"Do you think we could ever have a normal life, Chat?" Ladybug asked, her legs swinging gently as they sat at the top of the Eiffel Tower. It had been three years and she still couldn't come to terms with this. Three years of rooftop chases and moonlight patrols. Three years of dastardly akumas and cheeky partners.

Chat leaned back on his hands, looking over at his partner, "What do you mean?"

"Well, I was thinking...never mind, it's silly," she shook her head.

"Well, now you have to tell me," he teased, sitting up in interest.

Ladybug scowled, rolling her eyes, "I just...I've never had a boyfriend Chat. I have to constantly make excuses for why I'm so tired or annoyed or missing class. And...it's never normal. I never get to be 100% real with anyone."

"You haven't told anyone about being Ladybug?" he asked, curious, the teasing lilt in his voice dropping.

"No, have you?"

Chat shook his head, "I've been tempted. I think my best friend would keep the secret. I know he'd be cool with it, but..."

"You don't want to put him in danger," she finished for him, "Same here."

"But hey, we've managed this far. Being Ladybug shouldn't stop you from dating and having fun and being normal."

She hugged her knees to her chest, "I'd be lying to whoever I date though. It could never go anywhere because I'd be keeping half of myself from him."

Silence fell between the two heroes, both spiraling into their own thoughts. Chat wrestled with the words, his whole body wanting to scream Then date me! But they had agreed, no reveals. And if they dated as Chat Noir and Ladybug, there were still the other halves of their lives being kept. There was still a wall that was keeping them from being whole together.

Ladybug dwelled on another blonde haired, green eyed boy in her life. On how easy it was to talk with him, and make him laugh, and how happy he made her. Yet...fate had other plans. Beyond him only seeing her as a friend, Marinette still couldn't be herself around him. Not truly.

Somewhere in the distance, a clock struck one in the morning. Ladybug stood and dusted herself off, "Sorry for the mood killer, chaton. I'll bring cookies next time."

"Purromise?"

She groaned, "Only if you keep the puns to yourself."

"To mewself? Impawsible!"

Despite her protests, Chat was able to bring a smile to her lips and that was all that counted. Even if it was matched with her eye roll, "Good night, Chat."

She flicked out her yo-yo and swung off, taking a few extra turns on the off chance that anyone was watching. Light engulfed her room as she detransformed, landing with a soft thump on her bed. Tikki swirled into existence, watching her chosen carefully.

"That was a heavy conversation," the small kwami mentioned.

Marinette sighed, getting ready for bed, "Yeah, sorry. It's just been on my mind lately."

"Why?"

"Just something Alya said actually. She was talking about Nino and how much she loves him and all these plans they have after graduation. And she said she wanted me to get to experience it, that I needed to tell Adrien and get it out but..."

"You don't love him?" Tikki guessed.

"I wish," she said, "I still care so deeply for him, but I don't want to lie to him. And if it ever went the way Alya and Nino's relationship was going, I'd have to tell him. And it would put him in danger."

Tikki hummed as she ate a cookie, her eyes watching the young woman as she paced the room a bit, thoughts swirling in her mind. "It's not impossible. Many Chat Noirs and Ladybugs have had happy full lives, filled with spouses and children."

Marinette looked at her sadly, "But I can't do that. Not to someone who can't see both sides of me."

"What if you told Chat Noir who you are?" Tikki suggested, forcing her charge to stop mid step and look at her.

"But... it has to stay a secret."

The small kwami resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Marinette had grown so much over the past few years, but sometimes the scared teen still poked through, "When you first got me, yes. When your partnership with Chat was still forming, yes. And it would be better to wait for Hawkmoth's defeat, but there is always going to be someone else to fight. You shouldn't sacrifice happiness for momentary safety."

Turmoil and indecision crossed the young woman's face, but also temptation and longing. Tikki knew her too well. The desire to be whole with her partner, with the man that she put all her trust and hope on, was too strong. She just needed a little push, "Many bugs and cats ended up together as well. You cannot face the impossible with someone day in and day out without falling at least a little bit in love."

"I have to tell him," she whispered, fear slowly being replaced by hope and love, "I have to call him right now!"

"Wait, I-"

"Tikki, spots on!" Another flash of light and Ladybug jumped out onto her balcony, pulling up her yo-yo to call, "Chat? Gah, this is so stupid, you're probably already asleep, but...I have to talk with you. Because Tikki, my kwami, she's right. She made me see it. I can be normal. You...we can be normal. Oh, I'm messing this all up. Meet me at the Eiffel Tower. I really hope you're not asleep."

Ladybug hung up the phone and swung over to the tower. She landed gracefully and immediately began to pace. What if he didn't show? What if he was asleep? What if...

She stopped dead in her tracks. Was she really ready for this? For him to see all of her? There was a part of her that screamed yes, the part that has been begging to know who her flirty kitty is, but she couldn't quite ignored the part that was terrified.

The mask was comfortable, a friendly wall between her and the world. Marinette could hide her insecurities, her doubts, her failings, with just a strip of red fabric. As Ladybug, she could take on everything the world had to offer. Was she ready to give that up with Chat?

"Ladybug?"

She turned to face her partner. He was uncertain, a bit dazed, looking at her as if she could break him. Marinette smiled, yes this was right. She didn't need a mask to take on the world, she just needed him.

"Hi chaton. I...I didn't mean to scare you. I, um, well..."she floundered with words. This was Chat, but...it was altering her life. She could never go back from this moment.

"Cat got your tongue?" he asked, the joke falling a bit flat, but an attempt at levity nonetheless.

"I want you to know who I am!" she nearly shouted, forcing it out before she could dwell any further. Chat grew still, like a deer in headlights, processing.

But slowly, radiantly, a smile grew on his lips, and before she could say anything further, he cried, "Plagg claws in!"

Marinette quickly called off her transformation, not wanting to see him before she lost her courage. Light flashed around them and she closed her eyes against it, then kept them closed, afraid. One last barrier.

"Marinette?" the voice was filled with awe and adoration. Her name falling from his lips. It sounded like music from the heavens.

She opened her eyes, a laugh bubbling up past her lips as she said her chaton's name with as much care as he said hers, "Adrien."

And just like that, two halves were finally whole.