A/N: Written for someone on tumblr. This is an AU where Marinette was in a coma for five years, and everyone's twenty-ish. Please leave a review if you enjoyed!

"Ladybug, watch out!"

Ladybug immediately ducked, just in time as a slab of stone came flying towards her. A small shiver ran down her spine- if it had connected, she would've been lucky to walk away with a concussion. Death could have been a very real possibility.

She and Chat Noir had been fighting the akuma, Wallflower, for half an hour at this point. This was unusually long for them, but fighting enemies you couldn't see was difficult. Ladybug concluded she was never going to look at chameleons the same way.

"This isn't working," she announced as Chat landed beside her. "We need a plan."

"Of course, my Lady, but do you have any ideas?" her partner questioned. There was a small bruise blooming on his right cheek.

Ladybug thought for a moment. Five years of fighting unique and sometimes illogical akumas and this was what stumped her. It was almost shameful. "I've got nothing. How about you?"

Chat Noir paused, thinking. "Well, my Lady," he began, "when we fought The Invisible One, it was your Lucky Charm that saved the day."

Of course! How could I forget The Invisible One? Well, I guess it has been five years… "Lucky Charm!" she shouted, throwing her yoyo up into the air as she had done so many times before.

"...A can of spray paint?" she wondered aloud, slightly amused. "Didn't we already get this Lucky Charm way back when we fought Le Gamer?"

"Maybe- my Lady!" Chat pulled her out of the path of another flying brick. Come on, Ladybug, focus. You only have a few minutes to finish this fight, she thought to herself.

"Chat, cover me," she instructed, already looking around for the telltale red and black flash of the Lucky Charm vision. Her partner nodded, beginning to spin his staff to create a shield to deflect anything thrown at them.

That's strange… nothing's showing up. It wouldn't have given me something I can't- wait! She squinted. The faint outline of a person was flashing red and black. That's Wallflower! Suddenly, it clicked. That's it! If I can tag him with the spraypaint, we can see him! She mentally berated herself for not noticing the obvious solution. Then again, she'd been up the entire night prior without a wink of sleep for her school assignment, so maybe she could forgive herself.

"Wallflower's over there," she informed Chat, pointing. "I need to get close enough to spray him!"

The black cat glanced over to where she was indicating. "I surpawse I'll have to be the distraction again?" He smiled at her to remove any underlying barbs from his words.

"Again," Ladybug chuckled. "Can I count on you, kitty?"

"When have I ever let you down?" he replied, which was a good point. For the past five years, Chat Noir had always come through for her, no matter how dire the situation.

Chat walked in the direction she had indicated. "Hey, Mr. Chameleon!" he shouted. "Although your colours are the purrfect blend, maybe you could try a new style? Purrsonally I pawfer one solid colour."

He quickly jumped to the side as more debris was thrown at him. "Hey now, no need to get your fur so ruffled!"

Him and his puns, honestly. Ladybug eyed the place the debris was being thrown from. It doesn't look like he's moved. Good. She began to approach the human chameleon from the side, hoping his attention was fully grabbed by Chat Noir.

Luck was on her side, as per usual. The black spraypaint clearly revealed Wallflower, as well as the item she was willing to bet was hiding the akuma, a bracelet that twisted like ivy.

Taking a risk, she made a grab for the bracelet, managing to slip it off Wallflower's wrist before being thrown into a nearby wall, the jewellery flying out of her hand.

"LADYBUG!" she heard Chat yell, his voice full of worry.

"Don't worry about me, get the bracelet!" she called to him, struggling to stand up. The suit protected her from any crippling injury, but she would have some heavy bruising.

Chat gave her one last worry-filled glance before obliging, running towards where the bracelet had fallen. Wallflower had the same idea, but the cat superhero was faster, not to mention more agile.

He snatched up the bracelet. "My Lady, catch!" he called, throwing the bracelet to her. She reached up to grab it out of the air, smashing it against the ground. It broke cleanly in two, the akuma fluttering out.

Capturing the akuma in her yoyo, Ladybug quickly purified the butterfly, before throwing the spraypaint can into the air. "Miraculous Ladybug!"

"Are you alright, my Lady?" Chat Noir asked, making his way over as the cure worked its magic.

"I'll be fine," she assured, holding out her fist for the customary fistbump. Chat hesitated, but went through with the action.

"Mission accomplished!" they cheered. Suddenly, Ladybug's Miraculous let out a loud beep, warning her that she only had a minute left.

"I have to go," she apologized. "I'll see you tomorrow for patrol?"

"Of course, my Lady," Chat agreed, kneeling to kiss her hand. She quickly pulled away, causing her partner to pout slightly. "I look furward to our next meeting."

Ladybug nodded, turning to leave. After five years, she could easily make it home within the short time limit, though she was slowed by the aches that were starting to set in. She barely made it in time, her transformation releasing the second she was inside her room and out of sight.

"I should probably get some sleep," Marinette mused, feeding some cookies from her purse to Tikki. "I have a big assignment coming up tomorrow, after all." The ladybug kwami made a noise of agreement, her mouth too full to speak.

Marinette quickly changed into her pajamas, lying in her bed. "Goodnight, Tikki."

"Goodnight, Marinette."

Marinette slowly opened her eyes, quickly shutting them again as blinding white lights shone into them. She counted to ten before opening her eyes again, this time able to see.

The room she was in was creamy white, and the faint scent of bleach filled her nostrils. Almost every muscle in her body ached, as though she had slept for a very long time. She could hear the soft humming of machines. Turning her head, Marinette saw an IV in her chest, and she was also connected to heart monitor and other equipment she didn't know the name of.

Is… this a hospital? she realized. What am I doing here? Why aren't I at home?

At that moment, the door opened, and Marinette found herself staring at her parents. Her mother's face was streaked with dry tear tracks, and her father looked noticeably downcast. For a moment, there was an eerie silence.

Then both of her parents were hugging her, crying despite their wide smiles. "Maman? Papa?" she asked, confused. "Why are you crying?"

This comment caused Sabine to cry harder, her tears soaking into Marinette's hospital gown, while Tom offered her a sad smile. "You were in an accident, Marinette," he explained. "You were in a coma for five years. The doctors didn't know when you'd wake up, if ever."

"I was in a coma for… five years?" That didn't make sense. For the past five years, she'd been saving Paris from akumas alongside Chat Noir. The only way she could have been in a coma was if… "A dream," she whispered to herself. "It was all a dream."

Unbeknownst to her, a single tear slipped from her eyes. Of course. Magic doesn't exist. Something that amazing couldn't possibly be real. Paris is peaceful and safe. No Hawk Moth, no akumas. No kwamis or Miraculouses. And… no Chat Noir. Her heart broke a little at the thought. her loyal and flirty kitty had been one of her closest friends, even if she never found out who he was behind the mask. Knowing that he had been a figment of her imagination was a harsh blow. More tears started to fall, and she buried her head in her arms. I can't believe it… I don't want to believe it.

"We will need to run some tests, as well as ask her some questions," the doctor was saying. "If all goes well, Marinette will be discharged from the hospital within the next few days, though it's likely she will need private tutoring, as well as physical therapy for a while."

Private tutoring… I did miss five years of education. Most of my friends are probably at university. I wonder if Alya found a different subject to blog about? The Ladyblog was her pride and joy in my dream… and Adrien. Her heart fluttered slightly at the thought of her crush. Does he still model for his father? He did in my dream…

"Marinette," the doctor said, breaking her reverie, "do you mind if we begin asking the questions now?"

"Of course not," she quickly replied, smiling. "Go ahead."

She never noticed the ladybug perched on her windowsill.