Shandy: Reviews!

wolfrunnerable: Okay then. O.O

Rose Tiger: Neither can I.

justsomebread: XD That's okay, I wouldn't have been able to not cheat either. Especially since there are so many more chapters uploaded for this story.

linithamonre77: I'm glad that you're enjoying it so far!

mayuralover: ... *smiles evilly* You'll see.

Candy: Enjoy the chapter!

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Two more days.

Two. More. Days.

Two more days, and he had survived the month full of temptations.

Honestly, Adrien couldn't be happier- for himself and Chloe.

Today, she had told him, was the day she was going to ask Nathaniel out.

Four days ago, he had told her, his father left to go to Japan and visit his wife's family- to find out what had happened to Chloe's mother and his aunt. He would be investigating it right now.

Today, they had told each other, was the day to decide all days.

Although neither of them knew it, Adrien was spying on Chloe and Nathaniel from behind a bush. They had gone to the park to work together for a project- Chloe actually doing her part of the assignment.

"Say, Nathaniel." Chloe said promptly. "Are you free wednesday afternoon?"

"Yeah." He admitted. "I was going to work on my comic, but I'm free."

"Free enough to go to the lights out dance?" Chloe clarified, raising an eyebrow as she nonchalantly checked her purr-fect nails. Nathaniel's face bloomed in a blush, and he stared at Chloe with wide, slightly confused eyes.

"Yeah… you know that, I would've told you if someone had asked me and I had accepted."

Adrien could practically feel Chloe glare at the thought of someone else going out with the redhead. Of course, she masked it, putting on a face of indifference.

"Then you wouldn't mind if I asked you to go with me?" Nathaniel froze, his face going as red as his hair as he stuttered- blinking in surprise. He tried to find words to respond. Chloe finally looked up and at him, smirking slightly when she saw the state she had placed him in.

But Adrien could see the fear in her eyes. This was the deciding moment.

"I-I-I" Nathaniel stuttered. He cleared his throat, face going redder. "I-I'd love to, Ch-Chloe!"

"Good." Relief flooded her eyes, but her smirk only grew. "Mind if I pick you up five minutes before? Oh, and I'll send you a picture of my dress so that we can match. If you need any help, since this is a bit last-minute, tell me and I'll get daddy to help, okay?" She winked at him, and he blushed even more if that was possible.

"S-Sure thing, Chlo'." He said. Chloe decided to make a bold move and kissed him on the cheek.

"Good. See you tomorrow, reddie." She whispered, before getting up and walking away, glowing in triumph and leaving Nathaniel to process what had just happened.

Time for Adrien to make his move.

He moved from the bushed, standing to the left and behind Nathaniel, just watching. When he decided to speak, Nathaniel jumped, turning to look up at him.

"Do you know how long she's wanted to do that?"

"A-Adrien?! I-I, you-"

"Hello Nathaniel." Adrien chuckled, moving over. He pointed at the seat beside him. "May I?"

"O-Of course." Nathaniel said. Adrien sat down. "Wh-What did you mean?"

"She's wanted to ask you out for a few months now." Adrien admitted. "After she got over her crush on me. Of course, she didn't really know more until she decided to try befriending people."

"R-Really?"

"Totally." Adrien smirked, using his arm to rest upon Nathaniel's shoulders and behind his head. "Now, I know how Chloe was like before, so I really have to ask- why did you accept her offer? And don't lie to me, I'll know if you do."

He felt kinda bad when Nathaniel shrunk on himself, but Adrien seriously had to know- to make sure that his cousin and friend would be okay.

"W-Well, to be honest…" Nathaniel blushed. "It started when Marinette told me about someone she liked. She was confused and scared. I knew I could never win her heart, so I gave her some advice about it. Then she asked if I was speaking from experience and… well…" He blushed, ducking his head. "I told her no. I only told her that that's what I thought. When I went home to think about it, I realized that I was. I… I was talking about me and Chloe."

"I'm not sure if she remembers, but Chloe and I used to be friends. It started here, in this very park. I was shy and didn't know how to make friends because I was being homeschooled. She walked up to me and asked me what I was doing all alone." He laughed. "Knowing Chloe though, it wasn't that nice."

"When I told her why, she was very adamant that I make friends, and she introduced me to all of the people in her class. Although it was only that one day, it left an impression on me. After my dad finally landed a solid job, mom said that I could choose what school I wanted to go to. I picked a school at random, and she was there."

"But…" Nathaniel frowned. "She was mean. Rude. I wanted absolutely nothing to do with her, and then I found Marinette." He sighed dreamily. "She was amazing. Everything I thought Chloe would end up being and more. As I got to know everyone, I knew I wasn't the only one. But… I guess, after two years of neglecting it, I still wanted to be friends with Chloe."

"When she finally started to be open with me a few weeks ago, I was doubtful. But she's done so much to make sure that I knew that she wanted to be friends with me. She was honest in everything that she said, whether it was mean or not." He laughed a bit. "Almost a week ago, I finally admitted to myself that she was really cute when she buzzed like a bee."

"I talked to Mari about it, and she solidified that I did have a crush on Chloe. Man, that was an awkward talk. Talking to your old crush about your new crush." He shook his head with a smile. "Of course, one day she'll know, but until we graduate I'm perfectly fine with her not knowing that I had ever had a crush on her."

"So yeah, I'm genuine with my feelings for Chloe." Nathaniel smiled shyly at Adrien. "How about yours for Marinette?"

"M-M-Marinette?" Adrien blushed, jerking backwards. "What're you talking about?"

"Come on." Nathaniel laughed a little, rolling his eyes. "It's obvious."

"F-Fine." Adrien blushed, retracting from Nathaniel a bit. "She… she's everything. I didn't even realized that I loved her until she told me what love felt like. She was depressed back then, confused and thinking about something. She makes my dull life more colorful- just seeing her smile makes me want to take her in my arms and never let her go."

"Good." Nathaniel nodded, an awkward smile on his lips. This startled Adrien, until he remembered that Nathaniel had only gotten over Marinette a while ago. He must still have feelings for her- it must be a very awkward subject for him. "Are you going to ask her to the dance?"

"I-I'm not allowed to go to school dances." Adrien admitted, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly. "It was part of the deal for me going to public school."

"I see." Nathaniel nodded and stood up. "W-Well, I better go and start getting ready for the dance in two days. Good luck, Adrien."

"Y-You too, Nathaniel." Adrien replied, watching the redhead leave. The hafukyatto relaxed against the bench he sat on, running a hand through his hair.

He had never imagined the conversation heading for that direction, but no matter. He knew that Chloe was safe, and that was all that mattered.

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March 31st.

The last day of the month.

The day of the lights-out dance.

And that day was today.

So Adrien couldn't help but be happy as he moved throughout the school day. Over the past week, Alya had tried to convince Marinette to go to the dance, and each time Marinette had refused, so he really had nothing to worry about.

Nothing to worry about.

Nope, not a thing! He wasn't forgetting anything- wasn't trying to ignore what day tomorrow was.

What was tomorrow? There was no such thing!

"You're in a chipper mood today, dude." Nino had laughed during their break between classes. "Is Alya's nickname of sunshine child finally growing on you?"

"Maybe." Adrien had replied. "Or maybe I'm just in a good mood."

The day continued with nothing really happening. When it was time for him to go over to Marinette's, he did, smile never leaving his face.

He would go over and cuddle with her- cuddling never forced him to think of what tomorrow might be. Nope, not with his princess around to keep him company!

Not that there was anything important that had happened tomorrow. Nothing at all.

But when he got there, he didn't expect to come upon the scene that was there. The lights were on, but Marinette wasn't in her room.

The smile fell from his face, and he sniffed the air.

She was down in the bakery.

Not that it was weird, but why was she down there? They were going to meet up tonight.

He climbed down the building, peeking through their storefront windows. It was pitch black, but he could see perfectly.

There she was, but something was clearly wrong. She was hiding behind one of the displays, hands over her head and eyes squeezed shut.

He knocked softly, and her head snapped up to look at him. She looked around wildly before crawling over to him quietly, opening up the door to let him in. She told him to stay quiet with a hand to her mouth in a 'shh' motion. His ears twitched at people shuffling around upstairs.

Three. There were Three sets of footsteps upstairs.

She was an only child.

Only two other people lived in this house besides Marinette.

So if Marinette was down here…

Who else was upstairs?

"Princess? What's going on?" He asked softly. Marinette shook her head, holding onto him tightly. "Mari?"

"They came in despite the fact that we were closed." She whispered. "I was out an about doing a few deliveries when they came in- they want Maman's heirloom." She fingered her earings nervously. "They said so before I went all the way upstairs. After hearing that I ran down here to hide. I don't know why they want it, but they have guns." She swallowed nervously.

"Th-They don't know that I have them- and Maman and Papa would never sell me out. They said that they- that they-" Tears escaped her eyes and she hiccuped. Chat Noir's eyes narrowed.

"Don't worry Princess."

"D-Don't leave me." She held onto him tighter. "I-I don't want to lose you. You-You mean so much to me, Chat."

"I know." He kissed her forehead. "I promise I'll come back down in one piece, princess. Is there an alternate way in?"

"Y-yeah." She nodded. "Th-The bathroom window should be open."

"Right." He moved to walk away, but she stopped him. He turned around to see what it was, but was cut off when she placed her lips upon his.

Third. Their third kiss.

They pulled apart, and she smiled up at him shakily. "F-For good luck."

He smiled down at her lovingly, placing another kiss on her lips. Fourth

"Thanks, purrincess." He said. "I'll need all the luck I can get."

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