As you can see, I changed the title of the book to Loss and the summary. I feel like "loss" would be a better suited word for this book than "surrender" and the summary has improved to explain the book a bit better than the last summary.

One last thing, I hate to be a baron of bad news but THIS BOOK IS COMING CLOSE TO THE END! So prepare! Just like me…*grabs tissues*…because I'm going to be sad once this ends. I enjoyed writing this book. At first, it was supposed to be a short book that I was going to be up and done with. But then it became so much more!

Alright! Enough ranting!

Enjoy!

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Marinette's P.O.V

I couldn't move after hearing his raspy voice.

I couldn't breathe, hoping that this wasn't all in my head and that he was awake.

Rigid, forcing my eyes ahead as to not look back and see his face without a mask covering it.

What was I supposed to do? What do I say? What was I to think after everything I did to him and what he's done for me?

My body went into a cold sweat as if someone dumped iced water onto me. My heart pounded erratically against my chest and hands clenched into fists. I felt myself trembling, shakily gulping the lump in my throat.

I'm so scared.

"Marinette," Chat called again.

I wanted to desperately hug Chat Noir and place my ear on his chest to hear his heartbeat. Tell him to never do that again and that I love him to bits. Then kiss him senselessly until we're both breathless. But, I didn't do any of that.

"Marinette," Chat called, worry within his voice.

I am too scared to move. Too scared to know his true identity. Too scared to look upon the face of the guy I love…the guy I hurt. I could still see his beaten and bloody body cradled within my arms. Skin a chalky, pale color, breathing ragged and excruciatingly slow. His body limp and unmoving.

I could still hear the haunting echoes of my crying and felt the lingering pain of seeing him almost to the point of death.

"Marinette," he called a third time.

I whimpered, lip quivering and trying to hold in my sobs. I've never heard anything more relieving and blessed in all my life.

"Don't cry!" I thought, loudly, "Don't you dare start freaking crying!"

A black blur flew through the floor. Plagg lazily floated on his back and licking his paws clean from eating. The Kwami let out a burp before complimenting, "That was some good cheese bread but it's still not as good as my sweet, beloved Camembert. Instead of the cheese, you used on the bread, I recommend using Cam-"

Plagg immediately stopped talking once acid eyes met my glossy bluebell.

"Plagg…is that you?" Chat's voice rang out, questioningly. The Kwami glanced at the loft before coming back to look at me. I gestured for him to go up there, hoping he didn't mention me being in the room as well. Plagg seemed to get the message and flew up to my bed. I could hear quiet talking coming from behind me and wondered what they were talking about.

Suddenly, a green light encased the room for a moment and startling me from my thoughts. I stiffened when hearing a rustling sound coming from my bed. Gulping down a hard lump in my throat, I slowly cast my gaze to look behind me.

Chat Noir had managed to sit up on the bed and leaned against the wall for support. His cat-like, emerald eyes were barely open and a little foggy but kept staring down at me. I could see the edge of his lip trying to curve into a small smirk.

I immediately shifted my gaze straight forward and crossed my arms as a way of comfort. It felt like an invisible claw continued to scratch at my chest until it was raw with guilt and slowly oozed with regret. A cold sweat formed and sent a chill down my paling body.

The reoccurring thought that I almost killed him made me dizzy and sick, stomach churning.

"Marinette," Chat called out again but continued, "Can you come up here, please? We need to talk."

I shook my head in denial at his request.

"Marinette," he spoke sternly, making me flinch, "That wasn't a question. Please, come here." I gulped down the large lump in my throat before slowly making my way for to the ladder of my loft, vision locked onto the floor.

Once I let go of my arms, my hands began to tremble and felt sweat clinging to my skin. With a shaky sigh, I began to climb the ladder up to my bed. I blinked back tears, forcing them not to fall. I let out a frustrated groan and paused for a moment to wipe some that escaped, flowing down my cheeks.

I finally made it to the top and crawled onto my comforter. I avoided looking at my frail partner and sat on the other side of the bed as to not get any closer. I felt if I got any closer, then I would hurt him again. As if reading my mind, Chat spoke up.

"Princess…it's not your fault," the hero of destruction rasped, nudging my leg with the tip of his foot.

"I know," I replied, quietly.

"I don't think you do," he replied. I fiddled with the blanket as a way to distract and comfort myself.

"You were brainwashed by an akuma-"

"Even if I was akumatized, I wouldn't have done any of that," I snapped back, interrupting him.

"How can you be so sure that you wouldn't have done anything to me?" he asked. I bit down on my lip, not answering his question.

"Mari…" He urged.

"…I…I just didn't want to be to reason that you're hurt," I told him half of the truth. I wasn't ready to tell him the other reason why I wouldn't have done anything to him.

"You're hurting me right now," he stated, sadness laced within his voice. I froze, turning to meet his melancholy eyes. His ears drooped and tail twitched in irritation. I could feel my eyes widen and mouth gap a little. My heart tore into pieces and left on the ground to wilt away.

"How am I hurting you right now?" I asked, scared and confused about what I was doing that conflicted pain onto Chat. It wasn't my intention to cause him more misery. Why am I so selfish and careless? Yet, I wasn't prepared for his next words.

"I'm hurt that you still hesitate to tell me when you're hurting and you lie about it," Chat rasped, firmly and crack a little, "I feel so useless because I can't do anything to help when I don't know the full truth or the situation. Do you know how much that breaks my heart?"

I could feel hot, salty tears falling down my face and inner turmoil raging within myself. I was hurting him by showing that I didn't trust him even though it was the complete opposite. I trust him with my life and to have my back. I trust him to keep my secret identity and keep the ones I love safe.

Why was I still so hesitant with telling him things and keeping it all hidden? Chat clearly knows everything and wants to help me through it. Why am I so afraid when there is nothing to fear?

"We're supposed to be a team, partners," he continued, eyes watering, "You might not know who I am, but I'll always have your back through the highs and the lows, milady…Marinette."

Chat Noir sniffed and wiped away a tear that escaped. I just kept staring at him in astonishment, unsure of what to say. I knew I had nothing to be scared of anymore and let my walls crumble. I was never good with words, especially with my stuttering and incoherent words. I always let my actions speak for me, so that's what I did.

I let go of the blanket and felt myself move over to Chat Noir. Without another thought or any hesitation, I laid next to Chat. My arms carefully wrapped around his torso and gently rested my head on his chest. I relaxed, eyes fluttering shut when he wrapped his arm around my waist, bringing me into a side hug.

"I am so sorry. I-I did-didn't mean to…" I began but Chat Noir hushed me, slowly rubbed circles around my back. I felt him rest his head on top of mine and felt his body relax.

"It's alright," Chat reassured, softly.

"No, it's really not. I'm so lucky to have you by my side and to have you here right now…" I retorted then calmed down and continued, "You mean a lot to me Chat Noir…more than you know. Not just as a partner or a best friend…and I've realized that for a while now. I'm sorry that it took so long to tell you this. I was…scared but that's no excuse for the way I treated you."

Silence filled the room.

Marinette felt a warmth in her cheeks after her apology and confession. My heart raced with many different emotions fluttering around within myself. I patiently waited for him to respond even though the wait was becoming tortuous and long.

I felt my heart lurch in my chest and let out a small gasp when Chat suddenly placed his lips on the side on my forehead. He lingered there for a moment before pulling back and nuzzling the side of my head. All of a sudden, I felt something slimy glide across my cheek and squeaked, jumping back from a laughing Chat.

"Did you just lick my cheek?" I exclaimed, wiping the slobber off of my cheek. Chat calmed his laughter down into giggles as he replied, "Purr-haps."

"That's gross," I whined before joining him in the fit of giggling. That's when I saw the faced-down frame behind Chat Noir and stopped giggling. The magic ladybugs must have brought it back, and much to my dismay, placed it how it was last set before my akumatization.

Chat seemed to notice and his carefree face morphed into one of concern.

"Is everything alright, Princess?" the blonde asked, head cocked to the side a little. I shifted my gaze to Chat before returning to the frame. I didn't want the picture to face down any longer. It was time to set it back up so mama's bright smile can once again be seen.

I looked back at Chat, also wanting to get revenge on him for licking my cheek. A soft and playful smile blossomed on my lips as a mischievous plan formed in my mind. Chat raised an eyebrow and seemed to grow nervous as he shifted a little.

I slowly inched closer to Chat, my arms slowly weaving around his shoulders. I could see a slight red painting his cheeks from under his mask as I grew closer. My hands reached behind his head and grabbed the picture frame.

Our faces were very close…so close that our noses and foreheads brushed against each other. I could our breathing mix, feeling it tickle my skin. My eyes were half-lidded and a small smile still spread across my face. Chat's green eyes were also halfway open and kept glancing down at my lips, breathing uneven.

I could feel my heart race and tried to hold in a blush as to not show that I was affected.

I was able to place the picture frame back up without Chat noticing. I was a little surprised when seeing his eyes flutter shut and were about to lean in. Without a second thought, I lean in too…and kissed the tip of his nose.

I pulled back with a devious smirk as Chat Noir sat frozen with wide emerald eyes and madly blushing face.

"Yeah," I answered, purring flirtingly, "Everything is just right, Mon Minou."

I bit my inner cheek to hold back my laughter as the blush spread further to the tips of his human ears and down his neck, becoming a darker shade of red. The cat boy began to sputter, making my attempts of holding back my laughter faulty. I laughed so hard, my stomach began to hurt as I laid back on my bed.

"Y-You tease!" he pouted, stuttering.

"You deserve it!" I replied, calming my spontaneous laughing fit. The end of Chat's lip twitched up a bit, failing to hold his scowl. Finally, he let a grin grace his features.

"Well…" he began, smoothly, "I suppose it's worth it if I get to see that beautiful smile of yours return."

Suddenly, I was the one blushing madly.

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