[Narrator's POV]

Alya and Nino are having a little lunch date, Marinette is visiting Adrien in the hospital again and Nathaniel is working on his art project so Chloe, Sabrina and Lila are the only ones sitting at their usually cramped table.

"Kiss, marry, kill," Sabrina says. "Carapace, Rena Rouge and Queen Bee."

Chloe hums to herself as she ponders her answer. "Well of course I'd marry Queen Bee, she's amazing, then I guess I'd kiss Carapace, eh on the cheek, and erm...kill Lila?"

"I wasn't even one of the options!" Lila snaps.

"Well I don't want to kill any of the superheroes," Chloe whines. "I love them all!"

"How do you know I'm not one of those superheroes, hm?" Lila responds.

Sabrina scoffs. "Because none of them are terrifying or rude."

Lila frowns and takes an agressive bite from her sandwich. "Talk about rude!"

"Okay kiss, marry, kill with Marinette, Adrien and me." Chloe says.

"Don't bring our friends into this it's weird." Sabrina replies. "This is a hypothetical game."

"Fine," Chloe says. "Ladybug, Cat Noir and Queen Bee."

Lila raises a brow sceptically.

"I suppose I'd kiss Ladybug, marry Queen Bee and kill off the cat," Sabrina says. "What about you Lila?"

"You can't kill Cat Noir," Lila answers. "I'd kiss him, marry Ladybug and kill Queen Brat."

Chloe pouts. "I'm sick of this game."

"Okay, new topic. Nathaniel keeps asking me what we had planned yesterday," Lila says. "Why haven't you told him yourself?"

"Because it'll seem lame. I don't want to have it forced out of me but I don't think I need to plan some extravagant build up either." Chloe replies. "I just need to say it when the time is right."

Sabrina rolls her eyes. "The time was right like months ago."

Chloe pouts bitterly and stabs her salad with her fork. "Well then shouldn't Nathaniel have said something for himself by now? What if he doesn't even see me that way..."

"That's absurd, of course he does!" Sabrina says. "Tell her, Lila."

Lila, who had been staring off absently, blinks in response to her name. "Sorry, this conversation got boring so I tuned out."

"You started the conversation!" Chloe says.

"And now I'm finishing it." Lila replies. "Can we please just go get some crepes? School is so boring!"

"You don't have any money." Sabrina crosses her arms. "I'm your friend not your wallet."

"I'm glad that you're finally learning and improving yourself but your timing needs work cuz I am so starving!" Lila says. "Chloe, you're loaded right? Why don't you pay?"

"I would if you were nicer maybe, but I don't want to ditch school anyway." Chloe says. "I used to hate being here too but if you adjust yourself and make some friends--"

Lila waves her hand dismissively. "Not interested."

"Fine, be miserable you sour little lemon." Chloe pulls her fork back and flicks a cherry tomato at Lila.

Lila twitches in annoyance. "Must you aggravate me?"

.

When the bell rings at the end of the day, Chloe is keen to get to the hospital for a visit but despite her hurried movement, Nathaniel still manages to catch her before she leaves.

"Chloe, wait up!" He says, grabbing her hand. "You're not avoiding me are you? I did apologise for overreacting yesterday so I hope I didn't ruin the hopes for whatever you had planned."

Chloe shudders. "Huh? What? No! No, no, definitely not. That whole situation was caused by me in the first place, b-but it's totally stupid and unimportant anyway. Not worth discussing ever again that's for sure!"

Nathaniel tightens his grip on Chloe's hand and gazes at her seriously. "Nothing you do could be unimportant, especially if it's for me."

Chloe's heartbeat picks up and she begins to get flustered. "Okay, er, thank you-- I-I'm just sorry everything went so wrong that's why we can just forget that and I'm definitely not avoiding you. I would never avoid you."

Nathaniel smiles brightly. "Great! So, what was yesterday about?"

Chloe's face flares up at the mere thought of confessing. "Don't know!" She spits out.

Nathaniel chuckles. "You don't know?"

"Yep, uh-huh, that's right, I...I don't remember! Totally forgot." Chloe stammers nervously. "I will for sure let you know when I do find out what it was though, eheh, but uh, I have to go now so, bye!"

Nathaniel shakes his head with a laugh as Chloe speeds off. When she arrives at the hospital, she finds Nino inside as well.

Chloe prances up behind him and slings an arm round his shoulders. "Shelly!"

Nino laughs. "Sup Bee."

"You here to see Adrien too? If you had told me you were coming we could have carpooled." Chloe says. "Is Alya here?"

"Yeah she's coming." Nino answers.

Chloe hums happily to herself. "I can't believe my Shelly and Rena are really together! Well, actually, I totally can because you two are so not good at hiding your identities."

"You're one to talk!" Nino says, ruffling Chloe's hair.

"Ack! Hey!"

Alya, having just arrived, walks by and elbows Nino playfully. "Hey, quit bugging her!"

Nino snorts and Chloe takes the opportunity to slap his hands away whilst he is distracted.

"Both you and Carapace were always messing up my hair. Coincidence? I think not! Only one person could possibly be daft enough to ruin such artistry." Chloe says.

Alya giggles. "Come on, let's go."

When the door to Adrien's hospital room first opens, Tikki and Plagg quickly hide themselves away, but when they see it is only the other three miraculous holders, they reveal themselves. Trixx is the first to zip out of her owners bag. She smirks as she flies over to give Plagg a fist bump. "Plagg, how's it goin?"

"Always sickeningly sweet around these lovebirds." Plagg says.

Trixx rolls her eyes. "Tell me about it. At least you can have some fun with Tikki, my human is always hanging around Wayzz's so I'm forced to down his gross leaf water."

Wayzz emerges from Nino's bag to defend himself. "Tea! It is called tea, does no one know what tea is?"

Tikki giggles. "I like your tea, Wayzz. It's very yummy with biscuits."

"I suppose a refined pallette is something that comes with maturity." Pollen says as she gracefully floats out of Chloe's purse. "Certainly not something the filthy felines will understand."

"Pompous puffball." Trxx spits.

Plagg begins chanting. "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

"Please do not fight." Wayzz pleads.

"Wayzz is right, little dudes." Nino says. "We're all bros here. Superher-bros!"

"Whenever the black cat of destruction and the mischievous fox come together, disaster falls." Tikki says with a hint of adoration.

Chloe crosses her arms. "Looks like they drive their little bug pals up the wall."

"Certainly." Pollen says. "Worry not, I am not so feral as to start a fight."

"I'm not feral I'm just feisty," Trixx replies proudly. "So don't test me, honey."

Pollen frowns. "I dislike your pet names-- oh, who am I kidding? You already know it annoys me, that's why you do it."

"Aren't I so endearing?" Trixx teases as she twirls Pollen's hair.

"Hardly." Pollen says shortly.

"I don't like the way your kwami is bullying Pollen." Chloe says to Alya.

"She's not a bully, she's just playing!" Alya replies.

Trixx grins at Chloe. "I could always pick on you instead."

"You'll have to go through her big bro first!" Nino challenges, jabbing his thumb to his chest proudly.

Trixx hisses and snarls threateningly but Alya just flicks a grape into her mouth, causing her to choke and sputter.

"Trixx always gets hangry," Alya says. "It makes her even more troublesome than usual."

"Perhaps some relaxing tea--" Wayzz tries.

"No!" Trixx shrieks. "Please no!"

Marinette smiles kindly. "I would love some tea, Wayzz."

Nino groans at having to take the effort to rummage through his bag. He takes out a metal bottle filled with hot tea and some plastic cups to pour everyone a serving. Marinette contributes by opening up a box of macarons from her bakery. The group chatters away for a while whilst they eat and drink leisurely, unaware of the room's occupant slowly regaining consciousness.

Adrien awakes feeling somehow completely numb and yet at the same time writhing with agony. He can't seem to move, he can barely open his mouth enough to emit a slurred groan.

"Owhghn..."

Marinete jolts to her feet. "Wadrien-- W-Wake-- Awadriakeian!"

"What?" Chloe says shortly.

"Adrien's awake." Alya translates.

"Adrien's awake?" Nino exclaims.

"Adrien's awake!" Marinette squeals.

Everyone scurries to Adrien's bedside and peers at his drowsy face.

"Dude, you sure he's awake? Looks like he's sleeping with his eyes open." Nino says, earning a slap over the head from Alya.

"Adrien...Are you okay?" Chloe asks hesitantly.

"Don't answer that." Marinette says quickly. "Adrien shouldn't strain himself by talking or moving for a while. Do you know how damaged and drugged up he is right now? N-Not to alarm you, sweetie. Eheh...It's fine. You're fine!"

Adrien exhales a sigh, his eyelids dropping again.

"Did he die?" Nino whispers fearfully.

"There is a heart monitor right there!" Chloe snaps.

"Marinette's right, resting quietly will help Adrien bear the pain so don't provoke him." Alya says. "It must be frustrating having to lay there listening to us yap away, completely ignorant toward his condition."

"Sounds like when we have to merge with our miraculous to give you power," Plagg says.

Trixx nodds in agreement. "Having to standby and watch something painfully stupid without the capability to get involved...Truly frustrating."

"You should hear about this stupid Love Square--" Plagg starts.

"That's not your business to share!" Marinette says, fuming with embarrassment.

"Quit stressing everyone out Plagg," Tikki scolds. "We are in a place of healing."

"Yes, this environment is too crowded and busy as it is. Perhaps we should leave Adrien to Marinette until he has more energy." Wayzz suggests.

"Wayzz is right, as always," Pollen says. "Shoo shoo everyone, shuffle on."

Gradually and reluctantly, everyone bids Adrien goodbye and leaves the room. Marinette takes Adrien's hand in her own and gives it a gentle squeeze.

"Adrien," She says softly. "Can you hear me? Can you understand what I am saying? Can you feel my touch? You don't have to answer, just focus on me Adrien. Focus on me and you'll come to in no time. Nothing gives me more strength than thinking about you and us and our future together. I hope it's the same for you..."

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[Chloe's POV]

I just saw Adrien for the first time in a whole week so I'm totally pumped with energy. After my hospital visit I wasn't ready to retire for the day so I decided to transform into Queen Bee and do a patrol. I can't help the skip in my step as I roam this beautiful, supervillain-free city.

"Hey Bee," Someone calls out. "Queen Bee!"

I turn around and grin happily at the sight of Nathaniel. "Hey there stranger!"

"You seem happy." Nathaniel says with a giggle.

"Yeah I am! After a week of drowsy drooling my friend has finally gained some consciousness! I mean, he still can't speak or move but he can keep his eyes open for a real long time." I tell him. "My friends and I had to give him some space so today was my first visit in a while too."

"Oh, same here. I'm on my way to see Adrien in the hospital," Nathaniel says. "They say he had a car crash but the damage is really bad so you'd think it was a huge accident, yet I didn't hear anything about it anywhere..."

My voice quivers anxiously as I attempt to rebuttal this. "Ahahah, come now, your friend is hurt and all you can think of are silly suspicions like that? My friend, a different one from yours, he was in a plane crash! Yeah, but that wasn't on the news or anything either so I guess everyone is just preoccupied with Nat--ah, Hawkmoth's arrest. That's it."

"Wow, there seem to be a lot of vehicles crashing these days huh." Nathaniel says. "Well, congratulations on defeating Hawkmoth."

"Yeah..." I grip my arm and look away, preferring not to acknowledge that.

"I still can't believe it was Nathalie this whole time, someone so close by..." Nathaniel says. "Guess you really can't know who someone is for sure."

"You can't, you're right! So, so don't judge her okay because you don't know her." I reply defensively. "Everyone has a story. So please...don't judge her."

"Alright, easy, easy. I promise I won't then, " Nathaniel says. "Sorry."

I sigh sadly. "It's fine, you wouldn't be the only one who hates her. But I could change your mind-- No, Nathalie could! I swear!"

"This seems personal," Nathaniel surveys me closely. "Nathalie was close with Adrien's family you know. Were you...close to her too?"

I place a hand over my heart and say sincerely, "I still am."

Nathaniel nods as if processing my answer. "I wonder if Adrien is too...guess we'll find out when he gets out of the hospital. Speaking of, I should get going. It was nice catching up with you; have a good day!"

I smile and wave Nathaniel goodbye. "See ya."

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[Adrien's POV]

Everything feels all hazy. Then again, that could just be the way I feel whenever I look up at her...

Marinette gazes into my eyes with a tender smile as she rhythmically strokes my hair. It's so soothing...Part of me is happy that I get to just lay here with her day after day in undisturbed bliss. It's as if there is nothing else beyond this room and passing time doesn't exist. There is only us, now. This is the entire world right here. Right in front of me, looking at me with those beautiful bluebell eyes.

"You seem much more responsive so I guess you're starting to get your thoughts together, I'm glad. Though that also means that you'll begin to dwell on things... Things that will make you stressed and confused." Marinette says. "Remember what I've been telling you; just focus on me, Adrien. Don't worry about anything else. Everything is okay, I promise, and you will learn so for yourself once you're better but there is no rush."

I hear you, Marinette. I understand. The peacock miraculous...Duusu...it didn't deserve to be destroyed. I couldn't let a miraculous and its innocent kwami crumble into non-existence. And my own guilt of demolishing what remained of my mother played a part too. I didn't think it over, I just acted impulsively. I suppose it was the hero in me... I acted compassionately yet also deeply selfishly, because even though the peacock miraculous had to be saved, I could have destroyed something else in the process... I was fine with sacrificing myself but I didn't think about how I would also be sacrificing our relationship; our past, present and future together. I almost ruined your life...my precious princess.

You think that I awoke with a dreaded desperation to find out what happened to Duusu and Nathalie. I am curious, yes, but the thing I desire most right now is to hold you, the person I almost let go. I just want to tell you that I'm sorry, and that I love you more than anything in this entire universe...