Listening to my playlist of shuffle and ended up writing this.

SONG: Apologise (One Republic)

••••

In the midst of the final battle the stakes hit another level and Marinette was barely keeping it together. She needed to think, but the continuous stab of betrayal played her every thought.

She was currently hanging by her yo-yo, partner attached, as she lowered them down into the recently cataclysm entrance into the Agreste basement.

As Adrien's feet hit the floor, he cradled his partner in his arms and hugged her body close to his.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, "I'm so, so sorry."

Tears streaming down her face, she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, settling into the crook allowing him to anchor her, to be her stability.

The two heroes were battered and tired.

Using the remainder of their strength they pulled themselves together, knowing that the battle was far from over.

The Agreste mansion was in ruins. Destruction from Chat Noir's cataclysms, plus the attack on akumas and amoks. Many recharges, and lucky charms later they were ready to face their final challenge.

"Come on, Kitty. We need to end this."

Adrien let go of Marinette and helped her onto her feet. It was in times like this his love just expanded for her. Her strength and resilience. Her fight when everything was against her.

They walked forward to meet their rivals. Both heroes suffering from the heartbreak caused by the people currently standing in front of them.

"Don't forget I love you, and will be with you through this." She whispered to the black cat standing next to her. "You mean everything to me, Chaton, we'll get through this."

He held her hand and squeezed, indicating that the same applied to her. When they found themselves at the Agreste mansion Adrien had no choice but to let his partner in on his identity. No reaction was made, apart from a hug. A hug filled with emotion and the chance to discuss more later.

They stopped in front of their enemies; new and old. A butterfly, a peacock and a fox.

"Alya, why did you do this? Do you have any idea what you have done?" Marinette's voice echoed through the empty chamber.

The fox was on her knees.

"I told you," Marinette continued, voice breaking, "I told you what she was like and you trusted her. You told her the one secret I trusted only you with."

"I'm sorry," the red head sobbed out, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to."

"Didn't mean to?" Adrien chimed in. "I've been telling you for months what Lila was like, and now, now ... " Marinette wrapped a hand around his arm, trying to calm him down. She couldn't respond. She'd never felt so betrayed, and it hurt. It hurt a lot.

"So you know the bug here?" The middle aged male walked forward and crouched down next to Alya, taking her face in his hands. "Who is she?" He asked her.

"I can't," she cried, tears flowing freely in her desperate attempt to protect her friend. "Ladybug, help me please, I'm sorry."

A dam broke inside Marinette, and anger filled around her heart. Her eyes grew fiery, she had nothing left to say to the girl currently wanting her protection.

"It's too late to apologise. You've betrayed me." Poison flowed through her words. For once the protector of Paris was ready to leave fate to decide the outcome of this story.

"I can tell you if she won't." A voice sounded from the shadows as a new figure appeared. A brunette walked into the light, a smirk on her face and pure evil in her eyes.

Adrien moved in front of his partner protecting her from the evil before them.

"Isn't that right? Marinette?" At the sound of her name, Marinette collapsed onto her knees. A sob leaving her glove covered mouth.

"After all this time," Hawkmoth stood up and made his way over to the heroine, "you were right under my nose."

"Touch her and I'll kill you." Adrien announced. "Even if you are my father."

Hawkmoth stopped in his tracks, unsure if it was correct information he'd just heard.

"Adrien?"

The atmosphere changed in an instant, Adrien lunging towards his father and pinned him down, only to be thrown across the room. Head slamming into the wall.

"No!" Marinette shouted running to her partner. She collapsed next to him, taking his unmoving body in her arms and resting him on her legs. "Kitty?" She spoke softly, "Kitty, please answer me."

Adrien was still, his face growing ashen.

"What have you done to him?" Marinette didn't know she could cry so much, but here she was, more fluid leaking from her already damp and drained eyes.

Within seconds Nathalie was at her side. Stroking Adrien's hair and speaking soothing words to both the young teens.

No one saw Gabriel renounce Nooroo, rip the Miraculous butterfly off his collar and throw it away, and no one saw Lila disappear holding onto the Miraculous. But everyone saw Gabriel Agreste sob uncontrollably, rushing to his son's side.

Marinette stood up and stalked over to where a broken Alya remained sat on the floor, rocking through her sobs. Grabbing the necklace from her neck, Marinette ripped it off the girl's body.

"I saved you. I befriended you. I trusted you with my most precious secrets. I would have taken a shot for you, I would have done anything for you and now look at what you've done." Marinette's voice was getting louder, the anger growing stronger. "I loved you! You were my best friend."

Alya's head remained firmly facing the floor, muffled sobs made their way through the hand she'd placed over her mouth. Grabbing her arm, Marinette yanked the girl to standing and pushed her towards where Adrien lay on the floor.

"Look at what you've done!" Marinette screamed, again.

"I'm sorry, Marinette, please. I'm so, so sorry!" Alya cried, words pleading, begging for forgiveness.

"If he doesn't pull through this," Marinette whimpered, "if I don't get him back." Marinette's knees buckled, crying for her love lying helpless on the floor, regretting sharing her secret with the wrong person. "I hate you, Alya. I wish ... I wish I'd never met you."

A purple butterfly made its way into the lair. Heading towards the strongest emotion in the room. The broken heart of a soulmate, of a girl in love, of a girl who'd lost her world.

"M'Lady." The voice was faint but it was there. Marinette looked up in time to see the butterfly.

Grabbing her yo-yo, she swung it, purifying the akuma, before running to her partner.

Gabriel and Nathalie stood back, watching as Marinette took Adrien in her arms. Kissing him everywhere her lips could reach bare skin.

As the emotional scene played before her, Alya turned and left. What had she done?

•••••

5 days later

Alya stood at the bottom of the stairs, Nino at her side showing the recent video of a Panda sneezing. She couldn't pay attention though. She knew they were coming back today.

The once vibrant red head was no longer vibrant. Instead her skin was dull, mirrored by her eyes. She had lost the personality so many loved; her drive and her spirit. She looked over to the patisserie and caught a glimpse of blonde hair.

"Wow look!" Nino, oblivious to what had happened the previous week, looked over at his best friend, hand in hand with a girl.

Alya turned her head, seeing Marinette and Adrien walking together deep in conversation.

"Did you know about this?" Nino asked his girlfriend.

"No," was her lowly response.

The two lovebirds greeted Nino before continuing on their way to class.

The redhead ignored, and unforgiven.