Marinette followed Gabriel past the security team and into the backstage area and it was everything she had ever imagined. People were rushing around with headsets on, as models scurried about in their underwear with dressers chasing them. The woman tottered around unstably on incredibly high heels and men strolled around shoeless.

For years, this had been her dream. A dream which had taken her away from her love and also, ultimately, brought her back to him. All the time she'd spent fretting and feeling like she would never make it, and the answer had been right in front of her. Chat Noir, her Adrien, held everything she'd ever wanted. He was everything she ever wanted.

She froze for a moment, taking it all in. This was it. Her designs will be on stage, alongside a top fashion designer - her name besides Gabriel's, all thanks to her partner. Adrien was something special. She couldn't help the smile that encroached on her professional facade. Adrien. Just his name sent warmth to her core.

She couldn't wait to show her creations to her friends and parents, then she could party the night away with the man–men–she truly loved. Life was amazing. Everything was amazing—apart from her psychotic stalker.

"Nathalie will be along in a moment to show you to your models," Gabriel said. "They just need your check before we can release them onto the catwalk. It shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes. Then you can return to Adrien."

Marinette nodded, soaking in everything Gabriel was telling her. "Thank you."

Gabriel tried to smile, then walked away in the opposite direction.

In a week she'd put together a selection of fourteen outfits, each of them cohesive, yet not too outrageous for Gabriel's show. She'd had so much support, not just from Adrien, but Nathalie and other designers as well. Even Gabriel had taken her under his wing to bring out the best in her designs. She wasn't even that scared of him anymore.

Nathalie strolled over, holding a clipboard and a small smile. "Follow me."

She led her down a corridor before opening a door to a changing room. The four female models she'd chosen stood around in their closing outfits. They looked stunning, and Marinette couldn't help the little bubble of happiness taking over her nervous flutters.

"If you can just check the fit is as you desire, they can carry onto hair and make-up," Nathalie said, bringing attention to the outfits and the women.

"Sure." Marinette smiled. She got to work, finding the needle and cotton on the work surface and placing the pincushion on her wrist. She made a couple of adjustments here and there. Everything was perfect, or as close to perfect as it could be.

"All done," she announced, Nathalie coming to double check the alterations and cracking a slight smile.

Using her forefinger, Nathalie pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "Excellent. I'll take them down now, and you can head back out to Adrien."

Marinette looked at the work surface, noticing the mess left there. There was no way she was going to leave it looking like that. "Actually, can I just tidy this up a little, then go back out?"

Nathalie looked at her as though she'd gone insane. "Just so you know, we've got people to take care of this."

Marinette shrugged. It made no difference. She had always cleared up after herself. That was the done thing. "I'll do it. It's a quick five minutes."

Nathalie pursed her lips in consideration before finally nodding. "Sure. Just lock up once you're done."

The sound of the door closing put Marinette into work mode, moving around, binning the leftover cotton, and repositioning the pins and needles. She was almost done when the door opened again.

"I'm almost done, Nathalie. I won't be much longer."

There was no reply.

"Nathalie –" Marinette started, only to look up at the mirror, her gaze locking into hazel eyes as a cloth came down over her mouth.

*****

As she fluctuated in and out of consciousness, Marinette could hear shouting and screaming. Her head was heavy, bouncing as she tried to lift it. She couldn't move. Her body felt like a lead weight was holding her down.

Her head hurt. There was a throbbing pain behind her eyes–eyes which she couldn't even open. She tried again, focusing hard on lifting her heavy lids. Slowly, they opened, causing her to wince and slam them closed again. The light was too bright, way too bright.

She tried to open them again, a burning sensation making her want to scream–so she did, closing her eyes once again. A noise didn't escape her lips.

She tried again. She couldn't scream or talk – and suddenly she was finding it harder to breathe. There was something in her mouth, stopping her. If she could just remove the obstruction...

She attempted to move her hands and free herself from the restriction — an attempt which was feeble.

She tried to move again. No hope.

The light became brighter, burning through her lids, into her retinas. What the hell was going on? She tried to listen to what was happening around her, but her hearing seemed muffled, almost like she was drowning underwater, a thickness taking over her head.

"Ladies and gentleman, please take a seat. I have the most amazing evening for you all." The voice sounded familiar, yet she couldn't quite place it. She'd definitely heard it before, but where?

She attempted to open her eyes again, this time lifting them into small slits. She was on a stage...the catwalk, if she wasn't mistaken...and she was sitting down on something. Maybe a chair?

She tried to lift her head again, this time succeeding, finally laying eyes on a woman dressed in purple. Large butterfly wings stretched out, glittering and shining underneath the spotlights of the catwalk. She dominated the stage, strutting up and down with the movements of a model veteran.

Marinette's eyes closed once again, her hearing fading in and out. She closed her eyes again, trying to concentrate on one sense at a time.

"Have you met Paris' newest designer?" the voice said. "Isn't she just a doll?"

Marinette felt her head being lifted, her eyes still tightly closed and a red glow surrounding her. "Now come on, little bug. Don't keep us all waiting. We want to meet you."

A sudden smell assaulted her senses, her eyes opening again as her head lolled from side to side. The lights were on her, restricting her view of the crowd. She could just about see the shadows of people in the seats around the venue, all of them staring at her. They weren't alone, though. At the front of each stand was an Akuma, each dressed in the most extreme avant-garde outfits she'd ever seen. They were beautiful, unique creations, and vaguely familiar, another look proved why. They had all come from her sketchbook.

"Oh, look, she's finally awake. Don't leave us all in suspense now, Marinette." Lila spoke her name with such venom, Marinette half wanted to change it when - if - she made it out of this alive.

She moved her hands again, but they wouldn't budge.

"What's wrong?" Lila said, her violet eyes burning into Marinette's. "Cat got your tongue?"

The cackle that came from Lila made her shiver. Marinette looked around. Where was her team? Where was her Kitty?

"Now, I think we need to get this party started. Unfortunately, Gabriel Agreste won't be joining us tonight. He's slightly out of sorts at the moment." Lila snapped her fingers and the display screens around the room changed to a video link of Gabriel lying on the floor. Nathalie was pressing her jacket into his side, the clear signs of a deep wound.

"Poor old Gabriel Agreste. My mentor in so many ways." Lila pulled a cane from where it sat on her hip and used it to lift Marinette's face. The blood began to pulse in her ears, a prickle of fear chasing her shiver down her spine. Her heart was beating so loudly, she was sure everyone here could hear it.

Where are you, Kitty?

"Now, Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng, how about we bring your partner up to the stage? After I've taken these, of course."

A pain ripped through her head as her earrings were torn from her ears. She winced, not wanting to scream and give Lila the pleasure of seeing her succumb to the feeling.

"Oh, Adriennnnn, come and join us. Your girlfriend needs her saviour. We all know the two of you can only work properly when you're together."

A huff came from Lila's mouth, the spotlights spinning around the room before finally landing on Adrien, who was making his way up towards the stage. His face remained expressionless, which was both terrifying and calming, a weird cocktail of feelings trailing through Marinette's body, her eyes watching his every step.

"Here he is! Bugaboo's knight in shining armour."

He removed his jacket as he grew closer, throwing it down on the floor. His eyes remained fixed on Marinette's, a silent promise of safety.

"Now that you're both here, let's tell the world a minor story. You see, fashion lovers, these two have a hidden secret, something that I'm sure everyone wants to know. These two, believe it or not, are our famed heroes, Ladybug and Chat Noir."

A gasp rippled through the crowd, followed by chatter and shouting. Marinette kept her eyes firmly on Adrien's, his glassy green eyes settling on her, keeping her calm and focused.

He stepped forward, only a couple of steps away from her, when Lila's staff came up to position the point at his throat. The tip pressed hard against him, breaking the skin slightly and sending a small trail of blood onto his collar. Marinette wanted to jump up. To transform and save him. But she had nothing. All she could do was sit and watch.

"Adrien, be a good boy and give me your ring, or your little girlfriend here dies."

He looked at Marinette. She nodded slowly, hoping the action wouldn't increase the pain pounding through her skull. Adrien lifted one hand to the other, playing with his ring. He spun it around and around on his finger before pulling it off and handing it over. The dull black remaining.

"Oh, true love. It's amazing how much you'll give up to save your loved one. This is the first time I've had to attempt murder, though." Lila added the ring to her finger, removing her staff from Adrien's throat and allowing him to cross the stage to Marinette.

So, she had rewritten reality before. She was a psycho in all universes.

"Are you okay?" Adrien asked, bending down to be at a level with Marinette. Unable to answer normally, she stared at him as he pulled the cloth from around her mouth.

"Oh, I'm just swell," she mocked, feeling her hands loosen as he untied her. She brought them around the front of herself, rubbing her wrists where they'd been zip-tied and looking to see what Lila was doing. It seemed she was baiting the audience with another story.

"Good to see you haven't lost your sense of humour," Adrien said.

Marinette rolled her eyes. "Where's our friendly neighbourhood cat?" she asked, looking around the atrium.

"Obviously waiting for a dramatic entrance." Adrien helped her up to standing, supporting her at his side the way he always did. She felt safe in his arms, his body strong and sturdy, so familiar and warm. She still felt unsteady, aftereffects of whatever had drugged her, but she felt confident this plan was going to work. It had to.

"Now I have the Miraculous of both Ladybug and Chat Noir, I can recreate the world to work the way I want it too," Lila shouted. "Adrien is mine! And if it wasn't for you and your pesky farm animals, I would have exactly what I wanted. And this time I will!" Adding to the dramatic display in front of them, Lila closed her eyes and stretched out her arms, Marinette almost feeling sorry for what was about to happen. "Plagg, Tikki, Unify!"

The sounds of gasps and screams echoed around the atrium, yet...nothing.

Lila tried again, shouting the transformations for both Miraculous. However, she remained in her 'normal' butterfly costume. Adrien pulled Marinette closer to him, his hand protectively around her waist, putting himself slightly in front to become the first line of defence—his leading position.

Stretching to her ears, Lila brushed her fingers over the redundant studs before looking at the ring again. Did she understand why it wasn't working? As she turned her head and glared between the two of them, Marinette couldn't help but think she did.

"What have you done?" she hissed, striding towards them on the stage.

With a little more force, Adrien pushed Marinette slightly behind him, putting himself in the line of fire as the Akumas left their posts and made their way onto the stage too.

"Get them!" Lila said through tightly clenched teeth.

The Akumas surrounded them, Marinette loosening Adrien to turn back to back, moving them into their usual defensive position.

"Any ideas, Lovebug?" Adrien whispered.

Marinette shook her head in response. "Not a clue."

As she searched around looking for an escape, the sound of a slow clap echoed over the chatter and screams of the crowd, drawing louder and louder as someone made their way closer.

"Great show, don't you all think?" The sound of her partner's voice had her shoulders dropping almost a foot. He was finally here. Her knight in shining black super leather was here—late. He always liked to make quite the entrance.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Lila Rossi," Chat Noir announced, directing his attention to the woman utterly speechless on the stage. Her face dropped as Chat Noir strode over toward her. He began clapping, encouraging the atrium to join along with him. "I must say, Mlle. Rossi, ten out of ten for look, though I'm afraid I can only give you two for your villainous attack." He moved forward and cupped his mouth, yet the volume of his words was for all to hear. "It seems you've caught the wrong people."

Chat Noir dropped Marinette a wink, her lips squeezing together to contain the laugh.

"What's the name, anyway? Because I'm quite certain Madam Butterfly is already in use?"

"Zеphyrinе!" she spat out.

Chat Noir tilted his head. "Isn't that a kind of vegetable?"

"You're thinking of zucchini," Adrien said. His response seemed to push Lila over the edge.

"Oh, yes! That's right! Thank you, Adrien. I seriously don't know what I'd do without this guy."

"No!" Lila said. Screaming the word again. "NO!"

"How can this delightfully handsome man be me? I'm right here." Chat Noir continued walking over, Lila releasing the Akuma victims from her spell and keeping her focus on Chat Noir. Slowly, she looked between the two of them, her disbelief morphing back to anger.

Lila searched the area once again. "You're an illusion. Where's the fox? She must be here somewhere."

"An illusion? No, thank you. I'll prove it." Before she could respond, Chat Noir moved forwards, grasping hold of the butterfly and pulling it from her lapel. It seemed the distraction of the newcomer was all it took to get what they needed from her.

"W-what?" Lila stretched forward, attempting to grab it back, only for Chat Noir to tuck it away in his bell.

"Ah-ah-ah!" He waggled a finger at her. "This is now mine, and I think you are under arrest!"

Suddenly 'Ladybug', Viperion and Carapace landed on the stage, surrounding Lila and stopping her from escaping.

"No!" she screamed. "You are Chat Noir!" She turned and advanced on Adrien, only for Chat Noir to step in the way, blocking any impending attack.

"Come on! There's no way Adrien Agreste could pull off this outfit. He'd be too afraid of messing up his hair."

Marinette heard Adrien snort, a smile breaking through the fear. The guys were really in sync now. The jealousy battle was well and truly over.

"I am right!" Lila shrieked. "You're tricking me! You two are Ladybug and Chat Noir." She looked around at Chat Noir, pointing a finger at Marinette and Adrien.

'Ladybug' shook her head in disbelief. "We're both here, Lila," the look-a-like said, moving to 'pound it' with Chat Noir.

"No!" Lila screamed again. "It's you!"

Scrunching her lips, Marinette pouted at Lila. With a tilt of the head, she cleared her throat and spoke. "No. I don't think so."

"Sorry," Adrien added for good measure. "Not going to lie, though - I'm really flattered."

Viperion and Carapace grabbed Lila, Viperion wrestling with her to remove Adrien's ring and tossing it back to him, before leading her off the catwalk and into the backstage area.

"We're sorry about the commotion, ladies and gentlemen. However, you all came here to see the new line from Gabriel and MDC, so I think we should carry on. If it's okay with you two?" Chat Noir asked.

Marinette smiled, nodding. "Of course."

'Ladybug' turned to the screen and noticed Gabriel moving slightly, medics rushing in to help him up. "I'll see that Gabriel is okay. The rest of you enjoy the show." Unhooking her yo-yo, she made her way out of the room.

As chatter once again sounded around the atrium, Chat Noir headed over to Marinette and Adrien, encompassing them both in a hug. "Are you okay?" he whispered. She felt his hand reach for his bell, before something sharp embedded in her hand, something she pocketed straight away.

"Yeah! Thanks to you." Pulling away, Marinette smiled at her partner before taking both his and Adrien's hands.

"Are you sure you want to continue with this? Do you need to go to the hospital?" Adrien asked, squeezing her hand tightly.

She smiled in response. "I'm fine. After all, I have my two men with me to make sure I stay safe."

They looked at each other, and she knew exactly what they were thinking. "Seriously guys, I'm okay. I promise."

Neither seemed to believe her, yet they knew better than to push. Time and time again, she'd told them she wasn't a damsel in distress.

"If you feel funny at any point, please tell Adrien and he'll take you to get checked out," Chat Noir said.

"Yes, Papa." Marinette rolled her eyes, her response being met with a hearty laugh.

Sending them a quick salute, he headed off in the opposite direction, hopefully to get her earrings back.

"Okay then, star of the show, let's get to our seats," Adrien said.

As they made their way off the stage and the compère made his way back on, Adrien sent a quick message to Nathalie before they sat down in their seats.

Marinette couldn't believe it was over. She snuggled up to Adrien, taking a deep, calming breath. Only one dilemma remained: how was she going to get Chat Noir and Adrien together again?

Her headache at the thought of having to solve the problem. But as the lights dimmed and her first piece graced the catwalk, she pushed her worries to one side—for now, at least.