What? But in which school do you go exactly?"

"Our school's name is Françoise Dupont, but that might not tell you anything.."

Hell yes, it was telling her something! Now that she thought about it, they had been evacuated yesterday like she told her. Only not with the ground shaking parts. Or Mrs Mendeleiev's rattled voice.

"Oh, it does tell me something! Actually I've..euh…Friends! Friends that attend that school!"

"What, really? Like who?"

"Err, they are in older classes, you might not know them haha. But talking about classmates, from the footage on TV's, there was a boy you had targeted as an akuma…don't worry, he is fine, Chat Noir saved him. I think his name was Hugo.."

"Hugo's here too? And I've attacked him? Oh no, he might never want to be my friend again!"

Marinette prevented the girl from flopping head first on her carpet and ending mopping for the rest of the day.

"Don't say that, I'm sure he already understood you were akumatized and didn't mean to do that, right? It's not your fault, it's Monarch."

"Monarch? But isn't he dead? You mean Pandora?"

Marinette froze on the spot. Dead? DEAD?

The last time she checked, he was pretty much alive, even a little too lively for her liking.

"Since when Monarch's been dead? And who's that Pandora? "

It was Aysha's turn to have her eyes widening.

"Y-y-you don't know about Pandora?! Oh no, am I going crazy? What if the akuma had altered my memories too! "

"Shhh shh, calm down. Tell me what you know about Monarch and Pandora, maybe it's just the way you call them that's different?"

The frail girl nodded.

"So uhm…I've lived in Paris for about 8 years as you know, so I've only heard about Monarch by name, and I know he was Pandora's predecessor. He was defeated and disappeared a long time ago before I was even born but Pandora is worse than him and is terrorizing Paris. She wants to kill Ladybug and all the superheroes and she doesn't hesitate to do horrible things! Mom even says she is getting worse and now takes hostages and kills the akumas before they are freed."

Marinette listened with much concern. An hypothesis was starting to form in her mind, but she just…couldn't believe that. That was impossible. Bunnyx would never allow this.

" I see…she looks really scary.."

"She is scary! If I was akumatized, then I could have hurt Hugo pretty bad! In the past, I've heard in the news some victims ended up dead or paralyzed for life!"

The high-pitched voice of the indian girl had reached two octaves above while she was frantically panicking just by evoking the possibility. Not wanting for her to add to her PTSD, Marinette decided to change the subject for another point she had died to ask.

"But you didn't hurt him too bad I've told you, so Hugo's fine. (I hope) It's Hugo…Agreste right? I've heard it on TV, you had called him that. Is he related to Adrien Agreste, the model?"

" Uh…I think it's his father's name…but he's not a model though, he's a physics teacher, he's quite handsome so it wouldn't surprise me he was at some point…"- the girl got startled by the way Marinette's brain had seemed to cease functioning and covered her mouth - " Oh no! I did it again right?! I said something I shouldn't? I knew it, they're all right about me, I'm a mess! Hugo's going to kill me!"

Oh no, Marinette wasn't letting her go away with..THIS! She grabbed both her shoulders and almost begged :

"NO! I mean…no, you did nothong wring…err..nothing wrong! It's just..I might know an Adrien with the same nickname and that surprised me, hahaha! "

" Waa, I didn't know it was such a common name! What a coincidence!"

Yes, what a coincidence, she hoped.

"Yeah, maybe they're related somehow but differently haha, like you know, rich people sometimes call their children after their uncle, grandparents! Or maybe they're not related because there must be SO MANY Agreste in the world and SO MANY Adrien."

"That's true! In India we do such things too! And it's true his family's rich! His mom is famous in the fashion universe even if I know nothing about it, but she draws very well! It's funny because she's the exact same name as you, and her cooking is divine, Hugo always brings pastries when she makes some and always say how happy he is to have a Child-of-Bakers Mom. Oh, and she's very pretty, just like you, you look alike a lot actually it's crazy…Marinette? Oh no, I really did it, didn't I?"

Sjazkhziehfkezlhfaxkzlmfjazmndezfhozeharze. Marinette's capacity to formulate clear sentences in her mind had received a fatal blow. She might have been ready to implode and if a certain pixar movie was true, a red button was ready to be pressed just for her to freak out inside her brain. Right now, she wanted to kick Aysha outside her room 'sparta style' through her trap door, to flop on her bed and scream in her pillow for the whole day while leaking all her insane theories to Tikki. And call Adrien and tell him…Wait no, the last thing she wanted WAS to call him! It would be a disaster, a complete disaster, like the disastrous disaster that was disastrously messing with her world at that precise moment. A wonderful disaster if it was true though…. She sensed Tikki pulling at her t-shirt from behind and she knew she had to relax. Aysha was now sobbing, convinced she might have caused the apocalypse in one sentence..and it wouldn't be exactly wrong because Marinette was pretty sure she now knew something she shouldn't.

"Marinette! You have a guest!"

Her mom's voice resonated at the worst time, she really wasn't in the mood for Alya to come by. Worst, what if it was Adrien?! She couldn't face him right now!

"Sorry Mom, tell Alya or (gulp) Adrien that I'm super ultra mega busy right now! "

"It's not Alya or Adrien! It's someone that claims he needs to talk to you..."

She frowned. Who could it be? Her mom knew all her friends so she would have told her right away. Opening the door trap, Marinette slowly went down the stairs, not knowing who to find at the end.

The street might have changed a bit, but the man knew by heart the way to the bakery. It was the first landmark he could think about for such an emergency. But now that he was at the front, he understood the most difficult part was to face the people inside. Gathering his courage, he entered the bakery, and was immediately greeted by Sabine.

"Hello mister, what would it be?"

He smiled awkwardly. Maybe it wasn't that much of a great idea after all, but right now, he couldn't think of anything else. Alix had given him an important mission, and there was only one person who could help him. Still, it was soooo weird.

"Actually, I'm not here to buy anything. I'm here to talk to Marinette. Could I speak to her please?"

The woman in front of him frowned. Of course, he didn't expect less from her, having an adult asking for her teenage daughter was odd and could be greatly misinterpreted. He was counting on the fact Marinette had a lot of friends and a little reputation in artistic projects, like for Jagged's album.

"Are you an acquaintance of hers?" Sabine asked, narrowing her gaze.

"..It's complicated. We've never met each other before, but I know about her..from friends when I asked for advice, and they told me she could help me."

It wasn't technically false, but would the baker's wife actually believe that? Sabine stared at him for a minute, before sighting.

"Oh, I see. I will call her and ask for her opinion about it.."

Ah, at least he could talk to her! That was the first step! But now, he needed for her to not be intimidated or wary about him. He had to find a way to talk in private… After some reticence, the raven haired girl went down the stairs, looking shaken. She could be tired after the akuma's attacks of yesterday, especially against Pandora's one so it was understandable. She finally got a look at him, the kind of analyzing gaze he knew very well from her, only it never was directed at him usually. Before he could plead his cause, another girl sprouted up and immediately squealed before running to him crying.

"LOUIIISSS! Louis you're here!" she had hugged him and stuck like a tick at his side, her chin barely reaching half of his torso.

"Aysha?! What are you doing here? "

" Sob…Louis, this is crazy! I've been akumatized and saved by Ladybug and Chat Noir but I didn't know where I was and Marinette and her family were so nice to me they invited me! My parents have left our apartments and I can't find them! I felt so lonely I'm so happy to find you here too!"

"Wow wow, calm down, I don't get everything you're saying.."

"And I'm so sorry! I think I might have hurt Hugo when I was an akuma! Marinette told me he's fine thanks to Chat Noir but..I'm so sorry!"

"Aysha, dear. You know this man?" interrupted Sabine, now more confused than suspicious.

The frail girl took a step back, rubbing her eyes.

"Yes, this is Louis, my friend Hugo's older brother."

It did gain in his favor that the girl was here, even if he knew from Hugo that being stuck with her in the mansion of all secrets was a tricky situation. And the' Secret disaster' like his brother liked to call her might have already done damage upon his arrival. Because from behind, Marinette's expression had changed drastically to one of a gasping fish, becoming red as a tomato and eyes threatening to pop up from her orbits. Could she be already aware of..? But he was distracted by some information Aysha's had given away.

"You were with Hugo? Where is he? Is he here with you all? "

"N-No…I'm sorry I don't remember..But Marinette said he was with Chat Noir the last time he checked. Maybe he got him home?"

Home, like in the Agreste mansion? He hoped it wasn't the one he was thinking about.

" Oh, Louis! Marinette wanted to ask what's your father's name? Is it Adrien? Because she knows another one and it's funny because he has the same umhf."

Ok, then she already knew. It would simplify things. Preventing the talkative girl in damage control, he released her hand from her mouth.

"Sorry, I don't have time to chat right now. I need to talk with Marinette in private about an urgent problem I have….if she agrees of course?"

His begging green eyes met and pierced into the blue cerulean ones with all seriousness and determination he could muster. He didn't need her to be distracted about her discovery and he wanted her to understand that. The Ladybug in her. The baker's daughter gulped, but then nodded.

"Uhm, Mom he's right! Actually I've..uhm…I've known he would come. He's Adrien's relative! He needs some advice for ….a surprise! Yes! Haha! Could you watch over Aysha's for me a bit? We would REALLY need privacy!"

Her mother agreed slowly, and invited a quite offended Aysha to the kitchen, so they could start preparing lunch together. This immediately lifted her spirits up fortunately.

Meanwhile, a stressed out Marinette climbed the stairs, followed by the stranger that was probably not one. What really messed with her mind was that he was older than her, in his early twenties, with raven short hair (like her) and these green eyes (like Adrien). His face had a feeling of familiarity in it, but she might have been extrapolating with all she knew. He was tall, wearing a casual white t-shirt beneath a well designed opened gray jacket harmonizing with his somber blue jean. A black waistbag from a famous brand was barring his torso and she almost expected a Kwami to pop out of it. She glanced a few times at him, trying to read his face, and as much as he was trying not to express anything, his hand scratching the back of his neck was a clear sign he was as nervous as her. No words were exchanged until they arrived in her room and he closed the door. She stands before him, playing nervously with her hand, and absolutely having no idea what he actually wanted from her. It was him who started to speak again.

"Good, now we're finally alone! Tikki, I know you're here, you can come out!"

Noooo, she had succeeded to remain calm until now, she couldn't handle that much in one day! After a few seconds of hesitation, the Ladybug kwami finally left her hiding.

"So you know me…you, why do you have the Time Miraculous?"

"He has what?"

Tikki turned around to her.

"I've sensed Fluff's magic leaking from him since we've met."

Louis didn't waste time and uprooted the clock miraculous from his sack. The clock was in bad shape and there was a laceration mark on the dial. The needles were still turning, jolting from time to time.

"Yes, Alix has given it to me for the time being…he wouldn't have been in security with her.."

"What happened to it? Alix would never give it away to someone else…" Marinette whispered.

Louis nodded, expression darkening.

"Yes, but there's an akuma that is following her track. It's because of him it was damaged, although he didn't intend to. Since he can travel wherever she goes, she gave it to me so I could come ask for your help and repair it unwittingly. Knowing you, I'm sure you would have at least some of the ingredients inherited from the previous guardian."

"Is Alix in danger right now?"

"... Yes, she's wounded AND being trailed by it. As we speak, she might be running all around Paris to not get caught. I do hope the fact she doesn't have her miraculous anymore will delay them though.."

He was now frowning just at the thought, but he quickly shook his head.

"That's why I need you. The faster we repair it, the faster she will clear up the mess it caused."

"You mean 'The Shift'?"

"Is that how you call it? Yes, it's probably what you're referring to. The leaking energy exploded and all the people around a certain radius got caught in it. Alix told me she tried to avoid dispersing us in time, so she concentrated on a specific date for us all. For those who didn't "exist" at the time, like me, we just popped here. For the older persons, it seems their spirits have exchanged places and they are finding themselves in their younger bodies. I can't imagine the mess it might be from where I'm from…"

"You're talking about ..Time travel right? So, that means you…"

" I've always admired you for being really smart, even in your youth, from the stories. Aysha might be a secret disaster but I knew you would connect the dots on your own. If you didn't, I was going to tell you though. Yes, I'm coming from the future."

"...and you…you're…my son?"

For the first time, the boy smiled warmly at her and nodded. She squeaked, and when he tried to calm her down, she put a hand before him, stopping him in his tracks.

"Wait! Wait..I just, let me just have my moment please."

If he had a high opinion of her before, then probably seeing her freak out, circling in her room, spouting nonsense when trying to pull out her hair was tarnishing his mental image of hers. Adding the fact she was half whispering in fear the whole house could hear her added to the oddity.

"OMG Tikki! He's from the future! And it's my son! And his name is Agreste so that means I'm married to Adrien and we have 2 children.."

"Three."

"THREE children like I always dream off! Like how lucky is that? I should be crying of happiness right now, it should be the best day of my life! In fact, it might be?! But then what about this weird akuma, and Monarch's dead, and there's a new villain that's worse than him and Alix's in danger and I've no idea if I can even repair her miraculous. And what about the time? What about the butterfly effect? Tikki, what should I do right now? This is crazy. I feel my mind will explode!"

After some exchanges with her supernatural friend that sounded more like an hysteric monologue, a very red and panting Marinette finally recovered her breath and faced back at Louis, who had obediently watched without moving an inch.

"Wow, I haven't seen you like this in a long time...are you okay?" Louis asked shyly. The least he wanted was to make her turn crazy, although he had known this reaction could happen. He had rarely witnessed his mother lose her cool like this, like that time when she was to meet with Chloe Bourgeois in a fashion convention in the US after nearly 20 years.

"Yes…I think I'm doing great right now! Although, isn't it a disaster that I know all this? What about the butterfly effect?"

"Do not worry about it. In the future, miraculous holder's have made a lot of discoveries about their powers. Alix told me she knows a way to "erase" her mistake without impacting the future, no matter what you learn."

Marinette actually sighed in relief. Well, it was true she invented magical charms for people by improvisation. It was actually reassuring they had evolved and matured in the future, especially if their enemy was as dangerous as depicted.

Wait, erase?

"Then our memories will be affected as well."

"Yes, of course. How can the future go on as it was supposed to be if you have so much information…about us? "

"..."

She was expecting this, and she understood quite well. Yet she was a little down. After that life changing discovery, she couldn't even benefit from it! That was unfair! As she was moping a bit, she felt two big hands gently tugging her by her shoulders.

"Hey. I know it might be a bit difficult to accept but…we will meet again for certain this way. And I promise you, it will be way better than like this. "

His words had warmed her heart up and she blushed before rubbing both her cheeks and eyes. It wasn't the time to be overwhelmed she decided and the Ladybug in her took back her self control, although still quite shy around the young man theoretically way younger than her.

"You're right, I'm sorry about..that. It will be a good thing if you forget about what you saw just now…"

He hummed.

"That I can't promise..but don't worry, I've already seen you like this before."

"...Oh no really? I feel kinda ashamed I've been showing that side to you already…"

"...Don't worry Mom, it's much rarer than before. You're an adult in my era, and you're much more composed than you were back then. You might not know but you've already quite an impressive self control for a teenage girl with as much responsibility as you do right now. I wouldn't do better at your place…"

She flinched at the nickname but felt way lighter being praised like that by her own family-to-be. It really meant something for sure, and she expressed it with a wide smile.

"Thank you. You're quite mature yourself."

"Well, I'm older, and I've been taught by the best !" He winked.

Now, he was showing her a side she thought matched a bit with Chat's usual behavior. She wondered if her partner was still part of her life in the future and how well he knew about her family, and identity… It would be a question for another time though.

"Ahh, stop complimenting me, that's so unfair you know me so well and I don't, so I can't reply to that! Anyway, let's get back to business. First, we will need the Grimoire…"

Ready to head to her desk and get the book, she didn't expect him to stop her.

"Wait, no need for it."

"What? But don't we need the Grimoire to know how to repair the miraculous?" she asked quizzically, only to see the raven haired boy pointing at his head.

" I already know all there is to know about the process, all I need are the ingredients and your Ladybug magic."

As promised, he started to give her all the instructions with minutious details. Amazed, she followed his lead, gathering the stocks she got from Master Fuu when he ' entrusted it 'to her. Louis had removed his jacket and was now focused on the dosing, wearing gloves and protective glasses he had in his sack. Before she could ask anything, Louis spoke up, without leaving the concoction from his eyes.

"I've passed my 2nd year License of Chemistry /Biochemistry and soon I'm entering my Master. Although it is mainly theoretical, we have practicing classes and it's better to bring our own tools because the ones they provide aren't the best quality.

And for the Grimoire, I've learned it by heart since I was 12 years old." He temporarily looked up to meet her gaze, before going back to work.

Ladybug (because she had transformed in order to help for the dangerous manipulation and use her lucky charm to obtain the machine and utensils they needed) was efficiently impressed, and feeling somewhat proud. That was her son for sure!

"Wow, even I wouldn't be able to learn it by heart! You're actually a genius!"

"Not really…I just…needed to compensate for the fact I couldn't directly help with fighting the akumas. I've concluded that knowledge was the only way I could actually help you all..."

"Oh…"

It seemed she had struck a nerve here. Fortunately, he didn't seem too bothered by it and soon, they obtained a cyan fluorescent mixture. Louis poured it into some cog shaped patron, and removed the sweat on his forehead.

"Good. We just need to wait for it to cool down."

"Yes, great job there! Tikki, spot off!"

Finally, they could have a pause. It had felt like hours, but it didn't last more than 40 minutes. Enough for another surprise to knock at her room's door and open it in a hurry.

"MARINETTE! Why don't you answer your phone! You need to watch this! I've THE scoop! Well, you can't really film it well but I swear it's gonna trigger your ladybug sens…"

"Alya?! What are you doing here?! I told you to always knock at the trap door…"

The journalist would have enthusiastically dismissed her except this time, there was actually someone else already in the room.

Immediately, she turned on her suspicious look.

"Uh? Who's that guy? No way Marinette…don't tell me you're already cheating on Adrien for an older dude?"

Louis sighed while Marinette face-palmed and growled.

"What?! No way, I could never do that and you know it! This is Louis and he's…Adrien's relative?"

The 21 year old man only exchanged a glance with his mother's best friend, before turning to Marinette.

"Does she already know?"

"Wait, what am I supposed to know?"

"You mean that I'm Ladybug? Yes, she does."

Louis breathed in relief.

"Good, then we can tell her."

"What, are you sure? Isn't it..risky even if it can be undone afterward?"

"Hey! What are you talking about? And why the hell is your room resembling the one of a mad scientist girl?"

The Dupain-Cheng both nodded, before inviting Alya's in and shutting the door behind.

"Okay, this might be quite a shock so you need to stay calm. Actually Louis is.."