UHG! Thank you guys for sitting tight through that wait! My computer charger completely broke and then shortly after my computer died so i've been without a charger for a while. I really hope that this chapter makes up for it!

About a week had gone by since Nino had seen anything suspicious around the girl's apartment. Of course in that week he had spent every sleepless night inside their apartment re-locking doors, constantly checking out the windows, he hadn't let his guard down once and he was starting to think that he had just been seeing things.

Nino slumped down on the couch letting an arm and leg dangle off the side he was more exhausted than ever, thankfully Mr. Fu noticed and let him off easy that week only making appointments and tea- two things that Fu thought were of high importance and two things that Nino thought were the easiest jobs in the world.

The boy slid his fingers through his short brown hair and reached for the glasses resting on his nose and pushed them up onto his head. His eyes were bloodshot and begging for even a few minutes of rest. The only sound to jolt him awake was the slamming of Alya's bedroom door as she exited the room in her sweatpants.

"Nino?" she called out seeing the boy's pant leg hanging off the side of her couch, "You're still here?"

The brown skinned boy sucked in a rather deep breath before hoisting himself up and leaning back against the armrest, "Yeah, Mr. Fu's letting me start a little later today since he's gonna be out in the square this morning." He mumbled barley getting the words out.

Alya pursed her lips and hopped on the couch beside him placing a hand up to his forehead slowly letting it drag down and rest on his cheek, "You don't look too good…" She said with a concerned tone.

Nino smiled leaning into her hand and nodded, "I'm fine, just having a bit of trouble sleeping is all."

"Well, if you've got a late start go sleep in my room, the apartment is gonna be pretty quiet this morning since Marinette and I are heading out." She smiled softly.

Nino's eyebrows furrowed, from what he had know they didn't have anything to do today, let alone this early this morning, "Where are you going?" he asked subtly trying to make it seem as if he wasn't trying to keep close tabs on the girls when he obviously was and he was pretty sure that Alya was catching on as well.

"Oh- uhm…" Alya hesitated she nibbled on the inside of her lip and inhaled, "We're just heading to the market for some groceries and then we'll probably swing by the square, I mean I should probably update the Ladyblog." She smiled standing up from the couch, "I-I'm going to go see if Marinette is ready." She stammered. There hadn't been a day gone by that she didn't feel such an overwhelming guilt of constantly having to lie to him. There were a couple times when she first got her miraculous that she begged Marinette to let her tell Nino but she never said yes, and for valid reasons too.

Marinette that morning never really woke up, in fact she never really went to sleep. She hated that on a day like this the weather was beautiful. There was not a cloud in the sky, not a draft of wind, not a hint of cool air. It was a warm and pleasant day one that she wished she could enjoy.

Tikki drifted up behind the girl and smiled as she rested on her shoulder, "It's going to be alright Marinette, we're all here every step of the way." She smiled nuzzling against the girl's neck.

"It never gets easier Tikki…" she mumbled reaching for the kwami and cupping her in her hands, "It happens every year without fail, why can't they just stop…"

"They're just trying to honor him, I don't think that you shouldn't go." Tikki mumbled. As much as she hated seeing Marinette like this she felt that it was in her best interest to keep going to this thing maybe it would help her get over it.

Alya nudged her way into Marinette's room with a nervous smile, "You ready to go?" She asked slowly closing the door behind her.

"Yeah.. Let's just get this over with." Marinette mumbled in response.

It was October 27th

This marked the 6-year anniversary of Chat Noir's disappearance or as the people of Paris like to call it, "The day Chat Noir died."

Out of all the days in the year Marinette found herself hating this one the most. It was solely a day of pity, a day where all eyes would be on Ladybug some there for moral support and others there to be angry and criticize why she let this happen, for both people she never had an answer.

There the two heroes stood. Rossa Volpe and Ladybug. Before what looked like to be all of Paris at a memorial service held in the square hosted by Mayor Bougeois himself. As beautiful of a ceremony it was she refused to believe that her friend was truly gone.

She remembered that day like it was yesterday, a day she wish she could go back to because maybe if she could, something would change even if she didn't know what.

Hawkmoth sat pinned to the ground, his wrists tied up by Ladybug's yo-yo. Ladybug's face was bruised, scratched and bloodied. Both their masks and suits were torn, still able to hide their identity.

In the distance the two could see police lights reflecting off the buildings and echoing down the streets. The cities police had been on standby all night since the first sighting of Hawkmoth was called in. The streets had been evacuated to further protect Parisian citizens.

Chat Noir ran his fingers through his matted blond hair and huffed out, propping himself up with his staff. If there was one sight of Paris he knew would never grow old it was his lady and like the flirt he was, after three long years of constant flirtatious conversation between the two during their biggest victory would not be the place- nor time to fall out of that trend.

"My lady, your clothes may lay in tatters but it does nothing to degrade your radiant beauty." He smiled creeping up behind the spotted hero still preoccupied with greater things.

"Chat- now is not the time to flirt." She attempted to say in her most annoyed voice but couldn't seem to hide the fact that his constant flirtation gave her something to look forward to. Even at a time like this she couldn't deny that she was enduring a lot of physical pain but Chat's quirky flirting made it all the more worth it.

"Now is more a time than any, Bugaboo." He added with his ditzy smile, "In fact, Ladybug, there's something I-"

"Hold that thought, Kitty." Ladybug said holding up a single finger to the masked heroes lips. Her attention was fully focused on the officer exiting the cop car in front of them.

"Hell of an evening." he said placing his hands on his hips standing over the tied up villain on the ground.

"You men worked hard to get Hawkmoth captured, you should be proud." Chat said in a slightly mocking tone only to have his ribs be met by the gently but stern nudge with her elbow.

The officer- as absentminded as he had always been, shrugged off the slight and hoisted the criminal up onto his feet, "We're going to get this creep locked up for good you can trust us on that…"

The officer's voice began to fade from Ladybug's ears as her eyes met and locked with the crazed villain's dilated, bloodshot, eyes. There was a strange pull to them that she didn't quite understand why. She felt her throat go dry any ounce of moisture that she could have was gone as she watched the Hawkmoth's thin lips part and mouth the words:

"I'm coming for you Ladybug…" the words escaped the cracked lips of the newly unmasked man sending a shiver down right to the girl's core. Just as she had regrettably let her guard down she watched as the glowing halo of a butterfly shrouded the man's face as he was tossed into the secure back of the police van.

She was unable to say a word. Ladybug found herself too shaken to speak up. The flashes of blue and red reflected off of her face brightly until they disappeared into the distance.

"My Lady?" Chat's voice purred out in concern as he touched the girl's shoulder. Never had he felt more relived to finally know Hawkmoth's identity. There was a considerable amount of time where he had truly though that it was his father and was overjoyed knowing that it wasn't. Though Ladybug could have seemed in that moment anything less than relieved.

There was no response.

Gently, the black cat tugged on the bug's arm, "Ladybug, maybe we should get out of here before the reporters arrive.." He suggested taking a couple of steps with his partner following swiftly in a daze behind him. Chat debated wither he should tell her- but there would be no other time. He wrapped his arm around the girl's waist and jetted them out of the alley and onto their familiar sanctuary of rooftops.

"Ladybug…?" He asked again snapping the girl out of disorient.

"Huh..? Oh.. I should probably get going, Chat." She began taking a couple steps back before being stopped by her partner.

"I just.. I need to tell you something. I've been putting it off far too long and I- I just can't anymore…" he began.

The bug smiled scratching just beneath his chin, "Maybe next time kitty," She smiled gripping her yo-yo tightly.

"My lady I don't think this can wait-"

"I'll see you tomorrow during patrol. You can wait a little bit longer." She smiled. She never gave him the chance and with that she was off back home without knowing that, that night on the rooftop would be the last time she would see her partner.

Nine and a half hours had never felt so long in his entire life. Black headphones tamed his wild blond hair down while blaring music. His black duffle bag tucked under his feet, it was all that was left in his apartment after he shipped all his things back home.

He'd finally completed his time in university and under one condition by his father he was allowed to come back home if he continued with his modeling career. After agreeing his father set out for a homey apartment near by to his home and close to the agency per Adrien's request.

Leaning his forehead on the window he rubbed the empty space on his ring finger.

"Ladybug, I don't think this can wait-"

"I'll see you tomorrow during patrol. You can wait a little bit longer." She smiled with a gentle wave hooking her yo-yo off in the distance and springing herself from the rooftop and within mere seconds she was gone. How was he supposed to tell her now?

Chat Noir mopped across the rooftops his tail dragging behind him the whole way home. As successful as the night had gone he couldn't help but still feel melancholic about the whole situation.

Sneaking into a nearby alleyway he retracted his claws and tucked Plagg away into his shirt.

"What are you gonna do?" The kwami asked poking his head out.

Adrien shrugged rubbing his eyes with the palms of her hands walking up to the front door, "I don't know… I guess I'll just tell her tomorrow before I-"

"Adrien." Nathalie said swinging open the large front door, ushering the blonde inside, "You're late. Have you got everything that you need?" She asked walking with him up the stairs.

Adrien nodded with a smile and patted the woman on the shoulder, "Yes, Nathalie, I'm sure there really isn't a need to worry. I said goodbye to everyone yesterday at the party so I'm set." Well… Almost everyone… But he couldn't exactly bring invite Ladybug to his party it wasn't like his Adrien side knew her very well but at least he got to say goodbye to the four people he treasured most.

His father, having planned the party, mostly invited agents and co-workers allowing Adrien to only invite a couple of his friends and he took complete advantage of that by of course inviting Nino, Alya, Marinette and Chloé. The five of them spent the beginning of the evening plotting their escape from the party planning to sneak away to Marinette's bakery after hours where wine and cookies were promised, which in turn became probably one of the most fun nights he had ever had.

Adrien made the excuse to his father that they would be up in his room hanging out and he totally bought it! The group slipped their jackets on and out the front door with ease.

They sprinted their way down the street in harmonious laughter. Adrenalines rushing through their blood it made him feel like the night would never end. He hoped the night would never end. They set up Marinette set up her laptop with movies on one of the tables in the bakery while Chloé and Alya gathered blankets and pillows from her room and around the house to create a small nest, Adrien and Nino were of course on snack duty. Marinette's parents had set aside various treats for them that night after the bakery had closed. Marinette snuck back into the house grabbing a few bottles of wine and cup for them all.

It was times like these that he had truly thanked Nathalie for convincing Gabriel to send Adrien to school. It was truly a night he would never forget anytime soon.

Adrien walked into his room almost completely empty most of his belongings were already re-located other than a couple of bags lines up at his door.

He didn't sleep well that night. Not even remotely. How could he?

Plagg inched up on the pillow beside his chosen's head, "I'm sure it'll all work out…"

"It's just… I don't want to start over… Again…" he explained, "I had friends in primary school I had so much fun in class and then my mom disappeared and my father wanted me home…" The blond rolled over, "I had to start all over in secondary school and now- not only is my father making me start over again but in a different country." He could feel his eyes welling with tears and quickly clamped his eyes shut.

Plagg inched forward curling himself around the boy's head and purred against him, "It'll be okay, kid. Make it for the year and then maybe he'll let you come back home-"

Throughout the house the echoing of glass shattering across the tile floor rebounded off the walls.

Quickly he sprung up in his head gathering his kwami on his shoulder, "You heard that?" he asked receiving a silent nod from his partner. Adrien crept through his door and into the house leaning over the railing unable to see anything, "All right Plagg claws o-"

"Chat Noir."

Every hair on the boy's body rose as he turned to face to tall figure pushing along with him a familiar spotted hero badly bruised and dripping with…blood..?

"It's nice to finally meet your acquaintance."

His jaw fell open, "H…Hawkmoth…Ladybug.." He said in a breathy tone, "You let her go." He said shaking slightly in his voice but standing his ground.

"Not a step closer, Chat Noir." The deep voice sprung out swinging his cane in front of the girl.

He hesitated in his step, "What do you want…"

"Well- that's a dumb question now isn't it, but I guess you were more of the brawns of this operation weren't you?" he laughed gesturing between the two of them, "I want your miraculous. Simple as that." Hawkmoth grinned crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"Yeah right, like I'd ever hand my miraculous over to you!" Adrien laughed tossing his hands on his hips with a shake of the head, "Plagg," He grinned, "Claws o-"

W-H-A-C-K!

An agonizing screech of pain came from his masked partner as she lurched forward toppling over onto the ground. Hawkmoth stood continuing his follow through with his cane.

"C-Chat…" Ladybug whimpered through her pained tears. Her body ached and he could feel it. It was like her pain was being emitted through him making him cringe. Quickly he lunged forward towards the girl stopped by the rise of Hawkmoth's cane.

"Uh-uh-uhh…" He grinned pressing the end of the cane against Adrien's shoulder giving him a small shove backwards, "Not another step, you don't wanna see your little 'bugaboo' get squashed now do you?"

He was helpless. He couldn't transform, he couldn't get close to her or Hawkmoth, he could only-…

Hawkmoth held out his hand, outstretching his skeleton like fingers.

Adrien's eyes firmly shut as he gripped the miraculous on his finger. Plagg drifted in front of his face shaking his head.

"Please no.. Adrien- don't-"

"I don't have a choice… Plagg I'm sorry…" he looked up staring into the masked villain, "Plagg…"

"Adrien you don't have to do this…"

"I renounce you."

He watched as the floating kwami withdrew into the ring as it turned matte silver and slowly removed it from his finger holding it in the palm of his hand.

"I'm sorry…" he whispered watching the ring get swiped away from him by Hawkmoth.

"Pleasure doing business with you." He grinned leaving the girl one last crack on the back with his cane before he vanished from the room.

Adrien charged forward picking up Ladybug in his arms and holding her close. He brushed her hair behind her ear and wiped away the dried blood on her cheeks and lips.

The girl grinned devilishly resting in his arms, "Chat… You…. Idiot…" She spat, her eyes glowing brightly.

"L-Ladybug…? He said in a brittle voice watching the girl disappear from his arms like a shadow melting into the floor. He sprung up from the ground and out of the room in a panic, "Ladybug!" He shouted tautly throughout the house surely waking everyone.

Quickly he rushed down the stairs with a thud in every step, "WHERE ARE YOU!? SHOW YOUR SELF!" he shouted.

Dazed, Nathalie came out of her room adjusting the glasses on her face, "Adrien what's all the fuss?" She asked in attempt to comfort him.

"Where is Hawkmoth!?" He screamed gripping Nathalie's shoulders tightly.

"Adrien it's the middle of the night, what are you shouting about?" His father shouted down from the top of the stairs.

"He was here and he took m- He was here!" He yelled nervously.

Nathalie tried to comfort the blond who was clearly distressed, "Maybe… Maybe it was just a bad dream. You have been stressed lately, with moving and all. Try to get a good night's rest."

"You're thinking irrationally, Hawkmoth was arrested early last night." Gabriel chimed in before heading back into his room.

But he knew that that wasn't true. It wasn't a dream. His miraculous was gone and he had no way of getting it back at this point.

Unfortunately did he know that, that illusion was going to be the last time he'd see Ladybug.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we have arrived at Paris-Gare De Lyon. Please be sure to gather all of your belongings and exit the train when it comes to a complete stop. Thank you for traveling with us." The announcement rang over the speakers.

His headphones still propped up against his ears, duffle bag slung across his chest and he exited the train car.

Finally back in Paris and he wasn't about to leave any time soon.

He looked uncomfortably down at the empty spot on his finger and up in the streets. Oddly, not like he remembered, the streets of Paris were empty. Hands stuffed in his pocket of his black sweatshirt he mad his way down the familiar path home.

He found himself stopping and staring down towards the square slowly. He reached up removing the headphones from his ears and letting them fall around his neck.

"Today we stand as one Paris." The completely recognizable voice of the mayor shot through the crowed catching the blonde's attention, "We stand as one beside ladybug on this day of hardship."

"Ladybug…" He murmured beginning to take a couple steps towards the crowed excitably gearing into a jog.

"Because today we remember Chat Noir as the true hero he was."

His steps sped.

"And we thank Rosso Volpe for filling our black cat in his absence."

He slowed.

"His shoes will be impossible to fill but it seems that you have done a great job of creating a pair on your own."

She… replaced him.

"Chat Noir was one of the best heroes that Paris had the good fortune of being protected by. May he rest in peace, where ever that may be."

He went home.

The shadows drifted across the floor of the mansion into the cracks and crevices squeezing their way into the darkened corridor.

"Could you have been any less subtle." Gabriel asked pinching the bridge of his nose.

Hawkmoth stood fully transformed behind him with a grin leaning on his cane, "You told me to get the miraculous, you didn't tell me how you wanted me to get the miraculous." He grinned soon becoming shrouded by a cloud of smoke. The girl brushed her fingers through her hair with a sly grin dangling the miraculous in front of her face.

Gabriel took the miraculous in hand with a smile, "Then I assume I can give you a job well done."

"Too bad though, the miraculous is pretty stylish and the power of destruction.. Power like that I would kill for." Her eyes shifted eyeing the ring, "I could hold onto it for a while. Since we still don't have the others."

Gabriel pondered at the thought, "A miraculous possessed by an akuma. I'm not sure that it's completely possible but whose to say that it isn't.. He grinned gesturing as the possessed necklace hanging around the girl's neck.

Swiftly and with pleasure she removed the necklace and handed it to her boss watching him merge the two in green sparks. The ring turned the entire necklace a deep black.

Volpina couldn't wait to get it back around her neck where it belonged. With a Kwami trapped inside she now possessed the power of Illusion and Destruction all in one and… It felt incredible.

"Well.. Renard Noir. I look forward to our future business together."

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