Marinette collapsed onto her chaise lounge. The school day was finally over and now she could relax, or at least that's what she wanted to do. She look her phone from her purse, she'd felt it vibrate when she was going up the stairs to her room.

Adrien - 4:03PM " ;) "

Marinette laughed, why did he just send an emoji?

Marinette - 4:07PM "Think you can sneak out to come over after your lesson?"

She tried to avoid thinking about the topic they were supposed to talk about and focused on the text he'd sent her earlier: a single winking emoji. He was such a dork, but she actually liked it.

It was getting harder for her to ignore his puns when they were Ladybug and Chat Noir. really didn't like Chat's sense of humor before, but now that she'd seen Adrien act the same way, it wasn't so bad. It was clear now that this was just who he was when he felt free to be himself. She had long sense accepted that they were in fact, the same person spite what seemed like extreme differences before. She kind of felt bad for being so harsh on him before, now that she understood.

Marinette's phone vibrated in her hand.

Adrien - 4:23PM "I think I can make that happen. Is 7 okay? I want to leave some time so we can watch Sarah Universe after I talk to my universe ;p "

Marinette put a hand over her mouth to cover her blushing smile. Oh my god.

Marinette - 4:24PMOkay, I'll be waiting. I'll let maman know 3 "

Marinette sat upright and put her phone face down on the chaise lounge.

"Tikki?" She called out to her kwami.

Tikki popped out from seemingly nowhere. "What's up Marinette?"

Marinette moved over to her computer. "I'm sorry Tikki, but Adrien's coming over later around 7." Marinette started to clean her desk free of all her sewing scraps and loose threads.

"That's alright, I've been enjoying the book you gave me, so I'll just read that!"

Tikki got used to hiding when Adrien came over. In her opinion, it was better than having to stay in Marinette's purse if she went to Adrien's house.

"Thanks Tikki." Marinette smiled and gave the kwami a hug.

She continued to tidy her desk, but stopped suddenly. "Tikki," She called to get her attention again. "What should I do if Adrien doesn't want to keep our relationship a secret anymore?"

Tikki floated over and sat on the desk in front of her. "Why don't you want anyone else to know?"

Marinette sighed, she wasn't entirely sure anymore. "I think it had something to do with him being Chat Noir?"

Tikki tilted her head, "You're not sure?"

Marinette set her elbows on the desk and covered her face with her hands. "I don't know anymore Tikki. I don't want to hide it, but what if it affects me as Ladybug?"

Tikki floated up and held one of Marinette's fingers, pulling it away from her face. "You haven't had any problems since you started dating him, have you?"

Marinette looked up from her hands and shook her head.

"You told me that Chat Noir hasn't flirted with Ladybug since you started dating Adrien. Besides, he doesn't know you're Ladybug. What could possibly go wrong?"

Marinette took a deep breath, "You're right Tikki, thanks." She gave the kwami a hug and returned to tidying her desk again.

Lost in her task, and a playlist she'd made with Adrien, time flew by.

"Marinette, dinner's ready!"

She heard her mother call up to her.

Marinette sat at the table with her parents and began to eat. "Maman, is it okay if Adrien comes over after dinner? Around 7 PM?" She probably should have asked sooner, but her parents seemed to like him. The fact that it was a Friday night helped too.

"Sure sweetie, I can't see why not." Sabine answered.

They continued their dinner as normal, and Marinette returned to her room afterwards. It was already 6:45 PM, Adrien should be there shortly.

"...You're right Tikki, I know, we should just tell everyone. I'm sorry, I'll stop asking, you're right. I'm just—" Marinette paced back and forth in her room, second guessing her earlier decision.

Suddenly she heard a knock at her door and the squeak of the trap door's hinge.

"Tikki! Hide!" She yelled in a whispered voice.

The trap door opened to reveal a head of blonde hair and a smiling face.

"Hi Mari."

Marinette turned around, trying to block view of Tikki in case she wasn't hidden yet.

"Hi Adrien. Did your Dad let you come over or did you sneak out again?"

Adrien came through the trap door and gave her a hug. "I am currently watching TV in my room." He said with a wink.