"I know who you are," said Ladybug.

"You do," Chat said wide eyed.

"Yes, it was an accident really. You were hit earlier today and when you came to school, the effects from Mood Swinger was used on you. First you cried uncontrollably and then you got really happy only to be angry and then you...started acting like you were in love with me. The me under the mask."

"What? What are you talking about? How did you know all that? I remember going to school and talking to Nino and feeling those feelings and..."

He seemed to have caught on; he remembered feeling love for Marinette and how easy it was, but he loved Ladybug. It still didn't explain how she knew what happened at school unless.

"Marinette?"

She nodded weakly as her transformation was willed off by Tikki.

"I'm sorry for rejecting you as Chat. I did it because I love Adrien and I felt guilty for liking Chat just a bit; Chat has grown on me but I was too scared to admit it. While it felt nice to have my feelings for Adrien be reciprocated, I knew that it was just from the effects of the akuma attack. I'm just plain old Marinette; nothing more and not worth it and I hope you aren't disappointed."

"Marinette, I..."

"It's ok. I'm not as confident without the mask. I'm a klutz and just plain. Marinette's not special like Ladybug. I know why you would pick Ladybug over Marinette. Sorry, she's not who you expected."

"Princess, you shouldn't talk about yourself like that. That's not what I see at all."

"You saw Ladybug, but you don't see me. I need to go; I'll see you at school, Adrien."

Marinette ran off, passing by a silent and unmoving Chat. She barged through a door to the buildings stairs. When she disappeared into the staircase, she couldn't fight the tears anymore and they flowed freely till she got back to the bakery. She called Alya.

"Hey girl, what's up?"

"Alya, Adrien was hit by the akuma today. That's why he was acting strange." She left out the part of her learning Adrien is Chat Noir.

"That's why he acted like...oh, Mari I'm so sorry."

"It's fine, it was nice while it lasted."

"Maybe we should look on the brighter side. It probably means that deep down he does feel that way for you; he just wasn't aware of it.

Alya felt bad for her friend and tried to cheer her up the best she could but, it wasn't working. They said good bye and Marinette flopped into her bed. She cried herself to sleep that night.

The next morning, Marinette got to school early to see Alya.

"Hey girl, you doing ok?"

"I'm not sure yet. That akuma made things happen that I wasn't ready to deal with."

"I know. But at least you know what it felt like."

Yeah, and she wanted it to happen for real. The two friends went to sit in the classroom to wait for class to start. Chloe and Sabrina walked in later.

"Well, well, well", sneered Chloe. "I heard that Adrien only liked you because it was an akuma. I knew there was no way Adrien could love you for real."

That made the hurt return ten times worse than ever, but Chloe was right. It wasn't real, and it never will be.

"Don't listen to her, ok Mari? She's jealous it wasn't her," said Alya trying to comfort her.

Nino then came into the room with Adrien right behind him and he held a single rose in his hand. He noticed Marinette's hurt expression and remembered what she said to him yesterday. He spent all night trying to process what happened and Plagg "helped" fill in the gaps. Sure he was under the influence of the akuma but, the way he saw it those emotions really were there. It just took an akuma to realize it. He loved Ladybug, but he also adored Marinette and he was determined to show her that.

"Oh Adrikins! You got me a rose," Chloe squealed as she threw her arms around him.

"Sorry Chloe, but this is for a special girl," he said turning to Marinette with a smile.

Marinette's heart stopped; he didn't mean her. Did he? She turned red as she saw him step up to her desk. He presented her the rose, took her hand and kissed it. Those in the classroom were shocked.

"Adrien, what are you doing," Marinette asked taking the rose.

"You are anything but plain and totally worth it." He leaned down to peck her cheek and whispered in her ear. "You're everything to me and more and I am not disappointed with you My Lady." He returned upright with a big smile on his face. Marinette was gaping like a fish which he found to be adorable. "So Princess, may I ask if you would have dinner with me tonight? We have much to discuss," he said adding a wink.

Marinette tried to speak but couldn't; so she stood up with her last bit of nerve and pecked his cheek.

"Pick me up at seven?"

"I'll be there. Hey Alya, mind if I sit with Mari today?"

"Boy, sit with her the rest of the year for all I care," said Alya smiling and moving from her seat to Adrien's.

Once Alya left, he placed himself next to Marinette but from what Plagg told him of last time, he sat close but not in her space. She gestured him to move a little closer and he smiled as he did so.

"Is this ok," he whispered.

"Yeah, it's fine," she answered with pink cheeks.

"I heard what Chloe said. I'm not going anywhere, I want to make this real for both of us. That is if you want it."

"I do want it, can we just take it slow?"

"Whatever you want Purrrincess. I'd do anything for you, you know that right?"

"I do silly, Kitty."

She leaned into him more as he wrapped an arm around her in a sweet embrace.

So, was it worth it? It's a bit cheesy I know but I hope you still enjoyed it! Later days!