After being late for the umpteenth time these last few months, Marinette thought she was prepared for any unknown obstacle that would come her way. Playing the role of Ladybug certainly helped with unexpected surprises she would have to endure.

Nothing would make her expect to see Chloe waiting for her. There was a certain gleam in her eyes that Marinette hadn't seen before.

Was that worry?

Before she could decide if that was true or false, the mayor's daughter perked up and quickly rushed over to the baker girl. Chloe summarized the issue without going into details. Something about Adrien needing her because of some reoccurring nightmare and that he'd be waiting for her in the boiler room.

Seeing him look so depressed and exhausted broke Marinette's heart. Whatever he seemed to be going through was enough to make her worry about him.

Marinette was very cautious about how she approached and spoke to him. Her tone remained soft and kind, never pushing him to say more than he wanted. Gentle guidance here or there was enough to get the explanation she was looking for to gain some clarity about the situation.

Then, she heard something she never expected from Adrien of all people.

It was quiet, so quiet that she didn't know if she heard him correctly. But the way he spoke, about not wanting to tell his last nightmare . . . He said knowing the secret would put Marinette in danger, that he didn't want to turn her to dust.

There was only one person that Marinette knew with the power to do so, and only when he possessed a specific miraculous; a Miraculous of Destruction.

Holding his cheeks in her hands, Marinette forced Adrien to look at him as she said a certain nickname. If he was who she believed, then he would know exactly who she is. It would break the rules set in place by the Guardians, but it will be something they will have to worry about at another time.

Eyes growing wide, like he couldn't believe the circumstances himself, Adrien whispered, "Bugaboo?"

Marinette couldn't help it. Hearing the name she hated and complained so much about before, she giggled, despite the tense atmosphere. "You haven't called me that in so long. I almost forgot about it."

"I can't believe you're you." Adrien shook his head, as though to get rid of a horrible thought. "That means it's you either way . . ."

"Either way of what?" Marinette wondered softly before she assumed, "Your last nightmare? Will you tell me what it is, now that we know each other's secret?"

"My nightmare . . ." Adrien hung his head once more, his eyes void of any joy and love they held moment before due to the memory. "I become akumatized by Monarch. I lost control of all my powers. I cataclysm the entire world. You, as yourself, sometimes as Ladybug, lay in my arms like a statue, horrified by what I had done. The slightest movement . . . and you turn to dust. No matter what I do, I lose you. I couldn't bare to have that dream anymore, so I stopped sleeping."

Heart breaking at the declaration, Marinette pulled Adrien into a loving embrace; arms wrapped around his neck while he laid his head on her shoulder. "My sweet Kitty," Marinette cooed, running her fingers through his hair. "I promise, you will never be akumatized. I know it's haunting you, but you have to sleep. You could make yourself sick and the lack of sleep could potentially be dangerous, especially when you are fighting as Cat Noir. I think . . . I may have an idea so you can sleep peacefully, even if it's just for a few minutes."

Adjusting himself so their foreheads were leaned together, Adrien gazed into her eyes with so much desperation. "How?" he whispered. "How could you possibly make that happen?"

"You'll just have to trust me," Marinette insisted before quickly adding, "and hope our friends will help without asking too many questions."

Once the first class of the day ended, Marinette and Adrien successfully snuck back out of the boiler room to put her plan into motion. After speaking to a majority of their classmates, who all noticed the way tired Adrien would doze off every now and then, they easily agreed to help out while spreading the word to others about their role in the scheme.

The plan was actually quite simple. Adrien would take Juleka's seat while Marinette would take Rose's, since the two girls always sat in the back row. Ivan would take Max's spot, so that he could use his body as a shield to block Adrien from Miss Bustier's view. The alignment would be perfect since Kim's muscular build would help hide the still somewhat new couple.

Now, Max would sit next to Nathaniel, Rose would be next to Mylene, and Alya with Nino in the front row. That meant Juleka would have to take Marinette's seat in the second row with a stubborn Chloe, who practically demanded for that part of the arrangement to be made. She claimed that something wasn't right with the rockstar's daughter, and wanted to be certain it was nothing urgent to worry about.

Seeing that she was making an effort to be better, Marinette essentially agreed, though making a mental note to check in with the two girls later, after Adrien was able to have some rest. Now that everyone had moved into their positions, Marinette thought everything would go smoothly.

Until Lila threatened to ruin everything.

"I just don't see why everyone is okay with moving around just to help hide the fact that Adrien is sleeping in class," Lila complained with an 'innocent' shrug. "Shouldn't everyone be more concerned that he wants to get away with dozing off in class instead of maintaining his academic standings?"

"Just like we told everyone before, Adrien hadn't slept properly in days," Marinette reminded as she tried to maintain her composure while dealing with the pathological liar. "His health is top concern, not his education, especially when he is near top of the class in every subject. It will only be for the day, if not an hour."

"But don't you think you're being selfish?" Lila wondered in her sugar sweet tone that was dripping in venom for those that knew her too well. "If Adrien wanted to sleep, he could have stayed home. Instead, you and him are risking everyone getting in trouble. What kind of friend is that?"

"One who's willing to give someone another chance when they don't deserve it," Chloe intervened, her glare as sharp as daggers. "If you ruin this plan, I will convince Gabriel Agreste to remove you as the female face of Alliance."

While their classmates were surprised at Chloe sticking up for Adrien and Marinette, Lila narrowed her eyes in uncertainty. "You wouldn't."

"Yes, I would," Chloe argued firmly. "Our families are super close friends. He would listen to me before he ever listens to you, especially when it comes to his son's safety."

Clenching her jaw in annoyance, Lila finally backed down from the argument. Marinette made sure to mouth a 'thank you' to the teen just as Miss Bustier bubbly walked into the classroom, her pregnant belly as pronounced as ever.

During the first few minutes of the plan being set in motion, everything seemed to be going fairly well. Having fallen into a light slumber just moments into the lesson, Adrien had his head resting against Marinette's shoulder, which forced Ivan and Kim to adjust their posture slightly. Adrien's hand had a tight grip on Marinette's, preventing her from taking notes for the both of them. She hoped one of their classmates would be kind enough to lend theirs long enough to copy a set.

About midway through the lesson, Adrien began to stir uncomfortably. His grip tightened more while his face distorted, like he was trying to fight the nightmares. Marinette tenderly kissed his forehead, whispering, "You can fight it. Remember, I love you."

At the declaration, like he could actually hear her, Adrien physically loosened up, his expression changing to one of peacefulness. Marinette wasn't entirely certain, but she could have sworn he mumbled his own confession under his breath. It just made Marinette fall deeper in love with him.

By the end of class, Adrien woke up fully alert. Although it wasn't much time, he appeared to be well rested and much happier than he had been at the beginning of the day. Marinette was grateful that her plan worked and there were no complications.

Until the universe decided to take its pain out on someone else.

Marinette and Adrien were still sitting in the back row during their fifteen minute break between classes. Alya and Nino, mostly Alya, were providing the missed notes when Chloe suddenly ran into the classroom and up to the two couples.

Hunching over slightly so she could attempt to regain her breath, Chloe pleaded desperately, "Adrien, you need to talk to Juleka. She won't listen to me."

"Why?" Adrien wondered, though he still raised from his seat. "What's wrong?"

"Juleka is about to make the same mistake you did. You need to help me stop her before it's too late."