"Are you ready?" Marinette asked Adrien as they stood suited up and hand-in-hand outside the ballroom doors.

"Yeah." He tugged at his collar, bell tinkling faintly. "We're gonna have a great time, Bug."

She knew he wasn't completely fine, but she still hoped he was right. The whole team loved Chat Noir—even Queen Bee, after learning that he'd been the one to convince Ladybug to give her a second (or third, or fourth) chance. Whatever awkwardness might arise from his civilian identity, right now he would just be surrounded by friends.

"We are." She stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek before sweeping her free arm out towards the door. "Shall we?"

Her imitation of one of his signature poses sent him laughing. "After you, my Lady."

When he pushed open the double doors, the party was already in full swing. When she dropped off the pastries as Multimouse earlier, Marinette had told Alya not to wait for Ladybug and Chat Noir. She'd originally intended to reveal herself to Alya today, but it didn't feel right until Adrien was ready, too. Besides, Alya would have too many questions if she saw Marinette dating "Chat" but mooning over Adrien again.

A projector screen hung along the far wall, which displayed Alya, Nino, Kim, and Alix's rapidly rising Just Dance scores. Nino must have broken out his classic Wii, from the looks of it; Max and Markov were adjusting the volume so "Hot N Cold" didn't completely destroy everyone's eardrums. Luka had a couple Rock Band guitars propped against the wall, but Marinette doubted he'd get the other four off of Just Dance long enough to play it. He was currently strumming a real guitar while leaning against the snack table next to Kagami, who was piling dessert pastries onto a styrofoam plate. Which left—

"Ladybug! Chat Noir!" Chloe practically tackled the two of them.

"Hey Chlo—Chloe." Adrien flinched back, pushing her away as gently as possible.

She didn't seem to notice (or care). "You two finally made it! I thought you got stuck picking out your outfits."

Marinette and Adrien shared a secret smile.

"Something like that," she said, and Chloe looked them over with a pout.

"But you came suited up! You're not joining the rest of us?"

"Not right now, Chloe," Marinette said before she could nag Adrien about their reasons. "We're still ready for the party, we just… want to stay transformed a little longer. We won't have much reason to from now on."

It wasn't the whole truth, of course, but a bittersweet feeling still tightened in her chest. Everything was going to be different. She wouldn't need to patrol with Adrien twice a week. She wouldn't spend Saturday nights holed up in a hotel room with their team, trying to decipher Max's calculations, practicing battle strategies, eating unholy amounts of pizza.

Adrien squeezed her hand. "I can think of plenty of reasons. We still never found out how high my baton can go."

Even after all this time, her face warmed at the memory. "You make a good point."

Maybe this time they could share a kiss up high without making complete fools of themselves. Or maybe she'd keep her lips to herself long enough to actually find out if the staff had a limit.

"You're not… you're not going to take our miraculouses now that this is all over, are you?" Chloe asked with a glance towards Pollen, who was dancing to the blaring music with Kaalki. The other kwamis were chatting amongst themselves, probably just as excited to be together again.

"No, Chloe." Marinette smiled softly. "I think Pollen deserves to stay out of the miracle box a little longer, don't you?"

"You really—? I mean, yes, of course she does! I couldn't have said it better myself." She flipped her hair while smiling smugly. "Well, if you're not going to reveal yourselves yet, at least do me a favor and crush Rena and Carapace for us. They won't share the screen until they lose."

Adrien laughed. "Us? Beat Alya and Nino at Just Dance? Never gonna happen."

"Nope," Marinette agreed, popping the p. "You want to go get our butts kicked though?"

"Absolutely."

Convincing Alix and Kim to give up their Wii remotes was nearly as impossible as beating the two Just Dance champions. Alix was ahead of Kim by twenty points, and even if he had no hope of beating Alya or Nino, Kim wanted to at least pass her.

"Try your luck at Rock Band later," Marinette said without remorse.

"Yeah, come on Kim! You wouldn't stop me from playing Just Dance with Ladybug!" Alya added.

"Or me with Chat Noir." Nino slung an arm around Adrien's shoulders, looking so comfortable it was hard to believe Nino didn't know his identity. But Chat and Carapace had taken to each other just as quickly under the masks as without.

"Alya, we've been working together for two years now. I thought you were done being starstruck." Marinette rolled her eyes affectionately. Alya had always been her biggest fan—besides Adrien, of course.

"It's not every day I get to play my favorite video game with you though!"

Kim and Alix finally parted with their controllers, and Alya graciously allowed Marinette and Adrien to pick the song. From experience playing with them at Alya's house, Marinette could already guess what her boyfriend would pick.

"Please?" Adrien cupped the Wii remote between his hands under his chin. As if she could ever say no to his kitty eyes.

"Wannabe it is." She giggled and selected the Spice Girls song.

"This is my best bro's favorite too!" Nino grinned.

"He has good taste then," Adrien said with a discrete wink towards her.

She'd seen Adrien dance with them before, but he always looked just a little like he was holding back. This time though, he put his whole body into the stomps and arm movements with reckless abandon, his tail swaying with the rhythm. Of course his score wasn't anything like Alya and Nino's (and neither was hers), but that didn't matter. They found themselves going face-to-face, dancing and laughing and belting "I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want!" until her lungs could barely handle it.

"I love you so much," Adrien gasped, green scleras glinting as he grinned.

Sure, she'd been dating him for three weeks now, but that didn't make him any easier to resist. She tugged on his bell and stretched up to kiss him.

"Really? I gave up my remote for them to do this?" Alix huffed. "Come on Guitar Boy, get ready to set up Rock Band. I don't think anyone can make out while playing that."

"I wouldn't test them," Luka replied with a chuckle.

Marinette blushed. She wasn't embarrassed about kissing her boyfriend in public—they deserved it, after keeping secrets for so long—but Adrien's adoring smile still never failed to bring heat to her cheeks.

The song ended with Nino's score just a millimeter above Alya's, and Adrien and Marinette's barely passing two stars. Oh well. They were here to have fun, not break any records.

"As thrilled as I am that my second-favorite ship is sailing, we'd better get off the screen before Alix and Kim go bananas," Alya said.

"Second-favorite?" Adrien sounded affronted. "And whose romance could be more stunning than mine and my Lady's?" He tugged Marinette close to wrap his arms around her waist and glare at Alya over the top of her head.

"Hers and Nino's, obviously," she said. "They've been my couple goals forever."

Alya did a double-take at that. "Really? Ladybug wants to take notes from me?"

"And me, babe!" Nino slung an arm around her shoulder. "So what I'm hearing is plenty of double dates once all the masks are off, right?"

"You know it! I mean, er—if you still want to," Adrien finished awkwardly.

"Of course we will! You guys are our best bros." Nino held out a fist to Adrien, who blinked for a moment before tapping his knuckles.

"You're my best bro too, Nino. Thank you." His voice sounded choked up and distinctly more Adrien than usual in the suit.

"Now if only we could make it a triple date with my real OTP." Alya sighed.

"Wait, you weren't talking about us?"

"You don't count yourself in an OTP, babe. I may not have gotten to see Marinette as much lately with all the Hawkmoth stuff going on, but I still haven't given up on her and Adrien."

"Wh-what?" Adrien blurted. "You ship—I mean—nope, I think that summed it up pretty well. What?"

Marinette's head whipped back and forth between them. There was no way to stop this from being horribly embarrassing, was there? Not even Kim belting Eye of the Tiger while Max and Luka played the electronic guitars could distract them.

"They're a couple of our friends from school. I'm sure you've met them; lots of girls got akumatized over Adrien before."

Adrien rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I think that rings a bell."

She flicked his actual bell to distract him. "Don't worry, Kitty. Nothing like that is going to happen again."

"Right. No more Hawkmoth." He forced a thin smile.

Maybe bringing up akumas or Hawkmoth at all was a bad idea right now.

"Anyway, I'm sure Marinette loves him too," she said while maintaining eye contact with him. She wished she could offer more, but the only thing that would really help him was time.

For now though, her words were enough to soften the tense hunch of his shoulders.

"And I'm pawsitive he loves her more."

Alya looked between them in confusion, but it was Nino who actually spoke up.

"I just hope he's doing okay, since his dad, y'know…"

Adrien tried to hide a wince, but Marinette was too used to reading him.

"I hope so too." She squeezed his hand.

"You know he's staying here at the hotel, right?" Chloe edged in, holding a cup of punch. Pollen was perched on her shoulder and looking drowsy already.

Nino jolted before giving a quick nod. "I was going to check on him after the party. He's texted me on and off since everything went down, but…"

"But he deserves to have his friends around him right now," Alya finished. "To be honest, I felt a little bad still throwing this party, but I knew how much it meant to everyone."

"I—I don't think he'd want you to feel bad," Adrien said quickly, and Marinette nodded.

"You heard what he said to the press. He was as grateful Hawkmoth is gone as the rest of us."

"He was wearing his model smile, though. The dude's too good at pretending he's okay."

Adrien's hand stiffened in hers. He was good at pretending. But he shouldn't have to pretend now.

"Maybe we shouldn't be talking about him like this," she said. "I'm sure he's had enough people talking about him behind his back."

"We just want to help." Chloe pouted. "Believe me, I know all about gossiping about people. I wouldn't do that to him. Even if he does decide to date Dupian-Che—er, Marinette."

Her face pinkened, and Marinette couldn't help smiling. It was probably the nicest thing Chloe had ever said about her.

"Just how long were you listening?" Adrien scowled.

"Long enough." She shrugged. "I still think we should've invited him, even if he'd be jealous of Chat."

Marinette raised an eyebrow beneath her mask. "Jealous? Why?"

Chloe rolled her eyes. "Puh-lease. As if his crush on you isn't the most obvious thing in the world. He has more Ladybug merch than I did."

Marinette bit her lip and glanced at him, but he didn't even show a hint of embarrassment at the accusation. Knowing him, he was probably proud of his collection. Maybe she'd have to see if his stash was as extensive as her old photos of him.

"Sounds like someone just wants to sink my ships," Alya muttered, but Chloe shook her head.

"I'm being serious. A visit from Ladybug would cheer him up more than anything."

Adrien smirked. "I don't doubt that."

Marinette barely had time to smack him before Luka and the others who'd been playing Rock Band—Max, Kim, and Kagami—strolled up to their group, Alix not far behind. Even the kwamis looked like they were listening in from a distance. Because her and Adrien's love life was everyone's business, apparently.

...Granted, she had been kissing him as Chat in front of everyone, so she really had no room to talk.

"What's going on?" Luka asked.

"Nothing," Marinette said, her face burning at this point. It was nothing compared to the red blooming beneath Adrien's mask, but somehow her boyfriend was still grinning.

"I'm just saying I think Adrien should join our party," Chloe said with a hand on her hip.

He startled at that, tail standing up straight. "I don't know about that. This is miraculous welders only, remember?"

Luka frowned. "Why not? He used the snake miraculous before I did, didn't he?"

"He's certainly deserving of one," Kagami added. "He's been a true friend to me, even when I switched romantic targets. His fencing skills would make him an excellent battle partner as well."

"It sure would be nice to fight crime with my best bro."

"He has a ninety-eight percent likelihood of being an asset to our team."

"I bet he'd love wearing a suit that wasn't designed by his dad."

Marinette stared wide-eyed at the circle of her friends, all speaking up for him. She shouldn't be surprised; she wasn't the only one who knew how amazing Adrien was. Of course, that made it hard to make up an excuse for why he couldn't join them.

She wrung her fingers nervously. "W-while that would be a great idea in theory, the problem is… um…"

The familiar weight of Adrien's hand settled on her shoulder. She looked up to find his green eyes glistening with tears.

"It's okay, Bug. I—I guess you were right, as usual." He chuckled, and before she could ask what he meant, he said, "Claws in."

Green light crackled over him, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. And then Adrien Agreste stood at the head of their circle, meeting each pair of staring eyes with a timid smile.

The room went silent. Well, as silent as it could with Rock Band's song selection screen blasting Carry on Wayward Son in the background.

"Adri… Adrikins?" Chloe gasped, the faintest tinge of horror in her voice.

"No way…" Alya breathed.

Marinette tangled her fingers through his suddenly-clammy hand. She thought for sure their friends would be excited to see his face, but maybe he was right. Maybe it would bring down the mood too much, and Adrien would feel guilty, and he would isolate himself even more, and he would feel terrible forever—

"Bro!" Nino shouted, clasping him in a firm hug. "It's you! I knew I liked Chat Noir for a reason!"

It was like Nino's reaction flipped a switch. The shock drained out of Alya's face; Kagami gave a genuine smile. Even Kim clapped him on the back.

"No wonder you couldn't be Viperion," Luka said with a strum on his guitar—which was the Rock Band one, so it didn't make any sound beyond a soft click-click. Kagami hid a laugh behind her hand at him.

"Honestly, a lot of things do make more sense now." Alya tapped her chin before her eyes widened. "Wait, if Adrien's dating Ladybug then—I just told you all about Marinette's crush on you!"

"Well now you did." She rolled her eyes

"Something tells me she won't mind, though." Adrien smiled and stroked the curve of her cheek. Would she ever get used to feeling his bare skin on hers?

She laughed, turning to Alya and saying, "Spots off."

The wait was worth it just for the way her jaw dropped.

"No WAY!"

Their friends laughed and all started talking at once—except for Chloe, who shrieked before turning bright red.

"You're—ugh! I was utterly ridiculous to you!" She hid her face in her hands.

Marinette patted her shoulder, almost jostling Pollen, who was somehow still sleeping. "I knew who you were when we let you join the team, Chloe. I think we're both better than we were in college."

"Still wish I caught your reaction on video, though." Alya smirked.

"...Shut up, Cesaire."

Adrien cleared his throat. "So you guys… you're not mad? That I'm related to Hawkmoth and—"

"Dude!" Nino balked. "I've always hated your dad. Doesn't make you any less my bro, bro."

"Of course. You are a wonderful person, Adrien," Kagami added. "You were my first friend, and I would never betray your trust."

"The odds that you are in any way tainted by Hawkmoth's influence are a clear zero percent." Max smiled.

"We just want you to be okay." Alya put a hand on his shoulder. "You are our friend, no matter what. Everything we said about Adrien when we didn't know he was, well, you, we still mean it."

Tears welled in his eyes again. Marinette stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek, heart rising at their friends' support.

"See? We're not going anywhere," she whispered near his ear.

And they weren't. Not for the rest of the night they spent playing games and eating desserts. Not for the next week, where they each took turns spending the night in Adrien's hotel room.

(And, for Marinette, not for the rest of her life.)

A/N: Probably not as aesthetic as the other chapters, but juggling like ten characters is super hard oof. Really wanted everyone to be there to support Adrien at the end though :) I hope you enjoyed and this is officially finished!