so... this started as a short story... I began writing and it evolved into something longer. so... hope ya'll enjoy.

~inudigifan201

Ch, 1. Don't let the bug out of the bag.

It was an accident. He didn't mean to see. But, he did.

He wasn't all there at the moment when he ran to find a place to transform, he even went to the wrong bathroom. He was tired and wasn't paying attention. What he saw woke him right up.

And there she was. The girl of his dreams had been right… behind him the entire time.

He still transformed after she had left. He still fought by her side like nothing had changed. But, his whole world had been shaken. And, he liked it… No, he loved it!

Marinette… Marinette is Ladybug! He smiled at the thought.

It made so much sense now. Same voice, hair, build… eyes. And personality wise… Ladybug was just a bolder, more confident version of Marinette. They were the same… she was the same person. It was so obvious now!

After all his searching and pining… he found her… by accident. And he couldn't be happier.

After the mission, it took all of his willpower to not run to her parents' bakery and plant a big ol' fat kiss on her lips in civilian form.

No, he had to respect her space. He had to respect her wishes.

Although, respect wasn't getting him anywhere.

Now that he knew, he wanted her more. He wanted her to be his and his alone. He felt a bit selfish, but he knew he would treat her like the goddess she is. So, he wasn't being completely selfish… right?

He could see their life together now. A beautiful wedding, a cute little house in the country side (or whatever kind of house she wanted), a sewing room for her, at least two kids, and whatever pets those kids wanted. He knew he would be a better father than his own. He would actually show his kids he loved them and he would actually be around for them.

But, something felt like it was standing in his way of happiness. He wasn't sure what it was, but he decided to tread carefully and test the waters.

So, there he was. Sitting on a roof overlooking the bakery. It felt cozy and inviting before when he visited as Adrien. But, now… it never felt more like home.

Surprisingly, Plagg didn't put up much of a fight when he wanted to transform again so he could visit her as Cat Noir. He knew himself as Adrien seemed to make her uncomfortable and he wanted to know why. He wanted her to love him. He wanted her to want him all on her own. Although he wanted her more than ever now, he still respected her and her feelings. But again, respect wasn't getting him closer to that wedding he began planning that day or the kids he had yet to give names too. He knew he at least wanted a little girl; as beautiful and talented as her mother.

Plagg shrugged and said "whatever" and that was it. He didn't barter for more cheese or anything. It was almost like he wanted Adrien to transform. It wasn't like him. But, Adrien couldn't exactly ask him what was up while he was Cat Noir. And he was already outside the bakery. There was no turning back.

He knew she had no problem talking to him as Cat Noir, but it kinda bugged him that she seemed to be avoiding him as Adrien.

A light flicked on in her room. Now or never. He jumped down from his perch and soon found himself on her balcony. He knocked on the trap door that lead to her room softly. He didn't want to give the love of his life a heart attack.

She opened the door with a confused look on her face, but, as soon as she saw him the confused expression faded into a more annoyed one as she rolled her eyes.

This wasn't the first time he had been over as Cat Noir, but this was the first time he actually knocked. The other two times he didn't need too. The first time she was already at the front door when he arrived. And the second time he was chasing down a remotely controlled Alya as Lady Wi-Fi. This was the first time he was there as Cat Noir just to visit. It was nice. He wanted to do this more often. He didn't want to ever leave.

After she had climbed out to her balcony, she took a deep breath and gave him a sweet smile. "What brings you all the way to my house this late?"

Even when annoyed she was still sweet and respectful. He loved it.

He smiled wide. "We don't hang out much." It wasn't a lie.

Confusion overtook her again. "Why do you want to hang out with me?"

He shrugged. "Our paths cross quite a bit and I thought it would be wise to get to know you better." Again, he wasn't lying. He wanted to know everything about her.

She smiled and rolled her eyes. "Wouldn't you rather hang out with Ladybug?"

His cat ears drooped. "She doesn't seem to want to hang out with me."

She became confused again. He was beginning to love that look. "Did you two have a fight?" She already knew the answer.

"No, we get along great… but, she's strictly business. Is it so wrong to want to hang out and get to know my partner in crime fighting." He shrugged and threw his hands up in the air. "I know she's more than just the mask. I've known that since day one."

"Ya." She shrugged. "She is. I'm sure it's nothing personal. Actually, I'm pretty sure she holds you in high regard. She's always saying in interviews that she can't do it without you."

He gave her a hopeful smile. "And what do you think of me? Just curious."

She shrugged again. "I think Ladybug is lucky to have you as a partner." She gave him a sweet smile. "You're brave and loyal. Albeit, a bit of a flirt."

He chuckled a little. "I only flirt with Ladybug."

She smiled and rolled her eyes. "Then what do you call kissing my hand when Ladybug asked you to protect me from the Evilastrator?"

Crap! "I was being a gentleman." That wasn't flying.

She raised an eyebrow. "Uh huh." She crossed her arms and gave him a condescending smile. "Right… and Chloe Bourgeois isn't the Mayor's daughter." She giggled. "Just admit it. You're a flirt."

It took every ounce of him to not pounce on her and have his teenage-boy-fancies way with her. With just one look he had been reduced to a pile of mush and desire. He melted every time she gave him that look as Ladybug, but now, as Marinette… it was deathly intoxicating. He couldn't explain why, it just was. He was putty in her hands.

He chuckled a bit. "I haven't flirted with Chloe." That was the truth. She was really starting to get on his nerves. Sure, he'd be nice in respect their former friendship, but she was really starting to annoy him to no end. He shrugged. "I guess I just have a thing for cute girls with black hair in pig tails and blue eyes."

She blushed.

He did too. Did he really just say that out loud?

A moment of complete silence passed. And it was killing him.

"So…" He broke the silence, finally. "Speaking of your classmates…" He gulped. "What do you think about Adrien… Adrien Agreste?"

She blushed even harder. As if all her blood had suddenly rushed to her face. She was almost as red as her mask when she transformed. "Adrien?" She squeaked. She smiled and waved off whatever thought she was thinking. "He's nice and sweet and smart and a bit of a dork and… dreamy." She sighed dreamily. She then looked back at him with a smug condescending smile. "And not a flirt like you." She pushed him away from her by a finger to his nose. Just like her alter ego.

He melted. "So you like him?" He blushed even harder.

She sighed dreamily again. "Oh, I just only have the biggest crush on him." She then sighed with a more depressed tone. "But, I can't tell him because whenever he's around I just get so flustered and can't speak."

He chuckled a little. "Ya, I'm the same way with Ladybug. Except, I don't think when I'm around her." He sighed dreamily. "I once had a chance to find out who she was under the mask, but I closed the door. It's what my head told me to do. But, my heart was screaming at me to open the door wide open. To learn the identity of the woman I love." He admitted.

She was taken aback.

"I've wanted to know who she is since the day we met. So I could tell her to her face that I love her. No matter what." He confessed.

She smiled sweetly. "I never took you for a romantic."

He shrugged and blushed. "It's how I really feel about her. I fell in love with her the day we met. And I haven't been able to stop thinking about her ever since. Wondering who she is under the mask so I could show her who I am and give her all of my heart." He chuckled a little. "I honestly don't know how I function; since I'm always thinking about her."

A twinge of guilt overtook her face. "She's really lucky to have you."

He sighed. "And I'm really lucky to know her."

He contemplated showing her right then and there, but he didn't want her to freak out. She had just told him she had the biggest crush on him. And, he did just say that he's in love with Ladybug. And she didn't know that he knew who she was. She didn't see him earlier that day in the bathroom. He really got himself into a mess. It dawned on him. Tomorrow he could ask her out as Adrien. She would say yes of course because she liked him. He smiled when it dawned on him that she listed his personality first when she was talking about him. He really didn't care that she called him a dork. He could be her dork. He wanted to be her dork.

But, he wanted her to know now. And to know that he knew. He didn't want to wait till tomorrow. He wanted her to know everything now. No more secrets between them. He wanted to just start their lives together. Kiss her as much as he wanted. Marry her. Give her as many children as she wanted. Grow old together. He wanted it all. But the only thing standing in the way of their happiness together were these stupid secret identities.

"Hey." She waved in his face. "Are you ok?" She gave him a concerned look. "You kinda spaced out a little."

He blinked at her. A nervous smile crept onto his face. "Ah… I'm fine… ok, I'm ok. Don't worry about me Princess."

She rolled her eyes. "Hey, it's getting late. Maybe you should head home. Get some rest, ya know?"

He nodded. "Ya, you're right. Goodnight Princess." He got up from where he was sitting and walked over to the railing.

"Hey Cat Noir?" She stood up.

He looked back at her after he hopped up onto the railing and grabbed his baton. "Yes?" maybe she changed her mind and wanted him to stay.

"Why do you call me Princess? I'm not rich or royal." She shrugged and rolled her eyes.

He chuckled softly. "Because it suits you. Besides, most fairy tales I've read the girl isn't born into royalty. Take Cinderella for example. She was practically a slave to her step mother and sisters. Belle from Beauty and the Beast was an average maiden in an average town. I could go on, but as you said, it's getting late." He gave her a wink. "Goodnight Princess." He gave her a salute and jumped down to the street below.

She ran over to the railing and watched him jump from roof to roof and disappear into the night.

She sighed. "Well this princess doesn't have the same feelings for her night in black leather as he does."