What Have I Done...

Chapter Seven - An Unexpected Friend

**Marinette has a visitor!**

Marinette lays in bed, staring at the pictures of Adrien and Cat Noir. Occasionally telling stories to Plagg about her and Adrien's adventures. Sometimes showing him footage of their battles together. It's hard for her to accept the fact that she's not the only one suffering from the loss.

Plagg must have felt the blast Adrien took, must have tried so hard to absorb it and save him. But it was impossible. Plagg absorbed as much as he could before it hit Adrien. Tikki told her that if the holder dies while transformed. The Kwarmi can feel the life force leave them, they can literally feel the moment the holder dies. And although, what she went through was bad. At least she didn't have to feel him die. Plaggs entire job, point of existing. Is to protect the holder from damage and death. And he had failed, the poor Kwarmi's devastated.

She didn't bother trying to take the blame from him, as she knows it's no good. They have both failed Adrien; they were both to blame.

"Your room stinks to high heaven. When we the last time you bathed?" A voice snaps from the trapdoor.

Marinette rolls over to see Chloe and blinks. How'd she get in here?

"Chloe?" She says, hoarsely. She clears her throat before sitting up.

"Oh, don't bother hiding the creatures. I know." She slams the trap door, before sitting on the chaise and digging through her bag. "Well, come here then." She snaps once more.

"What creatures? Know what?" She's not being coy or lying to Chloe. She literally didn't know what she meant. Then it hit her, the Kwarmi's.

"You know I'm Ladybug?" She whispers, as she climbs down off her bed and sits on the edge of the chaise.

"Well, it was easy to figure out. Adrien is Cat Noir, and you two are always together. And you're in love with Adrien. You wouldn't be this heartbroken or broken period. If you were just Marinette. Now, Ladybug, she would be completely smashed, like you are. After watching Cat Noir die, not being able to save him. Losing not only your Kitty and your Adrien. This is the right amount of broken..." Chloe sniffs as she continues to dig in her bag.

"I always knew you were hiding a brain under there." Marinette feels her lips curve up into a smile. The first in months.

"Yes, well. The lawyer tried to come by, but your parents scared him away. So, I said I'd come. I'm not scared of anything." Chloe mumbled as she pulled out folders and a small bag.

That's definitely true. Chloe feared nothing.

"What did a lawyer want with me? Am I being... sued? Arrested?!" Marinette's eyes widened at the thought of the city knowing the truth.

"What? No, it's for Adrien's will." Chloe's forehead furrow in confusion as she opens the folder.

"Adrien had a will. He apparently made it a few weeks ago. Since Gabriel is dead, everything went to Adrien. But, because he's..." Chloe pauses briefly and grabs a hanky before wiping her eyes.

"Dead..." Marinette finishes for her. It is the first time, she's admitted it out loud. " Adrien's dead..." Boy, did that hurt.

"Yes, everything goes to the people in his will. Well, person in his will. That would be... you." Chloe held up the paper, that stated everything is to be left to Marinette Dupain-Chang.

"...Me?" She gasps, he had made a comment about leave something for her. So she wouldn't have to worry. But, everything?

"Yes, you. The business, the house, the money, everything. Now, Adrien's Aunt is furious about this. And has started a lawsuit, suing you. Saying you are just a child and that Adrien is also a child. He had no right to leave everything to you. You weren't even a couple. Which of course is stupid, you don't need to even know a person to leave them things. People leave millions to charity, to strangers..." Chloe shakes her head, as she pulls out the small plastic bag.