Adrien knew Marinette wouldn't change, but he didn't expect her to look anything like the woman in front of him. With glistening white skin, rose-colored lips and large bluebell eyes, it seemed to take him back in time to when they were children, when things had always been better.

"Y –You're...you're..."

"Back?" he smiled openly, stepping back to make some distance between them, "Yeah, Marinette, I'm back."

He heard footsteps from behind her and for a moment, he was afraid he'd woken up her parents, but seeing Nino in the background didn't help him feel any better.

The dark-skinned male stepped forward, rubbing his eyes from beneath his glasses. "Sorry, Dude, but we're closed." He adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose, "You're just gonna have –,"

Nino's eyes widened as he took in blonde's presence and Adrien grew self-conscious under his former friend's skeptical gaze. He wished he'd taken some kind of measure before coming here, forgetting that this was the impression he'd be making for the first time in years.

His hair hadn't been brushed, his clothes were wrinkled and he had dark rings beneath his eyes from the long flight and entertaining Chloe before he'd managed to sneak out of her hotel as Chat Noir.

"Is that really you, Bro?" asked Nino, walking towards the door and opening it up wider, placing his hand on Marinette's shoulder.

Adrien's gaze traveled to his friend's hand and he immediately felt discouraged. The memory of setting Nino up with Marinette was like a slap in the face and he shook his head to keep from wincing. "Surprise?" he mumbled.

Marinette's eyes were still wide, scrutinizing every move he made, while Nino continued to gawk at him like he'd just stepped out of a photo rather than knocked on the door to Marinette's bakery. It really shouldn't have been such a surprise. Stranger things had happened in Paris.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you both –,"

"We weren't sleeping, Bro," replied Nino, smiling brightly.

Adrien fought to keep his face neutral and bowed his head so his bangs could mask the pain in his eyes. "Right, well, sorry for showing up out of the blue like this. I didn't mean to...uh, interrupt." Both of them went completely silent and when he looked up he was shocked at the repulsion in their eyes.

Both of them were stiff, completely frozen and their faces were completely drained of color. Slowly, Nino removed his hand from Marinette's shoulder, brushing it on his pant leg, and turned around. He walked back up the steps without another word.

"No!" cried Marinette, covering her hands with her face, "We're not –Nino's not –we don't –," She slapped a hand over her face and groaned, leaning against the door frame. "He's with Alya."

He could swear he heard Plagg snicker from inside his jacket.

"Right," mumbled Adrien, scratching the back of his head nervously, "I'm sorry about that. I didn't mean to make you both uncomfortable." But he'd be lying if he said the distance between them didn't make him feel a bit more relieved.

They lapsed back into an awkward silence and Marinette cleared her throat, drawing his eyes back up from the ground to her face. "It's kinda cold out tonight. D –Do you maybe wanna come inside? I'm making more tea."

He smiled, "I'd really like that." She moved to the side, allowing him in and he bent down to pick up her keys, placing back in her outstretched hand while she closed the door.

Adrien watched her carefully as she moved, analyzing everything she did and comparing it to the way he remembered Ladybug's movements. The girl he'd fallen in love with had always been so calm, cool and collected. But Marinette was different. Her entire demeanor was hesitant, her movements slow and clumsy, like she continuously second-guessed herself.

This couldn't be Ladybug. Ladybug couldn't have been that good as deceiving him and everyone in Paris, despite her desperation to have their identities remain secret.

She led him quietly upstairs to her home and walked towards the kitchen. Adrien followed her, the first thing he saw being the chest of teddy bears and plastic toy cars near the doorway. If she noticed him staring, she didn't say anything about it.

"Would you like some coffee, tea or hot chocolate?" she asked, gesturing to the kettle, "I know you must've had a long flight."

Adrien shook his head. "I'm all right, really, just pretty nervous about seeing everyone again."

Marinette laughed dryly and turned towards the kettle. "Well you were gone for a pretty long time."

He watched as she worked, wondering what she was thinking and what she thought about his return to Paris. He was pleased that she'd let him inside her home. It had to be a good sign, but he doubted he'd be able to convince Alya and Nino to let him back into their lives so easily.

"So, um...what brought you back to Paris?" she asked, standing with her back to him.

"London wasn't what we needed anymore." He glanced around the room, hating how rehearsed his words sounded.

"And what made you think Paris was?" Her tone, while curious, had an edge to it.

Adrien didn't want to anger her further. "I missed you guys." And Ladybug.

Marinette turned around then, her arms crossed over her chest and an unsettling glare on her angelic face. Chloe's words whispered from the dark depths of his mind: People change. But he didn't want to believe it.

"You do realize that's why phones were invented, right?" But she wasn't asking. She was accusing him and Adrien was ashamed he didn't have an excuse, one he could disclose without revealing what his father had done. And even that didn't sound good enough anymore.

"It was...hard in the beginning and the longer it went on...it just felt wrong to try."

Alya stepped into the kitchen, Nino hot on her heels and a hellish flame dancing in her dark eyes. Nino tried to reach out and pull her back but he wasn't doing a very effective job. Her furious gaze settled on him and for the first time since the final battle he felt a burning fear rush through his veins.

"You!" she roared. She lunged for him and Adrien side-stepped her while Nino laced his arms around her waist and pulled Alya back against his chest. "I was right about you that first day! You're just as spoiled and rotten as Chloe!"

Nino lifted Alya off the floor, trying to create some distance between her and Adrien while she clawed the air inches away from his chest. She writhed in his arms like she was possessed. "Chill, Alya, chill," he muttered, straining to keep her close, "Just take a deep breath and –,"

"Nino Lahiffe, don't you dare tell me to chill!" she cried, "He doesn't deserve to be here!"

Adrien saw the conflicted look cross the face of his former best friend. "I know," he said, "I know I don't deserve to be here and I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

He wasn't just apologizing to them for his abrupt leave and disconnecting from their lives, but for everything his family had done to them. He was apologizing for Hawk Moth, for Chat Noir abandoning Paris, for him leaving Ladybug behind without him after all they'd shared.

"I don't expect any of you to forgive me," he added, "But I want to make it up to you. Please, just give me a chance."

Alya went still in Nino's grasp and he slowly lowered her back to the floor. Adrien could feel all their eyes on him, but the only pair he was concerned with was Alya's. Even though Marinette had a forgiving nature and he'd never known Nino to hold a grudge, Alya was different.

They both respected and trusted her. If she wouldn't forgive him, he doubted he'd ever get the chance to be friends with any of them again.

"How long are you staying for?" she grumbled, glaring up at him from behind her thick rimmed glasses.

"Forever," he replied, "I'm moving back to Paris. My father's organizing with the movers to bring the stuff back to the house as we speak."

"Your old house?" Marinette looked concerned and when he nodded to her she turned her head away from him. Walking towards Alya, she grabbed her best friend's hand and smiled tightly. "He already apologized and now he's moving back here."

"So now that he's decided to come back we're all supposed to carry on like nothing ever happened?" Alya's temper flared and she ripped her hand away from Marinette's. "We're not your second choice, Agreste."

Alya stormed up towards him and he was surprised that, despite her short height, she could be rather intimidating. "Tell me why you left that day," she snarled, poking his chest with her finger, "I want a reason."

"Alya –,"

"No Marinette!" she snapped. "You may be fine with letting him back in your life, but I'm not." Alya turned her attention back to Adrien. "Nino was heartbroken when you left and I don't want you coming near any of us until you tell me a damn good reason for leaving like you did."

"You want the truth?" He felt Plagg pressing tightly against his chest. He could all but hear the kwami telling him –warning him against tell them his secrets.

"You know I do, Agreste." said Alya, a wicked glint in her eyes, "So are you gonna talk or are you gonna walk?"

Adrien peered over her head at Nino's expectant face and then turned to see Marinette's anxious expression. Telling them he was Chat Noir wouldn't answer any of their questions, but his dad being Hawk Moth –that wasn't his secret to tell.

If anyone besides them found out about his father, he'd be ruined. No fashion company in the world would so much as glance in Gabriel's direction and as much as he resented his father for what he'd done he couldn't find it in himself to hurt him anymore than Chat Noir already had.

He sighed and shook his head. He couldn't do it. He couldn't betray his father, not after everything they'd been through. Adrien bowed his head shamefully and turned towards the kitchen doorway. "I'm sorry for wasting your time."

"Wait!" Marinette's shrill cry made his feet stop cold on the kitchen tiles. "You can tell them, Adrien. You can trust them."

He didn't understand what she was talking about. Turning around to face her, he was surprised to see her looking at him with a sort of understanding that comforted his soul. "You know?" he breathed.

She sent him a sad smile, the only confirmation he needed, and the idea that he wouldn't have to hold onto this burden with Plagg alone almost took his breath away. It was such a relief –such a freedom that he hadn't felt in a very long time.

"Know what?" growled Alya, "Marinette, what do you know?"

"She knows that my father is Hawk Moth."

I just finished watching episodes Sandboy and Anansi last night and I'm in shock! They were totally awesome!!! Carapace is awesome, DJWiFi is canon and it's beautiful guys!! And I really hate to admit it, but LadyNoir is rivaling MariChat for my favorite ship. The interactions guys! The interactions are so adorable!

I literally can't wait for Frozer or Style Queen. I wanna watch them so bad!!

And before I forget, please don't forget to vote or comment on this chapter is loved it. I'll try and update before Friday, but if not I'll see you then. ;) Have a spectacular Monday!