Hey everyone! Clippy is back with another chapter :)! I really want to thank everyone for the amazing comments on this book - I love reading each and every one of them. But, the last chapter, we realized that Chat said goodbye to his alter ego.

Let's see how that's going for him! Enjoy :)

Gabriel Agreste burst into his son's room. "Adrien!" he boomed, "You're going to be late for school." He slammed open his bathroom door, glancing around the room. "Adrien!?"

He noticed the small letter taped onto the open window. Gabriel's eyes squinted at the harsh sunlight, him now ripping the taped letter from the glass. He unfolded the creased letter, looking at the messed scribbles on the paper.

Gabriel's expressions went through a phase of shock and ended with pure rage. He crumpled the letter in his grip, storming to his phone. He dialled the police, a voice popping onto the line.

"Adrien Agreste is now reported to be missing," he muttered. "Excuse me, sir?" "ADRIEN AGRESTE IS MISSING," he shouted aggravatedly into the phone, "FIND HIM NOW."

***

Chat Noir lept on the shingles of the roof, sliding until he was one foot away from falling three stories. He leaned over, peering at the crowd of students at Francois Dupont. "Why did he leave without telling us," Marinette cried, "we really failed, guys."

Alya rubbed her friend's shoulder, holding in her own tears. "We should've checked on him more often," Alya sucked in a breath, "then we wouldn't be in this stupid mess."

Nino didn't even contribute to their speeches, so sick of everything that had happened.

"It's his stupid father," he finally spat, "I hate him." Marinette glanced sadly at him, another tear zipping down her face. 

"I do too," Marinette wiped her face, "and it's my fault." Chat's eyes widened at the statement, hating the idea that he was the reason all of his friends were crying.

"If I hadn't rejected him and let him run off," she muttered, "maybe he would still be here with us." 

"Oh no," Alya interjected, eyes going on here, "don't blame it on that reason. You're allowed to have your own feelings." "We just should've done more as friends."

Marinette nodded, sniffling as Nino sighed deeply. Chat Noir took a step back; was he still the reason for his friend's sorrows? 

No, that was Adrien Agreste. They're crying about Adrien Agreste. It's a shame he won't be returning. Chat Noir lept into the dark alley, still feeling the guilt for Marinette's tears.

***

Ladybug lept on the rooves of the Parisian buildings, Chat Noir catching a glimpse of her from the corner of his eye. "Ladybug!" he called, "What are you doing on patrol without me?" "Have you not heard," her usual confident tone was drenched in sorrow, "Adrien Agreste is missing."

"What does that have to do with this?" "We have to look for him," she winded up her yo-yo, "try to do something, at least." "What if we never find him?" Chat commented, Ladybug standing up straight.

"We have to try," she choked. Chat opened his mouth to protest, shutting it once more as Ladybug lept off the roof. He reluctantly followed, catching up to the spotted heroine within seconds.

"Ladybug, stop!" he shouted, her halting. "Chat, what is it!?" "Do you have a plan at least?" he choked, "Anything?" Ladybug glanced to the sunset, Chat grabbing both of her shoulders.

"Ladybug, you're too deep into your sorrow. You're not thinking straight," he looked at her glossed over ocean eyes, "it's never been like you to not have a plan." 

"We need to stop and think of this," he sighed, "What are we going to do? Shout at the top of our lungs and pray that the boy listens to the two teenagers jumping over Paris?" Ladybug giggled as she cried, more tears dancing down her cheeks.

"You're right, Chat," she muttered, "We do need a plan." "But, is there really a right or wrong here," she noted, "What can we even do." "You'll think of something," Chat smiled, "you always do."

***

Ladybug tripped on her feet, Chat catching her by her arms. "Careful," he warned, still fully awake while Ladybug was half asleep. "We've been doing this for hours," -he turned her to face him- "I think it's time for a break."

She covered her face, "We have indeed been doing this for hours." She looked directly at his bright emerald eyes; both of them giving them enough light to barely etch out each other's features.

"And I don't intend to stop until we find him." Chat kept his grip tight on her shoulders as she tried to leave. "Ladybug, you're being irrational again," he sighed softly, "It's late. Adrien wouldn't want you to be running around tired like this, would he?"

"Chat," she cried, "You don't understand." "I'm one of the main reasons that he's gone," she choked. His brows furrowed, "What does that mean?" "I knew him as my civilian form, and I can't go into detail, but I could have done something different with him."

"Maybe he would still be here," she mumbled. "Hey," -he shook her shoulders so she glanced up at him- "We're not giving up, and I'm not saying that we are."

"But, if we want to be efficient, we need to be smart. This right now isn't smart - you're practically a zombie in a red suit." Ladybug smiled slightly, "How do you manage to find a will to make me laugh?"

He chuckled, "It's the side effect of being annoying." Chat truly felt much happier without Adrien dragging him down, but it still felt as if every smile was fake.

She took a deep breath, Chat released her shoulders. "You're right, we'll come back tomorrow morning." He nodded in approval, Ladybug tossing him a wave before jumping off. Ladybug finally let the red blush spread onto her cheeks, coming to the frightening realization.

She had fallen for the flirtatious black cat, and she fell for him too late.

Wow, what a rip for LB! And, can we point out what a good actor Chat is? It's almost like they aren't the same person. But, even though Adrien is gone, Chat is still finding the fact that he is upset :c

But, we'll have to see what he does about this next chapter ;) Stay tuned!!