Hey guys. It's been a really long time. In all honesty, I wasn't thinking of updating this or any of my other stories at all. I literally cannot believe the last time I updated this story was in 2018 and it's already 2020. Currently, like most of the world, I am on lockdown for the stay at home order to avoid getting sick or getting others sick from the coronavirus. Yes, I am bored out of my mind and so that pushed me to update this story but coming back to this and reading all of your reviews inspired me to really try and finish this story.

The events of Miraculous Ladybug (in the show and behind the scenes) have disheartened me a little, but I'm counting on the ML Fandom. I can't make any promises on how I'm going to go on with this story but I hope this update can make up for my inactivity of two years. And because I was inactive for two years, I might write as much as I possibly can and finish this whole story while I'm at it!

After the events of an akuma trying to challenge her for the hand of Adrien Agreste, the two got to talking about the situation.

check ur balcony

Marinette's day was long and exhausting, with the Adrien car escapade, and having to cleanse Kagami from her kwami. Although she was dying to hear the direction of where she and Adrien's previous conversation was headed, she needed to rest.

Marinette if he doesn't love you as much as I do then he's a complete idiot.

The girl sighed and headed towards her balcony. Whatever was up there better be worth her last bits of energy.

Opening the trap door to her balcony, the smell of various sweets filled her senses.

"Bonjour, ma princesse."

Standing on her balcony was no other than Adrien Agreste with a single red rose in his hands. His face was lit by the many candles that littered around her balcony and near the trap door was a picnic blanket with sweets and wine.

Adrien looked away from her, a hand going to the back of his neck to rub it nervously.

How did he get on my balcony?

"Our conversation was interrupted earlier, by, uh-"

Standing fully, she sighed, "Yeah, Kagami, I remember."

Adrien puffed his cheeks and breathed out. "I didn't get to finish my sentence. You know, before

Riposte almost skewered you through my car? You would've become a cute-kabob had I not been such a great driver."

Adrien stopped the car at a red light and turned to her, "Mari, I'm not going to-"

Marinette crossed her arms and looked away from him. She remembered alright. She also wasn't sure if she wanted to hear where his sentence was going.

Adrien immediately flustered, stammering, "I-uh, no, um, what mean I say to, I mean!" Marinette moved her eyes back to his own and he calmed down a bit.

"What I mean to say is that even though you might have your heart dead set on this guy, I'm still going to pursue you because I really really like you Marinette."

Marinette's grip on her arms tightened and her eyes widened.

"Adrien, I don't know if it'll work, I mean,"

She began moving her hands in a wild gesture. He had a smack of familiarity, but he didn't know from where.

Her eyes narrowed as she stepped closer to him and Adrien felt his breath get knocked out of him. He could see the clearness of her eyes and the almost invisible freckles on her nose bridge.

"You can't just fuck any girl you want out there and then flirt with me and expect me to like you like they do. Adrien, I don't give a shit about your money, or how famous you are, and even your father's position in the fashion world."

Her voice was soft, calming, and sweet. Adrien could feel his heart sing at hearing that flow from her mouth. She didn't care about his money, his fame, or even about his father! And he knew that Gabriel was her favorite designer!

Adrien couldn't take it anymore and fell onto his knees.

"Merde, ma princesse, you're killing me here."

"Adrien," she grabbed his hands in an effort to pull him up, but he only held onto her.

"I-I'm really sorry about my behavior, and I know there aren't any excuses as to why I act the way I do-"

"Adrien, no, I understand," She just kept surprising him tonight, "You were raised with whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted it and that just continued to set you back. I'm not saying it's not entirely your fault, because it is," Marinette looked into his green eyes, kindness emitting from her own, "but I understand where you're coming from."

She opted to drop in front of him since he didn't get up.

"Someone helped me realize that when I couldn't understand your confession. At the time I just couldn't see how you liked me when you treat all girls in the same way."

Adrien pouted, pulling his knees in front of him in a loose hold.

"I don't mean anything by it, I just, acted the normal way I did around Chloe and it seemed a good way to make friends with other girls."

So Tikki was right. Marinette imagined Tikki floating in the air with the expression on her face saying I told you so.

And she did.

"I'm very sorry about the way I reacted to your feelings. I should've had more sense and compassion rather than to just ignore you."

Adrien reached for her hand and began rubbing her knuckles.

"I'm sorry too."

Marinette raised a brow and stared at him.

The blond moved his gaze onto the blanket under them.

"-for being a dick."

Marinette laughed and Adrien felt himself joining, albeit quieter as he observed her beauty. Her blue eyes were illuminated by the lights of Paris and they took on a darker tint than her normal blue.

Adrien adjusted his black leather jacket, "All that aside, I decided to come up onto your balcony to take you on a date."

Nice choice of attire a voice at the back of her head said.

"How did you even get up on my balcony anyway?" Mari asked inquisitively.

Adrien felt his temperature rise but decided to grace her with the truth.

"Chat Noir saw me trying to climb up and after I assured him that we knew each other he gave me a lift and even helped me set this up!"

Marinette laughed. Chat did have a knack for helping out Paris' civilians with any and everything.*

"But what if I refuse?"

Adrien opened a bottle of wine and took two glasses.

"Hm, you see, you can't. We are literally at your house," he handed her a glass, "for all you know, I could come down in the middle of the night and start singing Champs Élysées to you in your sleep."

Marinette gasped, an amused look on her face, "You wouldn't dare!" Adrien was utterly terrible at

singing. She found this out along with their other friends after a night of karaoke. Never will they hear the Miraculous Ladybug song without shuddering.

Chat, however, was amazing at singing, and when he was in a good mood, she could hear him singing. An eloquent tenor harmony to the chorus of the Miraculous song whenever they patrolled together.

"I have the song downloaded and everything," he laughed.

Marinette smiled as Adrien took food outside the basket. As they ate from the fancy cheese plate he prepared, they talked about nothing and everything at the same time. After the cheese was all eaten (even the smelly camembert had somehow disappeared), they cuddled close to each other while he pointed out all the constellations in the sky.

"And that right there, is your zodiac sign, Leo."

He turned to her where she rested on his arm.

"You're a natural born leader and does everyone know and feel it baby."

Adrien cupped her face, turning her blue eyes from the sky to his. He rubbed his thumb across her cheek and she opened her pink lips. Marinette scooted over to him, shutting her eyes as she felt her forehead rest on his. Adrien's eyes were lidded and his jaw flexed, stopping himself from kissing her right then and there.

Never had he felt such intimacy with a person.

Marinette would never know or admit it, but she fell asleep against Adrien.

"You know we should get back home before they notice you're gone, lover boy." Plagg teased Adrien.

He placed his leather jacket on top of her while cuddling her close.

Adrien tsked but didn't look away from Marinette as she slept against his chest.

"I am home Plagg."

The following weeks showed Adrien and Marinette getting closer than they had ever been before.

Although the bluenette tried to deny it, the two were constantly flirting.

Therein lay another problem however as Chat Noir had taken to visiting Marinette every night.

Ironically, it was right after her rooftop date with Adrien. He just showed up on her balcony railing, crouching over her as she watered her plants and had been doing so every single night, rain or shine.

She had to admit, her affection for two boys had grown past her control as she talked with Adrien all throughout the school day and evening and Chat Noir at the late night.

As Ladybug, Chat Noir stayed as friendly as ever, but that was all. He was all business and rebuffed her flirtatious advances, but when he was around Marinette, he adopted a sort of new persona. He took to calling her Princess and bringing her random gifts that were way too expensive for her to accept.

One night Marinette laid in her bed after Chat Noir had finally left for his own home when she realized.

"Holy shit."

Tikki opened her eyes from her tiny bed on Marinette's, hearing her distressed chosen.

"Marinette?"

"I think this is what you call a love triangle Tikki."

The kwami let out a sigh and shut her eyes. She didn't know it yet but it was, in fact, a love square the two chosen were in.

Paris was cold the next morning, but it didn't deter the PDA many high school couples were sporting across the courtyard. It was the day of love in the city of love (and lights) Adrien was suffering from seeing Nino and Alya stare at each other with hearts in their eyes, but that suffering ended when he heard a certain voice he knew too well. Today was the day he was going to tell the whole truth of his feelings for Marinette and that included his leather suit-clad alter ego.

He could hear Plagg's nagging in his mind.

Are you sure you're going to tell Marinara everything?

Adrien rolled his eyes. Her name is Marinette and yes, I am going to. I really think she likes all of me, I mean c'mon

"Salut les gals!"

Adrien felt his heart melt at the sight of her.

She now donned a cropped leather jacket on, rather than the blazer she was prone to wear. It was cutely similar to the one Adrien always wore. She denied it was inspired by him, Marinette was adamant that it was purely inspired by Chat Noir's leather suit. Chat visited her that night to see the jacket poised on her mannequin and teased her about it endlessly.

Stepping towards her, Adrien dramatically kneeled and took her hand in his, "Salut ma princesse."

He gave her knuckles a kiss before she pulled him up and pushed his nose away from her.

"Oh là là, would you give me a rest for one day Agreste?"

Adrien grinned and sidled closer to her, placing his arm around her waist. "I don't know princess, I could go all day and night with you if you really wanted."

Marinette rolled her eyes and joined Alya and Nino.

"I think today is the day Alya."

Adrien was trying his hardest to not eavesdrop on what the girls were talking about, he really was.

Except, he wasn't. From what he could hear, Marinette had been scribbling on a piece of paper for the duration of the whole class. No one was taking notes as Ms. Bustier was just going on about fairy tales and whatnot.

"Really? Finally going to tell him?"

Him? Who was he? Exactly who 'him'?

Adrien had a troubled face as Ms. Bustier called out Marinette for not paying attention. He was racking his brain over who Alya could be referring to.

"And so the Prince has to kiss the Princess from her deep sleep with True Love's kiss to break the spell!" Rose gushed to the class.

So far, he counted himself Chat Noir, and that other guy Marinette was interested in as the main competitors. He had an idea that the other guy Marinette was interested in was Luka as Luka so casually came to pick up Juleka every other day from school and just so happened to talk with Marinette.

Not that he was keeping track of her or anything.

The class was dismissed, and after waving Nino off, he turned around to see that Marinette was still there.

Her brows were furrowed and she let out a sigh of designation.

"Whatcha writing there?"

Marinette turned her scowl to Adrien's smiling face.

"Nothing."

With a frown on her face, she gathered her belongings and crushed the paper before throwing it in the recycling bin.

Raising an eyebrow as she stomped off, he wondered what ticked her off so much.

"Gee what happened to Princess over there?"

Adrien ignored Plagg as he made a beeline for the bin. Easily grabbing the crumpled paper, he opened it.

"Your hair as bright as the sun, your beautiful

emerald orbs, I wonder who you are beneath that strong disguise. Every day we see each other, I hope that you will be mine. Our love could be true, please, be my Valentine."

Plagg chuckled and flew around Adrien as he finished reading the poem.

"Plagg, do you think this could be for. . . ?"

Plagg snickered and flipped in the air. "I mean, Luka doesn't have hair as bright as the sun."

Adrien turned his head back down to the poem and let out the laugh of a lifetime.

"I did it Plagg! I really think she likes me! Or- maybe" he whispered, "Chat Noir me!"

Plagg smiled fondly as his chosen beamed like the sun itself.

"We have to go now so I can prepare to tell Marinette tonight!"

Then Plagg's smile dropped as he knew they were in for major work.

"Are you sure this is the way you want to do it?"

Tikki had her arms crossed and eyebrows raised at the girl in question.

"It's a win-win isn't it?" Marinette had tousled her hair for the seventh time and practiced her forms in the mirror. Air punching, she paused, "I like him as Ladybug and I'm pretty sure he likes me as Marinette, so if I pop in and tell him that I like him and that I'm also Marinette, we can both be happy!"

Tikki frowned. It was against the rules, but she had no power to make Marinette do anything she didn't want to do.

Marinette jumped, psyching herself up and throwing some punches.

"This way, I can get all of these stupid feelings out of my way and really focus on school and defeating

Hawkmoth. If all goes well, Chat will reveal who he is to me too and we can both live happily without leaving each other not knowing who the other is and returning one day out of the blue when years have gone by and having our old feelings for each other resurface and-"

"Marinette," Tikki gently called out, "I understand. I'm just looking out for you to make sure this is truly what you both need.

The girl put her arms down and smiled at her chosen.

"Thank you, Tikki. And that's why I need to do this."

Loud screams interrupted their moment and they both nodded, ready for action.

"C'mon Kim- I mean, kid!" Chat expertly flipped, turned, and twisted away from the dark arrows that were fired at him.

"Can we talk rationally about this just, for, a, sec?! AH!" The leather-clad hero was panting and spun his baton in front of his face to block the incoming tirade of arrows.

"I don't care to talk rationally! She did this to me, so she has to pay!" Dark Cupid took his aim at Chloe who was stringing curses and running away from the flying man.

Ladybug swung into battle just in time, kicking him.

"Salut Chaton, what'd I miss?"

"Salut Ladybug, this is Dark Cupid, Dark Cupid, Ladybug."

Dark Cupid roared into the sky, gaining his composure and firing arrows.

"Apparently, Chloe rejected and embarrassed him by posting it all over the internet. He can make anyone hate the one they love," Chat and Ladybug ran away from each other only to use their miraculous items to pull them to the rooftops, and begin running from Kim again.

"Poor guy."

Ladybug was peeking around the area looking for a clue. She took a glance at the akuma and saw what he was guarding the jewel on his chest with his right hand. The arrows were getting closer and closer to hitting his marks.

"His akuma is in the jewel Chat! I think we need to use Alpha-Delta since he is airborne, and-"

"Ladybug, watch OUT!" Chat jumped from his rooftop to hers, tackling her and trapping her form under his.

Chat was breathing heavily and she could pinpoint the moment his cat pupils dilated.

But that means, he doesn't,

She wasted no time as she headbutted him and effectively got his larger form off of her.

"Chat? Can you hear me?" She dodged an incoming arrow from above and stared at her partner's crouched form.

"My Lady, of course, I can hear you more clearly than ever! I never noticed that your voice sounded just like the sweetest melody ever. What do you need me to do for you?"

Ladybug sighed, knowing in her heart what she thought at first was true. He might like Marinette, but if I'm right, that doesn't mean he sees me the same way.

"Okay Chaton, can you get me that pretty jewel?" She pointed to the ruby heart strapped on Kim's chest.

"Absolutely anything for you bugaboo."

After the nasty battle with Dark Cupid and with the realization that her one fear was true, Ladybug smiled at Chat and pounded her first to his.

"I didn't say anything weird after I was shot, did I?" Chat surveyed her expression.

Ladybug chuckled, a sad little laugh. "No, Chaton, if anything it was a good thing to know for sure."

With her head down, she dismissed herself quickly, wishing to be out of there as soon as possible. A quiet voice in her head told her that there was a possibility that he didn't like her as Ladybug, and his actions today on the field showed just that.

She thought that by her revealing her true identity as Marinette, he could possibly love Ladybug too, but how wrong she was. What if he instead couldn't connect the two separate entities to one?

For the first time in weeks, her trap door was locked. Chat had set up a beautiful sight on her terrace with lights, rose petals, and candles. However, when he knocked and waited the whole night for her to come out the whole night, she listened and ignored hoping he would leave.

Hurt and confused, Chat stayed until the early light of the sun came onto his face.

I am very sorry if this is not good or whatever, it's been a while since I've written. I would also like to incorporate another thing to this updating thing. If you guys would like me to write about an episode, comment the episode title! One of the main reasons why I stopped updating was because I'm not really a fan of some of the ML episodes as some of their plots tend to be dry and recycled.

I'm very sorry if there are any grammar mistakes, I was so excited to finish this and upload it for you all to read!

It's been a while and hopefully, it won't be like that again.

*Based on a cute one shot I read where Chat helps civilians of Paris with any and everything love related (if I remember correctly). I can't remember the name of it for the life of me but I thought it was the cutest.