Adrien had a lot of ideas about how his day would go; the most prominent one was along the lines of school, ask Marinette out, happily rejoice, and take her for a walk while drinking hot chocolate and trying not to implode from happiness.

At least that was what he had been daydreaming about throughout his morning classes.

As the day lazily passed by at a speed that was much too slow for him, Adrien could feel the knot of nerves twist in his stomach- the last time that he had tried to tell a girl that he liked her, his heart had been squashed. He could still feel the ache in his chest when he thought about that night... but then his mind would drift to Marinette and her calm reassuring words and his heart would swell fuller than he ever imagined it could.

All he had to do was make it until the final bell- if only she wasn't making it so hard to wait. The first time that Adrien saw her that morning was like seeing the sun peek from behind the clouds on a rainy day- you knew the sun would come again, but you just aren't prepared for how much your eyes are drawn to it- you didn't realize until the rays dance along your skin that you had been missing their warmth.

It was like that all day for him. He would be trying to focus or walk to class or trying to listen to Nino and then there she was smiling and laughing and exuding the warmth that he had been craving. How had he never noticed any of this before? Had he been so wrapped up in Ladybug that he missed what was right in front of his face?

Her smiles kept him going though, (along with multiple nudges from Nino that kept his cheeks flamed with color) and before he knew it, the final bell was blaring throughout the halls and Adrien was quickly stuffing heavy textbooks away into his bag. The last, and biggest, book required a bit of maneuvering and rough shoves before he could zip it all closed.

And then he was moving. Out through the door- weaving around classmates in the hall- his eyes sweeping the area looking for the distinct pigtails of his affection. He spotted her just outside the doors into the courtyard standing with Alya and Nino and he then froze. His best friend gave him a subtle wink and a nod before he could force his legs to take him closer.

Have you ever felt one emotion so strongly that the rest of them fade away? That's what he was feeling now.

Nervous.

Adrien doubted that he had any reason to be nervous, but here he was with his stomach twisting, his heart hammering in his chest, and his legs felt like that had weights attached to them. His eyes locked on to Marinette's and her smile was the breath of air that he needed in order to greet them.

"Hey!" He uttered a bit too loudly. Alya nodded towards him as she slipped a hand into Nino's.

"Hello Adrien, how was your day of classes?" Marinette's sweet voice washed over him as a wave of longing crashed into his heart. Now- he was going to ask her now.

"It-it was good." He muttered quickly. "Listen, Mari, could I talk to you for a minute?" Adrien watched as her eyes widened fractionally and a small surprised sound escaped her lips. A flush was working itself onto both of their cheeks and he had just enough time to worry before Alya elbowed her fried slyly.

"We'll leave you to it then!" Nino shot him a look of encouragement as he squeezed his girlfriend's hand and pulled the grinning redhead away towards the sidewalk home.

"Call me later!" Alya commanded Marinette over her shoulder while flashing an excited grin back at them.

Adrien could feel his his nerves ease a bit as the girl before him stuttered out a timid "O-okay". He can do this. Marinette is his friend and he knows from Nino that she likes him. He can do this.

Turning back to gaze at the blushing girl beside him, he gathered all of his courage.

"Hey, uh, Marinette," Adrien rubbed a hand across the back of his neck to try and work some of the tension out. He noticed her hands clasped together around her waist as she chewed on her lip nervously- she must be feeling similar to him right? Both tentatively awaiting what he would say next. "Would you- would you like to go on a date with me tonight?"

Adrien cursed himself for faltering over the words- he wished that he could be Chat right now- he was always so smooth whenever he was transformed and some of that charisma would have been nice right about now.

The words seem to have shocked Marinette because she hadn't answered him yet. Her little pink lips were hanging open slightly and he had to physically pinch himself to stop from leaning towards them. Her eyes were round with surprise and her arms had dropped limply by her sides.

She was going to say yes as soon as her surprise wore off- he just had to keep telling himself that- Nino had told him that she has liked him since they first met- just please let her say something soon. Adrien could feel his heart hammering away the seconds and he couldn't help the fear that once more built up in his chest at her silence.

"Mari-" he started to say in a small whimper just as she shook her head to clear her clouded eyes.

"I-" The one syllable had him leaning towards her eagerly. "I can't Adrien... I'm sorry- I like someone else ."

Confusion.

Adrien was so sure- so sure- that she had liked him. Nino said that Alya had been trying to get them together for ages. Could he have missed his chance?

Marinette's eyes watered as her face crumpled and he lost the sun behind the clouds once more. Before he knew it she was running- running away from him with tears in her eyes- running away and he couldn't understand what had just happened.

He watched her go- is this what it feels like to have your heart shattered? Before with Ladybug he had felt it break. He had felt the hallow, unfeeling sadness that had gripped him. Now- now he couldn't tell you what he felt- everything was swirling around inside of him fighting for dominance on how he would react. His princess- Marinette- she had just left him here all alone when he was so sure that they were going to spend that evening basking in the glow of a new relationship.

But now?

Now he felt embarrassment- indignation- anger. Adrien ignored the looks of students around him. He ignored the small paw placed over his heart where he knew Plagg was hiding out. He ignored everything until it was safe to duck into a secluded alley way and even then he ignored Plagg's words as he called on his transformation.

The power washed over him and, with a determination before unknown to him, Chat pounced onto the rooftops and took off for the little bakery that housed the answers he was looking for.

He let his fury take over in those few minutes. He wasn't even sure what he was so angry at- was it himself for convincing himself that something good was going to happen to him? Was is Nino for convincing him that he had a shot with Marinette? Was it Mari for turning him down? Probably all three.

He thunderously made his way onto the small balcony taking note that her flowers no longer looked like a sunset- instead they sat harshly against the backdrop of Paris, boldly challenging his own fiery mood.

And then his ear twitched- just catching a small muffled sob from inside of Marinette's room- and his fury drained from him in an instant. Who was he to get so angry at a girl that he cared for just because she turned down his offer for a date? He couldn't blame her for his own feelings of hope that he had been harboring.

Slowly- deliberately- Chat made his way over to her hatch and peered in. There was his princess- so precious to him- and she was curled up into a tight ball, clutching her pillow as though it were a life-raft. Hadn't she stumbled upon him in a similar situation weeks ago? Hadn't she taken the time to comfort him?

Chat wasn't sure what had made her so unhappy, but he knew that now was not the time for his own moping- now was the time to help her through whatever was going on. He raised a gloved hand and knocked.

"Wha- oh Chat!" The bluenette cried desperately as she moved to let him in. As soon as he maneuvered his way into her room, Marinette was clinging to him and crying.

"Shh, Princess- it's o-okay." He voice cracked slightly with his own misery. "Wha- what happened to upset you so much on this- on this beautiful day?" Marinette let out a cry so heart wrenching that it made Chat want to hurt himself for causing her such misery- however it was that he did it...

"C-Chat- I-" Her words were punctuated with sobs and her fingers dug into the leather on his chest. "I-I-I've liked a boy in-in my class for so-so long and to-today he asked me on a date!" His hands were caressing the back of her head and smoothing out her hair.

"That-that's a good thing, isn't it Princess?" His eyes were shut tight against the grimace of pain that shot through his heart when he felt the tiny shake of her head. God, this was hard.

"No-no I turn-turned him down, Chat..." Marinette leans back and peers up at him from beneath her lashes- her face was flushed and tears traced themselves down the contours of her cheeks.

"If-if you like him... Why would you-" Chat coughs around the thick feeling in his throat, "Why would you turn him down?" His voice was barely a whisper. His hands stilled on her back. He held his breath as she caught his eyes with her own, suddenly blazing, expression.

Nothing could have prepared him for what came next.

"Because I love you, you oblivious cat." Marinette's voice was breathy and intense and it knocked Chat backwards onto his ass.

Stunned.

Really? Was he really turned down for himself? Had Marinette really turned down the most notable teen model in Paris because she loved Chat? He was the embodiment of the black cat- could he really be this lucky?

"You-you love me?" Even Adrien could hear the hope laced within his words but now was not a time to be self-conscious. Now was a time of unbridled astonishment. Now he just needed her confirmation and he could make everything better- because if she was sad to have turned down a boy that she liked for a different one, then what could be better than finding out that they are one in the same?

"Yes." Her eyes had dried and her voice was filled with conviction. Marinette loved him. Marinette loved him.

Adrien couldn't help the low chuckle that escaped his lips. "Well Princess! No need to be sad anymore- of course you don't know- how could you have known?" he hooked his index finger underneath her chin and smiled widely at her confused expression. "This is even better than I had planned! You love me- all of me- and you don't know! How could- Plagg! Release the transformation!"

The rush of power slipping from his body lit up the room in bright greens before he was able to get another good look at her. Of course she was surprised- who wouldn't be after finding out that one of her classmates was a superhero?

"Do you see now, Princess? This is perfect- there's no need to be sad- I'm okay! I purromise." He had wrapped her once more into his embrace and held onto her tightly. "I can't believe that I'm so lucky."

The tight fist pushing against his chest was the first indication that not everything was okay. The tears leaking down the beautiful angles of her face was the next. Finally, the choked sounds of her melodic voice talking to him was the last.

"Oh no. No, no no no." She wailed grasping at his forearms and her head bowed in agony. "Chat- Adrien- I- I've hurt you so much. This- this whole mess is my fault." He was trying to get her to look at him. How could she be sad about this? This was great!

"No Mari- this is wonderful! I love you, too- don't you see?" He couldn't understand why she was flinching away from him at the words.

"You- you don't understand- how could you? I-I've caused you so much pain- I" Marinette choked on another sob, "I have to tell-to tell you. Please- please don't hate me." Without looking at him, she scrambled off the side of the bed, lightly tripping on a stray shoe, and turned her back on him. Chat could see her shoulder shaking with renewed sobs as she wound her arms across her front protectively.

His eyes were trained on her, confusion littered throughout his expression, and she slowly looked over her shoulder to look him straight in his eyes. Blue met green and he was trapped. The pounding in him chest was like a stampede and he absently wondered how much more abuse it could take today.

"Tikki, transform me." The words are barely loud enough for Adrien to hear, but the accompanied bright flash of pink was enough to leave his mind reeling because instead of Marinette, Ladybug was now standing in the room with him.

"I-I don't- but you- and I- why?" He couldn't keep up. Marinette is Ladybug. Ladybug turned Chat down. Marinette turned Adrien down. Marinette loves Chat? "How can you love Chat but turn him down? Why?" He asked a second time trying his hardest to get his thoughts in order.

Ladybug's beautiful face was crumpled with so much pain as she turned to fix him with her most sincerely remorseful look. "Because I loved Adrien!" She practically wails. "I've loved him since that day in the rain and- and I had no idea how much Chat cared until I found him-you in the alley out-outside. And then- and then of course Chat is wonderful and we connected the more I got to know you. And then- you stupid, reckless cat- you saved me and I was beyond myself with worry when you disappeared and I realized I loved Chat too."

Her arms were wrapped around her so tightly as though she could keep herself together just by the force of them. The words were still processing in Adrien's mind and he just couldn't believe the mess that they've found themselves in.

Maybe it was the push and pull of their respective lucks working against them- or maybe for them- or maybe this was how it needed to be. Maybe this was fate's idea of a practical joke. Both of them fell in love with each side- superhero and civilian- and they just couldn't be together until all of their secrets were out in the open.

Before he knew it, Adrien was laughing. Not the small chuckles that he was known to let out, but full blown, body-shaking laughter. Ladybug's face relaxed with her surprise as he stumbled over to gently pull her arms away from her body. He could feel the tears trace themselves down his cheek and he wasn't sure if they were from the laughter or if he was just that relieved.

His Lady- his Princess- Marinette- Ladybug- they were all the same person. He's been in love with the same person this whole time and she's loved him back! All of the heartbreak that they've gone through this past month had been worth it just so that he could feel this moment of utter clarity.

His arms wound around the small girl in front of him and he clutched her to him as though she were the most precious thing in the world and then she was laughing along with him. Between her giggles, her transformation was called off and Adrien reveled in the feel of her fabric clothing against his skin.

"All of this time- all of this time and you were right here." He whispered, his lips grazing against her neck. Adrien inhaled the calming scent of her. "I can't believe how blind I've been."

Her answering giggle was enough to make his heart swell and repair itself within his chest. "We've both been blind, Mon Chatton." Her breathy words tickled the hairs around his ear and he shivered at the sensation. "Are- are you mad at me, kitty? I- I've hurt you- I've hurt us..."

"No- no Marinette- I could never be angry... I am so glad that it's been you- all along it's just been you and me." He could feel the tension leak out from her body at his words.

"I'm so glad too." Adrien pulled back from her to gaze into those beautiful blue eyes that he's been yearning for the past year- they shown with the happiness that he knew was reflected back from his own towards her.

A quick look down to her slightly parted lips- back up to her eyes- and then they were kissing. Adrien didn't know who had started it, but the feel of soft caresses upon his own mouth kept him from thinking about it too hard. A few quick, timid pecks had him reeling- a hand wound up to rest on the side of her cheek, a tilt of his head, and then they were more desperate, more forceful. He gasped for breath and then dove back in lightly running his tongue along her bottom lip before she willingly opened and began her own exploring movements.

Loved.

The two teens had plenty of time later that night to work out what would happen from here on out. They would be able to talk about being partners, they would meet each others kawami's, Adrien would be able to confidently ask her to be his girlfriend, and they wouldn't even care that they stayed up all night talking. They would walk into school, hand in hand, and endure all of their classmate's questions and exclamations of approval. Both of their heads would droop to the side in exhaustion during lessons and their teachers would call them out on this behavior, but neither one of them could summon enough of themselves to feel bad about it.

If you were to ask, they would tell you that the night that they got together was the best night of their lives. They were loved- so loved- so fully loved and they couldn't have felt any luckier than they did wrapped up with each other and sharing their first real kiss.

Adrien couldn't find it within himself to be resentful of how their story played out. Yes, it was heart breaking and difficult and he wished that they had know each other sooner, but he and Marinette loved one another and that was the best outcome that he could ever have asked for.

Thank you all so much for following along with this story through to the end. I will soon be starting an american college AU featuring a blind date that neither one quite wants to end- the solution? An impromptu cross country road trip. The catch? Marinette doesn't know that her date, Adrien, is none other than world renown model Chat Noir. What escapades can a runaway model and freshly graduated fashion designer get up to with 3000 miles to themselves? Be sure to keep an eye out for it in the coming days. Much love, Aubrey