A/N: This was the longest chapter I have ever written. Enjoy! 💕

"I will take off these handcuffs now. Do you remember what you must do?" Gabriel asked me as I awoke the next day.

"Get you Chat Noir's miraculous, and watch to make sure my terribly evil father-in-law doesn't take over the world to bring back George Washington," I mumbled groggily after yawning.

"Marinette, when did I ever mention George Washington?! Where did you get George Washington from?! I was talking about my wife!" He told me, obviously becoming very frustrated with my sarcasm.

"Is your wife Martha Washington?" I muttered, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

Gabriel let his face fall to his desk with a slam, "I give up. Just get me the dumb miraculous and we can get this over with."

"Sounds like a plan," I said, giving him a sleepy thumbs-up.

"Wait, my family and friends are going to wonder where I've been. What do I say?" I asked him, my attention snapping me awake.

"Oh no, I forgot about that! Just tell them you've been studying fashion with me, and you forgot to call them to tell them that we had an all-nighter on a project," Gabriel quickly came up with the excuse, beginning to write a note for me to give to my parents.

I nodded and pushed my wrists out to show him I was ready for the unlocking of the handcuffs. He gave Nooroo the key, then the kwami flew over to unlock all the cuffs. First he did my hands, then the cuffs on my ankles. I was freed from my lockdown and given my earrings back.

"You should probably clean up a little first," Gabriel pointed out, as I looked down to see my pajamas.

"So I don't look like I've been kidnapped by Hawkmoth and held hostage for my partner's miraculous," I added, sending a glare towards him.

"All I want is to bring back my wife. Just work with me here," he said.

I muttered some curse words as I followed him down to his mansion where he brought me to a fitting room.

"There's a bathroom in here if you want to clean up. I think this will fit you for now. It may be slightly simple, but it should work for our excuse," Gabriel said, pulling out a simple red dress with a black ribbon tied into a small bow. The skirt flared out slightly. He placed black flats beside the dress.

"Okay," I replied, taking the dress by the hanger. He nodded and shut the door for me. I heard his footsteps descend the hallway.

"I'm the one with the power here," I smirked, rolling my eyes to cover up my fearfulness.

"Good job, Marinette! You got him to agree to your terms!" Tikki cheered for me.

"And I'm going to make him put in a good word with the fashion designers to make up for this crap," I told her as I headed for the bathroom. She nodded and followed me.

I first stepped into the shower to freshen up, peeling off my dirty pajamas. After doing so, I brushed my hair out and slipped into the red dress. Tikki helped me tie the black bow in the back as I stepped into the black flats.

"You look like a pretty doll, Marinette!" Tikki gushed.

"Thanks Tikki!" I smiled a little as I twirled in the mirror to see how the skirt flared out.

"Now let's get going! You don't have to hide anymore, now that everyone knows I'm Ladybug," I reminded her. She gasped and replied with a smile.

We stepped out into the hallway of the Agreste mansion.

"Adrien, why aren't you at your fencing practice?" I heard Gabriel ask his son.

"Father, one of my friends are missing! I need to find-" Adrien had begun to argue, but his head turned at me causing his entire expression to change from angered to relieved. He pulled me into a hug immediately.

"Marinette, thank goodness you're okay!" Adrien kept his arms wrapped around me.

"Adr-Adrien," I whimpered softly, burying my face into his shoulder as my cheeks flushed red. I hugged him back.

When I was with Adrien, I felt safer. Even though Hawkmoth had agreed to work with my conditions, I couldn't help but feel scared from being kidnapped by that villainous man.

"We were working on a fashion project. I'm sure you've met Miss Dupain-Cheng. She attends your school," Gabriel told him as Adrien's protective hug on me tightened slightly.

"Oh, her parents were looking for her. I have to bring her back and let them know she's okay. It's been a while," he said, careful to not let his suspicion show. Without letting his father reply, Adrien dragged me by my hand through his hallway, down the stairs, then out the front door.

"Marinette, are you okay? Where were you?" Adrien asked me once we were further from his house.

"I-I'm fine now, Adrien. I have to find Ch-Chat," I whispered as I tried to keep my lip from trembling.

"You're looking at him, little lady," a voice came from Adrien's pocket.

"Huh?" I pulled away to look to see where that voice came from.

"Plagg! Don't scare her!" Adrien scolded his pocket through closed teeth. "Sorry, Marinette. My kwami has a big mouth," he apologized with a nervous laugh.

"You're Chat? I really really have to talk to you," I looked at him, my eyes beginning to fill with tears as I knew what I would have to ask of him.

"Okay, let's do it then. Where do you want to have our talk?" Adrien asked me, taking my hand again.

"S-Somewhere private. Can we go to my bedroom?" I asked him nervously.

"Of course, Marinette. One second," Adrien held up a finger as he let go of my hand and jumped into a nearby bush.

"Plagg, claws out!" He commanded, then a green light flashed from the bush. Chat Noir popped his head out from the bush like a curious kitten, causing me to giggle a little.

"Ready to go, Princess?" Chat asked me, grabbing his staff. I nodded my head, and he picked me up as he used his staff to take us to my parents' bakery.

As we flew through the air, Chat held a tight grip around my waist as I held my arms around his shoulders.

When we made it to the end, he carefully placed me down, then put away his staff.

"Let's tell your parents that you're safe," Chat Noir suggested, to which I agreed.

He opened the door for me and I was immediately greeted by my mother's hug.

"My baby is safe! Oh my goodness, Marinette. We love you so much. Thank goodness you're safe! My baby," she hugged me tightly. I smiled and hugged her back. My papa ran in, and when he saw me, he lifted both my mama and I in his large hug.

"My- Mr. Agreste invited her to work on an important fashion project, and she didn't have her phone to tell you guys that it would be an all-nighter. She's okay, though," Chat Noir quickly reported to my parents.

"That's a relief! We're just glad Marinette is in no danger!" My papa exclaimed happily. I smiled and kissed my parents in the cheeks.

"I'm sorry I made you guys worry! I promise I'll call next time!" I apologized, assuring them there wouldn't be a next time.

"It's alright, Marinette! You're a tough girl, battling akumas without even receiving a single scratch. You're more than capable of anything, but as parents, we still want to care for our baby," my mother said, hugging me once more.

After a smile and hug in return, Chat and I ascended the ladder to my room. I closed the trap door after him, allowing the both of us to sit on my chaise.

"So what did you want to talk about, princess?" Chat asked me as I shut the windows, doors, and curtains.

I took my seat beside him on the chaise and took a deep sigh. "Ch- Adrien, this is going to sound terrible, b-but I need your Miraculous," I spoke in a low voice to keep my parents from hearing.

"What for? And why did you look so petrified when my father was talking? What really happened to you? Did he get mad at you?" Chat curiously rambled on with questions.

"I-I'm going to bring danger to my entire family if I say a word of what happened," I whispered to him.

"Wait, did my father threaten you and your family?!" He asked, his temper growing toward his father.

"I've said too much! I'm sorry, Chat! Please don't tell him I said anything!" I cried, grabbing a pillow from my chaise to hug as I began to hyperventilate.

"No, no, no! It's okay, Princess. Don't worry. I won't say a word to him. Just tell me what's going on, and I'll take care of it. You'll be okay," Chat calmed his temper immediately to calm me down.

"You won't believe me if I tell you," I began to cry, already knowing he had a rough relationship with his father.

"I will believe every word you tell me, Princess. I won't say anything to anyone. Everything you tell me will stay confidential and private. I will help you," Chat took my hands in his, squeezing them gently. I looked down at them, then back up into his trusting emerald eyes.

"Hawkmoth, he... he- he kidnapped me, and held me in his lair. He took- took Tikki away from me! He cuffed me in a dark corner! Hawkmoth... he threatened that he would blacklist me from every fashion university and buy out my family's bakery to send us into poverty! If I said a word- or exposed him... it would- hurt- you!" I wailed, trying to keep my parents from hearing my sobs.

Chat's soft eyes widened, and he pulled me into a hug as he stroked my back softly, trying to calm me.

"He did this to my princess?! Hawkmoth, what reason could he have for doing all this... this crap to you?!" He asked, obviously becoming angered, but his rubs stayed soft and consistent.

"If we bring him our miraculouses, he'll stop sending out akumas! He'll bring back- his wife, then give us back our powers. That's what he said," I sniffled, tears still falling from my eyes as I clung onto his hug.

Still rubbing my back, he sighed, "And let me guess. Hawkmoth is the famous Gabriel Agreste. Am I right?"

I nodded softly, sniffling again.

"Marinette, you're the strongest girl I know. You stayed strong in front of Hawkmoth and did not show him any fear. Chat, this girl got him to agree to her compromise!" Tikki cheered me on, always knowing exactly what encouragement I need at moments like these.

"Wow, my princess is obviously a strong one. She's a superhero, with or without the mask," Chat smiled, releasing me from his hug.

"A-Are you okay?" I asked, wiping away my tears.

"I'm kind of, sort of, really angry at my father for torturing you, but other than that, I'm just- relieved," he admitted, shaking his head with a sigh.

"Relieved?" Tikki questioned.

"Relieved that once we hand my father our miraculous stones, all our nightmares will be over. Marinette and I won't have to battle akumas, maybe my father could get that stick out of his butt once my mother comes back, and... I'll have both my parents back," Chat said with a sincere smile.

"You're amazing," I blurted out, then hid my face in the pillow I held. Tikki giggled, then I heard Chat let out a snicker.

"My lady, do you have a crush on me?" Chat asked as I looked up to see he was looking at the wall of Adrien Agreste posters.

"Yes," I mumbled into the pillow as Chat jumped up and down with glee.

"My princess loves me!" He exclaimed excitedly.

"Well guess what, Marinette? I love you too!" He added, causing my entire face to heat up in a red blush.

"You're making the girl redder than me!" Tikki giggled, pointing me out to my partner.

"Good. That'll make two of us," Chat Noir winked at me as he was detransformed, leaving Adrien Agreste standing in his place.

"You're oblivious," Adrien's kwami blatantly stated as his holder shook his head with a smile. Adrien removed his ring and handed it to me.

"Go ahead and give it to Hawkmoth. Do you want me to come with you?" Adrien asked me, taking my hand.

"I-I shouldn't. Hawkmoth might suspect you know. Tikki will come with me when I give him my miraculous as well. Part of my agreement was that Hawkmoth couldn't make any decisions with the miraculouses without my consent," I told him, clenching his silver ring in my right hand.

"You have power over him. Don't worry about a thing, Princess. I'll be in the house while this is happening, so if you need anything, just call out for me," Adrien kissed my hand, winking at me.

"I will. Adri-" I was cut off when the both of us fell into a kiss moment, to which Adrien blushed wildly and apologized.

"Sorry! I hope that didn't make you uncomfortable!" Adrien quickly apologized.

"No, no! I loved it! I-I mean- if you loved it! Or-" I rambled nonsense, cutting myself off by giving into kissing him again. The both of us were into it, then we pulled away with smiles and blushes.

I looked down at my red dress and undone hair to realize I never put them back in pigtails. I brushed it off, and Adrien told Tikki and I that he would come back to his house a little later than when we arrived.

"You've got it, Marinette! Just be your confident self!" Tikki cheered me on as we left my bakery. She sat on my shoulder, uncaring of the fact that she was visible.

Already, I heard people whispering that the real Ladybug was there, but I already accepted that this was my reality. What I hadn't expected was to see Alya sitting alone in the park on the ground with her phone.

I looked at Tikki, and she smiled gently at me reassuringly that she supported me whatever I chose to do.

"But shouldn't I get to Hawkmoth first?" I whispered to Tikki.

"Do whatever you want, Marinette. The choice is in your hands," my kwami assured me.

I turned towards Alya, but all I could think of were her fangirling and screams. I wondered if she would ever be the same best friend I had grown to be close to. I looked at the floor with a sigh.

"Tikki, I can't do it," I placed my hands over my face.

"Don't push yourself. You can go to Alya whenever you feel ready," she told me, touching my shoulder gently.

I smiled at her sadly, and decided I would get a little closer to Alya to see what she was looking at. I assumed it was the LadyBlog or maybe something else, but when I got close enough, I saw that she was scrolling through pictures of us having fun.

"Marinette," I heard her whisper softly to herself, unaware I was there, "I'm so sorry. I would do anything to be your best friend again."

My lip trembled, and I turned away, walking towards the Agreste mansion before she could see me. I couldn't face her yet, not just yet.

"It's alright, Marinette. Maybe another day," Tikki smiled at me, showing that she was proud I tried.

"How can you say I'm the strongest girl you know when I can't even find the strength to talk to my ex-best friend, Tikki?" I asked in a sad whisper.

"The fact that you tried shows how much strength you carry. You faced your kidnapper, even forcing him to agree to your terms. You've battled akumas. You've even dealt with being famous. Marinette, you're a tough one," my kwami told me, flying to meet my saddened gaze.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," I smiled, hugging Tikki close to my cheek.

"Neither would I," Tikki replied, attempting to wrap her small arms around my cheek.

We both sighed and found our way to the front door. Opened by Gabriel Agreste himself, he invited us in right away.

"You have both miraculouses, correct?" Gabriel asked me.

"Yes," I confirmed, following him up to his lair.

I looked at Tikki as I reached for my earrings, to which she gave me a gentle, approving smile. I took them off, and handed both the earrings and the silver ring to Gabriel.

"This means more than you could ever imagine. Bringing back my wife is the biggest gift I could ever give Adrien. Thank you, Marinette," he thanked me as he took both the miraculouses in his hands.

I gave a smile as I thought of how Adrien would react to seeing his mother once again.

Gabriel slipped the backing of the earrings through two strings, then tied them around his ears. I stifled my laughter, causing him to grunt in annoyance at his awkward appearance.

"You know Gabriel, I could say you're looking a bit hawk-ward at the moment," I had to give in. I knew if Adrien heard, he'd be crying proudly.

"You sound like my annoying son with his ridiculous puns. Please don't," he begged, causing me to burst out in giggles.

Shaking his head, he slipped the silver ring onto his finger.

"Chat says, 'Claws out' to transform and Ladybug says 'Spots on!'" Tikki explained carefully as Chat's kwami began swallowing things whole.

"Spots on! Claws out!" Hawkmoth called forward his transformation, causing a large ray of golden light to blind me. Soon I noticed a purple suit with golden cracks took place of Gabriel's attire.

I watched carefully as Gabriel picked up a brown book to flip through the pages.

"What are you looking for?" I asked him.

"I'm searching for the phrase that can bring back my wife," he replied curtly, "Oh, here it is!"

"Power of creation, bring forward the lost Agreste. Power of destruction, destroy her death memories," Gabriel spoke as he was pulled up in the air with power. His eyes glowed gold as ladybugs and black smoke began to materialize over the shape of a female body.

When they disappeared, what was left in their place was a pretty blonde woman in a white business suit. Her green eyes fluttered open after a few seconds, causing Gabriel to cry out in joy as he removed both our miraculouses from himself.

"Gabriel? Who's this?" The blonde woman looked down at me as she stood to her feet.

"This is Adrien's future wife," Gabriel spoke.