Notes:

My chest is legit hurting from the feels.

Thank you to everyone that has supported me in this and I hope the ending is to your liking. I'll be moving on to my next project which is my time travel Marichat fic "Unexpected." Chapter one is already posted here and on AO3.

Final

Chat ran across the rooftops. His hair fluffed out in the wind and his bangs occasionally slapped against his forehead and mask. It was near lunch time and he hoped Marinette was home and had not yet gone back to the school. As he landed on the familiar rooftop across the street from her home, he sighed in relief. He peered into her windows and found her to be in her room. Finally, his luck was turning around. Marinette sat at her desk and he could just make out the red blob that must be Tikki sitting next to a plate of cookies. Her hair was down from her signature pigtails and she wore a white tee shirt with pink jeans. He admired the girl for a few moments as his heart thumped painfully in his chest.

Fu had reassured him that Marinette didn't know who he was behind the mask. While Adrien knew of his feelings for her and that she did return them, he wasn't certain how to proceed. Hey, My Lady. It's me, Adrien! Yeah, no dice. He was ashamed of his actions the night before and he knew she didn't want to see him. But they had to clear the air between them. They had to get the reveal out of the way and then they could deal with everything else later.

He extended his baton and launched across the street to her window. He clung there with the claws of his right hand as he knocked on the window with his left. Chat saw the girl tense before she peeked over her shoulder as the red blur vanished behind her computer monitor. Those wide blue eyes pierced him. She was frightened.

Marinette feared him.

He frowned and pointed towards the latch while mouthing a request to enter. The girl blinked once, twice before standing. Marinette gradually crossed the room and flicked open the lock. She carefully opened the window to not knock Chat off his perch. He climbed inside. "Hey," he breathed once he righted himself.

"Hey," she squeaked.

The corner of his lips twitched and he fought back a smile. His eyes scanned her face to check for damage from his slap the night before. He was relieved to find it perfectly pristine. Tenderly, he cupped her chin. Lowering his face to the cheek he had slapped, his whispered. "I'm so sorry, My Lady." His breath danced across her skin and she shivered. "Please forgive me…" He pressed his lips against her cheek affectionately before he nuzzled her like his namesake. "I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you. I swear, Mari. Just please…" His hands dropped to her waist and he pulled her flush against him.

He sighed when he felt Marinette wrap her slender arms around him. Her heard her swallow thickly. "How…?"

Adrien was surprised at how well she was taking it. He had been in denial when he had even tentatively thought about her being Ladybug. Surely it made much more sense for her to be a target than his Lady? His arms wound more securely around her. "I had some help," he admitted. "I went to see Master Fu." She stiffened. "Don't worry, Princess. He didn't betray you," he quickly quelled her fears. "I had my suspensions and then I saw you leave his place this morning."

Marinette gently pulled away from him. "I'm so sorry, Chat. I was wrong to say what I did." She flushed a lovely shade of pink. "Obviously, I was lying about not loving you…I just…" She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. "It's been hard. I knew when I agreed to be Ladybug that I was giving up a part of my life. I just never expected to give up my future. I felt caged in." Marinette opened her eyes and gazed up at him. His hand returned to her cheek and he stroked his thumb across the tender flesh. With a nuzzle, she leaned closer to hand. "I stole a book from my friend and when I took it to Fu he told me…" Tears bubbled in the corner of her eyes and a whimpered sob tore from her throat. "He told me Adrien would be in danger if I didn't stop pursuing him. I love Adrien so much and I couldn't stand the thought of him being in danger because of me."

The pain that warbled in her voice broke him. All this time, she had been hurting because she feared for his safety. She was fighting tooth and nail to keep the one thing she wanted. Just like he fought so hard for his freedom. "Oh, Mari…"

She shook her head. "And when he told me you were my soulmate, it made me mad. I didn't think you really loved me. I saw you flirt with both sides of me and I assumed you were a flirt to every girl. I was mad that I had to give up my sweet, kind Adrien for you." Her flush darkened. "And then…" She nuzzled his hand again. His hand shifted to allow for his fingers to play with her loose hair. "I realized that you did really care about me. That I had been acting selfishly. And that's why I exploded last night. I was angry at myself."

"Mari, it's okay," he whispered. "I promise I will spend every day of the rest of my life proving that I really, honestly love you. I really did fall for you that day with Stoneheart. Just please," His hands tangled further in her hair. "Please forgive me."

Her brows crunched together. "Kitty, I don't understand-"

"I hit you. I never should have done that. And I swear I will never, ever hurt you again."

Her lips twitched into a small. "I was a total brat. I deserved some sense knocked into me. I heard you. Last night, I mean." Her smile slipped away. "I should have let you in, but I was scared." At his flinch, she clutched his shoulders. "No. Never of you. I was scared that I would make an even bigger mess out things."

With a chuckle, he bumped his forehead against hers. "We're such a mess, My Lady." Marinette's tinkling laugh reach his ears and in that moment, he knew that every struggle that had gone through had been worth it. "Can I kiss you?" He breathed.

Her starlight eyes searched his. "Under one condition."

"Just name it," he declared. "Whatever it is, I'll do it. I'll do whatever it takes until you understand that I'm in love with you."

She brushed her nose against his. With a sigh, she whispered, "Take off the mask."

His lips brushed against hers as he murmured, "As you wish, my Princess."