Chapter One

It wasn't exactly a normal day in Paris, but it was the kind of day that the citizens of the 'City of Lights' had been getting used to.

A fair sized crowd stood around where the road went past the park. Representatives of the news were on hand to document Paris' three super heroes defeating yet another akuma.

This particular akuma wasn't all that impressive. The heroes defeated it without resorting to using Cataclysm, Mirage, or Lucky Charm and as such had some extra time that they used walking among the crowd. Chat Noir had already given Nadia Chamack an interview, and he had ducked into a bistro to get a drink. When he came out he saw that Ladybug was now talking to Rena Rouge.

"Thank you for taking the time to talk to me before," Nadia Chamack said as Chat Noir passed her on his way to Ladybug.

He gave her what he hoped was a charming smile. "My pleasure. Anything for my. . ." he began but trailed off. Nadia saw that his expression changed to one of horror and his cup fell from his hand hitting the pavement and leaving a splash as the cup had been half full. "No." he said softly, then jumped when Nadia reacted far more strongly than he expected.

"MANON!" she screamed when she saw her daughter running toward her.

Right through the center of the intersection.

Reacting faster than even Chat, Ladybug sprinted toward the youngster.

"Ladybug, look out!" Chat Noir shouted, but realized that she had seen the approaching car before he did, since it was in her line of sight from the beginning. He watched as she reached the toddler, scooping her up and throwing her toward him.

"Chat, catch!" she shouted over the sound of screaming tires.

"Ladybug! Nooooo!" he cried as he watched the vehicle slam into her slender body. As much as he wanted to race to her side, he was frozen in position as he waited for Manon to reach him from Ladybug's throw. He saw others running to reach Ladybug's side, medical personnel, and Rena Rouge leading the pack.

"Come on." he muttered, knowing that it wouldn't do any good. The laws of physics were in control now, along with his adherence to his duty as Chat Noir to catch Manon. After what seemed to Chat Noir as hours, he finally reached out and caught her, gently placing her on her feet next to her mother. He didn't hear Nadia's words of thanks as he was running to reach her side.

"Nononononononono." he said as he ran. The crowd that gathered around Ladybug parted as he ran up, and he slid the last few feet on his knees, ending up on her right side by her head. Tasting the acidic taste of bile in his throat when he saw the tendril of blood seeping from her mouth, he swallowed, his hand reaching out and his fingers trailing over her cheek. "Milady?" he called softly, his voice cracking. He was slightly relieved to see that she was breathing.

"Rena, get me a blanket, we need to drape it over her in case her transformation drops." he called.

"Chat. . . let the medics. . ." she began.

"They can't do anything for her while she's Ladybug, and she wouldn't want her identity revealed to so many people, especially the press." His head jerked up and he looked down at Ladybug in surprise. "Ladybug?" he called softly as he felt her hand tighten slightly on his.

Ladybug coughed lightly, and Chat took a cloth from one of the medical people to wipe the blood from her mouth.

"Chat, the girl. . .is she. . . safe?"

Chat swallowed. How like his lady to put others before herself. "Yes, she's with her mother."

"Ungh, Chat, it hurts. Everywhere." she said painfully. "Thought. . .I'd have time. . .to jump. . .away."

"Hush now and save your strength," Chat said. "Give your kwami time to heal you."

"What was that?" she asked.

"Rena just put a blanket over us like a tent in case your transformation drops.

"Uhhh, so tired Chat." she moaned. "But. . .I know I. . .shouldn't sleeeeep."

"Ladybug?" Chat called when he felt her go limp. "Milady, stay with me!" he cried framing her face with his hands.

"Chat, the paramedics want to move her to at least the ambulance preferably to the hospital." Rena Rouge said from outside the blanket. "Chat we can provide more privacy for her that way. Remember how important her keeping her identity secret is to her." she reasoned.

"Well, I guess so." Chat said, pulling the blanket back.

"We'll make it quick, and as painless as possible." One of the paramedics told him.

"She's unconscious now." Chat said softly as he watched them gently lift her onto the gurney. "How many of you have to be in the back with her?"

The paramedics shared a look. "Two," One of them replied. "One for administering medications and one to coordinate communications between us and the hospital." she explained. "While we're sitting here, you and Rena Rouge can join us in the back, but if we do transport one of you will have to move to the front of the unit."

"Right," Chat said and stood as they elevated the gurney and started rolling it to the ambulance.

"Chat Noir, I need a word with you, most urgently." a soft, calm, male voice said just as Chat was going to step into the ambulance.

Chat looked over and saw Master Fu on the sidewalk.

"Rena, stay with her, and get those paramedics to swear not to reveal her identity, even to us, if they learn it." he told his other partner. He noticed that Fu didn't stop walking when he spoke to him, and he watched as he entered a building a few feet down.

"Ah, Chat Noir, good." Wang Fu said as Chat entered a conference room. "Quickly, what can you tell me of her condition?"

Chat remained standing as he replied. "She was hit by a car that didn't slow for the intersection. From the blood that was in her mouth, and her heart rate I know she has some internal injuries. Her earrings haven't started chirping yet, so I believe that her kwami is alright, and healing her." Fu watched closely as Chat's shoulders slumped and he glanced nervously around. "Master," he said, his voice cracking. "Is there anything you can do for her?"

Wang Fu sighed heavily, and shook his head no. "I'm sorry, but there is nothing I can do." he said. "It is the manner and extent of her injuries that put her beyond my care, not any concern of my remaining hidden." he walked over to, then around Chat. "Now I have a question for you, Cha. . .Adrien." he said softly, ignoring the jerk of Chat Noir's body at being addressed by his civilian name. "What would you be willing to give to save her?"

"Anything," he replied without hesitation. "Everything. I'd trade places with her if that's what it takes."

Wang Fu stood there for a moment, eyes locked with Chat Noir, then he sighed heavily. "Very well, so it shall be. You will know when the time is right. Then we will meet again. For now, go to her, be there for her." he said then turned his back on him. "You bring honor to the Black Cat Miraculous, and I'm proud of you." he said as Chat reached the door.

When Chat got back to the ambulance he noticed some changes. "What?"

"It's okay, Chat Noir," one of the paramedics soothed. "Administering oxygen is standard procedure, and we decided to experiment by hooking her up to a cardiac monitor through her suit, and it worked."

"But how did you hook her up to an IV?" he asked.

"Once they had her vital signs, one them said that they needed to do it, and a slit suddenly appeared where it needed to be." Rena Rouge replied.

"We're simply re-hydrating her. Like you told Rena before, with her in the suit, there's not much else that can be done for her." the paramedic added. "It's up to her now."

Chat nodded, and took Ladybugs hand, taking care not to disturb her arm to much. "She'll make it, she's strong and a fighter." he said, then looked intently at her when he felt her fingers move against his. "Bugaboo?"

Ladybug moaned softly, then her eyes fluttered open. "Chat." she said softly. "Did I hear you right and Manon is safe?"

"Yes." Chat replied. "She's safe and with her mother. You saved her."

"I wish we had more time, Chaton. Tikki, my kwami is nearing the end of her powers, and when my transformation drops my injuries are to severe for me to survive."

"Damn she crashing!" the paramedic shouted. "BP dropping, pulse 75 and bounding!"

"She's throwing PVC's" the other paramedic reported from the cardiac monitor. "Going to V-fib."

"No!" Chat shouted. "I won't let her go. You stay with me Ladybug, I don't want to lose you."

"Chat Noir, stand back." the paramedic ordered. "400 watt seconds."

Chat sat back and watched as they tried to shock Ladybug's heart back to a normal rhythm.

"Chat! Your hand!" Rena called out.

Chat looked at his left hand and saw it glowing with a white power. "He said I'd know the time." he muttered under his breath.

"I'd say the time is now." Rena said.

Chat moved so he was beside Ladybug, then reached over and held his hand over her chest. "I will keep my agreement, whatever it takes." he said softly.

Rena and the others watched as the power flowed from his hand and enveloped Ladybug's body. After a moment it seemed to seep into her.

"What the. . ." one of the paramedics cried. "Cardiac monitor shorted out."

There was silence for a moment, broken by one of the paramedics.

"She's stopped breathing!" he announced and turned to grab some equipment, stopping in surprise as Ladybug took a long, loud, gasping breath, her back arching off the gurney. She coughed a few times as she settled back down, and her eyes opened.

Chat noticed that her eyes focused and looked around, taking in her surroundings. He saw when they fell on him as they widened and she grinned broadly.

"Chat!" she cried, sitting up and wrapping him in a hug. After a stunned moment, he relaxed and returned the embrace.

"Milady." he breathed, basking in the embrace.

As the two continued to hug, Rena became fascinated by a design on her flute, while the two paramedics concentrated on packing away equipment.

It was Chat Noir's ring chirping that brought the couple to their senses.

"Chat, we've gotta get outta here!" Ladybug cried, realizing that Chat was going to de-transform soon.

Chat nodded. "How do you feel, Milady?"

"Fine. Never better, actually." she replied, then looked confused. "Wait, I was hit by a car, and badly injured."

"And you nearly died." the female paramedic put in as she removed the IV from her arm.

Ladybug looked at Chat Noir, with an amazed expression on her face. "You healed me." she said softly. "How?"

"I'll explain soon, but you're right we need to leave." Chat said, then helped her to stand. "Follow me, and we'll reach somewhere together and I'll explain."

Chat opened the door and the trio left the back of the ambulance. They jumped slightly when a cheer was raised as the gathered crowd saw that Ladybug appeared to be alright.

She gave a wave, and the three of them leapt to the rooftops, the two girls following Chat Noir.

A short time later they touched down in a dimly lit alley.

"This way." Chat said, continuing to take the lead. He opened a door and lead the girls inside.

"Chat, I know this place." Ladybug said as they moved deeper into the place.

"Indeed you do, Ladybug." Wang Fu's voice said. "I am most pleased to see you well."

"That's why I brought you here, so he can check you out to make sure you are completely healed."

"That's not completely true," Rena Rouge said, her eyes glowing with a golden hue. "What aren't you telling us, and who is he, other than the man I helped right before I found my miraculous?"

"All will be revealed in due time, Rena Rouge." Fu said softly. "But first, Chat Noir is correct I would like to check on Ladybug's current well being."

"What else is going on, Kitty?" Ladybug asked, and got a look from him that she couldn't place.

"Trust me, Milady." he said softly, then watched as Fu lead her into the next room.

"That's three minutes left, Chat." Rena said when his ring chirped again. She stared at him intently with glowing eyes, and he knew she was focusing her powers on him in an attempt to get at the truth. "What else are we here for? What are you keeping from us?"

Chat sighed heavily. "I can't tell you, either of you." he replied. "Yet."

"That has changed, Chat Noir." Fu said as he and Ladybug came back into the room. "Ladybug is in perfect health, I'm happy to report."

"Then it's time, then." Chat said almost sadly.

Fu crossed over to him, and patted his shoulder. "Yes it is."

"Time?" Ladybug asked, concerned at how sad Chat and Fu were. "Time for what?"

"For lack of a better word, payment." Chat said softly.

"Payment, for what?" Ladybug asked, then saw the look of realization cross Rena's face.

"For saving your life." the fox styled heroine replied.

Finding himself the focus of two sets of feminine eyes, Chat looked at the floor, and he sighed heavily. "In order to keep balance, for saving the life of the woman I love, I must surrender that which I hold most dear." he said softly. "Starting with my identity. Plagg, claws in."

"Adrien!" both girls exclaimed after his transformation dropped.

He watched as Ladybug walked over to him.

"Adrien." she said softly, and reached up to trail her fingertips over his cheek. "All this time and. . .Adrien, it's me. I'm. . ." she began but was cut off when he put one hand on her shoulder, the other covering her mouth.

"No. Don't tell me your identities." he said. "It would be to dangerous."

"But you're Chat Noir, and can take care of yourself." Ladybug said.

Adrien gave a dry chuckle as he walked over to Rena Rouge. The fox styled heroine gasped softly as he took her hand and kissed her knuckles.

"It's been an honor, foxy girl." he said.

Rena looked at him, expecting a flirtatious wink or cocky smile. She frowned when she saw his expression was serious, almost somber. She watched as he walked back over to Ladybug, her eyes narrowing as she read his body language. Usually he would stand straighter, move more fluidly either as Chat or Adrien around the Bug. Now it was almost as if he didn't want to go near her. But near her he got, stopping only a few inches from her, invading her personal space, and she saw the questioning look on Ladybug's face.

"Milady." he said softly, his voice cracking. "Oh, the heck with it." he breathed, then wrapped her in a hug. "I know you disapprove of this, but I don't know when I'll ever get the opportunity again." he whispered into her ear.

"Chat, er, Adrien, what?" Ladybug asked as he pulled from the embrace.

Adrien turned away from her, his left hand going to his right, slipping his ring off. "You're right, I was Chat Noir." he said.

"Master Fu, what's going on?" Ladybug asked seeing that he had a small familiar looking box.

Adrien took a shuddering deep breath. "In addition to my identity, there are two other things that I will give up. The next is the Ring of the Black Cat." he said, looking at the plain silver ring in his hand. "I must give up being Chat Noir."

"Adrien, no." Ladybug said, coming up behind him and putting her left hand on his right shoulder, her right hand holding his upper arm.

Adrien bowed his head. "I was selfish in using my powers, so I am no longer worthy of being Chat Noir." he said, then looked back at Ladybug, and she saw the tears in his eyes. "I couldn't let you go, Milady, I just couldn't, so when I learned from Master Fu that there was a way I could save you, I promised him that I would pay anything, everything to do it." he turned to face her, and cupped her cheek with his hand. "I danced the dance, Milady, now it's time to pay the piper." he said.

"What's the third thing?" Rena asked from across the room. "You said there were a total of three. Your identity, your miraculous, and what else?"

"Something more personal, and that does not concern either of you." Adrien replied, then looked at the box Fu held. "May I have a moment with Plagg?"