Chapter 1: A Close Call and a Decision

Ladybug and Chat Noir landed side by side in the corner of the empty parking area and assessed the situation. Of prime concern to both heroes was the litter of a half dozen or so citizens laying on the ground.

The akuma victim of the day was the man in charge of the zoos reptile house. Word had come down that funding would be drastically reduced and eventually the exhibit would be phased out. Obviously he hadn't taken it well. The only real change was his hoodie had changed so that it covered his head like a cobra's spread hood.

"This will prove that reptiles and snakes are important!" the akumatized man shouted and gestured with the snake catching stick he held. To the heroes horror a snake seemed to project from the stick and flew through the air.

Ladybug cried out in terror when she saw the target. "Alya! Noooooo!"

Before either Chat or Ladybug could move the snake wrapped around Alya's waist and it's fangs sank deep into the redhead's upper arm. With a scream of pain she sank to her knees then to the ground.

Moving almost as one Ladybug and Chat Noir broke from their shocked observation and went into action.

"Check her, kitty," Ladybug called out as she started her yo-yo whirling as she headed toward the villain with a growl.

"As you wish, Milady," he replied and quickly crossed over to Alya and knelt at her side. The snake reared it's head and struck at him and a quick swipe with his baton caused the snake to vanish in a puff of smoke.

Ladybug closed with the villain and landed a few hits before he grabbed one of her wrists and threw her several feet away.

"Chat! Look out!" she called in warning, as the villain gestured with his stick again. As she ran over to him, she watched as his reaction was just a hair to slow. The snake didn't wrap itself around the black leather clad hero, but simply sank its fangs into his upper thigh.

"Chat!" Ladybug screamed as she heard him cry out in pain then collapse. Her yo-yo struck the snake resulting in another puff of smoke as she ran over to his side. "Chat, can you hear me?" she asked anxiously as she knelt beside him, "Come on, kitty, stay with me."

"Can't promise that, Milady," he managed to grate out. He grimaced as a wave of pain from the bite washed over him. "I hope your lucky charm fixes everything."

"Kitty! Chat Noir?!" Ladybug cried as her partner and friend went limp. With a growl she leapt to her feet and charged Viper. She had gone only a few steps when she heard the sound of Chat transforming back to his civilian self. Fighting the urge to turn around and see who he was, she fought with Viper and found herself thrown several feet again. Managing to land on her feet she realized that she needed to change tactics as Viper launched two more snakes at civilians.

"Lucky charm!" she shouted and a moment later a rubber snake dropped into her hands. Seeing it flash with red spots, and the same happening to Vipers stick she knew what to do. She threw the faux snake so that it landed a few feet in front of Viper and when he reached for it with his stick her yo-yo snapped out and shattered it, releasing the akuma. After she had purified the akuma and released the butterfly she threw the snake into the air with her usual shout.

"Miraculous Ladybug!"

She watched as the magic washed over the civilians on the ground around the parking lot they were in, then she turned to where Alya and Chat were in time to see them both manage to get to a sitting position. Feeling the relief wash over her at seeing them both moving and Chat back to his hero self, she ran over to them and knelt beside them, her head bowed and a hand on each of their shoulders unable to speak.

"Ladybug, we're alright," Alya said, feeling the tremble in her favorite hero's hand, "Thanks to you." She watched as Ladybug took a deep shuddering breath.

"I need to talk to you. Both of you," Ladybug said, not looking up, "In private." She stood then helped both her friends to their feet. A short time later the three of them were in a locked conference room in a nearby building. They sat in chairs, Ladybug in the middle, Alya to her left and Chat Noir on her right. They sat in silence for a moment, then Ladybug's earrings chirped.

"Milady you have to go," Chat Noir said, and was shocked to see Ladybug shake her head.

"No." she said firmly, then took a shuddering breath, "I. . .I almost lost you today. . . both of you. My two best friends." she saw the questioning look on Alya's face. "Alya, I'm going to show you something, I'm going to show you both."

"Bugaboo, no," Chat said softly, putting his hand on her shoulder, knowing what was about to happen.

Ladybug took a breath and closed her eyes, "Trust me, Kitty," she said tilting her head so her cheek brushed against his hand, then bowed her head, "Tikki, spots off." she said softly.

She felt the usual tingle as she detransformed, and she heard the gasp from both her friends. She raised her head and opened her eyes finding Alya's face first, her hazel eyes wide and her mouth hanging open. She chuckled softly as she saw her friend in a rare moment of being at a loss for words. A moment that was all to short.

"No way! That is soooo coool!" Alya cried.

Marinette put her hands on the redhead's shoulders, "You can't tell anyone," she said then leaned in to whisper into her ear, "I know I can trust you with this, as I did with Trixx and you becoming Rena Rouge."

Alya pulled back, blinking, then nodded, "Yes, you're right. You have my word that no one will find out from me." She blinked again when a small red being floated in front of her face. "What is that?!" pretending not to know what a kwami was for Chat Noir's benefit.

Marinette chuckled softly, "That's Tikki, she's a kwami and she gives me my powers when I'm Ladybug," she reached up and gently scratched under Tikki's chin, "the rest of the time she's a good friend."

Alya gasped, drawing both Marinette's and Tikki's attention. "So that's why you went ballistic when Chloe had her, and in keeping herself secret she pretended to be a stuffed toy."

Tikki giggled and turned to Marinette, "Trixx was right, she's a clever girl."

Just then Alya's phone went off. "It's my folks. I'd better get home."

"See you tomorrow, at school," Marinette called as her friend left, then she turned to her partner and friend and found him staring at her. She swallowed nervously, "I hope you're not disappointed in the girl behind the mask."

Chat was silent for a moment, then noticed that Marinette was getting nervous, so he gave her what he hoped was a winning smile "Not at all, Purrrincess I knew you had to be someone amazing, and I should have guessed that it was you. I have a question though, why the sudden change? I mean you've been determined that we couldn't know the other's identity, and now this, and letting Alya in on it."

Chat watched as Marinette wrapped her arms around herself, as if warding off a chill, and he could see that she was trembling again, and the bald fear in her eyes.

"Like. . .like said before, I almost lost you both tonight, and it made me realize that if something happened to any of us when we're not Chat Noir, Ladybug or Rena Rouge, I didn't want any secrets between us."

Chat Noir blinked in surprise, "Wait a minute. You mean Rena Rouge is Alya?!"

"Oooppsss," Marinette said blushing, "I shouldn't have told you that, it wasn't my place."

Marinette looked over as Chat Noir's ring chirped, and he smiled at her.

"That's okay, bugaboo. Now it's my turn. Plagg, claws in."

Now it was Marinette's turn to stare in surprise, "A. . .Adrien?!" she finally managed to gasp.

"I don't have to ask if you're disappointed or not," he said, "I already know that you think I'm way cooler than that pun making Chat Noir."

Marinette looked at him in shock, "How. . . I never said. . ."

Adrien smiled at her "You forget, your best friend is my best friend's girlfriend," he explained, "Let's just say that some things. . .leak over."

Marinette thought that over for a moment, then chuckled softly, "Well at least we won't be messing each other up anymore."

"Huh?"

Marinette sobered up as she went to explain herself. "Remember the time when Ladybug didn't show up for your special night, and you, as Chat, showed up on my balcony to talk?"

"Yeah," Adrien replied, thinking back, then something dawned on him. "You seemed down about something," he said, "What was it?"

"You were supposed to meet with me and the gang at Andre's ice cream stand, and didn't." she said softly.

Adrien was silent for a moment, remembering how it had been a major shaking of their trust in each other, and something else, "Oh my God! I was so angry at Ladybug for standing me up when I was doing the same to you!"

"But you weren't," Marinette insisted, "You asked Ladybug directly to meet you, but I didn't ask you. It was Nino who suggested that you meet us," she looked away, unable to meet his eyes, "You also couldn't stand me up because we weren't, aren't, going out."

Taking a chance, Adrien reached out and put his arm around her shoulders, "Yeah, about that," he said, "Remember that I said I had something to ask you after school?"

"You didn't get the chance because of the akuma attack," she said.

"Well. . .I guess now is as good a time as any," he said, rubbing the back of his neck with his other hand, "Marinette, would be my girlfriend?"

Marinette's head snapped around, her eyes wide her mouth hanging open in total surprise. Then her expression transformed to one of pure joy, and Adrien had no warning as she threw her arms around his shoulders, the movement spilling them both out of their chairs and onto the floor in a jumble.

"I'll take that as a yes," Adrien laughed as he got to his feet, then offered his hand to Marinette and helped her up.

The two stood there for a moment, scant inches apart, and Adrien was pleasantly surprised when Marinette put her arms around his shoulders, and lay her head on his chest.

"Yes," she said, "Most absolutely, and totally yes, I'll be your girlfriend."

Adrien smiled as he put his arms around her, and kissed the top of her head. "You think we should tell Alya?"

Marinette rewarded him with a dazzling smile as she nodded, "She's gonna freak."

The two left the room and building and Adrien walked her home. Along the way they stopped and Marinette took a selfie of the two of them arm in arm, smiling hugely for the shot. Adrien watched as she sent the pic to Alya's phone. They had hardly taken three steps when Marinette's phone chimed it's message tone.

AC: WHEN DID HE ASK?

MDC: I went back over to the school to make sure he was okay and he asked then.

AC: I want the whole stry 2moro at skol g2g now, rents want me to keep eye on twins. L8r

"Well that's done," Marinette said as she put her phone away, "By the time we get to school tomorrow everyone will know."

"I can think of one person who isn't going to be happy for us," Adrien said as they resumed walking, hand in hand.

"Oh my God, Chloe!" Marinette gasped coming to a sudden stop.

"Relax," Adrien soothed, "I'll be right there with you." he gave her a wink that was pure Chat

Marinette couldn't help but laugh, "Okay, Kitty, I know you've got my back so I can stand up to whatever she had to dish out."

Adrien pulled her into a hug, "That's my bugaboo.