A/N ~ Just so you know, when Naia explained everything to our favourite superhero duo, she explained the wish and all of its consequences

ILYSM ~ Echo

Naia and Adrien sat looking at the list of candidates for Hawkmoth that they had compiled from previous Akumas. Adrien had Narrowed it down to:

Théo Barbot,

Jalil Kubdel,

Armand D'Argencourt,

Simón Grimault or

Gabriel Agreste.

All of them had some sort of motive or incriminating factor about their akumatisation alongside partially matching the description Akuma victims gave of Hawkmoth. Adrien looked stony,

"My father's Hawkmoth isn't he?"

Naia didn't try to hide it, "Yes, he has your mother hidden downstairs in a glass coffin. She's either dead, in a coma or insane and he's keeping her in a stasis so that she doesn't rot, die or kill everyone. He wants the miraculous to bring her back."

Adrien looked conflicted before stealing his expression, "Fath- Gabriel never did move on, I've mourned her. I miss mom, but I don't need her back. If I was given her back then I would have her in a heartbeat; but not at the cost of anyone else. I couldn't bear it."

She hugged him, and they stayed in silence until Adrien began sobbing. She just let him cry into the night and they fell asleep hugging.

The next day she and Adrien had completely free and that was an awful thing to have happened. Adrien entered a level of mild hysteria while Naia debated which movie to put on to explain his crisis to Natalie, The Truman Show or The Matrix. Eventually she just shoved one of them in the DVD and The Matrix began to play.

It took 3 weeks, in which there were no Akuma attacks thankfully, something was bothering Gabriel but she couldn't bring herself to care as it was clearly not his son's state. But Adrien eventually got out of his emotional crisis and finally let himself understand that he was stuck in the cycle of abuse which Naia could now begin to help him get out of. He still played perfect golden boy on the outside but he had now grown to resent his father for being a terrorist, and for such a selfish reason.

Naia finally felt okay with leaving him alone after having glued herself to his side at every available moment. That was why she was currently out of the house and hanging out with Marinette while Jagged Stone was there, filming an episode of 'Fill My Shoes'

Alec began his intro, "Welcome to Fill My Shoes! You're joining us live in a new episode, and our guest today is the one and only, Jagged Stone!"

The rock star played the air guitar, "Rock and Roll, yeah!"

"Filling the shoes of...a baker!"

Jagged ignored him, "Yo, Rockers!"

Alec ignored the interruption too, "And a big thanks to Tom Dupain for having us here in his bakery, the best in Paris, I might add."

Tom was not made for the camera, "Uhh...hello!"

Sabine offered Penny, Bob and the crew all the famous Dupain Cheng croissants and Bob accepted before Sabine went to stand by her daughter and Naia,

"I'm not sure it was such a good idea to let them film the show here, sweetie."

Marinette laughed off the thought, "Of course it was, Mom. Jagged asked specifically to come here! You realize how good this is gonna be for the bakery? And Dad's gonna become an instant celebrity!"

"Well, for a celebrity, he looks pretty nervous."

Tom began correcting Jagged's technique, temporarily forgetting about the camera.

Fang got inpatient and Penny struggled to hold onto his leash, "Calm down, Fang."

Naia helped sturdy the leash and looked up at Penny's tightly controlled facial expression, "Are you okay, Penny?"

She nodded, "Yes, yes, it's just, this show was my idea, and Jagged's putting all his trust in me and I just hope everything goes well today."

"So Jagged, how does it feel to fill the baker's shoes today?" Alec asked, interview style.

"It's awesome! Check out this edible guitar I made from scratch. This is so rock 'n' roll!" he mimed playing and sang to the tune of 'Smoke on the Water', "Flour, eggs and butter!

Penny chuckled and Sabine noticed, "So, Miss Penny, what's it like working with a star like Jagged? He seems so cool!"

"Oh yes, he's...wonderful—Uh, I mean...yeah, he's awesome." she mumbled.

Jagged then brought Marinette on screen and praised her design talent.

"Wow, impressive!" Alec agreed, "A true family of artists. A talented young designer and a gifted patissier. By the way, what're you gonna bake for us today, Tom?"

Tom chuckled and suggested chocolate croissants. He asked Marinette the clumsy to get him a bag of flour and, true to form, she knocked right over Jagged.

"Hey, look! I look like a ghost! Rock and Boo-Hoo!" Jagged laughed.

"Making pastries is obviously no piece of cake! Stay tuned; we'll be right back after this commercial break!" Alec rounded off the starting segment before everyone began making small talk.

Penny turned to Marinette, "Could you tell me where the restroom is, please?"

Marinette pointed while she spoke, "Upstairs!"

Naia broke in, "I'll take you there so you don't get lost in the apartment,"

"Thanks." Said Penny. She Jagged and Naia all walked up the stairs.

"You know, I'm actually a rather big fan of yours Jagged," the young musician said as they walked.

"Really, always great to meet a fan. Hey, what's your name girlie?" He asked.

"Naia, Naia Callisto" she said.

"Why do I recognise that name?" he said, clicking his fingers as he tried to remember.

"If it helps, I model for Gabriel Agreste." She chirped, not betraying a hint of resentment towards the designer, "I mean, I also play in the Place des Vosges square, but I haven't given my name. Some of the audience may have figured out my-"

"Of course!" He interrupted, "I've read about you. There was this article about a girl, you, who sung iconic songs along with her own works; including stuff about Ladybug and Cat Noir! That's you?"

"That's me." she said, taken aback that she had gotten so much attention that she had been noticed by a rock star, "You've heard of me? Like me and my music?" It wasn't really her music, just music that no one else had heard but it made her feel so happy with herself that she was being recognised for talent rather than her 'tragic history'.

"Of course! Your trending as hard as Clara Nightingale but no one really knows who you are despite knowing your name and face," Penny said.

"I had no idea, " She said, "You know, before I realised that the show was being shot here today, I'd brought my guitar and was gonna go over to the park with Mari and play some tunes." they looked far more interested than she had thought they would be, "If I grab my guitar, would- would you please sign it?"

Jagged smiled, "Of course, anything for a fan. Especially one as nice and talented as you. Just one thing. . ."

"Yes, sir?" She asked,

"Play something for us, why don't you?" he said with a smile.

She beamed at him, "Of course. I'll grab a towel from the bathroom and you can wash up in the kitchen, it extends into the living room so there's more space."

"Sounds wonderful," Penny said as they stepped into the apartment.

Naia got a towel from the bathroom and handed it to Penny before running up to Marinette's room.

"Tikki," she called.

"Yes Naia?"

"Can you clear some of Marinette's posters off the walls?" she picked up her guitar, " If I know Alec, then he is not going to be any less intrusive and insensitive than he normally is. I just want it to be easier on Marinette if I'm right."

Tikki nodded, "You got it Naia!" She got to work pushing the posters into one of Marinette's drawers.

Naia walked downstairs and sat, balanced in a sukhasana position, on the backboard of the sofa. Jagged leaned over and grabbed the guitar and Naia had to try very hard not to grab it back.

The last time her guitar was taken away without approval, her foster sister had attempted to smash it. 'You don't deserve the stuff my daddy gives you, freak! He should be giving this stuff to me!' She saw the memory of her sister bringing the guitar down to the floor, only to be caught by her dad who had walked in while her sister was yelling. She clenched her fists around her knees and blinked back tears. She looked over and saw Jagged writing a message on the corner of the back. She saw a purple patch on the neck of the guitar and gasped, this was her guitar. Not a random replacement like she had thought. Somehow her guitar from her old home had come with her and she had not realised it.

She suppressed the wave of emotion that threatened to overwhelm her as it was handed back to her and she looked up at Jagged who was mirroring her position while on the counter and Penny cleaned him off.

"Thank you," she didn't know who she was thanking, Jagged, Fu or some other deity. She slung the guitar strap over her shoulder picked at the strings and played the opening notes to a song that hadn't even come out in her timeline yet. She began to sing,

"Every inch of me is trembling

But not from the cold

Something is familiar

Like a dream I can reach but not quite hold

I can sense you there

Like a friend I've always known

I'm arriving

And it feels like I am home"

Seeing this guitar had reawoken all of the emotions tied to it. The jubilation at unwrapping it on her first Christmas in the Austruc household. The terror at the thought of her sister who wanted to destroy it. The love she felt the first time Thomas had called her his daughter after she played him the first song she'd ever learned.

I have always been a fortress

Cold secrets deep inside

You have secrets, too

But you don't have to hide

Show yourself

I'm dying to meet you

Show yourself

It's your turn

Are you the one I've been looking for

All of my life?

Show yourself

I'm ready to-"

The door burst open,

"He's here! Come one, start shooting. In three, two, one." the cameraman called as they entered the apartment.

Aleç paid no mind to where they were, "And we're back on the air with Jagged Stone filling the shoes of a baker. Let's see how this rockstar cleans off all that flour."

Jagged looked at the cameras, "Hey there rockers, I'm here with the awesome Naia Callisto who is playing us one of her awesome tunes."

The camera turned to her and she waved calmly. Alec spoke again,

"Wow, Naia Callisto. The new, already famous model and sister of Adrien Agreste, who knew you could play?"

"Quite a few people Alec, you're late on he uptake." she said coyly, "But then again, so am I. I only found out I was trending 5 minutes ago when Jagged told me." the camera turned back to an almost clean Jagged.

"That's right, this little lady had no idea she was as big of a hit as Clara Nightingale, only with added mystery!"

"Incredible!" Alec laughed, "It seems as though the Dupain Chengs, only surround themselves with the best. Speaking if surroundings let's see what Jagged Stones other favourite gal, surrounds herself with." He said as he pushed open the trap door. Jagged walked right up and Penny followed tentatively after. Bob traipsed up there with Alec and the camera crew and Naia finished the procession with an unimpressed stare fixed on her face.

"Wowie. I told you Marinette has serious talent and taste guys!" Jagged said as he tried on one of Marinette's hats and then gestured with it to a cutout of Jagged that was in the room. There were only a few photos one the wall now, all of them featuring al least Adrien, Nino and Alya, "Would you look here. Marinette definitely has some solid friends, her bff is even dragging her into the frame in this one." He pointed to a picture that Naia had taken at the party Chloe had held a month and a half previously where Alya had actually swung Marinette around to switch places with her so they both stood next to their respective love interests.

"What're you guys doing in here?!" Marinette shrieked.

"I'm sorry, Marinette; I was trying to find a moment to tell them that this was inappropriate-' Penny got cut off.

"Hey Marinette, you want me to sign this poster of me?" Jagged said, posing next to said poster.

The camera turned to Marinette, "No! I just need everyone to leave!" she noticed the camera, "And you, stop filming! Penny, do something!"

Penny glared at everyone else, "You heard the lady."

Pandemonium ensued. Penny accidentally cut the connection and turned of the live video, Alec and Bob demanded that she put it back on, Jagged began sneezing and Marinette begged for her to get everyone out of her room. Soon enough Penny began shouting,

"STOP! That'senough! All of you, back downstairs, now! Out, out, out!" She pushed everyone bar Naia and Marinette out of the designers room.

Naia hugged Marinette who sank onto the ground. "Mari, everything is fine. Pen may get akumatised but I promise my oblivious idiot of a brother does not know you're in love with him. I thought this may happen and had Tikki take down your Adrien posters." Marinette looked up sharply at the wall and checked. Sure enough, her Adrien photos were missing.

"Oh thank god," she breathed out a sigh before turning to the lupine girl, "Wait. Akumatised?"

The girl smiled, "Yep, but don't worry. Just transform and stay up here until I say so. I'll handle everything myself." and then, untransformed, Naia walked down the stairs as she heard a flash behind her.

A purple haze was clouding Penny's vision so Naia stooped down and plucked the pen out of her grip. She turned around to the trap door and called,

"Oh Ladybug! Your akuma awaits purification!" Ladybug jumped down the steps and looked at the pen in Naia's hand, taking it uncertainly.

The girl laughed, "That ticks 2 off the bucket list, 'defeat an akuma as a civilian' and 'defeat an akuma before they are fully corrupted'!"

The spotted gal purified the akuma and looked to the untransformed wolf heroine, "And the akuma at the party didn't count because?"

"The akuma hadn't chosen anyone. This was much funnier. Now go, leave and I can check on Penny." She giggled again before turning serious once the hero had left. She turned and crouched by the disoriented woman.

''Oh Penny, you're always so stressed out about helping others but this time I'm asking how you are?"

Penny looked up and smiled, "I'm wonderful."

The 3 girls walked down the stairs and the show began again. At one point Alec asked something quite interesting,

"There were rumours that you were going to do an episode of 'Rocker wants a wife', Jagged"

The rockstar gagged, "So not Rock'n'Roll!"

"Out of curiosity, what is your type?"

"Smart, independent, a good problem solver and not afraid to kick ass!" He said enthusiastically.

"Hey Jagged!" The Wolf called out, "You're describing Penny right now!"

He blinked. The smirked, "I guess I am,"