The dreaded school bell rang, signaling everyone that school was over.

Despite Christmas being right around the corner, no one was in the Christmas spirit. After all, how could they after what happened?

"Adrien, Sabrina." Miss Bustier brought to attention, watching as the two glared at Lila as she walked out the classroom with a few of the girls of the class.

Lila shrunk into herself, a single tear making its way into her eye as she felt Adrien's eyes burn at the back of her head.

"Yes, Mlle Bustier?" Adrien asked once he saw Lila out of vision, noticing that Nino was waiting for him right outside the classroom. Ever since that day, the trio of friends traveled in a pack, leaving no one by themselves.

"I was wondering if you could take some classwork and some break work to Chloe, seeing as the two of you are close friends." Bustier handed a few papers to Adrien, Adrien gently placing them inside his bag. "And Sabrina. How is Marinette?" She dared to ask after handing Sabrina a large manila envelope.

With Chloe not being in school, Sabrina had to step up as Vice President and do the Class President's job of dropping off homework to those who missed class.

Mlle Bustier didn't expect for Sabrina to scowl, an expression she never saw on the girl ever since she first started teaching her seven years ago.

"Mlle Bustier, shouldn't you have already made a home visit by now? Actually, in this type of situation, you should've done a home visit the day after the incident. But you didn't. It's been two week since then." Sabrina recalled, taking the manila envelope and walking out of the class, waiting next to Nino.

Adrien didn't miss the way their teacher shrunk into herself, before attempting to bounce back up.

"I'll try and make a visit later on today. Ever since the incident, the school-"

"Sabrina has a point, Mlle Bustier. With all due respect, I think you should've already visited Marinette and have checked for yourself how she's doing. After all, that's part of your job." Adrien bluntly stated. "And a piece of advice? I know you're trying to act as if all of this isn't bothering you, but I suggest you stop acting as if nothing happened. Yes, the akuma happened two week ago, but everyone is still recovering from it.

After all, those memories don't disappear no matter how long ago it happened. So if you would excuse me, I have some dear friends to visit."

-----

It's been two weeks since the Banshee incident...that's 14 days since both Marinette and Chloe haven't been at school...and 14 days without a single akuma attack, the longest period of rest the team had ever had since given their miraculouses.

When Chat Noir raced to initiate Plan B with Ryuuko and Osprey, they were halted due to someone else beating them to the Eiffel Tower.

A guy their age had been the one to get rid of the akuma that had been controlling Marinette and not only that. He had also used Ladybird's power to reverse the aftermath of the battle and bring back Marinette.

While from a distance he could easily be mistaken for Ladybird, up front, you could tell it wasn't her.

Said one-time vigilante cradled Marinette in his arms, something that broke Chat upon seeing how shaken she was about the whole thing.

Usually all of those affected by Hawkmoth's manipulation wouldn't remember a single thing about their akumatization...but Chat knew...

Something caused her to remember every single detail.

"Who-" Chat Noir started, only for the 'new' Ladybug to cut him off.

"Ladybird was the one who told me to finish the job for her. She too had been affected by Banshee's powers before she was even able to transform. She also told me to relay you a message. Do not worry about her identity being exposed, for she was wearing a mask before giving me her miraculous." The guy didn't take off the miraculous, making Chat wonder what exactly was going on.

Where was Ladybird? "Ladybird?" Crap, he said that out loud. "Don't worry too much about her. She'll be back the next time the Ladybug miraculous is in use." Lifting Marinette with ease, Chat wondered if that was because of the magic or because he was able to easily do so himself. "Meanwhile, I'll take her home. Want to lead the way, or?"

"I'll lead." Chat solemnly said. "Just make sure you don't drop her."

"Roger that."

After dropping Marinette to her home, Chat never saw that guy again. Not like he had all the time to mull over him.

He had to ensure Chloe and Lila's safety as well, although he didn't want to do so for the latter.

He first met up with Gris, who had moved Lila inside the Montparnasse Tower. While she wasn't psychically hurt, mentally, she was greatly injured.

Chat explained to her of the next step they were going to take next, explaining how she will have to go to mandatory therapy sessions to ensure her well-being, how he will be escorting her to each one personally so that she doesn't try and worm herself out of them when she said she didn't need it.

"You may think we're only doing this out of duty, which you're not wrong, but it is also something Ladybird herself wanted to incorporate in Paris. Something about the lack of a rehab system in Paris." Chat answered when Lila asked why he was bothering to make sure she was fine. "Also something about preventing a second 'G.'"

After setting up the next therapy sessions with Lila, Chat and Gris headed over to where Ryuuko and Carapace were dealing with Chloe's rattled behavior.

"She's inconsolable." Ryuuko said when Chat asked why Carapace had a shield around him and Chloe. "She tried to run off multiple times, but we always managed to keep her contained."

"Let me get someone who can help us." Chat left the group, dropping his transformation in a safe area before returning as Adrien. "Chloe!"

At the call of her name, Chloe stopped clawing her way from the force field Carapace had placed up, looking over to Adrien.

She threw herself at him and started to cry into his shoulder, crying how she saw her parents abandon her, how her friends also abandoned her. How she witnessed her best friend's deaths, Adrien not noticing the way the team stiffed upon hearing their civilian names being said.

Before spiraling into more crying, Chloe mentioned being a failure of a friend, as she couldn't stop Marinette from becoming an akuma.

Adrien didn't once let go of Chloe, telling the team his gratitude for helping her.

He guided her to her home, wondering where things were going to play out now that the team took the largest blow yet in their fight against Hawkmoth.

But for now, he knew he had to stay by Chloe's side.

-----

As Sabrina sat on a kitchen stool, she scrunched up the manila envelope in her hand as her thoughts went back to what caused Marinette to lash out the way she did and caused her to turn into Banshee.

If only Lila didn't lie about knowing him. If she didn't lie about him, then her friends wouldn't be-

"-Sabrina. Sabrina dear, are you alright?" Sabine asked, worried.

"Mlle Cheng! I'm sorry! I got lost in my thoughts and-"

"It's alright. I'm guessing that's for Marinette?" Sabine gestured towards the envelope in her hand.

"Yes. They're homework assignments and a few notes from Mlle Bustier." Sabrina said, handing them over to Sabine. "Oh! Here are my notes for her. She'd probably find these more useful than-"

A scream pierced the kitchen air, Sabrina watching as Selina appeared out of nowhere and rushed up the stairs with two other women right behind her, Sabine quickly grabbing her phone and dialing a number. "Mlle Cheng, what is going-"

"I'm sorry about this Sabrina, but you'll have to leave. Now."

Without another word, Sabrina nodded, grabbing her bag and started to head downstairs when she spotted M.Wayne go upstairs, two others right behind him...

Was that Oliver Queen?!

Sabrina watched as the trio walked right into the Dupain-Cheng home, wondering what M.Wayne, M.Queen and the other man were doing there.

What is going on?

-----

Selina sat on the chaise lounge, Amira letting out shuddering breaths as she laid against her chest.

When Selina had heard Amira's screams, she felt her heart stop for the umpteenth time that day.

Ever since that day, ever since the day of the appearance of Banshee, Amira had restless nights, recurring nightmares throughout the day and refusing to see anyone except for Selina and her two therapists.

"Poor pumpkin." Harley sympathized, draping a blanket over Amira and Selina. "She shouldn't have to go through all this. She's just a kid."

"To think you're stupid boyfriend-" Ivy started, making sure that the daisies scattered around the room were doing all right...until Harley jabbed Ivy at her side.

"Pammy," she gestured to a silent Selina, "sure, Brucie had some fault to this, but it wasn't-"

"I know, I know." Ivy sighed, spraying some water on the daisies. "The tiny magically butterfly-"

"Listen, I didn't convince Bruce to let you two out of Arkham so that the two of you would shit on the man I'm about to marry and what's he done." Selina sighed. "I'm sorry, Ivy. It's just- Bruce could've prevented all this if-"

"Of course he could've! If he weren't such an idiot!" Ivy growled. "Selina, seriously? What do you see in-"

"Pammy, Pammy! Remember? Magical butterflies? Get mad and they'll come for ya." Harley reminded Ivy, placing her hands on Ivy's shoulders. "How about we take a stroll and enjoy the sun a bit, eh? After all Brucie did promise us that he'd-"

"Alright. But just until I calm down, alright? And then back to our hotel, okay? Not fond of the fact of being mind controlled by a stupid butterfly man. Haven't been there and don't plan on-"

"Then we better get going Red!" Harley grinned, guiding Ivy to the hatch before stopping to turn to Selina. "Selina. Everything is going to be alright. and if you need us to talk some sense into that boy of yours, Ivy and I have your back."

With that, the two were gone, leaving Selina alone.

Selina pushed a few strands away from Amira's face, placing them behind her ear. Because Amira always kept a straight face and would directly tell you her opinions, that led many to think she was mature for her age. But they were wrong about that.

She was still a child...

A creak at the floor snapped Selina from her thoughts, watching as Bruce peaked into the room.

"How is she doing?" Bruce asked, eyeing the bean bag and bringing it close to where Selina was. He tucked away a loose hair strand from Amira's face, watching as she flinched from his touch.

He watched as his daughter turned away from him and snuggled closer against Selina.

"Not any better since that day. Even Harley is having trouble getting through to her. Doesn't help that Amira knows her background with the Joker. Doesn't trust Harley one bit." Selina looked over at Bruce before breaking the silence. "You can't keep in doing this to her Bruce."

"Selina, she's my child. My daughter. My one and only daughter." Bruce reasoned.

"Bruce. She's 13. Turning 14 in half a year. She's not the tiny girl who-"

"I know." Bruce quietly said, dropping onto the bean bag. "I know Selina, but even so, I can't help but keep treating her as one." Bruce places his hand over hers. "You've seen first hand the cruelty of Gotham. No one is safe from it, not even Batman. Bruce Wayne? He's been a target countless times.

I've been held at gunpoint, kidnapped, taken as a hostage, mugged so many times I've lost count. To top it off, I've been stabbed once when Amira was just a toddler and on the brink of death.

Can you imagine what would happen if word got out that I have a daughter?"

"You're worrying too much Bruce. And if you're worried about her safety, you can just-"

"I should've worded that better. What would happen if word got out that I have a biological daughter?"

Selina remained quiet. "The media and people alike swarmed Dick when word got out I adopted him years ago. It's only gotten worse for him now that he's 18. Families sending invitations to dinner, some asking for some meetings to see me over how WE should merge with theirs...Dick even gets gifts sent to his apartment, which thankfully he tells the delivery man to always send back or use it for themselves. Marriage is the last thing that should be in his mind.

Right now, he's worried about Slade who made an appearance again at Gotham. We aren't truly sure why he is here, but perhaps he's back to trying to "claim" Dick as his successor. He's been at it the moment he found out we got rid of the Court's eyes on Dick."

Selina didn't know what to say, after all, she was there when it happened.

"When word got out that Jason has also been adopted, do you know how many attempted kidnaps were stopped? How many people who he trusted before stabbed him in the back to try and get some ransom off a planned kidnapping?

And then there's Tim. There's rumors already floating of how he will be the newest addition to the family. The walls have ears and I've already heard the upper ring of idiots planning on a way to get a hold of Tim.

Not only will Tim be part of Wayne Manor, but he is also still a Drake. Can you imagine the gold digger's imagination growing wild at the thought of Tim having both family's wealth once he's older?"

Bruce dug his face into his hands. "Selina, these are happening to my kids, my kids who aren't biologically mine. So what awaits for the one who is biologically mine? Will it be just as terrifying as the dangers my other kids face, or will it be worse?

I don't want her to be thrown into that kind of life. Not her. I just...I just want her to be able to live her life as a proper child. Without the limelight, without the multiple targets that would arise to her back when-"

"So you believe that keeping her hidden was the best thing to do." Selina concluded.

"She's safe inside."

"But is she happy?" Selina watched as Bruce tensed up at those words. "Bruce, look at her." He did. "Do you call this happiness?

She took upon a mantle so that she can get your attention, your acknowledgement of her existence. Why? Why does she have to prove this to you? Her father? A father who claims that he adores and loves her to pieces? Do you want to know why?"

Bruce remained silent. "Your love for her caused you to deprive her of the same love you claim to have on her. Your ambition to keep her safe caused you to stray from her, causing her to stay at a large mansion occupied with two people: herself and Alfred.

How was she supposed to see your love for her when you spent the entire day at work and then dived into vigilantism in the night?"

Selina carefully slipped Amira off her, allowing herself to sit properly on the chaise lounge. "You made things worse once when you dismissed her approaches to you, dismissing her from joining training, letting her-"

"I let her join-"

"You let her train when you realized she was opening up to her brothers, not before then. I get it, you wanted them to get along, but not letting her join from the get go wasn't the decision you should've made. You should have-"

"She wasn't ready."

"How would you know that before even letting her have a go at it? She already knew the basics-"

"Knowing the basics won't do you much and you know that Selina, better than anyone else. She didn't have Dick's flexibility and precision, Jason's strength and quick thinking. She only knew the basics and that's it. If I had allowed her-

"Mu'quin?" Amira groggily asked, turning to look at Bruce and Selina with glassy eyes. She missed the gaped mouth from her father and Selina's wide eyes.

When did she know Mandarin? "Mu'quin?" Amira asked again once she pulled herself closer to Selina, laying her head on her lap. "Ma'ma, don't...go." Amira slurred as she went back to sleep, never seeing the look on Selina's face.

Bruce watched as Selina fought back tears, her hand placed over her mouth as she let out a shuddering breath. She kept blinking in hopes of getting rid of the tears, but her efforts were in vain.

Tears slid down Selina's face as she stroked Amira's hair, watching as she comfortably rested.

Bruce continued to watch the interaction between Selina and his daughter, happy to see how close the two have gotten despite the short time spent with one another...

"Selina." Bruce looked at his soon-to-be-wife, holding her hand in his own. "I've made a decision. I'm staying in Paris."

-----

"It got quiet." Oliver obviously stated. " Think-"

"I don't even want to know about what happened in there." Barry cut off, running a hand through his hair.

"Everything good?" Oliver asked, noticing Barry's unusual quietness. "Another meta-"

"Ever since the incident, Wally hasn't been...himself." Barry confessed. "He's refused to take time off missions, constantly finding something to do. When it isn't that, he's always here, staying by -"

The apartment door cracked open, causing Barry to shut his mouth and for Oliver to turn to see who just entered.

"Well, speak of the devil." Oliver muttered. "Wally, what brings you here?"

"I came to visit a friend, although the question stands. What brings you to Paris?"

"He's here with me." Bruce informed, Wally snapping his head to the man. "I asked him-"

Wally uppercutted Bruce the moment he stepped off the stairs that led to Amira's bedroom. Bruce stumbles back as the pain spreads around his face.

"It's all your fault!" Wally screamed, about to punch him again, only for Barry to hold him back. "It's all your fault that Amira is like this!"

"Woah, Wally, calm-" Barry tried to speak, only to turn to Oliver for help. With a nod, Oliver began to search for a tranquilizer on him.

"Calm down?" Wally screamed. "Barry, he's the reason why Amira got akumatized!" Wally snarled, trying to pry himself from Barry's grasp. "If only he had let Amira say goodbye to her brother, to give Jason a proper goodbye! If only! But you didn't." A dry laugh escaped him. "No, instead, you sent her here, with her bottled up emotions...here! An ocean away from her family, her friends! People who cared about her!"

Bruce remained silent, Oliver watching the revelation with wide eyes. "Did you know how worried I was about her when I heard she was no longer a moment away but now an ocean away? Amira, being sent away like she was some kind of- some kind of, ARGH!" Wally yelled, not noticing how Barry had already let go of him.

Instead, Barry let him empty out his heart. After all, he needed it, just like how Bruce needed to listen to the consequences of his actions. "That day she was brought to HQ against her will, when she connected the fact that Kid Flash was me, she threw herself at me. At first I thought it was because we hadn't seen each other in a while, that she was relieved to see me. But no, it was more than that.

She cried. And let me tell you something, she rarely cries." Wally told Bruce, feeling his fists starting to hurt. "She always has a stoic face on, always having her guard up in public in case others want to try and make a fool of her. A mechanism she always has on to fool everyone, even herself.