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Marinette's P.O.V

   I snuck in through the side door and quietly scampered up the stairs without alerting dad in the bakery. I need to calm myself down. If I look like I just ran miles here (which I did) and knowingly burst into my room, Mallorie will get suspicious. I need to be as discreet as possible.

   Recollecting myself, my hand latched onto the apartment's door handle and twisted it. I moved inside, closing the door before heading to the trapdoor. I pushed it open entered my room. My eyes immediately landed on Mallorie, relaxingly reading through my diary.

   I surge ran through my body, shooting over to my twin and ripping the private journal out from her prying fingers. A knot of emotions tightened in my stomach. A feeling of invasion and expulsion washed over my naked body. The need to hide shoots through my veins, wondering how much she read and what she knows.

   Yet, anger somehow still manages to make itself visible with everything else going through me. This is another level of low.

   "What are you doing?" I hissed through clenched teeth. Mallorie isn't phased in the slightest, calmly checking her nails.

   "Oh, just confirming my earlier theory is true," she measly answered, innocently. Then, a smirk appeared on her lips, "and it looks like I am correct."

   I gulped down a lump in my throat, wondering what it is she figured out. I have to hold in my urge to panic and yell again. Maybe, it's not as bad as I think it is. Maybe, I'm overreacting? No, it doesn't matter because this is still wrong. Did she find out about my alter ego?

   I tightened my grip on my diary, holding it protectively again sat my chest.

   "What theory?" I shakily questioned, glaring at Mallorie. My twin continued to smirk.

   "You are-"

   I didn't think my heart could beat any faster but I'm proven incorrect. My eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. My panic heightened to another level.

   "-majorly crushing on Adrien Agreste."

   My mind came to a halt like the sound of a record player instantly stopped playing to deaf ears. I stand rooted on the spot I'm standing on, paralyzed by the shock numbing me. The silence envelops the room.

"Uh...h-how did you know?" I nervously squeaked in reply, still trying to process and get over my shock. Luckily, my gushing over Adrien is probably what most of my diary is filled with and somehow missed all the pages about the miraculous. My tense muscles slightly relaxed, on the edge of wherever this conversation is going.

   "You really think someone of your standards could win over someone who has looks and riches," Mallorie snickered, getting off of my chaise, "Wow, you must still believe in fantasies. I can't wait until reality crushes those fantasies into nothing but dust."

   "Get out of my room," I snarled. Mallorie shrugged and began her trek over to the trapdoor. I placed my diary on my desk, taking in some deep breaths. I'm surprised an akuma didn't come for me. That would have been bad.

   "Whatever you say, Ladybug."

   My breathing caught short getting stuck in my throat and released as a gasp. The feelings of dread returned in full force. My limbs instantly turned to jelly. I leaned against my desk to help keep me from falling onto the floor. The knife Mallorie placed in my back twisted. My nails scratched against the desktop's surface until my fingers folded themselves into fists.

"Calm down. Calm down. Calm down. Deep breaths in and out slowly. Calm down. Calm down," I desperately repeated in my head. I shot my trembling body around, coming to realize Mallorie has already left. Not only leaving the room, but she also left me a warning.

I tiny form flew over in a blink of red before latching onto the side of my face. I nearly misstepped and fell from the sudden collision. Luckily, someone is there to help keep me steady. At first, I jumped at the sudden touch until realizing it's only Sabrina and Tikki.

I forgot they were in my closet that entire time. The redhead is frowning and seemed to also be in a state of disbelief from what she witnessed. A sensation came of Tikki silently nuzzling her head into the side of my cheek.

My shock began to wear down into another emotion. Sadness.

My eyes welled up with tears and my bottom lip quivered. My breathing became shakily uneven and my nose started to turn runny. I gulped, mouth feeling watery.

"Mallorie knows! She knows my secret identity! She'll tell everyone! No no no NO NO NO!" I shouted in my mind, hitting me like a truck. My legs couldn't hold me up anymore and fell to my knees. Tears finally fell after releasing the first sod from my mouth.

    She'll put everyone I love in danger. Dad. Chat Noir. Tikki. Everyone! I can't let her get away with this! But...how? Is there a way to avoid this dilemma without consequences? Is there a way to keep Mallorie from saying anything? No, there isn't. Is there?

   I cradled Tikki closer, trying to gather as much comfort from her as I could.

"T-Tikki, what do I do?" I rasped out the question, hoping the Kwami has a solution for this situation. Yet, she didn't say anything for a long while. This left me extremely concerned.

"I..." she struggled to spit the words out, "I don't know, Marinette. I'm sorry. We can't change what's already been done. We can only change the future but even that can be unpredictable."

   I sighed and nodded. There may still be a chance everything will turn out for the better in the end but it is very low. Mallorie has it out for me for reasons I don't know which is nearly impossible to fix. There has to be some way. It seems the only thing she wants is my misery and she knows exactly which buttons to press.

   "I'm sure we will figure something out," Sabrina confidently said, knelt beside me and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"Yeah," I agreed, wiping my tears away. There is no need to cry over this. Sure, I'm scared out of my mind but that was when I thought I had to do this by myself. I thought it would be better to keep people away than let them get dragged into my mess. I suppose it's too late for that now. Somehow, I'm glad I'm not doing this alone anymore.

With one last sniffle, I stood from off the ground and smiled at the two.

"Thank you both but I think it's time we get Sabrina home," I said, getting two surprised looks.

"You mean..." Tikki trailed off. I nodded, confirming her untold question. The Kwami's eyes sparkled with joy and hugged my cheek once again. Sabrina's expression brightened (and I swore I could see some relief too).

I know I've made a dangerous decision keeping Tikki with me. Yet, these jewels are my responsibility. I shouldn't have given them to Sabrina to bare my duties as a hero. I was chosen to wear the Ladybug Miraculous and use it for good. I will not burden another with this power until the next generation of heroes.

"Tikki, spots on!"

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   After dropping off Sabrina, I locked my trapdoor (and may have put my placed my chest full of Adrien's old presents over it for a precaution). Then, Tikki and I began to catch up on what we missed with each other. It is nice to see and talk with the small being again. I missed her so much.

   "How is Chat Noir doing?" Tikki asked. I frowned and looked down at my lap at the thought of my poor Kitty. I sank deeper into my chaise's cushion, trying to huddle into myself.

   "There's definitely something wrong but I wasn't able to get anything out of him. Maybe, it has something to do with his family? I know he accidentally mentioned his family life isn't the best but it's pretty vague detail," I explained, wishing there is a way I can help Chat Noir.

   "I'm sure he'll eventually tell you when he's comfortable enough," Tikki reassured me before taking a bite out of a chocolate chip cookie.

   "With the way he's been acting, I hope it's sooner than later with how things went with the akuma today," I replied, feeling a shiver run up and down my spine at the terrifying memory. It was way too close of a call for my taste. I hope it never happens again or it may leave permanent effects.

"Hey, Marinette. What is this?" Tikki asked. I turned my attention toward Tikki, who held a wallet-sized photo in her flipper-like arms. I tilted my head in confusion before taking the photograph in my hands to examine it further. I know for a fact that this isn't mine based on how small it is. All of my pictures are ordinarily-sized photos to poster-sized photographs.

   I gaze at the scene displayed on the film for a second before my eyes bulge out of my head. I rub my eyes to make sure my vision isn't messing with me before looking at the image again. Nothing changed and continue to stare in disbelief at what I'm seeing.

   "What is it?" Tikki asked, curiously before floating over my shoulder to get a look. She went silent as well.

   "What the..." I gaped, not sure of what to make of this. Now, I really know that this isn't mine...even though the person in the photo is a replica of me. This very person is laying in a hospital bed with a smile on her face and holding a newborn infant.

   "Is this...mom?" I wondered, "This must be her, right?"

   I flipped the photo over, finding some writing on the back in English. I scrunched my nose. I was never very good at translating other languages (and not looking forward to learning it next year as a required class).

   "Can you read this, Tikki?" I asked the Kwami of creation.

   "Yes, I can," she confirmed before translating the words, "Otis June Creis. Born June 19, 2016."

   "So then..." I trailed off, trying to comprehend this photo, "Is this some sort of akuma's doing? Maybe, this isn't anything at all, right?"

   "Marinette..." Tikki said with a serious look, "...there is no akuma tricky. This is very real."

   "But—what?" I sputtered, "So, this is real. This photo isn't some sort of trick or something. You're telling me that-that Mallorie...had a child."

   Tikki didn't reply and didn't need to. I know the answer like I just got hit straight in the face with a wrecking ball. Reality struck my heart, itching for a need to know more. Who is the father? Where is little Otis now? What happened to him? Am I really an aunt?!

   More and more questions rises from the depths of my brain without any answers. I have many mixed feelings at the moment about Mallorie—Shadow. Did she do something to her own son? Did she hate him? Of course, she probably wouldn't be carrying a picture if she did at him (must if accidentally slipped out of Shadow's pocket).

   So...what actually happened?

   I groaned, not sure what to do. What am I supposed to do? It's not like I can just walk up to Shadow and ask!

   Can I?

   No!

She'll just spite me and blame me for stealing her property.

   "Dinner is ready!" Dad called from downstairs. I looked over at the trapdoor then back at the photograph in my hands. I know for a fact Shadow is probably or will be looking for this. It must mean something special to her if she keeps it on her person. The right thing to do would be to give it back without setting Shadow off.

  I looked at the photo one more time before disengaging my barricade to go eat supper.

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