Note: Thank you Megaman-NT-Warrior for beta-ing this and the last chapter! and thank you rhieny for being a great person to talk to regarding this fandom. A final thanks to supercellcomic for the permission to use your fanart for this fics cover page. I'm so happy for the feedback I've gotten for this fic! I hope you guys enjoy! Cross-posted on AO3 and my tumblr

Writing on the notebook

'Thoughts'

"Speaking"

"Kwami speaking when transformed"

"Choose your words carefully. They reveal your inner character."
― Jim George

Chapter 3: Claw-ful Choice

Staring in shock at the words before her, Marinette tried wrap her mind around them. Tikki, on the other hand, shook her head and gave a big sigh as she read the snippet.

"Oh Plagg...still obsessed with cheese. Guess it was too much to hope for that he had gotten a little more serious as Chat Noir's partner".

Whipping her head to stare at her kwami, Marinette managed to find her voice.

"Plagg?! Chat Noir?! This book is...what, trying to reveal to me who Chat Noir is?" Jumping off her bed, Marinette began to pace and rant, her voice getting louder and louder.

"No no no no NO! Wha- How could the notebook do this? This is not how I want to find out about Chat! In fact, haven't I mentioned how much I don't want to know who he is or let him know who I am? Cause I'm pretty sure I've mentioned it!"

Marinette's eyes grew pained with the idea of Chat Noir's secret identity being revealed to her without his permission. His civilian life could would be in danger! All it would take is one moment, one slip up from Marinette, and instead of calling out for Chat Noir, she could end up calling out his real name. If she found out who he truly is, Marinette was certain that she would never be able to see him as her dorky partner and friend anymore. He would become his civilian self with a Chat Noir outfit. Heck! She knew herself enough to know she would probably mess up in the heat of the moment. Not to mention she couldn't bare the thought of Chat Noir finding out who she is, so why should she find out about him? It's just not fair!

"Calm down Marinette. The fact that you haven't realized who he is before now means that the magic on the miraculous is still going strong. It'll take a while before the notebook can break it and be able to write out what his real name is." Shooting the book a slightly annoyed look Tikki continued, "Though that doesn't mean it will try and use every loophole possible to get you to figure it out before it can write out."

Taking deep breaths Marinette slumped into her chair, swirling around to stare outside her window instead of facing the notebook. Flying over to her friend, Tikki gently landed on her shoulder and gave her cheek a hug.

"Marinette? Will you be okay?"

Leaning into the small hug, Marinette sighed mournfully, feeling tired and exhausted at what the notebook had tried to reveal.

"I don't know Tikki. I don't want any of this. I mean, we've been a really good team without knowing each other's secret identities, so why does it all have to change?"

Stormy weather appears at the park, freezing the merry-go-round. People are running away while Manon and Alya are trapped inside the ice dome.

[_] cries out in dismay, "I gotta transform!"

A Red kwami with black dot's flies out as [_] find's a spot to change.

"Transform! Ladybug!"

"Wait Ladybug?!"

Bringing the notebook closer to his face, he kept on reading.

Running towards the frozen carousel she began to moan, "How could I leave Manon with Alya? Well, they'll be fine. Alya can take care of her better than me. I trust her."

"Ladybug knows Manon and Alya? I thought this was before Alya's Ladyblog was created?"

"Hold on guys!", Using her yo-yo, she tried to cut the ice surrounding them, but the ice made the wire slip off.

"It's not working. Then, I'll go with plan B! Don't worry. You'll be okay. I'll save you, Manon."

Staring confusedly at the superhero, Manon cutely asked, "How did you know my name?"

"Okay so Ladybug definitely knows Manon as a civilian."

Ladybug nervously laughed as she replied, "Oh...! I met Marinette, and she said she'll be back soon.

"Shoot! Marinette was in trouble too! She must have gotten separated from those two, but why was Ladybug nervous...No, wait... what am I doing?"

Dropping the notebook onto his desk, Adrien turned to look at the cat kwami laying on his pillow. Opening an eye at the outburst, Plagg turned to face him.

"Hm?"

"Is...is the notebook trying to reveal who Ladybug is?"

Smirking at the gobsmacked boy, Plagg floated over to him and landed next to the red notebook.

"Shouldn't you be jumping for joy that finally you're going to figure out who she is? Not to mention, eventually learn all about a side of her that you have never been able to see."

Slamming the cover shut, Adrien shook his head and pushed his chair away.

"No, this isn't how I want to find out about her. I want her to tell me who she is on her own. Not find out cause some magical notebook decided it."

"Well I'm afraid that this is how you're going to find out, though it'll probably be a while before the book can write out her name. Miraculous magic is tricky to break and definitely a time consuming action. It'll probably just try and hint the answer every chance it get's until then."

Adrien inquired, glancing between Plagg and his ring,"Miraculous magic?"

"Haven't you wondered why no one has figured out that you are Chat Noir? It's not like your cat suit hides your figure and you are a famous model in France."

'He's right. I was always so scared that my dad would figure out who I was if he ever saw the news. While he isn't the best dad in the world, he has been able to pick me out of a crowd simply because of my bone structure before.' mused Adrien, watching a smirking Plagg become more and more smug as he thought it over.

"Alright smarty pants, so how has my identity been protected all this time?"

"It's simple really, miraculous magic makes it so anytime someone tries to connect Adrien with Chat Noir someone nearby or their own reasoning will convince them that they are obviously wrong. No matter how obvious or how often you and Ladybug slip up, the magic in your ring and her earrings will convince everyone, including each other, that Adrien Agreste can't be Chat Noir."

Nodding in understanding, Adrien stood up, reaching out to grab the notebook.

"While that's a relief to know, I still don't want to find out about her true identity like this. If I don't read what's inside this, then I won't figure out who Ladybug's civilian persona is."

Jumping in front of Adrien's face, Plagg startled the boy back into his chair.

"Plagg!"

"You don't understand! You have to read the notebook! It'll get upset if you decide to ignore it, and let's just say that you will not like the other methods it will use to convince you to read it!"

"Okay Tikki, I think I know what I'm going to do."

Standing determinedly Marinette grabbed the book and started measuring its sides. Grabbing some wood and other materials, she started to construct a box for it.

"Marinette...what are you doing?"

Smiling at a nervous looking Tikki, Marinette continued to work diligently.

"You'll see!"

Two hours later and Marinette was finally done making a case similar to the one she had for her diary.

"Ta-da! Isn't it perfect? I even had the right shade of green to match the box with the notebook." Placing it gently inside, she locked it closed and climbed the ladder to her bed. Moving some books on her shelf, she slid the green box in between them.

"If I don't read it then I don't have to find out who Chat Noir is. If I don't find out who Chat Noir is then nothing will have to change between us. Smart huh?"

Giving her partner an aghast look, Tikki tried to pull the box out of it's spot.

"Marinette! No! You don't understand!"

"No time for that Tikki. We have to go meet up with Chat Noir, it's patrolling night. Now, Transform! Ladybug!"

Jumping onto her roof, she began to swing away to the Cathedral, this nights meeting spot. Unbeknownst to her the case holding the notebook began to shake and glow brightly.

"Good evening my Lady! And may I just say you look Purr-fect tonight, as usual."

Smiling softly at the usual eye roll response, Chat Noir jumped closer to his beloved Ladybug.

"Hello Chat. Ready for some late night patrolling?"

"With you? Meow-ways."

Shaking her head at how ridiculous her partner could be, she began to swing to the next roof. Almost three hours after they had begun, Ladybug saw a flash of green light flare over a nearby billboard from the corner of her eye. The word "Marinette " was spelled in green ink on the back of the billboard in familiar neat printing. Stopping short, she paled as she stared at the direction of the billboard, casing Chat Noir to land worriedly beside her.

"My Lady? Is something the matter?"

"Hm? Oh! Uh, I'm just going to use another route tonight Chat. I, uh, want to check something out, so meet you at the Eiffel Tower in ten minutes okay?"

"Are you sure? I can go with you, you don't have to do it alone."

Staring at his worried eyes, she gave his arm a quick squeeze.

"I'll be fine, just give me ten minutes okay?"

Giving a smile, Chat winked provocatively as he leaned forwards.

"Just ten minutes alright Buggy-bo?"

Giving him a deadpan stare she shoved his face out of her personal bubble and turned away from him.

"Ugh! I thought I told you to not call me that!"

Watching as he reluctantly jumped to the next building, Ladybug swung her way to the billboard. Her name wasn't just spelt behind the billboard, she noted with growing fear,it was also written in various sizes on the windows surrounding it. Reaching the front of the sign she gasped in shock as she stared at the image. All over a picture of Adrien was a green inked passage;

Chat Noir was sitting on a fence, smugly provoking to Stormy Weather as he cried out, "Hey, Ice queen! What the heck are you doing here? Lost for a party or something?"

Completely offended Stormy shrieked, "Hey! I'm Stormy weather not 'Ice Queen'!"

Chat Noir replied with a quip, "Tell you what. Since I'm in a really good mood today, I'll forgive you if you stop terrorizing the town."

"Wha..what is this?"

"You didn't let me finish earlier Marinette. This is why it's not a good idea to ignore the notebook."

"The notebook did this?! How the heck am I going to hide this?!"

All round her flares of green light lit the roofs, the cars below and the walls of the buildings. More and more green painted words appeared the longer she watched.

With a deadpan stare, Stormy ignores what he says, and blows Chat Noir away. Leaping towards her partner, Ladybug finds Chat Noir lying in pain on the road.

Teasing him, Ladybug helps him to his feet.

"I heard that cats have the ability to land on their feet."

"I could do it on my own, well, thanks."

Gently grasping her hand he kisses the back of it. Yanking her hand away Ladybug scolded him as she pushed him away by his nose.

"You know, we don't have time for this. Looks like you're not hurt at all."

"Tikki, help! How do I stop this?!"

More flares continued to flash but this time they were on her Ladybug suit. Words painted her arms, legs and torso; even her feet and back had words on them.

Stormy weather had enough of their banter, "All right, people, it seems we'll be experiencing thunder and lightning right about NOW!

Yanking Chat away from the lightning strike, the two rolled around for a bit before he ended up looming over her. Smiling sheepishly Ladybug yanked his face towards the akuma, reminding him it wasn't the time for his flirting antics. Getting up he prepared to pounce into action, "I'll show you how scary a cat becomes when it gets mad!"

Running straight at the akuma, Ladybug noticed the disadvantage Chat was heading into, "Hey wait!"

Stormy waved her parasol, "Fearful icy road"

Ice covered the road, causing him to slip and with another wave of her parasol a gale of wind almost blew the two heroes away. Ladybug managed to save Chat by grabbing onto his tail and having her yo-yo wrap itself around a pole . When the wind calmed down, Chat boasted to his Lady, "Just watch me capture ice queen!"

Yanking his tail again, Ladybug stopped her friend from running into danger again.

"What a hot tempered one. Think before you leap."

Looking back at her Chat inquired curiously, "You have a plan?

Nodding her head, she gave him a confident smile, "Just follow my lead."

The more Ladybug tried to rub of the green words off, the more brighter and bolder the appeared on her suit. Desperately clutching her yo-yo , she wondered if she activate her Lucky Charm or not.

'God what a mess! I swear I'll never lock the book away after this and read every single line!'

As Ladybug was preparing to use her lucky charm, instead of risk the possibility of Chat or someone else, like god forbid Alya finding this, the green ink began to fade away.

"It-it's gone. But...how?"

"That doesn't matter right now, you better hurry up if you want to make it to the Eiffel Tower on time."

"Right!"

Pacing around the roof of the building closest to the Eiffel Tower, Chat pondered on his Lady's strange behavior tonight.

"I wonder what could have startled her like that? Plagg did you notice an akuma near by?"

"No. Besides Ladybug doesn't ditch you when you're fighting akuma's. She ditches you when she can't handle your post-mission 'flirting'."

"Hey! My lines are meow-some, if I do say so myself!"

"Sure, keep telling yourself that love boy."

"Well I-"

"Are you talking to yourself Chat Noir?"

Whirling around, Chat gaped as Ladybug slowly walked towards him. With the moon behind her back, the bright gleam in her too blue eyes and the gentle wind tousling her hair, she looked beyond beautiful in his eyes.

'Like a moon goddess in human form.'

"Chat? You okay?"

"Uh, yeah! Of course! I was just so struck by your beauty that a cat caught my tongue."

Staring lovingly at his love while she face palmed, Chat knew that he couldn't keep the notebook a secret between them. She was so protective about her civilian identity, it would hurt her to realize something was trying to reveal her to him.

"My Lady, I have something to say."

"Yes Chat?"

"I-"

A loud beeping pierced the night sky, as both Ladybug's and Chat Noir's Miraculous started the five minute warning. Chat winced at his bad luck, looks like he would have to wait another day to tell her.

"Whoops! Looks like it's going to have to wait. Sorry Chat but I kinda want to make it home before I transform back."

Putting on a smile, he gave a little bow.

"Of course, what kind of gentleman would I be if I kept you out after your curfew."

"Ha ha, very funny kitten. Anyway I'll see you in a couple days okay?"

Chat watched as she swung away. Leaning next to a chimney, he sighed softly as her body glowed in the moonbeams, appearing to slowly fade into the moonlight.

"Goodnight my love."