***Happy Valentines Day, my loyal readers. Here is my gift to you. I hope you like the new update. I apologize for the wait. Life got to me. Sending love, MMF.***

"Should anyone present know of any reason these two could not join in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace."

"I object," Luka ran in, panting. "I object!" He repeated louder. He had to do it. It was his only job! His objection. 

Ladybug's eyes widened in fear. Her heart stopped. "No! That can't be!" Had they lost? Luka was under direct rules. His second chance was to be used if they had no other choice. Marinette was clear that their cue was his objection. He had just done so.

Chat Noir's heart plummeted to the ground. He knew that this was just pretend and that it meant he had to use his second chance, but at that time, he couldn't help but wonder if this could really happen if they were to marry.

Chat Noir's eyes remained on the altar. His heart pulverized as he saw Luka go along with the paper of the broken-hearted ex-boyfriend, begging her to run away with him.

'What if that did happen?'

'Would she choose to stay?'

'What if she left him at the altar?'

How could he live without her?'

Chat Noir tried taking a deep breath but kept coming short of air. He was sure he would suffocate. Not only did he have to witness the love of his life's death multiple times, but now he had to witness another man beg her to leave him. How could he deal with this?

-Meanwhile-

A portal opened up, revealing the holder of the bunny miraculous.

"Ladybug! We have problems," she said. Bunnix then looked around, realizing they were once again at the wedding.

"Oh, clever bug!" She called out, smiling. "That's why you are the guardian."

"Bunixx, where did we go wrong?" Ladybug asked. Worry was evident in her eyes. Luka knew to use it if we had no other way out. Why did he use it? What happened?"

"Hawkmoth won. He figured out your only weakness," Bunixx replied, her eyes going towards a crumbling Chat Noir, who hadn't even noticed her arrival. His eyes fixed on the so-called wedding.

"What?" Ladybug whispered. "His own son?"

Bunnix nodded. He was trying to save you, but Monarch was too quick."

"What do we do?"

"I think it's best to see what happened. Follow me," Bunixx called out, walking into the portal. Ladybug looked back at Chat Noir, but his eyes remained on the altar. Deciding it was best if he didn't know what happened, Ladybug ran in and looked at the past.

'First mistake- Natalie's location.'

'Second mistake- separation.'

Ladybug took mental notes before walking back out and waving to Bunnix.

She knew what had gone wrong.

She had been too easy on Hawkmoth due to his identity.

But that was over!

He was capable of killing his son for infinite power.

She would end him!

Knowing what to do, Ladybug ran to Chat Noir. She bit her lip, noticing the broken expression on his face as he looked on towards the wedding. Then it came. AGAIN.

Chat Noir flinched as the sound of the gunshot ran through the air. His tears finally rolled down his cheeks. Ladybug couldn't take it anymore. Bending down, she hugged him tightly. It only took a second before Chat Noir returned the hug and sobbed in her arms.

"Sh, kitty. I am okay. I am here with you," she cued.

"I need you to get better. I know it's hard, but we have a job to do, my love," she continued. Chat Noir couldn't help himself. She had died in his arms once before. Now, everything felt too real for him.

"I'm sorry," he apologizes. "I'm so sorry. It's just hard," he cried out. Ladybug nodded, holding him tighter. Of course, she knew how it felt. She watched him almost die, nearly seconds ago. They were only teens. How were they supposed to manage that?

"I know, kitty. I know."

"You won't leave me again, right?" He questioned, placing his hands on her cheek. "Promise me you won't leave me again, princess?" He begged.

Ladybug bit her lip, trying not to cry. She couldn't promise that. They both knew that. No matter how badly she wanted to promise, the future was unknown, and her life was not her priority.

Paris.

Her family.

And him.

Those were her priorities.

"Chaton-"

"Promise me, princess!"

"I- okay," she whispered.

"Say the words, Marinette!" He said sternly. Chat Noir knew what she was doing, but she would always keep her promise. Hence the need to hear the words.

Ladybug gulped, tears filling her eyes. She knew the next few words out of her mouth would likely be lies, but she didn't know what else to say.

"I promise, Adrien. I promise."

Her words were like a light at the end of the tunnel or a wishing star in a dark sky. They filled Adrien with hope. With that, Chat Noir captured her lips with his. Marinette melted into the kiss. After all, this could very well be the last kiss they would ever have.

"I love you," Chat Noir whispered, breaking the kiss.

"I love you more, don't ever forget that," Ladybug responded with tears in her eyes. She felt guilty. The heroine knew that she might not be able to keep that promise, but that was not something Chat Noir wanted to hear.

See, Ladybug did find her mistakes, and yes, she did figure out what to do to fix them, but that did not mean she would be able to walk out of the war that was to come.

She didn't want another second chance.

She didn't want to save herself.

She wanted to save him.

She would give anything for him.

"Are you ready?" A weak Rena Rouge asked. The powers took a lot out of her, just as she had been warned.

Chat Noir stood back, but not before pecking his girlfriend's lips one last time. "Let's end this," he stated. His girlfriend's promise had added to his confidence. Chat Noir jumped down to do his part.

Ladybug bit her lip and nodded. "Yes," she whispered.

Just as she was about to walk away, she turned to Rena and Carapace with glistening eyes.

"Don't forget your promise," she whispered.

And her friends broke.

Alya felt as if her last bit of strength had vanished. Her soul broke.

"Mar-"

"Please. I love yall," Ladybug whispered, hugging them. But she couldn't hold them for long. She had a job to do. She just hoped they would remember her.

__________________________________________________

Before she could speak, glass flew toward her as the window exploded.

"Hawkmoth!" Chat Noir yelled in anger.

Hawkmoth stood as if there was nothing to fear, Adrien by his side.

Chat Noir's eyes widened in shock as he saw Adrien stand beside Hawkmoth.

What the hell was going on?

"You!" he spat out viciously. "You swore you loved her! I let her go for you, yet you dare stand by the man that killed her? How could you do this to her!"

"Shut up. Marientte is dead because of you! It was you who placed her in danger. It was you who came between us. And for what? To tell the world of her identity, putting a target on her back?"

"Fuck you! I loved her!"

"Shut up! She was mine! She was going to marry me!"

"And it killed her! You and your father fucking killed my princess!"

With that, Chat Noir extended his baton aiming for Adrien, who ducked quickly, but Chat Noir didn't stop. Hit after hit, kick after kick, the two teens went at each other with all the hate in the world.

Focused on Adrien, Chat Noir missed the sentimonsters that surrounded him.

"That's right, take his miraculous," Hawkmoth laughed mockingly.

By the time Chat Noir had realized there were sentimonsters, it had been too late. No matter how hard he tried to dodge them, he couldn't shake them off. His efforts were fruitless as he was greatly outnumbered.

It only took one distraction for Adrien to capture Chat Noir. One of his arms around his neck, squeezing his throat, while the other held Chat Noir's hand in the air preventing him from using his cataclysm.

"This is for Marinette," Adrien whispered as Hawkmoth walked over to Chat Noir, ready to take his miraculous.

"Finally! Your miraculous is now mine."

Just as Hawkmoth reached over to grab the ring, a voice was heard from behind.

"Well, well, well, looks like a certain kitty cat started the party without me."

"Ladybug!"

Hawkmoth watched as Ladybug stood swinging her yo-yo around, ready for action.

"Welcome, Ladybug," Hawkmoth mocked. "We were expecting you."

"Were you? Ohh, I feel special," Ladybug sarcastically answered, angering Hawkmoth.

Clenching her fist, Hawkmoth yelled in anger.

"What are you waiting for? GET HER!"

Hawkmoth looked around, signaling all the sentimonsters to attack but was soon surprised. No one moved from their spots. In fact, they looked frozen. Almost as if they were nothing but statues.

"I said to get her!" He yelled again, but once again, they remained still.

Ladybug stood in the same position with a smile on her face. Hawkmoth was sure she was mocking him.

Taking advantage, Chat Noir swung her head backward, headbutting Adrien and dropping him to the ground. Not wasting more time, he kicked his head to the ground and used his baton to jump to Ladybug's side.

"Looks like your own your own, Gabriel!"

Hawkmoth turned to look at Natalie in panic, who simply shrugged as she snapped her fingers.

"I'm sorry, but you have gone too far," She responded sadly.

Hawkmoth couldn't believe it.

All the sentimonsters went disappearing one by one.

To Hawkmoth's surprise, an akumatized Adrien and the body of the bluenette bride disappeared as well.

"W-what? How?"

"Natalie!"

Gabriel felt outraged. It didn't take long for him to put two and two together. Everything made sense now.

Marinette's escape!

The Kawmi getting out of his trap!

His son's disappearance without a trace!

Natalie had helped them. She turned her back on him.

Natalie would pay for her betrayal!

Ladybug's eyes landed on Chat Noir, giving him the signal. It was time to change the game.

It took only a second for Gabriel to grab the baton tightly, but Ladybug had seen it coming.

"Natalie, now!"

Hearing Ladybug's scream, Mayura was quick to dock down, the baton missing her head by a mere second. Chat Noir reacted just the same, grabbing Mayura's arm as she rolled down and extended his staff, landing by his partner.

"You will pay for this!" Hawkmoth hissed in anger.

With one bang of his baton, thousands of akumas surrounded them, many flying out in search of victims.

But Ladybug was ready.

Rayuko was ready, multi-mouse behind her, and many others following behind.

Those thousands of Akumas became limited in a second. The few who made it out soon found victims, but heroes awaited them.

Hawkmoth would have no escape.

No escape but one!

One that no one saw coming.

"Give up, Hawkmoth! There is no escape," Chat Noir yelled in anger.

His fist clenched as he heard his father let out a sadistic laugh. "Give up? We have only just begun!"

He would use his escape.

His last resort.

LILA ROSSI!

His very own Volpina!

Chat Noir didn't think. His father's evil laugh got his anger riled up. Before he thought it through, he did the one thing Ladybug told him not to do. He separated himself from the team.

Using his staff, he landed in front of Hawkmoth and began the fight.

Ladybug sighed. She saw this coming.

No matter what path she took.

No matter what choices she made.

Gabriel would still have control over Adrien.

He had trained him his entire life that way.

It was not something Adrien would be able to turn off.

That was why she knew she wouldn't keep her promise.

It would always end the same way.

His life or hers!

Ladybug smiled. She knew he would be okay. She would be able to move on.

 After all, he was a fighter.