Macy's view

Luka arrived on my balcony as Viperion. I can't say that I was surprised that he knew where I was. I was certain that I had seen him around only to double check and see nothing and as a result I would doubt that I saw him. This time was different. He looked genuinely upset and concerned.

"Hi Luka, you better come in by the look of that " I say.

"Yeah thanks" he said his voice catching.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

Luka hands me the Ladybug miraculous and tears begin to fall down his face. Knowing that this is unusual for Luka I hug him until he gets a hold of himself, enough to tell me what happened. "Ladybird is in hospital being operated on. That last akuma injured her."

"Really?"

He nodded. I let him go, put on the miraculous, greeted Tikki, and packed a backpack with essential items.

Once I had done this, I looked at Luka "Let's go!" I say, and we left.

"Sorry for letting you down Macy" Luka said.

"You didn't" I say.

"But if I got there sooner, I could have saved her with second chance."

"Luka, there's no way you could have gotten there faster is there?"

"Well, no."

"So, you didn't let either of us down. If anything, you saved her by getting her to hospital to be operated on. Did she release her transformation on you?"

Luka nodded.

"And you protected her identity even from Hēi Māo?"

He nodded again.

"Well, how can you say that you let me down, when you did everything you could?"

"I don't know, I guess I feel helpless that I wasn't there in time."

I reach out and squeeze his hand. "Don't blame yourself for something that you've no control over. Ok?"

He nodded and wouldn't let my hand go. I could feel his worry though. I guess it was because he loved all the kids living there, not just his own.

We arrive at the hospital to find her recovering in a single room. As she hadn't woken up yet, I went and sorted out the paperwork while letting Alya know of her situation. Alya freaked out.

"It's ok Alya, she will be alright, if she wasn't going to be they would have put her in ICU or CCU for close observation. She's on the ward so she will be fine." I say comforting her.

"I'm still coming for my girl!" She said.

"You might want to let Louis and Lucian know too" I say, knowing the relationship between the three.

"I'll leave a note" she said "That way everyone knows."

I returned to the room and checked the chart, wound and drain. Everything looked fine, so I sat in the corner observing her. She still was asleep and it looked like her pain was being controlled by an IV machine used for major operations. Luka sat next to me, grabbing my hand. I didn't object as I could see his worry for Lillian.

I stayed with Lillian the entire time she was in hospital, except for Akuma's. Lucian and Louis rotated who was with her, but one of them was always with her. When Alya or Nino was up I would go home and shower. I could see the grief and worry on their faces, which lessened as she recovered.

Adrien came once and I asked him to ask for his miraculous back as this was Ladybird. Luckily when he visited the boys were getting something to eat, so I could ask.

"I guess our bet is off then?" He asked.

"Yes, but I know that its Lucian, I just wanted to confirm my decision first. I haven't been able to yet." I say.

Adrien nodded "Well, I'll leave you to it then." Looking at Lillian sadly. Seeing him like that made me wish that Marinette was back.

It was while we were in the hospital, I decided to study for Nursing again, I was losing my ability to design for Marinette anyway. I was able to be there by the sheer fact I had actually finished designing the new lines and I could leave the rest to the teams under me. I know Marinette wouldn't have done this but I, as you know, am not Marinette and I had to trust her staff. Lillian was more than capable to take over - she just needed to recover. I knew that it would be difficult for her between school, after school and Ladybird duties (when she got them back) but she would manage, as Marinette did when she first started. 

I was accepted straight away to do the course and I did everything I could while sitting in the chair watching Lillian. It really helps the practical side when you have already done it previously. I was not so good at the theory as it had been at least 25 years since I last done serious study, but I managed.

Luka stayed with me the entire time I was at the hospital. He played his guitar in the periods where it was ok to make noise, it was comforting to everyone around. It helped me concentrate on my study.

As Luka and I were there all the time, the Drs and the nursing staff mistook us on several occasions for Lillian's parents. Alya and Nino were there as much as they could be, but the responsibility for Lillian fell on Luka and I. 

Luka, with his profession, could choose to work or not. He was choosing not to work at the moment. Choosing instead to keep me company while I overlooked Lillian's care. Helping me when I started tearing my hair out with the things I was struggling with in the nursing course. I teased him that he should do the course with me. He declined saying that he was happy being just a musician, even though now there was no 'just' about it. He pretty much was worth millions between his music and Avenger stipend.

It was a couple of days before Lillian was able to talk properly and observe those around her. Lucian happened to be curled up next to her trying to psychically heal her...I would have chuckled at the idea except Louis would do exactly the same thing and I could see her relax more with them there.

The pair were always being told off by the staff for doing it. In the end, the pair would only get off if the staff came in, so that they could do the work required for her recovery like changing her IV antibiotics, fluid or pain relief.

We didn't talk much, Luka and I, I felt that we didn't need to either. But I noticed that whenever an akuma occurred he would hit second chance before we even got to the battle. It was like he was petrified that something would happen to me too and he didn't want that to happen. He was also far more protective of me than Adrien was ever since Lillian's accident.

It was to the point Chat Noir said "Cut that out Viperion, we can't defeat this thing if you're in the way stopping Ladybug from doing her job."

I gave Adrien a genuine smile of thanks. Getting a nod in return. After the battle he asked me "Can we talk Ladybug?"

I nodded and stayed. Luka as always, read the situation and left.

"Sorry for not understanding Macy" Adrien said tearing up "I get that you're not Marinette now. Marinette hated hospitals and the sight of blood made her faint. Yet you're there day in and out caring for Lillian untroubled by everything. I just didn't want to admit that she was gone, you know?"

I nodded "I am sorry that I can't be her for you. I would be lying to both you and myself."

"What will you do if you can't go home?" Adrien asked.

"I don't know, but I know that I am at least being true to myself. I just can't sleep  with you. You belong to Marinette."

"I get it, take care Macy." And he left me there. I left shortly afterwards returning to the hospital.

I missed being able to drive places as Marinette didn't have her license - she didn't need it. I, however, did. So, I started the process in the many hours sitting in the hospital room. Luka, also decided to get his license the same time. I think it was so we did something together. I don't think that he realised that I could already drive being Macy, but licenses don't cross universes.

Alya had a few days off, so I booked Luka and I to sit through the driving school course. I had one lesson before they took me out for my test. I think that they could tell I had been driving before. I passed it first try. Luka had all sorts of issues. He scared me more than my own children had when they were learning. Eventually he got it though after listening to both his instructors and me.

I made him do another course that was more advanced to be sure that he drove to the best of his ability. It worked - he was an excellent driver afterwards. I think I gave him a bit of my daredevil driving as he started car racing as a hobby dragging me off to be his teammate. I really enjoyed it though we were only good enough to be mid pack drivers.

Luka was given an interview once in this time and ended up with the label - the car racing rock-star. But that was the future... in the now Lillian was still recovering.

Lillian was eventually well enough to return home after about 2 weeks in hospital. She was still required to rest and was forbidden to go to school. She did however, go to school online as the teachers were still able to send her work and lessons that way.

Lucian, Annette and Elijah would check her work to make sure that she was on the right track. If a group task was required the 4 would do it together as they lived together.

I went back there mainly to make sure Lillian was ok and that her wounds continued to heal. This time, however, I stayed with Luka.

I knew that I could trust him not to do anything and I had kind of gotten use to him next to me sleeping in chairs at the hospital.

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