x x i

There was warmth and comfort. The sun was shining through the wall of windows, and Adrien Agreste found himself in his bed.

He sighed softly as he stretched, and he was mid-stretch when he remembered last night's activities.

"Plagg!" Adrien brings his hand up to see his ring is back on his finger. He looks around the bed now, moving the sheets and pillows to looks for the small cat kwami. "Plagg, where are you?"

"I'm over here."

Adrien looked to the sound of his voice, and he was greeted by the harsh sunlight. He shielded his eyes from the light until he adjusted to it, the shadow by the window coming into focus.

Adrien couldn't believe what he was seeing though. "Mama?"

Emilie turned to look at her son. The kitten kwami was being pampered in her hands. "Good morning, Adrien." She replies softly and goes to stand at the foot of his bed.

Adrien is rubbing his eyes, trying to wake himself up. Plagg flew over to him and went to pinch his arm, making Adrien flinch. "Ow! Plagg!" Adrien pouted, rubbing his arm.

"You're not dreaming! That's your real live mother right there!" Plagg sang, swaying in a side to side motion.

Adrien looked past Plagg, watching how his mother, Emilie Agreste, slowly sit at the foot of his bed. "I thought... I thought you were... Dead, or missing. What... Mama..." There was so many questions that needed to be answered.

"I know, and I'm sorry. A simple apology like that won't fix anything, or make up for the lost time, but—"

Emilie was interrupted by Adrien tackling her to the floor with a too powerful hug. The two of them land on the floor with a thud, that was promptly followed by laughter as they hugged.

"My darling boy," she murmured as they held each other, pressing kisses into his hair. "I'm so sorry I left you for so long."

Adrien let all affections come his way, much like Plagg had. "I accept your apology, mama, but..." he pulls away and they both get up, sitting at the foot of his bed. "I don't forgive you."

Emilie chuckled lightly, admiring his face. "Oh yeah? You don't forgive your mama dearest?" She questioned.

"Absolutely not." Sang Adrien. "And as punishment, you have to stay in my life until death does us part."

Emilie laughed. "A little morbid, but I think that's a reasonable punishment"

"Yeah, that's my bad, sorry." Plagg called from Adrien's desk, where he was stuffing his face with Camembert.

"Something tells me he's been a bit of a bad influence." Emilie sings.

"Who? Me? I'd never be a bad influence." Plagg waved dismissively.

Adrien scoffed. "You're the worst influence! Remember that time when Marinette—" Adrien paused and gasped suddenly. "Oh my god, Marinette!" He scrambled to get up, running out of his room and across the hall. He went into the room he had grown all too familiar with and opens the door.

When he went into the room, he was stunned to see it bare, but occupied. There were boxes throughout the room, stacked over each other. Drapes were placed over old picture frames, and various mannequins were around the room, unfinished designs that were left in the dusty, stale room.

Adrien turned back to look at the door, where his mother was standing. "She's not here anymore." She stated, holding up a pen. "You've got to go find her."

Adrien went up to her and looked down at the pen she offered, before looking up at her.

"Go on." She took his hand and set the pen in his open hand. "She's waiting for you."

He looked down at the pen and uncapped it, before turning his arm up to himself and putting the pen to his skin. "Marinette?"

Across the other side of Paris, a girl was stirring in her bed. The light that entered the room was soft, and the sweetest smells of bread filled her nose as she stretched.

And once she realize that these smells were somewhat unfamiliar and a little foreign for what should be the Agreste household, her eyes opened and she sat up.

She realized that she wasn't in the Agreste household. The more she looked around though, the more familiar the room looked.

"You are... Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Not Marinette Agreste." She quickly peeled off her covers and nearly fell out of her loft. She pulled up the trapdoor and was running down the stairs, when she stopped midway.

In front of her, at the foot of the staircase, was Sabine Cheng, who looked like she was on her way up. "Marinette?" She questioned.

Marinette gasped silently and she smiles. "Mama."

Sabine smile and they both rushed to hug each other, both of them in tears.

"Oh, my little girl, how much I've missed you." Sabine whispers.

"Oh mama, I'm so sorry. I'm so, so, so sorry." Marinette whispers back.

Memories filled her head. Being at the cathedral, Treble Maker... she was so weak and had her Miraculous taken from her.

Her Miraculous... Tikki.

Marinette pulled away with a gasp and looked back upstairs. "Mama," she touched her ears and felt the studded earrings. "Tikki."

Sabine watched Marinette in confusion and let her go, following after Marinette as she headed upstairs.

Marinette looked around the room, searching for the small kwami. "Tikki? Tikki, where are you?"

From her desk, a small, red creature with a black spot on its head swirled around her and ten stopped at her eye level. "Marinette!"

"Tikki!" Marinette cupped the kwami and brought her to her chest. "Tikki, I'm sorry. I was so weak, and you got taken, and your power got abused." She sobbed softly. "I'm the worst Ladybug in all of your existence." She mumbled, falling to her knees.

Sabine, who had followed Marinette upstairs, knelt down beside her. "Honey, that's not true." She murmured. "Look at where we are now. This is home. Our real world." She said, rubbing her back in a comforting manner.

"You were the one to put a stop to Papillon, Marinette. were the one to wish for the world to go back to normal!" Tikki said, coming out of Marinette's hand to float in front of her. "You're the best Ladybug I could have ever asked for." She went to Marinette's cheek, hugging the girl as much as she could with her small form.

Marinette cupped the little kwami to her cheek, sobbing softly.

"She's right, you know." Sabine reassures as she hugged her daughter. "You were amazing out there. And now, everything is back to normal. I have my little girl again."

After a couple more runs though the waterworks, Marinette properly introduced Tikki to her mama.

"Mama, I'm sorry I kept this secret from you, but... I'm Ladybug."