"I'm Adrien Agreste, here to see Marinette–" he trailed off in his introduction. What did he call her? Marinette Dupain-Cheng? Marinette Agreste? Marinette Noir? Ladybug Noir? Ladybug Agreste? Multimouse Noir? Multinoir? The list of possible combinations were endless and the more he thought about it, the more he was sure the sister probably thought he was constipated, just like the time he bought constipation back from England for Marinette...

His mind spiralled, his eyes taking themselves into some weird stare behind the woman sitting in front of the computer on Marinette's ward. She must have been the one who called him? Her expression was coated with both concern and compassion.

What had they called her on the phone? Had they named her fully on the phone? Everything was a bit of a blur...

"It's okay, my dear. We've gotten you written down here on Marinette's visitation list, and I know who you are." She dropped him a quick wink, his cheeks growing pink under the watchful eye of the sister.

He smiled gratefully at her, glad she could tell his inner turmoil and guide him in the right direction. His body was on edge, his heels bouncing up and down with nervous energy, every nerve preparing to explode and his stomach churning. Question after question ran through his head; ranging from how they were going to do this once they were face to face? To asking her whether she was going to die?

'Hi Marinette, guess what... I'm your husband. Oh, and are you dying from a weird Miraculous based disease? Because, surprise, it happened to my mother too, the one you thought we were moving in with.'

For some reason, that didn't cut it. Marinette was in the hospital. She was sick. He needed to be tactful and understanding especially if she was still angry from earlier. He knew who she was, but that didn't mean she knew him, for all he knew Adrien could walk into that room and she could send him straight away, or Adrien could walk into the room and she could punch him in the face. Well...at least they were in the hospital if she didn't take it too well and broke his nose, he could get it plastered up and be out of here in a matter of hours - win-win situation.

His stomach escalated into a turbulent concoction of fear, nausea, and, in a way, relief. This was it. After almost nine years they were finally meeting face to face for the first time, the first time every tiny detail fit together in a complex puzzle and everything could be seen. Their true selves. No, not just Adrien, and not just Marinette, not their super identities either, but the truth that lay between both persona's, the overall blend of the perfect and the imperfect.

The sister stood, walking around the desk and asked him to follow her, her eyes looking over his body and the lack of winter clothing. It was February and cold, yet here he was appearing without a coat, she was just lucky he hadn't put on his purple, gold and black glitter cat tee.

He noticed her stare and decided to address it, "I ran out of our home, I was that worried I forgot my coat." She nodded in understanding before stopping outside a door, turning to Adrien to indicate this was their stop.

"Once we knew who your wife was we placed her in a side room. I'm guessing it's not public knowledge about your marriage, Mr Agreste." He shook his head in response, it wasn't anyone's knowledge.

Wanting the woman to finish whatever spiel she was delivering, he bounced on the balls of his feet once again, desperate to just get into the damn room.

"We want to offer you complete confidentiality and privacy." She continued.

"That means a lot," he said, "we're both very grateful."

"Well, I'll leave you to it. She's on an IV drip, but she is awake, she came around about five minutes ago."

He sucked in a breath of air, and wasn't sure if it was from shock of having to face her already, or relief because she was awake. His Lady was awake, and she was waiting right through the door in front of him. He could do this...he could face her. He would just beg forgiveness and tell her he will never do anything like that again, that he was fed up of shutting her out, that it was time to let her in. To let her know everything.

"You look nervous, M. Agreste."

"I'm kind of worried she might have what my mother did, and...yeah..."

The sister stopped and looked at him, a lopsided smirk gracing her worn face.

"I can tell you that your mother most certainly had what your wife does."

He froze. His worst nightmares suddenly come into play. He was going to lose her, he was going to lose the one person he could rely on the most in this whole word. He felt the pressure behind his eyes, the uncomfortable feeling sending his breath stuttering and his stomach squeezing.

"Is she, I mean, do we need to prepare?"

The sister smiled at him, before stretching up and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Oh yes. You will definitely need to prepare." He couldn't help the shiver run down his spine as the woman smiled at him before wandering off. How could she be so nonchalant about the fact his wife had some sort of magical, incurable disease which resulted in ultimate death? Was she a sadist or something?

He took a long, drawn out breath and stared at the handle. Being on this side of the door meant he wouldn't have to be there for the delivery of the bad news; he could once again block out the fact someone was going to tell him he was losing his most important person. But she didn't deserve that. She deserved a husband who would hold her hand and support her through everything. A man who would be brave and strong; and be there until the very end. A man like Chat Noir.

Taking a deep breath he stretched forward, placing his hand on the handle and lowering it, listening out for the telltale 'click' before pushing down and opening the door.

Come on, Agreste! You've got this!

The door cleared his way, opening up and revealing his tiny wife swamped by wires and drips, and connected up to noisy machines. There was a clip on one finger as a wire was tapped up her arm and connected to a machine making frequent beeps. He was tempted to stretch and pinch his arm, because there she was looking fragile and frail and so unlike herself, he swore he'd fallen head first into a nightmare.

That was it!

He had hypothermia and he was still outside with Plagg in the alleyway; and his best friend, his wife, was fine...absolutely fine. She was probably at home wrapped up in her red blanket complaining about whatever American sitcom she was watching, and she most certainly wasn't Marinette. No, definitely not! Marinette not only wasn't his Lady, she was at her parents having game night with her father as her mother fawned around them like the mother hen she was. There was nothing to worry about.

Until there was everything...

"Hey Kitty," her voice was hoarse, but her smile was everything. She was still pale, still tiny and fragile, still looking like she needed a week's sleep, but she was here, and she was Marinette. Even with the constant evidence that she was his wife, it wasn't until that moment when he saw her there, wires and all, that he believed it. She was awake and she was smiling at him, actually it was more than a smile. It lit up the entire room, the hospital, dammit, her smile could have lit up Paris.

Her eyes were on his, his own lips curving into a smile too as he closed the door behind him, unsure whether he should wave, shake her hand, kiss her on the cheek, or climb onto the bed with her and kiss her the way he loved to, the way he had for the past seven months.

"Are you just going to stand there, Agreste, or are you going to come and greet your wife?" She held up her hand, waving her ring finger at him, the movement causing him to laugh out loud. This was full Ladybug, the only evidence of Marinette being the pink hued cheeks gracing her face with some other colour than white.

She looked happy, she was comfortable to joke; why did he think this was going to be awkward? They were still them. She was his love, his best friend, his everything.

"Are you going to hit me?" he said, the smile being wiped off her face and her eyebrows creasing in concern.

"I don't think I am? Why? Should I?"

"Well, yeah, I'm a jackass."

She giggled, pushing herself to sit up a little in the bed, the struggling movement finally kicked him into gear as he rushed to her side and helped her up. Bare skin to bare skin, face free from the confines of a mask, or a wig or contact lenses, and not a single ounce of awkwardness in his body. The fear had evaporated into nothing more than a clouding mist, a mist becoming nothingness because this outcome was truly perfect.

"I think it's fair to say it's on both of us and just another of our colossal misunderstandings. Seriously, Chaton, we're both rather stupid," she whispered, the smile never wavering from her polished pink lips.

"Agreed." Plagg flew out of Adrien's tee before phasing through a cupboard to where, Adrien guessed, Tikki was currently hiding.

He turned his attention back to his wife, a shy smile gracing his lips as he sat beside her on the bed. He reached out, taking the hand without the drip attached, and pressed a kiss to her knuckles, his eyes peering out from under his eyelashes.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, placing her hand back down gently, her eyes shining as he moved forward and placed a second kiss on her cheek. He wanted to go for her lips so badly, but he wanted her to be the one to give him permission, he didn't want to overstep any boundaries, after all she married Chat Noir, not Adrien Agreste.

"It might not look like it," she said, waving her hands about and indicating the machinery and equipment attached to it, "but I'm actually feeling the best I have in weeks."

"Marinette, you passed out in my arms," he ranted, looking at her with such bewilderment. "It's how my mother became, before you know..."

"Yeah, well, the 'passing out' is all on me. I need to eat more, sleep more, and rest... and well..." she looked down at her hands and began to play with his fingers, a tell-tale sign she was nervous or overthinking.

"I understand. I suppose I'm partly to blame for all of that too."

"Oh, you're more than just a part to blame. You get at least 50 percent of the blame. Actually," she said, a finger from her free hand going to her lips in consideration, "I'm going to push your blame up to 75 percent, because let's be honest, seeing your tush prancing around in that black suit was the reason for this mistake."

"Mistake?"

"Can you remember Halloween night?"

"Can I remember it? It was the best night of my...oh!"

"Yes, Mr Agreste..."

"Hold up, you're the one crap with your birth control. I'm pushing that 75 percent over to you." He smirked at her, watching how, for the first time in weeks, her eyes dazzled with mischief and...love.

Marinette tilted her head to one side, eyebrows raised and lips pouting. It was quite obvious she was waiting for some sort of reaction from him...

As if in slow motion everything started to piece together, his eyes widening as he looked at her...3...2...1...

"Are you - we - are we - you? Did we? I..." before he knew what was happening his eyes rolled back and everything suddenly went blank.

•••••

Do you ever wonder if we make the moments in our lives or if the moments in our lives make us?

Adrien woke up with a start. The room was cold and lifeless, none of the warmth or love he felt just before everything went dark was there. Was this a dream? Or was Marinette being pregnant a dream?

Oh my God! He was going to be a father. He couldn't be a father, it just wasn't possible. He had no idea what to do, and if he became like Gabriel...he closed his eyes again. Squeezing them tightly shut and praying that when he next opened them he would be back in the hospital room with a smiling Marinette.

"Chat Noir?" He heard his voice being called, one that seemed familiar but also...not.

"Chat Noir?" It sounded again, and this time he opened his eyes, curious to see who wanted him. Wasn't he Adrien mere seconds ago? Hadn't he just been himself?

He looked around the area, finally landing with his eyes on...

"Scarabella?"

"What's wrong with you?" she yelled at him, "get your damn head in the game."

Something struck down on the rooftop next to him. Their rooftop, but she wasn't there.

"Where's Ladybug?" he yelled back, "Where's M'Lady?"

Another strike came down beside him, causing him to jump out the way, his back slamming into the wall as another hero containing him against the brick.

"Not this again," Carapace said, calling for his shelter.

"Again? Listen, man I have no idea where I am, or what I'm doing here."

"Viperion!" Carapace shouted out, the snake hero landing beside them in a matter of seconds, "he's doing it again."

Viperion nodded in understanding, Chat still having no idea what the hell was going on? Why wasn't Ladybug here? And who the hell was the villain? No one had any of the Miraculous' anymore. They had them all!

Carapace dropped the shield, allowing Viperion to grab hold of Chat and drag him off the rooftop and into the alleyway below. Chat fought against him, completely baffled by what was happening.

"Where is Marinette?" he growled, not even bothering to hide her identity.

"We went through this last week, Chat."

"I don't understand!"

Viperion sighed, pacing the alleyway as Chat watched him. He had seen Viperion this morning, at the courthouse, not last week.

"Adrien," Viperion's words froze Chat to the spot. He knew who he was, since when? "Adrien," he said again, this time a little softer. "Marinette died. Three years ago, the birth...it was complicated."

Chat collapsed onto his knees, the pain of the heavy fall nothing compared to the tightening pain in his chest.

"No," he stuttered, shaking his head, "no, no she didn't. I saw her. I just saw her."

Another sigh left the snake's mouth as he moved closer and crouched down. "You're having a relapse, Adrien, it happens every couple of months. I knew you shouldn't be back on the field yet. Let me call Tom and Sabine, maybe one can come and get you as the other stays with Emma."

"E-E-Emma?"

"Your daughter Adrien, don't tell me you forgot about her again too."

As the hero went off calling Chat's in-laws, Adrien could feel the tears run down his face. No effort was needed, they just went on their own, his whole body overcome with pain. He closed his eyes and waited for it to end.

•••••

"Father! Father!"

Adrien's eyes shot open. The room was dark and dingy. Wasn't he just in an alleyway? He turned around looking for where the voice had derived from noticing a beautiful teen standing in the doorway, one with wonderful blonde hair and brilliant, youthful green eyes, an exact replica of his own, but her smile was purely Marinette's.

"So have you thought about it?" She looked so hopeful, so joyous and he had no idea why? Well, no idea until his voice sounded around the room, though he was certain he hadn't vocalised the words himself.

"Yes, and you're not going to collége. Juleka and Rose will be here in thirty minutes for your first lessons of the day, and take that silly poncho off. No daughter of mine will be seen to wear such trash."

He watched as his daughter took her hands to her neck, undoing the tie and dropping the purple, gold and black sparkly kitty poncho from her shoulders.

"Give it here." The body of the Adrien he was currently connected to, stretched out his hand waiting for the 'vile' outfit to be placed in his palm. The girl's sobs rattled through his chest, his want and need to comfort her was obstructed by the body he was currently stuck in. How could he be so cold?

Once the garment had been successfully placed in his hand, he launched it into the lit fireplace, the fabric catching fire almost instantly from the cheap threads it was made from.

"No!" The girl screamed, her legs moving her towards the fireplace, only for the Gorilla to grab hold of her and move her away. "That was the last thing I had of her. It was the last thing." The girl screamed through neverending sobs, Adrien telling the Gorilla to take her out and away from the remains.

"Plagg! Nooroo! Unify!" A flash of light took over him and he felt an evil course through his veins, the feeling made him sick to the core, but the evil laugh of his body's owner won out, the thing launching itself out into the night sky.

•••••

The hissing was evil, vindictive and pure terrifying. He looked down at his hands, the usual black gloves replaced by white, his arms and legs matching in colour too.

"Just give me the ring father, and no one else has to get hurt."

A hiss sounded from his mouth again as he moved down to crouch on all fours. Only one word could describe his actions. Feral. Pure feline and none human, what had happened to him?

"Give me the earrings Emma! We can bring your mother back!"

"Do you not get it?" His daughter screamed, her whole body coated in red and black spots, in her mothers colours. "Maman would not have wanted you to become this! To become grandfather."

"You keep his name out of it! I'm nothing like him."

"No," the person next to her said, "you're worse!"

"Don't you dare speak like that to me Snake! It looks like once again a serpent is trying to take my bug."

Lifting a hand, he shot a cataclysmic ball in the direction of the new snake holder, one who seemed hellbent on protecting his daughter.

"Snakes don't protect bugs," he yelled, "cats do." He sent out another succession of white light explosions.

"Father, just stop please!"

"I won't stop until I bring your mother back. If I have to destroy the world to do it then I will."

Chat Blanc started to build up his cataclysm, the white power ball growing and growing, lighting the darkened room of his father's butterfly farm before extending to the rest of the Agreste Manor.

"You've made your choice, Emma, I hope you can live with it."

As the white beam shot into the sky, and over the quietened streets of Paris, Adrien closed his eyes from inside this other body.

•••••

"Kitty?" The soft tones of his lady's voice danced through his head like the sweetest love song, bringing him back to his senses. His eyes battling the heaviness of his lids, his will being the only way to overpower the sudden tiredness.

"M. Agreste, would you like us to get someone to come and check you out?"

He pushed himself, wobbly, into a seating position besides Marinette, looking between her and the doctor as he familiarised himself with the room. The white walls reminded him that he was in the hospital, the soft touch on his hand reminded him he was here with Marinette, Ladybug...his wife!

"No, I'm - I'm okay. How long was I out?"

"Only about two minutes." Marinette said, giving his much larger hand a quick squeeze. She turned her head back to the doctor as Adrien attempted to control his breathing. This was it...the moment of truth.

"So doctor?" she queried. "What's wrong with me?"

They both sat eagerly awaiting the answer, but Adrien was quite sure they both already knew the truth.