Sabine climbed up the stairs to Marinette's room, steps creaking slightly beneath her. The bread smells of the bakery below filled the upper half of the house, and the homey smell was cozy and comforting in the November chill. Sabine sighed as she reached the top of the stairs, and she called again, "Marinette! Sweetheart, you are going to be late for school!"

Sabine's grey eyes softened with motherly worry as her daughter did not respond to her mother's voice. She quickly opened Marionette's hatch door and stepped into the girl's dimly lit bedroom.

"Sweetheart?" she asked, sitting on the bed next to the lump under the covers. "Honey, are you feeling well?"

Marinette slowly woke and rolled over. Her bangs were moist and plastered onto her forehead from sweat, yet she shivered and drew the covers up to her chin. Her skin was pale, and her flushed cheeks looked feverish. Her dry, cracked lips parted as she whimpered "Mama, I don't feel well…"

"I believe you, Mari," murmured Sabine gently, stroking her forehead and giving her a kiss. "You most definitely have a fever, my dear. Well, you were complaining yesterday about how tired you felt. You must have caught the flu." Sabine stood up and got the girl a glass of water from her nightstand. "I'll be right back with Papa and your breakfast. I'll call the school and let them know that you are too sick to attend today."

As her mother left, Marinette closed her eyes, sleepy mind slowly waking to the world around her. The snow outside her window gently fell, making little falling shadows on her floor and comforter of her bed. She weakly sneezed, then groped for a tissue from the kleenex box beside her bed. Moaning, she grew more and more aware of the aching in her body and specifically her sinuses.

"Poor Marinette," came Tikki's voice. The small kwami was actually very alarmed at seeing Marinette this way, but she also didn't want to scare the girl. She hovered over Marinette face, and saw the exhaustion on it. Please don't let there be akumas today, thought the kwami.

"Tikki…?" moaned Marinette in a barely audible whisper, eyes half closed in exhaustion.

"I'm here," said Tikki.

"I…I'm so cold," she whimpered, drawing her blankets around her even tighter.

"But you are so hot and feverish," said Tikki, laying her tiny hand on Marinette's flushed cheek. "Surely you must be sweating under all those - "

Marinette began shivering, her eyebrows furrowed in discomfort. Tikki was at a loss. She was not a doctor, but she knew in her heart that Marionette was very very sick. Suddenly the door opened and Tikkie quickly hid behind a picture frame as Sabine and now Tom entered, carrying some warm soup and a thermometer. Tikki peeked around the corner of the picture frame, curious as to how Marinette's parents would help her.

"Sabine she looks bad," said Tom softly, then to Marinette, "How's daddy's little girl?"

"Oh Papa," whimpered Marinette, shivering. She was beginning to panic, overwhelmed by her discomfort.

"Put this in your mouth, sweetheart," said Sabine gently, laying the thermometer under Marinette obedient tongue and laying a cool hand on her head.

"Snuggle into Papa," crooned Tom gently, wrapping his bear-like arms around his shivering daughter. Tikki's heart melted as Marinette was rocked back and forth in Tom's arms as if she was a little baby again. Marionette's shivering calmed a little, and her face wasn't as frightened.

"I'll take it now, darling," said Sabine, and taking the thermometer out she said, "Well, it's an 102. If it gets to 103 then we go to the doctor. For now let's just let her get well. Her body will be able to fight it on it's own if she gets plenty of rest and good food in her."

How caring they are, Tikki thought to herself. There are probably customers downstairs, but they don't have a care in the world. They love her so much.

Tom laid Marinette back in the bed, propping her up with more pillows. "Here's some tame chicken noodle soup," he said, his voice especially tender. "Now, your phone is right next to you. Text me if you need anything and Papa will run right up here, okay?"

"Okay Papa," croaked Marinette, eating a spoonful of the soup they had given her.

"No video games," said Sabine. "Only movies and sleep, okay?" she kissed her daughter on the forehead. "I hate it that you are sick," she said, "but I love it that I get to come up and see you whenever I want. I love you, sweetheart."

"Love you Mama," murmured Marinette, face peaceful as she slurped a noodle.

Tom and Sabine went downstairs, closing the hatch behind them. Tikki came out and watched Marinette eating her soup slowly, movements sluggish from the fever.

I cannot let her be ladybug while she is sick, she thought. But how can I stop her? She is wearing the earrings. I would have to take them while she is sleeping, and that would be nearly impossible.

"I hate being sick," moaned Marinette as she sneezed again. "I have to wait a whole day without seeing Adrien! And what if there is an akum…a…"

"Marinette? Are you okay?"

Marinette suddenly began to cry. "Tikki," she said, laying her spoon down as if in defeat. "I just…just…I'm so overwhelmed! I feel awful…"

"Oh hush," chided Tikki gently, wiping the sick girl's tears. "You are sick. Things will work out, and this time you get to sit back and watch. You are like Paris' doctor - let yourself rest."

"Marinette will not be joining us today," said Miss Bustier. Her kind green eyes rested on her class fondly as she said, "She is sick and will be at home all day. From what her mother told me she is quite miserable and I think that a few get well cards would be very nice. So we are going to take a half hour that we would normally use to compliment one another and will use it to show some kindness to our dear Marinette."

"I can drop them over to her house," said Alya, raising her hand. "I'll drop them off with her parents."

"Thank you Alya," said Miss Bustier, passing out paper and pens. "Even though it be a simple card, some kind words will lift anyone's spirits. And who knows? Maybe they'll help her feel well enough to come tomorrow!"

"Ew," said Chloe from across the room. "She's probably contagious."

"Chloe," chided Adrien, indignant. "Haven't you ever been sick? Have a little compassion."

"Hmph!" was all Chloe had to reply with. The class began writing cards to Marinette, and as the soft shuffle of papers and pens was the only sound in the room, Adrien stared at his card with a new found realization that could prove rather uncomfortable.

He didn't know what to write.

"Nino," he whispered, eyes worried. "What should I say? What are you writing?"

"Dude," whispered Nino. "Haven't you ever written a get well card? All you have to say is something like 'I'm sorry you're sick' and 'get better soon'."

"Is that what you are writing?" whispered Adrien.

"Not just that," whispered Nino. "I'm writing the lyrics to a song I like that makes me feel better when I feel sick. It talks about a mountain hike and makes you feel like you are seeing what the song talks about."

"That's so cool," said Adrien, sulking. "I've got nothing."

"Just write what's in your heart," came Alya's soft voice behind him. "Do you draw? Maybe draw her a picture."

"I'm drawing her something," came Nathaniel's hiss from behind them.

"More than one person is allowed to draw," came Miss Bustier's gentle scold. "Adrien, simply make a card that could make Marinette smile in spite of her current circumstances. When someone is sick," she went on, "it is discouraging. Sometimes just knowing that you are missed and that people love you is like sunlight on your shoulders."

Adrien sighed. "But how do I put that into words, Miss Bustier?" he asked. "How do I tell her that I care about her, that I'm sad that she is sick, and that I can't wait for her to be back in school so I can see her?"

Later he blushed when he thought of how frank and honest he was, and the whole class grew really really quiet in the moment, but Miss Bustier handled his question with the kindness and grace that all loved in her.

"I would say it exactly like that, Adrien. Honesty and kindness are the best of friends, and in a get well card words of kindness and affirmation are great medicine."

"What does affirmation mean?" asked Kim.

"The definition of affirmation is basically emotional encouragement," said Miss Bustier. "If Adrien writes what he said earlier in his card, it will affirm to Marionette that she is loved and missed, and that we care about what she is going through."

"Miss Bustier," said Max, "Do you know what symptoms Marinette has, and what medicine she is taking?"

"I believe that she simply was feverish and had some sinus congestion," said Miss Bustier. "As for medicine, she was resting and taking care of herself."

"I hope she gets better soon," said Rose mournfully. "I miss her."

"I have to go to the bathroom," moaned Chloe, rolling her eyes. "All this attention on Marinette is gross. Someone get me when this is over."

Alya gathered up all the cards and notes after school was done for the day. As she stepped into the cold snowy street, Adrien called her name. "Alya, wait!"

Alya turned and saw him, bundled up in his coat and hat and waving a card in the air. "I nearly missed you," he panted, running up to her.

"Oh wow," said Alya, laughing. "That was close." That would have been a BIG mistake, leaving out Romeo's card!

"Alya, can you proofread it?" He asked, blushing. "It's my first get well card."

She smiled. "Of course Adrien," she said. "Don't worry - we all have new things we learn all the time. Don't be embarrassed. Let's see…"

She opened the envelope and pulled out the card. It was decorated with pink flowers and green leaves, and on the front it said in nice curly letters Marinette. She opened it and read:

Dear Marinette,

Hi! Sorry you are sick. This is my first time writing a get well card to anyone so sorry it might not be good.

Here he drew a little emoji cringing.

Truth is I care about you a lot Mari. I'm so sorry that you aren't feeling well - I hope that you are resting well so that I can see you tomorrow. I missed you today, knowing that the spot behind me was empty, and you weren't there. I can't wait for you to win against this flu, and for your smiling face to be back. I love it when you come into the classroom late, because then I notice the bakery smell when you walk past. So if you could do that tomorrow, that would be great!

Miss you. Get well soon!

~ Adrien

"Was it…affirming?" asked Adrien, concern on his face.

Alya was in tears. "You have no idea," she said, and hugged him. "I don't know if she'll ever get sick again! Did you mean every word?"

"Yes," said Adrien, very confused but accepting the hug. "I tried my best to be honest."

"You should be more honest all the time," said Alya, pulling out of the hug.

"I try to be," said Adrien. "It's not easy to be serious around Marionette. She's very…uh…quirky."

"I say she's nervous," said Alya, slyly dropping a hint. "Anyway, I have to take this to her. See you tomorrow!"

Adrien waved, then turned to go.

"My my," came a voice from inside his coat. It was muffled, but the breath from inside his coat smelled like hot camembert. "Those words were quite moving. If I didn't know better I would say you like her."

"I love Ladybug - " Adrien began to protest.

"What if she IS Ladybug?" demanded Plagg, unashamedly.

Adrien stopped in his tracks. Why did that make so much sense? The sudden disappearing, the weird schedule, the fatigue that plagued them BOTH…

Her eyes.

Her hair.

"Plagg," he gasped, world caving in. "Could she really be - "

HELP!" came a scream. Adrien whirled and saw that a teenage boy was transforming into an akuma villain. A girl next to him screamed and ran crying out "He's mad over a text his dad sent him! Someone get Ladybug and Chat Noir!"

"Plagg," murmured Adrien, running around a corner. "This conversation isn't over - time to transform!"

What have I done, wondered Plagg as he was sucked away into the world of Chat Noir.

"Ladybug," whispered Chat as he leaped out and attracted the attention of the akuma victim. "Please be well enough to fight. And please hurry."