Wow I think I might get this story finished before A Miraculous World.

I did not expect that

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Ladybug was once again swinging through Paris as she desperately searched for the akuma. It had been a few hours since she transformed and went out through the window to begin looking for the akuma on her own.

You might be wondering why she went off on her own without telling Adrien so he would come with her.

Marinette knew that Adrien was doing everything he could to go on with his normal life while making sure hers stayed in tact through all this. She figured she'd use whatever free time she had to look for the akuma while he dealt with all that.

However, everytime she brought up the akuma he'd push it aside and say that she shouldn't worry about it that it'll all be okay soon.l, but she can't just do nothing!

That was another issue, why was Adrien not more concerned about an akuma roaming the streets? Her being younger now wasn't the only problem here, what if it happened to anyone else? Did he think she didn't see the risk of letting an akuma run rouge in the city?

Maybe he didn't want her to worry. Marinette knows that whatever reason he has its probably understandable. She thought about asking him, but what if he took that as a sign that she didn't trust him?

Then again if he IS hiding something she should have every right to question him.

Ladybug sighed when her search came out empty once again. She's checked the media, looked on the Ladyblog and even asked around, but there's hasn't been a single sight of the akuma ANYWHERE.

What could Flashback possibly be doing biding her time like this? Hawkmoth doesn't exactly seem like a patient man and she's completely exposed. WHERE THE HECK WAS SHE?!

The blunette decided to take a break, she had been transformed for a few hours now and she skipped breakfast so this could be the opportunity for her to stop, get some food, and recharge her kwami to continue her search.

Ladybug jumped down into the nearest alleyway and de-transformed back into Marinette. She stepped out of the alley and checked her surroundings to make sure she wasn't seen before casually walking out onto the sidewalk.

"Marinette don't you think you should have let Adrien know where you were going before you left?" Tikki said hiding in her shirt pocket. "He's going to be really worried when he finds out that you're gone."

"I didn't want to bother him Tikki, besides I'm sure he knows that I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself and I'll be back before he has the time to even worry." Marinette said back.

"Do you even know the way back Marinette?"

The young girl stopped in her tracks and thought for a second before she slapped her forehead in a facepalm. No she didn't know how to get back to the house. Both times she's been brought to it she's been asleep or unconscious.

"I guess I didn't think this through." Marinette said with a nervous chuckle. "No worries, I'll figure something out. Our main concern is to get you some food so we can continue looking for Flashback."

Marinette continued down the street hopefully looking for some kind of vendor giving free samples. The farther she walked she started to get a sudden case soft deja Vu.

"Wait.....I know this area." She started to jog forward and when she came around the corner she found her parents bakery. It still looked the same as she's always known it to be.

Curiosity took over as she began to approach the building and looked through the front windows. She opened the door that sounded the bell charm to alert anyone inside.

A few seconds later a woman came from the back and greeted her with a smile. "Hello welcome to The Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie how can I....help...you." The woman's words trailed off as she got a good look at the girl near the entrance. "Marinette?"

The blunette blinked not sure how to react. There was something familiar about this woman, she sounded alot like...

"M...My name's Bridgette." She said in hopes that the woman would believe her. "I'm visiting for awhile and I just came to have a look around."

It took a moment, but Marinette came to the conclusion that the woman before her was her mother who looked much older now than she remembered. She had a few wrinkles that made it clear that she had aged but her smile was just as bright as she remembers.

"I'm so sorry." Sabine said shaking her head. "It's just....you look exactly like my daughter Marinette when she was younger. I almost mistook you for her."

"It's alright it happens."

"Tom!" The woman shouted towards the stairs. "Can you come down here please?!"

A large man came from the back as well. Marinette recognized her father who had also aged as well and his hair and mustache looked alot more gray than she remembered.

His eyes widen when he saw Marinette as well.

"Doesn't this girl look just like our daughter from back then?" Sabine asked her husband.

"Definitely. The resemblance is uncanny." Tom said looking at the blunette. "Well I'll be...."

Marinette shifted from one foot to the other wondering if she made a mistake coming here.

Noticing the girl's expression Sabine quickly said. "Oh where are my manners? Was there anything here you were interested in trying?"

"Um....honestly I just wanted to look around I don't have any money on me...."

"Don't worry about it sweetie, it's on the house. Feel free to take anything you like." Tom said with a smile.

Marinette blinked. "A..are you sure?"

"Yes sweetheart. Think of it as a welcome gift for your visit." Sabine added.

"Well....do you have any cookies?"

~~~~~

Marinette sat on the bench in the park while Tikki ate her cookie inside her pocket. Marinette had gotten a few extra cookies for herself and was currently eating them as well.

"It seemed so strange seeing my parents like that..." Marinette said absent minely.

"What makes you say that?" Tikki said with a mouth full of cookie.

"It's just....I feel like I just saw them a few days ago before I suddenly woke up I the future." Mari said honestly. "It's almost like their the ones that aged a dozen years instead of me going back ya know?"

"I understand what you mean, but I'm not sure I can relate. I've been around for thousands of years. For me....it's almost like time flies by alot faster than I realized...." Tikki made a sad expression. "That's why I have to enjoy the time I have with my chosen's as much as I can."

Marinette brought Tikki out of her pocket and cupped her in her hands to avoid anyone from seeing her. "I'm sorry you feel that way Tikki....."

"It's okay. One of the good things about being around for so long is you kind of get use to it." Tikki smiled, but Marinette could still see the sadness behind her gaze.

Marinette kissed her kwamis forehead. "No matter what happens Tikki we'll always be best friends and the time we spend together will always remain precious."

Tikki giggled. "You're beginning to sound like older Marinette."

~~~~~

Once Tikki was fully charged, Ladybug continued her search for Flashback only to once again come up with nothing.

"It's been hours...." The bug girl said to herself. "If Flashback's plotting something big she sure seems to be taking her sweet time doing it."

Ladybug figured she should try to head back to the house. Not knowing exactly where she was going she began to just go in a random direction until something triggered her memory that might help her get back there.

After going in a complete circle she came to the conclusion that she was completely lost.

"Guess I'll have to give Chat a call.....I don't think he'll be too happy when he finds out that I was gone." Ladybug pulled out her yo-yo to try and contact the feline hero.

That's when she heard a voice behind her and felt a hand on her shoulder. "Marinette! Thank God I found-"

Out of pure reflex, she grabbed hold of the strangers arm and flipped them over her shoulder causes them to fall on their back.

The red bug looked down at the perpetrator and came to the horrid realization that her so called attacker was none other than Chat Noir.

"Oh my goodness! Chat I'm so sorry! Are you okay?!"

The blonde groaned and got back up on his feet. "Doesn't matter." He gave a look towards her that was mixed with worry and concern. "Where have you been all day Marinette?! Do you know how long I've been trying to find you?! Why did you leave the house without telling me?!"

Ladybug was taken back by his sudden questioning but answered nonetheless. "I...I was trying to look for the akuma!"

"I told you that we'd worry about it later!" Chat said in a slightly frustrated tone.

"I can't just sit around while Flashback runs free through the city Chat!" Ladybug shouted feeling a little angered by how he was practically scolding her. "The only way I can change back is if we catch the akuma and purify it. I'm tired of doing nothing l, I'm tired of making you carry all the responsibility from my mistake. I'm tired of being so....so useless!"

Ladybug felt that she was on the verge of tears until Chat reached out and gently pressed her against his chest in a comforting embrace.

"You're not useless m'lady. You've never been and you'll never be." Chat Noir's hold on the girl tightened a bit. "I'm sorry if I made you feel like you were....."

"It's not your fault....I just....I just thought that the older me would be less troubling for you to deal with then fifteen year old me is..."

Chat pulled back slightly to get a better look at the girl. "Princess you're not a burden you never were. Where is this all coming from?"

Marinette opened her mouth to speak, but decided against it. She didn't want to tell him that she overheard his conversation on the phone last night.

"I guess it was just a thought." She replied.

"Marinette I love you no matter what age you are, you're precious to me and that will never change. Plus I like the time we've been spending together, I've gotten to spend time with the side of you I wish I took the time to know years ago...."

There it was again, that unreadable expression in his eyes disappearing once again before Marinette has a  chance to make out what it meant.

Adrien leaned down a little so he was eye level with her. "Next time if you feel this way, can you promise to talk to me about it first instead of running off?"

Marinette blinked as she stared back at the man. It was still pretty new to her. Seeing Adrien's gentle smile on Chat's masked face knowing that they were the same person. However the longer she knew the truth she couldn't help but wonder how she never saw it before.

Ladybug sighed then gave Chat a smile. "I promise."

The feline gave his famous cheshire grin. He stood up straight and held out a clawed hand to his Ladybug.

"Come on, let's go home."

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Why is everyone getting so suspicious of Chat?

You guys think he's HIDING something???

That's ridiculous. 😓

Writer's block had me in a chokehold on this chapter but I managed to break free! WOOHOO!

Let's just hope it doesn't happen again.....

See ya soon! ✌