Hey everyone! Thank you guys for all the reviews, favs, and follows! You guys have no idea what kind of motivation your feedback really gives.

On that note... *falls to hands and knees and bows over and over* Sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I know I'm a troll and that cliffhanger was ridiculous(utterly ridiculous) but man it felt good! *starts to frantically bow again* I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Though I can't promise to not do it again. That's just my writing style ^-^ *shifts slightly uncomfortable but secretly is squealing inside with joy*

Also, I do not own the characters, just the plot!

*sniffles* Okay, I'm literally crying you guys. This is it. The last chapter. I just, I can't even... *runs away crying out* please enjoy and thank you for being with me until the end!

Truth

The question slipped out shakily, "Why, why would you do this, after all this time? How could you do this? To everyone, to Adrien?"

Gabriel said it with a frown, "I did this, for Adrien. Come with me."

He moved over to the portrait of Emilie, pressing buttons on it that she couldn't make out. He stepped back and had her stand next to him on a small platform. She felt her heart beating wildly. This was the place Plagg had told her about, where Emilie was. As they descended into the darkness, lights slowly turned on one by one.

A few feet from where they stopped, there was a bridge leading to a small circular area. Her feet moved on their own, heading towards the bridge as she felt the tears in her eyes. There was a coffin-like structure surrounded by soft colored flowers. She was barely across the bridge when the tears fell.

Adrien was the spitting image of his mother.

Her voice shook, "This is,"

"My wife, Adrien's mother, my Emilie." He said softly in a voice she had never heard from him before. "She is the reason I became Hawkmoth, and is the reason behind my desire to obtain the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculous."

Marinette asked without looking away from Emilie's peaceful face, "Why? What good would it do you to have them?"

Gabriel touched her shoulder, smiling at her when she finally looked back at him, "I knew you might understand. You see, those two miraculous together hold an immense power, the power to grant a wish to the holder of both. I need their miraculous to bring back my Emilie, to give my son his mother back, and to reverse all the things I have done by being Hawkmoth."

She took a small step back, frowning at his words, "You want to take it all back? You think using a power like the miraculous to undo the deeds is going to be that simple? Nothing is ever that easy. There is always a catch, or a price that someone has to pay. You would use the miraculous to bring her back," she let the fear out shakily, "and in the process could lose Adrien. You are willing to risk,"

"I have been planning this wish for a long time. The wording is key to achieving the goal without losing anything. I know exactly what to say to have my family returned to me in full, without either of them having to suffer the effects of the last few years. I want you to help me Marinette. I know you love Adrien, and would do anything for him. I know you understand his loss from losing his mother. We could give that back to him. He would never have to suffer that way because she wouldn't have been taken. We can make that a reality, and I know you can help me achieve that goal. For Adrien."

She stared at him, truly stared at the man she had searched for ever since she learned his name.

She first saw the fashion icon.

His exquisitely tailored clothes, hand designed to perfection. This was the man who had changed the world of fashion in unexpected ways. He was picky, stubborn, and driven to be greater.

Then she saw the businessman.

This was the man who built an empire from the ground up, who took no chances but for those whose outcomes he could assure would fall in his favor. This man was firm, unyielding, and to most, arrogantly confident in his decisions.

Then, she saw the villain.

This was the man who used people to achieve his own ends without remorse. Who dug into people's worst emotions when they were down, who used them to strike fear into innocent bystanders. This was the man who desired power, power greater than any one person should ever carry alone. He was the reason she had such a deep fear of losing her chaton. It was his power manipulated in another that caused her to relive that moment over and over while he used her body to hurt people. He was the reason Chat Noir had thrown himself into the Dragon's Trance knowing he could have been lost forever. Now, he was the reason Adrien had been held as a hostage all week.

Despite all of that, her heart ridiculously felt torn.

Because the last thing she saw of the man in front of her, was a grieving husband and desperate father who simply wanted his family to be whole again. He didn't act out of inhumanity, or through a lack of compassion. He acted out of desperation. Desperation to heal the wound in his heart. Desperation to free himself of the pain that had been inflicted upon him. Desperation, to love again.

Gabriel's eyes softened, "You understand."

Reluctantly, she nodded, "I do, but that doesn't mean I agree with what you have done, or with what you are trying to do. The risk is too great Gabriel." She held up her hands before he could interrupt, "I know you think the wish is the key, and you believe you have worded everything perfectly, but you don't know that for sure." She touched the coffin next to her gently, "Maybe there is another way to get her back, without resorting to,"

"There is no other way." Gabriel interrupted sternly, "I searched for almost five years for an answer. The coma she is in stems from her use of a damaged miraculous. I wanted to find another way, I was willing to do anything it took, and that answer is the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculous. Creation and Destruction, together, to alter the very fabric of reality."

"Damaged miraculous." Marinette said simply, "She used a damaged miraculous."

Gabriel nodded, "It will take the magical strength of the two strongest miraculous to undo what was done. Say you will help me."

Marinette knew this was probably the only chance she was going to get, "What if I we found another way, would you listen? Would you even consider the possibility?"

Gabriel frowned slightly, "If there were another option, I would have found it by now. By your questions I take it you are refusing."

She swallowed hard, "So you wouldn't. You have that one goal in mind and refuse to take a different path."

"There is no other path." Gabriel said firmly.

"No." She finally told him, "No. I won't help you. You are wrong, and are too blinded by your grief to see it. Nooroo, I'm sorry. I'm sorry he's doing this to you."

Gabriel didn't spare at glance at Nooroo before saying it, "Dark wings, rise."

Her eyes widened and she moved instantly as he transformed, taking the chance to get back across the bridge.

Gabriel was across the room in an instant, catching her arm before she could make the lift to go back up.

He pulled her into his chest tightly, trying to hold her still, "I didn't want to do this Marinette, but you are leaving me no choice." She saw a dark purple butterfly flying towards her, and she shook her head violently, "No, no you didn't."

"I told you, you were a strong adversary for my enemies. The second Ladybug purified it, I called it back to me and started all over. I don't have a way to lock your will away like last time, but you'll do as I say, or you'll never see Adrien again." He threatened easily, all softness from his voice gone. He was truly Hawkmoth in this moment. The man she had seen before was gone.

He lifted her face, turning it to the side slightly, "These earrings will be hard to take off of you. I'll revel in watching Ladybug try to stop you on her own. What with her precious Chat out of the way."

She felt her fear increasing as the butterfly got closer, and she said it stronger than she felt, "Chat will always be there to help Ladybug, whether you have him as a hostage or not."

Hawkmoth's grip on her tightened, "How did you,"

She answered by interrupting his question, "Tikki, Spots On!"

Hawkmoth let her go instantly as Tikki's magic funneled around her. The second she was finished transforming, Hawkmoth glared at her, "I should have known. I should have realized my idiot son would have fallen for no other."

Ladybug said it angrily, "Your son, is better then you ever have been, or ever will be." She took a step back, and he followed her movement, "You want my miraculous so badly, come and get it."

She ran as fast as she could towards the lift, feeling that Hawkmoth was right on her trail. She used her yo-yo like a slingshot to fling herself up with her moment, landing lightly above ground again in the atelier.

She thought to herself, 'Please, please work. Follow me.'

She was barely out of the atelier door when she heard his hard voice, "You won't get away this time."

She made her way out of the mansion and stopped, turning to face him as she reached the gates.

She didn't dare glance around. Her eyes stayed locked on his. She trusted her friends. She trusted her team, and more than anything, she trusted her kitty.

Hawkmoth pulled the end of his staff, unsheathing a long bladed rapier. He walked over to her slowly, "Don't worry. I'm not going to kill you, Ladybug, but you are going to undo the protection over the Black Cat's Miraculous."

She was pinned and she knew it, "Never."

Hawkmoth smirked, unsettling her confidence, "You are alone, with no one here to help you, and your incompetent partner is trapped inside unaware of what's going on."

He lifted the sword to strike at her, "You lose."

…

Adrien heard the lock turn and the security re-engage. He groaned out loud as the Empathetic Tie to Marinette was blocked again.

Plagg flew out of his shirt but flew right back into his chest, "Kitten, you are in big trouble."

Adrien sighed, feeling Plagg's soft purring rippling through his chest, "I know. I'm sorry Plagg."

"You better be." Plagg said firmly before floating in front of him with a smirk, "Your bug is ridiculous, by the way. Amazing, but ridiculous."

Adrien smiled, "I take it her plan is a little convoluted huh?"

Plagg nodded, looking towards the door, "To say the least, but she is covering herself. Are you ready to get out of here?"

Adrien asked worried, "I thought anything with a miraculous couldn't get close to the barrier or get through it?"

Plagg nodded, "True. You have about fifteen minutes kitten. Marinette wants you to blockade your door."

Adrien frowned, "Why?"

"Bug's orders." Plagg said simply, heading straight for his stash of Camembert in the mini-fridge. Adrien opened the fridge door and asked firmly, "The door is locked, why do I need to block it?"

Plagg was wolfing down cheese quickly, "Just do it. I'm busy."

Adrien shook his head, "She said she has a plan Plagg. What's the plan? And why is Eight-Oh-Three important?" He started moving what he could in front of the door, trying to block it the way he would if he was trying to keep an akuma out.

Plagg told him between bites, "Trust, your bug. What time, is it?"

Adrien glanced over at his clock as he moved one last piece into place, "Eight."

"Good. That should be good enough. Call Gorilla." Plagg said, floating up to him.

Adrien almost asked why but shook his head at Plagg's stern gaze, "Gorilla! Something's happening! Nathalie! Someone!"

He stepped back from the door, hearing the alarms being disengaged. The Empathetic Tie didn't come back, and he heard Nathalie through the door, "Get this door open now!"

Adrien moved back further when Gorilla no doubt started trying to force it open.

Plagg smirked, "Just a few more seconds."

Adrien looked at Plagg with a frown, but saw that he wasn't concerned about the door, "Transform now."

Adrien said it instantly, "Plagg, Claws Out!"

As his transformation took hold, a teleportation portal opened up a few feet in front of him. Chat's eyes widened brightly as he grinned, "Pegasus."

Pegasus nodded, "Chat. Ready to go?"

Chat moved towards him nodding, "Days ago."

Pegasus chuckled, "Come on then." He followed Pegasus through the portal and his smile widened as he saw the small group of heroes waiting on the other side.

"Carapace, Viperion, King Monkey. You guys don't know how glad I am to see you." The guys held out their fists and he put his fist in, telling them, "Thanks for the jail break."

"We simply do as the Ladybug says." Viperion said gently.

"Unlike some black clad Chats." Carapace said in a slightly teasing, but still somewhat scolding, tone.

"She told you about that huh?" Chat said nervously, his hand rubbing the back of his neck absentmindedly.

King Monkey clapped him in the shoulder hard, "No biggie Chat. I'm the King of messes around here."

Pegasus said it evenly as everyone let out a small laugh, "We have somewhere to be gentlemen."

Viperion nodded seriously, "I hope she's okay."

That instantly put Chat in panic mode, "You mean Ladybug? Why wouldn't she be okay?"

Viperion shook his head, "I'm not allowed to say anything. Our job was to get you and deliver you safely back." He pointed behind Chat Noir and every looked.

They were a few blocks out from the mansion now.

"Why did we go so far?" Chat asked worried.

Carapace smirked, "LB didn't want the Moth Man to get wind of anything going on. Let's go, if we are late, Rena's going to kill me. Shell or not."

The guys nodded and took off across the rooftops. Chat stayed right at Viperion's heels, but he could tell that he was the one leading.

Chat asked curious, "Bug gave you the whole plan?"

Viperion smiled slightly, "Most of it. Given my power, I needed to know where everyone was going to be and when, down to the minute, just in case something goes wrong."

Chat didn't like the uneasy feeling creeping up, "Why would something go wrong?"

Carapace answered him, "We don't think anything will, but, LB was right. No more mistakes."

Chat was a little taken aback but nodded.

His ears picked up the soft sounds of music, a very familiar tune in fact. He picked up speed, overtaking the others as he headed towards the sound. He found Rena standing at the edge of the roof across from the mansion, playing quietly.

Pegasus warned him as he lifted a hand towards her, "No, don't interrupt. She is manipulating the entire area so that none of us can be seen. She's only been playing for," he checked his wristwatch quickly, "four minutes."

"Cutting it close guys." A firm, familiar female voice said.

Chat turned, smiling slightly, "Tatsuo."

She nodded, "Chat Noir. Glad to have you back. Pegasus, Carapace, you ready to go?"

Carapace frowned, "She gave the signal already?"

Tatsuo shook her head, "Not yet, but you need to be ready. The others are already getting into place."

King Monkey saluted them sarcastically, "Fare well on your mission gang, I have a Bunny to catch up with." King Monkey took off to their left and Chat asked instantly, "Others?"

"Yes. Here." Tatsuo held out her hand and he put his hand up.

He stared down at the peacock brooch in shock, "Why do you have this?"

Tatsuo shook her head, "My part was to protect it until it was back in your hands. Now, I'm to guard Rena with Viperion until we get the signal."

He felt a sharp pain in his temple before a loud squeaky voice erupted loudly in his mind, "Pegasus bring him now."

Pegasus manipulated the air instantly, opening another teleportation portal, "Chat we have to move."

Carapace grabbed his arm as he hesitated, "What was that and where,"

"No time dude." Carapace said, practically pushing him through the teleportation portal.

He caught himself before he could fall forward, his eyes widening at where he was. He was back underneath the house, standing a few feet from his mother's coffin.

"Why, why are we here?" Chat asked shakily.

He saw a soft pink covered girl with short blonde hair poke her head up from the bushes next to them, "Yay! You heard me! I didn't know if I was loud enough."

Carapace told her lightly, "You screamed at us Setta. We heard you."

"Setta?" Chat asked more confused then he ever had been before. "Wait that voice I heard in my head was you?"

Setta nodded, "That was my Outcry. It connects the minds of the people I'm thinking about so I can talk to them for a few seconds."

"Though you didn't have to yell Setta." Carapace reminded her.

"Rosetta!" The girl squealed a little frustrated.

Carapace and Pegasus both face palmed, "That name is way to obvious Setta."

"You have to be more discreet." Pegasus explained.

"You guys are calling Tigerlily by her name." Setta said with a frown, the little pig ears on her headband flopped lightly.

New question, "Tigerlily?"

Setta turned and leaned down, pulling up a girl in a dark purple and black striped outfit with long dark hair that covered part of her face. The girls' eyes were closed, and her voice was soft, "Quickly."

Pegasus nodded, "Sorry Tigerlily."

Pegasus moved over to the coffin, working behind it as Chat asked them, "What in the hell is going on?"

Carapace put a hand on his shoulder, "All we know is that you are supposed to leave the brooch with your moms. Setta stayed with Tigerlily so that she could let us know when they got down here. Tigerlily has the ability Willpower. As long as she has the will, she can temporarily freeze time around a certain area."

Setta nodded happily, "That area being the mansion."

Chat said it quickly, "Then what are we doing down here when we could be using this to look for the Butterfly Miraculous?"

Setta said it softer, "Ladybug said this was our job. She told us not to worry about the Butterfly, that she would get it."

Carapace nodded, "LB said this was important, that's why she is having Tigerlily use her power here. She can only hold time like this for about three minutes."

"That way we could work on this." Pegasus's muffled voice came from behind the coffin. The coffin's lid slowly began to slide open, and a soft cold mist radiated out of it.

Chat rushed up to its side, his shaking hand reaching for her arm. She was only slightly colder than a normal temperature, to his surprise. He lifted her hand and kissed it once, "I'm so sorry mom. I wish there was something more I could do."

He placed the Peacock Miraculous in her hand and it shifted forms, going from its soft sea foam green to a stunning azure blue with sea foam colored spots on the top of the seven tails.

Duusu appeared almost instantly, smiling brightly at him, "Adrien."

He said it shocked, "Duusu, you're awake."

Duusu nodded, "Thanks to you, and Ladybug, and the other kwami's. My holder would be very proud of you."

He felt the sting in the back of his eyes, "Your holder, you mean my mom?"

Duusu nodded, "I don't have much time to explain, but just know that everything is going to be okay now. Pegasus, can you do it?"

Pegasus nodded at Duusu, "One more time, but then I'll be out. Glad you are feeling better Duusu."

Duusu smiled, "She's going to need him. Rosetta, Tigerlily, thank you."

The girls both nodded and Setta said it happily, "We were happy to help!"

Carapace told him, "Time to go bro. I'll catch up with you soon."

Chat said it instantly, "I can't just leave her."

"Ladybug needs you." Carapace said seriously, "Nothing is going to happen to your moms with me around. I have an impenetrable shell remember?"

Tigerlily was breathing heavily, "I, I can't, anymore." She fell to her knees and there was a loud crash of a door opening upstairs.

Pegasus said it under his breath, "Damn it. We took too long." He opened another portal, only this one was on the ground, and told him, "Jump, and get ready to roll. Girls, you should get going too. You aren't going to last much longer."

The girls took off across the bridge without waiting, Setta keeping a still slightly shaken Tigerlily on her feet.

Chat told Carapace gently, "Please, take care of her."

Carapace nodded, "Until the end."

They fist bumped quickly and Chat looked down into the portal that Pegasus had opened on the ground. He saw Hawkmoth drawing a sword from his staff, pointing it threateningly at his lady who was pinned up against the gates. A hard hiss left him as he jumped without thinking, pulling his baton as he did. He landed to Ladybug's left, rolling into a crouching position towards them. He used that momentum to get between them as Hawkmoth lifted the sword back to strike at her.

He smirked in triumph hearing the sword clash against his baton, "Miss me bugaboo?"

"Great timing kitty." She whispered behind him. He pushed Hawkmoth back and stood in front of her protectively as Hawkmoth asked angrily, "How, how did you escape!"

Chat shrugged but stayed in his defensive position, "Beats the hell out of me, so much has happened in the past twenty minutes I'm still asking myself the same thing."

Ladybug touched his arm, but her yo-yo was already swinging at her other side, "I'll explain later."

He didn't need any more prompting then that. Simultaneously they moved towards him, fighting him with all of the strength that they could find. This was going to end here and now. They were going to win this time. They had to.

The Empathetic Tie was open in full again, and to neither of their surprise, their emotions were the same. They were confident in each other, both hurting because they knew who they were fighting, but determined that this would be the last day that Hawkmoth tormented them.

Even though they were fighting, Chat was asking her small questions about her plan. He was keeping the fight purely instinctual as he tried to get the sword out of Hawkmoth's hand. She was trying to do the same thing, to try and get the upper hand, to find an opening anywhere as she answered everything she could.

Hawkmoth suddenly disarmed Chat, kicking him hard and sending him back away from her. She caught the baton in the air as it came towards her, blocking Hawkmoth before he could strike out at her again.

She could feel Chat was okay and was trying to get the breath back in his lungs. Hawkmoth held his position as he pressed his weight against the baton, telling her angrily, "You will never be strong enough to stop me."

She felt herself being pushed back, but then felt herself hit a strong body.

Black clawed hands were on either side of hers, helping her stay steady, "We aren't going to let you win." Chat said firmly, "You've done enough damage. You've hurt enough people. I'm done hoping for you to be better. Mom would be ashamed of you!"

Hawkmoth's power swirled around him violently, his eyes glowing an intense purple as he told Chat Noir, "I did this for her! For you! You would never understand the truth!"

Chat helped her push back Hawkmoth as a pure-white feather landed on the baton and disappeared, turning it from brilliant silver to a soft slate-blue.

They both heard the soft voice in their minds, 'I believe in you.'

A large black panther appeared towering over them, its glowing red eyes locked on Hawkmoth.

Hawkmoth's grip faltered and they pushed him back a few steps away from them. "This is impossible."

The panther took a step forward, growling out threateningly. Ladybug noticed the panther's onyx fur had hints of dark red throughout its coat as the fast fading sunlight hit it in certain spots.

Ladybug said it relieved, "Guardian, stop."

The panther put its paw back down, stopping its advance towards Hawkmoth. Chat looked at her worried, "What are you doing?"

She grabbed his hand, "Giving him one more chance kitty."

Chat said it shaking his head, "He doesn't deserve it."

"No, but you do." She said softly, keeping his hand as they stepped towards Hawkmoth together.

Chat could hear what she wanted to ask, so he said it for her in his own way, letting that last spot of hope help him get it out, "If you ever, truly cared about me at all, you'll hand over that miraculous without a fight."

Hawkmoth wasn't deterred by his son's words. His voice was as cruel and as harsh as it had been the night they nearly defeated him before.

"So that I can condemn your mother to death, is that what you want Chat, to watch her fade away knowing that all you had to do to bring her back was give up YOUR miraculous? You have always been selfish, always cared about yourself, and for once you can't put your family first?" Hawkmoth asked angrily.

The panther growled out at the same time Chat yelled, "How dare you! You have no idea what it means to be part of a family! You pushed me away and treated me like your bothersome employee ever since you told me mom wasn't coming back!"

Chat's hand was shaking in hers, "You have her locked downstairs in your lair like she's some trophy! If you had just told me the truth, I would have probably been on your side! I would have gone down to see her everyday, to talk to her and remind her that she wasn't alone, that I still loved her no matter what! I would have told her about my friends who have done more for me in the past few years then you have done my entire life! They are the family who showed me what it meant to be open and honest, to be comfortable with myself. Who showed me what it meant to love and be in love, who gave me something to protect and live for!"

Ladybug squeezed his hand, seeing the tears falling down his face over his mask, "You don't give a damn about anyone but yourself! You didn't care about how much I missed her, or how I grieved alone! You kept me locked in this house like a prisoner! I have always done everything you ever asked of me, and all I wanted in return was an actual father who loved me! Instead all I get is your constant contempt! All you had to do was tell me truth!"

Chat was breathing heavily, letting all those years of pent up emotions finally out in full. The panther mewled a soft, comforting sound, but Chat didn't look away from his father as he said it hard, "Give me that miraculous, before you make me do something I'll regret."

She could hear him waiting for the refusal so that he could call out his Cataclysm and end this.

Ladybug said it pleading, "Gabriel please, enough is enough."

Hawkmoth's grip on his rapier tightened, "It won't be enough until I have her back."

Chat let go of her hand and she said it loudly, "Rena drop it now!"

It only took a few seconds for ripples to appear in the air around them. All three of them looked around, watching as one by one, Miraculous Holders appeared surrounding them on higher ground.

A softly smiling Rena was standing spaced between Viperion, whose hand was steady at his wrist, and a confident aura-radiating Tatsuo. To their left, Bunnyx and King Monkey were smirking, itching for a fight. To the right was Pegasus staring down at them through his sunglasses with his arms crossed. A little ways over was Rosetta and Tigerlily, ready to help if it was needed.

But behind Hawkmoth, on the roof of the mansion itself, was a woman. She was dressed in a simple, lace long-sleeved, beautiful blue to white ombre dress surrounded by a green shield. Her golden hair was pulled casually to the side, the Peacock miraculous acting like a hairpin instead of a brooch the way she wore it.

Kneeling at her side was Carapace, who nodded once at them.

Chat's eyes stayed on the woman, a look of pure disbelief on his face.

Hawkmoth's rapier fell out of his hand in fear. He was completely surrounded.

The woman jumped down from the roof out of the shield, landing lightly in front of them. Her voice was stern, "You will stop this."

"Emilie." Hawkmoth whispered longingly.

He took a step towards her and she stepped back, "Give it to them, now."

Hawkmoth hesitated, Chat whispering out in shock, "Mom."

Emilie turned slightly, giving Chat a small smile, "It's going to be okay." She faced Hawkmoth again, the gentle tone she used with Chat instantly changing back to the stern one from before, "Gabriel."

To their surprise, Hawkmoth's eyes closed, and his transformation fell. He removed the miraculous in silence. Nooroo watching shocked. He held out the miraculous without a word, and Emilie told them, "Ladybug, Chat Noir. The Butterfly miraculous is yours."

Ladybug looked at Chat and he told her softly, "You." She squeezed his hand in assurance before letting go, walking up to Gabriel and taking the miraculous from his hand.

Nooroo flew to her shoulder, whispering it to her shakily, "Thank you."

Ladybug held Nooroo gently, pulling him to her chest protectively as she moved back without turning her back on Gabriel.

She stopped at Emilie's side, asking her gently, "What do you want to do?"

Emilie answered her softly, "That choice is yours, and Chat Noir's. I will stand with any decision you make."

Chat Noir stood on her other side, "I can't forgive him."

Gabriel said nothing, but Emilie grabbed each of their hands in silence.

Ladybug knew that Chat wasn't kidding when he said he couldn't forgive him, and even though she understood Gabriel's desperation, the choices that he had made had been wrong. No matter his intentions.

"He doesn't deserve your forgiveness, he is far from earning it, but do you at least understand?" Emilie asked him.

Chat said it staring at the ground, "It was wrong."

Ladybug said it worried, "I do, understand. He wanted you back. He wanted his family to be whole again, but was pushing away the family that needed him. He hurt a lot of people."

Emilie asked them gently, no judgment in her voice, "If it was to save each other, would you do whatever it took, even if it meant becoming the villain?"

Chat caught Ladybug's eyes, and they knew their answer was the same, as much as they hated to admit it.

Emilie must have sensed the uncertainty between them in their silence, and she asked calmly, "Will you allow me to try and make things right?"

Chat told her instantly, "None of this was your fault."

Emilie looked over at him, "It is. Please Adrien, I think I can set things right."

Chat stared into the gentle green eyes boring into him, begging him in their silence to trust her. He looked over and asked her softly, "Bug?"

Ladybug nodded her agreement.

Emilie squeezed their hands, "Curse dispelled by a loving bond. Awakened at the hands of a bond through blood. To right the wrongs of past mistakes, I desire one wish," Ladybug and Chat Noir felt a strong power move through them, stealing their breath.

Their friends all called out to them in panic, but neither of them could move to respond. Their bodies were frozen in place, becoming the catalysts to make the wish a reality.

"that no memory remains of Gabriel Agreste as Hawkmoth." Emilie finished softly.

There was a blinding flash of white light erupting out of Emilie, wrapping all of them in its power.

Ladybug felt her knees hit the ground, but then felt nothing.

…

Marinette took in a slow deep breath, nuzzling her black cat pillow closer to her. She was so glad that it was Saturday. She could lay here for as long as she wanted without a care in the…

She sat up quickly as her eyes snapped open. She immediately looked around and yelled out in panic, "TIKKI!"

Tikki flew towards her quickly from the desk, "Marinette, oh Marinette you are finally awake!"

Tikki nuzzled Marinette's cheek affectionately as Marinette said it relieved, "Thank goodness. I thought something had happened to you. Tikki what happened, how did we end up at home?"

Tikki frowned, "You remember?"

Marinette nodded, "Why wouldn't I?"

Tikki asked instantly, "Who is Hawkmoth?"

Marinette frowned, "Gabriel Agreste. Tikki,"

"It must not have worked on you. Since you are wearing the Ladybug Miraculous." Tikki thought out loud before telling her, "Emilie made the wish, and things shifted."

Marinette's phone started to ring and she answered it quickly in relief, "Adrien, are you okay?"

His voice was shaking, "Thank god, I woke up and nearly had a heart attack when I realized I was back in my room. Do you remember, about my father?"

"And Hawkmoth. Yes I remember too." She admitted.

She heard Plagg's voice, "They were used to help make the wish, so it didn't affect them. The world wanted someone to remember I guess."

Tikki was nodding, "The price for that knowledge being removed, the people who wanted to forget the most can't forget. It makes sense."

Marinette started looking around frantically, "Oh my god, the Butterfly Miraculous, where is it?"

"Oh crap, I don't see it anywhere over here either." Adrien said on the phone.

Tikki calmed her down, "It's on the desk. You had it in your hand when the wish was made so it moved with you."

Adrien sighed relieved in her ear, "For once something goes right."

Marinette jumped down from her bed and touched the Miraculous. Nooroo appeared instantly, smiling at her, "Marinette."

"Nooroo, how are you feeling?" She asked concerned.

Nooroo said it calmly, "I'll be okay. I'll never be able to thank you enough, you or Chat Noir, for getting me away from him."

Marinette rubbed the top of Nooroo's head, "We are going to get you back to the Miraculous box so that you can get a well deserved rest okay?"

Nooroo said it gently, "I'd like that."

Adrien asked her instantly, "Can I go with you?"

"Of course. Have you seen your mom yet?" She asked a little worried by how the wish affected her.

Adrien's voice sounded distant and she heard Plagg over the phone, "Kitten just ran out of the room Bug. I don't sense Duusu's energy, so I don't think she is here."

"Don't let Adrien leave the house Plagg. I'm on the way." Marinette told him.

From the tone of his voice, she could practically see Plagg rolling his eyes, "Bossy bugs, as usual. Yeah I got it. Hurry up bug."

The phone disconnected and Marinette rushed to get dressed, throwing on a short white and blue dress with a pair of leggings and some flats. She put the Butterfly Miraculous in her purse, Nooroo following Tikki into it as she hurried downstairs. She told her parents that she was late for a meeting and sped out of the house before they could ask questions.

The second she came up to the mansion, she hit the call button and tried to catch her breath. Nathalie's voice came over the line, "Marinette? I don't have a meeting scheduled for today."

"No, I know I just needed to see Adrien." She said quickly.

"Come in." Nathalie said lightly. The gate opened and she hurried inside, barely reaching the stairs when Adrien came out of the far door to the left with a frown.

"Adrien." She called out to him.

He looked up and almost ran to her, "She's not here. I've checked the entire house, and the atelier, and the underground but she's not here. Father is in his room sleeping. Nathalie said he had been sick and this was the first time he was really resting. Do you think this is a side-effect?"

She nodded, hugging him tightly, "It has to be. We'll find her mon amour, I promise."

"Adrien!" Nathalie called from the first floor office, "Adrien, you have to get down to the police station right now."

Adrien barely moved out of her arms, "The police station, why?"

Nathalie looked like she was on the verge of tears, "They think they found your mother."

Adrien was moving before anyone could process what Nathalie had said. It only took a second for Adrien to reach the door and Nathalie tossed him something as she called his name, "Adrien, it won't do any good to get into an accident on your way there."

Adrien just nodded in silence before rushing out. Marinette was at his heels, getting in the passenger seat as he started the town-car Gorilla usually drove him around in. Although Adrien was speeding slightly, he was still being careful.

When they reached the police station, Adrien sounded like he had run the whole way here, "My name is Adrien Agreste."

The guy at reception stood instantly, "Mister Agreste, they said to be expecting you. Follow me."

Adrien grabbed her hand absentmindedly, pulling her with him through the door to their left. They turned a corner down the hall, and Adrien said it relieved the second they saw her, his voice thick with tears, "Mom."

Emilie instantly looked over, tears in her eyes as she stood, "Adrien."

She touched Adrien's arm and he ran over to her, "Mom!"

Tears fell from Marinette's eyes freely as she watched Emilie pull Adrien to her tightly. Adrien was only a hair taller than her, but still managed to seem small as he cried into her shoulder.

The smile wouldn't leave Marinette's face, feeling how much joy and relief had filled her kitten's heart at the mere sight of his mother. She couldn't have been happier for him, for both of them.

Adrien finally pulled away from her slightly, Emilie touching his face as she sniffled, "My baby, you're so handsome and all grown up. Can you ever forgive me?"

Adrien said it instantly, "Without a thought." He looked over and smiled at her, "Marinette."

She walked over to them slowly, smiling at his mother as Adrien introduced them, "Mom, this is Marinette, my girlfriend."

Emilie took her hand, "Thank you, for taking care of him."

Marinette smiled brightly, "I love him, I'll do anything for him."

Emilie hugged her tightly, her tears renewed. They were both crying now, Adrien gently touching each of their arms.

One of the officers finally approached them, wanting confirmation that Emilie was in fact the missing Emilie Agreste. Adrien confirmed it, and even though they all knew there would be more to deal with on Emilie's return later, for now they were free to go.

Marinette decided to sit in the back so Emilie could ride up front as Adrien drove. He pulled into the mansion and Nathalie was waiting for them, tears in her eyes as she saw Emilie walk through the door.

"Emilie. It's really you." Nathalie said tearfully.

Emilie rushed up and hugged Nathalie tightly, "Nat, I've missed you so much."

Nathalie hugged her long-missing friend tighter, telling her instantly, "Gabriel is going to be overjoyed to know that you are alive and here with us. He's been unwell the past few days so he is sleeping now,"

"Let him sleep. I'm not going anywhere." Emilie said as she pulled away from Nathalie.

"I'm going to make a few phone calls and see what we have to do about revoking your status as being legally dead." Nathalie said, wiping the tears from her eyes.

Emilie nodded, "Thank you Nat. I'll be with Adrien if you need anything from me."

Nathalie nodded and quickly returned to the downstairs office. Emilie followed them upstairs to Adrien's room, a smile erupting on her face as she took it all in.

The kwami's had no reason to hide and all came out into view. Plagg stayed on top of Adrien's head. Tikki rested on one of her shoulders while Nooroo rushed straight to Emilie and Duusu, "I'm so happy that you two are safe!"

Emilie's smile was like Adrien's, like a sun peaking over the horizon and brightening a darkened sky.

"We have Marinette and Adrien to thank for that." Emilie said softly.

Adrien asked her worried, "You remember about father?"

Emilie nodded, "I was the one who made the wish. I knew it might be part of the price, that those who wanted to forget most couldn't forget. That must have been how badly all three of us wanted to forget the truth."

They all nodded and Adrien asked her, "So, what now, we just act like none of this ever happened?"

Emilie told him seriously, "Absolutely not. He may not remember his time as Hawkmoth when he wakes up from being sick, which is no doubt an effect of the wish, but everything he did outside of that he will still remember. I could feel how much pain you were in through the guardian when you yelled at him. He has a lot to make up for, but at least this way he gets the chance."

Plagg said it firmly, "He deserves to rot."

Tikki got onto him, "Plagg that's not our call to make."

"Actually I agree with him." Adrien said, getting a genuine shocked gasp from Plagg.

"I know why you did it, but do you really think he deserves it?" Adrien asked Emilie.

Emilie said it calmly, "Honey, if I had never tied myself to Duusu to ease his suffering from the broken miraculous, Gabriel never would have become Hawkmoth. I know you don't believe that because of the person he has become, but I know your father better than anyone."

She touched his face softly, "You don't have to forgive him for the things he has done, but at least give him the benefit of a second chance. We all deserve that, you especially after everything you have been put through."

Marinette suggested it lightly, "Maybe we can sit down and talk a little more about what happened before the curse, and fill you in on what's been going on. How does that sound?"

Emilie and Adrien agreed, and they spent the rest of the afternoon talking to Emilie. She told them about how they found the Butterfly and Peacock miraculous in Tibet by accident during one of their trips, with the Miraculous Book. She didn't know how the miraculous had gotten so damaged, and even Duusu's memory on it was shaky. She only knew that it had happened hundreds of years ago. She then explained how she ended up in the curse by accident for simply trying to help Duusu. She had thought that she was helping, but only managed to invoke the curse.

Marinette and Adrien told her about everything they had been through together after Adrien explained what happened after she disappeared. Emilie just smiled at them, laughing along with them as they told her some of the most horrifying experiences they had both in and out of the masks.

They were sure that they could go on forever with their stories, but Emilie could see how deep the love between them went as they teased each other, reminding each other of embarrassing things. Emilie couldn't have been happier for her son, or her future daughter in-law.

Reluctantly, their conversation turned serious as Marinette realized Emilie would need some sort of story to explain why she had been missing all this time without contacting her family. They came up with a cover story easily, with a little help from the kwami's.

A week passed.

Gabriel had regained conscious, and had broken down in Emilie's arms the second he saw her. He apologized over and over again for not having looked harder, for leaving her out there alone.

Adrien had told Marinette about the family conversation they'd had, and how his father seemed to be sincere in his apology for his behavior. They knew it would take time for those wounds to heal, but at least Adrien was going to have a chance to heal after all of this.

To their secret disappointment, Adrien and Marinette realized rather quickly upon their return to school that not one of their classmates who had helped them stop Hawkmoth remembered anything about it. Not even Nino and Alya. The wish had gone so far back that it had taken away and altered the memories of anything leading to Hawkmoth's identity too.

They were disappointed that they couldn't talk about their superhero identities with their best friends anymore. They couldn't thank their friends for their help the way they wanted to. Adrien and Marinette realized it was no doubt for the best that no one remembered the truth of their identities. It meant that they could continue being Ladybug and Chat Noir without having to worry about anyone accidentally letting the truth slip.

Master Fu had been shocked to see that they not only had the Butterfly Miraculous, but the Peacock too. They explained the situation to him in full, knowing he would need to know, being the Guardian of the Miraculous Box.

Adrien and Marinette had been hesitant about going to see Master Fu, fearing that because there wouldn't be anymore akuma's, that they would lose their Miraculous. More importantly, they feared losing the friendship they had gained in their kwami's. It shouldn't have surprised them so much that their hesitation was for nothing.

Given what they had accomplished, Master Fu felt that they deserved to keep the Miraculous for the time being, in case anything else happened.

All four of them were overjoyed, though Plagg tried to play it off as if he didn't care either way. None of them had missed that initial bright smile on Plagg's face when Master Fu said that they could stay with their chosen.

Walking hand in hand now away from Master's shop, they let their emotions say what they couldn't.

The fight was over for now. They could truly be together, and love each other without fear. They would be each other's strength, each other's home. They would heal from all the battles, and move forward together down the path they chose.

They would be at each other's side, closer than ever, and their bond could never be broken.

They were partners. Best Friends. Creation and Destruction. Ladybug and Chat Noir. But most important of all, they were Adrien and Marinette.

They were two people who loved one another in spite of flaws, in spite of the chaos that had been their lives constantly threatening to drive them apart.

They were two people whose love would be remembered as a fairy tale.

But to them, there was a simplicity that summed it up perfectly.

As piercing green eyes met bluebell ones, a Chat's grin appeared, and a soft smile was given in response to all of the emotions inside of them as they thought it.

Simply.

This is our hearts truth.

Thank you guys so much for taking the time to read this story to the end! I really enjoyed writing it and I hope you enjoyed reading it!

As always feel free to comment and review, good or bad! ^-^

This may be the end but never fear, stay tuned for more stories of our favorite heroes from AgresteBug!

Au Revoir for now!