Ahhh it's finished, in exactly a month, lookie there.

I want to thank everyone who has reviewed, followed or favorited this story, you guys backing me up has honestly been so wonderful! I send hugs to everyone, seriously, you all rock 100 outta 10

Please enjoy the very end of this story, hopefully it doesn't have too many mistakes since my eyes are stinging yay

Without further delay, chapter 22:

OOO

Nino said the ice cream tasted great.

Adrien wouldn't know, he was too busy staring at Marinette to even process it.

The four found somewhere to release their transformation, having a short kwami introduction. (Plagg managed to not die when Tikki, Marinette's kwami, gave him a hug, which was a miracle to behold in his opinion.) Then the heroes headed to a small little ice cream shop that Alya knew about as the night got darker, layered with clouds.

Soon Nino, Alya, Marinette and Adrien got mint chocolate chip, brownie swirl, cotton candy and strawberry respectively, none of the kwamis were interested in ice cream so Marinette passed out cookies to them all. (She was already the favorite. Drat.)

After a couple minutes in the shop, Nino dragged Alya away and made up some excuse about homework or something, leaving only Adrien and Marinette for the good sized distance to walk home. Bless his best friend, really.

They talked for a while, about nothing in particular, video games, kwamis, Plagg and his stupid cheese, before finally transforming to hurry home as the sky shook with thunder.

Of course it was raining, of all the nights. Plagg's gift just didn't end.

By the time the two got to Marinette's balcony, drops of water were starting to splatter, cutting their good bye short. Or so he thought.

She touched his shoulder, "One second."

Dipping down into her room, she was gone for two seconds, carrying an umbrella with her as she appeared again.

Marinette walked back over, opened it and held the umbrella above them, blocking the rain that was falling freely now.

He stared at the handle, his initials carved into the wood, then stared down at her mesmerized, "You kept this?"

The heroine blinked up at him hesitantly through her lashes, "Yeah."

And he couldn't say anything more. Because he knew they were partners, he knew she trusted him, but this was such a special thing. No one had ever touched his life the way the girl before him had, no one had cared so much, or loved him so deeply.

"Can I kiss you?" It took him a moment to realize he had asked the question out loud in a low voice, hand on her cheek.

Marinette gave him a smug little smile, leaning to him with a sparkle in her sky blue eyes, "Not if I kiss you first."

Then everything on the planet earth is soft and warm and fluttery in his chest. He doesn't have to worry if he's doing anything right because it's Marinette, his Lady, the love of his life, and the simple touch of her lips lets him know that she loves him back, that she's in this for him and nothing else.

Looking at her again and brushing her hair back gently, all he could do was grin. Because this was worth it, worth all of it. Any pain, hurt or rejection he's every felt from her was worth watching her eyes smile back at him this way.

"You never answered earlier, would you like to go on a date with me?"

"Absolutely." She replied, hands on his neck, soft, safe, loving.

"Then it would be my pleasure Princess."

Ladybug smiled at him, "Good night Chat, I'll see you in school, okay?"

It was quite possibly the best sentence he had ever heard her say and he told her so. He wanted to kiss her again but he held himself back, because there were lines and things were complicated, but it was a good holding back. The kind that made him feel so full of love that he can barely breath.

Marinette laughed, "Bye chaton, keep the umbrella, you might need it."

The blond blinked at the now pouring rain, faking seriousness, "Probably, it's raining cats and dogs."

She didn't laugh, but she did smile so he took it as a win even when she said, "Not your best."

"I've been distracted recently." He admitted, bringing up her hand to kiss her knuckles, "Good night My Lady."

Ladybug gave his a smile, and then headed inside, leaving Chat all alone with his umbrella and excitement despite the pouring sheets of water.

Bounding and leaping, he didn't know she could hear him cheering in victory from several Paris rooftops away.