Big shoutout to Rose7181 for helping me out with this story! She came up with the ideas and the plot :)

This will be my second miraculous fic. I hope you all like it. Leave a review please

Chapter One

Mari, 1st person POV

"Marinette! Don't forget to say good night!" Sabine called from downstairs.

I'm such a mess! was the only thought running through my head as I shuffled around my room. Trying to balance life as a baker's daughter, a high school student, and not to mention Paris's very own Ladybug, could be pretty insane. I was facing this insanity now.

Patrol was in about twelve minutes, but my chemistry homework was nowhere even close to done. And my mother and father were waiting for me downstairs. The patrols with my superhero partner, Chat Noir, could run from ten at night anywhere to midnight, not to mention if an Akuma decided to show up sometime in the middle of the usual runs we did through Paris.

"I'm coming, Mom!" I called down, hurriedly stuffing the last of my papers into a small bag. Maybe Chat could help me out with my homework on one of our breaks.

Of course, the two of us still did not know each others' identities, but we had learned more about each other over time. Last year, I had found out we were in the same year of school, which led to some collaborative work. The little chaton was still convinced we went to the same school, and I had to control him sometimes. But, as hard as it was to admit, the boy was a genius when it came to science.

I had to slow down my train of thought as I nearly slipped on the stairs, distracted by the thought of another exhausting patrol. "Mama, Papa, good night," I said, giving them each a sweet peck on the cheek.

"Good night, Mari," They both chorused softly. My father spoke up before I could leave. "Marinette, be sure to get right to sleep. You might almost be done with high school, but that doesn't mean you should stay up and put more stress on yourself. Your mother and I have been really worried about you lately. Is everything alright?"

I wasn't surprised at the sudden change in conversation. The stress of all of my "extracurricular activities" was becoming quite visible. The frequent dark circles under my eyes, the bruises from falls and hits taken in Akuma attacks were evidence of my life as a superhero. But my parents and Alya didn't know that, and they didn't have to know it either. But that didn't stop them from fretting almost constantly.

"Mom, Dad, everything is fine," I mumbled in protest, "I have a test next morning, too, so I should really get upstairs soon." I had already gotten this lecture from Alya earlier in the week. "Don't worry, you guys, you'll age faster that way."

They smiled assuredly, and again I felt the guilt of my secret identity weigh down on me. There was nothing I hated more than lying to the ones who were closest to me, but then again, telling them my deepest secret would only endanger them more, and worry more. No, it was best to keep my identity a secret.

It was only when I was alone in my room with the hatch shut, that I let Tikki out of my pocket. "Hi, Tikki," I whispered, hoping my parents weren't listening through the door. "You want a snack before we leave, or...?"

"Yes, please, Marinette!" Tikki smiled proudly, spinning around in the freedom of the empty room.

"I should know by now that you don't turn down a chance for cookies," I chuckled. "Here you go!" I had been preparing this special batch for my kwami, a high-sugar, small, dense cookie that helped keep her energy up for long patrol nights. Not that she couldn't hold on for long, but she always ended up exhausted. It was difficult, though, to explain why I was always making so many cookies. I guess it's not exactly normal to turn out dozens of cookies on a weekly basis just to keep stored in my room. But after years of this steady routine, it's kind of become normal for me and my family.

"You ready to go?" Tikki asked. I nodded in confirmation. We were pretty good partners, me and my kwami.

"Tikki, transform me!" No sooner did I call out the words that I was masked and ready to go, my yo-yo at my waist. It's kind of curious how the suit has changed over time to fit my needs. But that was Tikki in the suit, fitting to my body even as I grew from a puny little middle schooler to the young adult I was now.

Checking one last time that my parents were heading off to sleep, I slid out of the window and into the opening night, heading immediately over to a building overlooking the Eiffel Tower. Chat's and my rendezvous spot.

And there he was, suited up, flashing those bright green eyes, with a smirk on his face. "My lady," he greeted. "You have just purrfect timing. I was afraid you might not show up at all." I groaned.

Of course, this was the one thing that hadn't changed in all these years. Chat's flirty attitude, and his puns, Oh dear Lord. But there was a constant companionship that I couldn't bear to lose. "I'm here, Kitty," I said. "I brought some homework too. Think you can help out your lady here with her chemistry essay?"

Chat looked like he was sparkling. "I'm seriously convinced we're in the same chemistry class, My Lady," he smirked, "Although if I remembered correctly, that essay was due tomorrow, and so I prepared for it at least two days in advance. But it looks here like you've barely started yours."

"Oh, shut it, you stupid cat. I was busy!" I retorted, rather ungracefully. But then I laughed. "And it's not my fault that you're a total science nerd."

"Oh, you wound me," Chat said, holding his chest rather dramatically. "You look so kind, but your words are like knives to the heart."

"So poetic, Chaton," I grinned. "But this is science class we're working on, not literature," He laughed shortly.

"Well then, my Lady, let's get to work," and so we ended up sitting on the roof next to each other working on chemistry that warm and beautiful Parisian night.

After we finished, we split up to divide the patrol by neighborhood. At the end of our runs, we planned to meet up again at the rendezvous point, Chat insisting there was something he needed to tell me.

And so there I was, waiting for my partner late that night, when all of a sudden, he shows up with a rose in his hand. "Uhh...Chat?" I asked, more confused than anything else. "What is this?"

"My Lady, it has been almost exactly six years since we started working together. It has also been six years since I fell in love-"

"Chat, not this again. I've told you, you don't even know who I am! We can't possibly be in love..."

This was, again, a sensitive topic for him. He had been unrelentingly loyal, but persistent that we reveal our identities so he can truly know "His Lady." And I being the rational one, had to explain time and time again that our identities were secret for a reason.

"I made a promise to myself that day, Ladybug..."

"...and it's a promise that you just can't expect to keep, Chat!" I said, frustrated and angry. "I'm sorry, but this is never going to work!" The heartbroken look on my partner's face told me I had taken it too far, that I had really hurt him this time, but I couldn't bring myself to care. "Goodbye, Chat. I'll see you this time again next week."

I'll make it up to you then, I thought to myself, not daring to say the words aloud and break the fragile silence that had come over the two of us. I then swung into a nearby alley and detransformed quietly, giving myself a long walk back to the bakery. Maybe it would give my heart time to stop hurting so much. The ache of leaving Chat behind like that, in despair, hurt a lot more than I wanted to admit.

Maybe I did have some sort of feelings for Chat, but there was a lot more I still needed to figure out.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, not loud enough for anyone but myself to hear. It wasn't much, but it was the first step to forgiveness, and it wasn't a lie either. It would take a lot more than sorry, though, to close the rift growing between me and my partner.

The first chapter is complete! What did you think? It's going to progress from here, and I've got some pretty basic ideas of the plot, but let me know if you have ideas or feedback! I'd really love to hear from all of you :)

This story is dedicated to my friend Rose7181-thanks again, Rose!

I hope you all have a good day (or night)

~ladynoirshipper