Marinette woke up early and rolled onto her side, her eyes locking into the eyes of Adrien's in a photo, she sighed and Tikki flew over.

"Good morning Marinette."

"Hey Tikki."

"What's the matter Marinette?"

Marinette sat up with a smile and began to get dressed for school, "it's Valentine's Day Tikki, and I have no-one to spend it with. And what makes it worse is that Chloe will no doubt not be all over Adrien today, I just don't think I can stand to see it."

"At least you know Cat Noir wants to see you, I mean you and he get along well."

"Yes, but he's a friend Tikki, Adrien is my heart," Marinette tied her shoulder length hair into two bunches at the back of her head and grabbed her bag, "come on then, let's grab breakfast and leave."

"Don't worry about today," Tikki squeaked as she rubbed her head against Marinette's hand before curling up in her bag, "just get through it."

The school bell rang and Marinette walked into her classroom just as Adrien was receiving a big kiss on the cheek from Chloe, he pushed away slightly and rolled his eyes as Nino laughed, Marinette was shoved into her seat by Chloe and she sulked into Alya's side.

"Chloe, you're very kind, thank you," Adrien forced a smile onto his face as he read the card Chloe had given him.

"I know, aren't I? I suppose you're saving my gift for later aren't you Adrikins?" Chloe grinned flicking her ponytail back.

"Yeah, of course I am."

"Oh Adrikins, you're the sweetest. See you at recess," Chloe sat down and immediately began moaning at Sabrina.

Adrien looked round at Marinette, "hey."

Marinette didn't register this at first and just stared blankly at him, Alya nudged her, "huh what? I'm paying attention, yep. Sorry?"

Adrien chuckled, "I just said hi."

"Oh sorry hi, yes hi."

"Are you alright Marinette?"

"Yes."

"Valentine's Day, any plans?"

"Not really," she rubbed the back of her neck "you and Chloe planning something?"

"Umm no, and I don't have anything for her at all, she doesn't deserve a gift from me."

Alya grinned at Nino, "finally, a conversation."

"I'll say."

The teacher began the class and Marinette relaxed into her seat a little, at least she wasn't the only one spending Valentine's Day alone and wishing for someone she couldn't have. For the rest of the school day she hung around with Alya and her girlfriends who were talking about their couple plans, but as much as this was bugging her she gave her absolute support to them and wished them all a great evening, the bell went and Marinette walked down the steps holding her homework to her chest, she heard footsteps behind her and turned expecting to see one of her friends running after her to give her something she had forgotten but who it was almost made her fall down the last step.

"Adrien."

"Have a good evening Marinette. Umm, don't feel too sad, it's only Valentine's Day."

"Yeah, you're right...have a good night too."

Adrien smiled, "do you need, I mean, would you like a ride home?"

"Oh no that's lovely of you, and you're lovely, I mean that's nice...urgh. Sorry. No, I'm fine walking, I need to pick up some stuff for my parents on the way back anyway, thank you though," Marinette blushed pink and felt Tikki nudge her hip, "some other time."

Adrien laughed, "alright, see you tomorrow Marinette."

Marinette waved, "see you, yeah," she watched him go then began walking home, Tikki poked her head out.

"You should've taken the offer Marinette, that was a perfect chance."

"I know I know," she muttered back, "the sooner this day is done, the happier I'll be I think."

Adrien checked an address on his phone, with Natalie's help he had managed to get a piano session at one of his father's studios, he would be left alone and undisturbed, all he had to hope for was that Ladybug would join him later that evening, he left the car and made his way to his room to get on with some work before going over his plan. Across town, Marinette was sitting in front of her computer running her fingers down her screen sighing romantically, Tikki flew in front of her face and interrupted her thoughts.

"Marinette, do remember that Cat Noir will be in contact at some point."

"Yes I know, but how will I know when he's contacting me? What if he comes here before taking me away somewhere?"

"Relax," Tikki smirked to herself knowing she could probably get a message to Plagg before them, "get your work finished then make yourself up, just in case."

"Just in case what Tikki?"

"Just, anything really."

Marinette laughed, "you are mysterious sometimes Tik, you tell me everything and nothing."

"Nonsense Marinette, I don't hide stuff from you."

"Alright, keep an eye on the time for me."

Plagg sat on the piano again as he watched Adrien practise the song for that night, "so when are we off?"

"Seven, we want it to be dark."

"Good, I have time to eat."

"You have time to get fully charged, and I'm going to need you to be," Adrien spread a glissando up the piano keys, "but you also need to be listening, you're not going to be trapped in the ring all night."

Plagg flew around the room so he could send a message to Tikki secretly, "are you going to pick up Ladybug or meet her?"

"Meet her, if I go to pick her up I'll blow her cover and that wouldn't be fair."

"Hmm I see, well you better start getting ready, it'll be seven before you know it."

The hours passed by and Tikki received a private message telepathically that Cat would be leaving at around seven, she flew over Marinette's head and poked her gently.

"Want to go for a perimeter search?"

"Tikki, you've never suggested that before?"

"Well, there hasn't been an Akuma attack today, no harm in checking the city. I'm fully charged."

Marinette raised an eyebrow, "alright, I would like to take a break from this. Tikki, spots on!" She opened her eyes and checked herself in the mirror before leaping out of the open skylight, she danced through the sky and stopped on top of the Eiffel Tower where Tikki had suggested, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath smiling at the gentle breeze, suddenly she heard a purr and turned round to see Cat perched on the railings beside her.

"Cat!"

"Good evening my lady, I told you I'd be in contact."

"Well sort of, you could've called me instead of being secretive and making me guess when we were to meet," Ladybug leant back against the railings and tilted her head to gaze at the cat.

"This is much more romantic, happy Valentine's Day my little bugaboo."

"Since when do we do Valentine's Day?"

Cat jumped down gracefully and took her hand in his raising it to his lips, "come on, we are partners in saving Paris."

"Ah, mon petite chat, you are too flirtatious, why have you really decided to meet up with me? There's no Akuma to catch, no interviews."

Cat scooped her into his arms, "care to take a trip with me?"

"Well, I can't say no now, can I?"

"Hold on," he jumped down to the buildings below before leaping back up along the rooftops, finally he stopped on the rooftop of the studios and placed Ladybug down gently, he opened the doors to the conservatory, "here we are my lady."

"Cat Noir, what is this place?"

Cat clicked the lights on and made his way over to the grand piano sitting in the centre of the room surrounded by flowers, he scooted the bench out gently and sat down upon the padded stool with a smile as he heard Ladybug's breath catch, "come in my lady, you'll get cold outside."

"What are you doing?"

"I told you I had something for you, and this is it."

"A piano?"

"No my flower, take a seat and listen."

Ladybug crossed the room and looked around for somewhere to sit, "there's only the floor."

Cat smirked as he flexed his gloved fingers, "then you'll have to share the stool with me," he moved down the stool and patted it gently with his hand, he waited until she was seated then began to sing, "you are my little bug, side by side in a hug. More to me than you know, Ladybug...but there's one thing I need, then my heart can be free, who are you underneath your disguise? Tell me, I'll tell you, trust me, I need you. Tell me, trust me, lady, bugaboo..." he looked at her out of the corner of his eye and saw her blush every so slightly at the lyrics, he closed his eyes sorrowfully wondering if the song would be accepted and began to play the middle eight he had written. Ladybug watched him in both astonishment and awe, if she had feelings for him before, now they were definitely real, she felt her heart squeeze as his blonde hair swayed gently when he moved his head with the music and she watched his clawed fingers dance on the keys, he repeated the words again then brought the love song to a sweet close, he sat back on the stool and Ladybug smiled at him.

"Did you write that for, me?"

Cat nodded, "Ladybug, I love you. With all my heart, it's moved on from friendship."

"You love me?"

"I do, is it accepted?"

Ladybug twirled a strand of hair around her finger, "I love you but, there is a boy I completely adore. I'm still undecided."

Cat narrowed his eyes, "I did that for nothing."

"No. No, you didn't, I truly adored that, it was beautiful and you wrote it for me," she paused seeing his eyes fill with tears, "but I can't reveal myself to you, I promised myself I would never as hard as I want to."

Cat Noir stood up and leant against the doors of the conservatory, "then maybe I should tell you."

"Cat you can't, our identities must be kept secret."

"It is Valentine's Day after all, Plagg, claws in!"

Ladybug watched in horror and fascination as his disguise changed from toe all the way up to his head and revealed Adrien dressed in a smart suit, "A...Adrien? You're Cat Noir!?"

"Yes, and I've been in love with Ladybug ever since she appeared on the scene."

Plagg circled around her, "he's obsessed with you."

"Plagg, for heaven's sake," Adrien rolled his eyes, "Ladybug, please don't look so shocked."

"I guess I have no choice now, I know your identity," she stood up from the piano stool and felt her heart pounding in her chest, this was it, she was about to show her only love that the disguise was covering up clumsy old Marinette, "Tikki, spots off."

Adrien smiled as he watched her disguise drop then fell back against the doors in surprise as Marinette stood in Ladybug's place, "Marinette Dupain-Cheng? You're Ladybug?"

Marinette turned her face from him, "I bet you were expecting someone braver and prettier?"

"No, I wasn't. I mean, I'm so relieved you are Ladybug, we're best friends."

"So in my disguise you love me, but as myself, you're disappointed? I would be too."

Adrien walked towards her and placed a hand on her shoulder turning her to face him, "I would never be disappointed in someone who has saved my life so many times," he stroked her face then pulled her into a kiss, a breeze picked up and the kwamis looked at each other with a smile seeing that their masters were now inseparable, they flew out of sight and let the young lovers have their privacy.

Marinette curled up on the piano stool, "I don't know what to say."

"So all this time, you've had a crush on me, but in love with me too?" Adrien smiled as he sat down next to her.

Marinette blushed, "I can't deny it now can I?"

Adrien chuckled, "I'm sorry I revealed myself, that was a lot of pressure on you. I just couldn't hide anymore."

"What do we do now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well I mean, we're still Ladybug and Cat Noir but do we hide at school?"

Adrien took her hands in his, "of course not, I love you Marinette, you're one of the sweetest girls I know. I can't believe I couldn't work out sooner that it was you under the spots."

Marinette giggled, "I had no idea it was you either under the ears, there were so many signs though."

"Would you be my valentine and more Marinette?"

Marinette flushed scarlet with a laugh, "umm, wow I've only ever dreamed of this happening, and now it is. Yes, I will be."

"My girlfriend both as Mari and Ladybug?"

"A yes to both, oh Adrien this night has been so perfect. Thank you for doing this, and writing the song for me."

"My pleasure my lady, my only lady."

Marinette smiled and wrapped her arms around him sighing happily when she felt his head against hers, "I love you Adrien Agreste, my secret kitten," she ran her fingers through his hair, "one question, do you actually purr?"

"Haha! Well, only really when I'm Cat Noir, my lady, but I'm just as charming," Adrien laughed as he sat back to look at her, "you know Marinette, you haven't stuttered once in front of me after finding out my true identity."

"I haven't?"

"Nope."

Marinette chuckled, "well, I've always felt more confident in front of you as Cat, but now that I know the truth, I can be myself around you."

"You are so adorable, I've always seen that in you, it's a great trait you have. I like your awkwardness," Adrien stroked her cheek, "tomorrow, I'll pick you up to go to school and we'll go into class as a couple."

Marinette hugged his arm as he began to play the piano again for her, "that sounds wonderful kitty cat."

Adrien rested his head against hers contently as he played his composition for her again changing the lyrics slightly to put her name into his life, he looked down at Marinette against his side and kissed the top of her head before wrapping a hand around around her waist and bringing her closer to his side.