Chapter 47: Closing Time

                                    

                                          
"Don't be bemused, it's just the news.  I'm Nadia Chamack and I'm here this afternoon with Paris' own Ladybug and Cat Noir!"
                          
Cat Noir waved confidently at the camera and winked.  Ladybug gave him a little shove.
                          
"You said you had an announcement for the whole of Paris, correct?"
                          
"Yes," Ladybug said, putting her serious/professional face back on.  "We have recovered the butterfly miraculous.  Hawkmoth is no more."
                          
The entire room gasped.  
                          
"Yup," Cat Noir continued.  "Our job is done.  So this good news comes with bad as well.  We must turn in our miraculous too.  The Guardian will take the box somewhere new entirely.  There will be no more supernatural presences in Paris."
                          
Nadia stood excitedly.  "So it's over?"
                          
"Yes," Ladybug repeated.  "It's all over."
                          
Nadia smiled.  "So can we know who was behind our suffering and salvation?  Who is Hawkmoth?  Who are you?"
                          
Cat Noir raised an eyebrow at Ladybug who subtly shook her head.
                          
"Unfortunately," she began before he could dig a hole, "We still have enemies out there.  And although we recovered the miraculous of the butterfly, there is not sufficient evidence to convict either of them."
                          
"Either of them?"
                          
"About six years ago, the power shifted.  I personally know who both are, but I, unfortunately, can't prove it and I would hate it to become a he-said-she-said game.  Both have been punished sufficiently in the loss of their goals.  And no lasting damage was done.  Any other questions?"
                          
Nadia sat there silently for a moment before shaking her head.
                          
"Ok, good," Cat Noir said.  "As much as I'd love to hang out and chat I do have a personal life as a civilian.  This is our last public appearance as Cat Noir and Ladybug for the foreseeable future."
                          
"Yeah.  Bug out!"
                          
The pair leaped out of the camera view and out the window.
                          
On the roof, Ladybug was about to throw her yo-yo when Cat Noir caught her arm.  "Let's not put them away quite yet.  Let's watch one last sunset from Notre Dame's roof."
                          
Ladybug smiled.  "Sure thing, minou.  But we have to be subtle about it.  We said that was our last public appearance."
                          
"Absolutely."
                          
"But we aren't waiting all that time.  I have to get Luka.  And sunset is in a couple hours.  My parents will probably put him to bed.  But I can't leave him with Alya too long.  Cara and Luka get along too well."
                          
Adrian chuckled.  "No kidding.  Nino said that little Cara with all her five-year-old foresight is planning on marrying Luka one day."
                          
"Eh, they're kids.  Luka said he wanted another sister like Cara the other day."
                          
"Well let's go get him."  He jumped away, calling a challenge over his shoulder.  With his head-start, he got there about the same time she did.
                          
They deliberated on a nearby roof for a moment.
                          
"Should we trust them?" Adrian asked.
                          
Marinette shrugged.  "Yeah, sure.  I think they deserve it."
                          
Adrian gave her a sideways look.  "My dear lady, whatever changed?"
                          
"Well, it's over.  And we've always been able to trust them.  Both of them were trying to help already when I first gifted them the miraculous."
                          
He stretched and took out his baton.  "So do we swing in and detransform?"
                          
She laughed.  "Silly kitty, of course not!"
                          
He faked a pout.  "But then it isn't dramatic enough!"
                          
"Look, Cara has a big mouth.  We have to make sure the coast is clear, then we can transform for them and make a fabulous exit!"
                          
He smirked.  "You're right, Bugaboo.  You're always right."
                          
She rolled her eyes.  "Whatever, catboy.  Let's go."
                          
She landed behind a bush and de-transformed.  The red light hadn't faded when the green flashed.
                          
Adrian beat Marinette to the door.  Alya answered his knock and smirked.  "Won't you two come in?  There's some earth-shattering news you might want to hear."
                          
Marinette and Adrian shared a smile before accepting.  Luka was sitting with a smug smile and a school book open on his lap.  Cara had passed out on the floor curled up with the stuffed fox Auntie Marinette had made her for her birthday.  Trixie was eating (read: throwing baby food at the walls).  
                          
The second the door shut, Alya let out a scream.  "OMG!  You have GOT to see this right now!"
                          
She snatched the remote from Nino and rewound the news story.
                          
"Hey, Alya?" Marinette tried to get her friend's attention.  It didn't work.
                          
Adrian stepped in front of the TV and grabbed the remote.  "Hey, Alya!  We know!"
                          
"You couldn't have seen it!  There was definitely not enough time."
                          
Marinette laughed heartily.
                          
"Oh, that's hilarious," Adrian said, mostly sarcastic, but partly amused.  "Not enough time.  Sure."
                          
Alya spun on her heel and planted her hands on her hips.  "What are you talking about?"
                          
Marinette raised her eyebrows.  "Well," she said, false innocence dripping from her mouth.  "We just came to pick up our son and give you the news you've wanted for literally decades."
                          
Adrian did a double-take and leaned over Marinette's shoulder.  "Our son?"
                          
She blushed.  "I didn't mean that."
                          
Alya and Nino looked confusedly from one to the other.  
                          
"Anyway, we'll be leaving now," Marinette said, picking up Luka's school bag and helping him pack it.  Once he was ready, she winked at Adrian.
                          
"Oh, you're going to love this," Luka enthusiastically informed Alya and Nino.
                          
"Ready?" Adrian said.
                          
"Oh don't tell me!" Nino shouted.  "You two are getting..."
                          
"NO!" Adrian interrupted.  "M'lady, after you."
                          
Oblivious, Marinette opened her purse.  "Tikki, spots on!"
                          
"Plagg, claws out!" Adrian shouted.
                          
The pair enjoyed the star-struck/stunned faces on their friends.  Marinette swept Luka onto her back with a smirk.  "Nice to work with you guys," she laughed, leaping out the window.  Adrian gave a little salute (see Evillustrator) before following her.  
                          


                          
The two landed right on the bed, laughing.  Tikki and Plagg autonomously exited the miraculous gems.
                          
"Did you see his face?!?" Adrian blurted out amidst gales of laughter.  
                          
"And Alya's jaw was about to drop off!" Marinette all but screamed.
                          
Luka laughed.  "I knew they would love it!"
                          
Sabine appeared in the trapdoor.  "Oh, Marinette!  I can't believe it!  I'm so happy for you!  My little girl saved all of Paris!"
                          
Marinette took a second to breathe.  "Thanks, Maman.  We're going out for one last rooftop sunset.  Can you put Luka to bed?"
                          
"Oh, absolutely, hun!  You earned a night.  But Papa started a special congratulatory dinner.  We can have it early so you don't miss the sunset.  Okay?"
                          
"Sure, Maman!  Sounds great!"
                          
Marinette climbed down the ladder and ducked into her bathroom as the trapdoor closed.  
                          
Luka approached Adrian conspiratorily.  "You love mommy, don't you?"