The warm sunlight streaming through the window woke Marinette up.

A glance at the clock told her it was after ten, and she sat up in panic.

"I'm going to be late for work!"

Then she remembered, she wasn't working at the Boutique anymore, Adrian was going to help her find a job at his Dad's company, then on the way to dinner Jacques had tried to blackmail her, Chat had come to assist her, took her home and – Marinette felt her face flush- that was why she was currently in bed naked.

Marinette flopped back on her pillows with a sigh. So much had happened so quickly, she could barely process.

She stretched out her hand to the empty side of the bed where Chat had slept the night before. Something sharp pricked her finger and Marinette discovered a beautiful red rose, partially covered by a blanket. Chat must've put it on his pillow before he left. A note was tied to the stem with the scrap of blue material from the night before. It read simply:

Princess, I've gone to get breakfast for us. Wait for me, XO

Marinette swallowed the small lump of disappointment in her throat. She wished Chat had stuck around until she had woken up. It would've been nice to have that body pressed against hers as she opened her eyes, feel those clever hands of his and those kisses... She wouldn't have minded feeling his lips on hers.

Marinette sighed, suddenly feeling restless. That shower idea he had mentioned last night would have to wait, as would his suggestion to try the sofa. Personally, she had a hankering to test out the sturdiness of the kitchen counter, but that too would have to be put on hold.

Coffee would have to do in the meantime, Marinette decided, swinging her legs gracefully out of bed. Donning a robe that was hanging on the door of her closet, Marinette moved into the living room area, rose in hand.

It smelled lovely, she had to wonder where Chat had found it and hoped he hadn't borrowed it from a nearby balcony.

Red. Marinette had looked into the symbolism behind rose colors while helping Alya plan her wedding and knew red symbolized romance, as well as love. Chat had given Ladybug a red rose when he confessed to her, and she winced at the painful memory. This time would be different, she reminded herself. She loved Chat, she would never say that she didn't want to be with him.

Marinette smiled as she saw her dress still lay, crumpled in a corner from the night before. She moved to go pick it up and throw it in the hamper when another sight stopped her in her tracks.

A familiar suit jacket and tie was thrown over the sofa.

Marinette stepped over to examine it, checked the collar and sleeves just to be sure. There was no denying it, this was the suit jacket that she had sold to Adrian only yesterday.

And unless Adrian had managed to sneak into her apartment last night in order to leave his jacket and tie on the couch...she tried to ponder the logic behind such a scheme and gave up. There was only one explanation:

Adrian was Chat Noir. And Chat was Adrian Agreste.

Marinette sat down suddenly has her knees turned to jelly, clutching the jacket to her chest.

The love of her teen years and her partner in superheroing was the same person.

She realized her heart was beating fast and she laughed out loud. She was so happy she was practically giddy. It was so good, so right, she grabbed the jacket and breathed in the scent that she knew now was both Chat and Adrian, then kissed the lapel. They – he- loved her, and she loved him. And once Hawkmoth was defeated then she could tell him that she was Ladybug and they would live happily...

A dark shadow suddenly blocked out the light from the window and Marinette turned with a smile on her face.

"Chat-" she started to say, then froze. The figure in the window was not Chat.

* * *

Fifteen minutes later Adrian slipped into the apartment, clutching a bag of pastries in one hand. He was dressed in his rumpled shirt and pants and had bought a black zorro-esc mask from a store that he'd tied around his face before he came in.

"Marinette?" He called, dropping the spare key he'd borrowed back into a small china bowl by the door.

Plagg and Marinette's kwami had still not returned so he had gone to get breakfast on foot.

He stopped short when he saw the state of the apartment.

The furniture was smashed, pictures and figurines shattered, and the beautiful rose he had left for Marinette had been crushed into the carpet. The petals were scattered far and wide, looking like droplets of blood against the white and blue.

"Marinette!" Adrian called louder, dashing into the bedroom. Aside from the rumpled sheets, the room looked just as he had left it, but still no Marinette.

He ran back into the living room, looking around desperately for clues.

"Yeow, did things get crazy over here or what?" Said a familiar voice.

"Plagg." Adrian had never been so relieved to see the cat kwami before in his life. "Thank goodness you're here. I think Marinette was kidnapped."

Plagg's eyes widened, looking like they were about to pop out of his head in surprise.

"Kidnapped? How? And why didn't you stop them?"

"I wasn't here! I went to get breakfast!" Adrian snapped, feeling guilty. "I was only gone for half an hour at most, and when I came back..." he gestured to the room.

"This is horrible!" Pipped a new voice. "We have to go find her!"

Plagg gestured to the red and black kwami hovering by his side.

"Oh, uh, Adrian, this is Marinette's kwami, Tikki."

Adrian was raised too well not to be polite, even in a stressful situation.

"How do you do," he said, giving Tikki a slight bow.

"I'll be much better once we find Marinette." Tikki squeaked, but she looked pleased nonetheless.

"No kidding." Plagg agreed, munching on a danish from Adrian's bag. "Especially considering-"

"Plagg! Shh!" Tikki warned.

"Especially since what?" Adrian demanded.

The kwamis shared a look.

"Uh, nothing," Plagg stammered, stuffing his face with more pastry. "Nothing at all."

Adrian grabbed his kwami and lifted him up to eye level.

"Listen to me." He snapped, looking from one to the other. "The love of my life just got kidnapped, so if you know something that is pertinent to why that would happen, you better spill now."

"Well, it's probably not something that is related to her getting kidnapped..." Plagg said, crumbs flying.

"Plagg! Quiet!" Tikki reprimanded him. "The less people who know, the better."

"Come on, he technically should know." Plagg urged Tikki. "If it hadn't been for his trip abroad, he already would."

"One of you, tell me now!" Adrian could feel his temper rising. Every second was crucial, for all he knew, Marinette was in the hands of some maniac, injured or...he didn't allow himself to dwell on that possibility.

"Marinette kinda took over for Master Fu as Guardian after he well...croaked." Plagg started. "Technically you were supposed to be co-guardians but considering you were unreachable for five years..."

"Marinette has been handling the job herself." Adrian finished, feeling a heavy weight settle on his shoulders.

"Look kid, you shouldn't feel guilty for not being there-" Plagg soothed.

"What's done is done." Tikki agreed. "We can't change the past."

"Okay." Adrian took a breath. "Is there anyone who might know she's the Guardian?"

Again, both kwamis shared a look.

"Doubtful." Tikki squeaked. "Marinette was never officially introduced to the other kwamis as the Guardian, I was the only one who was aware of the change while Plagg was out of the country."

"So she probably wasn't taken for that reason."

"Agreed." Tikki said, looking relieved.

"But only someone with superhero abilities would be able to come up here and get Marinette out of here." Adrian continued.

"I am aware of that," Tkki agreed again, darting nervously back and forth. "But whether she was taken by an akumatized minion or –"

"Guys! I think I found something!" Plagg called from the kitchen.

Both Adrian and Tikki hurried over to Plagg, who was darting back and forth over the kitchen counter.

"What? What is it? What did you find?" Adrian asked.

Plagg pointed to a cupboard.

"It's not good." He said grimly.

A jar of strawberry jam had been smashed on the ground, and there was a crude, bird-like figure drawn with the bright red jelly on the cabinet. A stray blue feather had gotten stuck in the sweet fruit preserve as well.

"What is that supposed to be?" Tikki asked curiously, cocking her head. "Was Marinette trying to draw a hawk for Hawkmoth?"

"That's the worst hawk I've ever seen." Plagg scoffed. "It looks like a turkey." 

"It's not a turkey, it's a peacock." Adrian said, his heart sinking as he plucked the tiny feather from the jam.

Plagg gulped.

"Oh Gouda, just when I thought it couldn't get worse."

Hello Miraculous fans,

It's your sleepy authoress Cantrella. I apologize for the late update (work has been crazy and I've been covering extra shifts but with the help of my special cookie dough, I have a new chapter for you!)

Now, in case I can't get a chapter up by next Monday, let's open up this chapter for a little debate.

Who do you think kidnapped Marinette?

A. Hawkmoth

B. Jacques

C. Other

Thanks to everyone who has been commenting on the chapters so far! You guys keep me going!

Sincerely,

Cantrella <3