Luka walked you home that night.

You sat there on the barge, crying with your friends surrounding you. They all had you enveloped in a tight group hug, hoping to ease the pain and guilt that was threatening to submerge you once more.

Zoe sat in the center with you and held you as you cried and begged for forgiveness, which she gave you.

Marinette stood near a tree on the barge as she watched the interaction between you and some of her closest friends. It was painful to know that she had caused the rift between herself and everyone, but she deserved to feel this way. She had accepted that.

Marinette hesitantly walked onto the houseboat and everyone's eyes shot towards her as her feet hit the floorboards.

They all had scarily cold stares and she felt shivers crawl down her spine. "Y/n-uh...are you ready to um go home?" She asked, stumbling due to the intense stares.

"You need to leave Marinette." Luka was the only one who broke the silent glare.

His tone surprised her, "Well I know but I-"

"We'll get her home. You can go." Mylene was next.

"Yeah, bye." Even Juleka.

Marinette trembled as her eyes filled with tears. She took in a sharp breath, stopping herself from crying. She didn't deserve sympathy.

"Okay." She whispered.

Marinette had wanted to walk you home to ensure you got back safely and un-akumatized.

She left and found an alleyway, silently transforming into Ladybug. She swung her yo-yo and leaped onto a building. Marinette silently watched Luka walk you home. Ignoring the pit in her stomach, she left—knowing you were safe with him.

"Thank you," you spoke softly, holding your head down as the two of you stood in front of your family bakery. "I'm so sorry again—for everything."

Tears threatened to spill from your eyes, so you turned to the door to go in for the night.

Luka still stood behind you, at war with himself as he stepped forward, pulled you gently towards him by your wrist, and engulfed you in a hug.

It reminded him of the day Marinette was so tortured with the secrets she kept from everyone, that she broke down in his arms.

It felt like an odd sense of deja vu, how could he not compare?

"It's alright Y/n, no one blames you." He spoke with the upmost sincerity.

You gasped softly, the tears finally going freely as your loose grip on the back of his shirt tightened. "Thank you, Luka." You sobbed.

Luka let out a hum and placed a hand lightly on the back of your head, "I'm so sorry Y/n—I don't think anyone realized how much you have been hurting."

You laughed slightly and just shook your head. "There's no need for you to apologize Luka, you barely even know me."

Luka surprised himself with his response, "Yeah, but I'd like too." His eyes met yours and he had the faintest smile on his serious face.

You bit your lip and took a step back from him, your body chilling immediately now that it lacked his added warmth. "I don't know about that." You sighed as your thoughts went back to your raging sister.

"Why? Because of Marinette?" He asked. Luka felt so conflicted because while he still loved Marinette, he was pissed at her for the way she had treated you that night. When he looked at you he saw so much of her, but at the same time you were completely different. You were just amazingly you and he was starting to realize that now.

Though, the both of you were extremely emotional.

You gazed down the street to avoid meeting his eyes and you watched as a car skidded past. "It's complicated." Your voice was exhausted and cracked from the backlash of screaming and crying.

Luka shook his head and touched your cheek ever so slightly to softly guide your face back to look at him. "Why don't you come over this weekend? We can write a song." He smiled, knowing you wouldn't be able to resist his suggestion.

Your frown immediately broke out into a smile, amused by how much he had learned about you so quickly. "Alright I'll be there, but just one song." You grinned as your lips allowed a slight giggle to escape.

He laughed which caused your cheeks to flare up. "Alright just one, but some take a while to write." He spoke with soft grin and a quick wink. As he watched you wave goodnight, he couldn't ignore the overwhelming amount of guilt flooding him entirely.

*

As you walked into the bakery you saw your parents sitting on stools in front of the work area, passed out. Your eyes widened when you realized they had been up late waiting for you.

You walked over to your parents and quietly tapped your mother on the shoulder.

"Mom?" You whispered.

She lifted her head slowly and her eyes filled with tears as they focused on you. She stood quickly, knocking the stool over behind her and waking up your father in the process. She hugged you tightly, saying nothing.

A surprised gasp escaped you.

"We were so worried, Y/n." She spoke shakily and you could feel her guilt through her embrace and tears.

Your arms wrapped around her small form and your face fell against her shoulder. "I'm...sorry." Your voice was muffled by her nightgown.

Your father stepped forward and hugged the two of you tightly. "We're the ones who are sorry Y/n, for not realizing how much you were hurting."

Your father's surprising words brought more tears from your eyes. "I really didn't mean to make you guys worry." You cried out and your father stroked your hair as your mother continued to hold you.

She wished you were small again so she could hold you easily and comfort you like she did when you were just a child. Now before her, she saw her daughter growing into a young woman. The guilt of getting caught up in the bakery and not focusing on her children, was becoming unbearable.

"We'll try to be better for you guys baby, I promise." Your mother said.

You felt your father's head move up and down in a nod. "I promise too."

Marinette watched the interaction between the three of you with her own tears in her eyes, though she had a small smile spreading across her lips. She was glad that for the first time in so many years, you looked like you felt at home.

***

The next few days were extremely eventful.

You were reconciled with your friends and your relationship with Zoe was a work in progress. The next day at school, your teacher announced that City Hall was sponsoring your class's movie production-project.

"The project will be held this weekend and any student can participate! It will be majorly student led, but Mr. Roth hired Thomas Astruc to help you all direct it." Miss Bustier smiled as she announced the news.

Nino and Alya began to work on the script almost immediately after your teacher finished speaking.

"It's cool to see how hard everyone is working." You glanced up as Adrien took a seat beside you. His presence had a nerve wracking effect on you, speeding up your heart rate and causing sweat to build up on your palms.

"Y-Yeah!" You smiled softly at the boy.

His eyes shifted to worry and your smile dropped. "Are you doing okay, Y/n?" He asked and you realized this was the first time you had talked to him since you were akumatized a few days earlier.

You smiled half-heartedly and stared down at the pencil you held tightly between your fingers. "What all do you know about that night?" You questioned quietly.

"That you had a horrible day and Marinette said some nasty things to you." His eyes were sad.

Looking into Adrien's eyes were amazing, they were mirrors of his emotions, reflecting everything he was thinking and feeling back to you.

You hummed and tapped your fingers lightly across the desk. "I've been having a hard time since I've been back," you nodded as if you were agreeing with yourself or confirming his suspicions, "What's new about that though?" You laughed dryly.

"Y/n..." his voice drew out the syllables of your name.

You looked at him and shrugged your shoulders. "To answer your question, I'm doing the best I can right now."

Adrien chuckled softly, "Well that's all anyone can ask of you."

"My mom said the same thing." You smiled.

"Mine always did too." Your eyes locked with his.

His smile softened and some joy returned to the depths of his green eyes. He made no move to turn away from you, staring as intently at you as you were to him.

"Are you...um...going to be acting in the movie?" You asked, clearing your throat and breaking the eye contact.

Adrien sighed and leaned his head back, "I can't do anything major, probably nothing at all actually. I have a shoot that morning so I'm hoping I can make it in time to even appear as an extra." You frowned at his disappointment.

You sighed as you shook your head, "Damn that sucks. Your schedule is always so packed."

He laughed in agreement. "What about you? Did you ask to play a role?" He questioned and you glanced up at him with a quirked eyebrow, wondering how he even knew you liked to act in the first place.

"What?" He asked blankly.

You snorted and assumed he must've seen a picture on your Instagram. You were in the productions your school in New York put on.

"Nothing. If they want me too I will." You stared at the front of the classroom where Alya and Nino were yelling back and forth about their ideas, trying to form them together to make their perfect movie.

"They make a good team." He grinned.

You nodded, "Yeah, loud, but good."

"Can't argue with you about that one."

*

The school day soon ended and everyone who volunteered for a role were chosen to act. You hadn't volunteered quick enough so the roles went fast. You considered helping out with costumes, but Marinette was given that role immediately and you knew if you offered to help she would flip out.

"Y/n." Mylene's voice stopped you from leaving the classroom.

You turned and faced her and realized most of the cast and crew for this movie were standing behind her. "Yeah? What's up?" You flashed a soft, nervous smile.

"I feel like we've given you a pretty hard time and I wanted you to have the role of the Supervillain of Destruction. I feel like you deserve to have a leading role way more than I do after all you've been through." It took you a moment to understand what she was saying, but once it all added up you felt your heart swell at her kind offer.

"Mylene," you shook your head, "I don't want to take your role from you."

She held the script towards you, "I insist!" She yelled which caused a silent wave to wash over everyone in the room. She had a determined look on her face and you couldn't help but wonder why she felt responsible for making sure you felt better.

You really did feel like such a nuisance to everyone.

"I'll only take it if you really want that. I honestly don't want to take away this opportunity from you." You sighed, intrigued by the role but filled with guilt.

"I really want you to have it Y/n. I promise." Her smile was bright and you reached down and hugged your friend tightly.

"Thanks Mylene."

**

The scripts and details for the costumes were passed out to everyone. You all cleaned up the classroom and headed home. You walked ahead since you left a bit earlier than everyone else and looked down at the cast list on the front. Your name was written in sharpie with Mylene's crossed out with the same ink. You couldn't help but laugh at the informal paper.

Reprints weren't in the budgets you guessed.

Zoe Lee, superhero of creation.

Fitting.

You heard footsteps close behind you and you hardly had to turn your head to see that it was Marinette. Her pink pants always stood out and made her easily identifiable, she was like Zoe in that sense.

You turned your head back forward, refusing to acknowledge her. The two of you haven't spoken in days and you couldn't tell if your parents were more worried or relived with your lack of interaction.

After your akumatization the two of you were no longer punished, which you were relieved about since you didn't have to wake up so early anymore. Your parents tried to split their time more evenly between their shop and their kids, though that meant the two of you had to spend more time helping in the bakery than you would've wished for.

At the same time.

They really were trying to be better though, which was refreshing.

**

You were standing nervously with your class as the Paris News were doing a report on the movie. It had been a week since your teacher announced it and now you all were tasked with completing it over your school break.

Marinette handed you your costume silently before walking over to Zoe and handing the other one to her. You were a bit confused by her calm behavior, but you slipped it over your head nonetheless. The costumes were a bit strange and bland looking. You would have never looked at this and thought it was designed by Marinette. The final concept with it all was pretty cool though.

Zoe was running lines as the camera zoomed in on her. She was so natural and you were in awe of her talent.

They tried to zoom the camera in on you but you shook your head nervously and made an excuse about not being in character.

Knowing it was a live broadcast made you kinda nervous.

Everyone was set and in costume and you placed your script on a stool and got into position. You were crouched down with Zoe facing you in a mirrored position of your own. Her hand was shaking slightly as she reached up and clamped her hand on your shoulder.

Her smile directed towards you was soft and clearly laced with nerves. There was still so much that was left unsaid between the two of you, but you knew this wasn't the time for reconciliation. You returned the small smile and nodded slightly, signaling you were okay and ready to start the scene.

"You may hate me...but I love you! And I always will." Her first line was filled with so much emotion, "Sister." Almost on cue the door slammed open and Chloe was standing with Sabrina close behind her.

"How dare you all?! Giving the lead role to my half of a sister who just came out of nowhere!? And with daddy's money on top of it all!" She screamed and the free smile Zoe once wore was gone.

"It's not actually funded by me sweetheart...but by the city." He laughed only slightly and was clearly filled with nerves. Chloe had so much power over their lives and you couldn't begin to understand how they allowed her ridiculousness.

Chloe was soon in Zoe's face and pointed harshly at her. "You! I told you if you got in my way that you'd be sent back to New York! Now not only are you in my way but you're on tv too!?"

Zoe shook with fear and you felt an overwhelming amount of hatred for the blonde stir up inside of you. Just as Marinette stood you began to retaliate, "Why don't you shut up Chloe and let us get back to our scene?" You growled out.

Chloe's threat to Zoe had struck a nerve with you, reminding you of the moments where Marinette would tell you how much she wished you were still back in New York.

Zoe looked at you in surprise, still feeling like she didn't deserve any kindness or sympathy from you. Though, she understood that the defense also had something to do with your own family issues.

Your art teacher stepped forward. "Might I remind you that you were offered the chance like the rest of the students in the school to participate in the film, but you refused, and I quote, because Mylene's sweater is too ugly, Nate draws like a 2 year old, Y/n is a total whiner who is going to be sent back to New York with my ridiculous sister, Alya is useless, and Marinette is ridiculous, utterly ridiculous." You couldn't help but giggle as he copied her hand gesture.

"I said that?" Chloe asked with no recollection of her typical insults.

"Less politely." He cringed.

"Well I still mean all of it! But if this stupid, childish film actually gets released and turns someone into a star, that someone should be me!" She growled in the direction of you and Zoe, "So you're going to give me the part my half of a sister is playing because everything she owns belongs to me!" She shoved the two of you back before walking off with her hand up and her head held high.

You rolled your eyes. "She's the worst."

***

The drama with the show only continued to grow, but you all managed to get it done with your original cast and scripts once Chloe went home after having another one of her fits.

You were sitting next to Zoe and you smiled at her just as the movie ended. The two of you gave each other a high-five. "You were awesome." You complimented her.

"And you were even better," she spoke in awe, "You'll have to give me acting tips sometimes." Her smile was soft.

You stiffened and your change in demeanor made her frown. She opened her mouth to speak but Chloe was throwing another tantrum—distracting the two of you from the fleeting awkwardness. You chuckled as you mouthed 'wow' and suddenly began to wonder who was worse: Marinette or Chloe?

"We'll talk soon, okay?" You asked with a hopefully reassuring smile.

Zoe nodded eagerly, "Yes I have so much explaining to do. I miss you." Her voice cracked, almost like she didn't mean to say it in case it would make me uncomfortable.

You simply nodded, your smile unfaltering. "I've missed you too Z."

As the two of you stood to help ease Chloe, she was already storming out of the room. Your eyes connected with Adrien and he shrugged as he handed you his tablet he used while he had been on a call with his father on, and ran out of the theatre.

The events that transpired after that were a bit hazy, but before you knew it...you were a banana.

***

It didn't feel like it was long before you were back in your normal body and the magical ladybugs were surrounding the theatre. You watched in awe at the power that was swirling above you, it was absolutely astonishing.

Once things began to settle back down, everyone reconvened in the lobby of the theatre.

You smiled as you approached Adrien, but again you were interrupted by Chloe barging into a room. This had been a long forty-eight hours full of temper tantrums.

"Chloe, stop." You were surprised to hear the boldness in your best friend's voice as she approached her devilish sister.

Chloe looked appalled that she even approached her. You couldn't make out most of the insults that Chloe threw at Zoe, since they all slurred together. "I hate you!" Came through clearly.

Zoe simply smiled and shook her head, "You may hate me...but I love you. Sister." She hugged Chloe as she quoted the movie you all just filmed and you couldn't help but laugh.

"Remember? We have the same mother," Zoe reminded her with a sly smirk, because this conversation truly was ridiculous, "Look she gave me this gift." Outstretched in her hand was the magical charm Ladybug made for Chloe. You reached up and touched your own that resided around your neck.

"Well...if it's from mom than I should have it!" Chloe yelled, again trying to ruin the nicest moment the two of them likely ever shared.

Zoe giggled with a slight nod of her head, "What's mine is yours."

Chloe of course snatched it out of her hand and clipped it around her neck.

Zoe's expression seemed so genuine and happy and you felt an overwhelming amount of joy for your friend. Though, that joy was quickly replaced with jealously.

Zoe's sister was the cruelest person you ever met, and the two of them still managed to have a sort of progression in your relationship.

You felt pitiful and had no idea how to take that next step forward with Marinette, though you weren't even sure if you wanted to anymore. The past haunted every second of the day, and you felt the pain of the memories with every breath you took.

You had no idea how to even start the process of forgiveness.

Marinette stood outside of the theatre, still out of sight of everyone. The entire process had been incredibly tense with the few people who had been at the barge the night of your akumatization. She hated every second of it, but she hoped she was on a solid track back to forgiveness with her friends.

She watched Chloe and Zoe and was surprised that Zoe's plan had worked so well. The two of them both had a smile on their faces, even though Chloe's appeared to be sort of malicious.

She could only help but wonder if she would start to have a connection with you again too.

The only way she would find out is if she tried.

She knew that now, which was why she was waiting for the perfect moment to make that first step.

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