Chapter 32 - The End

Annamarie sighed as she slowly put some more clothes into her bag, barely paying attention to what she was doing. She knew Froufrou was sat on the window sill, looking at his charge with a clear concern and sadness but he had no idea how to comfort her.

Letting out another deep breath she turned to pick up a hair brush when suddenly something grabbed her. Not physically but in her heart, forcing her to her knees, clutching her head.

_Annamarie… listen to me. Obey me._

It was hard to breathe, causing her to pant hard, clutching her hair in an attempt to block it out but the voice was too strong. She couldn't block it out and she screamed internally at it, maybe even out loud as well. Froufrou was floating in front of her eyes, telling her something but she couldn't hear whatever he was saying. It was crushing her.

A knock at the door and it all suddenly stopped, enabling her to look up as her mom stepped in. "Annamarie?"

Getting up off the floor, the teen cleared her throat. "Hey mom."

"You ready to go?"

"Still got a few things to pack."

Estella nodded, stepping inside and over to the desk, picking up the old photo of the blonde and brunette. "I wish you would tell me where you are going. I mean, I trust you and Sophia but…" She sighed, putting the photo down. "You've told _everyone_ something different on where you're going. Even I don't know the truth."

Annamarie paused in her task, staring down at her clothes. "Mom… I can't."

"Why? Why can't you tell me?"

"Where… where I'm going… is complicated."

Estella frowned at her. "What happened Annamarie? You disappeared for three days and then come back with Sophia of all people and tell me you are going away again and you won't tell me where… or for how long."

"Mom. Please."

"I'm just worried about you. I'm worried that you're…" She turned to look at her child. "Please, tell me."

Freezing in place, Annamarie stared at her bag before turning back around. "Something happened to me mom. Something that hurt me and where I'm going, it will help me get better. Maybe one day I can tell you everything but right now I can't. I'm sorry."

The adult frowned sadly but knew she wasn't going to get anywhere else and stepped over, hugging her daughter tight. The contact distressed the teen, causing her to stiffen up on the spot but she was soon released. "I wish you would tell me sweetheart but… if this will help you… then there is nothing else I can do." She gave her a kiss to her forehead and leant back.

"I'm sorry mom." Annamarie whispered as she left the room and she rubbed her head. The dark evil of the Akuma was still inside her, its influence demanding her control but she couldn't stop it. Froufrou kept telling her it was just a scar, it didn't have any control over her anymore and with time she would get better. Part of her couldn't help but doubt it. She was meant to be a hero… and she'd hurt friends. She hadn't been strong enough to fight the darkness.

Distracting herself from the thoughts, she carried on packing the singular back pack. Sophia had told her not to take anything technological or nothing that wasn't essential, mainly clothes yet she couldn't help but pack two small photos. One of her and her school friends at the opening night of the ballet while the other was from her as Peacock with Ladybug and Chat Noir at the Press conference. She couldn't bring herself to leave them behind, wrapping them up in a cloth to keep them safe.

As she had since returning to herself; she hardly slept, hearing the voice throughout the night and if it wasn't for Froufrou's comforting feathers on her cheek, she wouldn't get a second of rest but the little kwami's security and magic allowed her at least two hours before she woke up screaming. Then she'd sit in bed, crying.

It had been that way for days.

Sophia had to keep her distance, only speaking to Estella but swearing her friend to secrecy and only saying Annamarie had been hurt by something she couldn't understand. The older dancer was confused and naturally concerned for her daughter, normally so bright and happy who was suddenly distant and sad.

But the next morning, the Tolranas stood outside the front door of their home as they waited for the taxi that would take her to the airport. "You have your passport?"

"Yes mom."

"And your ticket?"

"Sophia has them." She sighed softly, shifting her bag on her back, sparing a glance at her elder, wishing for the millionth time that she could tell her the truth. "Mom. I love you. You know that right?"

"Yes dear." Wiping a tear away, Estella nodded. "I know."

They hugged, the best Annamarie could cope with but as she pulled back, she heard someone shout her name, turning to the call and gasping as she saw not only her close friends but most of her classmates and even some of her ballet company walking over. She looked over them all in awe. "What… what are you all doing here?"

"Well, we don't know when we will see you again." Louie explained as he stopped. "So… we came to see you off."

Annamarie smiled weakly at them all. "You didn't have to."

"Course we did!" Nino scoffed. "You're our friend!"

"Whatever's going on, you know we are here for you." Adrian sighed as he stepped a little further forward. "And we will be here when you come back."

She nodded and somehow managed to hug him briefly, feeling herself shake at his contact. The teen model didn't say anything but it was clear he noticed. As he stepped back, Marinette came forward holding something at her side but as they looked each other in the eye, Annamarie knew she was close to tears. But she held out the item. "So… you have something to remember us by." She managed to keep her voice level somehow.

"As if I could forget you." The other laughed softly, taking the item and looking down. It was a book, pale blue and blank on the outside but as she opened it she saw it was filled from page to page with images of those gathered, mementos of events in her time in Paris and messages from each of them.

The first page was a long message from Marinette but she didn't read it.

Not yet.

Annamarie let out a breath as she closed the book and grabbed Marinette in the tightest hug she could manage, trying to keep her trembles to a minimum and keep the tears from falling down her face. "Thank you." She whispered in her ear.

The two friends hugged a little longer before they were interrupted by the horn of an impatient taxi. Stepping away, Annamarie held the book tight. "Thank you all. But… I… I have to go now."

They nodded to her as she walked backwards, not wanting to let go of the sight of so many people.

"Take care Annamarie!"

"Come back soon!"

"We'll miss you!"

"Don't forget to write!"

"Good luck!"

"Have a safe trip!"

She waved to them all from the door of the taxi before climbing inside, waving from the back seat while the taxi began to move off and soon they were gone.

Beside her, Sophia let out a sigh. "Bit difference to when you left England. Back then it was only me."

"Yeah." She whispered as she sat down and did up her seatbelt.

After a moment of silence, the last Peacock looked at the younger girl. "You'll see them again." She promised. "You'll be back before you know it."

Running her fingers over the cover of her book, the girl nodded. "I know."

To Be Continued…

A/N: So that's it, the end of my first Miraculous Ladybug Fan fiction story. It's been filled with some... tough times, like losing the person who inspired the story and... it was hard. Many of you know I wanted to stop this story, to give up.

But I didn't. In memory of loveHinaSasu. (Btw if you want to see some of the art she made for me, check out my deviantart page, I know she would want me to share it with you)

And in her memory, I will continue to write and publish the sequel, Feather's Flight as well as the other Random stories and scenes I've written. But first is the story that goes between Turning A Feather and Feather's Flight; Recovery. Chapter 1 is up now!

And don't forget to review here on Turning a Feather! I love getting them!