A/N: Wow it's late. I'm still up. Wheeeeee. I really don't have much to say lol. These are just me saying that the chapter has been edited. ;) Enjoy!

I hope you like it!

Until Next Time!

~Nebilas~

Marinette sat in art class hating herself. 'The hell is wrong with me.' She thought dismally. She could not get her crime fighting partner out of her head. And to make matters worse, they had patrol together that night. She groaned. She was getting zero work done today. The clock eased on, agonizingly slow, torturing Marinette. 'I just want to go home.' She thought miserably. 'Talk to Tikki and try to get her to talk me out of it. Maybe we aren't allowed to'. She thought hopefully.

'Who are you trying to fool?' Her mind jeered. 'Looks like you're trying to fool yourself.'

Am not.' She countered. 'I don't actually feel anything for him. It's just a bi-product of Adrien's likeness.'

'Riiiiight. Which is why you've absent-mindedly doodled a sketch of him and added little hearts around it.'

Marinette gaped in horror at her drawing. It had started out as a drawing of Adrien but had turned into a stunning drawing of Chat Noir, grinning out of the paper, Eiffel Tower behind him. And indeed there were a few hearts drawn subconsciously around his head. She immediately erased them and ripped the page out of her sketchbook so nobody could see it. I'm going to burn this when I get home. She decided, her face red.

That was when the final bell rang and she practically flew out of the door. She did pause to chat with Alya, but was distracted, and inadvertently agreed to hang out on Sunday afternoon. She took a deep breath and began walking down the street to her house. Before she got far though she heard a voice shouting her name.

To her utmost shock, she discovered it to be Adrien. He deftly sprinted across the street and slowed as he reached her.

"Here." He said handing her a piece of paper.

"What's this?" She flipped it over and on it was a phone number. Her heart leapt into her throat. She already had his number (stolen from Alya, not that he knew that) but the fact he was actually giving it to her of his own volition had a new sort of meaning for her. "Thanks. It'll come in handy for the group project." She smiled.

He grinned back and opened his mouth to say something else, but a black car honked at him from down the street and he grimaced. "Text me tonight. We can work out a plan for the project. See ya!" and with that he took off across the street.

Marinette stood there for a solid 30 seconds before she was able to regain control of her body. She stumbled for a few steps, her mind a complete blur as she walked down the street humming happily to herself. Once she got home, she waved to her parents, who were currently talking to a client, and she walked upstairs to her room. Once she shut the door she collapsed onto her bed, arms spread, her heart going a million miles per minute.

"Tikki." she whispered.

Her Kwami flew out of her bag, munching on a cookie as always. "Oh good we're home I was getting cramped in there I-" She stopped as she saw Mari sprawled on the bed. "What happened to you?"

Mari giggled foolishly.

"Oh jeez." Tikki said, facepalming. "Alright tell me what happened."

"He gave me his number." She said dreamily.

Tikki sighed. "You already had his-"

"I know but he actually gave it to me this time! It's dumb I know."

"No it isn't. You're in love I get it. But... " She flew back into her school bag and withdrew Marinette's drawing of Chat Noir. "Care to explain this?"

XxXxXxXx

Adrien sneezed. "Stupid cold." He mumbled.

"Maybe if we hadn't taken that detour last night you wouldn't have gotten sick." Plagg admonished him before eating some more cheese. "Why do you talk to her anyway?"

Adrien paused, and sat down on his bed. "Because… I don't know Plagg she's different. Around me she's always nervous, and I don't thinks she likes me much. But around Chat she's completely different. She's quick witted, she laughs, it's wonderful. And I'd like to consider her a friend from both ends of my identity… But I'm not sure that can happen."

Plagg continued to nibble on his cheese, looking at Adrien intently. "Just her friend?" he asked quizzically.

Adrien cocked his head to the side. "What do you mean?"

"Come on kid don't be dumb about this. Do you have a thing for her or not?" Plagg asked before devouring his last bite of cheese.

Adrien sighed before beginning. "See that's the thing. I feel like I could, but as Chat it's completely platonic and as Adrien we don't really talk. Plus ladybug… Not that she'd ever love me anyways." he muttered bitterly. He glanced at Plagg who gestured for him to continue. "As Chat I have no chance, she always seems to just view me as an irritating necessity in her life. I know she cares, but I love her and I'm certain she knows, she just doesn't feel the same. And as Adrien she hardly knows who I am. So I'm effectively doomed on all four fronts." He flopped onto his bed, tired with his bad luck. "I just can't get a break can I."

"If it helps every single Chat Noir has always had terrible luck." his Kwami chimed in helpfully.

"Right… Thanks Plagg.. That really… Helped." Adrien grumbled sarcastically.

"Well excuse me." Plagg sniffed disdainfully.

Adrien suddenly smiled and he glanced at his Kwami. "You know what Plagg? That was paw-sitively the best advice I've heard this week."

Plagg groaned. "Ugh no more terrible cat puns."

"I don't know what you're talking about Plagg my puns are otter-ly amazing."

His Kwami dove under his pillow covering his hears. "Make it stop.." he moaned.

Adrien laughed and picked up the pillow. "I'm done. For now."

"Thank gods." Plagg grumbled. His ears perked at the sound of Adrien's phone making a noise. "Who's that?"

"Uhm… Marinette. We have to do a project together. She's just giving me her number now though." He added the contact and sent back a text.

"Was there a pun in that text?" Plagg asked suspiciously. Adrien shrugged. "Read it yourself."

Plagg floated back a half foot. "I don't want my brain to collapse. Thanks though." Plagg said.

Adrien smiled briefly. "Alright I have to do homework if I want to do patrol tonight. I'm gonna get you cheese and you stay quiet until we go. Agreed? Also can we leave a little early?"

Plagg narrowed his eyes. "Depends on how much cheese."

"A lot." Adrien stated firmly.

"Deal!" Plagg grinned. Adrien rolled his eyes at Plagg's antics and went downstairs to fetch the food.

XxXxXxXx

"Tikki what am I going to do?" Marinette asked desperately, pacing back and forth. "I'm not sure I'll be able to look him in the eye!"

"Good." Tikki said, quite fed up with her chosen's antics.

Marinette paused and stared at her. "What?"

"That's good. You'd be cute together." Marinette flushed red. "Tikki!"

"What?" Tikki asked, exasperated. "It's not forbidden and despite the fact that you said 'damn it', the look in your eyes was relief." Marinette cringed. Dumb Kwami good at reading people…

"But I've been stonewalling all of his advances. And I don't think he actually takes the crush seriously. I think he's just being a playboy." Marinette said nervously, fiddling with her hair.

"Well why don't you ask him?"

Marinette looked at Tikki as though she'd sprouted a second head. "Are you insane?" She asked. "That would end in disaster!"

Tikki sighed and tried to reason with her. "Or you could learn a lot about him. It's your choice. We have to leave in half an hour for patrol anyways. No time like the present! You don't have to tell him how you feel but you could at least make an effort to get to know him better."

Marinette swallowed. "I really don't know anything about him do I? He always asks questions about me but… I never ask him. Gods I'm such an ass."

"Relax. You're not an ass. Just talk to him today. It'll be fine."

"You're right…"

Tikki grinned. "Of course I am."

"And not modest." Marinette said dryly.

"Cookie please! Counseling takes energy."

XxXxXxXx

Chat Noir leapt across the street landing on top of a chimney. He glanced down the street. Marinette's house was right around the corner. He twitched, debating with himself, before leaping across the street again and after two more jumps, landed on her balcony with expert precision. He tapped his fist on the glass door twice and waited.

Marinette answered within ten seconds and peered out at him, head peeking out from between the curtains. She cocked an eyebrow at him. "Two visits in a row with a knock? I must be dreaming."

He grinned at her and bowed theatrically. "Well you see princess I must confess I have decided to try and be more polite when intruding upon your privacy. I would hate… Hm.. I wouldn't say hate but it would be awkward to barge in and discover you changing."

Marinette flushed red, which Chat took an interested notice in and opened the door anyways. He stared at her as he walked into her room. She usually just rolled his eyes when he said something like that.

He shrugged and ignored it, draping himself dramatically over her chair. "How was your day oh beautiful princess?"

"Wonderful." She replied, smiling happily.

Chat cocked his head, wondering what had put her in such a good mood. "Oh? Do tell! What has made my princess so happy?" She grinned and tapped her nose. "Oh come on princess you paw-sitively have to tell me."

She giggled. "Nope!" And dramatically traipsed away. "Oh come on!" he stood up to follow her and drag the truth out of her but something on her desk caught his attention. A drawing? He picked it up and stared at it in amazement. It was of him! He almost did a backflip out of excitement, but he kept his calm demeanor.

"Princess?" He asked in a sing song voice.

Marinette turned around warily. "What's up Cha- PUT THAT DOWN!" She screeched in outrage.

He leapt out of the way and kept it just out of her reach, a grin spreading over his face. "But princess it's such a lovely drawing and I must say I look absolutely wonderful in it. But I do wonder about the erased hearts? What's that all about?"

She leapt at him, desperate to get the drawing back. As she leapt, she accidentally uncovered Tikki, but fortunately Chat wasn't paying attention to her bag. As Tikki dove back into said bag, she dislodged a long lost bouncy ball under her bed which rolled out. Chat, did not see any of this which is why when he blocked Marinette and her foot went back down to the ground, her foot landed on the bouncy ball and she fell straight towards the floor.

Marinette shut her eyes in preparation of hitting the floor but it never came. She reopened her eyes to discover that Chat had somehow managed to catch her about one foot off of the ground.

"Cat like reflexes." he grinned. It was at that point she realized how close her face was to his. She blushed slightly, but while one part of her brain screamed at her to get up, the other half egged her on. She swallowed nervously. He was staring intently into her eyes. His beautiful green eyes. She started to move closer to him. She wanted to kiss him. And from the look in his eyes he wanted to kiss her. Her eyes were halfway closed and she was so close..

She could feel his breath… 'I want… STOP!' A voice screamed at her and her eyes flew open and she unceremoniously pulled herself out of Chat's grasp and scooted backwards.

'Oh my god I almost…' She turned her head towards Chat who looked terrified.

"I… I'm sorry." He whispered and then he turned and fled out the window. After ten seconds of pure silence she slammed her fist into the floor, and lay down on her bed hugging her pillow.

"You coward." She whispered to herself. Tikki watched from the edge of her bed, eyes wide. She had seen what had transpired. Or almost transpired.

"Marinette how do you feel?" She whispered.

"Guilty." came the response. "I feel incredibly guilty. But I'm also angry that I didn't go through with it. I'm such a coward."

"We have patrol in 10 minutes." Tikki said softly. Marinette groaned despondently, and buried her head farther into her pillow. "Look let's just stick with the plan. Act normal, maybe try to get to know him a little better. Alright?" Tikki said firmly.

Marinette sighed and sat up, still partially hiding behind the pillow. "Alright… Alright. I can't believe I almost kissed that playboy."

"You don't know that he's a playboy yet." Tikki muttered, but let it slide. "Alright Tikki. Spots on."

XxXxXxXx

Chat ran. He ran as fast as he possibly could, wanting to get as far away from the bakery as possible. He ended up at the meeting place for he and Ladybug. He paused, debating what he should do. "Ladybug?" He shouted hoping he wouldn't get an answer. He did not.

He gauged which way she usually came from before calling off his transformation. His outfit vanished and Plagg came flying out of the ring.

The Kwami glanced around before his eyes widened. "Are you insane?" He hissed. "What if ladybug shows?"

Adrien sat on the edge of the roof. "She comes from the other direction. I just needed someone to talk to."

"Yeah clearly! So much for platonic with the princess!"

"I didn't mean to!" he said defensively.

"But it happened! Or almost did!" Plagg burst out.

"But she didn't actually want it to happen." He mumbled.

Plagg sighed. "Look I know she scrambled away but she may have just been shocked alright? She might just not have expected it."

Adrien scoffed and looked away angrily. "Yeah right Plagg. Who am I to kiss her? To hold feelings for her. I'd just put her in danger. It's better if I don't visit again."

Plagg ground his teeth. "That is perhaps the worst idea you've ever conceived and that's saying a lot."

"Well then what would you suggest oh Grand Kwami?" Adrien snarled. Plagg tensed. He did not like the way this conversation was going. "You're right though." Adrien sighed. "I'm so stupid. Why I thought she would actually let that happen is beyond me."

Plagg wandered up to him cautiously, leaping up onto his shoulder. "Look kid. I don't often say this.. But you aren't stupid. You're very smart. You'll figure it all out."

Then a surprised exclamation came from behind them. Adrien almost turned around on reflex. But he couldn't. Not without his mask.

"Who is it?" He called back, voice filled with trepidation. "It's Ladybug… Um you should probably transform."

"Yeah sorry I just needed to talk to Plagg for a second." He scratched the cat kwami under the chin. "Are you looking?"

"No I'm around the corner now." Ladybug said, voice shaking slightly.

"Kay. Claws out." After he transformed he walked around the corner to see Ladybug.

She glowered at him. "Are you crazy?" She demanded. "What if I'd seen who you are?"

"Then maybe I could get one less lie from my life." The words left his mouth before he could retract them and he immediately backtracked. "Sorry.. It's been a rough day."

Ladybug nodded slowly. "I see." She shook her head. "Let's go." And with that they took off across the rooftops of Paris.