The heroes sat huddled under the rooftop awning, shielding their untransformed selves from the overhead TV helicopter. Looking at Adrien, they were waiting for an explanation as to what exactly he meant by a super cataclysm, and why he looked so conflicted about it.

"Dude, is this some kind of power up or something? Cause I don't remember you using it before." Nino asked with a cautious eye. His best friend looked at him with a look that said he had just made a dangerous decision and Nino felt a knot in the pit of his stomach. "Adrien...Bro what are you planning to do?"

They could hear Lila still screeching demands for Chat Noir and Ladybug to show themselves, but her manic screams morphed in his mind to his Lady's cries in the night. It had been a little over a week ago the last time he'd had to wake her up with tears streaming down her face. The nightmares had gotten better, but pregnancy he had read often caused vivid dreams and they had become more frequent again. In her case though, the dreams were intermixed with memories. In the quiet of the night, as he held her to his chest, she started to babble about a super cataclysm that was powerful enough to destroy the moon, yet controlled enough that just one flick of his finger could raze a building. Running his fingers through her hair, he had promised that would never happen. Hawk Moth was no more, there would be no more akumas, they were safe, she was safe. Now, in order to save her life, he would have to break that promise.

"Father." He said softly, turning his eyes towards the masked man. "I need you to akumatize me."

"What?"

"Dude no, it's too dangerous."

"Adrikins, are you mad? Think of something else." Chloé pleaded. "Surely there must be other miraculous holders, get someone else."

But Adrien had already considered those options. Most of the other holders were either not currently in Paris, or otherwise not available. He had considered using Bunnyx, but Marinette had not yet officially given Alix the miraculous and Adrien had no intention of doing that himself. Marinette trusted him and handing out a Miraculous was the sole prerogative of the Guardian. It was a line he wouldn't cross. Adrien shook his head.

"No, this is the best way." He said, determined.

"Adrien." His father exclaimed, placing both his hands on the blonde boy's shoulders. "I can't do that. Don't ask me to do this."

"Father it's the only way." Adrien said with pleading eyes. "The only thing left after this is the wish, and if I use the wish there would be a terrible price to pay. I can't risk losing Marinette, or my son. You said you were here for anything that I need. Well I need you now to trust me and do this."

Hawk Moth looked to Mayura who was standing next to Sentibug. In her hands she held tightly the lucky charm bracelet Adrien had given her to house the amok. Nathalie had come to learn how much that simple gesture of the lucky charm had meant to fourteen year old Adrien. It had started as a symbol of friendship and became a symbol of love. Sentibug might have been a life size replica of Ladybug, perfect in every way, but she didn't have her soul. Despite the pained look in her eyes, Mayura nodded to him. Hawk Moth looked back at his son, touching the butterfly pin with his fingertips. He could sense that Adrien's strongest emotion was not anger, it was fear. Fear of losing his family. Gabriel knew that feeling well.

"Alright." He said, still unsure, but willing to trust.

"No." Alya yelled, grabbing the blonde boy's arm. "Adrien you can't be akumatized. Your emotions are all over the place right now and you're not thinking straight. What will we do if you lose control?"

"I am thinking straight Alya and I won't lose control." He promised her. He then turned to Luka. "You'll stop me before that happens, right?" Luka sucked in a deep breath.

"It's a hell of a risk." He said, then his mind filled with images of Kagami, his sister keeping a vigil over her. He let out a heavy sigh. "But what other choice is there?" Luka conceded. "I'll keep out of the fight. If anything looks wrong, I'll second chance, but I'm only doing this once Adrien. You hold the power of destruction, if it gets out of hand, we could all be doomed, and there is no Ladybug cure to fix anything." Adrien nodded at the seriousness of what Luka had said. He knew all too well from Marinette just how destructive Chat Blanc could be.

"I know." He replied. "I swear, I can control it." He looked at Plagg for reassurance. The cat Kwami looked at him with wide eyes. "Plagg?" He asked.

The black cat had been sitting with Sass while they recharged. He floated up in front of Adrien's face, his eyes fiery and determined. "Let's finish this kid and go home." He said, a mischievous toothy grin in his face. Adrien smiled at his Kwami.

"Sounds good to me Plagg. Claws out." The magic of his transformation washed over him, the others following suit. Once the transformations were complete, Chat turned back to his father, who still looked very conflicted. "I'm ready, Father. Make me into Chat Blanc." He said.

Hawk Moth hesitated. He had sworn he would never akumatize another person again and he never thought he would be breaking that promise with his own son. He could see the pleading in Chat's eyes. Closing his own, he could see Emilie lying in the glass sarcophagus...no, he saw Marinette there. He reopened his eyes to look back at his son. He won't let that happen, not to Marinette. He flicked open the top of his cane and a white butterfly emerged out of it. Cupping it in his hands, he filled it with black charge before releasing it towards Chat. The butterfly buried itself in Chat's bell. "Chat Blanc, I'm giving you the infinite power of destruction. You will destroy the snake bangle on Lila Rossi and end this curse."

"I will." Chat affirmed, the purple magic washing over him. When Chat opened his eyes again he looked down at his white clawed hands. Rena gasped behind him and he turned his head. Both Rena and Carapace stared at him with wide eyes.

"What?" He said to them. "Cat got your tongue?"

Nino let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding. "Good to see you're still in there my man." Chat nodded and looked back at his hands.

"Yeah." He said, a little unsure. "Feels strange though, like my whole body is tingling." He then addressed Mayura. "Can you do something about our little buginette's design here? Maybe we can confuse Lila a bit more."

Mayura raised an eyebrow at him, then looked at Sentibug. She understood what he was getting at. "I think I can do that." She replied.

Chat left her to the task, walking over to Viperion and placing a hand on his shoulder, leaned into his ear. "If anything happens to me, tell her...tell her how much I love her." Viperion pulled Chat Blanc into a tight hug.

"You can tell her that yourself when we end this Adrien." Viperion deliberately said Chat's real name, hoping he doesn't lose himself in this white guise.

The two men separated and Chat Blanc gave the nod.

"Second Chance."

Chat Blanc looked over Sentibug, who was now sporting a black suit with red spots. Holding a hand out to Mayura, she looked at him questionly before handing the item over. He took the lucky charm bracelet and tied it around his wrist.

"Chat, you didn't do that last time, Mayura had full control of Sentibug." Viperion warned.

"I wasn't a white cat last time either." Chat said cooly, keeping his eyes on Sentibug. "I need you to follow what I say, alright?" Sentibug nodded and she and Chat Blanc jumped down, landing on the ground near where Lila was pacing. The Italian spun around and looked the two up and down with a look of disgust.

"So, you ran off to get yourselves a power upgrade was it?" She snarled. Carapace and Rena Rouge also dropped down behind them. "And some little friends to help you."

"Well unlike you I actually have friends." Chat dropped sarcastically. "You on the other hand had to fake an army." Lila narrowed her eyes at him. She snapped her fingers and her army of disciples moved to close ranks around her.

"Remember." Viperion said through the earpiece. "We need to get her away from her army. They are easy to defeat, but she spawns more just as easily." Above their head they could see the TV helicopter circling, no doubt broadcasting live. Rena played her flute behind them.

"Mirage." She called, creating a roof of dark clouds to obscure the view of the overhead TV helicopter.

Lila started throwing fire balls at the heroes while her disciples charged around her. Clashes of batons against shields and sticks echoed through the open space. Chat was hesitant to call on his power initially, unsure how he would control it. He made a small flick of cataclysm at Lila's feet, causing a crater and sending Lila flying onto her backside. Chat's eyes widened at the destruction such a small amount of power brought.

"Whoa." Carapace said beside him before fighting off more disciples.

Chat Blanc was about to run in and engage Lila again when the landscape around him suddenly changed before his eyes. It was blue, so much blue, with water lapping at his feet.

"Little Kitty on a roof, all alone without his Lady..."

Besides Chat's ears he heard the whirl of Queen Bee's top and was snapped out of the daydream. Was it a daydream though? Chat didn't know what it was he had been looking at, but it didn't feel like a dream. It almost felt more like a repressed memory. A memory of what though? He shook his head as Queen Bee's blow knocked out several of the disciples, only to see them almost instantly re-appear.

"What the..." She exclaimed in annoyance. "This is ridiculous, utterly ridiculous."

"I told you." They heard Viperion say somewhat exasperated. He wasn't used to Chloé who had a tendency to just do her own thing. "There is less reforming each time though. Fall back Queen Bee, let Rena and Carapace handle it." The bee heroine looked up to where she knew Viperion was perched high above them and gave him a scowling glare.

"You don't give me orders snake-boy." She growled, but fell back behind Chat. The blue eyed cat could feel his skin starting to crawl. Another set of blue eyes looking at him pleadingly.

"You don't need my Miraculous, Chat Noir. You need me to de-evilise you."

Chat blinked his eyes and found himself staring at Sentibug. She was waiting for instructions like he had told her to as Rena and Carapace battled the disciples behind him. Lila had retreated back behind her army again. Focus. He scolded himself. Whatever these images are, Chat knew he had to keep his mind in the fight.

"Chat, I think it's time for that lucky charm." Viperion said. Chat instructed Sentibug and she threw her yo-yo in the air, capturing a smoke bomb in her hands. "Good. Now Rena and Carapace fall back, Queen Bee get your venom ready. On my signal Mayura and Hawk Moth will run interference, Queen Bee gets a hit on Lila then Chat finishes the job. Are we all ready?"

"On your word Viperion." Chat acknowledged.

"Now."

"Alright Buginette, smoke her out." Chat commanded. Sentibug nodded and threw in the smoke bomb. Cloud and dust went up into the air clouding everyone's vision.

"This isn't right." Chat could hear Viperion say in frustration. "Something's changed. Fall back."

Chat saw Rena and Carapace stumble back coughing and holding onto each other. Queen Bee was spinning her top in circles, trying to keep the dust at bay from herself, Mayura and Hawk Moth. Chat squinted his eyes trying to find Lila in the smoke. A figure loomed in front of him, but it wasn't Lila he saw, it was...Ladybug. It wasn't Chat's Ladybug from now though, it was Ladybug from a few years ago, fourteen, fifteen maybe, a ghostly figure in ash like her life had been blown away in one cataclysmic swoop.

"What did you do to them?"

"I didn't mean to."

Chat reached out a hand to touch her when his arm was grabbed and he was violently twisted around behind his back.

"Not so smart now Kitty Cat." Lila gloated. "Give me that ring."

Chat squirmed around, trying to shield his ring from her. He could see Rena on the ground holding her arm. There was blood trickling down it and Carapace was holding her. Chat and Lila got into a scuffle of arms and legs before Lila was hit over the head with a long cane. Shrinking back, she held her head, her hands visibly shaking. "Attack." She screeched, at her remaining disciples who charged in.

Hawk Moth was becoming overrun, with Mayura now stepping into the battle and attacking with her fan. Viperion was pacing on the rooftop above. This fight was all going to hell. He knew something was off with Chat, and it wasn't just the white coat and blue eyes. He was unfocused, uncharacteristically so, and time was running out. Somehow changing to the white cat had changed the course of the fight, and no one was in control.

"Chat do I need to abort this?" Viperion called through the coms.

"No." Chat growled. "I can finish this. Just wait."

"Chat..."

"Trust me."

A lightning beam shot up out of the smoke. Rena's illusion was shattered as the TV helicopter came into view, spiralling dangerously out of control.

"Look out!" Rena screamed.

"Carapace!" Chat called. The turtle hero reacted quickly, leaving his girlfriend on the ground as he slid across the courtyard.

"Shelter." He yelled, enveloping the helicopter within his protection and carefully guiding it to the ground. The crew stumbled out, still wheezing from the smoke before taking a step back. Clara's eyes widened at the sight of a cat themed hero she was sure was Chat Noir, only he was covered in white. The cameraman had started filming again.

"Nadja? Nadja...yes we are live at the base of the Eiffel Tower where the heroes are locked in a fierce battle with the villain known as Monstrum. We have since learned this new villain is Lila Rossi, the daughter of an Italian diplomat. It appears Rena Rouge is down and there is also an upgrade of some description to Chat Noir who is now in white and judging from that last blast that you saw rock the ground behind us, has an increased power." Clara ducked her head as flying debris flew past her head.

"Get out of here...Now." An icy voice said. Clara and her cameraman took another step away.

"But you are...you are..." The reporter fumbled pointing.

"Yes." Was Hawk Moth's curt response as Mayura and Queen Bee came into view behind him battling the disciples. "We were required to assist and responded. That is all you need to know. I recommend you go now." As the ground began to shake under foot again Mayura went to ground. Hawk Moth ran in and scooped her up in his arms to take her to safety. The ground shook again and Clara and the cameraman hightailed it out of there.

"It was our love that did this to the world, m'lady"

Chat covered his ears and shook his head again, erasing the frozen vision from his mind, but the pain in his heart grew. He knew now what it was he was seeing, it was the same images that he knew haunted Marinette's dream. Somehow he had connected to the erased memories of his alternate self in a timeline that had been erased. What the hell had he done? But there was a bigger warning now, he knew these enhanced powers were dangerous, but seeing the devastation in his own mind increased the urgency.

"Damn you." Screeched Queen Bee as she clasped her hand and fell to her knees. Lila had destroyed her top again, only this time she got her hand burned in the process. Carapace ran in, grabbing Queen Bee and taking her away to where he already had Rena hidden, her arm in a makeshift tourniquet. Hawk Moth and Mayura sheltered close by.

Chat's heart was beating fast, and he could feel beads of sweat as they began to trickle down his face. Their team was crumbling around him, but so was Lila's. Anger was starting to build within him. He had lost his Lady once, in another time, he was never letting that happen again.

"Adrien." He heard his father's steady voice, not through the earpiece, but through his connection as Hawk Moth. "Adrien, I can feel your anger and frustration rising. You need to calm down and focus. Remember why you are here. You are here for Marinette, you are here for your son. Your only goal is that bangle."

"Watch out." Yelled Viperion. The snake hero had jumped down and came rushing across the space, crashing into Chat Blanc as a beam shot out towards him. Sentibug stood in front of them, taking the full force of Lila's beam. Instead of withering in pain like a person would have, she froze in place, black ash covering her from top to toe. Chat stared wide eyed.

"So, you tried to trick me with a fake Ladybug did you." Lila said. With a clap of her hands, the remaining disciples vanished and she enveloped herself in her glowing green light, her cackling laugh ran like a cold spinal tap through Chat Blanc. "That means she isn't here after all, and there is only one reason she wouldn't be here, isn't that right Kitty cat?" Chat Blanc gripped his staff tighter. Mayura clicked her fingers, freeing the amok from the bracelet and sending Sentibug into dust.

"Chat." Viperion's voice sounded exhausted. "Half the team are losing their transformations. Their kwami's can't hold up under the hits they've taken." Moments later Chat saw glowing lights behind the upturned cars and debris. First Rena and Queen Bee, then not long after Mayura as well.

Chat held up his hands to Lila. He knew time must have been almost out on Viperion's second chance. Lila for all her ferocity was struggling to stand. The skirt on her dress was torn, and there was a bleeding gash along the side of her head. Had he done that? Chat wasn't sure. In his mind he was battling guilt at causing harm, and vengefulness that wanted to hurt her more. He took a deep breath in and held out one last olive branch.

"Drop this curse and leave the others out of this Lila. This fight is between you and me." Chat demanded. "You can't win this." Lila narrowed her eyes and curled her lips into a smile.

"Then I guess you will just have to kill me...Adrien." Chat felt his stomach drop but he didn't let his face betray him. So she had known, or at least guessed. She would kill him and take his Miraculous then take Ladybug's unopposed, their son being collateral damage in Lila's deranged plan for power. Lila lit up a green and black charge in her hand. Her face was becoming more pale, but she locked her inky black snake eyes into Chat's icy blue ones. There would be no more offerings of peace.

"I am not Adrien." He said, his voice low and menacing. "I am Chat Blanc and this ends now." He raised his own hand and formed a blue glowing mass.

"Dude, no..." Carapace pleaded.

"Adrien please." He heard his father.

"No, don't do it." He heard Viperion in his ear.

"You will always be Chat Noir to me."

"It's the only way." Chat replied, still staring Lila down.

"No, please, I've seen it before already. Adrien, don't do it, it will kill you if you do."

"Then take care of her for me, Luka. Ahhhh." Chat screamed as his blue charge clashed against Lila's inky green. The two charges suspended against one another pushing for dominance.

"Viperion, take it back man. Stop it." Carapace pleaded, running over to him and grabbing his arm. Viperion looked to his wrist and saw the snake had stopped moving.

"I can't." He gasped. "It's too late."

Chat pushed with everything he had against Lila's power. The place where the charges met began to swirl in an internal storm. Lightning sparked and the world around them began to darken. Chat stepped forward as Lila fell to her knees.

"Take cover." Viperion directed, running back to where the others were hiding.

"Shelter." Carapace called, enclosing them in his protection. Hawk Moth stood with his palms against the transparent green walls as he watched Chat Blanc push closer to Lila.

"Adrien." He murmured, fear filling his voice. Making a fist and sliding down to his knees. Nathalie rested her head on his shoulder as she knelt beside him. "I can feel his anger." He said to her. "The pain and the fear but also love. So much love." Hawk Moth suddenly turned his head back to the fight. Lila was losing power as Chat Blanc's blue charge crept closer to her.

"Marinette!" Chat screamed as light exploded. Nearby buildings shook and crumbled and the area became blinded in smoke and dust. As the Earth settled, the Eiffel Tower emerged, still standing proud, and on the ground was Lila and Chat Blanc.

Carapace dropped his shelter and they all ran over to the scene. Hawk Moth withdrew the akuma, blue light receding to leave behind Chat Noir on the ground. A moment later, it was followed by a green light as an exhausted Plagg fell onto his chosen's chest. Carapace and Viperion dropped their transformation leaving only Hawk Moth still transformed.

"Adrien...Adrien can you hear me?" Nathalie called, laying Adrien's head in her lap. There was blood trickling from his temple and scorch marks along his arms.

"Is he...?" Luka couldn't bring himself to say it. Nathalie placed a hand on Adrien's chest.

"He's still breathing." She said, relief evident in everyone's faces, but most especially Luka's. He had watched Adrien die too many times that day already.

"Lila, Lila!" They heard a woman's frantic voice calling. Looking over they saw Lila's mother with Clara Contard and her cameraman following close behind.

"Mr Agreste, you shouldn't be found here." Luka warned.

"We'll look after Adrien." Nino assured. "Go check on Marinette and meet us at the hospital." Hawk Moth nodded. Nathalie moved and allowed Alya to slip into her place before Hawk Moth scooped her up and headed for the rooftops. "You should go to man, before those reporters catch up to you." Luka was about to argue, when Alya reached up and grabbed his hand.

"Go to Kagami, Luka, we'll take care of him." Luka nodded his head and ran off in the other direction as Clara called out his name.

"Don't worry, I got this." Said Chloé with a wink to Alya and Nino. "Hey Clara." Chloé announced, showing her burned hand. "Why don't you interview me? Queen Bee was here to help save the day after all..."

********

"Don't be bemused, it's just the news. I'm Nadja Chamack bringing you the late report. This hour we are crossing live back to Clara Contard who has returned to the scene where only a few hours ago, the Miraculous team, headed by Chat Noir, defeated the Monstrum who had revealed herself to be Lila Rossi, the daughter of an Italian diplomat. Clara."

"Thanks Nadja. As you can see, the Mayor has already sent in a clean up crew to start repairs to the damage. At this spot today, the Miraculous team did defeat Lila Rossi. Before our own helicopter got caught up in the clash, we saw Chat Noir using an enhanced power to eventually overcome Lila and destroy the source of her powers. Many civilians were caught in the scuffle including local heartthrobs musician Luka Couffaine and model Adrien Agreste. Several people have been taken to hospital, including Lila Rossi who is believed to be unconscious and is under police surveillance. I am joined here now by Alya Césaire, best known as the Ladyblogger and current spokesperson for Ladybug and Chat Noir, who has come to clear up a few matters for us. Thank you for your time Alya, I see you too we're injured."

Alya waved to the camera with her other hand. "Thanks Clara. My friends and I did get caught in the crossfire, but luckily I should be fine in a few days." Alya indicated to the sling her arm was in.

"Now Alya, I understand that there was a special reason why Ladybug was unable to apply her Miraculous Cure and fix the damage from the fight today."

"That's right Clara, the Ladybug you saw fighting today was a sentimonster supplied by Mayura. Unfortunately she can't produce a working miraculous cure the way the real Ladybug can. But don't worry Bugheads, our favourite spotted heroine wanted me to let you all know that she is just fine, but like so many women in this city, she too was caught up in Lila's sleeping curse."

"Does that mean what we think it means?" The reporter asked, aiming the microphone back at Alya.

"It sure is Clara." Alya said, keeping her voice and body language up beat. "Ladybug and Chat Noir recently found out they are going to be parents. It's still early days so they had not yet made an official announcement, but there were plenty of other team members ready to lend a hand to keep Paris safe."

"That brings me to my next question. Many viewers were shocked at the sight of Mayura and Hawk Moth, former supervillains, fighting with the Miraculous team. I thought their Miraculous had been surrendered anonymously.

"They had." Alya clarified. "But the Miraculous were not intended to be used for evil purposes and the current holders can be trusted to..."

Marinette switched off the TV and readjusted herself in the chair next to Adrien's hospital bed. It broke her heart into so many pieces seeing him like this. He had done it for her, she knew that, for her and their baby. Her Chaton had always put himself into the line of fire for her. She ran her hands over his, carefully avoiding the place his cannula was in. His arms were streaked in scorch marks from the final blast, some of it having penetrated the double layer of suits. There was a bandaged gash to his head as well as a fractured tibia in his leg, but he was alive. She watched as his chest slowly rose and fell, Plagg curled up near his head purring softly with Tikki beside him. The little red Kwami was exhausted from keeping her vigil over Marinette and the baby, and was now sleeping peacefully.

Luka had called Marinette earlier to say Kagami was alright. Marinette had made him tell her everything and Luka said that each time Chat had gone against Lila alone like that, it had killed him and he had to keep using second chance. The only explanation they had was that being akumatized had given him an extra layer of protection. Marinette had been terrified when she learned Adrien had become Chat Blanc, but this time it had saved her life.

Marinette lifted Adrien's hand to her lips before resting it against her cheek. It would still be a while before he woke up from his surgery, unlike Lila. Before agreeing to the TV interview, Alya popped her head into Lila's hospital room, telling Mrs Rossi they were old school friends. Doctors had been unable to determine Lila's exact condition, only that she had suffered severe damage to the brain from the inside. Marinette was sure it was damage from using the snake jewel.

"You should get some rest pigtails." Plagg urged, laying a paw on her hand. "I'll watch over the kid. He's a tough one you know, he'll be alright."

"I know Plagg." She said, scratching behind his ear with her other hand. "I think I'd rather stay here with him though."

It was late that night when Marinette was awoken by the feel of fingers moving under her own. She lifted her head up off the bed and saw Adrien's hand move to wrap around her own.

"You know, I think I must have died and gone to heaven." He said. She turned to see a sleepy lopsided grin on his face. "Because I can see an angel before me."

Marinette's face broke into a wide smile, despite the tears that streaked down her cheeks. She hugged him as best as she could, burying her face into his shoulder, relishing in the warmth of his body against hers and his hands on her back. She would listen to his bad puns and pick up lines for the rest of her life and never complain again. Adrien gently patted her hair.

"Don't cry Bug, I'm here. Everything is going to be alright." He soothed, but Marinette shook her head.

"You could have died Adrien. Luka watched you die several times before calling on second chance. There was no guarantee using an akuma would have helped."

"I never thought it would." He admitted. "I only did it because my cataclysm hadn't been enough to destroy the bangle. I needed something stronger." Marinette sat back blinking her watery eyes at him.

"But that...you mean you knew it could have..." Adrien placed a finger on her lips.

"I had to do what I could to save the two of you." He said softly. "Paris will always need Ladybug." She took both of his hands in hers.

"And Ladybug needs her Chat Noir." She said, her blue eyes searching his emerald ones. "I can't do this without you Kitty, you know that." He removed one of his hands from her grasp and reached up to gently touch her face.

"You won't." He said. "Because I'll always be here with you m'lady. You and me against the world, always." He pulled her closer to him, wrapping his hand around the back of her head and bringing her in to kiss her lips. They were salty from her tears, but warm and soft against his own.

Over the next few days there was a flurry of visitors to Adrien's hospital room. Nathalie hobbled in on a pair of crutches with a twisted ankle which would heal in a few days. Gabriel held his son tightly, telling how terrified but also how proud he was of him. They had taken one hell of a risk together with Chat Blanc, but in the end it had paid off, Adrien thanking his father for trusting him and. Recalling the akuma earlier. No longer the villain of an erased future, Chat Blanc would be remembered as the hero that saved Paris, and the names of Hawk Moth and Mayura had been redeemed in the eyes of the public.

Chloé and Felix also came to see him. Felix was still somewhat perplexed at how his cousin had gotten himself so damaged, but Chloé easily kept him distracted with her own tales of heroism, and Adrien could see that Felix was loving every bit of it.

Luka brought Kagami up to the hospital through the week, her own baby bump growing faster by the week. Marinette handed Longg to her, telling her to keep the Kwami with her as she was also considered part of the permanent team when she was ready to join again.

Alya and Nino of course spend a lot of time in the hospital, not only checking in on Adrien, but also looking in on Lila too who was still unresponsive. Despite what Lila had done, everyone did feel for her mother. Since Lila had announced herself publicly as the infamous Monstrum, Mrs Rossi was no longer able to hold her high profile position at the Italian Embassy. Lila's upper arm also bore swirling scorch marks where the snake bangle had disintegrated into ash. A permanent reminder of what she had done.

After almost two week in the hospital, Adrien was finally cleared to go home on crutches. Alya and Nino came to help. Although Alya's arm sustained a pretty nasty wound, it was healing quickly with help of her Miraculous. Initially Tom and Sabine had insisted that Adrien and Marinette should stay with them for a while, but the couple declined, wanted to spend some time together at their own home.

Helping Adrien into his wheelchair, they were on their way down the corridors when Mrs Rossi called out to Alya. "Lila woke up late yesterday." She said. Adrien gave Marinette a pained look. He had told her that Lila had figured out their identities and, although he felt guilty about it, he had hoped maybe she wouldn't wake up.

"How is she?" Alya asked, noting that Lila's mother wasn't exactly jumping for joy at the news.

"Come see for yourself." She said, indicating for them to follow.

"Are you sure you want to go m'lady?" Adrien asked, reaching behind him to take her hand and kiss it.

"I guess we need to find out sooner or later." She said, pushing the wheelchair to where the others had gone.

"Lila, honey, there are some of your friends from school here to see you." Mrs Rossi said. Lila turned her head towards them and gave them all a wide smile. Marinette might have tripped on her own feet at the genuineness of it, had she not still been holding the wheelchair. Lila had her head bandaged and had similar scorch marks to what Adrien had.

"Oh, thank you for coming to see me. I'm sorry if I don't remember your names. Apparently I had some kind of brain hemorrhage and it's affected my memory." The others all shot each other glances before looking back at Lila's mother who gave a small nod.

"Well, I'm Alya and this is my boyfriend Nino. Over there is Adrien and his wife Marinette. We all went to school with you at Collège Françoise Dupont." Lila smiled politely, no recognition evident in her eyes.

"That's nice." She said, playing with her hair. "Maybe you can tell me about our time there sometime." Marinette gave Adrien an unsure look. They knew Lila was a great actress, could she possibly be faking it? Adrien reached over to a pile of old magazines the hospital had. He found an old issue of Mode magazine and flicked through it.

"Here, you used to work as a model for my father, Gabriel Agreste." He passed the magazine to her showing an advertisement of him and her from Winter about two years ago. They were standing under a street lamp snow falling around them. Lila had her hand holding his jacket lapel and was leaning into him under a piece of mistletoe.  Lila looked at the picture and Marinette saw a blush light up her cheeks.

"Oh." Lila said, as her cheeks continued to burn bright. Marinette was sure in all the years she had known Lila, she had never seen her blush. "I can't imagine ever doing that. I'd be too embarrassed." She closed the magazines and looked back to Adrien. "I think I might look for something else for work bow. I'm not really that comfortable in the spotlight."

After a few more plenentries, the group farewelled Lila and made their way out into the corridor. Mrs Rossi came out with them.

"The doctors have said the damage to her brain is permanent. The section of her brain relating to memory can never be recovered. You wouldn't have noticed, but she is also struggling to read or coordinate her hands well. The police have agreed not to press charges as long as I take her out of the country. I plan to return to Italy. My parents live in a quiet town in Tuscany. We can start over there."

"Can I ask something?" Marinette queried. Mrs Rossi nodded. "Was Lila ever shy as a girl?" Mrs Rossi looked a little confused.

"Lila had always been a shy girl." She said. "But I guess more so when she was younger. She became more confident in high school, but I guess having friends may have helped that." Marinette didn't need to ask anymore.

*******

Finally back in their own apartment, Marinette saw Alya and Nino to the door, inviting them back for dinner on the weekend. Marinette still wanted to do something special for Nathalie before her wedding and wanted Alya's help to organise a high tea at the Bourgois hotel.

Walking back into the lounge room, Adrien was sitting on the lounge chair with his plastered leg propped up with pillows. She had to smile to herself as Adrien played with Plagg, throwing his cheese up in the air for the cat Kwami to catch. Tikki zoomed over and she and Plagg sped off into the kitchen. Adrien looked over to her with a look that was full of so much love that it still made Marinette melt. He reached a hand out to her, indicating for her to come sit with him. She was going to sit next to him on the floor, but he pulled her over to sit on his lap.

"I'm not squashing you am I?" She asked, but he just giggled.

"Hardly." He said, placing a hand on her rounding belly. Marinette looked at his face for a moment and the wonder that still lit his eyes at the thought of their baby growing in there.

"Have you thought of a name?" He asked and was surprised when she blushed. "What? Is the name that embarrassing?"

"No." She said quietly. "It's just...I kind had their names picked out when I was fourteen." She looked at him with a side eye, but he just had the soft look in his eyes that Alya had dubbed as the "Marinette look".

"They were our kids right?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. "Like you weren't planning names for having kids with someone else?" Marinette shook her head and he smiled at her again. "Well that's alright then.  What are the names?"

"Well, obviously Emma is out so it would be between Louis and Hugo." She started biting her lip and looked at him nervously. Adrien lifted his hand and gently unhooked her lip from her teeth. Sliding his hand around her neck, he brought her closer to him.

"Louis." He whispered against her lips. "We can use one of the others next time." He said before claiming her lips with his own. Adrien's other hand slid around her waist and pulled her closer to him, mindful of the bump of course, before he started trailing kisses down her neck.

"Adrien." She said a little breathless. "Can I...ask you a question."

"Anything Lovebug." He said between kisses. He was making this very hard to keep serious.

"Do you remember being an akuma I mean, from the fight with Lila?" Adrien stopped in his ministrations and sat back a little to look at her.

"I remember all the fight, yes. Apparently Nooroo has some control in retaining the memory or not. Why?"

"I just wondered." She said. Adrien ran his fingers through her hair.

"There was something else though." He said, taking a deep breath. "I saw things...memories that I don't actually remember. I think I somehow connected with the memories of the other Chat Blanc that you faced in that alternative timeline. I'm really sorry." Marinette looked at him confused.

"Adrien, why would you be sorry. I fixed everything. Those things never ended up happening, and it wasn't your fault anyway."

"I know." He admitted, resting his hand back on her belly. "But it hurt you and I hate the fact that I hurt you."

"That wasn't the same you Kitty." She reminded him. "And in this timeline, Chat Blanc saved my life And those of thousands of other women and babies. That's what I want to remember."

For a quiet moment the two of them looked into each other's eyes. Just as Marinette started to lean back in, there was a sudden movement under Adrien's fingers.

"Did you feel that?" Marinette asked excitedly.

"Yeah." Adrien said just as another bump went past his hand. "Hey there Louis, mummy and daddy are right here." He said to her belly. Marinette scratched his head gently, right where she knew he liked it when he was transformed. She was sure if he was he would have been purring.

"I love you Chaton." She whispered. He brought her closer, kissing her nose.

"I love you too m'lady." He replied, before claiming her lips again.

A/N - One more chapter to go...