Marientte and Alya wandered sleepily into the kitchen, Trixx and Tikki following closely behind. They had all stayed up late playing games and having a real honest to goodness girls night after the Kitchen Tea finished. It was like being back in Collagè again, only this time the topic wasn't her crush on Adrien, or how she was going to confess her feelings. Marinette tied her hair up into a messy bun on her head and opened the blinds in the living room. One more week and she was going to be Mrs Agreste. Take that 14 year old Marinette. It was still quite early, but there was last minute wedding shopping to be done, and time was getting away.

"I'll go put some coffee on." Marientte called out.

"Sounds good to me." Alya replied. "Hey, there is an envelope poked under your door." She bent down, picking up the A4 sized plain yellow envelope. "There's nothing written on it."

"It's probably those sketches Sasha was going to drop off. He must have been up awfully early to have..." Marinette was cut off by the sound of Alya screeching.

"I'm going to kill Agreste." Marinette rushed into the room to see Alya storming around the living room furiously typing a message on her phone. An envelope with a picture half hanging out was on the floor. Marinette picked it up while Alya was still buried in her phone. The image was a little grainy, but one thing stood out clearly to her. Adrien's jacket and a hand grabbing another girl's hair in a passionate kiss. Suddenly the photo was snatched out of her hands.

"Don't do it to yourself Mari. That little son of a bitch is going to have some explaining to do. And don't think Nino is getting off the hook either. He was supposed to be keeping an eye out on him, not let that little tart get near your man." Marinette blinked at Alya bewildered.

"Wait... hold up a minute. That was Lila in the photo. Adrien wouldn't touch Lila with a ten foot pole." Alya wasn't having any of it.

"Did you see how she was dressed? Clearly she had a plan. I can't believe he fell for that!" She huffed. Marientte threw her hands up in the air.

"No I didn't see how she was dressed, you didn't let me see it, you just snatched the picture out of my hand." Alya shook her head as she looked back at the messages on her phone.

"Yeah you better explain..." she mumbled as she frantically typed. Marientte looks over to Tikki who was giving her a sympathetic look.

"You know Alya, we could go over there and you could whack some sense into him with your flute." Trixx said a little too excitedly.

"Trixx, you can't seriously believe this." Tikki said exasperated. "This is Chat Noir we are talking about!" Trixx just shrugged.

"It was only a suggestion."

"Please can we all just stop." Marientte called out, fanning her hands out before reaching one out to Alya. "Alya give me the picture." Alya turned the picture away from Marientte.

"No way girl, I'm not letting you burn that image into your brain. No, this calls for the girl squad. I'm sure Chloé and Kagami would be happy to help me straighten that good for nothing cat out."

"Please, don't text anyone else until Adrien gets here." She pleaded. "I'm sure there must be an explanation for this." Alya grumbled but agreed not to contact the others - yet.

Marientte ran her hands down her face and flopped onto the lounge. Nothing here seemed to be making any sense at all. Adrien had texted her late last night to say everything was fine and that they were at Nino's, surely that wouldn't have been a lie. He even told her he wasn't drunk and had said nothing of seeing Lila. Would he really have engaged in that kind of activity with someone he couldn't stand? Surely he would have recognised Lila? What though if he had been lying about being sober? What if he was drunk enough that he didn't realise? But then again that would mean that her fiancé had been making out with what he believed was a total stranger or worst, a fangirl. Would he really do that? Had he cheated on her just before the wedding? After all, they had only ever been with each other. Maybe he was curious what being with someone else would be like. She could feel herself getting faint.

Tikki could sense that Marientte had started catastrophising the situation and flew over to her side.

"Marientte look at me." The Kwami urged, tears starting to roll down Marientte's cheeks. "This can't be Adrien. Adrien loves you, he wouldn't do this. You know him better than that. This is the same person who risked his life for you, over and over again. He wouldn't jeopardize that for a one night stand." Marinette looked dazed at her Kwami and shook her head.

"But the jacket? It's....it's Adrien's jacket." Tikki nuzzled into Marientte's cheek.

"Let's at least hear his version of events first before we start jumping to conclusions."

Meanwhile at Nino's, Adrien was the only one awake. Not wanting to disturb Nino or Felix, he had been sitting up against some pillows reading comics on his phone when a message came from Alya.

Alya: You have some serious explaining to do Agreste before I come over there and kick your arse!!

Alya: attached: one image

Adrien frowned before clicking on the image. Alya had taken a picture of the offending photo and sent it to him.

"What the hell!" He yelled out. Nino jumped and Felix groaned.

Adrien: I don't know what that is, but it's not me!! There must be some explanation

"Will you keep it down, my head is killing me." Felix moan.

Alya: Don't give me that. It's your jacket and your blonde hair and you are making out with frickin Lila a week before your wedding. What is wrong with you?

"Your head is about to feel a whole lot worse in a minute you idiot." Adrien growled, shoving the picture under Felix's nose. Nino wandered over, scratching his head as he held his own phone in his hand.

"Someone care to fill me in here. Alya just messaged me that I'm in deep shit because Adrien made out with Lila last night. I don't know what she's talking about." Adrien turned his glare back to Felix.

"I think I do." He seethed before calling Alya.

"You better not even think about showing your face here Agreste..." Alya started down the phone.

"Alya, will you just listen to me. That is not me in the photo, now put Marinette on."

"Nope, no way. I'm not letting you hurt my girl over the phone. You can come here and face me like a man." She hung up on him. Adrien groaned and turned his attention back to Felix.

"Felix, you better start remembering what happened last night with Lila, or you're on the first train back to London and neither me nor Chloé will ever speak to you again."

Alya glared at her phone before shoving it into her pocket in annoyance.

"Why didn't you let me speak to him?" Marientte asked quietly.

"Because I can't see his eyes over the phone." Alya replied, her tone a bit softer. "I need to see the eyes to know if he is lying." The reporter then went into the kitchen, returning with two cups of coffee. She sat next to her best friend sipping the hot drink in relative quiet. It wasn't all that long when there was a knock on the door.

When Alya opened the door there was a very disheveled and desperate looking Adrien. He hadn't even tied his hair back. "That was fast." Alya commented, Adrien just rolled his eyes.

"Chat travels a lot quicker than a taxi." He said folding his arms at her suspicious stare. "Can I please speak to my fiancée now?" Adrien was taken aback by Alya suddenly grabbing him by the collar and pushing him into the wall before she closed the door, his hair falling in his eyes.

"Not so quick Agreste. I want an explanation first." Adrien could see Marinette standing up in the distance He could tell she had been crying and it broke his heart. Surely she knew him better than that? Plagg made a quick getaway straight to Tikki and Trixx.

"I told you already Alya, it's not me in the picture, it's my cousin Felix." Alya cocked an eyebrow at him, but softened her grip on his collar.

"Alright, talk." She said folding her arms and popping a hip out. Adrien looked back over towards Marientte. Plagg was talking to her and she was smiling, it was very soft, but it was there. She knew it wasn't him. He let out a heavy sigh before looking back at Alya.

"Okay, Felix got fairly inebriated at one point last night. Kim challenged him to a shots contest and Nino was buying him beers and I'm honestly surprised he didn't puke up everywhere. Anyway, I'd left him at the bar after someone spilled a drink on me and..."

"Hold up...who spilled a drink on you? Was it Lila?" Adrien looked confused as to why that was important.

"What...no, I never saw Lila. Actually it was a girl who used to..." His eyes widened. "She was an apprentice seamstress at my father's company." Alya nodded and hummed in thought before indicating for him to continue. Adrien started pulling his hair back into a low bun. Alya's stare down glare was making him start to sweat.

"Anyway, I took off my jacket and went to the bathroom. While I was gone, Felix said Lila put a jacket on him, he didn't notice it was mine, and started coming onto him. They had...well let's just say it was a complicated history in London. She started kissing him and he indulged at first, but then he said he broke it off and told her it was over and that he was with Chloé now. Then she just suddenly left."

"Suddenly left?" Alya murmured, rubbing her chin. "So you think this seamstress was an accomplice for Lila then? I mean someone else must have taken the photo." Adrien shrugged.

"It's possible I guess. Maybe Lila has something over her because she doesn't seem the type. Come to think of it Lila was never the nicest to her at the company." He looked back over towards Marientte. She looked exhausted from the whole ordeal and all he wanted to do was hold her. "Can I go to Marientte now?" He pleaded, but Alya kept him blocked in the corner.

"Not yet you sneaky Cat. How do I know your cousin isn't just covering for your sorry arse?" She asked, still suspicious. Adrien narrowed his eyes at her.

"Give me the photo and I'll show you." He said, holding out his hand. Alya looked over to the kitchen counter where the envelope was.

"Don't move." She said poking him in the chest with her finger. He rubbed the spot with a frown as she got the photo and handed it to him. His face looked grossed out as he glanced over the picture.

"Look closely at the hand there. Notice something wrong?" Alya squinted at the photo.

"What, aside from the fact it's gripping Lila's hair?" Adrien rolled his eyes again. One problem with Alya is that once she gets an idea in her head, it's very hard to shift it. No wonder TVi picked her up as an investigative journalist. She's relentless. Adrien held up his right hand.

"My Miraculous Alya. If that's me in the photo, then where is it? I never took it off, and I never made out with Lila and if you still don't believe me then ask Plagg because he never left me all night." His voice was now starting to sound irritated as he pointed towards his Kwami. Alya looked at Plagg before looking down at the photo sheepishly. "Now if you don't mind, I would like to be with the woman I actually do want to marry." Alya moved away so Adrien could pass her. In an instant he was at Marientte's side on the lounge and had her wrapped in a tight hug.

"Please tell me you didn't really believe I would do something that to you did you?" Marientte shook her head.

"Deep down I knew it couldn't be true, but Alya wouldn't let me look at the photo properly and you know me once I start over thinking things." Adrien pulled back from the hug just enough to find her lips. Alya looked away and shuffled her feet.

"I...um...owe you an apology Adrien. I jumped to conclusions and I should have known better. I'm sorry." Alya wasn't sure how Adrien was going to react, but she didn't expect him to jump up and wrap her in a hug.

"You were just looking out for Marientte. I know that." He said, putting his hands on her shoulders. "It means a lot to me to know that if I'm ever not here, you would be right there looking out for her. But please Alya, can you try and not turn me into the bad guy next time?" Alya chuckled and nodded. Adrien sat back down next to Marinette and held her hand tightly in his.

"So where is Felix now?" Marientte asked.

"Gone to grovel to Chloé in case the picture ever goes public. I assume Lila intends to send it to the media but Felix said he will face the music if that happens. We will have to be ready for reporters though and make sure Lila doesn't try to disrupt the wedding." He said to Marientte. She nodded, but she wasn't worried about Lila anymore. They all knew the truth, and that's what really mattered. Alya looked down at her phone.

"I guess I better go do some grovelling of my own." She muttered.

"It's alright, Nino's not mad, more confused than anything else." Adrien reassured. After Alya left, Adrien pulled Marinette close to him, resting back into the lounge with her head on his chest, lightly stroking her hair.

"What do you think Lila will do now?" Marientte asked.

"She will probably go to Nadja Chamack with it. Don't worry though, Felix will keep his word so it's not going to get her anywhere. And as for the wedding, she would have to get past the Gorilla first" He looked down at Marinette with a smirk, but it dropped quickly as her eyes still looked concerned. "You know I would never want to be with anyone else m'lady." Marientte snuggled her head more into his chest.

"I know Kitty. I just fretted that's all. I mean, I thought maybe you were wondering what it might have been like to be with other girls, you know, since you've only been with me and maybe I don't measure up or something." Adrien gently lifted her chin up so he could look in her eyes.

"I have honestly never wondered about it at all. You know I told Felix once that I couldn't imagine making love to a woman I wasn't in love with, and I meant it." He ran his fingers softly down her face, running his thumb across her lips. "You're the only girl for me Marientte. No fangirl or model or especially Lila would ever come between us." He wrapped his arms tighter around her, pulling her up into a passionate kiss.

Lila adjusted her binoculars from her hiding spot on the other side of the street. She had seen Adrien running into the building and Alya leaving a short time later. She was just waiting now for Adrien to leave, but it was taking a long time.

"Maybe they made up." Claire offered, sounding far too happy for Lila's liking. Lila grit her teeth.

"Of course they made up Claire. Marientte might be an idiot, but she's not totally stupid." Claire looked at her confused.

"But, if you weren't trying to trick them with the photo, then what was it all about?" Lila focused her attention back at the apartment entrance.

"That was just to mess with their heads for a bit." She said as she fixed back on the apartment door. "Now they won't see me coming. Plus Felix deserved it. He's a cold hearted arse. He and Chloé deserve each other." She saw Adrien and Marinette as they left, arms around each other in their coats as they walked down the street.

"Alright, time for phase two."

"Phase two?" Claire questioned. Lila's lips curled into an evil smirk.

"Yes you stupid girl, now come on."

Lila followed Marientte and Adrien from a distance, Claire trailing unsure behind her. She was starting to have regrets ever getting involved in this, but she desperately needed a job, and Lila had promised. The couple were unaware of being tailed as they arrived at the bakery.

"You know, I'm sure your parents wouldn't mind if I took the afternoon off. I think after everything this morning I'd like to just stay with you." Marinette reached up and cupped his face.

"I'm fine Kitty, really. Besides, I'm sure you wouldn't be that interested looking at eyelets and zippers." Adrien smirked.

"Of course I'm interested." He said wiggling his eyebrows with a smirk. "I'm even more interested in how I undo them." Marientte squealed as he attacked her neck with his nose.

"Get in there and behave yourself Chat." She scolded, giving him a light shove towards the door. "I'll see you after work."

Marientte giggled to herself as she walked down the street. She pulled out her phone to text Alya when she ran into a body.

"Oh I'm sor...Lila!" She almost dropped her phone before her eyes clouded in anger. "How dare you show your face to me after the stunt you tried to pull." Lila just laughed.

"Oh I'm not done with you yet Marientte." The Italian smirked, stepping towards the bluenette. Instinctively, Marinette stepped back as Lila kept approaching her.

"What do you want Lila?" Marientte asked, feeling slightly more nervous and she stepped further into the dark alley.

"Revenge." Lila responded pushing Marientte into the wall. "And Adrien will pay dearly if he knows what's good for him." Marinette shook her head.

"He won't pay you a single euro for that photo. Felix remembers everything from last night and he would testify that it was him in the picture. And if you're planning to send it to the media..." Lila began to laugh, an unhinged unnerving laugh that made Marinette feel decidedly more uncomfortable.

"Oh, I'm not interested in that photo Marinette. That was just a bit of fun to get at Felix as much as you two. No, I have a much more interesting plan in mind for you." Marientte looked wide eyed as a small revolver was held to the side of her head. "So what's it going to be Mrs Agreste?" Lila dragged the last word out, like she was emphasising something that would never be. Marinette tried to break away and run, but felt a sharp blow to the back of her head before falling to the ground. She was vaguely aware of voices and footsteps before she slipped into unconsciousness.

*****
Adrien whistled to himself as he walked up the street. Passing by a florist, he stepped in to buy a bunch of red roses. He smiled to himself at all the times Ladybug had rejected his roses, now when he brings them to her, he delights in the way her eyes light up. Opening the apartment door, he was surprised to find the place in darkness.

"M'lady." He called out flicking on the light. Everything was just how they had left it. Maybe she had gone back to Alya's. He sat the flowers on the counter and tried ringing Marinette's phone, but it went straight to voicemail. Odd. He then tried calling Alya but there was no answer.

"Where's my cheese?" Plagg whined. Adrien pointed vaguely in the direction of the fridge.

"You know where it is." He said distractedly. A moment later his phone rang.

"Sorry Sunshine, I was just on the phone to Nadja to give her a heads up on Lila if she gets in contact. What's up?"

"Alya, is Marientte with you?" He asked anxiously.

"What...no, I thought she was with you?" Adrien suddenly had a very bad feeling.

"I had a shift at the bakery this afternoon and she was going shopping. She should have been back by now and her phone is off." Plagg came back from the fridge, but he had suddenly lost his appetite for the cheese in his hand.

"You think Lila has something to do with it? Maybe she wanted to talk to Marientte or something?" Adrien could feel panic starting to rise in his chest.

"Alya, Lila isn't the kind of person to want to talk, especially to Marinette." The reporter could hear the fear in his voice.

"Stay right there Adrien. Nino and I will be straight over. Should I ring Chloé too?" Adrien thought for a moment.

"No, Felix took her out tonight to apologise. Maybe we should just leave them for now. After all, it might be nothing." Alya could tell he wasn't really convinced of that himself when she said goodbye. Adrien sat on the lounge and ruffed his fingers through his hair. Deep down, he knew something was very wrong here.

"Don't worry kid, she's Ladybug. I'm sure she can look after herself." Adrien just looked at his Kwami. Yes, she's Ladybug, but if Lila is somehow involved in this, that is one fact that she definitely doesn't need to find out.

******
Cold. That was the first sensation to reach Marinette as consciousness re-emerged. The ground was cold tiles and her head hurt. She tried to stretch out, but couldn't. Slowly opening her eyes, the room was dark and her hands and feet were tied. She wriggled around and managed to get into a sitting position against the wall. There were cupboards around her, a kitchen maybe? Looking up there was a small window. It was night time, but there were a few flurries of snow stuck to the glass. Marientte shivered. She only had her light coat on because the sun was out earlier.

There were voices in the other room, female voices, and they seemed to have been arguing.

"I thought you said we were just going to stir them up with the photo, not escalate up to kidnapping."

"What Claire? You starting to lose your nerve. I told you, the photo was just a distraction. Marientte and Adrien are going to pay for backstabbing me"

"I didn't sign up for this Lila. A misunderstanding over a photo one thing, but this is illegal. I'm sorry Adrien broke your engagement off, but maybe you should just find a way to move on"

"If you're not with me you can join her tied up on the floor."

"Lila, you promised me a job, not a jail sentence."

"Well you're in it now aren't you. If you even think about walking away I'll tell them it was all your idea. They will believe me. Everyone always believes me. Now go do something useful and watch the door."

"Tikki? Tikki?" Marientte whispered, but there was no answer. Where could she be? With her hands tied she couldn't feel for her earrings and panic started to set in.

The door opened and a stream of light came into the room.

"You're finally awake Marinette. I was starting to think I hit you too hard. Wouldn't want you dying on me just yet." Marinette tried to focus her eyes on the Italian girl.

"What are you doing Lila?" Marientte's head was swimming and she was starting to fight a rising nausea in her stomach.

"I'm making you miss your own wedding." Lila laughed. "And don't even bother trying to scream. This place is abandoned now. There's no one to hear you." Marinette skunk into the wall. Where was Tikki? Lila didn't seem to know, so her secret must be safe. Maybe Tikki got away. She could only hope.

"Adrien will find me and you'll be going to jail." Marientte tried to keep some fire in her voice, even though all she wanted to do was close her eyes again. Lila crouched down to Marientte's level, the revolver from earlier still in her hand.

"What's Adrien going to do? Challenge me to a fencing duel? Mr ex model couldn't hurt a fly. But I hope he does come and join our little party, it will make it all that much more satisfying to go out with a bang don't you think." She laughed again, stroking her gun like it was made of gold. "Now I don't know about you, but I'm starving. You can just sit here and think about whether I'll let you see Adrien again or not." Lila stood up and turned to leave.

"It won't do you any good, Lila. You'll never have Adrien." Lila stopped and turned back to her, her eyes piercing through the half light.

"Then no one will." She said coldly. Lila left back through the door, leaving it slightly ajar. "Claire, I'll be back in five. Watch her." Lila then left the building.

Marientte laid back down on the floor, still shivering. She closed her eyes and tried to picture Adrien's face. She had to keep her wits about her, she had to keep strong... but she was tired, so very tired.