Adrien knocked on the bakery's door moments after Marinette finished getting ready. She went down quickly to be met by the most handsome man in the world.

Her heart skipped a beat upon seeing him, but he was no better. Her partner stood still when looked at her. Slowly, both of them snapped back into reality. He took a few steps ahead and took her hand.

"You look even more beautiful tonight, Mari." He kissed her hand in a way that reminded her so much of Chat Noir that, once again, she felt stupid for not seeing it sooner. "Shall we go?"

Smiling, she nodded. They said goodbye to her parents, who gave the pair mischievous grins that made both blush a little.

The ride to the Burgeouis hotel was quick and silent. Both Marinette and Adrien were trying to look subtletly at one another, which led to a ridiculous amount of blushes and side glances. However, when they left the car, he offered her his arm with a smile, as if nothing had happened. Smiling back, she grabbed it, and both entered the building.

At the entrance, there was a photo booth with two seats. Two photos were already sticked there: one of Sabrina and Max and another of Nathaniel and Lila. Both couples looked really cute together, which gave Marinette some courage to ask Adrien, "Do you want to take pictures?"

He blinked a couple times before nodding. Both got in the booth and smiled for the camera.

It might be needless to say, but one could see faint blushes in both of their faces. They'd say it was the camera's fault (it wasn't).

Indeed, when they got in only five of their classmates were already in the hall. Chloe approached them and greeted them with polite kisses on the cheeks (though she grinned wider when greeting Adrien). "Oh thank God you showed up", she said, "I was about to sign up on Tinder just to get a fake girlfriend to show up."

All three laughed at that. "I told you to woo Lila before Nathaniel did", Adrien scolded jokingly. "Now you missed the only other girl in our year who could date you."

Chloe shook her head. "There was no way I'd go for Lila. She got better and all, but she still did too many bad stuff to you to be girlfriend material. Nope, I plan to stay single until college, where I can find all the hot and smart ones. Only the best for the amazing Chloe Burgeouis!"

Another set of laughs after that. Chloe changed, but not that much.

Alya and Nino arrived 20 minutes later. The rest arrived within the hour. Even though they were few, they knew how to party. Especially Kim and Alix with Nino as DJ.

There were other stuff for couples to have fun, but Marinette did not dare ask for Adrien to go to them. She didn't want him to think she was taking advantage of the situation. The boy, on the other, was just feeling too nervous to ask her.

At one moment, he got cornered by Lila of all people. "Look Agreste", she said sharply, "I did not get egged by Chloe, Alya and Alix to see you making heart-eyes at Marinette and do absolutely nothing about it."

Taken by surprise (when did this happen?), he only managed to stutter, "You... You have a boyfriend, L-Lila."

His shy reminder doesn't affect her in the slightest. "I do, and he's great, thank you very much. But it doesn't make it any less frustrating to see you pining after someone who obviously likes you back." She glances to her boyfriend. "Nathaniel comments on it sometimes too. He had to be akumatized to gather the courage to ask Marinette out, but once he said he was a bit worried that not even that would be enough for you to confess."

She opened her mouth as if to say more, but changed her mind and left. Marinette found him moments later, offering him a dance. "I guess I should return the favor", she explained shyly.

He doesn't think twice before taking her hand and leading her to the dance floor.

She doesn't know for how long they danced together, but it didn't seem enough. Granted, it probably would never be.

It was Adrien who stopped, asking her to talk somewhere private. She nodded and let him take her to a balcony nearby.

There, it took him some time and deep breaths to speak. "Mari", he says softly, making her heart skip a beat, "I... I like you. I've always said you're an amazing friend, and you are. But, if you want, I'd like us to be... more than that." He swallowed. "I saw all those couple stuff at the party and kept imagining how it would be fun to do those things with you. And then when we were dancing... I only stopped because I was afraid I'd confess in the middle of the dance floor. If it were for me I'd spend all night holding you." A gulp. "I'm sorry if I'm coming too forward--"

"No!", she all but shouted. Then, more quietly, she said, "I... I'm actually happy to hear it, Adrien. I like you too. A lot. That's why I used to stutter so much around you. I've been crushing on you since... since the day you handed me your umbrella."

He didn't answer, at least not with words. Eyes wide, he got closer until their foreheads touched. Her breathing became unsteady when he rested a hand on her cheek and another on her waist, pulling her into his direction, closing the little space left between them. Before she can overthink it, her eyes closed and she felt his lips on hers.

It was a chaste, quick kiss, but enough to mess up with her heart and mind. Butterflies (or purified akumas?) danced around her stomach and all other organs in her abdome. These few seconds felt etheral, like a dream.

They pulled away slowly and again rested their foreheads together. Both were blushing and smiling, though hers was wider. With now both arms around her waist, he asked, "Mari, will you go out with me tomorrow after lunch?"

Not trusting her voice, she just nodded, He hugged her and, without saying much, they get back to the dance floor.

The following night

Given they barely did patrol the night before, Ladybug and Chat Noir agreed to patrol again. Both arrive at the top of Notre Dame with big smiles on their faces.

"Good evening, my lady. So happy to see me again, huh?"

She giggles. "You never change, do you?" She sighs, thinking of how to explain her happiness to Chat Noir. She couldn't say much about their date without revealing herself as Marinette, and she had just told him she loved him the previous night. "I just had an awesome day, that's all. You know, first day of summer vacation and all that."

Better to say nothing at all.

"What about you, chaton? You look happier than usual."

"Oh, I had an awesome day too! But since you already know who I am, I guess I can tell you details." His smile turns to a grin. "Well, after we do our first round, of course. Can't leave Paris in danger!"

He doesn't see her smile upon jumping to another building. Is he this happy because of their date?

She jumps around the city for half an hour before covering all her territory and going back. Chat arrives five minutes later and begins to tell her about their date.

It's ridiculously hard to pretend she doesn't know anything about it. Adrien, the popcorn seller's name is Pietro, not Pierre! You got it wrong again!

But apparently she manages to keep a straight face during his whole speech, since he never looks at her strangely. He finishes with, "I want to ask her to be my girlfriend next week?"

"What?" She shouts. Then, realizing her mistake, she quickly corrects herself. "I mean, already? Aren't you two, you know, going on more dates first? Isn't it what couples do?"

He doesn't seem to notice her mild nervousness. He's too busy blushing (it's soooo adorable!). "I guess, but... She told my at Chloe's party that she's got a crush on me for almost two years. I couldn't believe it. I still can't. And... I just don't want to waste any more time, you know? We could have gotten together way sooner if I wasn't so coward to tell her my feelings, why waiting for more dates? I already know I'll do anything to make us work. She deserves it."

There is something Ladybug learned with all of this situation.

Hearing your crush say nice things to you is amazing, true.

But hearing them talk so lovingly of you when they don't know you're listening is too wonderful to even be true.

Ladybug/Marinette is definitely on cloud nine.

It's only when Chat tilts his head that she realizes she's daydreaming. "Oops, sorry! Got lost in thought for a moment."

"Several moments, my lady."

"Okay, I got lost in thought for several moments. Anyway! If you feel so strongly for her, I guess it's worth a shot!"

He hugs her. "Thank you, my lady! Your opinion means a lot to me!"

She hugs him back, placing her head on his shoulder. They stay quietly like this for a good amount of minutes, until Chat breaks the silence (but not the hug). "I hope we can stay friends, Ladybug."

She knows why he's saying this. "Don't worry, Chat. You're my best friend, and nothing will change it."

Two months later

If this author is being honest, there isn't much to say.

As any of you expects, Adrien did ask Marinette to date him the next week. She obviously said yes.

These two months together were as disgustingly cute as you can imagine. Adrien only fell more and more in love with Marinette, and vice-versa.

However, on their two-month anniversary, she realizes something. She's been falling for both Adrien and Chat Noir, but her kitty probably wasn't feeling the same for both Marinette and Ladybug. She is depriving him of the wonderful feeling of being in love with the most two important girls on his life (she knew this because he told her) because she's too scared to show herself.

Oh well. She won't hide anymore. I will tell him on our next patrol.

Or she will try. There is no way of knowing she won't have a heart attack before being able to tell him.