"It's nice to meet you, Plagg," Marinette said with her most innocent smile. She had met Plagg on several occasions, but she couldn't let Chat know that.

"Yeah, yeah, do you have any cheese?" the kwami replied. Marinette nodded and pointed towards the platter of goodies she had set out. The tray held an assortment of goodies including fruit, croissants, cookies, and, of course, cheese. Marinette had carefully added the camembert making sure it wasn't too obvious that she knew Plagg's favorite snack.

The black kwami instantly snatched the cheese, muttered something about the balcony, and disappeared through the trap door above Marinette's bed.

"Will that do?" she asked, nodding towards the outfit she had made for Chat. "Does it fit?"

"It's a bit long it the sleeves, but it's actually really comfortable. Thank you for making it."

Marinette smiled and reached for her sewing box. She motioned for Chat Noir to come closer and she quickly began adjusting the right sleeve. It didn't take her long, but it was long enough for an awkward silence to fall between them.

Maybe this was a bad idea, she thought as she finished one sleeve and moved to left. It was then that she noticed Chat wasn't wearing a ring like she had anticipated. Instead, he was wearing a black bracelet with a metal plate.

"My miraculous looks different when I de-transform," Chat explained.

"I just thought it would be a ring," Marinette replied turning her attention back to the sleeve.

"It's normally is, but Plagg changed it. Just in case you recognize it."

Marinette paused in her work and digested the comment. She looked back up at Chat and stared into his green eyes. They were slightly different now that was in his makeshift costume.

"I know you," she stated. "I know you in real life. That's why you came to me for advice."

Chat Noir's face blushed, confirming what Marinette had just said.

We know each other. I know Chat Noir! Marinette felt her mind spinning with all that this could mean, but one thought rose above them all. He can't be himself around his friends. He can't be himself around me.

"Marinette?" he asked, breaking her train of thoughts. "Are you ok?"

She was still staring at him and she felt her face beginning to blush as well. She quickly turned her gaze back to the sleeve and continued adjusting it.

"Sorry. It's just...I didn't think we knew each other. I'm a little shocked."

"It's alright. Like I said yesterday, things are different when I'm not Chat. I...I'm different."

Marinette nodded as she worked. The more she had thought about it, the more she had realized how different she was as Marinette; it wasn't surprising Chat couldn't tell she was Ladybug.

"I'm sorry," she said, tying off the sleeve. "I'm sorry you feel like you can't be yourself around me. I don't know if it's because I said or did..."

"No," he cut her off, "It's nothing you did. It has nothing to do with you and everything to do with me."

Chat knelt down in front of the chair she had been sitting in while she worked and took both of her hands in his. His hands were soft and warm and Marinette felt her heart skip a beat.

"Marinette," he continued, "You are a good friend to me. The best. Both as Chat and my civilian self. You are always there for me and I know that. It's...it's why I came to you last night. I couldn't talk to you about my problems with Ladybug as...well...me, so I came as Chat. The reasons I can't truly be myself around you started long before we met. I need you to know that. Ok?"

"Ok," she whispered, not sure why she felt like crying. Chat pulled her into a hug and she let herself bury her face in his shoulder.

"You're a good friend, Marinette," he repeated, "And I love you for that."