"I'm such an idiot! Blubbering during an akuma attack? What's wrong with me?" Ladybug yelled as she smacked her forehead. "I'm never like this as Ladybug! This was the worst possible time to act like my overemotional crybaby of a civilian self."

"Hey, don't you dare insult the girl I love!" Cat Noir said indignantly, then grinned.

"I'm serious, Kitty. It's all my stupid fault we're in here! I distracted us. I shouldn't have said anything to you until later."

"Everyone makes mistakes. You'll figure this out, you always do. You're amazing, even the parts of you that you see as flaws. You didn't need that miraculous to become a hero."

"Well, technically I kinda did."

"Little details. So what's the plan, Milady? Should I try to cataclysm this net?"

"No, because it might not work and then you'll change back. And even if it does work, we're so high up that we'd get hurt from the fall. Hmm, we need to get the akuma to drop the net somehow."

"Hey, can you stick your hand through the holes of the net? I tried but mine are too big."

She did so. "Yep."

"What about your arm? Can you get it far enough to throw your yo-yo?"

"Pretty sure."

"Cool, so have you ever seen Finding Nemo?"

"Yes, but it's not exactly the ideal time to discuss date night movie ideas, Kitty."

"I wasn't. Although I'm super excited that we can do that now!" He clasped his hands together and grinned. "But I actually have an idea. Remember the scene where all the fish in the fishing net started swimming down to make it heavier so it would break and they could get free?"

"We're not fish!"

"No, but you could grab something big through the net with your yo-yo and the force would make him drop it."

"And us too! And my yo yo would be pretty tied up so I can't catch myself."

He slipped an arm around her waist. "Don't worry about that. I've got you."

She blushed for a split second, then gave him a determined look. "Okay, but to modify your plan a bit, we should probably climb up so we can grab onto the rim of the net and hold on so we don't get scattered when he first drops it."

"Gotcha. Let's go."

They climbed up and Ladybug threw her yo yo at a pole. It wrapped around and she pulled it tightly, causing the akumas grip to loosen.

The akuma noticed what they were doing. "No! I don't want my ladybug to get out!" He shook the net back and forth.

Cat Noir and Ladybug held onto the rim of the net. Ladybug threw her yo yo once again and this time was able to pull the net out of the akuma's hand.

As they started to fall with the net, Cat Noir held onto Ladybug. He quickly extended his staff to the ground and they stood on top of it.

"Hope you always know that you're safe falling for me." He said with a wink as they decended.

Ladybug looked at him adoringly and blushed.

The akuma picked up the net. "My bugs got out! Come back!" He toddled after the heroes trying to catch them as they ran away.

"We need to distract him somehow. Lucky Charm!"

She received a tube of super glue.

"What can I do with this?"

She spotted an abandoned pair of toy butterfly wings beside a dumpster.

"Kitty, help me roll this dumpster where the akuma can see it."

She placed the wings on the dumpster, then squeezed the super glue all over it "Now let's lure him over."

"There's my bugs!" The akuma yelled, racing over.

Ladybug and Cat Noir stood beside the dumpster. As the akuma brought his net down, they leapt in opposite directions. The net stuck to the dumpster and the akuma dropped it.

Cat Noir rushed over and Cataclysmed the net. The akuma flew out and Ladybug deevilized it. She purified the akuma and did Miraculous Ladybug.

The two returned the child to his mother after giving him a few tips on bug-catching. They then headed back to the Agreste Mansion.

They leapt through Adrien's window.

He immediately detransformed, but Ladybug just stared at him in awe, too stunned to do the same.

Adrien looked at her curiously. "Milady?"

She snapped out of it. "Oh, sorry. I guess seeing you transform makes your identity feel more real to me. I feel like I'm meeting the real you for the first time."

He bowed and kissed her hand. "Enchanté, Mademoiselle."

Ladybug giggled. "It's a pleasure to meet you too. All of you."

"And now that you've discovered my identity, I can do what I've wanted to do all day." He slipped his arms around her waist, causing her to gasp. He leaned in for a kiss, but Ladybug let out a squeak. Alarmed, he stopped in his tracks, and she clasped both hands over her mouth at the sound.

Adrien laughed. "Um, did that mean you want me to back off?"

"Eep! I'm so sorry! I just got a little nervous which is stupid since we've kissed a bunch of times, but this is the first time I've kissed you without the mask but it's still you it's not like you're a different person but I thought you were for so long!"

His eyes twinkled. "Purrhaps I will need to transform in order to show my girlfriend some affection until she gets used to seeing my entire face."

Ladybug gave him a dreamy look. "That's right. I'm your girlfriend." Her eyes went wide at the realization of what she'd just done. "Gah, what's wrong with me?"

"Absolutely nothing." Adrien reassured her as he tried not to laugh. He now realized that Ladybug had always been a little jumpy around him as Adrien and wondered why he hadn't made the connection to Marinette much sooner. "You're adorable. Although it does make me question something."

"How you ended up dating such a weirdo?"

"Hey, if anyone's a weirdo here, it's me. No, my question is, why do you always seem more comfortable around me when I'm Cat Noir?"

"Huh? Oh p-probably because were close friends and we banter a lot."

Adrien frowned playfully. "But Adrien's your friend too."

"Yes, but our dynamic is different. Plus, you're goofier when you're behind the mask."

"But Cat Noir is able to flirt with you without getting you all flustered." He pouted. "Does that mean you think my civilian self is cuter?"

"What? No!" Ladybug blushed as she thought of all the times she'd had to force herself not to get distracted by her superhero partner's good looks...

"Then you think Cat Noir is hotter than-"

"Adrien!" Cheeks burning, she huffed. "I honestly don't know if you're kidding or not, but for the record, I think that both sides of you are equally handsome and adorable and sweet!"

He grinned. "Same to you, Bugaboo. Except replace the handsome with beautiful."

She gaped at him, then realized she was about to transform back. "I uh, better feed Tikki."

"Go ahead."

"Spots off." In a flash of pink light, she transformed back into her civilian self. Marinette suddenly felt quite vulnerable.

Adrien looked at her lovingly.

"There's the girl I love."

She gave him a nervous look, but her reply was interrupted when Plagg, who had been silent up until then, raced over to Tikki.

"At last! The pain is over! Come here Sugarcube!" He took her hands, twirling her in a circle.

The other kwami giggled. "You do this every time!" Tikki looked at their holders sheepishly. She knew Marinette well enough to know that she was overthinking things again

"Uhm, we'll go celebrate the reveal by ourselves."

"Why do we have to go? They're okay. I mean they danced around each other at first but it doesn't change that they've been in love since the day they met-"

Tikki grabbed a chunk of camembert from Adrien's hand and shoved it into Plagg's mouth. She then took her own cookie from Marinette. "We'll let you two talk things over." She then dragged Plagg away.

Adrien decided to break the sudden awkwardness. "They're pretty cool aren't they? I almost don't know what I did before I had a kwami in my life."

"I know what you mean. Tikki's like my best friend. I can tell her anything and she gives great advice."

"Plagg's my friend too. Although, when it comes to love advice, he always says that cheese is better than girls." Adrien rolled his eyes.

Marinette giggled. "Is it?"

"Definitely not. For one thing, cheese can't kiss you back. And no cheese could ever make me feel the way you do." He grinned. "I wish I would've listened to Plagg when he kept trying to give me hints about your identity and especially when he yelled at me for not dating you."

Marinette gasped and looked away, hugging herself. "I- oh."

He realized that he'd said the wrong thing. He touched her shoulder. "Hey, I didn't mean-"

Marinette felt guilty for her thoughts and insecurities, and contemplated keeping them to herself, but knew she needed to be honest with Adrien. After all, he was her boyfriend.

"I know you said last night that you have feelings for me as Marinette, but I guess that a part of me wonders why you never gave me a chance before Ladybug wanted to date you. Why was I always just a friend to you?" She asked.

He took her hand. "Marinette, our friendship is very special to me and so are you. So special, that I never wanted to lose you. I guess that I got so used to looking at you as a friend that I couldn't see that we could be so much more."

"But would you have wanted to be more if there was no Ladybug? If you hadn't seen that side of me?"

"Of course. You don't know how thrilled I was when I started to suspect you of being Ladybug."

"Yeah, when you wondered if I was Ladybug. But what about Marinette? Have I ever turned your head?" She turned away. "I don't want to start an argument, I just wanted to let you know what I was thinking so it doesn't bother me. We can just drop it."

He frowned. "No, I want to hear you out and reassure you that you've always had a special place in my heart. Ladybug was my first love. But I also had a crush on Marinette back then. I thought you were the prettiest, most talented girl in our class. I felt so lucky that someone as awesome as you had feelings for me. "

"Y-you did?"

"I did. So you shouldn't regret liking me."

"I don't. I just thought it was a lost cause!"

"Well, let me assure you, that it isn't."

Adrien said sincerely. He glanced over at his telescope in a corner behind her. Suddenly, he had an idea. "And I'm going to prove to you what that side of you means to me. I'm going to take my Princess out on a date and make you swoon."

"Oh, Adrien, you don't need to-"

He held a hand up and grinned. "Yes I do. Are you free tonight and off tomorrow?"

"Y-yeah."

"Okay, just checking because I don't wanna keep you out too late if you're getting up early. Mind if I come by after my solo patrol? Around 10?"

She blushed at the realization that he was asking her out. That she and Adrien had already went out on a few dates. And kissed and cuddled and-

"S-sure."

"Awesome. See you then." He leaned in and kissed her forehead.

With a contented sigh, Marinette went back to her office and noticed that Adrien had opened her window.

"Such a sweetie."

...

From the butterfly miraculous, Gabriel felt a sample of the giddy emotions that Marinette was experiencing. He smiled as he realized the source. Despite his cold exterior, deep down Gabriel only wanted his son to experience happiness and love once again- and if Adrien was pursuing Marinette there was no doubt that he would find it.

...

Marinette stood on her balcony and excitedly looked up at the stars. A soft thud alerted her that she was no longer alone.

"But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Marinette is the sun." Cat Noir leaped down from the chimney and put his arms around her.

Marinette smirked. "So you're reciting Shakespeare now?"

"I'll be your Romeo any day." He kissed her cheek. "I missed you."

She raised an eyebrow. "You saw me this afternoon."

"Doesn't matter. Any time away from my Lady is far too long."

She smiled. "I have something for you."

"Ooh! Is it the promised present?"

"Yep."

Tikki floated through the skylight with a green wrapped package. She placed it in his outstretched arms.

"Thanks Tikki!"

"You're very welcome!"

He excitedly unwrapped the present and pulled out something soft and black. It was the Cat Noir hoodie from Marinette's sketchbook!

"Oh my gosh! I didn't know this was for me!"

Marinette cocked her head. "Wait? You've seen it?"

"Sort of. It was in your sketchbook when you showed me that day at my house."

"No it wasn't. I took it out so your dad wouldn't see it."

He smirked.

"It slipped out when you weren't looking and I put it back."

"You sneaky Kitty!" Marinette pouted. "And here I was hoping to surprise you."

"Aw, don't feel bad, Milady. Like I said, it was a surprise that you made it for me. And I love it." He slipped it on and admired it. "It's so soft."

"Glad you like it."

"And now I have a surprise for you. Ready to go?"

"Yep. Spots-"

"No need for that, Milady. I'll carry you."

"But what if someone sees us?"

"They won't. Not this late. Just let me pamper my Princess."

After a moment's hesitation, she decided he was right and let him pick her up. She snuggled close to him and put her arms around his neck.

He brought them to the park, far enough from the city lights that she could clearly see several stars streaking across the sky. She gasped.

"There's a meteor shower tonight. The show is just beginning. I'd love to see them through a telescope."

"Yeah, too bad we don't have one."

He rummaged under a nearby park bench and brought out a long thin item wrapped in a blanket. "Or do we?"

"You just left that in the park? What if somebody stole it?"

Cat Noir put the telescope stand together. "It was a risk I was willing to take." He sat the telescope up and put the blanket on the ground. He adjusted it and sat on the blanket. "Have a look, Marinette, it's really cool."

She looked at the meteor shower in awe. "Wow, I've never done this before."

"I have. But it's a lot more fun with someone special."

He went back to the bushes and pulled out a covered dish and two thermoses

"Ooh, what's this?" Marinette asked.

"Baked smores and hot chocolate. I made them this afternoon. Dig in."

She happily did so. "Mmm. This is delicious! Thanks, Kitty."

"You're very welcome."

He put his arm around her and she leaned against his side as they looked up at the falling stars.

"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate." Cat Noir recited to her, wagging his eyebrows.

Marinette raised an eyebrow. "What's with the poetry tonight?"

"I wanted to call you hot, but wanted a more eloquent way of saying it. I'm a gentleman after all "

She giggled. "Well, okay then. Um, since we're giving compliments, you're a good cook and a good person."

"Would you say I'm a model citizen?"

She blushed at the reminder of his identity. "Definitely."

"Then I can proceed to tell you all the things that are awesome about you. And you'll know I'm telling the truth, right?"

"Um, of course."

"Then let's start small. Your freckles."

"My freckles?"

He tenderly stroked her face. "They're adorable. I've always wanted to try to kiss each one." He blushed as he admitted this. "Maybe one day you'll let me."

She gasped. "I-I uh, y-you have?"

"Yeah, and I couldn't see them with your mask, so you know that's something I strictly loved about my Princess. Now, let's move on to something bigger. I had no clue that Ladybug designed. Before this hoodie, you've only ever given Adrien clothing."

"Sorry, I just didn't want to give away my identity!"

"I completely understand. But I just want to say that I'm mesmerized by your talent."

"Y-you are?"

He grinned. "Why do you sound so surprised?" He blushed again and leaned closer. "And when I'm around Marinette you, all I want to do is take care of you and hug you and protect you because you're so..."

"I'm so?"

"Delicate and girly" His face turned even redder. "But not in a 'oh I think you're weak' way. I like that you love pink and bake and make presents for your friends. I love that you giggle and squeal. I love the way you yawn and how you wear ribbons in your hair..." He rambled. "Basically I love all the little things about you, that I wouldn't have seen if I never knew your civilian self. So please don't think I only love you because you're Ladybug."

Marinette stared at him with wide eyes, too stunned to speak.

He continued. "And I have to tell you all of this because I don't want you to feel insecure or rejected by me for one more second." His ears drooped. "I want you to feel loved."

She immediately hugged him. "Hey, it's not on you to worry about that. I'm the one who has to learn to love myself. I'm so sorry that I've made you feel so guilty for rejecting me. You don't deserve that."

"But you were crying over me. I never meant to hurt a friend."

She put a hand in his shoulder.

"I know. But as far as you knew, you loved someone else. You had to be honest with yourself and me. I wouldn't have wanted you to feel obligated to date me."

"So we're good?"

She smirked. "We're better than good. We're clawsome."

His eyes lit up. "I love it when you talk punny to me. But I still wasnt done with my speech. I wanted you to know...wait this would be better if I detransformed."

"Absolutely not! It's bad enough that we're on a date in public like this."

"Fine, then I'm taking you home."

He swooped down on her balcony.

Marinette grabbed his arm to stop him just before he detransformed.

"I love all the little things about you too. Like the way you act like a real cat sometimes." He grinned at this so she continued. "And how excited you get over things. You make me feel so special. I love your puns and sense of humor- even though I pretend to be annoyed- and how safe you make me feel. I thought I should actually say all that since you said you consider Cat Noir to be the real you and well, I also regret rejecting you."

He smiled. "Look at it this way, we fell for each other twice. Claws in." He detransformed and looked into her eyes. "I just want you to know, that even if we hadn't been Chosen, I still would have chosen you. I'm so glad that I go to school with the girl behind the mask. I love you, Marinette."

She melted at the warmth in his eyes. It was the same look that Cat Noir had given Ladybug on their first date. She finally believed that nothing had changed between them.

"And I love you, Adrien. You're my Kitty, with or without the mask."

"That's great to hear. So nothing's different? "

"Oh, they are." She placed her hands on his shoulders. "Because I'm not too nervous to do this."

Blushing, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. She only had to stretch that much for few seconds, because Adrien leaned down and kissed her back just as eagerly. She trembled when he placed his arms around her, pulling her in even closer. Her heart was racing. She was kissing Adrien. Her first crush and partner. And her heart was safe with him.

After it ended, they put their foreheads together just as they had done on their first date.

Adrien smiled.

"One of these days, I'm going to see that coming."

"Oh, so I surprise you when I kiss you?"

"In the best way."

She liked hearing this. She cuddled closer to him.

After a second, Adrien said, "We should probably go back to my telescope and our food. But I don't wanna leave."

"You could bring it here."

"But I'd still have to stop hugging you."

Marinette blushed then gave him a flirty look. "The faster we are, the faster we can go back to hugging."

He perked up. "Let's go!"

A few minutes later, everything was moved. Adrien started to roll out the blanket for them to sit on, but Marinette looked over at her balcony chair and had an idea.

"I um, do you wanna sit together on my chair to watch the meteor shower?"

"Sure!" He sat down on the lounger without hesitation and used the blanket to cover up.

Marinette tentatively joined him and blushed when he put an arm around her and covered her with the blanket. He soon realized that she wasn't fully sitting back. In fact, her side wasn't even fully on the lounger

He scooted over and turned slightly.

"There. Now there's enough room for both of us. You can lay back and get comfortable, Milady."

She did so. He was so warm and smelled so nice that her heart started to race once again.

What do I do? Why did I suggest this?! He's so cute and that hoodie is so soft. Okay, I'll just do what he does

He was looking up at the meteors streaking across the sky, so she did the same.

Any shyness that Adrien felt over sharing the lounger was nothing compared to how content he was. Finally, he and his Lady were on a date as civilians. The smile on his face made it clear that his heart was soaring. "Some people wish on falling stars. But I already have everything I need right here." He kissed her cheek.

Her heart was still able to melt even though it was going a million miles a minute. "Me too."

Thank you so much for reading! This is the last chapter, but I might do a couple of bonus chapters in the future. I had alot of fun writing this story.

I do not own Miraculous Ladybug!

This chapter's title was inspired by the song "Little Things" by One Direction. (Which I don't own) It has a line that goes "I'm joining up the dots with the freckles on your face' (Adrien finally connected Ladybug's dots with Marinette's freckles hehe) and it's basically about the guy telling the girl to love herself-- so I thought it would be a perfect fit.