"Please," he begged. "Just give me a straight answer. Don't I deserve that? After everything we've been through, don't I deserve that?"

"Chat," Ladybug sighed. His defeated look killed her, sending a pain through her heart that she wasn't used to. Seeing him like this – so hopeless – made her want to say yes. "I've already given you an answer. I told you, I love someone else."

"You can't lie to me, Ladybug." Chat defied her. He knew Ladybug better than anyone else; after all the sleepless nights, after all the battles and wars they waged, after years of spending time together – Chat knew when she was avoiding something.

"I'm not lying!" Ladybug was exasperated.

"You can't say you'll never love me, Ladybug."

"Yes, I can! I'm in love with someone else. Chat, this really isn't the time, come on."

Chat had cornered her at this point, backing her up to one of the chimneys on the roof that they occupied. With two arms trapping her against the brick surface, Chat searched her face.

"Give me an answer, an honest one."

Ladybug sighed, avoiding his gaze. "You're a great friend, Chat."

"A friend…" Chat faltered.

"No, listen to me," Ladybug cupped his face. "You're a great friend; one of my best. But, that's just it, you're an amazing friend."

"I don't understand," Chat shook his head.

"Maybe I do love you, Chat," she bit the inside of her cheek. "I think it was inevitable, spending all this time with you. Yet, I'm scared, Kitty. You're an amazing friend and if I were to say yes to you – to loving you – I don't have it in me to lose you. If something were to happen -"

Chat cut her off with a crushing embrace, laughing. "You're afraid of losing me? My lady, that would never happen!"

"But Chat," Ladybug shook her head, "what if something were to happen? What if things change between us?"

"Don't live your life based on what ifs, Bugaboo. You'll miss what's happening right now if you always have your head in the future."

"Chat…"

"You don't have to give me an answer right now," Chat sighed. "But think about it for me, will you? I'm sorry for cornering you like that, but it's nice to know true feelings coming from you."

"But -"

"Have an amazing night, My Lady," Chat grasped her hand gingerly and placed a soft kiss upon it. "I will see you tomorrow." With a single bound, Chat had disappeared into the night. Perhaps back to his home, maybe for another look around their beautiful city, Ladybug didn't know.

She slid to a sitting position on the roof, arms hanging by her sides. "Tikki, spots off…"

"Marinette," Tikki breathed.

"Am I in the wrong?" Ladybug questioned. "Tikki, am I doing something wrong here? I told Chat from the beginning that we were just friends – just heroes. I'm in love with Adrien! I told him that I loved someone else. Why couldn't he understand that?"

"Marinette," Tikki prompted again.

"I mean, why does he care anyways?"

"Marinette, would you listen to me?"

"Sorry Tikki," Marinette groaned.

"Remember when I told you that all Ladybug and Chat Noir's were destined to be together? They are two perfect puzzle pieces that fit together. You and this Chat Noir are an amazing team; two pieces of a whole. Maybe what you're feeling – this feeling of friendship – is love."

"It couldn't be love!" Marinette scoffed. "What about Adrien?"

"Maybe you love him too, Marinette. I don't know. What I do know is that you and Chat Noir are destined to be together."