Marinette sat facing the Eiffel Tower on a wall at the top of the Trocadéro Gardens. Her sketchbook was placed in her lap as she looked out over the Iron Lady and considered what to create next.

She'd recently started a new series of hat designs and looking up at the steep shape and intricate details were a source of great inspiration, even if the temperature was almost below freezing.

She had a couple of hours to kill before she was expected, along with Chat Noir, at the verdict of Gabriel Agreste's retrial. The judges final verdict on whether he was excused or imprisoned for life. Her heart felt for Adrien. She knew he didn't want anything to do with the trial, just as he didn't the original, and her heart bled for her friend having to be constantly put through so much crap. She'd spoken to him the night before, letting him know she was there for him and all he had to do was give her a call and she'd be there as soon as she could.

She was sick to her stomach with worry herself, and even though Gabriel was now a known felon, and didn't have the Miraculous anywhere near him, it still drove her into a pit of worry, one where there was no ladder to help her climb back out. Chat had needed a break from the apartment, going to see some of his friends for the first time since arriving back in Paris. It had been a week, and he'd been purely devoted to her. For some reason he was waiting on her hand and foot, and it was getting pretty stifling. She wasn't an invalid, she could look after herself, but he was treating her like she was made out of glass.

Wrapping her coat tightly around her, Marinette began to move her gloved hands across the page as the design took a hold of itself and developed without any thought. Finally finishing with her trademark embroidery she placed her pencil back in its case and ultimately into her bag before studying the design once more.

"Beautiful."

"Thanks." Turning her head she came face to face with none other than Adrien Agreste, ex-crush and incredibly handsome athlete. He really was a sight for sore eyes.

"May I sit?" He asked, indicating the seat next to her. She remained staring at him, her gawked expression not the most attractive she'd ever displayed but she couldn't quite believe what she was seeing. Maybe she was too tired again and having fantasies about her best friend. She reached up and rubbed her eyes harshly, looked at him again, and then repeated the action.

"You're still there?" she asked quizzically.

"I am. Did you expect me to blow away or something?"

"But you don't live here. How can you be here?"

"Okay, let's start again." He placed his fisted hand to his mouth and coughed into it. "Hello Marinette, how are you? I've just returned to Paris and am trying to catch up with my friends. I just had coffee with Nino and you're my next stop. May I sit beside you and maybe catch up?"

She covered her mouth as she giggled, finally standing up and wrapping him in a tight hug. He was so tall, almost the size of her Kitty she guessed, and he was a lot bulkier than she remembered. His arms came around her waist (almost twice) as his head buried into her neck, her nose betraying her and taking a quick familiar inhale of his scent.

"Come sit," she moved away, sliding her hand down to his and sitting him beside her. "How have you been?"

He settled down beside her, his arm leisurely laying across the back of the bench. "I think I should be the one asking you that. How were you after Christmas?"

Mortification took over Marinette's face as she remembered back to three weeks ago and her impressive display of throwing up for an hour straight. She swore it was food poisoning but hadn't the heart to tell her husband. He'd worked so hard to put the meal together, she didn't want to be the bearer of bad news, although if that was the case why wasn't anyone else sick?

"I'm better, it seemed to drag on for a couple of weeks though, and I'm still tired from it," she sighed, "but I'm okay. Now how about yourself Mr Big Shot? Why are you back in Paris?"

She watched him reach behind his neck in that nervous manner he often displayed, and she couldn't help the smile as she watched him deliberate with himself what he was going to say.

"I've - um -" he coughed once more and she was slightly worried he was going to pass on some sort of flu. That's all she needed to add to her tiredness...the flu. "I've moved back. I've come home, Marinette."

The way he said the words were so familiar - like she'd heard it before. A hammering began in her chest, one she hadn't experienced before. Her whole body seemed to go on high alarm, bells and whistles warning her and red flags waving. What was that all about? Her whole body began to shake for no reason, or at least she thought no reason? This just didn't make sense?

"Are you okay? Marinette, look at me."

She turned her head slowly, getting lost in his eyes and suddenly her whole world spun in a different direction.

His eyes were brighter than she remembered, soft, the hue of a new spring growth where flecks of strength were a shade of green only seen with summer advances. Nature. Fresh wands of grass. Rebirth. New life. Life without being cocooned thanks to the restrictions of a butterfly. He was free to fly, and from the floral blooms in his eyes, he most certainly was, and she couldn't look away.

"Marinette?" he asked, his eyes keeping contact with hers and she was finding it hard to breath; the built up pressure causing her to feel a little dizzy. "Marinette?" his voice was there again; softly spoken as he threw her name in her direction.

"Sorry." She shook herself out of whatever cyclone she'd just entered herself into and managed to smile at him. "I don't know what happened there."

"It's okay, but I'm thinking you've been out in the cold for too long. Fancy getting some coffee?" she grimaced at the thought, the drink making her stomach churn and grumble at the thought of it filling the gaps. He must have noticed the look on her face and spoke again, this time it was a lot more appealing. "Or hot chocolate?"

"Sure." She smiled, tucking her drawing pad under her arm as she attempted to stand up, groaning and grunting as she moved. "Seems I've been sitting here too long," she giggled, "my back seems to have frozen."

Adrien grabbed her arm and helped her to stand, positioning the other on her lower back and giving it a little rub, she stilled, unsure what to do. This was a guy, who was not her husband, rubbing her lower back in a rather intimate way and she had no idea if it was okay because it was her friend. Though she was quite sure if Nino, Luka or Kim attempted this she would end up turning around and smacking them one in the jaw.

God, she felt like a cheat, but she couldn't deny it felt really, really good.

She took her first tentative step, feeling more like a newborn Bambi than Paris' mega hero only to fall on her second Adrien catching her tightly in his grasp.

"Sorry, I must be more tired than I thought."

"If you're working yourself to the bone again then stop. You used to do this when we were teens and I'm quite sure we had a conversation about it last month. You've gotta stop overdoing it Marinette," he lectured only for her eyebrows to raise into her hairline.

"Who put a bee in your bonnet?"

"No one, but I'm fed up seeing you run yourself into the ground. I'm free for a while, my contracts are still being negotiated so please, Marinette, I beg, let me help you."

Moving away and in the direction of the café she dropped Adrien a smile.

"Fine, and you can start by getting me that hot chocolate. Come on."

•••••

Adrien arrived at the apartment before Ladybug had returned from work. He headed in towards the bedroom and pulled out his phone. His afternoon with Marinette was unsettling and he was worried. Extremely worried.

First the sickness, then the tiredness, and he was still sitting on the train that Ladybug and Marinette might be the same person meaning there was something more than just bad food and sitting out in the cold for too long because he was quite sure both himself and her parents were fine. His cooking wasn't that bad.

He opened his contact list and looked for the one person he could speak to about this, the one person who would most likely see what he was seeing. Finding the name at the top of his contact list, he pressed the green button waiting for Alya to answer the phone.

"Hey sunshine, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Are you okay to talk at the moment? I know you're busy at work."

"No it's fine, I'm actually on break at the moment so I have about 21 minutes if you want to use them."

"Thanks."

"So what brings you to me and not my hot boyfriend? Anything to do with your wife?"

To do with his wife? Yes? No? Maybe? Ask again another time?

"It's about Marinette actually, and I don't know who else I could speak to."

"What's wrong with Marinette?"

He could tell Alya had gone on the defensive and he couldn't understand why? It's not like he was going to say anything bad, he loved Marinette. She was one of his best friends, and maybe his incredible wife.

"I'm worried about her Alya, like really worried. She's tired all the time and she was sick over Christmas. She looks so pale and as though she's lost a ton of weight. I hugged her earlier and my arms almost went round her twice, is she eating okay?"

"She seems to be, I can't say I've really noticed." Alya's voice sounded a little off and Adrien worried he'd maybe opened a can of worms that needed to remain closed. "Has she said anything to you?"

"Just that she's been busy with work and it's wearing her down. But this is Marinette, Alya. The girl has more energy than...I don't know... Chat Noir." Great going Agreste, he kicked himself for that one. A chuckle came through the other side of the phone.

"Chat Noir? Really?" she sobered up as she continued their conversation. "Well, now come to think about it, she didn't want to come out on New Years, and not only that, she left early."

An alarm bell sounded in his head. Left early? Ladybug had just returned when he'd made it home.

"What do you 'class' as early?"

"About ten minutes before midnight."

Ten minutes before midnight? Kim and Ondine only lived a couple of streets away. She would have been home in plenty of time for the midnight countdown, even if she had to stop for trouble on the way.

"Adrien?" He heard Alya's voice but he couldn't speak, his head was swimming in dreams and wishes, in a reality he could have only imagined. It was too coincidental, too convenient. "Adrien?"

"Sorry, I was lost in thought. I'm really worried about her though, this isn't like her and if I have to spend a week with her to check it out for myself I will. I would do whatever it takes to make sure she's okay."

"I know you would," the meaning behind those words was not missed by Adrien. The adoration, and understanding were all there. Did Alya know something?

"I better go, I have plans. But please can you check in with her and then let me know. If not I'll be doing some late night visits. I'm sure she can put me up for an evening or two whilst I give her what for."

The laughing on the other side of the phone made Adrien smile. He'd missed this closeness, the opportunities to talk about normal things and follow through with threats.

"Next time watch your phrasing, Sunshine. But I will check in with Marinette later and let you know asap, don't go around shouting at her yet."

"Thanks Al, speak to you later."

Ending the call, he placed the phone into his pocket before calling on his transformation. He had a trial to get too.

•••••

"If not I'll be doing some late night visits. I'm sure she can put me up for an evening or two whilst I give her what for."

Marinette stood outside the door, mouth wide open. There she was feeling guilty about going with Adrien for a drink, hell bent on telling Chat everything only to find that after a week of being back in Paris he was already rendezvousing with other women.

She heard him finish up the call and moved into the office, calling on her transformation and taking a few deep breaths. Her warm blood had turned ice cold, every inch of her body frozen from the realism of the situation. There was someone else who held a piece of her kitty's heart. She wasn't stupid enough to believe that it was a friendly call, you did not talk about friends that way. Her stomach rolled and the sickness she thought she'd passed threatened to make its way out again. Why couldn't she just have one happy relationship? What was it about her which drove men away?

"M'Lady?" His voice sounded through the door, he was obviously coming closer. "Are you in your office?"

She wiped under her eyes, completely unaware she'd been crying, the dampness being the only sign as her heart was heavy and numb.

"Yeah," she sniffed, "just seem to have a bit of a cold coming."

It was the only excuse she could come up with, Chat was smart and saying she had hay fever at the beginning of January would have been a stupid idea on so many levels.

"Can I come in or do you need to transform?" She wiped her eyes quickly one last time before swinging open the door and beckoning him in.

"I'm all suited and booted." She attempted to smile, but just looking at him tore at her heart. He was curious about the state of her, the softening of his eyebrows a clear sign to his reasoning.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low as he reached out towards her.

She moved away, rearranging items on her desk and attempting to look busy. "Yep, I'm fine. Are you ready to go?"

He didn't answer, the silence in the room heavier than that of a boulder. She turned to face him, his arms crossed over his chest as he studied her, one eyebrow raised and a less than impressed look.

"I'm fine, okay. Just drop it, we need to go."

Just dropping it was easier said than done. All he did from their apartment to the courthouse was question her, time and time again. The same thing over and over; are you okay? What have you done today? Can I get you anything? Did you go and see a doctor?

They finally arrived just as Ryuko and Viperion were leaving the courtroom, the last heroes to testify in Gabriel's case.

"How did it go?" Chat asked, the atmosphere still dense between him and Ladybug from when they left their apartment.

Viperion looked between Ladybug and Chat Noir, before focusing back on Ladybug who crossed her arms and looked away; accidently into the eyes of her partner. She turned her head quickly away, almost at a speed in whiplash territory only to knock herself off balance and into someone's arms. She looked to her saviour and smiled.

"Thanks Ryuko."

She nodded in gratefulness before bidding herself goodbye and exiting the building.

"I think you will be shocked when you see the judge," Viperion announced, "just...be prepared I suppose." His eyes caught hers, his chin hardening as he could read her expression.

"Ladybug, could I have a quick–"

"Ladybug, Chat Noir, please come through." An usher held the door open, signalling the two heroes to make their way into the gallery.

"I'll speak to you later," she said, a small fake smile placed on her lips.

He looked as though he didn't want to leave, and who could blame him? This was just more evidence in his vendetta against Chat. Since the black eye incident Luka had been frequent at checking in with her, making sure she was ok and, most of all, safe.

Reluctantly, he nodded his eyes telling Ladybug that the conversation wasn't over, that he was going to be there to support her.

Ladybug and Chat Noir coming eye-to-eye with Gabriel Agreste, once again. Chat seemed to freeze in his steps before shuddering out an exhale.

"All rise for the honourable judge, Mayor Bourgeois."

Both heroes gasped, as they watched Gabriel's smug face stretch into a wide grin.

Oh no!

This couldn't be happening! Since when had the judge changed?

Chat's hand grasped onto hers, the shaking sending shivers through her body as her strong partner began to crumble beside her. His grip was strong and holding onto her like an anchor.

"After consideration of what M. Agreste has supposedly done, plus the testimonies from the last group of heroes, I have come to the decision that M. Agreste will be released with electronic monitoring and parole boundaries. M. Agreste has been an outstanding citizen, who has acted on self defence and under mental health restraints. I recommend M. Agreste has regular visits with a psychiatrist, but as he no longer holds a Miraculous I do not see him as any harm to the citizens of Paris. M. Agreste will be freed from his prison sentence, and excused from retrial. Court is adjourned."