Nino looked at Alya once she put the phone down. Neither of them said anything as Alya held the phone tightly in her hands. They were both terrified for Marinette, they knew what she was going to do but had no way to stop her.

"We're not seriously going to let her do this right," Nino asked as he ran a hand over his cap. Alya looked at him with a look that practically screamed 'are you kidding me.' Instead of responding he saw her dial a number into the phone and raise it to her ear.

"Hello, I'd like to report an emergency at the building on 16th arrondissement with the butterfly window." Without even waiting for a response Alya had already hung up the phone. She grabbed Nino's wrist and dragged him towards the door. He stumbled hopelessly after her.

"Alya, what did you do, where are we going," he asked in confusion.

"I called the police duh," she said as if it were obvious as she dragged him out onto the cold street.

"Yeah, but where are we going," Nino asked.

"Adrien is a superhero, Marinette is saving him, I need to put this on my blog," she exclaimed as she forced him to run after her down the street. He sighed as he hopelessly followed after his girlfriend.

Marinette anxiously got into her red ladybug suit and donned her dotted mask. She didn't know why she'd packed them in her backpack when she'd gone to search for Adrien. She figured it was in case she had managed to find him, Hawkmoth had no clue who she was other than the elusive Ladybug, so she had figured if she put on a disguise then if things went south then at least he still wouldn't know who she was. However now that she wore the spots and mask she felt smaller than ever. She knew she wasn't a hero but she had no other choice. She had to be a hero or else Chat Noir was doomed. She took a deep breath in as she swung the bag back over her shoulders. It was time.

She ran to the building with the butterfly window, keeping to the shadows as much as possible. When she got to the building she found herself looking up at a giant circular window with an butterfly symbol on it. Now that she found herself looking at the window she knew for certain that he had to be in there. There was no way that it was a coincidence. She took a deep breath in, she knew that there was no turning back. Slowly she crept around the building when suddenly she felt a tug at the end of her hair. She whipped her head around to find it in the clutches of a man with a silver mask covering his entire face who wore a purple suit with a moth brooch on it.

He pulled her by her hair towards a door she'd failed to to notice and tossed her face first through it. She landed painfully on the ground and tried to push herself upright but he already had a foot on her keeping her down. She felt rope being wrapped around her legs before she could even move to react. She cursed herself for being so slow and tried to wiggle out of the man's grasp but it got her nowhere, in fact it seemed to cause the ropes around her legs to tighten. The man moved around so that he was in front of her and grabbed her hands and tied them together.

"Look's like I choose the right time to invest in some bug repellent," he joked. Marinette rolled her eyes. At least some of Adrien's puns had been good, Hawkmoth's puns were terrible.

He began to drag her by her wrists into a darkened room. She tried to map out her path but every few steps she stumbled causing her to lose her concentration. He dragged her roughly through the pitch black halls until he came to an abrupt stop. She stumbled forward and fell against a wall. He used her fall as a distraction and tied her feet together to prevent her from escaping.

She tried to take in her surroundings. Light streamed into the room through the giant butterfly window on the wall. However the light didn't serve much purpose other than allowing her to see the ropes that bound her. She watched as Hawkmoth simply stared at her with what could only be described as a look of pure hate.

She heard the sound shuffling beside her and instinctively she shrunk back unsure as to what to make of the sound. Muffled sounds of somebody talking came from beside her but she couldn't make out the voice. After whatever the muffled voice had said the sound of retreating footsteps echoed throughout the room as Hawkmoth left. Her mind spun into a panic as to what the muffled words might've said and why Hawkmoth might've left.

Her chest ached with anxiety as the panic built up inside her. Her breathing began to speed up as she tried to calm her frantic heart. She could feel it beating a million miles an hour in her chest. It seemed to be going so fast that it just might beat right out of her chest. Her hands shook in her bonds as the panic inside her built.

Suddenly she felt two warm hands encircle her shaking ones. She tried to move away out of fear but her back was already against the wall. The hands tightened slightly around her own in an attempt to ground her. Slowly she looked up to see who they belonged to. Her blue eyes met green ones. Adrien was awkwardly sat in front of her, his own tied hands holding hers. His suit appeared to be torn and she could see very obvious cuts littering his skin. His eyes were red-rimmed and stray tears fell from them. A small smile graced his face when their eyes met.

It connected in her mind that this was Chat Noir. How had she not realised, he had been right in front of her the entire time. She wondered if she'd just told him who she was to begin with if they would've been able to avoid the entire mess with Hawkmoth. She was startled out of her thoughts when she heard him speak.

"You kept the earrings," he said suddenly. Fresh tears had welled up in his eyes and his smile had widened. She was confused for a minute before she remembered the earrings. The earrings he'd given her for christmas, the earrings that despite everything that had happened between them she'd never taken off. She was surprised that he still remembered them, they seemed so insignificant now given all they'd been through.

Her mind flashed back to all those weeks ago when she'd tried to throw them out, when she'd barely been able to stand the sight of anything to do with him. She'd been so full of anger and rage that she'd nearly thrown away one of the most important things in her life. It wasn't about the earrings at all, it was about him. If she'd thrown away the earrings she knew that she would never have apologized to him, that they never would've regained their friendship.

"Of course I kept them," she said with a smile, "I couldn't just throw them away."

She couldn't tell what he was feeling at the words. Tears fell down his face and within the darkness she could make out a faint blush on his cheeks. He gave her an odd look that seemed to be between happy and something else. Then his hands left hers and he sat back.

"Why did you come Mari? You shouldn't of come," the words were full of sadness and guilt. She was surprised at that, of course she'd come for him, she'd told her so herself. She wasn't about to let him die when she could do something about it. It almost hurt that he doubted her but she could understand where it came from. He had no clue how it had seemed to her when he mysteriously disappeared and some part of him obviously thought that she would blame him and get mad.

"Why wouldn't I have come?"

Those five words seemed to break him. The floodgates that had been holding back his tears broke and they streamed down his face like water from a waterfall.

"I thought you'd hate me," he spluttered out. The words broke her heart. How could he ever think that, he was the most selfless person she'd ever known. She knew where his fear came from but it didn't make it hurt any less. She felt like it was her fault, like she hadn't been good enough. Why else would he harbour such a fear. Why else would he think she'd hate him?

"I could never hate you kitty, I love you," she stuttered out. Her own eyes began to well up with tears at her words.

He shook his head, "please don't lie to me Mari. I know you don't love me, I'm not worth loving. I messed everything up. I broke your trust, I got you captured, I hurt you bugaboo. How could you ever love me? You should've just left me here, then at least you'd be safe."

She couldn't believe his words. She wanted to slap some sense into him but couldn't with her hands tied up. He blamed himself for everything that had happened, it wasn't his fault and she knew it. Besides, all of that, it was in the past. It didn't matter anymore to her, all that mattered was him. He was hurting and she couldn't do anything to help him. Even after everything he'd been through he was still willing to sacrifice himself for her because he didn't believe that he was someone worth loving.

She could see the guilt and self loathing in his eyes. It shone through like the sun through the clouds. She could practically hear his internal mantra of 'it's all my fault' and she felt terrible. She wanted to comfort him but just didn't know how.

"Now you listen here Chat Noir, none of this is your fault. I chose to come for you because I love you. I couldn't just leave you here, it was my choice." She shouted at him.

Adrien frowned at her but then turned away. "I don't matter, you're all that matters. I'm not worth saving." Marinette tried to scooch herself closer to him to give him the comfort he clearly needed, and maybe a slap in the face for thinking so little of himself. Of course he mattered, he'd always mattered. He was a superhero, he saved lives, most importantly he was one of her best friends. He was worth saving. She was concerned that he thought so little of himself.

"That's not true Chat, you're the superhero, not me." She reminded him.

His expression morphed into the perfect model smile he used. The smile that hid what he really felt but she could hear the strain in his voice. "I'm no hero. A hero wouldn't be in this mess, a hero would have saved you. I may act like I'm a hero but that's just a mask. I'm not a hero Marinette, I'm just me."

"Stop lying to yourself," she yelled at him. His body stilled in shock at her words but she wasn't done yet. "You, Chat Noir, are a hero. You've always been a hero. You were always there for me despite how you were feeling. You stood up for me against Chloe when she told me to step on lego. Hell even now, look at what you're doing. You're willing to sacrifice yourself for me. So what if you're not a stereotypical hero. Chat Noir, you-" She broke off the sentence in tears as she looked at him. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she spluttered out the end of her sentence.

"You are my hero."

He said as he finally looked back at her. He was smiling, an actual real smile and for a second she forgot the situation they were in. She just couldn't feel anything but pure joy at seeing his smile again. It was brighter than any sun. "Adrien, my name is Adrien." She was surprised at the admission, but smiled anyway. His words sunk in and she felt so happy that he knew that he could trust her with his identity. Sure she'd heard that he was Adrien from Alya, but hearing the words from him suddenly made it seem that much more real, that much more special. Of course it was him, of course fate would be this cruel. The boy she'd fallen for because of his kindness and then the cat she'd later fallen for because of his personality, they were one and the same. Chat Noir and Adrien Agreste were the same. While she'd known that before, it was so much more real now.

She reached for his hands and encased them in her own. He looked at their interlocked hands then back at her, his eyes twinkling. A small smile graced his lips as he looked at her. His smile lit up the room and she couldn't help but smile back.

"If we don't make it out of this Adrien, I love you." Somehow she'd managed to say the words without becoming a stuttering mess like she usually did around him, maybe it was the situation or maybe that it was she realised that he was who she'd been talking to the entire time. She didn't have any reason to be scared around him anymore, he knew her and all of her insecurities, she'd told him them all as Ladybug, and he didn't care. He'd still told her that he loved her despite them.

"I love you too Marinette," he whispered.

Before either of them could say another word they heard the echo of slow clapping sounding around them. Both of their heads whipped around to find the source. The source of it was surprise surprise, Hawkmoth. "Aw that's cute, you two love each other, how sweet," he mocked with venom seeping into his tone. She felt undeniable rage towards the man before them, they were having a moment!

She felt Adrien's hands leave hers and her hands felt a thousand times lighter. She could've sworn that there had been more weight to them than the weight of Adrien's on hers. She tried to move her hands and was surprised to feel the rope that had once tied them slip off of her wrists. She chanced a look back at Adrien whose expression had taken on a cocky smirk. The smirk was so unlike his usual smile that it almost surprised her, the smirk was the same kind of look she pictured Chat often wearing as he made his dumb puns at her. She hadn't noticed it before but he had somehow managed to completely untie her feet along with his own. She couldn't help but be impressed, even with his hands literally tied he was still a hero.

Adrien cocked his head to the side as he looked at Hawkmoth with the ridiculous grin on his face. She knew that he was about to say something that was most likely stupid, probably a pun. Then he opened his mouth and spoke, "Yeah well what can I say? Eiffel for her!" Yup, stupid, she deadpanned in her mind. The pun was so out of place that she almost found herself laughing at it, she couldn't help it.

Hawkmoth was however, unsurprisingly not amused by Adrien's pun. He glared at the boy with a look that could bring even the strongest man to his knees. She knew that if that gaze was directed towards her she would probably shrink back beneath it. Yet Adrien kept smiling at him. He didn't appear at all phased by the murderous glint in Hawkmoth's eyes, nor the look that made it seem like he was trying to murder him with his mind. Adrien just kept smiling, she wondered how he could smile at a time like this, how he could be so bright when they were literally backed against the wall.

His hands were still tied, the ropes that bound them appeared looser but not loose enough for him to slip free. She moved herself closer to him to try and reach for his hands so that she could untie them. He pulled his hands into himself away from her before she could take them. She gave him a puzzled look, what was he doing?

"You're free, get out of here, I'll be fine," he whispered beneath his breath. She moved back a little in shock at his words. She was offering him freedom yet he was so willing to give it up for her. She frowned but didn't say anything, it was a miracle that Hawkmoth hadn't heard him and she wasn't about to chance her luck in replying. Yet, she knew that there was no way in hell that she was going to leave without Adrien by her side. They'd leave together or not at all.

His ropes were loose she noted, maybe he could slip them. She turned her attention away from her crush and back to the mad man who stood in front of them. He towered over them like a giant and to anyone else he would've been intimidating. However, Marinette was determined. She refused to shrink beneath his gaze like she so desperately wanted to.

She thought back to her anger towards the man. He'd taken Adrien, he'd threatened him, he'd threatened her. He was a monster, he didn't deserve her fear. She knew that in actuality she was afraid, terrified even. Yet when she looked back at Adrien she remembered what she was here for, what she was fighting for. This wasn't for her, this was for him, she had to be brave for him.

She turned her gaze towards Hawkmoth and did her best to look intimidating, something hard to do when you're being towered over by a man probably twice her height. He smiled and even had the audacity to laugh. She felt anger bubble up inside her as she glared at the man.

"You know you think you're so clever and all, tying us up and seeking your revenge but there's one vital thing you didn't realise," she said her voice verged on dangerous as she spoke. She was almost surprised to hear the words from her own mouth but she swallowed her surprise. Now wasn't the time for surprise, she had mounted her horse, it was time to ride it out.

Hawkmoth just laughed at her words. "Yeah, and what's that," he asked sounding way to amused for Marinette's liking.

She got to her feet and pushed the ropes out of her way. She mustered all of her inner Ladybug, the confidence, the bravery and walked up to their tormenter. She stared him down and tried her best to look dangerous. "Nobody messes with my kitty," she growled at him. She swung her arm back and slapped him clear across the face. The resounding slap echoed throughout the room and they all stood in stunned silence.

Hawkmoth raised a hand to his cheek in surprise on reflex to her sudden action. It was clear to her that he obviously hadn't expected the action. If she was being honest with herself she hadn't expected the action either. All of her anger had just bubbled up and caused her to act without thinking.

"You'll pay for that," Hawkmoth growled. She backed up on instinct, she knew that he was less than stable given his reasoning for wanting to take Chat down. She backed up further until she felt her back against the wall. He walked towards her threateningly and she struggled to keep hold of her growing panic. He had his hands clenched into fists and his hands raised ready to strike. She knew it was futile to escape, she had backed herself into a corner and she couldn't get out without facing Hawkmoth's wrath. She mentally braced herself for whatever was about to happen.

Suddenly she heard Adrien's voice from across the room. "Hey Hawkmoth," he said without a sliver of fear in his voice. He sounded so confident given the circumstances. Hawkmoth turned his attention off her and onto the distraction that Adrien had inadvertently created. She looked over at him and saw that he had gotten to his feet and somehow he'd managed to free himself from his ropes.

"What is it kitty," Hawk Moth asked with annoyance clear in his tone.

"Stay away from my lady," Adrien yelled. He flung himself at Hawkmoth which caused the two of them to tumble to the ground. It was impossible to tell who had the upper hand in their fight. It looked like as soon as one got a hit in the other got two more in.

She pushed herself to her feet and searched the room for anything that could help Adrien in his struggle. A silver baton glinted under the light in the corner of the room. She ran over to it and picked it up. It had a lime green paw print on it and she quickly realised that it was the one Adrien had used as Chat when fighting the criminal world.

Adrien and Hawkmoth had now gotten to their feet and it was clear that Hawkmoth now had the upper hand. Adrien was scrambling to dodge his cane as he tried to hit him with it. She hadn't even noticed Hawkmoth pick up the cane before but it obviously gave him the edge over him. However, she thought to herself with a smile, that edge wouldn't last long. She knew that Adrien was an incredibly talented fencer so as soon as he got his baton, he'd likely get the edge he needed in order to allow them to make their daring escape.

"Chat Noir, catch," she yelled as she threw his baton at him. He jumped up and intercepted the baton in the air. No sooner than it was in his hand it was being used to block Hawkmoth's cane. The two began to dance around the room in a heated fencing match where they appeared to be equals. Damn, Marinette thought, there goes their chance. However, she was thankful that at least now Adrien had a fighting chance.

Marinette searched the room for anything that could help them escape. She kept Adrien and Hawkmoth in the corner of her eye so that she wouldn't get in the way of their fencing match, something told her that if that happened it wouldn't end well for her. She walked around the room until her clumsiness got the better of her and she tripped over something that had been lying on the floor discarded.

Surprisingly he picked it up with his spare hand and threw it at Hawkmoth. "Release the quackin," he yelled. The duck just bounced harmlessly off Hawkmoth's head and landed on the ground with a strangled quack. Hawkmoth gave him a very unimpressed look but Adrien just shrugged. "What can I say, the pun is mightier than the sword."

"We're not even fighting with swords," Hawkmoth yelled exasperated.

"Well if we were that'd be just purrfect," Adrien said sarcastically as he swung his baton and they continued their 'sword but not really sword' fight.

"Yes, because I'm pawsitive that you would lose."

"Pawlease, what a hissterical thought."

"You've cat to be kitten me, of course I'd win."

"Why are you lion Hawky? Would it be hawkward for you if you lost?"

"Not as much as a catastrophe it'd be for you if you did."

"Purrhaps, but I'm clawsome with a sword."

"You're purrety pawful compared to me."

"Are you fur real? That's purrecious, I'm doing catastic!"

"Are you feline the taste of defeat yet Chat Noir?"

"Why are my puns beginning to bug you? Are you ready to admit that you're simply clawful at them?"

"Will you two stop with the damn puns!" Marinette yelled from across the room which drew the two's attention away from their sword fight. She realised her mistake when Hawkmoth stopped focussing on him and turned his attention to her. Knowing she had limited time she quickly tossed the pillow to Adrien who stared at it in complete and utter confusion. In an absence of ideas he began whacking Hawkmoth with it while she swung her yoyo in an attempt to get it to tie around his feet, unfortunately, she took Adrien out with the yoyo instead. He fell over the string and dropped the pillow to the ground all while glaring at her.

"Seriously m'lady? I already fell for you once," he joked.

Hawkmoth took his attention off of her and began to once again advance on Adrien. She frantically tried to free her yoyo from his legs but it only served to tighten its hold on him. He realised the danger he was in and sat up to frantically try to free his legs from the yoyo string. Hawkmoth pulled out a dagger and smiled terrifyingly at Adrien. Adrien tried to move away but the yoyo prevented him from getting far. He brought the dagger down on his struggling form and she saw red.

She grabbed the lightbulb from her bag as it was the only thing she had left. She glared at him, anger consuming every bone of her body. "Nobody hurts my kitty," she growled. "Lucky charm!" She gripped the lightbulb and threw it with all of her strength. As luck would have it, it hit its mark. It hit him square in the head. By some miracle, she'd managed to throw it with enough power to knock him out.

Adrien and her both stared at his fallen form in shock before she remembered the stab wound that he had likely suffered. She ran over to him and collapsed to the ground beside him. The dagger had managed to avoid anything major and had just managed to cause a deep cut along his right arm.

He sat up with a smile on his face like he hadn't just almost been stabbed to death. "Here I was thinking that I was the light of your life," he joked.

She froze in surprise before she facepalmed. "You're lucky that I like you, Adrien,"m'ladyshe said as she untangled him from theyoyo string. He quickly got to his feet, ignoring the blood flowing from his wrist.

"ShaM'lady?" he asked as he offered his arm to her.

She looped her arm around his and returned his smile, "we shall."

Arm in arm they walked out of the building with smiles on their faces. However, they immediately came face to face with a police officer who looked less than pleased with them. He appeared sweaty and out of breath despite the fact that his car was right next to him. He glared at the two teenagers before him even though Marinette knew that he likely recognised Adrien as Chat Noir.

"Chat Noir," the man greeted curtly. Adrien nodded at the man but offered no verbal response. She noticed that the man was examining him and herself very carefully with an analytical eye but wasn't saying anything about it. She felt uncomfortable under the man's gaze as it turned more directly towards her. She knew that the police force would have no clue who she was other than the fact that she was dressed in a ladybug suit.

"You're late, Ladybug and I already took care of Hawkmoth so you can give the big tough police officer act arrest," Adrien joked. Marinette didn't fail to catch his referral to her as Ladybug, the name she had texted him under. The officer was about to respond when Alya suddenly screamed at them from the distance and ran over to them. She practically bowled over the police officer in her excitement to get to the pair.

She held the camera up at the ready. They could both tell that she was filming them. She began to talk very quickly, so quickly that neither of them could make out the words. She practically vibrated with excitement making it impossible for her to keep the camera still. "So Ladybug, huh?" She said with her eyebrows raised.

"I- uh- um" Marinette stammered awkwardly.

"Does this mean we have a superhero duo in town," she asked energetically.

"Sure," she exclaimed panicked. She didn't know what had come over her, she wasn't sure she could even handle the responsibility that came with being a superhero. However, when she saw the clear excitement on Adrien's face at the words she knew that she wouldn't regret it. She may not be a hero but he could show her how. They could be heroes together.

"You heard it here first viewers, we have a superhero duo in town. Give a round of applause for Ladybug and Chat Noir," Alya shouted to the camera as she mimed clapping.

Marinette quickly ushered Alya away as she didn't want to deal with the spotlight in that particular moment, she just wanted to be with Adrien. They were safe now and she wanted him to know that. She wanted to hold him tight enough that nothing could ever hurt him again. She just wanted him safe. So she took him to her family bakery and snuck in past her parents up to her room.

As she wrapped his arm up with a white bandage that was quickly stained red the question that she'd wanted to know the answer to for weeks finally left her lips. "Are you okay?"

"I got stabbed and you're asking me if I'm okay?" he said amused.

"I mean other than the stab wound. You've been missing for ages Adrien, are you okay?"

He smiled weakly and placed his left hand over hers. "Yes purrincess, I'm feline fine." His smile didn't quite reach his eyes however so she knew that he was lying. She moved her hand out from under his and shook her head.

"You're not fine."

He looked down at his feet and bit his lip. His left hand began to absentmindedly trace patterns along her desk. "Yes alright, I'm not fine. I'm starving, tired and I'm hurt, but don't worry about that Mari. What really matters is you, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, I'm not the one who's been fighting crime alone for weeks, now am I?"

"I'm not alone anymore though, am I?" he said with a cheeky yet hopeful grin. His eyes still remained fixed to the ground however as if he was dreading her answer.

"No you're not, you have me now." She said with a smile as she swung her arm around his shoulders.

"Now and forever?" He asked.

She smiled at the question, it was what she'd told him when she'd first told him that he had her. She'd told him that he'd have her now and forever, she couldn't believe that he still remembered the exchange. She held his hand and lifted his head so that his eyes would meet hers.

"Now and forever," she confirmed. He smiled at her. She hated to break the moment but she knew what she needed to ask him. "Why did you run away?"

Within seconds his smile had melted away and his eyes were transfixed on the ground. He took a deep breath in. "I-I-" he began before cutting himself off as emotions filled him. Renewed tears streamed down his face and he couldn't bring himself to look at her. "I can't do this." He was about to get up to run when she quietly put a hand on his shoulder as a signal to stay.

"How about I get you some food and a cup of tea and you tell me over that?" she suggested. He nodded so she went downstairs to make tea and get croissants. She took it back upstairs to him and his eyes widened in a look of pure longing when he saw the food. He quickly snatched up one of the croissants and ate it. His face lit up as he bit into it.

"This is the best croissant I've ever had." She smiled at the compliment and thanked him. They sat in silence for a while as he munched on croissants and slowly drank his tea. She was content to just sit there with him as he ate for the first time in who knows how long when he suddenly began to speak.

"I ran away because I couldn't take it anymore," his voice shook as he spoke. She wanted to tell him that he didn't have to tell her, that he shouldn't given how uncomfortable he appeared to be as the words were spoken but she couldn't bring herself to speak. He continued with his voice shaking as he spoke, "my father, he's been different ever since my mother disappeared. No matter how hard I tried he'd just ignore me, I had to hide the Chat Noir part of me to even get him to look my way. The entire time I was there I was asking myself 'why doesn't he love me, what have I done wrong' but I could never find the answer. It's been eating me up inside ever since she disappeared, I just wanted to feel loved, to not be lonely anymore but it wasn't meant to be. Then I met you, Nino and Alya and thought that maybe, maybe I wouldn't be lonely anymore-" he cut himself off. She knew that he had more to say but couldn't bring himself to say it.

"Take your time," she said with a smile. She knew that whatever he was going to say was anything but good, not that what he'd said earlier was good. In fact, it was heartbreaking. To think that he felt unloved even in his own home.

"Then it all came crashing down," he continued, "you hated me, Alya hated me and I was

convinced that Nino was going to feel the same soon. Then on the same day, my father threatened to pull me out of school and I just snapped. I couldn't stay there anymore so I did the only thing I could, I ran. Home is where the heart is after all, and mine just wasn't there."

Tears were flowing down both their faces when he finished talking. He buried his head in his hands before he looked back up at her. "I don't want to go back to being alone," he whispered.

"You have me," she said reassuringly. She swore to herself that she'd always be there for her kitty so he'd never have to feel alone again, he deserved that much. After everything he'd been through he deserved to know that he would always have someone there for him.

"I guess I should go home now," he said quietly as he looked at his feet. She pulled him into a hug and held him tightly to her chest.

"Stay as long as you need to," she whispered into his ear as she handed him another croissant. He hummed in content as he savored the delicious flavor.

"Be my girlfriend?"

"Yes.''

"Did it hurt?" he asked suddenly, shocking her out of her happiness. She stared at him for a minute with an impassive expression.

"I swear if you say did it hurt when you fell from heaven I'm breaking up with you," she deadpanned.

He grinned at her, "actually I was going to say did it hurt when you fell for me?"

He got his answer in the form of a pillow colliding with his face.

When he'd returned home his father had listened to him and promised that he'd be there for his son rather than focussing on his work. He told Adrien that he'd still be able to be Chat Noir because as he'd said 'even if you told me I couldn't I'd just find a way to anyway'. It probably helped that he knew that at the very least he had Marinette to back him up if anything went wrong. So Adrien had agreed to go home and the first thing he'd done upon getting there was check on his beloved cat Plagg. Plagg had proceeded to bug him until he got fed cheese and then hadn't left his side for the entire day.

The next day Adrien had returned to school much to the shock of his classmates. As soon as he'd seen him Nino ran up and hugged him. "Good to see you again bro, don't you dare do that to me again."

"Nice to see you too bro," Adrien responded jokingly. Nino and Adrien then began not so secretly discussing what Adrien had been up to while he was missing and his times as Chat Noir. It turned out that Chat Noir had become famous within their school along with Ladybug.

"Dude seriously though, I can't believe that Marinette went and saved you," Nino said still shell-shocked by what had happened which Alya had told him over the phone that night.

Marinette who'd been listening to their conversation chimed in. "Of course I saved him, I couldn't just abandon my kitty cat again."

"Yeah, but the fact that the two of you took down a big time super villain. It's incredible! How'd you do it? Was it amazing, incredible, astounding?"

They shared an awkward look, neither of them wanting to admit that they'd actually stopped Hawkmoth with a lightbulb of all things. It was kind of embarrassing to admit the pure luck they'd caught when the lightbulb had somehow miraculously managed to knock Hawkmoth out.

"I prefer the term miraculous," Adrien said with a laugh.

"I just can't believe that you're finally together. To think Nino, all we had to do to get them together was to make a super villain kidnap Adrien and get Marinette to go and save him."

"I think you mean catnap," Adrien said with a wink.

"Yeah, operation Adrinette failed every time because we were missing that one crucial element. How could we not have realised that we needed a supervillain to bring the two idiot lovebirds together?" Nino joked sarcastically.

"I know right! You two sure are made for each other," Alya said with a wide smile.

Adrien smiled at that and swung an arm around Marinette. "What can I say, I'd be lost without my bugaboo."

"Aw Chaton, I feel the exact same way," she answered as she leaned into Adrien for a kiss. When their lips connected it was like time stopped and fireworks lit up the sky. Alya and Nino made gagging gestures at the couples cuteness even though they both found it absolutely adorable. Alya then began trying to decide what ship name she should actually use for them, she settled on Adrinette. However that wouldn't stop her talking about 'LadyNoir' on her ladyblog much to Marinette's annoyance and Adrien's amusement.

4 years later

Marinette

Adrien

(7:09pm)

You've cat to be kitten mew!

(7:10pm)

We've discussed this. u need to stop the cat puns, they are a catastrophe!

(7:11pm)

Someday I will purrsuade you to love puns as much as I do!

(7:12pm)

Uve been trying the past 4 years and u still havent succeeded.

(7:14pm)

I don't want to sound catty, but just because I haven't succeeded yet doesn't mean I never will. Just you wait purrincess, just you wait.

(7:15pm)

Stop with the goddamn puns. They aren't funny.

(7:16pm)

That's a hissterical joke there m'lady. I happen to know that my puns are hilarious.

(7:18pm)

They weren't funny then and they arent funny now.

(7:19pm)

Aw come on buginette, my puns are spot on. Do they bug you?

(7:20pm)

Ur a nerd

(7:21pm)

Yeah but I'm your nerd.

(9:09pm)

Ladybug! Remember how I said I was going to make me reveal romantic?

(9:10pm)

That was years ago and I believe that plan went a little awol.

(9:11pm)

That wasn't my fault!

(9:13pm)

U were the one that decided 'hey whats a good idea... Ik ill annoy the supervillian'

(9:15pm)

Well what would YOU have done?

(9:17pm)

Ignored the supervillain texting my phone!

(9:18pm)

...

(9:18pm)

Shut up.

(9:20pm)

Anyway back to the romantic reveal thing...

(9:21pm)

The romantic reveal that didn't work out because u decided to antagonize a villain and got urself kidnapped.

(9:23pm)

Shhhhhhh

(9:24pm)

Anyway, do you want to try the romantic reveal thing again?

(9:25pm)

Adrien this may shock u but I already know ur secret identity so u cant really reveal it again.

(9:26pm)

Yes as truly catastrophic as that is maybe I have something else I want to reveal ;)

(9:28pm)

Hahaha yeah sure :/

(9:30pm)

I have a feline that you might be in for a surpurrise there purrincess.

(9:31pm)

STOP

(9:31pm)

WITH

(9:31pm)

THE

(9:31pm)

GODDAMN

(9:31pm)

PUNS

(9:32pm)

Make me :P

(9:33pm)

Maybe I will ;)

(9:34pm)

Are you flirting with me bugaboo?

(9:35pm)

Whatcha gonna do about it tom cat?

(9:36pm)

;)

(9:37pm)

I may only have nine lives but I'd spend all of them with mew ;)

(9:38pm)

U think u can win the pick up line contest? Well tough ive gotten good :)

(9:39pm)

Let me tie ur shoes, I don't want u falling for anyone else.

(9:40pm)

You've got to be kitten me right meow, you're purrfect.

(9:42pm)

Are you a sheep because you look unBAAleivable

(9:43pm)
I'm a cat, you should know that. Especially given that your beauty has sent me straight to purrgatory.

(9:44pm)

Even if there was no gravity I'd still fall for u.

(9:45pm)

I want to spend every meowment with you ;)

(9:46pm)

U must be the speed of light because time stops when I look at u.

(9:47pm)

Hey, you stole that one from me!

(9:48pm)

Whatcha gonna do about it?

(9:50pm)

Cat got ur tongue?

(9:51pm)

You wanna know the best thing in my life, it's the first word of this sentence. ;)

(9:52pm)

U win this round :(

(9:53pm)

Face it buginette, you can't top my smoothness.

(9:54pm)

Yes but I can top u in not making stupid decisions.

(9:55pm)

It was one time!

(9:56pm)

U got kidnapped by a supervillain because u were dumb enough to antagonise him

(9:57pm)

How was I supposed to know he was serious!

(9:58pm)

HE WAS THREATENING U

(9:59pm)

Very poorly.

(10:00pm)

Ur impossible.

(10:02pm)

Hey, if it hadn't been for Hawkmoth u would never have found out my identity.

(10:03pm)

Ud been planning on telling me before u got freakin kidnapped!

(10:04pm)

Yes, but lets face it, it was really cute the way it happened ;)

(10:05pm)

Yeah nothing like a life threatening situation to set the mood :/

(10:06pm)

For the record tho I'm glad it's u

(10:07pm)

Well I'd hope so given we've been dating since...

(10:08pm)

I was trying to be sweet!

(10:08pm)

I'm really glad u were Chat, I couldn't imagine anyone else better.

(10:09pm)

Aw bugaboo, a tear just welled up in my eyes.

(10:10pm)

I'm glad you are Ladybug.

(10:11pm)

Now back to my romantic reveal ;)

(10:12pm)

Omfg back to that again?

(10:13pm)

Yes, meet me at your family bakery in five?

(10:15pm)

Fine but this better be good kitty cat.

(10:16pm)

Trust me it will be ;)

Marinette walked into the bakery feeling more than a little annoyed at Adrien. It was almost 10:30pm at night, she had been planning on getting a good night's sleep for once but now that plan was out the window. She saw him standing across the room with a bouquet of flowers in his hands. He was dressed in a nice suit with a green tie on that perfectly brought out his eyes. She stood frozen to the spot, they'd been together for a year now and everytime she saw him her heart went boom. The room felt like it was spinning as her heart stopped for a second, she just couldn't help it, he looked so amazing and she couldn't believe that this man was her boyfriend.

He walked across the room and handed her the bouquet with a small bow. "M'lady," he said with one of the biggest smiles she had ever seen on his face. He took her hand and gave it a kiss as she continued to stand frozen. She just simply stared at him in a state of shock, she hated herself for how she couldn't seem to find her words. She mentally screamed at herself to get it together, this was Adrien, her dorky boyfriend, he wouldn't care if she made a fool of herself he'd just smile at her like normal.

He offered her his arm with a smile, "shall we?" She looped her arm around his and he lead her out of the bakery. Once they had left the bakery he removed his arm from hers and offered her his hand instead. She gladly took it and reveled in the feeling of his skin on her own, his hands were so warm, she felt safe and protected with him by her side.

"Where are we going," she asked as she finally managed to gather her words. He looked confused for a second then seemed to realise what she had just said. He pointed towards a park in the distance so she figured that they were going there. She wondered why he was making such an effort, they usually just went out with their friends or to a movie or a restaurant maybe but never something like this. She couldn't help but wonder what he was planning.

He lead her over to the park where she saw that a picnic spot had been set up on the ground. He gestured for her to sit down so she did and he sat beside her. "You know how I said that I'd take somewhere romantic because I wanted it to be memorable?"

"You said that ages ago and it never worked out anyway," she reminded him. She couldn't figure out where he was going with this. He leant back and looked up at the stars with a dopey smile on his face. She couldn't help but smile at how his eyes sparkled beneath the moonlight, it was almost supernatural how beautiful they looked. She forced her gaze off of him and towards the night sky. The stars twinkled in the night sky and shone down on them. It felt so surreal.

"You saved me, you know," he said suddenly. His eyes were still fixed on the sky. She wondered where the comment had come from, it was so sudden that it caught her off guard. She tried to think of what the comment might mean, did he mean in the physical sense or an emotional way. "I would've died without you," he continued on. She looked at him in horror, she had known that was the truth but hearing it out loud was more painful than a knife to the heart.

"I couldn't let you die Chaton, you mean too much to me," she said honestly. She meant the words, even though he had once broken her heart at the same time he'd worked his way into it. She'd fallen for him and she had no clue when she just hadn't been able to bare the thought of what might happen if she hadn't been there.

He turned his gaze from the sky towards her. He looked at her as if she were the sun, his eyes sparkled as they met her's. His face was lit up so beautifully, not only by his sparkling eyes but by the moonlight that shone down on them.

"And I love you too Princess," he said with a smile as he held out a small box to her. She looked down at the box in confusion, the gears turned in her head. Why was he giving her a box, it wasn't a special day or anything. He was anxious, she could tell, even though he kept the smile on his face his hand shook slightly and his other hand couldn't seem to keep still. She wondered why he was so anxious about such a small box. She took it from him and gave him a smile.

She opened it up and almost dropped it due to her shock as to what was inside. Inside the small little box was a silver ring with a small red gem on it. It sparkled beneath the moonlight and looked like something out of a fairy tale. She looked from the ring to him in confusion.

"So Marinette, you know that if stars fell every time you made me smile then the sky would be empty." Seriously, she thought, could he ever stop the damn pick up lines? "I love you more than words could express, so if you'll have me, will you Mari me?"

"Oh, Adrien, of course, I will," she said with a gigantic smile on her face. She took the ring from the box and slipped it onto her finger, it fit perfectly. With bright smiles on their faces, they both leant into each other for a kiss. It was like they were the only two people in the world, and in that moment they were. The deep passionate kiss they shared under the stars was unlike any other. As they broke the kiss they both had huge smiles on their faces.

"Together," he asked.

"Now and forever."

Unknown to the two Alya and Nino were hiding in the bushes in the background. Alya turned to Nino with a smug grin on her face as she held out her hand. He sighed and reluctantly gave her $10. This was the last time he bet on their relationship he decided. Alya just smirked at him, "told you it would happen." Then to add insult to injury she started playing bet on it loudly through her phone, not only annoying Nino but spoiling Adrien and Marinette's moment.