"I can't stand this..." Marinette said as she paced back and forth in her room the next morning.

"Don't worry, Marinette. I'm sure everything's fine." Tikki reassured her.

"I really hope so..." Marinette turned to Tikki, who sat on her bed, "I don't know what I'd do if he gave up on me... Oh my gosh, Tikki..."

"No, no, don't think so negatively, Marinette. I'm sure he still loves you very much!" Tikki told Marinette.

"Should I head to school already? See if he's there?" Marinette asked as she picked up her book-bag.

"I don't know. What do you want to do?" Tikki asked.

"I don't know..." Marinette sighed, "I'll stay for a little while longer. I've still got twenty minutes." She dropped her bag to the side and sat in her pink swivel chair. She turned on her computer and pulled up the news channel. But as soon as she saw the leading story, she gaped, her face pale.

__________________________

- A day ago -

"Nathalie! Why can't I go to school?!"

"Because, your father doesn't approve." Nathalie replied nonchalantly.

"How?! He's in prison!" Adrien complained, "Marinette's going to be there..."

"He's aware of that, but it seems he doesn't have a fondness towards Miss Dupain-Cheng."

"But why?! She's amazing! She's beautiful, talented, a great artist, a great baker, what is there to not like about her?" Adrien smiled as he thought about her.

"Well, he doesn't approve of her." Nathalie said, "and that's final."

"What I don't approve of is the fact that my own father was Hawk Moth!" Adrien shouted, "he tried to kill Ladybug!"

"That's enough, Adrien. Go to your room." Nathalie ordered. Adrien clenched his fists and ran to his room, slamming the door behind him.

"Oh, come on... I don't see how anyone would want to go to school when you can just stay home and sleep!" Plagg exclaimed as he flew out and rested on Adrien's pillow.

"This sucks, Plagg. I haven't seen Marinette in..."

"...Two days?" Plagg rose an eyebrow.

"Yes! Oh man, and I haven't been able to call her recently..." Adrien groaned, "she's so going to kill me..."

"Look, I don't see how you could agree to a relationship. I mean, it's not like you're cheating on her or anything." Plagg winked.

"What?!"

"With Ladybug? Let's not forget her!" Plagg said.

"No Plagg..." Adrien shook his head as he sat in his white swivel chair, "this.... this is different."

"Just think about it. You're still in love with Ladybug, aren't you?" Plagg asked.

"I don't know what to do..." Adrien said, "Ladybug could never love a cheesy guy like Cat Noir."

"Ah, well, looks like you've got a lot of time to kill now. Without school, y'know?" Plagg chuckled.

"Not funny." Adrien groaned as he stood up and fell over onto his bed, falling asleep for the rest of the day.

______________________________

Adrien woke about eight hours later to the sound of his phone going off. He peeked over to his vibrating phone on his side-table. He reached over and answered,

"Hello?"

"Adrien, it's Marinette."

"Hey, Mari. Sorry I wasn't at school today. More father issues." Adrien scratched the back of his neck as he turned to Plagg, who had fallen asleep in a round Camembert box.

"You'll be there tomorrow though, right?" Marinette asked, hope in her voice.

"We'll see." Adrien replied, and there was a short silence, "I miss you already, Mari."

"Me too. I was really looking forward to seeing you."

"Don't worry. We'll see each other soon." Adrien reassured her.

"Promise?" That word stung Adrien's heart.

"Promise." Adrien thought hard about his next words, "I'm sure you've already got homework to do, so better get on that." He laughed.

"You're right. I'll hopefully see you tomorrow then." Marinette giggled.

"Okay. Sleep well, Princess." Adrien said, then hung up before letting Marinette finish what she was going to say, "Shoot. I think I cut her off... Sh-should I call her back?"

"You really have no idea about these relationships, huh?" Plagg smirked.

"Don't laugh." Adrien rolled his eyes, but was startled when he heard knocking at the door. He opened it to see Nathalie standing before him.

"Good news." Nathalie beamed.

Adrien grinned, " I can go to school?!

"No. You were offered a new modelling job opportunity!"

"Oh, that's, uh, great? But how is it any different from any other modelling opportunity?" Adrien questioned.

"Because it's in the states! We were given free tickets and the money for a luxury suite in the finest apartment in New York!" Nathalie smiled, "I'm so proud of you, Adrien!"

"Th-the STATES?!" Adrien repeated, shock on his face, "No, I can't go! What about Paris? What about Mari--"

"Enough about that girl! Your father refuses and absolutely despises the idea of you dating that girl!"

"Well, there's nothing you can do to stop me!" Adrien crossed his arms, "I choose her over some modelling op."

"You are going to New York, whether you like it or not." Nathalie said, "pack your bags and get your things together. You are given the opportunity to visit your home in Paris one week every month."

"But--"

"No 'buts'." Nathalie said, then left, shutting the door behind her. Adrien clenched his fists as Plagg flew out.

"We're leaving Paris?!" Plagg gasped, "b-but what about Marinette?! What about... What about the Bug and Cat team of Paris?"

"I-I don't know..." Adrien whispered, then he narrowed his eyes, "we'll just let fate happen."

_______________________________

- Present day -

"In shocking news, there has been a huge car pile-up of five in front of the Eiffel Tower, just outside the Agreste estate." Mrs. Chamack announced on the news.

"Oh my gosh, Tikki..." Marinette gasped.

"At the center of the crisis is none other than the Agreste car, only two found and accounted for." Mrs. Chamack said.

"Oh no.... No no no no no..." Marinette's eyes started stinging with tears. Before Mrs. Chamack could continue, Marinette turned off her computer, jolted up, and ran out of her room.

"Wait! Marinette!" Tikki called, but all the sounds around Marinette were all white noise. She ran right past her parents without a word, out the front door, and just kept running until she got to the scene of the car accident in front of Adrien's house.

"Marinette!" Tikki called as she flew up to Marinette, avoiding anyone that almost saw her. Marinette silently walked up to the scene and saw an ambulance. She walked around the ambulance and saw a gash in Nathalie's head being mended.

"N-Nathalie?" Marinette asked.

"M-Marinette..." Nathalie gasped, tears stained her cheeks.

"Where's... Please tell me..." Marinette cried. She turned to see a fireman helping someone out from the Agreste car. She ran up to him, hoping to see Adrien, but it was only his bodyguard, who was also crying.

"No..." Marinette cried, tears streaming down her cheeks, "only two were found..." She turned to Nathalie, who had gotten up and walked up to her, "tell me he's alive!! Please!!! He's alive!!" Marinette screamed, but tears just ran endlessly down her cheeks. She cried, and let her knees give way. She fell to the ground below Nathalie as she cried for Adrien. Gone.