Ladybug stood hidden in a back ally, she was waiting for Chat Noir. If she had to guess like her he had just graduated high school. But unlike her, he was properly was going to leave Paris. Not that she blamed him, she'd gathered over the years that he did not have a good home life. College was likely his best chance at escape. She actually already had his replacement in mind, as the guardian, she couldn't risk not having a partner. Actually thanks to graduation and College she'd had to find replacements for most of the team. Thankfully she knew of a few people she could trust left in Pairs to form her new team that was staying here for college. 

"My Lady!" Chat Noir landed next to her. "Sorry it took me so long, I had to find a place to park and transform to get to you."

She giggled, "Don't worry Kitty. I knew you would come." 

"Glad to know you still believe in me." He sighed heavily. "I don't know how to tell you this." 

"You're leaving Paris?" She gave him a soft smile.

"How did you?"

"Everyone else on the team who I gave their Miraculous to full time did the same thing this week. I'm really the only one who really can't leave." That and she'd wanted to find a reason to get them back from her former friends. 

"Oh, I'm sorry My Lady, that must be hard." She placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. 

"Sadly it's probably the easiest part of my high school years." She thought back to switching schools in grade 8 to be with her now-boyfriend to get away from the liars, she used to call friends. Lila had got what she wanted, only she hadn't expected all of Kitty Section to follow Marinette to her new school. Marinette had asked Adrien to switch schools with her, telling him of her feelings and asking him out. To which he said no, he was in love with someone else. Then because of luck, her new school and old school were sent to the same high school. Luckily for her, Kitty Section becomes quite popular and her association with them as their designer saved her from Lila attempting to wreck her high school years too. But watching her former friends and crush move on without her hurt. It was made harder by having to fight with Alya and Nino as heroes. Yes, she could have taken the Miraculous' away but she'd learn from Chole she needed a reason as Ladybug not as Marinette to take them away and as hero's they really hadn't messed up. 

"I didn't know you were having a rough time LB." He gave her a smile. 

She shrugged, "Nothing worse than any other high schoolers' experiences. So How do you want to do this? Do you want me to know who you are or not?" 

"You're giving me a choice?" The way his face lit up made her heart light, yes he knew she had a boyfriend and he seemed to have an on-again-off-again girlfriend. 

"Yes Chat Noir, I am. But let's be clear, you can't know who I am, it's too risky. I had to learn how to ease one team member's memories because she got too close. And I couldn't risk it. I also can't promise to give you your Miraculous back, when you return. Unlike Reyna and Carapace, I can't just give some of the other temporary holders their Miraculous full time. I need someone with Plags power." She gave him a small smile. 

"I know, but I really want to get away. My cousin is going to school in America so I can board with my Aunt and finally get away from my father." He sat down leaning against the wall. 

"Maybe I'll be able to give you a different one when you get back."

"If I come back. I might stay away for a long time. But I would like you to know who I am. Even if I can't know you. I respect that." He slipped his ring off. "Hey LadyBug."He gave her a small wave. 

Her hand when to her month, "Adrien."She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry your about to lose your freedom." She held out her hand.

He dropped the ring in her hand. "I'll be fine. My Aunt is coming to get me in two weeks, but I wanted you to have time to chose a new Chat." She felt a little guilty for having a new one already picked put but he didn't need to know that. 

"Thanks, Adrien, you've been an amazing partner." Just a really bad friend. "I hope all goes well for you." I really do, I just wish you could have stood up for me as your friend. "I'm gonna go now so that way you can slip out with no one noticing." 

"Goodbye Ladybug. Thanks for everything." He kissed her hand one last time.

She turned and swang away. She flew through Paris and landed on the Liberty, she went through Lukas window, she was well practiced at this. "Ladybug you're here!" 

"Luka Couffaine, this is the Miraculous of the Black Cat which grants the power of Destruction. You'll use it for the greater good. You will hold Miraculous and work as my partner... Can I trust you?" She handed him the box. 

"Always Ladybug." He opened the book and Plag flew out. 

"Ah, this is how my Kitten and her Bug get together." He quickly looked around the room. 

"You're Lucky Jules and I no longer share a room." He teased. "Need to talk?" She nodded but she left his room through the window. Dropped her transformation and knocked on the door.

"Ah, Girly you're here! I thought you would miss game night!" Anarka let her in. 

"Luka your Melody is here!" Juleka yelled. 

"Jules! You could have let her surprise him!" Rose teased. 

"Actually, I would like to talk to him before we game is that okay?" Marinette fidgets with her hands. 

"Always girly." Anarka smiled at her son's girlfriend. 

She walked in to find Plag and Luka starting to bond. "I like him Spots, he's clam he'll have good control." 

"I know." She smiled. And curled into Luka's lap. 

"Harder than you thought?" She nodded into his chest. "Wanna talk?" 

"Not yet. I want to wait till he's out of Paris. I don't want you to lose it on him." 

"No way. It was him all along?" Luka chuckled. 

"You're too smart my Love." She sighed, "Yes it was. My alter ego made me not enough for him." She couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"His loss." Luka shrugged. "And now in more ways than one, I'm fully in your corner." He pulled her close. And then enjoyed a calm moment in time. 

***

It had been seven years, her new team of heroes did manage to beat ShadowMoth. Gabriel Agrest did not spend nearly enough time in jail due to a team of really good lawyers. But he did start a foundation that offered free counselling for those who had been traumatized due to his actions. He also lost all creditability as a fashion icon, so there was damage done to his life. The team of heroes (that double as a pretty great band tbh) could live with that. The heroes kept their identities a secret from Paris and each other and just went back to their normal lives. 

Kitty Section had done several tours. And was quite a popular brand, having a wide range of styles.  Ivan and Meylen got married, so did Juleka and Rose their wedding had been rather huge parties and the tour that followed each of their weddings being themed around each relationship. Luka and Mari however chose to get in a rather quiet ceremony.  Keeping it rather low-key as a personal choice. 

Kitty Section really hadn't seen many of their classmates since high school, but when Mrs. B announced she was quitting teaching to focus on her family, the Françoise Dupont school, threw a party and invited all of her former students back. As her classroom had been where many of the members of Kitty Section met they offered to play put on a show for the event. 

"Hey Luka, Mari you to should play that song you wrote a few years back," Juleka suggested as they went through a setlist. 

"Jules we hardly wrote it, we just took a song and modified the lyrics." Luka pointed out. 

"Besides we wrote it when I was angrily wedding planning because I randomly missed my old friends and remembered how I'd always thought they'd be there for me."

Luka placed a hand on her shoulder. He understood it took years for Mari to understand the pain and trauma being Ladybug had caused her. "I don't know Melody, it would be fun. Show a little bit of spice, show up your old classmate who abanded you."

"And who never apologized when Lila turned out to be a fraud." Rose pointed out. 

"Sure most of the class gets a pass, but Nino, Alya and Adrien should have reached out." Meylen smiled.

"Even if they're not there in person you know they'll be watching the live stream. Come on it would be fun!" Ivan agreed. 

Mari threw her hands up in laughter, "Fine but I'm only singing this one song!" 

***

They saved it for the last song of the set. Luka saw all three of them in the crowd, he knew that they hadn't been following Mari's career. For the fun of surprise, they come to the party separately. He had visited with the three of them, who had managed to stay friends over the years. Ayla and Nino did actually get married. Adrien had married Kagami but apparently, they were living separately for the time. Adrien had changed his name and seemed to be doing fairly well considering his father had been a supervillain. Adrien had asked Luka about Mari, seeing if they were still dating, he'd wanted to talk to her and clear some things up. "Mari and I haven't dated in a few years, Adrien. And I'm afraid I can't help you with talking to her. She should be here somewhere though." 

"Oh I'm sorry man, I thought you two would never end." Adrien gave him a sad smile. 

"Nah man doesn't stress, I've never been happier than I am right now." Luka left and they got set for the show, Mari stood watching from the sides, just out of sight. Soon it came time for the song. "Alright everyone, this last song is a little different. As you know the gossip blogs are always trying to figure if I'm married like the rest of the team. But we never did a tour focused on my love life. Well, today you learn the answer to that question. Because I am singing an older song that my WIFE and I modified." The crowd when wild. "Enjoy the song!" 

Luka singing (Yes I know some of the rhythms would be off but eh)

I was a boy
She was a girl
Can I make it any more obvious?
I was a punk
She did design
What more can I say?
I wanted her
She'd never tell
Secretly she wanted me as well
But all of her friends
Stuck up their nose
They had a problem with my blue hair

He was a model boy
He said, "See you later, girl"
She wasn't good enough for him
He had a pretty face
But his head was up in space
He needed to come back down to earth

It's five years from then
He sits at home
Missing his lady, he's all alone
She turns on TV
Guess who she sees
Modle boy still posing' for TV
She calls up her friends
They already know
And they've all got tickets to see our show
He tags along
And stands in the crowd
Looks up at the woman that he turned down

Luka took let Jules take over the guitar and gestured for Mari to join him on the stage, Mic in hand and a baggy I'm with the band t-shirt on she walked out and kissed Luka on the cheek. 
Mari Singing Both L&M Singing

He was a model boy
He said, "See you later, girl"
She wasn't good enough for him
Now I'm a super star
Slammin' on my guitar
Does your pretty face see what she's worth?

I was a guitar  boy
She says, "I'm your lady, now"
She more than enough for me
Now I'm a super star
Slammin' on my guitar
Does your pretty face see what she's worth?

Sorry, boy, but you missed out
Well, tough, luck I'm that boy's now
She locked eyes with Adrien
We are more than just good friends 
This is how the story ends
Too bad that you couldn't see
See the woman that girl/I could be
There is more that meets the eye
I see the soul that is inside

He's just a boy
And I'm just a girl
Can I make it any more obvious?
We are in love
Haven't you heard
How we rock each other's world 
She and Luka lean against one another and show off their rings.
I'm with the guitar boy
I said, "See you later, boy"
I'll be back stage after the show
I'll be at a studio
Singing the song we wrote
About a boy we used to know
I'm with the guitar boy
I said, "See you later, boy"
I'll be back stage after the show
I'll be at a studio
Singing the song we wrote 
Mari rolled up her baggy shirt and under it, she wore a tight tank top that over her small belly said Newest Member Coming Soon
About the kid we'll get to know

 The crowd went crazy. Photos were snapped as Mari and Luka kissed on stage and the band tackled the couple in hugs. Even Mrs. B ran up to give one of her former favourites a hug. Marinette looked up and saw a dumbstruck Adrien staring at her. She knew he understood just how much he missed. Not that it mattered anymore. She had gotten past the point of needed closure with Adrien. Maybe now he could too. 

Authors Note: I know it might seem silly or too petty for two adults to do, but heck sometimes when I'm in the right mood all I want to do is show the people who rejected me to see what they missed out on.