Ladybug landed with a thud after throwing herself away from the akumas water stream.

Over the past nine years, they'd fought three types of villains; the bring my wife back from the dead villain - who also happened to be your best friend's father, cue the Star Wars parallels, the psychopathic liar - who just didn't know when to stop, and the new villain. The 'I must prove myself as the best Papillon' villain. He or she, yet to be determined, was something else. They had no boundaries or morals with their attacks. Even with the Miraculous Ladybug's, one attack left Chat Noir in no man's land for two days. The scariest two days of Ladybug's life.

Since the arrival, around a year ago, of this new arch nemesis, Marinette had relied on Chat a lot more. Same for Rena Rouge. She needed a team, it got too messy and too tiring a lot of the time. Around six months previously she'd pulled all the team together for a meeting. They had a choice there and then if they wanted to pull out and go home to their loved ones they could just reveal themselves and walk out the door. To Marinette's amazement every single one of them stayed. They were in this together, they were an unstoppable team.

Ladybug skidded across the floor, quickly grasping onto a chair and pulling herself up to standing. She dived behind a turned over table and considered her options. She needed additional help but there was no time to call for reinforcements. Opening her yoyo she pulled out two additional Miraculous'. The bee and the dragon.

"Chat," she shouted, "you need to unify."

Chat bounded over to his Lady and crouched next to her behind the table.

"Fancy meeting you here?" He smirked.

"Not now, kitty. We need a plan." She took the dragon choker and handed it over to him. "Unify Longg with Plagg."

He took the Miraculous and placed it around his neck, calling his transformation. At the same time Ladybug joined Pollen with Tikki. She turned to Chat ready to fill him in on the plan when she caught the goofy grin on his face.

"Don't!" She said, sternly. His eyes were shining and she knew what was about to come next before he even said anything.

"You look -"

"Chat, I swear I will 'lucky charm' you out of existence."

"No you wouldn't, you love me. Bee-utiful lady." Ladybug couldn't help the slight laugh escape her lips. This was not the time, and usually she wouldn't let him get to her like that. She needed to focus.

"The akuma's in the flower, by the way." He suddenly said in a serious tone.

"Okay. I need you to set the stage of fire. Let him concentrate on putting the fire out. Lucky charm." She called into the air. Placing her hands out to catch the object, she turned to face her partner. The smile he was giving her made her insides quiver. She needed to get over this. She couldn't let it affect the way they worked. Looking back at her palms, she was now the proud owner of a banana skin. Great.

She looked around and it clicked together, she knew exactly what she needed to do. She needed to get high. Signally to Chat to start the plan, he leapt out and made his way to a gas tank connected to the large cooker on the hot dog concession stand. Grabbing it and rolling it over towards the stage, he called for lightning aiming it to strike the target. The tank exploded, flames beginning to spread around the main stage, and ultimately Chuckless. Wanting to keep the fire as ablaze as possible to give his Lady more time, Chat pounced towards the alcoholic beverages and began throwing them onto the fire.

"That's a waste, kitty cat." Ladybug shouted from where she was on the roof supports.

"Don't worry, Bugaboo, your gin will reappear for your consumption." Chat threw the last couple of bottles before making his way up to join Ladybug.

"Plagg, Longg divide." He took the choker off and handed it back to Ladybug. She placed it away before looking back over the side. She needed to paralyze him.

The arena was empty, except the two heroes and the akuma. Chuckless was spraying everywhere, trying to keep the flames low. The added blast of confetti just added more fuel to the flames, taking them higher and higher. The smoke was trapped under the roof of the big top. Both Ladybug and Chat Noir placed their weapons on breath mode, and placed them in their mouths as makeshift gas masks.

Looking at each other they gave a reassuring nod, knowing exactly what the other was thinking. Ladybug dropped the banana an inch from Chuckless' shoes, ready for him to step on it. Chat grabbed one of the performance silks currently draping from the roof down into the centre of the big top, pulling it up to him and wrapping it around his body. Finally, he was ready and leapt off the platform the heroes were currently on.

The timing was impeccable. As Chat descended to the ground, Chuckless' foot met the banana skin and he began to fall backwards. Ladybug took this as her signal and dived down towards the akuma, taking the yoyo out of her mouth and calling for venom.

She struck exactly where she wanted in the giant's neck, paralysing him and sending him to the ground. Unfortunately, he'd already sent a shot of water her way. Ladybug closed her eyes ready for the hit, only for it to never come. She rolled on the ground and looked up. The air was full of bright, colourful confetti and her fiancé was nowhere to be found.

Tears pooled in the bottom of her eyes and she froze. Chat had saved her again. Her kitty was gone.

Flashbacks to the past akuma's flew through her head. She told him not to get hit, why did he do that again? Terror ran through her that she wouldn't be able to get him back. What if he'd disappeared forever? What if this was her fault for not acting faster, or for not coming up with a better plan?

The flames began to grow again next to her, and Chuckless' paralysed body began to move. How long had she been standing there? This wasn't good. She couldn't let her emotions take priority. She had a job to do. Many people were counting on her, Chat was counting on her.

The pressure was building as Chuckless was getting stronger. She needed to act fast, she needed to act now. Running forward she jumped onto Chuckless' stomach, using it like a trampet to reach her destination quicker. Twisting in the air, she grabbed onto the flower using the last of her momentum to rip it from his body. Her tears were flowing silently as she ripped the flower, took the yoyo from her mouth and purified the akuma. Turning around she searched the floor for the lucky charm, not caring for the currently traumatized individual seated on the middle of the stage..

"Miraculous Ladybug." The swirls of red creatures decreased the fire and the confetti began to reconnect, taking the humans back to their former glory. As people reappeared, Ladybug's eyes were looking everywhere.

"Come on, come on, come on." The tears which had stilled began to flow again. She needed him, where was he?

"Looking fur someone?"

Turning around she ran and jumped in his arms. She needed to speak to him, this was getting harder and harder.

"I can't do this anymore." She told him. "I can't keep losing you knowing I might not get you back."

"I'll always come back to you M'Lady."

They held each other tightly in the middle of the stage, unaware of the crowds leaving and equipment being stored away.

"I almost lost tonight." She whispered into his ear. "Our relationship affected the way I worked. I couldn't think. I felt numb."

Chat Noir laughed at his fiancée.

"Why are you laughing? This is serious. I can't lose you. I love you too much."

He placed one finger over her lips.

"M'Ladybug, you've been like that for years. Even if we weren't together you'd still react the same. We love each other, together or not, married or not, our actions will always be the same."

"When did you get so wise?"

"Why do you never believe me when I tell you I'm actually a very smart person."

"Apart from home economics." Chat howled out a laughter.

"Well played bug, well played."

They pulled apart to the sound of beeping.

"I better go Chat. Meet me tomorrow? Normal place?"

Chat nodded in agreement before looking around to see who was left. The arena had completely emptied, no witnesses. He wrapped an arm around her waist as he rested the other on the back of her head and pulled her into him. She fit him perfectly. Their height difference was made for each other. Leaning down he kissed her on the lips; once, twice and finally being joined with force on the third and final time.

"I love you." She whispered with a smile before throwing her yoyo and heading off into the distance.

"Love you too." He placed his finger to his lips and sent a kiss after her. He was the luckiest guy around.

•••••

Adrien ran up to Marinette and wrapped his arms around her. Before he left the arena the previous evening, he quickly had a look around to see if he could find her. He knew there was no one left by the time himself and Ladybug had said goodbye, yet he still wanted to check.

"Are you ok? This is all my fault." He moved her backwards to check her over, keeping his hands firmly on her shoulders. He sighed with relief seeing Marinette back to normal, he checked each part of her; no lasting confetti arms, confetti legs and her pink glossy lips were definitely back to shiny normal.

"I'm fine, Adrien." She laughed, "don't be so dramatic. Ladybug and Chat Noir happened to be there so nothing to worry about."

"Thank God." He announced, pulling her in tighter again. "I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you."

"Find a new friend?" She questioned, wrapping her arms around his waist. She felt his chest vibrate as he laughed.

"And find someone else who's height fits perfectly under my chin? I don't think so, they don't exist!" Apart from his Lady that was.

"Lazy," she wanted to add the word cat. Sometimes when she spoke to Adrien it just felt like a normal addition, but there was no possible way he was Chat Noir.

He smiled at his friend, wishing she could join him for his wedding. If only Marinette was still Multimouse. Unbeknownst to him though, a certain raven haired beauty longed for Aspik to be part of her celebration, after all Nino and Alya were, but then it would mean Luka couldn't come. A part of her was kicking herself for giving out so many Miraculous'.

She finally stepped away from him and raised an eyebrow, arms firmly crossed over her chest similar to the stance of her alter-ego.

"I never got to see the show though, so perhaps if you get tickets again we could go together?" A few years ago she would have spontaneously combust from asking such a question, but they'd changed. They were best friends now. He smiled at her, leading her to her office.

"I wouldn't want to go with anyone else."