A/N: Oh it has been too long! I'll start off with apologizing. I moved to a new city and it's been busy and stressful to settle in so far away from my tiny home town, with my new job that keeps me constantly busy. But somehow, for some reason, you all keep reading and supporting my story. I know there isn't much Nathanette work out there, but it still means so much to me when you guys read it and leave me such nice reviews. Now that I'm finally settled into my new home, I'm hopeful to finish this story within a year or two. Check the bottom for more notes, and from the bottom of heart - please enjoy. You waited long enough haha.

Nathanael sat at his desk, roughly running his fingers though his head. On his laptop in front of his were pictures of Adrien and Chat Noir. How had no one ever picked up the connection? The more he looked at the two it was strikingly obvious that they were one in the same. Much like Ladybug, he did very little to truly alter his appearance. His hair tousled differently and his green eyes were just more green.

It was getting late and Nathanael's eyes were burning and begging him to sleep. Grudgingly he crawled into his bed. He lay on top of the sheets until he fell into a fitful sleep. His dreams were filled with Marinette and Adrien and left him feeling unsettled the whole night through.

He awoke to a bright Paris Sunday. The light fought its way into his room through the semi closed blinds, determined to bring cheer and promises of lazy afternoons. But Nathanael didn't feel lazy or cheerful. He felt confused and tense. He lay on his side, grumpy and unrested and thought about how much he needed his own sidekick in all of this.

There was just too much resting on his shoulders. Not only did he have to protect Marinette and her secret, now he had to protect Adrien if he was in fact Chat Noir. Then from there he had to keep that secret from both of them. If Adrien really was the feline hero should he even bring it up to him? Adrien already suspected him of having some kind of affair with Ladybug.

Were Nathanael to become his confidant as well Adrien might expect him to give up what he really knew about Ladybug. Adrien might be a pretty boy, but he was anything but stupid. He might even connect the dots to Marinette and Nathanael might even lose her. His brow furrowed at that.

Marinette wasn't really his. He felt kind of dirty just thinking that. Not that she belonged to Adrien either, but they seemed to have destiny pulling them together. It couldn't just be coincidence. Maybe for now it was in everyone's best interest that he kept it to himself. At the very least until he could prove that Adrien was Chat Noir.

Opening the window and leaning out of it, he wondered if keeping a secret was really any different than lying by omission about their identities. Where would it leave him morally. Ladybug and Chat Noir had promised each other that they wouldn't unveil their true identities, but was that a promise that Adrien and Marinette had made? Marinette who loved Adrien so fervently, and Adrien who adored Ladybug?

Nathanael slumped onto his windowsill, resting his head on his arms. This was really a quite the pickle. Still, he was firm in his conviction to wait until he could be totally sure that Adrien was Chat Noir. It wouldn't be very difficult to provoke his interest if Nathanael continued to spend time with Marinette. Though it did mean actually spending time with Marinette as Ladybug and perhaps avoiding Marinette as herself. She might not be his, but he wasn't totally ready for her to be Adrien's. Their growing friendship was starting to mean more to him with each day. Not to mention she had agreed to go with him to the dance.

"The dance!" Nathanael cried as he scrambled away from the window. He'd been in such a fit about Adrien he had completely forgotten to tell Juleka that he had made good on his end of the bargain.

He grabbed his phone from his bed and sent her a text saying he had big news for her. It wasn't until after he had gotten ready for the day that she sent a text back to him. It asked him to meet her at their normal cafe. He hadn't been there since he discovered that Marinette was Ladybug. That felt like a lifetime ago. A quick text back to Juleka and he set off for the cafe.

The streets were about as busy as you'd expect from a warm Sunday. The cafe had many customers coming and going, but not too many who were sitting down in the plush chairs. After ordering a coffee and a pastry and settling into a cozy spot by the window and the wall, he got another text from Juleka.

"Mom roped me into some chores. I'll be a little late, but I'll be there. Sorry," it read.

Nathanael rolled his eyes and began digging in his backpack. Juleka was rarely on time for anything and he wasn't very surprised about this. He had brought along some unfinished school work to keep him occupied. It was just bland and boring enough for him to eventually zone out and into study mode.

He wasn't sure how long he had been working on the project before someone plopped down into the chair adjacent to his. His pencil stopped and he looked at the person across from him. The look of surprise on his face was unconcealed when he saw who it was. It wasn't Juleka, who was of course still late, but Alya. She gave him a big smile.

"Ah... um, hi? Alya?" Stammered Nathanael.

Aside from being classmates he and Alya had very little interaction. He followed her blog, because she was an incredible writer and journalist. Then again, half of Paris followed her blog so it didn't really make him special. Not to mention she was Marinette's best friend. Imposing before, but now that he had information about Marinette (and by extension Ladybug) that even she didn't have, he was completely unsure about how to act.

"Hey, Nathanael. What's up?" She said brightly, setting her drink on the table.

"H-homework mostly," he said shyly.

"Oh me too. I actually saw you working on that project for history and was hoping maybe we could figure it out together?" She asked.

"Sure," said Nathanael. "But I've got to warn you, I have no real idea what I'm doing."

"Okay good, neither do I," said Alya laughing. She began to dig around in her laptop bag for her school work. "I didn't know you liked to come here."

"It's out of the way," he said. "I like to work on my art or homework. Less distraction here than the library."

"I here you there," she said. "This is my secret little oasis. The one place I don't even think Marinette knows I go to."

"I didn't know you kept any secrets from Marinette," Nathanael mused. When he realized it was a blunt thing to say he quickly added, "You just seem like such good friends."

"Well it's not like I keep a secret stash of other best friends here," she laughed. "She has her secrets and I have a few of mine. That's just normal."

She left that thought in the air for Nathanael to muse over for a while. The started on the project and got a decent way through before eventually calling it quits. Juleka was still out on her chores and Nathanael knew it would be a while before he'd hear from her. Alya and Nathanael both got another drink and settled back down into their chairs. They admitted to one another it was nice to work alone, together. Maybe they could even make this a weekly thing, the had suggested.

Alya took her laptop out presumably to do some work by herself. Nathanael was taking his sketch book out of his bag when Alya put her hand on his arm. The small act startled him and he looked her in the eyes. Her face had a compassionate look he wasn't expecting.

"Something wrong?" He asked a little worried. She withdrew her hand, but her eyes remained calm.

"Speaking of secrets, I may have had a slightly different motive to come sit with you," she said sheepishly. Nathanael began to melt into his chair. Did she feel pity for him? Was she going to ask him to back off from Marinette. He braced himself.

"Marinette told me a while ago that it was you who had been hit by the Akuma," she said. Nathanael didn't respond, unsure where she was going with this.

"Well," she said. "That's one thing I really do keep from her. Sure I've written a blog post about it, but that was only as much as I dared put into words. I've never really told her about being Akumatized. She's never experienced it. She wouldn't understand and I wouldn't want to put so much emotional baggage on her."

"I'm not sure why you're bringing this up to me." He asked quietly.

"I just... I guess it's a little unfair of me. I just kind of need someone to talk to about it. That feeling, that voice in your head. It's selfish, but I just want someone to talk to about it. Especially with feeling it again yesterday. You can say no if you want to," she said a blush of guilt on her cheeks.

Nathanael considered her for a few moments. She seemed to be sincere about it, not trying to trick him. He could understand her emotions. A lot of mixed up feelings were inside him about the whole ordeal. Maybe it would be nice to have someone to talk to about it. Juleka would just use him for writing material.

"Are you going to put this conversation on your blog?" He asked.

"Only if you wanted to. I really want to find out who Hawkmoth is, and putting as much information out there for the masses and police to read couldn't hurt. But you are entitled to your privacy."

"You've got a point about Hawkmoth. Okay, you've got a deal. But on one condition," he said. Her eyes lit up.

"Anything," she said.

"If you write anything about me, I'd rather it leave me anonymous. Given how often Ladybug has been saving my butt, I don't want to become anyone's target," he said. It was the truth. Given his connection to Marinette, it would be much safer to keep his identity hidden as well.

"Then you've got a deal, partner," she said holding out her hand. Nathanael shyly shook her hand.

She got her laptop set up on the table and opened some writing documents. A pad of paper and a pencil sat next to her as well. Nathanael was impressed by her dedication to Paris. She was just as much a hero as Ladybug or Chat Noir. Not to mention her bravery to put her Akuma event into words.

"I'm just going to ask you some questions about your experience, so just answer honestly. I'll do my best to avoid gendered words or particulars that would give you away," she said as she typed away on her computer. Nathanael just nodded.

"You were recently Akumatized?" She asked.

"Yes," he said simply.

"And the reason for this?"

"Love? Rage... Embarrassment."

"You can say Chloe," she said laughing. He chuckled slightly too. "Anyway, tell me what you remember about Hawkmoth."

"It's really fuzzy, you know. I had the worst headache after it all happened, and I really don't remember very much. Just emotions and a few small events. They almost feel like dreams. I remember his voice. It was deceitful. He promised me powers and love and revenge, if I got him... something."

"Ladybug and Chat Noir's Miraculouses," Alya added.

"Oh yeah, that's it. But I also remember... Not caring very much about that. I was driven beyond measure by the emotions that drove me to be Akumatized in the first place. I might have even tried to fight Hawkmoth I think."

"What? What do you mean by that?"

"I'm not really sure. I just know I wasn't very interested in finding those Miraculous."

"What happened?"

"Hawkmoth... took some control over my body..."

"Are you serious?"

"I... it's very fuzzy, Alya. I think that's what happened."

"That's really scary."

"Yeah," he said and stared out the window. Alya look at him, a feeling of worry in her stomach. If what he said about Hawkmoth was true that meant he had more control over Paris than she had thought before. Still Nathanael looked so tired. Maybe she could ease him into a more personal topic...

"When you came out of your Akuma'd state, did you still feel love for that person?"

"Hawkmoth? No not at all," he said with surprise.

"No not Hawkmoth. You said before that you had love for someone and that drove you in part to being caught in Hawkmoth's web. Do you still like her?"

Nathanael looked at Alya with a deer in the headlights look. It wasn't exactly a secret that he liked Marinette, but what was her reason for asking. Did she support their relationship? Or did she want to see it crumble before it began in sake of Adrien. He chewed on his lip.

Luck would have it, however, that he wouldn't need to answer her question. At least not today. Right outside the window a car was thrown and crashed into the street. The disturbance was loud and the cafe all jumped in shock together. They all poured out onto the street to watch as Chat Noir and Ladybug chased... well nothing? Nothing, no that couldn't be it.

A faint shimmer of the light set off mummers in the crowd of some kind of chameleon Akuma. Alya had her phone out to record the event, talking to Nathanael about it and asking him questions. Of course, he didn't really know any of the answers. He had no idea who it was, where they came from or what they had been turned into a monster for.

He felt a tap on his shoulder and saw Juleka behind him. He smiled broadly at his and made a silent motion for them to go into the abandoned cafe. Glad to escape from the awkward line of questioning that Alya might still have for him. Everyone was outside watching the super duo fight the Akuma. Nathanael put his phone on the table, just in case Marinette might need his help.

"I'm so sorry I'm late," she said.

"That's okay, I expect it by this point," he said with a laugh.

"So, this information you have for me is more important than watching that Akuma fight outside?"

"I mean you're free to go and watch, but you'll miss hearing the outcome of our recent bet," he said slyly. She stiffened and looked him in the eyes, tossing her purple hair out of the way.

"Nothing is more important to me in this moment," she said being dramatic on purpose. "Did you really ask Marinette out? That's really crazy! What did she say? I mean, knowing her it was probably a no as she prays Adrien will ask her."

"Actually... she, uhm... She said yes," Nathanael said with a deep blush spreading out on his cheeks. "I mean, it's not really like she said yes because she wants to go on a date with me, but she owed me a favor and I may have told her that it was mostly for you and Rose, but still yes. She said yes. To a friend date."

Rose lunged forward and pulled her friend into a hug. Nathanael laughed as she held on tightly to him telling him how proud she was of him and that it still counted as a date. He couldn't help but smile at that. He did have a date with her to the dance in the end. Him, not Adrien or anyone else. That had to count for something cosmically.

"But now," he said as he detached himself from her embrace. "You have to hold up your end of the bargain."

Nathanael sat out on his roof, staring out over the starry night. When Alya had finally returned to the cafe she had, no doubt, been unable to find him. He felt a little guilty about ditching her, but he wasn't about to admit to Marinette's friend and subsequently the whole internet that he was head over heels, deeply in love with Marinette.

A smile crossed his face as he remembered Juleka blanching as he told her she had to ask out Rose. She stammered and promised that before the week was over she would do it. On their walk home he promised her that he would support her in any way, and that Rose was bound to say yes.

He had spent the rest of the day, trying and failing to not think about Chat Noir, and doing the rest of his homework that was due for the next few days. His goal before the week was over was to try and come to a final consensus about the true identity of Chat Noir. After he was sure one way or another, then he would decide what to do about it.

In the meantime he would have to avoid Marinette and seek out Ladybug. He sunk into his knees sadly. That thought saddened him. Of course they were one in the same, but it was Marinette at the core he wanted to be with. Ladybug was just a part of her. A part that he was also very attracted to, and admired deeply.

Yet he couldn't stop thinking about that day in the rain when she looked so defeated. She had told him that Ladybug was the part of her everyone cared about. Hell even Adrien overlooked the sweet Marinette in favor of Ladybug. Of course if he was Chat Noir he'd spend more time with Ladybug anyway.

Still, it was Marinette he cared about. He wanted to show her that she was every bit Ladybug with or without the costume. He wanted to scream it from the rooftops. Then maybe continue to yell about how much he adored her. But if he avoided the girl he cared so deeply for in favor of the femme fatale that everyone else loved...

It would be crushing for her to start to think that he only cared about Ladybug. That somehow, through getting to know her, he found Ladybug more interesting that her. His brows were deeply knitted together as he thought about all the new situations he was subjected to.

But maybe... Maybe this dance could be a way to tell her how much he cared for her, Marinette. He wasn't going with Ladybug, he was going with Marinette. Sure it was a friend date, but maybe he could look her in the eyes and tell her how much he adored her. Tell her how much she inspired him. How lucky he was to be her nameless sidekick.

He almost had let himself dare to think about kissing her when his phone buzzed. Snapped from his reverie, he unlocked his phone to look at the new message. It was from Alya. He had her number from a school project they had worked on a few months ago. His stomach twisted in knots.

"Sorry I lost you at the cafe! I wanted to thank you again," it read. His anxiety calmed and he typed a response.

"It's okay. And you're welcome. Let's do it again next week. :)" He hit send and before he had even shut his phone off Alya had responded. Her texting skills were unmatched.

"Also, Marinette told me you asked her to the dance and she agreed. Looks like I got my answer," she said. His stomach dropped into his feet. This would be a new problem if it got on her blog. This would negate everything he had planned on doing regarding Chat Noir.

He spent the night refreshing her blog, looking for the post she had written this afternoon, until he eventually fell into a deep, restless and dreamless sleep.

A/N: And there we have it folks. I know not much action or fluff happened here, but we've got some new players in the game. I've really got a good feel for this story and it's outcome, but we've still go quite a ways to go. The next chapter is going to be a little something special for Valentine's day, and while it will be cannon to the story, it will probably be fluffy filler. As always, thank you for your patience and your support. I plan on giving back everything twofold. Until next time!