The next time Ladybug picked Adrien up- the hideous tourist hoodie swapped out for a differently-hideous hoodie patterned to look like an ugly Christmas sweater- he looked guilty, and sat quietly looking out over the city when she set him down.

"Adrien? Is something wrong?" She sat down next to him, one bright spotted leg curled up in front of her.

"Not really. I'm just not nearly as good at keeping secrets as I thought I was. At least this one."

Ladybug stiffened. "You told someone you were dating me?"

Adrien put his head on his knees. "No... but my friends know me well enough to notice that I've been thinking about someone, even if they don't know who. They think it's one of my other friends, actually, but we're both around them too much and they're going to figure out the truth eventually, which means that they'll start trying to figure out who you are. And worse, one of them is the girl who runs the Ladyblog, and you *know* how persistent she is. I'm afraid I've given everything away because I'm too stupid to hide how I feel about you." He sighed and flopped backwards, looking up at the stars. "And I used to think I was so good at hiding my feelings, too."

"I can't help but be flattered, but you're right about it being a problem." Ladybug sat quietly for a while, looking thoughtful. "...I may have an idea, but I'm not sure it's a good one."

Adrien pushed himself up to look at her, his face hopeful. "I'm sure it's great! What is it?"

There was another long pause. "How much do you trust the friend they think you're in love with?"

"Marinette? Quite a lot. She's amazingly kind and thoughtful. I can't imagine her intentionally betraying someone. Well, except maybe Chloe,
but even there I suspect she'd stop before going too far."

The expression on Ladybug's face was hard to read. "Maybe you should ask her to cover up for us. Pretend she's dating you or something."

Adrien sat bolt upright. "I could never do that! You're the only one in my heart, it would feel like cheating! And I hate asking a friend to lie. Besides... Marinette flusters so easily, I worry that she'd accidentally tell your secret"

Ladybug's mouth turned up slightly in something that wasn't quite a smile, still not looking at him. "I'm not saying actually date her. Just have her help you convince Alya and Nino that you are. And you don't need to tell her you're dating me, just tell her that you need her help keeping Alya from exposing someone who would be in danger."

Adrien gave her a dubious look. "You want me to ask Marinette to cover for me being in love with a mystery girl by pretending to Alya that she's dating me? And you think she'll *agree* to that? There's nice,
and then there's... whatever that is."

This time, the grin on Ladybug's face was genuine, and she turned to look at him. "I think you'd be surprised at what friends will do for each other. Try it and see."

Adrien sighed. "But... I'm yours. Entirely yours. I don't even want to *pretend* to be disloyal." He looked up at Ladybug, green eyes full of uncertainty. "You're everything to me."

Ladybug pulled him into a tight hug, his head resting on her shoulder, and stroked his hair tenderly. "I know, Adrien. I don't know why and I don't deserve it, but I know, and I could never doubt your heart." She took a deep breath. "And... and I love you too. So very much. I wish we didn't have to keep these secrets. I wish I could walk across the Pont des Arts bridge with you holding hands, and share ice cream at Andre's, and have double dates at the movies with friends. But... that's the cost of keeping Paris safe. And of keeping *you* safe. And I know you're about to object, but... remember, it would break my heart if anything happened to you."

They sat there, holding each other close, for some time before Adrien finally sighed and let go. "Well... I suppose if we don't have any other ideas. But... what if Marinette decides to tell Alya that I'm trying to hide something from her?"

Ladybug looked at him with a slight smile. "Does she seem like the sort of person who would do that?"

"...No. She's actually been stepping in to defend me from Alya's prying."

"Well then. Let's give it a try. And remember- I trust you. It'll be OK."

"Marinette, what are you *doing*?!" an agitated Tikki asked. "Having him pretend to date you so he can hide the fact that he's dating Ladybug? That's just a recipe for exposure! You promised me you'd be *careful*!"

Marinette flopped back on her bunk. "I *am* trying to be careful, Tikki! You know Alya, she's like a bloodhound on a scent when she senses something is off. And the last thing we want is her posting speculation on the Ladyblog about Ladybug's secret romance. She's been pushing me at Adrien for ages, she'll be too happy that it's finally happening to ask too many questions."

"Marinette... you know he doesn't know who you are. You can't try to make this a real romance, or you'll just hurt Adrien's feelings."

Marinette sighed. "I know. And I do want him to see me as Marinette, not just Ladybug. And of course I'm scared of what will happen when he finds out who I really am. But... I *do* have him as Ladybug. He loves me, Tikki! Can you believe that? Half shares are better than none, and I couldn't stand it if he got hurt because of me. So... Marinette can learn how to just be friends. I'll still get to spend time with him, and maybe this way I can stop being such a horrible stammering klutz when he looks at me without the mask."

Tikki circled back down to hover over Marinette's eyes. "There's nothing 'just' about friendship, Marinette! It will be good for both of you. I'm proud of you for trying. And you know... the best relationships always include both love and friendship. But remember, he can't find out you're Ladybug!"

"I think I would die of humiliation if he found out right now, so I have plenty of motivation. Oh, no, I have to clean up all of my pictures of him again in case he comes over!" Marinette rolled over and buried her head in her pillow. "Why did I think this was a good idea again?"

"Hey, Marinette!"

Marinette looked up to see Adrien standing next to her desk, looking awkward and rubbing his head.

"Adrien? Uh... what's up?"

"I, uh. Was wondering if you might want to... go to lunch? I wanted to talk about that history report coming up, it sounded like you had some good ideas and I'm stuck."

Alya snickered into her notebook, but didn't say anything.

"Uh... sure, A-adrien. I'd love to eat you for lunch! I mean lunch meet you... I mean, Lunch sounds great!"

Adrien gave her a confused look and then smiled shyly. "Great!
Uh... you really wouldn't want to eat at my house, it's a mausoleum and my father would k... be really upset if I had someone over without asking. Do you want to eat in the park?"

"Um... my parents usually make me lunch at home, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you came too."

"Are you sure? I mean... your parents make really good food, but I wouldn't want to impose."

"I'm sure they'd be delighted." Marinette smiled and grabbed her bag,
then promptly tripped over her own feet, catching herself before she fell but not her books. Two awkward smiles and a bumped head later,
Adrien and Marinette finally made it out the door with all of their possessions in tow.

Alya grinned and poked Nino. "Told you."

"So, um... history report?"

It was after lunch, and Marinette's parents had sent them upstairs with wide smiles to talk. Marinette was staring straight ahead towards the screen on which her ladybug mech and Adrien's polygonal black cat were beating up computer-generated enemies. Adrien's posture was far more relaxed than Marinette's, but it was clear from his play that his mind was nowhere near the game.

"Yeah, um... about that. Um." Adrien sighed, and put his head in his hands, elbows on the desk. "I wanted to talk, but not about the history report. The problem is, it's so weird I don't even know how to begin."

Marinette paused the game and spun her chair to look at him. Her cheeks were slightly pink, and she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again and putting on a slightly awkward smile. "W-w...weird? How so?"

Adrien sighed again. "I need a favor. And you're such a good friend that I was hoping you could help me, but... I feel really terrible asking, because it's weird and awkward. And involves lying to Alya."

Marinette cocked her head slightly to the side, her curious look a bit too practiced to be believable, but Adrien wasn't looking. "I'm always happy to help, Adrien. What do you need? And why does it involve lying?"

Adrien shook his head, sighed yet again, and sat up to look at Marinette. "So... Alya was right the other day. I do have a girl. But..." He hung his head again, refusing to meet Marinette's eyes. "she's not someone from school, and it would be really dangerous for her if anyone found out about her. You know... my... father... and all that. And she's, uh, really shy. But if Alya gets even a hint of her existence, you know she'll be off to find out everything she can, and that could lead other people to her. More dangerous people."

"So... you, uh, have a secret girlfriend?"

Adrien rubbed the back of his head, looking awkward. "Basically, yeah. And she needs to stay a secret. So... um. My girlfriend suggested that I ask you to pretend to be my girlfriend at school, with Nino and Alya. I mean, not you specifically, but a friend that I trust. And you're the most trustworthy person I know, Marinette. I know, this is super-weird and a bit creepy and I feel awful for asking you for any such thing, but-"

Marinette interrupted Adrien with a gentle hand on his arm. "It's OK. I mean, yeah, it's weird, but... it sounds like it's really important to you. So of course I'll help."

Adrien's head shot up in surprise. "You... will?"

"Yeah. I mean... you're my friend, and I want to help you." She blushed. "Besides, Alya keeps trying to set the two of us up, and this will get her off my back too."

Adrien looked awkward. "You... know that it's just pretend, right? I mean... I'm loyal to my, uh, girlfriend. You're really nice, Marinette,
but..."

She interrupted him again with a crooked smile. "I know! I'm not trying to actually get us together. But Alya's a romantic and she loves her schemes. So... we'll pretend for a while until she finds someone else to matchmake for. And in the meantime... we can just be friends."

Adrien fidgeted with his controller, still looking at the floor. "That's not the only problem. I'm... well... um... kind of well known. I try to keep a low profile, but even if we just pretend to date at school, there's a chance that we'll end up with paparazzi following us and your name in the gossip columns. It's a pain in the neck, and I hate it, but I haven't figured out how to avoid it yet. So, um. You wouldn't just be pretending to Alya. You might end up having to pretend to, um. Everybody. And some of them aren't very nice. Which really isn't fair."

Marinette looked startled at the idea, and paused. "Well... I admit, I hadn't thought about that. But... if you're comfortable with it, I think I can live with it."

Adrien looked at Marinette, green eyes full of gratitude. "You're amazing, Marinette." He suddenly reached out and pulled her into a hug. Marinette stiffened, startled, but then smiled and returned the embrace, smiling.

"You're welcome, Adrien."

They walked back into the classroom holding hands. Alya's sharp eyes noticed immediately, and she jumped out of her seat in excitement. "I KNEW it! It took you two long enough to admit it. You are *so* going to be the cutest couple in school. Now dish! How long ago did you get together? How did Adrien finally figure out that you were head over heels for him, Marinette?"

Adrien looked down on Marinette in surprise, but she held her head high even as she turned bright pink. "Just this afternoon, although we'd been thinking about it for a while. And you know how earnest Adrien is, he wanted to be sure it's what he wanted to do." Her voice dropped into an annoyed hiss, loud enough to hear nearby but not to carry. "But Alya, we *just got together* and I do not want you *scaring him off*. We're just figuring things out. Now *shut up*."

Alya stared at Marinette in surprise, then started laughing. "Fine, fine. I'll back off a bit. But you two were made for each other. This is going to be *so* fun to watch."

Marinette, still bright pink and still holding Adrien's hand, pulled him along until the reached his seat, as he looked at her bemusedly. Then she squeezed his hand, looked up at him, and said with an embarrassed smile, "Sorry about that."

"WHAT is going on here?" Chloe's shrill voice cut off all other conversation in the room as she stalked forward, glaring. Adrien winced. "Marinette, are you holding hands with my Adrikins? Let go of him right now, you don't deserve him. Isn't that right, Adrikins?" She draped one arm around Adrien's shoulder and leaned in to kiss his cheek dramatically.

Adrien ducked out from under her arm and looked at Chloe sadly. "Chloe, why do you have to be so mean all the time? I thought you were working on that." He reached out and pulled Marinette to his side, arm around her shoulder. "And Marinette deserves anyone she wants. Myself included. And right now..." He swallowed hard. "Right now, that's me. I'm not yours, Chloe. I never have been. So... just leave Marinette alone, OK?"

Chloe looked horrified for a moment before she managed to restore her usual smug expression. She turned with a large sniff and a dramatic swing of her hair and walked off towards her desk. "Well, I suppose if that's what you want to do right now, Adrikins, it's up to you... but don't blame me when you regret it."

Adrien sighed in relief, and turned to Marinette. "My turn to be sorry."

"It's OK. I... kind of expected that." She smiled sadly up at him. "It goes with the territory."

Adrien's glum look and slumped shoulders that afternoon made Nino elbow him and whisper in concern, "What's up, dude? You just got together with a girl who's perfect for you, shouldn't you be back in dreamland?"

Adrien looked up at Nino with a crooked smile and shrugged. "Eh... Chloe. It's just more complicated than I thought."

Nine shook his head. "That one would be miserable with anything. Don't let her negative attitude get you down, my man. Just think about Marinette."

A gentle hand squeezed Adrien's shoulder from behind, and he looked up into sympathetic blue eyes. "Think about Marinette. Yeah." Adrien smiled gratefully and squeezed her hand back. "I can do that." He straightened up and got back to his note-taking with more energy.

Nino grinned. "Glad I could help."

Marinette and Adrien walked along the park path, side by side, not touching.

"You know, I'm glad to get to spend more time with you, Marinette. But... I hate that it has to be this way."

Marinette looked up at him with a small smile. "I know what you mean."

"So... um. Alya said earlier you were head over heels for me. Um." Adrien rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "I don't know if she's right, but if she is, I'm really sorry. This was a really cruel thing for me to ask of you, even if it was an accident. We can stop if you want. Have a public breakup scene and all that. At least Chloe would be happy about it..."

Marinette looked uncomfortable. "I wish she hadn't said that. I...I mean..." She looked away, as though a nearby park bench were supremely interesting, and turned pink. "It's embarrassing and I hope you aren't annoyed, but... I did have a crush on you for a while, and Alya liked to tease me about it. And she's probably going to keep doing it. But it's really OK. I don't mind helping you and your... friend. Don't worry for my sake."

"...are you sure?" Adrien stopped and grabbed Marinette's hands, turning her until she looked up into his worried eyes. "I feel so selfish, asking you for this."

"I'm sure." Marinette smiled up at him. "Besides, this is a chance to have fun, just as... friends. Get to know each other. Do ridiculous things around the city without... without worrying about making a good impression. If you're up for it, we can act like a cheesy couple, and nobody else will know we're doing silly imitations of them instead of being them."

Adrien looked down at her and slowly started to smile, tension leaking out of his shoulders. "I am so lucky to have you as a friend, Marinette." He turned, bowed, and offered her his arm dramatically. "Would you care to accompany me on this walk, then, my... uh... cupcake?"

"Sweet baked goods? Sure, I'll take it." Marinette grinned and took Adrien's arm with a fake curtsey, their walk around the park turning into an over-the-top promenade. Every so often, the two of them would sneak a glance sideways, catch each, other's eyes, and burst out laughing, until Marinette finally rolled her eyes, grabbed Adrien's hand, and pulled him over to a park bench where they could collapse next to each other and giggle, watching the sun play through the leaves overhead.

"I'll defer to you about where to go around Paris. I don't get let out of my house often enough to know what might be fun to do. But... I'm thinking it could be fun to dig up the most terrible, cheesy romantic movies we can find, and watch them together. To get ideas. And, of course, to make fun of them." Adrien turned his head to look at Marinette. "So what do you think, 'cupcake'? Is it a fake date?"

Marinette grinned back at him. "I think it is."

There was a long silence on the rooftops that night, as Ladybug and Adrien sat back against a chimney with their arms around each other and free hands clasped, watching the stars.

"So... how did it go?" Ladybug finally asked.

Adrien shook his head. "You were right. She agreed to cover for us, even without knowing who you are. I'm still surprised." He sighed. "And it worked to distract Alya and the others. But... Marinette's such a good friend, and I worry that this will hurt her. She apparently had a crush on me, and... well..." He pulled Ladybug closer. "She says it's fine and she doesn't mind, but..."

Ladybug looked up at him for a long time, then kissed his cheek. "One of the many reasons I love you. You care so much about how your friend feels. But if she says it's fine, trust her. It's probably true, but even if it's not, well... she would have said it because she wanted you to behave as if it's true. For whatever reason."

Adrien turned his head to look into Ladybug's eyes and smiled. "Thank you, my heart. You're right, as usual. And even if I make a mistake, Marinette is the kind of person who'd forgive quickly." He gave Ladybug a quick kiss on the nose, leaned back as if to inspect his handiwork, and then leaned in for a longer, gentle kiss on her lips. Green eyes met blue, and they smiled at each other.

"Now *that* is a pet name I can live with."