Chapter Eleven

Ladybug had a dilemma, because her earrings had been stolen she hadn't called upon her lucky charm during the akuma fight, so how was she supposed to put everything right? She looked at the back of Cat Noir's head as he remained turned away, his arms braced against the two chimneys to prevent himself from spinning around. "All good?" he asked still facing away.

"No, I don't know what to do about my lucky charm."

"Call it up now, we still need to catch the actual akuma and it might help us." His head shifted towards her. "Can I turn around now?"

"Oh yeah, sorry." She plucked her yoyo from her hip and looked at him with uncertainty. "I'm not sure how this will work but I'll give it a shot. Lucky charm!"

The pair burst into laughter as a large butterfly net dropped into her hands. Cat Noir smirked, "I'm pretty sure even I know what we need to do with that."

Lifting her head, Ladybug grinned as she scanned and spotted the tainted butterfly. "It's over there, let's get it!" Leaping toward their prey, the duo easily caught up to the slow fluttering creature. With a swipe of the oversized net, Ladybug captured the akuma and quickly purified it. Then she tossed the net into the air calling, "Miraculous Ladybug!"

Magical ladybugs swarmed and did their thing as the heroes watched on. Cat Noir rested his elbow on her shoulder, wanting to touch her as usual. "Now then, before you suited back up you were suggesting it was okay for us to go back to my place and get properly acquainted."

Ladybug rolled her eyes at her partner. "You really don't do subtle, do you."

"That's a rhetorical question, right?"

"Yes, Cat Noir, it is."

A warning chip sounded from Ladybug's earrings as Cat Noir extended his hand. "Well then, milady. It seems it's time for us to depart."

Shaking her head while grinning, Ladybug laid her hand within Cat's. "Lead on, kitty."

"Oh no, I'm sweeping my lady off her feet," Cat Noir said as dipped down to scoop her up. "I won't be carrying you over the threshold but I will carry you through my window."

"We're not getting married, Cat Noir."

"Not at this stage but I'm a patient guy." He winked and she giggled as he raced them towards his home.

While Ladybug's pulse had rocketed at Cat Noir's cheeky admission, she'd be lying to herself if she didn't concede to envisioning her own wedding to Adrien in the past. Heck she'd even done a couple of rough sketches of the gown she'd wear. Not that it would ever happen now. She looped her arms around her partner's shoulders and pressed a peck on his cheek, just below his mask. Green eyes strayed to hers and he swiftly returned the gesture before focussing on where they were going.

The situation seemed surreal. To think her heart had finally set on Cat Noir. Her cheeky, silly kitty. Her gaze raked over his masked visage, drinking in how truly handsome he was. Why had she never taken in his appeal before? He really was beautiful and she'd been pushing him away for so long. Luckily, he wasn't so blind. She would be eternally thankful that pesky determination of his when it came to winning her over.

Ladybug was so caught up in admiring her partner that she didn't immediately notice where they were heading. Cat Noir gave a final grunt as he sprung across the distance to land at the base of a huge window. An awfully familiar window. Her earrings chirped again as he dropped into the room.

Cat Noir released her legs and amusement danced in his eyes as he purposefully slid her down the length of his body until her feet touched the floor. Her own gaze was darting between him and the bedroom in which they stood. Her pulse pounding so hard she was amazed he couldn't hear it.

It couldn't possibly be, could it? Cat Noir continued smiling at her. "Welcome to my not so humble abode."

Good lord, it meant the impossible was true. It took everything she had not to start hyperventilating. "I've been here before," she squeaked.

The warmth in her partner's eyes intensified as his arms encircled her waist. "Yes, you have. More than once."

"Adrien?" she breathed as her heart dropped into her stomach. Her eyes scrutinising his face as she mentally slapped herself for dismissing Alya's previous claims that Adrien could in fact be the black clad hero.

Cat Noir's smile turned modest as he dipped his head, his cheek brushing hers as he whispered in her ear. "Yes, I'm Adrien and I love hearing my real name on your lips."

Cold reality washed over Marinette and she impulsively pushed him away. If Cat Noir was Adrien Agreste that meant, "You have a girlfriend."

Her partner raised his hands. "Did have a girlfriend, not anymore."

"What! Um, as far as I'm aware you're still a couple."

"No, I broke it off. You know that urgent thing I had to run off and do, that was what it was. To be honest Mireille was never anything more to me than a friend. I didn't even kiss her."

Ladybug frowned as her miraculous began chirping it's final warning. Her brow was creased as she continued to study him. "Why didn't you kiss her?"

Cat Noir edged closer to her. "Isn't it obvious? Because I love you. You were always the one for me."

The beeping ceased and the wash of pink magic skimmed over her to reveal Marinette still staring with bewilderment at Cat Noir. She watched as his face filled with astonishment as her costume dissolved.

"Marinette?" he gasped but made no move toward her. Like her, he seemed to be having trouble wrapping his brain around her reveal too.

"This is so messed up." She muttered as she ran a hand through her fringe. Having trouble believing that the boy she'd been trying to forget was the same one she'd made out with.

"Marinette," Cat Noir repeated as if testing the word on his lips, not hearing her utterance.

Tikki hovered at her side. "Just breathe," her kwami suggested.

"Are you going to drop your transformation?" Marinette asked more sharply than she intended.

The terse tone pulled Cat Noir from his stupor. "Uh, yeah. Plagg, claws in." As with his counterpart, Cat Noir's costume melted away in the green flash of magic to expose the model underneath. Adrien gave her a lopsided smile but his eyes held trepidation.

Plagg looked between the two teenagers and sighed. "Why make it complicated? You like her, she likes you. Kiss already and get it over with."

Adrien glared at his kwami. "Plagg!"

"What? It's that simple. Besides you know she likes you out of the mask as well. Remember the masses of photos in her room."

Tikki swatted Plagg up the back of the head. "Let them work it out you oaf."

"Hey, I'm only trying to help but if I'm not wanted I'm off to get some cheese. You coming sugar cube?"

"My name is Tikki, not sugar cube."

"Whatever."

The pair of miraculous holders watched as their kwamis darted off, leaving them alone. Adrien sank his hands into his jeans pockets and cleared his throat. Then his lips pursed and his eyebrows pulled together as he looked at Marinette. Suddenly he closed the distance in two strides, his mouth crashing into hers with an urgency that surprised her. His arms wrapped around her, pressing their bodies together as he ravished her lips. After a bone melting moment he pulled back to admire her. "Yep, you're definitely my lady," he said as he tenderly ran his thumb down her cheek. "I can't believe you were under my nose this whole time."

Before he could say anything more, Marinette grabbed his shirt collar with a ravenous look in her eyes. Discovering that Adrien wanted to kiss her as desperately in reality as in her dreams meant she had no patience for chitchat. Instead she claimed his mouth with her own and the kissing resumed.

Plagg hovered around the door, a wedge of cheese in his hand a smug look on his face as he eyed Tikki. "See I told you, simple."

The all wise Plagg has spoken. Couldn't resist. As usual thanks for reading, following, favouriting and reviewing.